The Shop on Blossom Street (A Blossom Street Novel)

Nice book, easy read, but there was too much mention of God and religious overtones. I'm not religious and I don't want the book I'm reading to be. I won't be reading more from this author probably, but this book was nice for what it was.

I don't think I've ever read a Debbie Macomber book before, but I've seen the movies on The Hallmark Channel that are based on her books. I have to say, they are right up my chick flick sweet romance hearts and stars alley. Yet I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. This was actually more of a 2.5 for me.

The funny thing is that I liked the storyline and I liked the characters, which leads me to believe I didn't like the writing. I find that shocking since Macomber is such a well respected/known author. I felt like she had a checklist of things she wanted the reader to learn about each character's past and another checklist of things she wanted to happen to the characters and that's how she wrote this book. Short, choppy sentences that were more like a list than a story.

Since I don't know if the writing style had more to do with the story she was telling or if it's her usual style, I will give her books another chance. The conundrum is that I don't like dropping a series so I would like to read the next book in this series, but that may not give me the info regarding the author's style that I'm looking for. I'll have to think on this...

Two-time cancer survivor, Lydia, decides to use her "nest egg" to start a yarn shop on Blossom Street. She tries to gain clientele by starting a beginners how to knit course and we meet the first members of her small class. Macomber jumps into each woman's life who couldn't be more different from one another, a socialite, a business woman struggling with infertility and a wild child, and then weaves their lives together for one cozy happy ending.

If you've ever read Macomber before you will know that her books are easy, conservative and light. This one has a lot of Christian and traditional views in them. I've read a lot of reviews about it's too light, there aren't many twists and turns, the characters are often stereotypical and naive. I enjoy books like this now and then. I love a good twisty complicated surprising novel too but sometimes I want something happy and enjoyable that requires very little thinking. This book fits that bill.

I enjoyed the characters, I think Carol was probably my favorite and I connected to her the best. The others grew on me. We rotate with each of the character telling from her own point of view. Each has her own problem to deal with and reason she joins the knitting class. The store owner, Lydia, is a cancer survivor who is trying to make a life and friends with buying the store and starting the class. Jacqueline is a socialite who is struggling in a marriage and her acceptance of her new hill billy pregnant daughter-in-law. Carol and her devoted husband are making their final attempt at IVF. And Alix is the wandering wild child who wants to do her community service and start over. The endings were somewhat predictable, although there was a small twist I wasn't expecting. The entire knitting subject is in the background, as in they all meet and do it, and one time we hear the difficulties one of the characters was having with it, but I didn't feel like I was missing out by not being a knitter. I do crochet however, so when they were talking about yarn and patterns and stitches, I could relate.

I will pick up or listen to this series, and other Macomber titles when they are available at the library, it's happy and light and easy. I would recommend it to someone looking for this type of book.

This is a wonderful story about an eclectic group of four women who from an unexpected friendship in a knitting class. Thirty-year-old Lydia Hoffman is a two times cancer survivor. She opens a yarn shop on Blossom Street in Seattle, Washington. She undertakes this business as a reaffirmation of life and living. Knitting has helped her in coping up with her numerous cancer treatments. Along with selling yarn, she also offers a beginner's knitting class. Three women join her class, not because they love to knit, but have various other reason to join in.

Jacqueline, in her mid-forties, has no happy married life. Her only son, who was always close to her, has married an Asian girl of his choice without his parents concern. Though doesn't approve of her daughter-in-law, but she decides to be a good grand mother to her grandchild. So, she joins the knitting class to make a baby blanket for her soon to be born grandchild.

Carol is thirty-seven-year-old, and very successful women in the corporate world, same as her husband. But this couple till now have failed to have children. After two failed IVF attempts, she and her husband have made one last attempt to conceive by using artificial insemination. She is very positive to have this baby this time. Carol joins the knitting class, to make a blanket for her hoped for child.

Alix is a young woman with spiky purple hair. She has gone through a very difficult childhood. She joins the knitting class to fill some community service requirements. Jacqueline despises her looks. Both jacqueline and Alix are ready for verbal accusation and argument.

These four women have different difficulties in life. This book reminds that you should never judge a person on their appearance or presume their circumstances. The age mentioned specifically shows that age is no bar to friendship, nor the social status, nor the persons past or living circumstances. The story is narrated as first person by these four women's point of view. This narrates how these women bonds together to love and support one another in various attempts to fight and face their own difficulties in life. Even they could never image that they would become good friends given their age differences and varied social status.

This book has more depth in it, then a reader can presume from the synopsis and the book cover. It is a very satisfying and happy reading experience. If you are looking for a light happy read, then do go for this book. Highly recommended to get a cheery smile on face after reading this book.

There are series of books associated with Blossom street yarn shop. And she has two new releases coming this year. I am surely going to read more of her books.

"God never closes a door without opening a window."

I am so sick of Harlequin re-publishing books under a 'different' publisher name to keep the store from notifying you that you have ALREADY purchased the book! Slimy business practices by a disengenuous publishing house. Bad Harlequin, bad!

Thus the one-star rating - for the publisher, for the book - it was great, four stars for me...

The way that Macomber tells this story in the first person really makes you feel like you’re hearing a story from a friend rather than reading a book. She unequivocally invites you into her world. She brings life’s highs and lows together in a way that warms your heart.

I learned a great deal about yarn and knitting throughout. It was built right into the story, intrinsic to the lives of the characters. I was astounded by the way this was so seamlessly worked into the tale. It definitely added extra depth to the tale for me. Macomber not only made it interesting, but she also made me want to give it a try.

This novel is full of lifelike characters that make their way into your heart. They’re the type of people that once you meet them, you won’t ever forget them. I enjoyed how Macomber showed the four different characters’ perspectives. The intertwining stories alongside each other were amazing. I will admit that there were a couple that I disliked at the beginning, but throughout the novel they grew on me.

This novel was a fantastic start to Macombers Blossom Street series. She drew me into this world and I can’t wait to go back.

This book was free. Which is how I came to read what can only be described as a "Chick Lit" novel. Let me be brave, clear and honest, I enjoyed reading it, a lot. Add me to the list of "Real Men Don't . . . " under the chapter "Real Men Don't Let Genre (or Gender) Stand in the Way of a Good Read."
This tale, set in Seattle, revolves around the first year of "A Good Yarn," a knitting shop being opened by Lydia Koffman, a two-time Brain Cancer Survivor who is learning how to live after existing the last 14 years in the shadow of the Big C. She offers a beginning knitting class to create a market for her yarn and from this class, the other characters are introduced. Jacqueline Donovan is a Neuvo-Riche snob whose worth is centered on appearance, as a result, her world is as deep a picture-postcard until she learns to connect with others through the influence of the group. Carol Girard was an investment accounts manager until she quit working so she could have children, the trouble is she cannot get pregnant; she joins the group because the first project is a baby blanket. Finally, there is Alix Townsend, a "throw away" child who has grown up with a major chip on her shoulder that is both merited and about the size of Vermont and who joined the knitting group to fulfill court-ordered community service hours.

The story that unfolds after the characters are introduced is an engaging one. To see how these ladies' lives are "knit" together while being included in the current "project" is a testament to Ms. Macomber's talent as a writer and as a knitter. The tale is spoken through the voices of the characters, in alternating chapters, as they experience the first year of "A Good Yarn." Lydia's story is the only one spoken from the First Person, the others are from the Third Person, almost as if Lydia is a part of the thoughts of the other three women. This writing technique is not an easy one to develop but Ms. Macomber does it well. By the end of the book, I was attached to each of the lives I had been allowed to witness. Luckily (big gasp of SURPRISE here) this is the first of a series of Blossom Street books by Ms. Macomber. Now I get to visit it again anew.
There are few swear words in this book and no graphic sex scenes. The only mention of sex is in context of the hopes of it creating a child and then it is only alluded to (how refreshing). The characters are real enough to cause the reader to care about what happens to them, including despising, then loving, them - just like "real life." God is mentioned in a positive manner, having one character fall in love with a Youth Pastor who is real, intelligent, accepting and the kind of person the reader would want to know and who one would not be afraid to leave in charge of one's children.
I do not plan on making a steady diet of this Genre of Literature in the future. I will no longer, however, avoid this section out of hand on my visits to my dealer's shops. It is nice being a true "Renaissance Man."

Believe it or not, this is my first Debbie Macomber book. I had heard that her books were trashy, but then was told that she came to Christ and now writes a true story of characters. This book is centered about a Knit Shop in Seattle. Lydia is the new owner and she has 3 ladies from very different backgrounds as her beginners' students. Each life takes on a different walk in life, yet they are all connected by circumstances, love and care for each other. Not a heavy "Christian book" just good reading.

I especially liked the way the story is told from the point of view of each of the four main female characters, who are all described clearly, so that it is easy to visualize them and their lives in your mind's eye... I felt as though I knew them, and certainly wanted to. Some of the romantic resolutions were thinly believable, and others were strong.

And while romance was part of the theme, it also involved relationships between sisters, parents and their offspring, and friends... and the development of strong friendship ties among the four very different women, ties that could only occur in unique circumstances such as the knitting circle, is touching and gratifying. We get to see beyond each of their outer defenses into their hearts, minds, and souls.

Twice, when apparently obvious and trite solutions to dilemmas did not happen, I was relieved (it would have been boringly easy) and very pleased at the original ways that they were resolved.

Easy to read, flowing, gripping without too much drama, this book will make women want close female friends if they don't have them, value the ones they do have, and be open to women whom they previously had thought were too different from themselves.

With a renewed interest in knitting on my part, and having enjoyed several books by Debbie Macomber in the past, I recently read and enjoyed The Shop on Blossom Street. And whether you're an old time knitter or this is your first time learning to cast on and purl, I do recommend you read a book which blends a hobby with personal friendships.

The Shop on Blossom Street books tells the story of a young woman and cancer survivor who opens a knitting store. Offering knitting classes to attract customers, three women come to the shop to learn how to make a baby blanket. But these three women couldn't be more different or come to the classes for different reasons which don't necessarily include learning how to knit. And we as readers watch as these three women learn the stitches, watch their baby blankets take shape, and find themselves learning more about each other, helping each other with their projects and influencing each other's lives. By the end of the book we find them forming lasting friendships and we know we won't soon forget these knitters.

Similar to the premise of Debbie Macomber's book, Thursdays at Eight which I really enjoyed, The Shop on Blossom Street while somehwat perdictable was a good journey and satisfying destination. The best part is that the sequel, A Good Yarn, was recently published and I look forward to reading this shortly.

Interestingly, The Shop on Blossom Street is the first in the Blossom Street series and it deals with knitting. It also deals with a woman who is surviving cancer and striving with her life after her father's death. She gets a scare when the cancer may have come back and she finds out who is truly there for her. The development of her relationship with her sister's characters had a great impact on me. There are 4 women, thus four stories, with Lydia and her yarn shop (the tie that binds the stories together) at the center. Each woman has their own crisis and are very different from each other. Yet, they all become friends and learn to support and receive support from each other.

It was awesome for a feel good story. It's a romance book, but not a bodice ripper. The women are complex, have issues, and you can see why they made the choices that landed them in the position. Somehow, I got into the lives of the 4 main characters. I look forward to reading the next book and learning more about these 4 women.

One of Debbie Macomber's early books had more religion than I cared for but I'm glad I kept reading her books. I get most of my e-books from the library and her books became "suggestions." I wasn't reading in any particular order and then happened on this one, the first in the Blossom Street series.

Lydia is a cancer survivor who decides to embrace life and opens A Good Yarn, a yarn store, and then offers knitting classes. The character development is thought-provoking and even though some of the resolutions seem too easy, I enjoy reading through the process. Very enjoyable books and I aim to follow through on the rest of the Blossom Street series.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Lydia Hoffman has suffered through and gone into remission from cancer twice and now she wants to get on with her life. Her biggest dream has always been to open her own little yarn shop. After her dad's recent death she decided it was time and that he'd approve of her plans. Lydia opens The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn and decides to hold a beginners' knitting class to draw in some new customers and maybe some friends as well.

Jacqueline, Alix (with an "I") and Carol all join the class and these four women couldn't be from more different walks of life. Through their weekly classes, friendship blossoms between these unlikely companions and all four women find new hope in their life, and a little love as well.

I am so glad I recently found my way into the worlds Debbie Macomber has created with her novels! I keep asking myself why I never tried her before now since I've loved everything I've read so far. I've never even tried to knit something though I know people who enjoy it very much and like the community of knitters that always seem to find each other. Having the art of knitting woven throughout the books gives it a down home feeling where I can imagine women sitting around chatting about their lives as they work on their current projects.

Debbie Macomber always seems to make me cry, in a good way. I was so wrapped up in the lives of the women that I felt Alix's frustration as she tried to keep up in class and her fear that no matter who she is, she'll never be good enough to fit in because of her past. As her skill grows, so does her confidence and Alix is like a new woman by the end of the novel.

Jacqueline is the stereotypical blue blood when we first meet her, but as I learned more about her personal life she became very real to me and I saw her for who she really is - a woman who cares deeply about others and will do everything in her power to help someone else find what they need. I warmed up to her and soon realized she wasn't the ice queen people who don't know her think she is.

Carol's story broke my heart. All she really wants is a baby and no matter how hard she and her husband try, it just isn't in the cards for them. Her desperation turns to fierce hope as we progress through her story, causing a lot of strain between her and her husband. I was probably more thrilled about the conclusion to her story than the others when she finally has the answers she seeks. And those answers aren't even close to what I had imagined them to be.

Then there is Lydia, the heart and soul of A Good Yarn and Blossom Street. She is the narrator of this story and we see so much through her eyes. Lydia's biggest hurdle to overcome is fear. Her little shop is a dream come true and an affirmation of life, as she tells us several times, but even so, Lydia has a hard time actually living instead of existing. The three women she comes to love through her classes open her eyes to what living really means and she is finally able to let go of her fear that one day cancer will return. She comes to learn that even if it does, she can know she made the most of the time she had.

What a wonderful book The Shop on Blossom Street is! I was drawn into the stories of the women and the struggles in their daily lives. I cried with them, laughed with them, celebrated with them. Many more women and men cross the threshold of A Good Yarn and our hearts and I can't wait to stop by for a visit with Lydia and company again soon.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2008. All rights reserved.

This was the first book by Debbie Macomber that I've read and I enjoyed it. I had it finished in two days and plan on starting the sequel, A Good Yarn.

The story begins with Lydia, a two-time cancer survivor who decides to open a yarn store and offer knitting classes. Because of the class, she meets Jacqueline, Alix and Carol.

Lydia is just trying to get through each day and finds her store a comfort. After battling a brain tumor for the second time, she just wants her life back and some normalcy. She has a strained relationship with her sister, Margaret, who always felt she was cheated out of her parent's attention because of the time they spent with Lydia while she was sick. During the story, Margaret has her own cancer scare, and begins to see and understand what Lydia has been dealing with since she was 16. Because of this, they are able to repair their relationship.

Jacqueline is the wife of a contractor and belongs to the country club. She is upset because she feels her only child, Paul, has married beneath him. Tammie Lee is from the south and everything she says and does grates on Jacqueline. Then she finds out Tammie Lee is pregnant and thinks it's just to keep her son. Her relationship with her husband is non-existent. She's very judgmental and opinionated. She joins Lydia's knitting class to make a baby blanket for her grandchild.

Carol is trying to get pregnant. She has run out of chances and desperately wants a baby. When she sees Lydia offering the class on baby blankets, she sees it as a sign that she will have a child.

Alix is from a troubled home. She doesn't have any contact with her father and her mother is in jail. It's hard for her to let anyone get close to her. Her goal is to attend cooking school and someday have her own catering business. She runs into a childhood friend, Jordan, and cautiously begins a relationship with him.

Joining this class changes the lives of all the women. When these women meet for the first time, it's hard to see how they will become friends, but they do. It's wonderful to see how they learn to trust and turn to each other. Over time, Jacqueline realizes that Tammie Lee isn't so bad and she befriends Alix. It's nice to see Lydia and Margaret get along. Lydia begins to see her UPS delivery man.

The story is realistic and interesting. I had a hard time putting it down. If all of Debbie Macomber's books are this good, I've found myself a new author to enjoy! I highly recommend this one to anyone.

There's a little yarn shop on Blossom Street in Seattle. It's owned by Lydia Hoffman, and it represents her dream of a new life free from cancer. A life that offers a chance at love...

Lydia teaches knitting to beginners, and the first class is "How To Make a Baby Blanket." Three women join. Jacqueline Donovan wants to knit something for her grandchild as a gesture of reconciliation with her daughter-in-law. Carol Girard feels that the baby blanket is a message of hope as she makes a final attempt to conceive. And Alix Townsend is knitting her blanket for a court-ordered community service project.

These four very different women, brought together by an age-old craft, make unexpected discoveries --- about themselves and each other. Discoveries that lead to friendship and more...

This book was wonderful!!! Each of the characters were so different, you would never put them together but Ms. Macomber does in a way that is not only very believeable but touching as well. Four unlikely women in a class where they not only learn to knit a baby blanket, they knit together a friendship as well. Jacqueline hates her new daughter in law and is having trouble with her spouse, she hopes knitting this blanket will help her feel more bonded to her soon to be grandbaby. She intially holds herself above the rest of the group. Alix is an odd fit because of her dyed hair, attitude and leather. She joins because she is trying to fill community service hours, but is secretly trying to get some nurturing she never had growing up. Carol wants a baby so bad and this is her last chance at invitro, she has given up so much for a chance at being a mother. And then there is Lydia, the owner of the shop and teacher. A cancer survivor, opening the shop is her "affirmation to life".

Whether you knit or not, this book so enjoyable. While there is a lot of focus on knitting, as a non-knitter myself, I didn't find it distracting from the story. Knitters will love the free pattern for the baby blanket that the characters in the story are knitting. It may even inspire readers to take up knitting themselves. A very good, heartwarming read that I would recommend to anyone.

Two-time cancer survivor Lydia decides that she is going to live life to the fullest (well, we'll see about that) and open up a yarn & knitting shop in Seattle. Through her shop & the beginning knitting class she offers she makes friends & we see the lives of four very different women - who aren't really all that different in the end.

My initial thoughts while reading it were as follows:

(around page 114) - This book as quite a few thoroughly unlikeable characters, but I feel myself drawn to read on. Maybe I'm hoping they will realize the error of their ways and repent by the end of the novel?

(around page 247) - I don't really like the way the narratorial voice switches from first-person POV for Lydia's chapters to third-person POV for the other three main characters. Also, Lydia doesn't quite like to stay speaking in the past tense. It bothers me, and makes me think Ms. Macomber's editor could have done a better job.

My thoughts now that I've finished it:

Yes, it has some trite moments, and the writing style bothers me at points, but I'll be reading the next book in the series, and I think I'll give her Cedar Cove series a try, as well. Perhaps even her romances. Knowing that Debbie Macomber is a romance writer, I knew that there were going to be happy endings pretty much all 'round - and I wasn't disappointed. Everyone (except one character) ends up happy. The one thing that bothered me was Alix's transformation from semi-punk girl to "pretty" girl in order to be happy. Yes, the young man she ends up with liked her before the transformation, but it bothered me that Macomber felt the need to physically transform Alix before giving her the happy ending. What's wrong with a punk/goth girl being happy?

Overall, this book is a feel-good read for knitters and non-knitters alike. Knitters will understand the friendship that knitting provides, and non-knitters will still like the story following the four women. If you don't mind semi-predictable happy endings, go for this book - I mean it!

Cancer survivor Lydia Hoffman opens a yarn shop on Blossom Street. In order to attract customers, she decides to hold knitting classes, with a baby blanket being the first project. Three people sign up, all with different reasons for being there. Unhappily married Jacqueline Donovan dislikes her new pregnant daughter-in-law, Tammie Lee, but decides to knit the baby blanket to show her son she is making an effort to accept his new wife. Carol Girard desperately wants a baby, but has been unable to conceive and is about to undergo her third and final IVF procedure. When she sees the sign for knitting a baby blanket, she takes it as a good omen and joins the class. Alix Townsend had a rough upbringing, has had a bit of trouble with the law, and is living from paycheck to paycheck. Although she can barely afford it, she decides to sign up for the knitting classes because she can donate the blanket to charity and use it against her court ordered community service hours. Lydia is a bit concerned that these totally different women won't get along, but they all become close in ways none of them imagined.

"The Shop on Blossom Street" was a funny, but light read, what I call cotton candy for the brain. Of the four characters I liked Lydia and Alix the best. Lydia's troubled relationship with her sister and the affect the cancer has had on her life, especially in her relationships, were interesting. The story of Alix's troubled childhood makes her a sympathetic character and readers will want her to succeed in her relationship with youth minister Jordan Turner. Carol's struggle to have a child is heartbreaking, although I found her character to be a bit bland. I found Jacqueline to be a stereotypical rich, shallow person at first, concerned only with her standing in society, but her character grew on me by the end of the book.

Debbie Macomber's story telling ability is her strong point. She creates characters that you care about and readers will eagerly turn the pages to find out what happens to them. Unfortunately at times she resorts to cliched characters like Jacqueline, which is a shame when the other three characters are so believable and likable. Some of the plots in this book are also cliched and one particular plot, involving Alix and her roommate, was too convenient and totally unbelievable.

"The Shop on Blossom Street" is a nice but fluffy read.

If you've not knitted before you read this book, you will want to afterward. This is a feel-good women's book about four very different women who become friends while taking a knitting class from one of them. Lydia Hoffman, twice a cancer survivor, opens A Good Yarn on the last Tuesday of April (any current year). The buildings on Blossom Street, where the store is located, are being renovated, a major undertaking in this particular Seattle neighborhood. Lydia advertises for interested parties to participate in a knitting class on Friday afternoons. Jacqueline Donovan, Carol Girard and Alix (yes, with an "i") take her up on her offer. Jacqueline is a major b..../snob whose marriage has been cold for years and who intensely dislikes her new daughter-in-law who has had the audacity to become pregnant; Carol Girard and her husband, Doug, are desperate for a baby; and Alix Townsend is a troubled girl who still dreams of a boy she "loved" in sixth grade.

These four women grow together over the course of about nine months, and we, the readers, accompany them on their journey of growth as individuals, a group, and as knitters. There is a pattern for a baby blanket given at the front of the book and it is also the first project the women undertake in their class. Macomber also occasionally throws in a pithy saying about knitting, such as "In the hands of a knitter, yarn becomes the medium that binds the heart and soul," attributed to Robin Villiers-Furze, The Needleworks Company, Port Orchard, Washington.

Macomber's writing style is easy and the story flows well. Her formatting style is to alter chapters by woman; something here about Lydia, something there about Jacqueline, and so on. Oh, and then there's the guys...and what guys they are. Brad Goetz falls in love with Lydia, Reese Donovan still loves his wife, Doug Girard is one patient fellow, and Jordan Turner, well, he's just A-OK! After digesting this book for a few days, I've decided that among the general flavor of the book which I liked a great deal, one of the best things about The Shop on Blossom Street was the guys! What a terrific bunch of hunks, all loving and patient and hot! I'd take any one of the four of them.

Carolyn Rowe Hill

Lydia Hoffman is a two-time cancer survivor struggling with the loss of her father. She decides to open a little yarn shop as a way of recognizing she has a future. She decides to teach a knitting class as a way to bring in customers, and three very different women sign on.

Jacqueline Donovan is in an unhappy marriage and now her son has married a woman that Jackie loathes. With a grandchild on the way, she decides to knit a baby blanket as a way to mend fences between she and her daughter-in-law.

Carol Girard and her husband are struggling to have children. Carol decides that knitting a baby blanket may give them the luck and success they need in her struggle to conceive.

Alix Townsend must perform community service and decides she will knit a blanket for the court approved Linus Project. Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to knit. She joins the class hoping for help in fulfilling her commitment.

Debbie Macomber has a way of bringing characters together so that the reader feels they are a part of the group. I like that the four each tell their own stories throughout the book providing us with insider information as we learn to understand each situation and how their behavior and decisions affect not only each other, but the important people in their lives.

I highly recommended this book to anyone who enjoys knitting, and reading about strong women and their struggles with life situations.

The Shop on Blossom Street (Blossom Street, No. 1)
Knit Along with Debbie Macomber - The Shop on Blossom Street (Leisure Arts #4132)

The shop in THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET is a yarn shop on a quiet Seattle street that is just on the cusp of gentrification. The shop itself is not merely a backdrop for the plot of Debbie Macomber's sweet new novel; it's also the catalyst that brings together four dissimilar women and helps them weave together a friendship out of the different-colored threads of their lives.
For each of the four women, knitting represents the fulfillment of a wish or dream. For Carol Girard, it's the overwhelming desire to have a child. When Carol hears about the new yarn shop on Blossom Street and learns that the beginning knitting class will be knitting a baby blanket, she knows it's a sign. Carol and her husband have tried for years to conceive a child; now, about to undergo their third in vitro procedure, their time and insurance dollars are running out. Carol has given up so much to have a child --- her normal fast-paced routine, even the high-stress job she loves --- and she hopes that knitting can also fill empty hours in her new slower-paced lifestyle.
For Jacqueline Donovan, it's the hope that she can be a good grandmother despite her loathing for her daughter-in-law. Jacqueline, a fixture at the country club and charity events, has been in a loveless marriage for years. She claims to despise Tammie Lee because she's southern, blonde and ditzy --- in reality, though, Jacqueline is jealous of the obvious love that exists between her son and Tammie Lee. At her husband's request, Jacqueline enrolls in the beginning knitting class, hoping she can knit a baby blanket as a peace offering.
Alix Townsend, the youngest member of the group, also seems the least likely knitter. She signs up for the beginning knitting class in the hopes that donating her baby blanket for charity can knock off some of her court-mandated community service hours; secretly, though, knitting is part of Alix's fantasy of a mother she never had. She hopes that by taking up knitting she can recapture some of the nurturing she missed out on as a child. Rebellious and bitter, Alix rubs just about everyone the wrong way until they discover her vulnerability and kindness, hidden under her dyed hair and black leather.
Most poignant of the four women in THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET is Lydia Hoffman, the owner of the yarn shop. For Lydia, knitting in general and owning a yarn shop in particular symbolizes life, a life she couldn't imagine just a few years ago. Having survived two bouts of brain cancer, Lydia never expected to live to thirty, let alone to open her own business. Lydia says, "The shop was my affirmation of life." Although Lydia has taken a leap of faith by opening her yarn shop, she is less courageous when it comes to romance.
With their varying backgrounds and different agendas, it's not surprising that these four women clash when they come together for their first knitting class. Jacqueline and Alix, in particular, are at each other's throats from the start. It's also no surprise that over the course of the summer, these four women form a close bond of friendship that is tested when tragedy threatens one of their own. The characters, despite their emotional development, are not really developed beyond their initial preoccupations. However, it's a rare novel that manages to be sweet without becoming syrupy, and THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET achieves that balance.
Both knitters and non-knitters will find much to enjoy here. Knitters have a bonus: a free baby blanket pattern (the same one the characters learn to knit) is included at the start of the novel, and quotes from well-known knitters are scattered throughout. Non-knitters can still find many pleasures in this satisfying, if somewhat predictable, tale. And who knows --- maybe Lydia and her friends will inspire readers to take up needles themselves!
--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

I have never knitted a stitch in my life, and after reading this wonderful heartwarming book, I signed up for lessons! The first of two novels (and I hope the books go on and on and on), this is the story of a two-time cancer survivor in her early 30s, Lydia, who takes a stab at life by opening her own knitting store with a small inheritance. Lydia's sister Margaret, who had deeply resented their parents' wholehearted attention to Lydia during her teenaged cancer years, predicts that the shop will fail; the reader isn't so optimistic either.

But the first thing Lydia does is start a knitting class, and the three women who join are as disparate as can possibly be. Jacqueline is a very rich, but very bitter woman who loathes the woman who has married her only and pampered son. Carole is in the throes of tragic fertility problems; she has one more attempt at in-vitro to go, and then must give up the hope of a child, or wait many years for a suitable adoption. Alix, she of the purple spiked hair and goth clothing, is a twenty-something who is working off a community-service sentence for drugs found in her apartment--that belong to her roommate.

As we get to know each woman, we watch their lives meld like their stitches as they learn their craft...not perfect, not effortless, but so rewarding. And the beginning of each chapter has a mesmerizing quote, taken from many knitting sources, about the joys of knitting.

I was and am hooked. I can't wait to continue to the next book, and I highly recommend this series whether you are a knitter or not!

When she opens a yarn and knitting shop on Blossom Street, cancer survivor Lydia Hoffman doesn't know what to expect. She has enough money to run the shop for a while, but will she bring in customers? Or is she simply wasting her time and creating a burden on her mother, as her sister hints? It doesn't take too long before Lydia's beginning knitting class starts up with three very different women. Jacqueline Donovan is a wealthy snob, contemptuous of her daughter-in-law and angry with her husband for having an affair. Alix Townsend is planning on working off the community service time she earned for having drugs in her purse (they belonged to her roommate). Carol Girard is obsessed with having a baby--no matter what the financial, emotional, or ethical costs. Despite their differences and initial conflict, the four women forge a bond, gradually growing together.
At first, the women seem to share only two things--their knitting and an unhealthy self-obsession. By working together, each becomes free to break out from their self-imposed boundaries and to see how their self-destructive behavior was a choice rather than something imposed on them from the outside.
Author Debbie Macomber specializes in strongly written stories of women coming together for support and growth. THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET is a strong entry into this category. Although all four women may initially put readers off, their growing strength as they finally face their problems and seize their power makes them sympathetic and even heroic. The love interests are possibly a bit too perfect, but this is a romance after all and who needs a romantic fantasy about a realistic male.

Debbie Macomber is an excellent weaver of stories.

I picked this book up off my coffee table - my mother

had left it here after a recent visit.

I didn't mean to read it, but I found after starting I

had "all of a sudden" turned all the way to page 45

and by then was wholeheartedly curious and committed

to the four characters in this carefully "knitted together"

(pun intended) story of deepening love, respect

and personal growth.

Using the age old craft of Knitting as a metaphor,

we meet an unlikely group of friends who each

change the others lives. I found myself equally

drawn to all main four characters - who are diverse,

I imagine, so readers connect to one.

I connected to all four at different times.

The reader can almost feel the authors love

for both the craft of knitting and for each character -

and the continual learning of life lessons along

the way. The characters were relatable - meaning,

they were like people you and I know. Their

situations, the same.

I will definetely read more Debbie Macomber.

It is not "high literature" but it is entertaining and

engaging - obviously, as I started reading

without even meaning to and then could

not seem to put it down!

Long a fan of Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series, I decided to try her Blossom Street series and am so glad I did. The outstanding but unusual relationship she forges with diverse women (done so well in her Thursdays at Eight) is present here. There may be few surprises, but there is an abundance of warmth and happiness. Who doesn't need a dose of both now and then?

Lydia Hoffman is the main character and it is her opening of a knit shop on Blossom Street that propels the plot. As a two time cancer survivor, she wants to reaffirm her commitment to living as well as make friends she so desperately needs. Her first knitting class includes socialite and lonely wife Jacqueline, career woman Carol who struggles with trying to have a baby, and Alix, the rebel without a cause. These women would never get to know each other in most cases, but amongst the yarn and knitting needles, friendships form and each becomes important in the other's life.

Knitters will love the pattern for the baby blanket as well as the warm-hearted quotes about knitters and knitting that introduce each chapter. But non-knitters like me will be equally captivated by the story and probably want to find the nearest knitting shop in town.

As an avid stitcher (knitting and crocheting), The Shop on Blossom Street easily caught my interest. Having just finished the book, I am delighted to know that there are many books still to read in this series so that I might continue sharing time with the characters who have come to be as friends.

The Shop on Blossom Street is an easy read . . . fluid and relaxing as a summer afternoon in a hammock, yet holding my interest long into the night, far past the time I should have turned off the light. The characters are well defined and believable, as if they lived next door or down the street. And while a portion of the story line may be predictable, I found it comforting and satisfyingly so. For me, the book offered a perfect balance of expected outcomes peppered with unexpected surprises. When I have lost myself, completely, in it's pages - I know the book is a treasure to read. This is true of The Shop on Blossom Street.

A collection of colorful yarns and a stack of good books. Who could ask for more? Life is good. And life is good on Blossom Street. I can't wait to start the next book in this series! I'm hooked!

The Shop On Blossom Street is the story of four very different women who are brought together at a yarn store. Lydia, the owner of the store is a two-time survivor of cancer who opens the store as an "affirmation of life". Jacqueline is an uptight socialite who, while most people think she has the perfect life, is miserable and lonely in her marriage. Carol longs for a baby and doesn't want to admit their might never be one for her and her husband. And last but not least there's Alix, the street-smart, untouchable girl who's bark is worse than her bite. The four become friends as they search for happiness.

As always, Debbie creates characters who readers learn to care about. The characters are written in a way that makes them real people with real problems. I found myself hoping for the best for each of them. I even found myself wanting to learn to knit as I read. The way Debbie used this hobby was great. Knitting wasn't written in just any old way. It made sense and captured my attention as something I might try!

There are surprises along the way that will leave you happy and wanting more. At the end of the book I found myself wanting to know more about these people and their lives. (It's a good thing there's a sequel!) Debbie has once again delivered a great book with characters to capture your heart. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is craving a good read.

This is the first book by Debbie McComber that I've read. The Shop on Blossom Street books tells the story of Lydia Hoffman, who has overcome cancer and now realizes her dream by opening a shop in Seattle called A Good Yarn. Her father, who was her rock during her cancer battle, has died, so she is scared but determined to succeed in this venture. She knows her father would have encouraged and cheered her on. Her first three customers couldn't be more different, they have come to the classes for reasons of their own which don't necessarily include learning how to knit. As these three women learn how to knit and watch their first project, their baby blankets take shape, they find themselves easing into friendships. They soon begin to help each other with their projects as well as with the different issues that affect their lives. Lydia too, grows and matures; she becomes a stronger person as she gradually learns the business, overcomes a second cancer scare, and attempts a reconciliation with her older sister. She also begins a tentative romance with the handsome parcel delivery man. By the end of the book we find the 4 women forming lasting friendships and we hope that we will see them again in a new book.

.

I am ashamed to admit that I have never read a Debbie Macomber book until this summer. I've watched the "Mrs. Miracle" movies based on her novels and have started watching the "Cedar Cove" TV series as well. This series made me decide to read one of her books this summer. I started with the first Cedar Cove book, and I couldn't put it down. I'm now on the second book in that series and am also reading two more of her books....I'm reading all 3 at the same time! That's how much I have grown to love her writing in such a short time. I picked up "The Shop on Blossom Street" at the library the other day, and now I have just felt like I have known these four women my whole life. That's one thing that Debbie Macomber does very well....she pulls you into her characters' lives and makes you feel like you've been a part of their lives forever. I'm invested in these characters. I want to know what happens to them. I want to see how their lives continue to intertwine with each others. I can't believe how invested I've become in the lives of these 4 women in such a short amount of time. I now can't wait to read book 2 in this series and to finish Cedar Cove book 2 and move on to book 3. I would highly recommend both of these series of books. Now, shockingly, because of reading this book, I want to learn how to knit, too!

The Shop on Blossom Street is a first in the Blossom series, and the first book I've ever read (in this case listen to) by this author. I chose this author because I wanted sometime relaxing to listen to in bed. This one hit the spot.

Read by Linda Emond who does a great job with the four characters in this story. Four very different characters become friends while taking a knitting class at (you guessed it) The Shop on Blossom Street. For Lydia, the shop's owner, a two-time cancer survivor, the shop represents a new beginning.

The first project is : how to knit a baby blanket. The participants in the class are struggling with various personal issues: cancer, divorce, miscarriage etc, and from each other they learn how to accept life's setbacks and find happiness in their lives once again.

I was happy I tried this book. A light read, nothing too depressing or heavy, this book turned out to be a good listen well into the wee hours of the morning on some nights.

I think every small town has a Blossom Street USA. I read the other Blossom Street series first and read this one last. So it's interesting to meet the Characters knowing how the ending will come out. I gave this book a 5 because I am a Cancer Servivor and can identify with the book. Macomber tells it like it is for us ladies who were single when we got cancer and how we have a tendency to stay away from men. The series will introuduce new characters from a widow who adopts a child, a late in life romance, a society snob who falls in love with her husband again, a single women who is engaged to a creep and finds the strength to break it off and fall in love with a real man, a young lady abused throughout childhood is blessed with a dream husband, A cancer survior who gets married, and much more. I recommend the series. It might be fluff but it's fun after reading Testimony by Anita Shreve.

A delightful tale of four women, united by a knitting class where the first beginning project is to knit a baby blanket. That's it, a simple project.

But it becomes far more than that. Debbie Macomber uses this simple task as a window into into the lives of four women in the class. She uses this setting to explore relevant women's issues with unexpected insight and sentiment along with being a delightful yarn (sorry about that, but I had to).

Debbie Macomber is a knitter. She gets together with friends to sit and chat while working on projects. This is a very female form of bonding, perhaps the female equivalent of the guys going hunting. It's strange how we always seem to be going back to our cave man roots.

Her characters are diverse, united only by the baby blanket. Her characterizations are real, based on real people, with real lives, real families, real problems.

If you're a Debbie Macomber fan, you will not be dissappointed. If you're not, this is a good place to start.

A friend of mine lent me this book, thinking I might like it since I have lived in Seattle and like to knit, but I was pretty disappointed. The idea for the story was promising, but the storytelling was just too packed with cliches, and the character development was downright phony.

The basic premise is that a cancer survivor opens a knitting store in an attempt at a fresh start: new job, new life, new independence from family. She holds an introductory knitting class, and meets three very different other women also looking for something new in their lives.

Unfortunately these three women are hollow stereotypes: we have the snobby rich lady, the unhappy "career woman", and the goth chick. The author assumes the readers will be so unfamiliar with a young woman in goth clothing that, on the same page she is introduced, she flashes back to the traumatic childhood that yielded her "strange" way of dressing. These characters are introduced in a flurry of interleaved cliches and immediately confess their life stories and motivations to the reader. Aren't writers supposed to show instead of tell?

The most troubling of these stereotypes is the "career woman" who has a vaguely described job in finance, and is punished for her ambition (by the author) with an inability to conceive, due to "stress." So she quits her job and starts trying to get pregnant full-time, gives up her good health insurance to be on her husband's limited health insurance, which ironically has limited coverage of the fertility treatments she needs. And she pines and pines for babies. Moral: guess what modern woman, you can't have it all. It strikes me as particularly ironic that here we have a female writer punishing a female character for bravely trying to live a balanced, happy, successful life. Didn't this kind of thing only happen in the 50s?

The back of the book claims that Debbie Macomber "understands the soul of women." Not my soul, thank you very much.

In this latest "gal pal" book, Debbie Macomber creates four very different characters. Lydia Hoffman is a two-time cancer survivor who decides to open a Yarn Shop as a symbol of her new life. Jacqueline Donovan joins Lydia's beginning knitting class, but has a hard time fitting in with some of the other women, due to her haughty and superior attitude. Carol Girard is a woman who is desparate to have a baby and she thinks that if she joins the knitting class and makes a baby blanket, that will be a good omen for her goal of motherhood. Alix Townsend seems like a real misfit when she joins the group. She is a tough young woman who has grown up on the streets and she is particularly prickly with the aristocratic Jacqueline. As usual, Debbie Macomber mixes these disparate characters together and somehow manages to "knit" them together in a lasting friendship. This is an enjoyable and easy read.

Lydia Hoffman wants a fresh start in life, so she opens a knit shop. The shadow of death has loomed over her for too long, even though she is very young. It seems appropriate that the project she advertises as the first for her classes is to knit a baby blanket.
Her students are a mixed lot. Jaquie is about to become a reluctant grandmother. Carol desperately hopes for a baby, though the odds are against it. Alix is there to perform community service, knitting for the Linus project. Despite their glaring differences, the four women not only knit blankets but friendships and knit the bridges in their other relationships.
*** Debbie Macomber, whether her heroines are spirit beings or ordinary women, always writes about angels, messengers of God. Her stories are full of hope, and though not billed as inspirational, per se, they never fail to inspire. This is a sterling example of that rule. ***
Amanda Killgore

I wanted to like this book. My mom liked this book (and the whole series), but I just couldn't get over a few things. For one, I'm the same age as Lydia's character and I don't think the author has a realistic idea of what 20-somethings and 30-somethings are really like.

Secondly, the characters are all truly stereotypical cliches. Example: Alix. She's dark, she's moody, obviously she must have purple hair, wear black leather, and naturally she has an awful family life where her parents end up in jail and her brother does drugs and dies. Then miraculously she meets an old friend from her past who is (of course) a youth pastor and she suddenly wants to turn her life around and knit him a sweater. SERIOUSLY? And what's with the drug dealer named T-Bone..... SERIOUSLY? It's almost like the author watched some awful 1980s after-school special with the "drugs are bad" message and too many old-school rap videos and then, since that wasn't enough, threw in some emo & goth tendancies, and Voilà!: Alix's character! And don't even get me started on Jacqueline.

Moving on..... another thing that bothered me was the absolutely ridiculous event that occurs at the end of the book with Laurel. That was another moment where I had to stop reading and just think..... SERIOUSLY?

And this yarn shop Lydia opens - with an apartment above that she lives in - is located on Blossom Street which is undergoing some construction and renovations... yet apparently the alley right behind her shop (and her apartment, mind you) is so dangerous that you could be jumped and have a knife pulled on you if you dare park your car there or walk through the back. SERIOUSLY?

Ok - I did like some things about the book - I liked Lydia's story - I just wish she stood up for herself more.... and the story did keep me turning the pages to see what would happen, so there's that.

It's definitely more geared towards an older set of readers who think all kids who wear dark clothes and don't attend church regularly are "hoodlums." But be warned - it provides a really warped, unrealistic, and distorted view of young adults today.

I really hate it when books like this separate the character's stories in each chapter. I was looking forward to reading this book and the entire Blossom series...But what a disappointment.

I will continue to read Macomber's stand alone books or a series that doesn't separate characters by chapter.

Lydia Hoffman has defeated cancer twice. To celebrate life, Lydia opens A Good Yarn, a knitting supplies store in Seattle. She also teaches a class on knitting. The first lesson is "How to Knit a Baby Blanket".
Jacqueline Donovan reacts poorly to her son's news that she is to be a grandmother for the first time. She does not like her daughter-in-law Tammie Lee. Maybe her bitterness is because she knows her marriage to Reese, a partner in an architectural firm, is dying. She must make amends with her son Paul so she joins A Good Yarn knitting class.
Desperate to become pregnant, Carol Girard joins the class seeking hope that her and her husband Doug's final attempt with in vitro pregnancy succeeds. This is her last chance to have the child she craves.
The court ordered Alix Townsend to do community service as part of her sentencing. She decides that knitting for the Linus Project should satisfy her case worker. However, she needs to first learn to knit so she joins the class too.
This four diverse women bond in friendship and love as they work on the baby blanket. Though their individual dreams may not be answered, a group dream forges as each learns the meaning of life.
THE SHOP ON BLOSSOM STREET is a fabulous deep character study that rotates the narration between the women so that the audience has four subplots that cleverly knit together into a powerful look at the ups and downs of modern day living. Though not all dreams are fulfilled and some change for instance to cooking, fans will enjoy Debbie Macomber's strong tale of four females struggling to overcome different setbacks.
Harriet Klausner

I could identify with all four characters. The plot was amazing and full of curve balls. The end was pleasantly inviting into the next read. Although it wasn't a cliff hanger, just a nice invitation.

Lydia: The main character, struggles with love and independence. She steps out making life defining choices without much support, with huge reasons to doubt success.

Alix: She is a girl on fire, while traveling a road of redemption due to a troubled pass of drug use and a broken home. She doesn't feel sorry for herself she seems more angry than anything. She meets an old flam that captures her heart and forces her to do all that it takes to redeem her reputation and self worth.

Carol: Full of self pity and a burden to the people she loves most. Carol is a professional success and personal failure. Things change, and the tables turn that her personal life is trumps her professional without even trying.

Jacqueline: Covers her emotions with fooling herself and everyone else into believing her life is perfect. Many of her insecurities stand in the way of her happiness.

By the end of the book you walk away knowing no one is perfect. Happy endings come from hard beginnings.

I knit a lot and enjoy this fiction series centered around the owner and patrons of a yarn shop. It's a cozy story. The characters are easy to like and everyone lives happily ever after. The story is a little contrived and some of the problems of the real world are never allowed to intrude, which, I suppose, is what makes it a nice cozy story. There is nothing really challenging or uncomfortable in it so it is a great read for the end of a stressful day, or a snowy day in front of a cozy fire, or a lazy day spent at the beach.

This book was an easy read & hard to put down. That is why I am glad I read it on my Kindle. I could take it with me anywhere I went & stay in touch with Lydia, Carol, Jacqueline& Alix and their lives. I have tried knitting without success, but this book makes me want to try it again. I may approach my daughter-in-law who taught herself & ask her to attempt to teach me. If I cannot master it, it will be back to reading Debbie's books. What the neck, I am off to find another of her books now. I love Debbie Macomber & my Kindle.

The Shop on Blossom Street is truly a unique and interesting story with compelling wonderful characters. The main character Lydia who has survived cancer twice follows her dream and desire to reaffirm her life by opening a knitting store. She sinks her entire savings into it. Soon she meets three new friends; each with their own challenges. Jacqueline has a marriage she needs to save. Carol cannot get pregnant and desperately wants a child. And Alix a mixed up teenager has trouble with the law and life in general. It is remarkable how each woman life is changed for the better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost hope for their life or needs to be reminded of what is really important in this crazy world.
Sara Fitzgerald
[...]
Mine for Keeps
Anything for Charity
Just What the Doctor Ordered
Yesterday's Wish

Sometimes a book comes along that is enjoyable due to the fact the characters are well developed, this is the case with "The Shop On Blossom Street". I found this book hard to put down as the characters, before coming together at the yarn shop, were rough around the edges due to their past problems. The story itself is very predictable, but the characters development made this book worth reading. If you want an enjoyable read, but not deep meaning, this might be for you. You can't go wrong for the price!

Lydia, a survivor of cancer, opens a knitting shop called A Good Yarn located on Blossom Street - a street seeing much change. Her father died recently and this is her way of trying to get on with her life in different ways.

Her first class is scheduled and the project is a simple baby blanket. Three ladies sign up for the class: Jaqueline, Carol and Alix. Each woman learns to knit as well as share their lives with each other.

This is a beautiful story. It is the first book by Debbie Macomber that I've read. The plot centering around a knitting shop sparked my interest because I am a knitter and cross stitcher. This story could easily be in a stitching shop as needlearts bring women together for support of all kinds.

Lydia Hoffman opens up a yarn store of Blossom Street. She is hoping to start a new chapter in her life, after battling cancer since her teens. Lydia starts a beginner's class for knitting.
Jacqueline Donovan decides to join the group to make a baby blanket in the hopes it will make amends to her son and daughter in law.
Carol Girard decides making a baby blanket will make her dreams of having a baby come true.
Alix Townsend is the least likely to join a knitting class. Alix has had a rough life and is trying to get her life back on track. She decides to make a blanket for the Linus project
All four women come into the class with various needs but they learn so much more about themselves as well as each other.
Debbie Macomber writes such treasures of books. You feel like you know these characters and want to find out more about them.

This book was recommended by someone from a knitting group I am a member of. As I am an avid knitter, and love to read romances, I could not stop myself from ordering it.

The book reminded me of my favorite childhood romantic books, a slow paced book, that, when you close it makes you feel all fuzzy and warm inside.

The characters were well fleshed out, albeit slightly two dimensional in some cases. I really look forward to reading the sequel to this book.

The only thing that bothered me, was the religion seeping through in the pages. It wasn't a reason to stop reading for me, though, and I am glad I finished the book. I really look forward to meeting these characters again in the sequel.

The Shop on Blossom Street kept my interest the whole way through. I read book 2, A Good Yarn, first and didn't think reading backwords would work but it did and I'm glad I took the time to read it. I love Lydia's character and love watching her grow and grasp life without Cancer. Debbie Macomber delivers every time! I highly recommend her books which bring real women into our lives. We who do not have sisters or lots of female bonding enjoy hearing how women interact and recognize our own deep feelings. Great characters!
Dawn Kurtz author of the Christian novel: Secret of the Mexican Doll

Since I was unable to carry a pregnancy to the birth of a child, I related to carol. When she held her adopted infant baby boy, I relived the soaring of my heart when I first held my adopted son. I related to all the characters but Carol touched me. The impact of infertility and the endless tests on a marriage was described well. Alix was probably my favorite. And Jacquelyn's love for her grandchild parallels my love for my granddaughter Emma who is more my daughter than granddaughter as her mom has struggled with many problems. Emma is my lifeblood and my daughter in every way possible.

This is the first book I've ever read by Debbie MacOmber but won't be the last! I first picked it up because I'm a knitter and pretty obsessed right now with the craft. I thought the premise was interesting. The character's are all in need of friendship however, they have little in common other then the desire to knit. Isn't that how some of the best and most varied relationships begin. I loved the growth of characters through the book and the time the author took to honor each of the characters. The women in this book are all daring, brave and in for a lot of personal growth which MacOmber harvest throughout the book. I was sad to see it end! Thanks!

Lydia, a survivor of cancer, opens a knitting shop called A Good Yarn located on Blossom Street - a street seeing much change. Her father died recently and this is her way of trying to get on with her life in different ways.

Her first class is scheduled and the project is a simple baby blanket. Three ladies sign up for the class: Jaqueline, Carol and Alix. Each woman learns to knit as well as share their lives with each other.

This is a beautiful story. It is the first book by Debbie Macomber that I've read. The plot centering around a knitting shop sparked my interest because I am a knitter and cross stitcher. This story could easily be in a stitching shop as needlearts bring women together for support of all kinds.

Faith, hope courage & second chances blossom for these women characters. Thankfully, a little "Yarn" shop was there to help. I absolutely loved this story, and would you believe, that I've recently been watching Youtube videos to help teach me knitting! When I decided it was time to put my little frustration down & read a new book, why there it was, staring me in the face! I've yet to conquer this new craft, and I'm determined. I could use a "Lydia!" =)

The Shop on Blossom Street is a well written piece of work. The characters come across very easily and the quality of her writing is much more refined, which among other things had me hooked to the story. It is one of the many deep stories I have enjoyed. Among others like Splendid Comets, The Good Earth, Madame Bovary. I will keep my eyes open for Debbie Macomber's next story.

This is the story of four women: Lydia, a cancer survivor who opens a yarn store, and her first three customers/students, Jacqueline, a society matron, Carol, a business woman trying to get pregnant, and wild-child Alix. The book takes us through their lives and how being in a knitting group together changes them.

This was, by far, the most predictable, formulaic book I've ever read. As soon as every woman's story, and those of supporting characters, was laid out, I knew exactly what was going to happen with each main character, and, sadly, I was right.

It's a fine story if you're looking for a comfortable, female-centric feel-good novel. But don't come to this looking for any depth. It's very simply a light, happily-ever-after.

As a yarn-crafter, and member of my own crafting group, I wanted to love this book. I'm a little sad that I didn't.

The craft shop, A Good Yarn, in Seattle (based on Linda's Knit 'n' Stitch in Silverdale, Washington) advertised classes for beginner knitters. Four women from unusual circumstances, all with health or interpersonal problems, become friends as they learn the age-old craft of knitting. "Knit-one-pearl-two."

Karen Alfke is quoted, "The yarn forms the stitches, the knitting forges the friendships, the craft links the generations." Evelyn crocheted a bed cover for me, though not perfect, I knew it was filled with her effort and love for her kid sister. I returned the favor by cross-stitching an intricate design of ducks, a quote, and elaborate background for a gift to give to one of her daughters. I did a dark brown silhouette cross-stitch of hunter, dog, and gun by a pond with the ducks flying over -- before my stroke which damaged my eyesight. I coun't draw, but I could create beautiful cross-stitch designs -- no more!

"Knitting goes with us, it calms us."Viki knitted a special "wrap" for her son and is always doing her crafts. Like Jackie, I have had to live with 'ill-natured' daughters-in-law, which makes familes ties loose and dangling. At least, she knitted the baby quilt for her first grandchild to show her good wishes for an easy birth.

Ms Macomber has come out with two knitting books, and these books with address titles: 44 CRANBERRY POINT (2004), 16 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD, 204 ROSEWOOD LANE, 311 PELICAN COURT, and 50 HARBOR STREET (all released in 2005).

I gave this book four stars because I am excited about the new characters and the new beginning of a series for Ms Macomber.

The style of writing was a little different but once I got used to it I thought it very nice. This is a story that shows there is hope in all of us even if just a tiny spec. Angels where we least expect them and that love is close at hand if we are open to it and take a look. I especially liked the part of the youth minister. They play an important part in the life of the community and fall in love too! A good book once again from Debbie Macomber.

I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read in so long because I have been knitting like a psycho both for profit and for charity. I got the book yesterday at 3pm and it was finished by 11pm (and I have 3 kids and a husband to juggle around reading and knitting :))!

The plot is simple and yes, at times, predictable but it was still a nice way to spend the evening (instead in front of the TV). The book is very heartwarming and at times I laughed out loud, I also shed a few tears (joy, sorrow, empathy, sympathy).

The pattern is nice, I wish it had been within the book, where it was introduced in context in the chapter, not at the front, but that is just me.

Being a complete knitting psycho, I also bought the companion book, Knit Along with Debbie Macomber for this book and the 11 patterns are FABULOUS. If you get one book AND you knit, you HAVE to get the other book. The 11 patterns are all very different, different skill levels, 2 by Ann Norling and one by Carole Prior (I have some other knitting leaflets by her as well).

****Don't read the Knit Along before you read the book, it will be a bit of a spoiler as it gives away who has what baby and which blankets were made for whom in it. There is a Sailboat Blanket that is simply adorable in the Knit Along, I have never seen another pattern like it, can't wait to make it up (but won't make the white cables, I'll figure a way to make the whole thing in "one piece", I hate piecing!).

Great books, can't wait to get A Good Yarn, although it has received mixed reviews. Again, if you knit or are contemplating it, buy the knit along as well, you will have a more richer and rewarding experience!

Also, I plan on knitting up one of each of the 3 squares in the back of the Knit Along for the charity Warm Up America! project this week (before I start any new projects), I hope everyone else that gets these books does the same, especially in light of the recent Hurricane that has ravaged the south, I know they will need warm blankets and comfort.

This book tells the stories of four women with one knitting class in common. Each character is very different and superbly developed. The rotating style of the book gives each character a short chapter which continues throughout. This adds greatly to keeping order of the characters and those around them and avoids leaving the reader confused with all the various people. Having knowledge of knitting causes one to smile every so often but is certainly not requisite to read this book. This is an excellent vacation book and very relaxing to read.

A great story about four women who become friends while experiencing many totally different life experiences. One of my favorite kinds of books to read. The story of women's friendships and how women support each other is always uplifting, heartwarming, all those good adjectives. This is a love story. Love for husband, love for child, love for friends, new love.
On to book 2...

This book I would recommend to everyone. The four are captivating and you won't want to miss a minute. They are by far one of the best friendship groups I have read in a long time.

Lydia, who is a cancer survivor, takes a chance and opens her own knitting supply shop. She decides to start up a class to get things going. What she doesn't expect is the story. All four are classical type women from books, but the storyline is fab.

I could guess what was going to happen, but didn't make me love the story any less. I am glad that I have the next book A Good Yarn, so I can continue the story today!

A very nicely crafted book that takes you outside of yourself into the hearts and minds of a circle of friends. This is book one. I could not wait to get started on book two and find out what happened to these interesting friends. I only regret there is a book three. If one ever get published, I'll definitely be "Back on Blossom Street".

I picked this up as an "airport" read, expecting a bit of fluff. Instead, I was treated to a rich, deep, wonderful story worth savoring. By the half-way point, I couldn't put it down! I was surprised at how well the characters are drawn, and loved the interactions among them. I cried several times toward the end, from identifying with the characters. And after finishing, I wished it wasn't over - just because I was enjoying it so much. I'm really looking forward to the sequel _A Good Yarn_.

I don't often go out of my way to recommend books, but this one is worth it.

I don't usually read this type of book. I'm more of a mystery reader and read authors such as David Baldacci, Lee Child & Harlan Coben to name a few. I was looking for something that delved more into the lives of people and I was not disappointed in this book. This was my first Debbie Macomber book and it won't be my last. I read this book in 24 hours because I did not want to put it down. The characters are so rich that I kept wanting to know what was going to happen to them. I have already purchased "A Good Yarn" and I hope that will give me as much reading pleasure as "The Shop On Blossom Street" did. You will not be disappointed with this read!

This is my second book in the Blossom Street series and I found it difficult to put down. Three women join the proprietor of a new yarn shop in Seattle for weekly knitting lessons. Each of the four have issues that they may not be aware will affect the group. As they spend more time together, lives are changed by the interactions of the group members. Sweet romance is a given. I'm on to the next book in the series!

I really enjoyed this book. It made me want to learn to knit, and it was inspirational. I found it a little predictable, but I still enjoyed it. I look forward to reading the other Blossom Street books.

This book as are the others within the series are very easy, light reads. You do not have to be a knitter to enjoy the Blossom Street series. I would definitely recommend this book and others in the series.

I have read the first two books in the series "The Shop on Blossom Street". Great book. Good Stories. By the time I was done I thought I would like to learn to knit. Recently in the last several month, I came upon a yarn shop in a nearby town. I decided to check it out. When I went in it was cute and had a table in the middle of the shop. The girl told me after she read the book she knew she had to open a shop. I talked to the girl and she ask if I had read "The Shop on Blossom Street" and I said yes. Her shop is designed after that book. PERFECT!
Without knowing me the girl ask if I have read the second book. I said no and she grabbed it off the shelf and handed it to me. It is called "A Good Yarn"....the name of the shop. It was also a very very good book. There is one more in that series. "Back to the Shop on Blossom Street". I do not have that yet.
So, when I took the book back to the "YARNS R US" shop, the girl handed me a card to see if I wanted to learn to knit. I am going to the class this weekend. 7/14/07. What's really neat is that there is a series of knitting instruction books designed from "The Shop on Blossom Street".
Really neat. The socks are in there whick is from the second book.
The sweaters from the frist book are there too.

Buy the books, neat clean reading!!

I love this author, and this book is in keeping with her best!!! I loved the characters and the pace of the book, although alittle predictable, it still comes with charm. I could feel the characters joys and pains, (which is a trade mark, I think of Debbies) and came full circle with their stories. Debbie, you did it again. Thank you for this book it was a great story. Can't wait for the next. Loved the hardback addition, made this book feel special and it was.

Debbie Macomber is a popular writer for women's literature. In this story, she united four women of different backgrounds, whoes lives may otherwise never intertwine, through their enrolment in a knitting class.

Lydia Hoffman is a twice cancer survival who ownes the knit shop A Good Yarn. Through the courage of setting up the shop, she learn to live again.

Jacqueline Donovan, a rich socialite, estranged from her husband, joined the knitting class to knit a baby blanket for her soon to be born grandchild, whoes mother she does not approve of.

Carol Girand is hoping that the baby blanket brings with it the baby she so yearned for, having failed IVF twice.

Alix Townsend, the punk haired problem video shop girl joined the class as she has a court ordered community project to fulfill.

Debbie Macomber has generously shared the baby blanket pattern in the book for readers. Some chapters are also accompanied by quotes on life lessons from famous knitters.

One may just pick up knitting after reading this book.

If you need something to read while at the pool this will fill the bill. It's a very pleasant book, which is what I expect from Ms. Macomber. The characters were for the most part likable. However, the solutions for their problems were too simple and unrealistic. You'll see them coming a mile away.

Being an avid knitter and having lived in Seattle I thought this would be a great book. The premise is likable- three women and a shop owner from different backgrounds getting to know one another in a knitting group. Within the forst few chapters the author repeats herself so often it gets annoyoing. Clarifying things that were obvious from the get-go, "Just when I was getting ready to close I saw my sister walking across the street toward the shop. She had only come here once before, on my first day of business. She'd taken such pride in forecasting financial disaster..." yeah, we know that... we read that interaction 20 pages ago. And she does this several times, it's strange- as if she wrote each chapter to be stand alone... or she thinks her readers won't remember.

What bothered me the most was how out of touch the writer seems to be with the younger generation. The young character in the novel is punk- black leather pants, purple mohawk. Nothing shocking in Seattle! Yet she is painted with such generalities, angry, no self esteem... all she needs is to go to church and get a nice makeover! Voila! Give me a break. I seriously had to go back and see how long ago this was written because I can't imagine anyone being so out of touch with the younger generation. I was saddened to read that it was only 5 years ago- the author has a narrow view of young people thinking that church and a long skirt and blouse with cuffs that button at the wrist is what will make her happy.

Lydia Hoffman, a twice cancer survivor opens a little yarn shop on Blossom Street in Seattle. She starts an knitting class with the first assignment being a baby blanket. Wealthy Jacqueline Donovan, who dislikes her daughter-in-law, joins to knit a blanket for her grandchild. Carol Girard is on her final attempt to have a baby using fertility drugs and joins to knit for hope. Alix Townsend joins to work off her court-ordered community service. Surprising relationships develop and through this class, the group starts anew.

Debbie always has a way of making you feel part of her stories! Her Cedar Cove Series is one of my favorites- I'm thinking Blossom Street will be second. You will laugh, cry, get angry and a whole slew of emotions reading her boo k s. Hope you enjoy them as much as i.

I thought this was a wonderful story by Debbie Macomber. The author's made sure that each of the four main women in the story had depth in their character. Her style of writing just gave me the feeling that these were real people with pains and heartaches that I just couldn't help but feel attached too. I'm glad she wrote a sequel to this novel. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this novel to my friends. It's a super novel.

I have always loved Debbie Macomber. The Shop on Blossom Street was a bit slow in the beginning. It was interesting the interaction between the 4 women in the yarn shop. T is NOT a book the I could not put down, in fact I struggled to finish it.

I know I can count on Debbie Macomber for a great read. Her books flow with an easy read, the stories are believable and entertaining. I also like that she has her books in a series, I know what I'm reading next!

Four women with very different backgrounds come together through knitting classes. A cancer survivor, a young woman who's hard on the outside, a society matron and a woman desperate to become a mother. The story takes these lives through a year of turmoil and growth.

Macomber knits a gentle tale of friendship, of hope...of love. Guarenteed to touch your heart.

I have enjoyed all the " Blossom Street " books. Debbie Macomber takes you into the lives of each character and you feel as if you know them. The series of Blossom Street books, deals with real life issues that could easily the the issues of someone you know.

Great series! Debbie Macomber is one of my favorite authors; she draws you into each of the story lines and you fall in love with the characters. This is the first of thirteen books in the Blossom Street series.

This was a nice, light, fun read! I loved how each if the four ladies in the knitting class were so different, yet learned to truly care for each other and show mercy and grace in the end. A lesson we could all learn!

A quick and easy read, with believable characters... which one were/are you? I found myself accurately predicting the ending too early for there to be much suspense, yet I enjoyed the stories of each of these ladies and their friendships. I used to knit... maybe I will again... with a group of ladies after reading this first book of the knitting series.

Debbie Macomber shows her mastering skill of character development in this tale of 4 women who, against all odds, become positively engaged in each others lives. I'm not sure about the other readers, but I fell in love with A-l-i-x! Behind her strong character, she never ceased to amaze me with her soft heart. I will definitely re-read this book!

This is a story of women from different ages and backgrounds coming together over knitting and yarn. It's realistic. Modeled somewhat after some of the quilting theme. IT's a warm interesting story that keeps you turning the pages. Characters are thos you want to hear more about (and I did in the follow-on volume). Very good reading.

My mother-in-law read this in her book club and was immediately thinking of me in connection to the character that suffers with fertility. She and her book club spent months learning to knit the baby blanket described in the book and then sent it to me as a gift along with a copy of the book. I was astounded that this group of women (most of whom I have never met)were so inspired by a book that they learned to knit me a baby blanket. I read it in one sitting. It's a very light, pleasant read. While not intellectually stimulating, I still enjoyed the characters and their developing relationships.

This is a great story for a rainy or snowy or lazy afternoon. It a good mixture of sappy, funny and sad. Not enough sadness to drag it down but to add character to the story. What's even better is a free knitting project.

I enjoyed this book thoroughly with one problem, the repetition at the beginning of chapters - I was so engrossed in the characters I already knew about them and didn't need a recap! I raced right through this book and then couldn't wait to begin A Good Yarn. I am looking at other titles for Debbie Macomber.

I have read almost every book that Debbie Macomber ever wrote, and this book is excellent! I started reading it at 6pm when my husband left for work, and I finished reading it at 11pm, when I finally crawled into bed. I COULD NOT put the book down until I finished it! There are so many characters in this book that could be given stories of their own, so I am hoping just maybe Debbie will consider a sequel.

Can four women who have nothing in common bond over the course of a knitting class being offered at a new shop, you bet they can. Debbie Macomber weaves a wonderful story about friendships and how the least likely people can relate to each other when they find they have a common ground on which to stand.

The story follows 4 very different women. I simply could not put it down because each chapter follows a different woman and I was dying to find out what happened next! In the end, you can't help but fall in love with all of them, and I admit that I cried with their heartaches and then again at their victories.

The Shop on Blossom Street was a nice light read for the beach. It was also a quick read so I went on to read Book 2 of the series. I would recommend reading the series in order, starting with this, the first book.

I enjoyed all four characters in this book, although I struggled with their "poor me" tendencies at one point or another. The good news was that they all got over it.

I always enjoy this author and know her stories will be a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Totally loved this book and that it was written with the ability to read a chapter or two and put it down to sleep and pick up again the next day. As a knitting single mom to 4 kids, the ability to pick up and put down w/o many issues is huge. This book was relatable and endearing. Can't wait to dive into the sequel.

A friend of mine gave me this book and how I enjoyed the story. I could not put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen to each knitter. All their lives were so different, yet they shared the common thread-knitting. What a great way to put a hobby into a story. Knitting and sewing groups are very much like this story, in that a person gains friendships. I plan to read the next book "A Good Yarn".

Debbie has done it again with this book. I enjoyed the company. I'm a shut in and live in a very rural area so a knitting group is not possible for me. This book ended way too soon!! I'm looking forward to more books in this series!!

Such a nice, touching read about a group of ladies from such different backgrounds brought together with the desire to learn to knit. As a beginner knitter I can relate to my own group of friends from different backgrounds in our newly formed group.

I honestly don't remember if I read something that trite ever. From the very first pages, I had the feeling I was before a "packaged" product, whether the agent of that packaging is some "writer's software", or some other assembly-line system of writing that spits out one formula after the other.

And, as if that were not enough, the content itself is a series of cliches strung mercilessly one after the other.

The women in this book are mostly the "wait-for-your-man-and-cater-to-him" type, with nauseating cliches about their magic works in the kitchen, women who say things like "a man I could lean on", women who "make meals to please their husbands", women who are distraught they "disappointed their husbands" because they couldn't bear them babies.. etc..etc.

So, the author seems to believe it is just that type of woman who would be into knitting, repeating the old (and ignorant) stereotype about knitters as a species.

Then, the author keeps repeating writing about events she'd stated, over and over again like she'd forgotten she already mentioned them, and my question is: did she not revise even once? Where was the editor??

As if that were not enough, she over-explains everything like she's writing to dimwits who have to have everything explained and re-explained to them in order for them to "get it"!

As for her dialogues, I found myself constantly wondering, "WHO ON EARTH SPEAKS LIKE THAT???"

Cliched words, cliched situations, cliched men and women, cliched stories and cliched endings... Smacks of some "machine-writing" to me... maybe a new "writing wiz" that you feed a few keywords the way you put in a search engine and it vomits a story out to you? But then again, I could be wrong, and this story could be solely the product of the author's imagination... which would be infinitely worse...

There is but one redeeming feature in this book, however, aspiring writers could use it as a way to learn how NOT to write, its merit lies in its instructive value as a perfect specimen of dreadful writing.

This is my second Debbie Macomber series and I love it as much as the first. She has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are there and can see every expression. I love the way she brings together unlikely people who become friends and help each other through their various life circumstances.

A friend of mine gave me this book and how I enjoyed the story. I could not put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen to each knitter. All their lives were so different, yet they shared the common thread-knitting. What a great way to put a hobby into a story. Knitting and sewing groups are very much like this story, in that a person gains friendships. I plan to read the next book "A Good Yarn".

Debbie has done it again with this book. I enjoyed the company. I'm a shut in and live in a very rural area so a knitting group is not possible for me. This book ended way too soon!! I'm looking forward to more books in this series!!

Such a nice, touching read about a group of ladies from such different backgrounds brought together with the desire to learn to knit. As a beginner knitter I can relate to my own group of friends from different backgrounds in our newly formed group.

I honestly don't remember if I read something that trite ever. From the very first pages, I had the feeling I was before a "packaged" product, whether the agent of that packaging is some "writer's software", or some other assembly-line system of writing that spits out one formula after the other.

And, as if that were not enough, the content itself is a series of cliches strung mercilessly one after the other.

The women in this book are mostly the "wait-for-your-man-and-cater-to-him" type, with nauseating cliches about their magic works in the kitchen, women who say things like "a man I could lean on", women who "make meals to please their husbands", women who are distraught they "disappointed their husbands" because they couldn't bear them babies.. etc..etc.

So, the author seems to believe it is just that type of woman who would be into knitting, repeating the old (and ignorant) stereotype about knitters as a species.

Then, the author keeps repeating writing about events she'd stated, over and over again like she'd forgotten she already mentioned them, and my question is: did she not revise even once? Where was the editor??

As if that were not enough, she over-explains everything like she's writing to dimwits who have to have everything explained and re-explained to them in order for them to "get it"!

As for her dialogues, I found myself constantly wondering, "WHO ON EARTH SPEAKS LIKE THAT???"

Cliched words, cliched situations, cliched men and women, cliched stories and cliched endings... Smacks of some "machine-writing" to me... maybe a new "writing wiz" that you feed a few keywords the way you put in a search engine and it vomits a story out to you? But then again, I could be wrong, and this story could be solely the product of the author's imagination... which would be infinitely worse...

There is but one redeeming feature in this book, however, aspiring writers could use it as a way to learn how NOT to write, its merit lies in its instructive value as a perfect specimen of dreadful writing.

This is my second Debbie Macomber series and I love it as much as the first. She has a way of writing that makes you feel like you are there and can see every expression. I love the way she brings together unlikely people who become friends and help each other through their various life circumstances.

I liked reading this book. The author must have talked to someone with cancer because many of the feelings that I had during the three years I battled cancer were the same as Lynda. It was predictable. You knew everyone would have a happy ending to their story, which is not a bad thing but not realistic.

My mother loved this book and sent it to me along with "A Good Yarn", as we also are knitters. However, I felt that the author did not delve deeply below the surface of each of the 4 characters. Each chapter was repetitive and predictable. Carol's character in particular was tiresome, but a good cook, although probably not as good a cook as Jacqueline's daugher in law! Chapter after chapter droned on while I waited for the plot to move forward. I enjoyed the Seattle setting but wished that there was more substance to this tale. It is a sweet story and a quick read with many repetitive chapters. Ms. Macomber could have "ripped out" a few chapters or gave each character greater depth. And now I have to read A Good Yarn.

I have just finished "The Shop On Blossom Street" and absolutely loved it! I couldn't put it down it was so down to earth, refreshing and something we all could use in our lives; good friends, hopes, dreams and sharing our knitting craft. I can't wait to start "A Good Yarn"!

LK

New York

Another outstanding story line. I was recently introduced to Debbie by mail order, never had I heard of this author, however after reading "A Good Yarn" and this book the sequel, I have become a dedicated reader. This is a must read!

I thought this was a wonderful book. The author did an excellent job of developing the characters in such a way that made them seem so real to me. I read it at the beach last week and could not have asked for a better read as I soaked up the sun and just relaxed. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to all my friends.

This was an easy read and pretty predictable. I was hoping for something a little deeper. Please don't tell me 4 times how the character wears a black leather coat and black leather boots. I got it the first time. So many of the character descriptions were repetitive.

Debbie Macomber tells such wonderful and clean stories, it is easy to get into the story and each of her characters. I've only recently started reading her books, but have read many of them and loved them all.

WOW! Another one from Debbie. You can never go wrong in one of her books. When you are reading it, it makes you feel like you are there. Heart warming. Get this book. When you do get two. Share one. I did.
Thanks again Debbie

I thought the dialogue was awkward and overly dramatic, and the whole storyline was unrealistic. Many times, the author repeated herself, as if she forgot that a particular point had already been made just a few pages before. There wasn't enough character development, either.

If a poorly written soap opera theme is to your liking, this may be a book to read...In my opinion it is just plain awful,immature,fairy tale..nothing rings true...except one's desire for a child..How on earth did a publisher ever accept it..

I have just started this series but I loved this book. I felt like I was getting to know each of the characters personally. I have ordered three more of the books in this series. It seems like after you get involved with the characters in these series. you just have to have the complete series to find out what happens to the characters and meet all of the new ones introduced in the next book. You get just as involved in their problems and cannot wait to find out what the outcome will be.

I thought this was a wonderful book. The author did an excellent job of developing the characters in such a way that made them seem so real to me. I read it at the beach last week and could not have asked for a better read as I soaked up the sun and just relaxed. Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to all my friends.

The Shop on Blossom Street chronicles the lives of four very different women at different stages in their lives. Lydia Hoffman has survived bouts with cancer twice. Her recently deceased father was her inspiration for opening her yarn store in Seattle. Her sister Margaret does not provide much support for her at the beginning but they come to realize how important they are to one another. Lydia nervously discovers again how it feels to be in love for the first time in a long time. Carol and her husband Doug are trying earnestly to have a baby. Carol signs up for Lydia's knitting class where the first project is a baby blanket. Although it happens in an untraditional manner, Carol and Doug do see their dreams come true. Alix Townsend has struggled on her own since she was 16 years old. Alix signs up for the course hoping to work off some community hours from a recent drug arrest. Alix is able to rediscover a love from a long ago, a new friend, and a new career. Jacqueline and Reese Donovan have been married for 33 years. The flicker of romance has long gone out of their lives. Their son Paul married Tammy Lee, a woman that Jacqueline despises. But when they announce she's pregnant, Jacqueline is determined to be the best Grandma and wants to learn to knit a baby blanket. Only with the help of Tammy Lee, do Jacqueline and Reese rekindle the magic in their marriage. Lydia, Carol, Jacqueline, and Alix were four strangers who became friends. The Shop on Blossom Street provides a predictable story of hope and love that we all need.

Books are supposed to make you think. They're supposed to take you away from where you are, and show you new things. Books like this are designed to show you places you have already been, giving you the message that everything is ok, and that everything will be ok forever. There isn't a challenging sentence in the whole work. I'm glad I read this after finding it left behind on a bus instead of spending my hard earned money on it. I'd give no stars if I could.

And yes, I am a knitter.

WOW! Another one from Debbie. You can never go wrong in one of her books. When you are reading it, it makes you feel like you are there. Heart warming. Get this book. When you do get two. Share one. I did.
Thanks again Debbie

I thought the dialogue was awkward and overly dramatic, and the whole storyline was unrealistic. Many times, the author repeated herself, as if she forgot that a particular point had already been made just a few pages before. There wasn't enough character development, either.

If a poorly written soap opera theme is to your liking, this may be a book to read...In my opinion it is just plain awful,immature,fairy tale..nothing rings true...except one's desire for a child..How on earth did a publisher ever accept it..

Books are supposed to make you think. They're supposed to take you away from where you are, and show you new things. Books like this are designed to show you places you have already been, giving you the message that everything is ok, and that everything will be ok forever. There isn't a challenging sentence in the whole work. I'm glad I read this after finding it left behind on a bus instead of spending my hard earned money on it. I'd give no stars if I could.

And yes, I am a knitter.