Lara runs a flower shop called Bloom & Grow which exposes her to people at all sorts of occasions in their lives - from the tragic to the celebratory. Lara is no stranger to heartbreak herself, losing her mother at a young age and then her own baby during pregnancy. And there are more hard times ahead for this compassionate and caring florist. The story interweaves a multitude of other characters who are all connected somehow through the shop. Their inclusion into the story is seamless and it is a testament to Griffin's storytelling skills that you grow attached to even the most fleeting of characters. This is a wonderfully genuine and emotional read that should rightly enjoy the sweet smell of success.
The Flower Arrangement, by Ella Griffin, is a story centred around a Dublin florist. The summary says: "Golden peonies bowing their heads beneath blue delphinium bells. Delicate pink anemones threaded between freckled green orchids. Soft apricot roses woven together with velvety purple irises. Every bouquet tells a story. And every story begins at Blossom & Grow, a tiny jewel-like flower shop in the heart of Dublin. Here, among the buckets of fragrant blooms, beneath the flickering candles and lanterns, Lara works her magic. Translating feelings into flower arrangements that change hearts and lives. But what about her own heart? Has she really healed since she lost her chance to be a mother? What will happen when her own story takes a sudden turn? Can the flowers that heal the customers work their magic on the florist?" The Flower Arrangement is out in May 2015.