Bed of roses

Briar's Reviews

Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts is one of my favourite romances!

I love wedding themed works - movies, books, art, pictures, clothing, dresses, make-up, hair, etc! I love all of it and I am totally obsessed with the beauty! At the time of reading this book, I was OBSESSED with wedding dress shows, so it was only fitting that I binged all four book in this fantabulous series! 

Nora writes a beautiful contemporary romance novel that fits well within the series. It moves as a steady pace and is full of super sweet drama and romance that will make your heart melt. The plot is simple, yet it works so elegantly. Normally I'd get bored with a book like this, but this series just hit me the right way. 

What really shines in this book is not the romance, but the friendship and companionship of the four women! While I do love the ooey gooey romance Nora provides, I love that the female friendship was such an integral part of the story. It's something that I feel is missing from literature these days! Good, quality friendships! 

Nora has won me over and I definitely want to read more by her! I also hope to find more books like this, because it totally wow-ed my socks off! The cover was also stunning, which added to feel of this book.

If there is a negative about this book, it's that it is so simple and a relatively "typical" plot for a romance novel. To me, I loved it! Yes it's not mind blowing, but it was well written and was a lovely binge read. Additionally, the reader is bound to find certain girls more interesting than the others in this four part series. I definitely related to two of the girls more than the others, but all readers are different!

I'd definitely recommend this series if you want a super cute romance novel that isn't going to make you think hard. It's soft, sweet and fun! Plus, it's closer to a PG or PG-13 rating, so it's nice and calm!

Five out of five stars!

Lover of Romance 

Emma Grant is one of the four women of the Bride Quartet, who started the wedding business "Vows", Emma's special talent is the floral side of weddings. Emma has a love and passion for anything that grows, and to make anything beautiful for the bride. Emma is one of those women, that attract men like bees to honey. However she is pretty picky, and is looking for love and marriage and a family and the "happily ever after" that she has always dreamed of. When her close friend Parker, whom she has known close to forever, kisses her one night, and a passion flares up surprisingly between them, she knows in her heart that she could definitely fall in love with him. Parker has always had a woman on his arm, but never a strong serious relationship that lasts. Ever since his parents got divorced, he has a fear of a woman coming into his home and taking over. However he always has had a thing for Emma, and when he kisses her one night, he knows things between them will never be the same. For their is a pulling force that he can't deny with her, and he knows he never would want to live a life without her, but the road is bound to get rocky with these two. One wanting a long term love, and the other wanting something just temporary; but sometimes love has different plans.

Well I have to say that I truly enjoyed reading the second one of the Bride Quartet of Nora Roberts, and if the rest of the series is as good as these two books that I have read so far, it will be no doubt my favorite series of hers. My heart just swarmed to this couple, especially to Emma. Emma is such a sweet loving woman, who only dreams of finding love and marriage and a happily ever after. Since her parents have had such a great marriage, she wants the same. However, she never thought that she would fall in love with the one person she knows is the least committed person when relationships are involved. However she just decides to enjoy the moment, and though she knows she is falling for him, she doesn't want to ruin what they have quite yet. Parker however is totally opposite when a woman is involved, but with things progressing with Emma he denies to himself what he truly feels with her, and what he wants with her for the rest of his life. There is a bit of a rocky road ahead for these two, but its a enjoyable and satisfying story and very emotional especially toward the end, that I definitely had to get a box of tissues. I don't know if its better than the first one, but I think they are on the same level, although I have to say that I love this couple a bit more. I also enjoyed the emotional side of this tender love story. I am so glad that I have finally read this one, and I recommend it to anyone that likes a good emotional love story.

Nora Roberts

Florist Emma Grant despairs of ever finding Mr. Right, until she develops feelings for Jack Cooke, an architect who works closely with her and her colleagues at Vows wedding planning.

Bed of Roses

Elizabeth Clement

I was disappointed. Definitely love NR, but this was a miss in my opinion. I loved Emma, Jack and the rest of the characters. But I just didn't feel like there was enough conflict or juicy storyline happening outside Emma and Jack's relationship (or within it, for that matter). Really dragged after the halfway point.

Celeste Richardson

While the first installment of this series will always be my favorite, the second book is just as sweet. Emmaline is a crazy-talented florist, crafting bouquets and centerpieces that are works of art for Vows, the wedding business she runs with her three best friends. She’s had the hots for Jack, her best friend’s brother’s best friend, for 10 years now, but has never made a move because she didn’t want to make their friendship awkward. Turns out, the feeling and the fear that accompanies it are mutual. 

Watching Emma and Jack navigate the slippery slope between romance and long-term friendship was sweet and fun and made me teary in a few places, if I’m being honest. Emma is a bombshell, graced with phenomenal genes from her Latin goddess of a mother. But what makes her so special is her sweetness. Here is a woman who will always stop to not only smell the roses, but to pick one and bring it to a friend in need of cheering. She is good to her core, and can always find a silver lining to every cloud. Jack is an architect, funny and bold and movie-star gorgeous. They make a killer couple.
 
And, like all Nora novels, they get their happy ending. There might be bumps along the road, but there are always great friends to pick you up and dust you off and help you find your rainbow’s end.

Tameka Young

I just finished reading this entire series, but I have a soft spot for Jack and Emma, probably because I'm a complete sap. Definitely recommend this one!

Helena Cristina Nogueira Pereira

Lynn Braden

Emma Grant and Jack Cooke have been friends for years, but when they finally decide to date one another, it's with the understanding that they can't allow what happens in their relationship to dissolve their friendship. Even though Emma recognizes that Jack has problems with commitment, her romantic nature gets the best of her, and it isn't long before she realizes that their differing needs may destroy more than just their friendship.

Bed of Roses is definitely a comfort read. The pace continuously keeps the story moving, but at a relaxing tempo that allows the reader to enjoy the descriptions of all of the lovely flowers used in many ways throughout the book. The deliberate build up of the relationship between Emma and Jack gives the impression of really following this couple as they navigate the ins and outs of a romance as it develops between these long-time friends. Although Emma seems to overreact toward the end of the story, overall Bed of Roses is another good entry in the Bride Quartet.

Love blooms in the second novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts’ celebrated Bride Quartet. Wedding florist Emma Grant gets to play with flowers every day and work with her three best friends in the process. She couldn’t ask for a better job. And her love life seems to be thriving. Though men swarm around her, she still hasn’t found Mr. Right. And the last place she’s looking is right under her nose. But that’s just where Jack Cooke is. He’s so close to the women of Vows that he’s practically family. Now though, the architect has begun to admit to himself that his feelings for Emma have developed into much more than friendship. And when Emma returns his passion—kiss for blistering kiss, they must trust in their history—and in their hearts… Don't miss the other books in the Bride Quartet Vision in White Savor the Moment Happy Ever After