Poppy's Proposal

4.5 stars<br /><br /><i>Poppy's Proposal</i> is the third book in a Christian romance series that centers around the story of Poppy (30) and Harrison (32). These two have been friends since high school but lost touch over the years. <br /><br />Poppy works at her family's farm, Blooms Farm, while Harrison is a lawyer running for office and needs to get married to improve his poll numbers for his gubernatorial campaign.<br /><br />Poppy agrees to marry Harrison to help her family's farm, while Harrison sees it as a way to boost his public image. The book explores their relationship as they navigate the challenges of a marriage of convenience, including their conflicting expectations and desires.<br /><br /><b> <u>POPPY’S PROPOSAL</u> </b><br />● Poppy (30) &amp; Harrison (32)<br />● works at the family farm “Blooms Farm” / lawyer running for office<br />● needs to get married to make him look good for being governor<br />● poll numbers would be good if he was married<br />● Poppy does it to help her family's farm<br />● friends since high school but hadn’t seen each other in years<br />● back then she had liked him more than just a friend except he kept letting her down<br />● Christian romance<br />● marriage of convenience<br />● small-town in Indiana<br /><br />This timeline runs simultaneously with the previous books in the series - Hoping for Hawthorne &amp; A Date for Daisy.<br /><br />The Bloom Sisters (+ their brother) series:<br />#1 Hawthorne &amp; Avery - Hoping for Hawthorne<br />#2 Daisy &amp; Lance - A Date for Daisy<br />#3 Poppy &amp; Harrison - Poppy’s Proposal<br />#4 Lavender &amp; Emmett - Lavender and Lace<br />#5 Lily &amp; Josh - Longing for Lily<br />#6 Rose &amp; Tates - Resisting Rose<br />#7 Andi &amp; Ross - Dancing with Dandelion<br /><br /><blockquote>Audiobook source: Hoopla<br />Narrator: Lorana Hoopes<br />Length: 6H 57M<br /><br /><br /><br /></blockquote>

All along, I've fully expected Poppy to be my favorite Bloom book because of the trope, but I have to say that Lavender still holds that place. Although not all the dots connected for me in this one (probably because I'm busier and kind of sick this week, but I just wished they'd at least been honest with each other), I enjoyed the time with the Blooms and loved the final decisions and maturity growth at the end of the book. Overall, would recommend a more knowledgeable copyeditor for the series, which is no judgment on the author or the story. I really like that Jesus is named in these books and that the characters pray over their decisions, and love the dynamic between the siblings. I'm the middle of 7 kids too, but I think Poppy is more like the sister right after me, as I never felt overlooked or second choice like she does. ?

<i> "With or without Harrison, if you do everything you can to make the world a better place and to show the people around you - whether it is two people, or two million - who Jesus is? Then you have influence." </i><br /><br />I've really got to stop starting books at midnight when I know I'm going to be up until I finish them, lollll<br /><br />Marriage of convenience is honestly one of my favorite romance tropes. Something about it just gets to me every time, especially when they start out as friends, or at least acquaintances. I've only read it in a contemporary setting a couple of times, and, as the characters here point out, it's a rather unconventional thing nowadays. But I think Tara did a wonderful job not only justifying the marriage, but letting the characters wrestle with the idea of it.<br /><br />I've loved getting to know the Bloom family as the series progresses, and I love how you can see the events of the other books unfolding in the background of this one, it was so fun! Poppy and Harrison are both such amazing characters. Watching them fall in love made me so soft, man. <br /><br />Yeah, so far, this is my favorite of Tara's books that I've read, but I'm so looking forward to reading more very soon! <br /><br />4.5 stars from me! <br /><br />**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**

Quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, Ms. Ericson has done it again with Poppy's story. Can a marriage of convenience ever be anything more? Love is a choice.

Poppy’s proposal was the kind of easy to read romance that I needed today! I was so intrigued as to how the author was going to approach a modern day marriage of convenience story and I was not disappointed! Nothing in the plot felt overly contrived or forced and the marriage of convenience aspect took place with such ease. The family dynamic and genuine characters are what I love most about this series and Poppy’s Proposal offered both of these things throughout the book. The romance aspect took a bit to build, but when it developed there were definitely sparks and chemistry between the characters! It seems like each book that releases in this series I enjoy more than the last and this little farm and family are becoming so familiar to me and I love that! I truly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what is in store in the next one!

Poppy Bloom lives a quiet life helping manage her family's farm. She loves everything about growing fresh produce and helping manage the different aspects that keep their small farm up and running. If only she could somehow help more with the other similar outfits in their part of the state.<br /><br />Harrison Coulter is ready to make a run for the governor's office. But his political advisor is firm—his chances of gaining enough votes would be much higher if he was married. That's just how things are in a small, conservative state. There isn't much time to meet someone and fall in love—and besides, after having his heart broken once, he doesn't want to risk it again. But he can't stop thinking about his friend from high school. Would Poppy be open to a marriage that was a little unconventional if there was enough benefit for both of them?<br /><br />When Poppy first hears from Harrison, she's confused. She had a crush on him for years that was unrequited in the worst way. Why does he want to reconnect now?<br /><br />Marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes, and I can't recall ever reading one in a contemporary setting before. That's one of the reasons I knew I had to read this book. I thought the set-up was pretty good. I wished the story had a little more emotion to it. It's a given with marriage of convenience that a certain amount of practicality has to be on hand, but even in their interactions with other people, it seemed Poppy and Harrison were a little flat. I wish we'd been able to feel things with them a little deeper.<br /><br />I thought the strongest part of the novel was Harrison's grappling over his votes as a state senator. That felt very real and the decisions he weighed as he looked at both sides made sense to me. I'd hate to be in his position, and that's why I'm not a politician.<br /><br />Looking forward to the next novel in the Bloom Sisters series!<br /><br /><i>This review originated at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org">http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org</a></i>

I had never read this author before, but I will from now on. I loved Blooms Farm and that the names of all the children were all flowers. They were such a warm, welcoming group, made you wanted to know them.<br />This story has an outrageous premise. Harrison Coulter in preparation <br />to run for governor needs a wife. So he asks Poppy Bloom, a long ago friend that he hasn’t seen in years, seems logical, right? Maybe not, but it sure makes for a fun story!

I really enjoyed this marriage of convenience story. Poppy &amp; Harrison are complete opposites, and I was sure there was no way they’d ever be compatible. Boy was I wrong! No spoilers here, you just need to read it for yourself :)

Well, this was a breath of fresh air! It would appear that I have a new favorite of this series.<br />My first thought of this was something along the lines of, "Oh Poppy, why?" and her choices made for quite the interesting read. <br />I really liked the message of standing up for what you think is right even when others try to tear you down. Also it was nice that the story wasn't political even though Harrison was a politician. :)<br />One think I would have liked to see more of was flashbacks and funny stories of Poppy and Harrison when they were kids. It kept on mentioning that they were friends but I was missing the backstory that makes the story more believable. And as you know, everyone loves the strange and awkward situations memories bring up.<br />So all in all, I enjoyed this story and found it to be a fun and light read.<br />Rating: 4/5<br />Language: n/a<br />Romance: kiss x 3<br />Spiritual: characters all have strong faith<br />Violence: n/a<br />Note: no political parties mentioned<br />*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

I have fallen in love with the Bloom family. That's where I'm going to start with Poppy's Proposal. As a reader, don't you just love when characters become "friends"? My favorite aspect of this series is that we get to see all of the family in each book! The family just grows with each consecutive story.<br /><br />Once again, we start with Laura, the mom opening the story with a reflection on one of her daughters. This time it happens to be Poppy. I look forward to reading the prologue as well as the epilogue simply to hear her point of view. I think as a mom with grown children I relate to her.<br /><br />In previous novels Poppy was rather standoff-ish and I feel like we didn't really get a good sense of who she was. She was just on the periphery. Turns out, she feels that way about herself in her family so I appreciate the consistency of her character through the first books. I also liked that we were able to catch a glimpse of what her story would hold because we see her and Harrison working together in A Date for Daisy.<br /><br />Speaking of Harrison... can I just say he rubbed me the wrong way at the start of the story. His political advisor, Neil, is the one who pushes Harrison to go the marriage route in his bid for being Governor of Indiana. He was kind of a jerk years ago by ditching Polly not once, not twice, but three times! And while Polly does bring up the first instance, I wish she would've mentioned the other two as well. I feel like even though she agrees he was a "dumb high school boy" he was apparently also a dumb college boy. Harrison does remember earlier in the book the other times he left her high and dry so I was glad he was at least conscious of what he'd done.<br /><br />Whew, I digress...<br /><br />I really enjoyed the build up of Poppy's relationship with Harrison. While both of them believe they're going into this with the intention of it being basically a business deal, it's no surprise feelings begin to emerge. The crisis of their relationship, what their marriage was started from in the first place, really helps them show their true colors to each other.<br /><br />Sometimes it's so difficult to share what I love about a book because I can't actually say a lot without giving too much of the storyline away. Things like Harrison coming home overly tired one night, Poppy meeting Harrison's parents, Senator Hawkins, and Stacy. Those are just to name a few in the most cryptic way!<br /><br />Don't delay in getting started with this series! Lavender and Lace will be the next book in the series and I can't wait! I think if I were a Bloom sister my name would probably be Iris because Peony might not work.<br /><br />*I am on Tara's launch team. This is my personal opinion.