THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP BY THE SEA

Poppy Carmichael is a standoffish, hot-tempered woman who hates flowers with a passion. Unfortunately, flowers are the family business--and Poppy is dismayed when she inherits her grandmother's flower shop in a seaside village in England. With her charming English accent, narrator Emma Powell is convincing as the prickly young woman who takes offense at every comment, while hiding her vulnerability and compassion. A couple of details disrupt the listening experience: Powell's attempt at an American accent is distracting. Also, there are times when it sounds like Poppy's love interest, Jake, is referred to as Jack. Overall, though, Powell captures Poppy's struggles with relationships, her inability to deal with the dark tragedy in her past, and, finally, her healing process. M.M.G. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2015]