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    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3): A Novel
    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3): A Novel
    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3): A Novel
    Ebook369 pages7 hours

    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3): A Novel

    By Lorna Seilstad

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Tessa Gregory is nothing if not tenacious. Denied a position as a horticulturalist at prestigious Como Park in Saint Paul, she is not above a little benevolent deception in order to get the park superintendent to change his mind and hire her. She plans to infiltrate the world of wealthy and influential people in hopes of drumming up financial support for a world-class conservatory. But before she can put those plans into action, she meets Reese King, a handsome gardener at Como Park--and a major distraction. Still, Reese might be the key to achieving her dream. But is his goal to help her . . . or to capture her heart?

    Against a lush backdrop of early twentieth century Saint Paul, Minnesota, Lorna Seilstad weaves a sweet and sassy story that is sure to please. Tessa's young romance opens like a rose, stealing readers' hearts and filling their senses with the intoxicating fragrance of dreams come true.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBaker Publishing Group
    Release dateMay 12, 2015
    ISBN9781441223289
    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3): A Novel
    Author

    Lorna Seilstad

    Lorna Seilstad brings history back to life using a generous dash of humor. She is a Carol Award finalist and the author of the Lake Manawa Summers series and the Gregory Sisters series. When she isn’t eating chocolate, she’s teaches women’s Bible classes and is a 4-H leader in her home state of Iowa. She and her husband have three children. Learn more about Lorna at www.lornaseilstad.com.  

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    Reviews for As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3)

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      While the title of this books makes it clear that this is a romance, there is so much more to this story. Set in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1908, it is the first in a series about the three Gregory sisters.After the death of their parents, the oldest, Hannah, drops out of law school so that she can work to support her two younger sisters, Charlotte and Tessa. She applies for a job as a telephone operator. They were called "Hello Girls" at that time. They had to go through paid training first, and the rules were strict. They had to be between 17-26 years old, and unmarried. They also had to be of good moral character; no gentlemen callers during training, and church attendance on Sundays was mandatory. Once they were hired, there were even more rules, some of them sounding very bewildering with today's standards, such as they had to raise their hand to ask permission of their supervisor before sneezing.Hannah has always been one that has found it hard to follow the rules, so the training and the job are a challenge to her, especially when she has to use her knowledge from her time in law school to help a male friend who is in jail. She also attracts the attention of a young lawyer, Lincoln Cole, who feels very bad after he has to deliver the eviction notice from their family home when the money her parents left Hannah and her sisters has run out and she can longer pay the mortgage. Wanting to try to make it up to Hannah, he offers to help her friend pro bono. As much as Hannah wants to help her friend, she could lose her chance at a job as an operator if she is seen in the company of these two gentlemen.I really enjoyed this story, especially the history of the telephone operators. The author did a great job of blending a lot of historical facts about them, and other things that were going on at that time, so that they felt like a part of the story, and not history lesson. I am looking forward to the next book in this series, which will be about Charlotte and published next year.
    • 5/5
      Hannah Gregory is an outspoken young woman, a woman before her time. She wanted to become a lawyer, and had started college, when both of her parents died. She now has taken over the responsibility of taking care of her two sisters.They are living on a farm her parents owned when the book opens, and a young lawyer, representing the bank, tells them they have to leave. What an impression Lincoln Cole makes on Hannah, irrational as it is, he is just the messenger.Now we have a young man smitten with a woman who blames him for the loss of their home. They are now homeless orphans!The Lord does have plans for them, and in her path he provides a home, and is there for her when she is looking for work. Outspoken Hannah becomes a Hello Girl, what a rigorous place to work. Can you imagine sitting there and only saying "number please". No other words?? Also no crossing your legs or ankles, no looking anywhere but straight forward....come on!! No itching your nose?? I wouldn't have lasted very long!You will laugh out loud at some the antics that happen, and find a lot of joy in some the kind heart people we meet. Of course, there always has to be one rotten apple in the rain barrel...you meet him right up front!Enjoy the love between the sisters, and yes they argue and act like sisters, but there is a great family bond between them. All in all, a really wonderful book to immerse yourself in.I received this book through Revell's Book Bloggers Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 5/5
      May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge. --Ruth 2:12Iowa 1908. The Gregory sisters' parents have passed away from influenza. Hannah is home from law school at Drake University to care for her younger sisters. While leaving the grocer, she notices an advertisement: SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS wanted.As supper is ending, there is a knock at the door. A legal representative of the bank is there to ask if Hannah is aware their father had taken out a second mortgage on their farm? He has come to give them notice of foreclosure and auction of personal property to go toward the mortgage, with one week to vacate. Lincoln Cole said as no payment has been made in the three months since her father's passing, there is no other recourse.Hannah is among two dozen applicants who have come to interview as "Hello Girls" telephone switchboard operators. She is chosen along with her new friend, Rosie, and they begin the rigorous training that includes no contact with any males during their two-week course. Their instructor stops in at church to make sure they are attending and speaks to the pastor to verify the reference given. On one end of Hannah's pew is her childhood friend, and on the other is the young lawyer. What a day for them to be bookends!Hannah is a take-charge, headstrong young woman. Finishing law school has now come to an end for her as she focuses on caring for her teenaged sisters. She supports them to reach their dreams. Tessa, the youngest at fourteen, is quite dramatic and outspoken. She has become my favorite and I look forward to her appearing. Her aspired dreams change by the moment. I learned a lot from her about preparing the soil for transplanting tea roses. Charlotte enjoys preparing their meals. Her dream is to attend cooking school and open her own restaurant. She has her first beau, and his outlook is different from her own. I liked how George revealed his own character without exposure from someone else.Lincoln Cole is a young attorney whose firm is projecting he will follow in the footsteps of his father, who was in the senate before he passed away. Regardless of his future standing, Lincoln takes on a case for justice-sake and not political appearance ~ and his interest in Hannah ~ who has a delightful entry in chapter one at the grocer and again when she is "quite able to get in a rowboat by herself." You are going to love the development of "getting to know each other" of these likeable protagonists.I like the true-to-life story that flows so beautifully. Lincoln has the input of his aunt Sam, and she is delightful when she comes to visit from St. Paul. Full of her own opinion as well, she is a wonderful addition to the story. I liked how the inner striving for each of these sisters was resolved. They find their own place while leaning on each other during their mourning process. They are remarkable in listening and following through in caring for each other. They have had good training and biblical example. I may have overused the word "delightful" but indeed this is exactly how I would describe this wholesome story of values in business and relationships, overflowing from In God We Trust.***Thank you to Revell Blog Tour Network Historical Fiction for inviting me to be part of the book tour for When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad and sending a copy of the book. No other compensation was received.***
    • 3/5
      This is what I would call a bit of a historical romance because the setting is during the very early 1900's and the telephone is now a necessary means of communication--especially for emergencies. Hannah Gregory puts her law dreams aside after the death of her parents in order to care for her two younger sisters. She takes a job as a telephone operator--a position that is riddled with ridiculous rules. What makes this more amusing is that Hannah is more of a rule-breaker than a rule-follower.

      In addition to romance, you'll find an element of mystery surrounding the arson cases, sisterly drama, and a great deal of determination to keep plodding on. Lincoln Cole has met his match in Hannah. He's just as determined as she is, and he's willing to wait as long as necessary to win her over.

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    As Love Blooms (The Gregory Sisters Book #3) - Lorna Seilstad

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