I enjoyed the books with neurodivergent characters in Mazie Eddings's previous novel BRUSH WITH LOVE so I put myself on the waiting list to read her newest release LATE BLOOMER. Little did I know it would be my first sapphic novel until I saw the cover and read the plot summary.
Both the main female characters are also neurodivergent with varying sensory and social issues as well as complete opposites in personality, upbringing, and way of approaching life. Opal is a people pleaser with toxic friends, a dead-end job, and fabulous sisters when she wins enough money from a scratch-off lottery ticket to reset her life by buying a flower farm sight unseen. Introverted Pepper has been trying to save her grandmother’s flower farm from financial disaster with supportive friends and a neglect-ridden childhood when Opal descends on her farm with ownership papers.
I liked Pepper’s circle of friends more than the main characters. I found both leads to be inconsistent in their personalities especially Opal who went from weak to dominant and back to weak again which kept me from connecting with them and caring about their journey. Not my favorite from this author but keeping Ms. Eddings on my book radar.
A sexy, sapphic, opposites-attract romance with Mazey Eddings' signature sparkling voice!Winning the lottery has ruined Opal Devlin's life. After quitting her dead-end job where she’d earned minimum wage and even less respect, she’s bombarded by people knocking at her door for a handout the second they found out her bank account was overflowing with cash. And Opal can’t seem to stop saying yes.With her tender heart thoroughly abused, Opal decides to protect herself by any means necessary, which to her translates to putting almost all her new money to buying a failing flower farm in Asheville, North Carolina to let the flowers live out their plant destiny while she uses the cabin on the property to start her painting business.But her plans for isolation and self-preservation go hopelessly awry when an angry (albeit gorgeous) Pepper Boden is waiting for her at her new farm. Pepper states she’s the rightful owner of Thistle and Bloom Farms, and isn’t moving out. The unlikely pair strike up an agreement of co-habitation, and butt heads at every turn. Can these opposites both live out their dreams and plant roots? Or will their combustible arguing (and growing attraction) burn the whole place down?
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