It was the year that changed everything.
When Susannah Nelson turned eighteen, she said goodbye to her boyfriend, Jake—and never saw him again. She never saw her brother again, either. Doug died in a car accident that same year.
Now, at fifty, she finds herself regretting the paths not taken. Long married, a mother and a teacher, she should be happy. But she feels there's something missing in her life, although she doesn't know exactly what. Not only that, she's balancing the demands of an aging mother and a temperamental twenty-year-old daughter.
Her mother, Vivan, a recent widow, is having difficulty coping and living alone, so Susannah goes home to Colville, Washington. In returning to her parents' house, her girlhood friends and the garden she's always loved, she also returns to the past—and the choices she made back then.
What she discovers is that things are not as they once seemed. Some paths are dead ends. But some gardens remain beautiful….
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"Nice balance of the characters, the relationships and the well-formed plot. Susannah goes back to her hometown to tend to her mother, who is experiencing memory loss, and moves her to assisted living. Tries to reconnect with a former boyfriend, daughter gets involved with undesirable guy."
— Roxanne (4 out of 5 stars)
" I didn't see how this book fit into the series at all until about the last paragraph! The story was slow moving in parts... there was one pretty interesting twist, but not enough to salvage the whole book... "
— Nicci, 2/18/2014" I liked the story OK. It was pretty typical for a Macomber book. But, like other reviews have said it had nothing to do with the Blossom Street series until the last couple of pages. "
— Brenda, 2/17/2014" This was a nice book! I really like her writing style even though some may fiind it a little bubble gum'ish. "
— Bigkrl, 2/9/2014" since it is not right on Blossom Street, it is a bit harder to read this one. I did figure out the twist about 1/3 of the way in...and was right. But it was still worth the read and excited about how it plays into the future of the series. "
— Cole, 2/6/2014" Didn't see that ending coming! "
— Brittany, 1/30/2014" Sometimes a simple read is just what you need. Cute story. "
— Angeline, 1/23/2014" I like this book a lot. Probably my favorite Debbie Macomber one so far. Twist at end was totally unexpected! :) "
— Carol, 1/20/2014" This was my least favorite of this series but its also the first one I've listened to on Audio CD. Some books are just better read and I tend to skip over sappy writing if I'm reading a book where the story line interests me enough. I'm sure that's what I would have done had I read this one rather than listen to it. With the books in this series, figuring out the ending is super easy but I usually enjoy the story line getting there (and skipping over the sappier stuff) b/c I like the characters so much. In this book, I didn't like the characters as much and there was more a mystery in this one than others and I had that figured out from the earliest pages. "
— Maam, 1/19/2014" A book filled with the stresses of dealing with elderly parents, paths not taken and annoying grown children. "
— Sheila, 1/19/2014" I loved this series. It was about day-to-day trials and friendship. "
— Deejay, 1/16/2014" Excellent book, even though it doesn't take place on Blossom Street. "
— Sarah, 1/15/2014" More easy fluff...but fun reading, nonetheless. "
— Kathy, 1/15/2014" I loved this book....read it out of order but it was still good. "
— Katie, 1/12/2014" There is nothing that she writes that I don't like because she is another romancer for my hearts enjoyment! "
— Phifer,, 1/12/2014" Good story. The author could have expanded on some of the events at the end of the book, and the main character, Susannah, has a major change of heart that isn't really explored or explained, but otherwise a fine beach read. I would have liked more detail in the resolution of the story. "
— Adriana, 12/14/2013" Good books, author is very observant and characters are so real. "
— Tricia, 12/13/2013" Don't really see how this fits into the Blossom Street books?? "
— JenniferB, 12/10/2013" I so enjoyed getting back to this book.....the characters were dear, and the events were surprizing! "
— Jenelle, 11/5/2013" Predictable easy read. I thought that it was part of the Shop on Blossom Street series, but it was not. Finished it anyhow. Appropriate for almost any age. Still a bit insightful to character reactions. "
— Barb, 9/23/2013" Susannah returns to her small home town to care for aging, ailing mother and confronts her past. "
— Kitty, 8/11/2013" THIS WAS A VERY GOOD READ. I CAN READ HER BOOKS ALL DAY LONG. IF ONLY EVERYONE COULD WRITE LOVE LIKE DEBBIE MACOMBER. "
— Beverly, 4/29/2013" Very interesting read. Had an ending that surprised me. "
— Tonya, 12/24/2012" FINE CHARACTERIZATION AND STORY LINE WITH A SURPRISE ENDING. WELL DONE "
— Lschneier, 10/12/2012" Another in her Blossom Street series. "
— Anne, 9/27/2012" This book was too close to home and really was kind of depressing, but life goes on and you got put your big girl panties on a deal with it "
— Sally, 7/31/2012" Loved this book, really felt like I could relate to the characters and their personalities - the good, the bad, the indifferent. Of course, it all works out in the end, too bad real life isn't always like that! On to my next book! "
— Joyce, 7/24/2012" A very enjoyable book. There were some twists at the end that I was not expecting. "
— Katrina, 4/3/2012" Disappointed in this book...didn't seem to go with the Blossom Street series until the very end. "
— Leslie, 10/8/2011" beach read, cute story, not memorable - "
— Lisa, 8/31/2011" This explores the paths not taken as a young adult and review as a middle-aged woman. That sounds stuffy but it is not. The ending is a bit far-fetched. I wonder if it could really ever have happened that way. "
— Mary, 7/30/2011" Loved this book! Finished it last night and can't quit thinking about it! "
— Robbie, 6/23/2011" A; I was confused as I had trouble figuring if this was really part of the Blossom Street series. All new characters, but in the final chapters I could tell how it will tie in. Now to the next one! <br/> "
— Cathy, 6/20/2011" I liked the story but the garden wasn't as central as I expected, more subliminal. more about a mom and her daughter and the granmother.... "
— Samm, 6/1/2011" This book wasn't my favorite of the Blossom Street series. It dragged on and I found myself wanting to be on to the next book in the series. However it did give Susannah's story and wrapped up very well. "
— Storm, 5/1/2011" This was about a family going through tough times, an aging mother, a troubled marriage, a teenage daughter who is rebelling. Way too close to real life to be much enjoyment. "
— Betty, 4/25/2011" This book had a little mystery to it that I liked. It's fun getting to know about the characters on Blossom Street. "
— Teresa, 4/10/2011" Predictable easy read. I thought that it was part of the Shop on Blossom Street series, but it was not. Finished it anyhow. Appropriate for almost any age. Still a bit insightful to character reactions. "
— Barb, 3/31/2011" very cute book. my husbands grandmother sent me 3 Debbie macomber books bc they haver knitting patterns in them. i really enjoyed the first 'susannah's garden'. and look forward to reading the next two she sent me=) "
— Becky, 3/3/2011" FINE CHARACTERIZATION AND STORY LINE WITH A SURPRISE ENDING. WELL DONE "
— Lschneier, 2/28/2011" This was just not up to some of Macomber's better books. "
— Mary, 2/19/2011" The realizations of Susannah by going back home to her small town, and the twists and turns of getting reacquainted with old friends is a feel good book. It served it's purpose of entertaining me while traveling to the extent that sometimes I did not want to put the book away. "
— Mary, 2/8/2011" Good read. Makes you consider the road not taken and realize that sometimes roads not taken are roads not meant to take. "
— Lora, 2/3/2011Debbie Macomber is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Her novels have hit the number one on the New York Times bestsellers list as well as making the USA Today and Publishers Weekly lists. Her novels Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle inspired the Hallmark Channel’s top-watched movies for the year when they were released. There are more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.
Laural Merlington is an audiobook narrator with over two hundred titles to her credit and a winner of multiple Earphones Awards. An Audie Award nominee, she has also directed over one hundred audiobooks. She has performed and directed for thirty years in theaters throughout the country. In addition to her extensive theater and voice-over work, she teaches college in her home state of Michigan.