What would you do to celebrate being alive after two debilitating bouts with cancer? Would you sail around the world? Write a novel? Or even contact your old high school flame? Lydia Hoffman, the heroine of best selling author Debbie Macomber’s novel, The Shop on Blossom Street, opens a yarn store.

Lydia is always waiting for life. A cancerous tumor stole her teenage years and the reoccurrence of the cancer stole most of her twenties, now is the time for her to fully live, but she’s not really sure how. Her first foray into the real world is to open a yarn and knitting shop called A Good Yarn. Her next goal is to make friends, since most of her friends vanished when her cancer appeared. Too bad, her nay-sayer sister is on hand to bad-mouth any attempts at being independent. Add to that her street is blocked due to construction, then there’s the hunky UPS guy, Brad, who keeps trying to flirt with her.

Alix Townsend doesn’t expect much from life, which is a good thing because she didn’t get much from her felonious mother and disappearing father. It isn’t easy scraping out a living working for minimum wage at a video store. It’s enough to make her a bit surly. It’s the surliness and the purple-tipped hair that has some of the good folks of Blossom Street avoiding her. They can’t see the compassionate, intelligent woman she really is. Jordan Turner, Blossom Street’s newest youth minister, can see the real Alix. Unfortunately, Jordan, despite his sweetness, is not exactly what Alix is looking for.

All Carol Girard wants is to be a mother. She didn’t always know this. The realization happened about the same time she discovered that she couldn’t get pregnant. After numerous attempts and two miscarriages, the strain is taking its toll on her marriage. Carol contemplates her last attempt at in vitro fertilization when she notices the baby blanket knitting class. It was a good sign--or was it?

Jacqueline Donovan is afraid life is passing her by. Her only child, Paul, married suddenly and is consumed with his new wife, Tammie Lee, who is expecting. Jacqueline hates Tammie Lee for not being the upper crust daughter-in-law she wanted from the country club set. Jacqueline also hates her because she cuts into her time with Paul, especially since she blew up over the whole matter and told Paul his marriage was a huge mistake. Without her son, Jacqueline feels isolated. Now more than ever, since her husband Reese has his blonde on the side. Maybe it is loneliness and regret that draws her to The Good Yarn.

Margaret’s simmering resentment and cattiness give the relationship between the sisters an authentic feel. The superficiality of Jacqueline’s country club friends paired with the grittiness of Alix is an excellent parallel. The intertwining and developing of relationships between the women is surprising and uplifting.

The Shop on Blossom Street is the first in Debbie Macomber’s knitting series. Knitter and non-knitter, it is a must read. It’s a great stay-up-all-night book. Don’t miss it.

Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© July 2007