We follow young widow Annette Granger who vows to never love again. The story was very moving and covered loss and moving on. It had a good balance of sad moments and moments to make the reader smile. I really likes Pieter’s character and enjoyed Annettes inner conflict of choosing to let herself love again while still mourning.

Really enjoyable read. Good characters and a Good story. Well worth a read. Think others will enjoy.

When I initially requested The Language of Love by Jean Saunders from NetGalley I was unaware that it was originally printed in 1983. Not that this is a problem. Great things happened in 1983 such as: the introduction of the (soon to be defunct) pound coin, the song Karma Chameleon was released and – most importantly – I was born. Had I known it was released in 1983 I still would have requested it because it has a lovely cover and I am sucker for them.

I found out its original release date before I started reading and to be honest it helped me along the way quite a lot. For you see The Language of Love is very much of its time. It is a lovely story of a lonely florist who is scared to let her heart be free to love after suffering a terrible loss. And, as is the way with romantic stories, the florist – Annette – finds love with a seemingly arrogant Mr Darcy type. So far, so normal. The issue with The Language of Love is not the story, it is the passage of time since it was released. Readers have adapted and changed and what was relatively acceptable in 1983 isn’t acceptable now. The florid language used to describe the sexy scenes made you think of wind machines and big hair do’s and chiffon nightgowns…possibly with enormous shoulder pads. Also the desires that Annette has to give up her career and raise a family and look after a husband don’t really resonate in 2017.

That being said, if you read the book in context of its original publication date and what society was like in the 1980s it makes it easier to swallow. It is a story about freeing your heart again and in a strange sense it is rather hopeful. It is just a bit cloying for a modern 21st century female reader.

The Language of Love by Jean Saunders is available now.

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Language of Love is a love story based quite a few decades ago, from what I could tell. I didn't know anything about the writer or the book when I picked it up and within the first 10 pages it really hit me how old fashioned the book was written and even imagined. I did my research and found out that Saunders was born in the 30s and this book was first published in the 80s. That made so much more sense to me! It is a short and sweet love story, written very well. However, as a 'modern woman' I had trouble really getting into this story. Perhaps it's because it's not translating into a modern era really well. It also falls prey to the trope of the pushy man who, because he's rich and handsome, charms the girl despite being a bit moody, rude and somewhat creepy. I would recommend it if you love romance novels ...or if you're from the same era as this book.

You may think that a book, originally published in 1983 would feel dated or old, but the story and the writing here is so tight and right, with issues that are both identifiable and easy to relate to that are offset by a sweetly romantic connection is as complex and nuanced as a beautiful floral arrangement. And that is particularly apt, as Annette, the heroine of the story is a florist, and her London shop is in demand for all types of special occasions.

Annette was newly married and still in the honeymoon phase when her husband Tony was lost when saving a child from drowning. Completely in love, Annette has used her widowhood as a shield, a defense mechanism to keep others at bay as she has raised Tony to a pedestal, never allowing anyone close. Now nearly ten years later and still just in her late twenties, she’s been stuck emotionally in that place: comparing every man (and there are many vying for her attention) to the perfection that she has clung to from her marriage.

Elena, a good friend from Holland has sent an emissary in the form of her brother Pieter, to convince Annette to come to Amsterdam and discuss her upcoming wedding plans, hoping Annette will arrange the flowers and be her matron of honor. But Pieter is unsettling and intriguing, setting Annette into a frenzy of guilt over her interest, fear because she is interested, and awareness of her own loneliness and desire for companionship, children and the love she once knew.

Slow to develop, Annette was difficult to not want to slap occasionally, so mired in her own fear and guilt, clinging to the image of a man, who while it is obvious she loved deeply, was not capable of the perfection she has bestowed upon him. While I first found Pieter brash and more than aggressive in his alpha-driven refusal to allow Annette to keep him at arm’s length. He’s older and knows his own mind, he finds Annette intriguing and delightful, attractive and he wants her. He’s already familiar with her story from his sister, but the opportunity to make her smile and happy is one he won’t resist. His approach, while showing Annette the possibilities available when she puts her fear aside and grasps on to life and commits to living the life she has, not the one she could have had with Tony, works a slow transformation on her attitude, her openness and recognizing her own desire for love in her life.

Far from feeling dated or out of place, the clear progression of Annette’s recognition of her own stagnant life, her desire for more, and the presence of Pieter, a live and very real man with his own clear-cut and clearly spoken attraction and desire bring the story a serious edge, all while allowing the moments and the beauty and ancient meaning of different flowers to speak loudly. Full of moments that are laugh or tear filled, the growth of Annette is a slow reveal, presented with flair. A wonderful story that will bring a smile to your face, and fill your head with plenty of flower filled images.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.