Ruby Jewell insists she is perfectly happy with her life, with her faithful dog by her side, surrounded by the beautiful flowers that are her stock in trade. A florist in the small Washington State town that she calls home, she has a flair for creating arrangements that get right to the heart of the matter. Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive designs can inspire every emotion for her customers. However, still broken after the death of her beloved sister, she is not quite able to find and express her own heart's desires. It is the arrival of a little boy, sent to live with his grandparents after the death of his mother, a terminally ill astronaut, and the arrival of the new veterinarian in town who find a way to open Ruby's heart. A moving and eloquent novel about love, grief, renewal-and the powerful language of flowers. Ruby Jewell knows flowers. In her twenty years as a florist she has stood behind the counter at the Flower Shoppe with her faithful dog, Clementine, resting at her feet. A customer can walk in, and with just a glance or a few words, Ruby can throw together the perfect arrangement for any occasion. Whether intended to rekindle a romance, mark a celebration, offer sympathy, or heal a broken heart, her expressive floral designs mark the moments and milestones in the lives of her neighbors. It's as though she knows just what they want to say, just what they need. Yet Ruby's own heart's desires have gone ignored since the death of her beloved sister. It will take an invitation from a man who's flown to the moon, the arrival of a unique little boy, and concern from a charming veterinarian to reawaken her wounded spirit. Any life can be derailed, but the healing power of community can put it right again. READERS GUIDE INSIDE