All the Flowers of the Mountain

Winner of the 2023 Colorado Book Award for RomanceWinner of 2023 IPPY Bronze Medal"Replete with the poignancy of Nicholas Sparks and the gritty authenticity of Delia Owens . . . a haunting, evocative exploration of the enduring power of love. Holbrook skillfully combines a page-turning mystery, an insightful examination of social class, and a paean to one young woman's insistence on being true to herself, no matter the odds or the cost." -Emily Colin, New York Times bestselling author of The Memory ThiefIn a Paris art gallery, Dr. Michael Pearce comes upon a sculpture by the artist Katherine Morgan. His discovery of the vivid bronze artwork sends Pearce reeling back into his past. Devastatingly lifelike, the sculpture evokes memories of a summer many years earlier when Michael and Katherine-Kit-met as teenagers by a lake in New Hampshire. He was a small-town boy who skied, played guitar, and was destined to run his father's hardware store; she was the restless, troubled daughter of a wealthy New York family.Set amidst the mountains, farmlands, and elegant summer homes of rural New England, All the Flowers of the Mountain is the story of a pivotal summer for Michael and Kit. Michael's ambitions are ignited by this young woman-he grows determined that their future will be together. But Kit dreams of becoming an artist and her struggle with a mysterious event from the past leads her to a deadly showdown by summer's end, and decisions that will break Michael's heart.Holbrook captures the dark complexities of family secrets and the painful choices when the need to set one's own course in the world opposes the demands of the heart. Perfect for fans of Delia Owens and Nicholas Sparks, All the Flowers of the Mountain is a haunting exploration of trauma and the abuse of privilege, of desire and the enduring power of love."Christina Holbrook's gorgeous writing gives the book an intimacy and narrative momentum that makes it hard to put down. Holbrook's novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys a story anchored in a strong sense of place." -Christie Aschwanden, New York Times bestselling author of Good to Go"Holbrook writes with such keen emotional awareness and descriptive flair that it is hard to believe Flowers is her debut novel. Wrapped in the lush but fleeting New Hampshire summertime, this evocative portrayal of longing and second chances is a gift not to be missed." -Jeff Deck, author of The Shadow Over Portsmouth series"Immerses the reader in a story of love and loss, with hope peering around the corners of every page. Even after I finished, I was reluctant to put it down." -Caitlin Jans, founding editor of Authors Publish and co-founder of The Poetry Marathon"A love story as humble as it is heroic-a human story . . . that invites us to laugh, cry, and sing with joy." -Ella Peary, award-winning editor and columnist