WHEN FORTY BLOOMS - Jacinta Howard
Honey Blossom Press
BUY
Cheryl McNeil (A+)
MAINSTREAM WOMAN'S FICTION
REVIEW: WHEN FORTY BLOOMS is the latest book by Jacinta Howard. I was a fan of The Prototype Series and didn’t realize how much I missed Ms. Howard’s work. Simone and Jackson have been divorced for two years and are raising their sixteen-year-old son, Caleb. Simone is a leap year baby who is preparing to celebrate her 40th birthday on the actual date. She runs a sports agency with one of her best friends and the agency is currently dealing with some challenges. Jackson is a sports journalist and has a popular sports podcast.
Simone spends time with Jackson during her 40th birthday trip to Jamaica. That’s an understatement. Their chemistry is off the charts and passion remains strong. The intimate scenes are explosive. I originally couldn’t figure out why they got divorced. However, Ms. Howard peels back the layers, and takes readers on this couple’s emotional journey while exploring how they got to where they are, and if they can find their way back to each other, beyond the physical. Both Simone and Jackson carried baggage into their marriage. Simone’s parents were dysfunctional, and Jackson’s dad passed away when he was young and he feels the pressure of being the husband and provider that his dad was.
Jackson often said he didn’t have the “headspace for games”, but he couldn’t deny Simone if he tried even though he was still hurt. Simone and Jackson loved each other deeply, but was that enough?
Ms. Howard writes about characters that readers become emotionally invested in. Simone and Jackson are allowed to feel what they need to feel and there is a lot of self-reflection. I loved Simone and Jackson’s relationship with their son Caleb. They help him navigate his first real relationship. Simone has a lot in common with Caleb’s girlfriend and in a way, I felt that by helping her, Simone continues to heal.
A “Second-Chance” romance is one of my favorite tropes and WHEN FORTY BLOOMS did not disappoint. I also enjoyed how Atlanta was featured as a “character”. Ms. Howard explores how therapy and doing the self-work leads to healing. The book is written from Simone’s perspective, and I thought I would miss hearing Jackson’s voice when he was in his own world. That is the thing; Jackson and Simone’s world is so intertwined that I got his perspective through Simone, of course, Caleb and mutual friend, Tristan. Speaking of Tristan, the supporting characters are strong. Hopefully we will hear more from Simone’s best friend Logan and her college friend and business partner, Tristan, in the future. There is, I hope, more to their story. I listened to the book on audio and highly recommend WHEN FORTY BLOOMS.
16th July 2025 | romcol@caribsurf.com
Simone spends time with Jackson during her 40th birthday trip to Jamaica. That’s an understatement. Their chemistry is off the charts and passion remains strong. The intimate scenes are explosive. I originally couldn’t figure out why they got divorced. However, Ms. Howard peels back the layers, and takes readers on this couple’s emotional journey while exploring how they got to where they are, and if they can find their way back to each other, beyond the physical. Both Simone and Jackson carried baggage into their marriage. Simone’s parents were dysfunctional, and Jackson’s dad passed away when he was young and he feels the pressure of being the husband and provider that his dad was.
Jackson often said he didn’t have the “headspace for games”, but he couldn’t deny Simone if he tried even though he was still hurt. Simone and Jackson loved each other deeply, but was that enough?
Ms. Howard writes about characters that readers become emotionally invested in. Simone and Jackson are allowed to feel what they need to feel and there is a lot of self-reflection. I loved Simone and Jackson’s relationship with their son Caleb. They help him navigate his first real relationship. Simone has a lot in common with Caleb’s girlfriend and in a way, I felt that by helping her, Simone continues to heal.
A “Second-Chance” romance is one of my favorite tropes and WHEN FORTY BLOOMS did not disappoint. I also enjoyed how Atlanta was featured as a “character”. Ms. Howard explores how therapy and doing the self-work leads to healing. The book is written from Simone’s perspective, and I thought I would miss hearing Jackson’s voice when he was in his own world. That is the thing; Jackson and Simone’s world is so intertwined that I got his perspective through Simone, of course, Caleb and mutual friend, Tristan. Speaking of Tristan, the supporting characters are strong. Hopefully we will hear more from Simone’s best friend Logan and her college friend and business partner, Tristan, in the future. There is, I hope, more to their story. I listened to the book on audio and highly recommend WHEN FORTY BLOOMS.
16th July 2025 | romcol@caribsurf.com
AWARD OF MERIT