Title: Garden Spells
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Type: Traditional
Star Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Saucy Romance Rating 🌶🌶
Release Date: August 28, 2007
Recommended: Yes
I stumbled upon this book last week and added it to my Goodreads TBR, then a friend of mine saw it and messaged me giving it high praise. So naturally I had to read it right away. The book…Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen.
The book was published just over a decade ago and is a story that falls within the categories of Women’s Fiction and Literary Fiction, however I believe you can include Contemporary Romance and Magical Realism on those genres. It’s a generational tale of the Waverley women with unexplained abilities living in Bascom, North Carolina. Some find them odd, some find them marvelous, and some are just down right jealous. It’s a story where a magnificent garden is envied by the town folk, finding love is possible even for a Waverely, and where there’s nothing out of the ordinary about filing a police report that includes an ornery apple tree scaring away a man with a gun.
The story was very entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud many times as my husband looked over and wonder what could be so funny in a book. I’m the book lover in our relationship. Allen weaved the lives of four Waverley women (two with love interests) so well I found myself hooked. I fell in love with the characters, who Allen also developed quite nicely. The story flowed with ease and the pacing from high action to normal action transitioned smoothly. Keep in mind this story is about two adult women, so there are some saucy scenes (which I am all for).
All and all I truly enjoyed this book and give it 5 STARS. The ending felt a little rushed to me. I would have liked to see the ending a bit more developed. However, it could just be me and my sadness of getting to the books end. I wasn’t ready to let them go. I found myself torn between the desire to fervently read to the end so I can see what happens, while wanting to wait so I could prolong the ending because I didn’t want to part ways with Claire, Sydney, Bay and Aunt Evenelle so soon. Alas, the fervent reader in me won out. I would highly recommend this book to friends with the same joy a friend recommended it to me. I’m also looking forward to reading the second Waverley Family book – First Frost.
I purchased this book with my own funds with no expectation of a positive review from the author and/or publisher.
Until next time Bookish by Nature readers!
Bookish by Nature 