Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery)

A very different genre for me, but light and enjoyable. The female characters are much more 3 dimensional than the males. The aunt and the young girl were probably my favorites.

I honestly picked this up b/c the cover is so very pretty, but thankfully my superficiality was rewarded. Garden Spells is a gentle, quiet magickal love story, reminiscent of The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes (2007 - Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Eileen Dreyer). Unlike the almost overly-fantastical The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, however, Garden Spells has an undercurrent of magic, which acts as a...more

I honestly picked this up b/c the cover is so very pretty, but thankfully my superficiality was rewarded. Garden Spells is a gentle, quiet magickal love story, reminiscent of The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes (2007 - Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, Eileen Dreyer). Unlike the almost overly-fantastical The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes, however, Garden Spells has an undercurrent of magic, which acts as a nice backdrop to the rest of the story. Sisters Claire and Sidney have been separated for 10 years. When Sidney comes home and Claire gets a new neighbor, both their lives are changed forever. This book does have a few dark moments, but the author handles them with a delicate, knowing hand. Her characters are engaging and realistic, which makes their eccentricities all the more endearing. I enjoyed this book so much that I picked up the author's brand new novel Sugar Queen as soon as I saw it come in. I quite enjoyed this book.   hide

This was an infinitely readable book! Recommended by my sister, I didn't realize when I picked it up that what I really needed this week was a good romance. And it was a great romance! Fun, full of laughter, great characters, a meddling apple tree & the power of edible flowers I only wished I was reading it in a lounge chair by the beach with an umbrella drink. She recommended another...more

This was an infinitely readable book! Recommended by my sister, I didn't realize when I picked it up that what I really needed this week was a good romance. And it was a great romance! Fun, full of laughter, great characters, a meddling apple tree & the power of edible flowers I only wished I was reading it in a lounge chair by the beach with an umbrella drink. She recommended another book by this author but I'm absolutely going to save that for my next vacation. What a fun, fun book! If you need to escape & just enjoy a good time with some fun folks, this story is for you. ;)   hide

This book was my favorite of all the Sarah Addison Allen books that I have read.

This is an amazing book, especially for those who joy gardening! I loved how the apple tree was like a member of the family. Beautifully written.

Initially, the overall storyline is far too similar to Practical Magic to give this book props for originality. However after reading a bit of it I was sucked in and finished it, thinking I'd probably read more from this author. I'm not a fan of comparing books to other books, but in this case it's unavoidable (I'm still pretty irritated by the similarity to Practical Magic...more

Initially, the overall storyline is far too similar to Practical Magic to give this book props for originality. However after reading a bit of it I was sucked in and finished it, thinking I'd probably read more from this author. I'm not a fan of comparing books to other books, but in this case it's unavoidable (I'm still pretty irritated by the similarity to Practical Magic since it's hard to call it anything other than a ripoff). However, it does offer a few more interesting characters and sub-plots that I remember Practical Magic having, and ultimately the story was sweet and interesting, the descriptions were clever, and overall it was a very fun read.   hide

I was truly enchanted with this novel. Sarah Addison Allen has an uncomplicated style of prose that is soothing to read and has a definite flow about it. Her story not only encompasses the Waverlys, but also delves into the lives of the townspeople with whom they interact. Often times, this can be dull, but Allen has written a story in which the past is so rooted in the present and entwined with...more

I was truly enchanted with this novel. Sarah Addison Allen has an uncomplicated style of prose that is soothing to read and has a definite flow about it. Her story not only encompasses the Waverlys, but also delves into the lives of the townspeople with whom they interact. Often times, this can be dull, but Allen has written a story in which the past is so rooted in the present and entwined with the main characters, that the forays are delightful. Each Waverly has her own brand of magic which has varying effects the town as well as herself; and each of them stuggle to come to terms with their role in their family and in each other's lives. The book is not without flaw, but... READ MORE: http://girlsjustreading.blogspot.com/2007/10/jenns-review-garden-spells.html   hide

I enjoyed this book so much! It took me about a day to get through it and I didn't want it to end. Sarah Addison Allen is officially one of my newest favorite authors. I'm reading her second one, "Sugar Queen" right now and can't put it down. Can't wait for her next one in March! Sure hope she writes more!

A wonderful book! A magical story with a touch of romance and suspense. Sarah Addison Allen doesn't really keep you guessing, giving you enough information to know what's most likely going to happen next, but she does keep you entranced throughout this story. I highly recommend it as a light, fun read for anyone with a love of magic, nature, and whimsy.