Allen, Sarah Addison

Allen, Sarah Addison "Garden Spells" Bantam: 2007

I like romantic fluff every so often. The only requirement is that the book must be logical, written well and fun. This book meets these requirements admirably. If you want to go somewhere beautiful...say a garden that is surrounded by a tall fence that is tucked away behind a small house in the smallest of towns that has a very special apple tree... and an enchanted story that will take you away from the mundane everyday world of the dirty dishes in the sink and the loud music next door ...ah this is the book. It does not hurt that Addison can write and describe everything so well and the people come alive and the ending comes much too soon. And if all this is too good to miss, the book has a sense of humor that makes one chuckle in the pages in delight.

Now, the only thing I don't know about is whether or not men will like this book as this woman does. Some may. It is educational too. There is herbs and flowers and the meanings of those plants. For instance, I did not know that a chive blossom ensures you will win an argument and is also an antidote for hurt feelings which is not a bad plant to have around the house when you live with someone.

Sydney is a member of the Waverleys in a small town and returns home with a young daughter to her sister, Claire who stayed and made a living as a successful caterer is uneasy with this return of her sister for both sisters were abandoned by their mother years before. The elderly cousin Evanelle distributes unexpected presents to her neighbors whose uses later become uncannily clear. All gather together to heal past wounds and to make a home in Bascom. Of course, romance plays an important part of this story creating the glue that blends and heals the rifts that were created years before.

As I said above, the only thing I can say about this book that is negative is that the book ended too soon for I was having too much fun in it.



Name of author: Allen, Sarah Addison
Dates of birth and death (if applicable):
Place of birth: Asheville, North Carolina, The United States
Education: B.A. in Literature (1994)
Literary movement associated with author: Southern Romance, magical, "chick lit"
Nationality: American
Notable award(s) or ideas (s):
Books and years when published: (two books so far)

"Garden Spells" Novel 2008 - 290 pages In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it.…The Waverleys have always ...

"The Sugar Queen" Novel - 2009 - 294 pages A Conversation with Sarah Addison Allen Random House Reader's Circle: What inspired the story of Tiif Sugar Queen? Sarah Addison Allen: I know someone who