Last week was National Garden Week. Little One and I celebrated by setting up our fairy garden. The weather celebrated by snowing and sleeting. Excuse me, weather, but it is spring according to the calender now. That usually means no more winter weather…. Oh well. The crocuses and daffodils are popping up anyway, so there is that.
I thought it might be fun to do a post on books with gardens in them. I know I am a little late to the party but, better late than never, yeah? In no particular order-
How can you have a post about garden-themed fiction books and not include Beatrix Potter’s works? Her tales are classics. I still read them, and listen to the audiobooks. There is something calm and soothing about them. And the names she gave her animals are absolutely adorable. Jemima Puddleduck, Mrs. Tittlemouse. Just to name two.
Anyone who grew up on fairy stories, I think, will enjoy these. No matter your age, they appeal to our imagination and the wonders of nature around us. And I have to mention the illustrations, they are absolutely beautiful!
Another classic I cannot forget is “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Finding a hidden door in a wall? A key? A secret garden? That is a dream. And for those who enjoy graphic novels, Mariah Marsden did an amazing job recreating the story.
This story holds a precious piece of my heart. This is from my childhood and I still have my worn-out very well-loved copy. Mandy is a young girl who just wants a place to call her own and discovers a small cottage. Two words- shell room. But oh, the garden she plants and tends to, as shown on the cover, is woven into this delightful story. And yes, this is the copy I have and will keep for as long as I am able.
Come play in the garden with Gracie! Join the garden tea party with her sister Sarah, taste tomatoes right off the vine with her crunchy munchy brother Joshua, and plant seeds! But will the seeds grow fast enough or do the young ones have to learn a little bit of patience?
These are just a few books that I myself have read and enjoyed. I hope I have inspired you to step into a garden, literally or through the pages of a book. If you have any recommendations for me I would love to hear about them.
As I sit here working on this post, it is pouring outside. We are in the midst of a rainstorm that is said to last all day. This is one whacky December, for sure. But enough about the weather, we are here for the books! The books I will be sharing today are the ones I really, really enjoyed. The ones I recommend to my reading buddies, and that includes you.
“Thumbelina” by Hans Christian Anderson was such a sweet tale. I bought the complete works of Hans Christian Anderson and have been slowly making my way through the fairytales. I loved this story of the little girl no bigger than your thumb. A definite recommend to fairytale fans.
A fun laugh out loud rom-com.
Oh, what fun this was to read. This misunderstanding between Henry and Edith causes quite the interesting, humorous, comments. Once they realize their mistakes and things progress from there the entertainment does not stop. Scones, Epi-Pen.. just to name a few (you have to read the book to figure those out.). And the friendship between Henry and his physical therapist was great, loved the sass. I am so glad I picked up this book.
Ms. Eason has done it again. I could hardly put the book down, it pulled me in so tight. The action and high-intensity never stopped. I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. Grace does a great job at her work, as does Sam. There is history between them that makes things awkward for them for a while but they push it aside for the sake of the job. But don’t let that fool you, they make sure to take time to reevaluate their relationship. This is a heart-pounding action suspense that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is Book Three of the “Extreme Measures” series and I recommend reading them in order.
These fairy books are adorable. The illustrations are lovely and I find the entire series to be comfort reads. They are a series (each book set in the four seasons) I reread to match the season we are currently in.
I love reading Becky Wade novels and this was no disappointment. I loved the relationship between Ty and Celia, and their daughter was such a cutie. She was well-written, I easily pictured a young one. I am a fan of second chance romances and this one was a delight.
This story closes out the Porter family series and one thing I love about Becky Wade’s writing is that I feel like part of the family. I feel what the characters are feeling. I laughed with them, I hurt with them. I rejoiced with the Porters. The story was sweet and real and a keeper. Ms. Wade continues to prove why she is an auto-buy for me.
This story kept my attention. There was drama and action at every turn. Lynn Blackburn also adds a mystery to the daily events- as if there was not enough going on! To the very end I was guessing who the perpetrator was. The relationships between Zane, Tessa, and their friends was remarkable, the best kind of friends to have. Ms. Blackburn did a great job. I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Do I still believe in fairies? Yes. Yes, I do. *Clapping my hands*
Elizabeth Goddard is becoming a favorite author of mine. I like her writing style, how it captures my attention and keeps it. Her attention to detail is well thought out. I enjoyed the characters, they felt real. I also felt like I was right there in Alaska with Autumn and Grier. This is book one in Ms. Goddard’s new series, “Missing in Alaska”. I am looking forward to reading the other books.
This is the first of Becky Wade’s new series- “Sons of Scandal”, and I was all for it. Everything from the cover design to the story inside. It was an adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the banter between Remy and “Jonah”, as she called him. Their dynamics were great. How each of their stories unfolded not only filled in puzzle pieces but showed yet again how talented Becky Wade is. I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
I have never been interested in graphic novels but when I saw this one I thought, why not give it a try. I am so glad I did. The illustrations are so beautiful and the storyline sticks to the true novel plot well. I definitely recommend this.
The beach, a book box, a struggling novelist, and a mystery? Yes please. Add in a love story and we have a winner. Denise Hunter continues to delight me.
This is a book I recommend for anyone with young girls in their lives. A beautiful book. Express who you are!
This is book one in the “Defend and Protect” series and I read the complete trilogy this year, I enjoyed it so much. Lynn Blackburn is on my radar. I enjoy her plots, the action and suspense, and the relationships within her characters.
This is an action-packed story. From the beginning it had my attention and held it all the way through. There is a mix of mystery, action, and romance. A little bit of everything I like. Her style of writing drew me in and her characters felt real. An exciting read indeed!
I received this book in my Literary Book Club box (a seasonal subscription I am really enjoying!). This painted edition is absolutely beautiful. And, of course, the story itself, indeed a classic. Four sisters navigating life during the 1800’s. School, friends, work, family, limes…. I am here for it.
This book brings the “Extreme Measures” series to an end, and what an ending it was! Edge of your seat, stay up late, non-stop action. This series follows a group of friends and this specific book focuses on Raina, a girl with a tough history. Ms. Eason wrote her story so well it felt real. I admired Raina’s determination. A definite add to my collection.
This is a dual-timeline story revolved around Foxglove Manor, a stone house set upon cliffs. In modern times, it has been turned into a senior living facility and there are rumors of a hidden treasure. I am a big fan of dual-timelines and Ms. Wright does it very well. The mystery good and as always, Ms. Wright continues to be a favorite author of mine. What she writes is not what you expect it to be….
I am becoming a fan of mysteries set in Alaska. There is something raw and edgy about the setting that draws me in. Ms. Goddard does this very well, I think. There are locations with no communication to the “outside world”, the unpredictable weather patterns, and, of course, the story itself. A mystery that kept me engaged until the very end. I am looking forward to Book Three.
This is book three in the “Redwall” series and I am having more fun with it than I expected. I love reading stories with animals as the main characters. It must be the Disney girl in me, lol. I like reading about the relationships between the different animals and how they interact with one another, how they care for each other or defend their families. This is a series I will continue on into the next year.
So ends my long list of 4 star reads of 2023. I hope you found some that interests you, perhaps to add to your TBR stack. What books did you really enjoy this year? I would like to hear about them.
Kymberli Briggs 