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Garden Spells  By  cover art

Garden Spells

By: Sarah Addison Allen
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen
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Publisher's summary

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers.

Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants - from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor.

Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys - except for Claire's rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire's quiet life is turned upside down - along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy - if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom - or with each other.

©2007 Sarah Addison Allen (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"The blending of horticultural folklore, the supernatural and a big dollop of Southern flavor should find favor with a wide swath of readers." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Spellbindingly charming, Allen's impressively accomplished debut novel will bewitch fans of Alice Hoffman and Laura Esquivel." ( Booklist)

What listeners say about Garden Spells

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

I so want to give it 5 stars...!!!!

I have always enjoyed a little bit of magic in storytelling. Though I'm not a big fan of romantic novels, Garden Spells has just that type of mix of magic and romance that I enjoy. This was such an enjoyable read that I wish Ms. Allen would continue writing about these characters. I really enjoyed the Waverly's and their garden, especially their special apple tree. The southern charm was almost a character unto itself. I wish there was a cookbook that accompanied the novel so that I could try some of Clarie's recipes; and the obvious knowledge of edible flowers and herbs was extensive, making me want to start growing a flower herb garden. The only reason I couldn't give this a 5 star rating is because of the lack of detail in some of her writing. I would have loved to know more details about Sydney's life in Seattle or Clarie's when she was young with her mother or how Clarie had decided to become a caterer. I felt drawn into the Waverly home but intimate details outside of that magical place was pale in comparison, which may be Allen's intention. But I often wished as I read that instead of telling me things, she would show through character development. But this doesn't take away from how much I enjoyed the obvious love & magic of these characters and overall story. I will be listening to this book again and again just to stop in and visit these characters and this interesting magical place. A great first book!!!

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Magical

I just loved it! The author is so beautifully descriptive and the narrator was just perfect. I loved the scents from the Waverley garden and kitchen. I could feel the magic of those scents and the colors that celebrated Claire's mood and passion. I can listen to it over and over. I originally bought the hardcover book, but couldn't pack it when I went on vacation because of airline weight restrictions. So I downloaded the audiobook to my MP3 player with the intention of giving away the hardcover book. Oh no! not anymore. This book is a keeper!

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Perfectly Charming

Other reviews spin this book negatively claiming that the storyline mimics Practical Magic. Well, the reviews are right - the storyline is very similar to Practical Magic, but that was perfecly fine by me. I enjoyed Practical Magic. This story is indeed very similar, but not identical. I was in the mood for a "feel good" quick story and this satisfied that craving. The characters are all very likeable and endearing. The story was predictable, but again, I didnt mind. I finished it with a smile on my face. I have no complaints. It was perfectly charming.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

So love earthy witch stories.

Good story. The story and relationships are a little meatier than a lot of books in this genre,
But the best part was the descriptions of the magical effects of different flowers and plants. It was all presented so well that it seemed plausible you could whip up a love potion cupcake in the kitchen. (I have added a few edible flowers to my garden this Spring! Just in case.)

Worth the credit.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Readers Beware

I love the hint of magic in this book. I know people like this. I love herbs and gardening. That said, I do NOT like f-bomb language, descriptions of rape and abuse and lewd sexual encounters. I am much more of the type who thinks the bedroom doors ought to remain closed in a story. This now has the distinction of being the worst book I've purchased at Audible. If you like a tale of local town characters with some mystery thrown in, try a Cat Who.... book by Lilian Jackson Braun or a Joanne Fluke Cookie Murder. They won't have you hating the language or cringing at bedroom scenes. If you like mysteries or adventure Elizabeth Peters is quite wonderful, I enjoy Amelia Peabody books and her Vicky Bliss series. I'm going to delete Garden Spells from my Audible library quick before my mother reads it. I don't tolerate bad language from my children or my literature.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Should have read reviews more carefully

I did not realize this was a romance novel--which I do not like. Tried to finish--the author has created some very imaginative sequences--but the silly "will she or won't she" (it's obvious that she will) overwhelmed the intriguing parts and finally turned me off...so I turned it off and deleted it from my iTunes library.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A touch of magic

The Waverleys have always been an strange family. The Waverley women each has a gift that makes them, individually and collectively, outsiders even in their home town of Bascom, North Carolina.

Evanelle, for one -- she comes bearing gifts she is compelled to give to someone-- a box of pop-tarts, a skein of yarn, a shirt several sizes too large. And yet, every time, what she brings soon turns out to be useful in some way. Crucially useful, even.

Claire, who inherited her grandmother's Queen Anne house, tends to the flower and herb garden, and uses its products in her catering business, ingredients that, used just so, produce interesting results. And the garden has this strange apple tree...

Sydney, Claire's younger sister, left home as soon as she was old enough, but now returns fleeing an abusive marriage with her little girl in tow. With Sydney home, things start to change -- and Claire is not altogether certain she wants them to. Especially not when it comes to that disconcertingly attractive artist/teacher who just moved next door.

It's a nicely written book-- charming, sweet, just that hint of magic. At times, it reminded me of S.E. Phillips, other times of Jenny Crusie. And Sydney's story will remind you of Nell from the Three Sisters Island books by Nora Roberts.

Highly recommended.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful and different

I originally listened to this book free through my library account, but I liked it so much, I bought it as a keeper.

Garden Spells is funny, sad, poignant, and romantic, and there's that apple tree that just fascinated me.

I predict this author will be hitting the NYT Bestseller list in the near future.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully enchanting

I loved this audio book, and like another reviewer am going to get the paper version as a keeper. The characters were flawed in real ways and the magic in the story was intertwined so well that it was just a part of the story. It definitely left me wanting more stories of the town.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable.

I’m in the mood for this type of story right now. It’s womens fiction with romance, plus a little magic from an apple tree and special talents that the Waverly females have. I love that it was done in 3rd person – my comfort read.

I enjoyed the various characters living in the town of Bascom, N. Carolina. Two heroines are Claire who grew up there and Sydney who left town, married and had a daughter Bay. Sydney’s husband was abusive. Sydney and Bay secretly ran away from him and came to Bascom hoping he won’t find them.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Susan Ericksen is hit or miss for me. Some of her narrations have been awful. But this was ok.

OTHER BOOKS:
I’ve read the following books by this author.

5 stars. Garden Spells 2007
4 ½ stars. The Sugar Queen 2008
3 stars. The Girl Who Chased the Moon 2010
3 stars. The Peach Keeper 2011
2 ½ stars. Lost Lake 2014 (too much grief)
3 stars. First Frost 2015 (sequel to Garden Spells)

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 304 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: one scene referred to no details. Setting: current day Bascom, N. Carolina. Book copyright: 2007. Genre: womens fiction with romance and fantasy.

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8 people found this helpful