Garden Spells

There's a certain time of year when a woman's thoughts turn to magic - specifically, the search for magic. This was how I came upon this gem of a read. I was looking for something with a similar vibe as Practical Magic and did a google search. "Garden Spells" was the first on a number of lists. This book did not disappoint! I absolutely loved it, devouring it in only a couple of days. The women of the story are soooo relatable in their unique gifts, personalities, and struggles. The relationships between them are poignant, sweet, and clear. And the love interests are exactly what every woman hopes for. A beautiful tale of magic, beauty, kitchens, and gardens in which each character finds and embraces their own special magic. Just breathtaking. I couldn't wait to order the sequel! Lauri Ann Lumby Author of "Happily Ever After - the Transformational Journey from 'You Complete Me' to Beloved Partnership."

But ... you'll have to read all the way to the end, to receive it because ... if you turn to the end first, you may not totally appreciate the gift until you read the story and see just how it is woven between the pages. What a delight! I’ve come to greatly appreciate the creative mind of Sarah Addison Allen. This is the second book of hers that I have read and I believe I will continue reading more of her material. Seems mystical realism (if that is what it is called) captivates me and soothes my soul. The book started off with a “Bang” for me and then slowly began to fade. Somewhere along the way, the story became predictable and the character descriptions and unfolding of events lacked the spark that ignited at the beginning of the story. (For this reason, I knocked off one of the stars.) I loved the character descriptions in this story. Sarah delivered believable characters, rich in descriptions and characteristics that brought them into full view in the minds eye. Each of them were brilliant! I also loved Sarah’s portrayal of the magic in the garden ... the way the plants come to life and take on their own characteristics as if they're living and responding to their own life force that is in tandem with each of the characters. I wonder ... does my very own garden speak to me in the same manner and I've just never listened or payed attention? Somehow ... I think it does. I will be paying much closer attention ... with all of my senses from here on out! And who doesn’t want an apple tree that bends, rustles leaves and throws apples in order to communicate?! So delightful! ♥ But here’s the thing … this book was a metaphor for me … as all books are, really. The metaphors were in each of the characters. Sarah has a delightful way of creating interesting people and weaving them into her stories. Here’s what I resonated with in each of the characters; Claire: The person who craves familiarity, structure and comfort. There’s a method to her ways that keeps her safe and protected. She gets attention and recognized for her creations in the kitchen and as a result, she feels valued and important. After all, she continued a family legacy and made it her own. There’s great satisfaction and comfort in being important enough to have others reach out to you for your gifts and craft … even though it’s the very thing that could be holding her back from living a life in full color that is rich, colorful and juicy. Sydney: The person who feels the pull to follow in someone’s footsteps … even though it’s misunderstood and extremely uncomfortable. It isn’t until her pain reaches an unbearable threshold that she begins to listen to the calling of her soul. She has a gift … a VERY talented gift that is put on hold or acknowledged simply because an event happened in her life that required ALL of her attention. But … the soul will never let up until it is given permission and power to be lived out in full color. This is the space in the book that reminded me that I can indeed listen to the calling of my soul and trust that it will blossom when the time is right and to never give up on that vision and dream. All in good time ♥ Evanelle: The one who listens to her intuition without trying to reason with it or bring logic into the picture. This woman lives uncompromisingly and true to the stirrings that “Tickle” within. She doesn’t apologize for them or try to comfort those who don’t understand. She just is and owns it! How many of us try to reason with that still, small voice in order to make sense of things, when all along, if we would just love and trust, EVERYTHING will move according to the Divine plan of the Universe. I loved Evanelle for she validated the nudges of my soul and gave me permission to live out loud in full color and determinedly authentically. Emma: Hate her if you must or … try to understand her and get to know yourself as well. Of all of the characters in this book, she is the most insecure even though she craves power. She does all of the things she was programmed to do and as a result, she really doesn’t know if she is loved and accepted or not. I felt for her in my own way, for I have believed for a very long time in my life that my appearance was all that others saw in me and keeping up my image was a grueling and emotionally taxing façade. Bless her heart, she lived in a state of fear for if she lost the one thing that she really felt she had, who would she be then? I believe there’s a little of Emma in all of us and really, until we all become like Evanelle, we will never truly be free. This was a delicious and satisfying book. I've been invited to consider new, life giving, ingredients into my cuisine and who knows ... I just may receive the blessings and gifts of them! For now ... I think I'll go bake some zucchini bread and add some Lemon Balm and invite the child within to come to life! Oh how magical!!!

Good book.

This book was exactly what I needed; a comforting, fun escape. It read like a dream. I read Allen's other book "The Girl Who Chased The Moon" recently and despite only giving it 3 stars, I still felt like I had to go ahead and read this one. Even though I wasn't in love with the storyline of "The Girl Who Chased the Moon", I fell in love with Allen's writing style and imagery and had to read more. And I'm so glad I did! "Garden Spells" is nothing short of enchanting. It does what I wish more movies did; it combines reality and magic in the perfect doses, allowing you to truly get lost. The characters are so human and there wasn't a single one I couldn't relate to. By the end of the book, they felt like family. Few books do that to me! The magical concoctions & recipes, the human-like apple tree in the backyard, and of course, Evanelle's gift for handing out gifts; necessary with the perfect timing. I adored all of it and that's saying a lot, because I'm not usually a fan of anything fantasy or anything too over-the-top. The difference with this book, like I said before, is it somehow manages to stay human through out. It was so easy to identify in some way to each storyline and to connect with the characters enough to want the best for them. I loved that Allen ended the book with Bay's viewpoint, because her thoughts particularly touched me and I was impressed with Allen's ability to write with such innocence and confusion, from a child's perspective. Now if only I could somehow enter this book and become a part of its world! Seriously. I loved it - one of my favorites, it was absolutely captivating and I might even reread it.

This novel relies on the imaginative use of magical realism and it brings to us a refreshingly unusual story. Claire Waverly has an enchanted apple tree on her garden; this tree throws apples at you if it wants you to see the most important event of your life, and it is usually very playful and moody. Claire who had no stable home growing up feels safe and content when her mother takes her to her grandmother's house to live in and to take refuge in. She embraces her family's peculiar gifts and becomes a caterer in her grandma's hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Claire's half sister Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before is back in Claire's life and she is accompanied by her own daughter Bay. This novel tells us the story of this curious family and it does it through Claire's voice as well as Sydney's, mixing horticultural folklore, the supernatural and a big dose of southern flavor it will bewitch you and you will devour it in one sitting.

Arrived on time and in great condition

If you enjoyed reading whimsical books growing up especially those my Enid blyton, you’ll love this one then. Fast fun read. Wish there was a part two to it. It’s lovely!

A truly delightful book. Great writer and story teller. Read a number of her books and have loved every single one.

Im Buch geht es um die Schwestern Claire und Sydney. Beide sind Waverleys und haben damit eine spezielle Gabe. Sie stehen sich nicht sehr nahe, doch als Sydney und ihrer Tochter Gefahr droht, tut Claire alles um sie zu beschützen. Doch Claire hat auch noch ganz andere Sorgen. Sein Name ist Tyler und er wohnt nebenan. Schnell hat er Claire's Herz für sich erobert, doch sie tut alles um ihn von sich zu stoßen. Auch für Sydney und ihre Tochter ist das Glück nicht weit. Das ist mein drittes Buch von der Autorin und ich liebe sie und ihre Bücher einfach. Auch "Garden Spells" nimmt den Leser wieder mit in eine Welt voller Wunder und Liebe. Ich liebe den Apfelbaum, wer kann schon von sich behaupten einen Apfelbaum zu haben der Aufmerksamkeit verlangt. Faziz: Das Buch war sehr spannend, voller Action und voller Emotionen. Es hat sich sehr flüssig lesen lassen und hat ein schönes Cover, indem mehr steckt als es den Anschein hat. Die Handlung war sehr schön und die Figuren waren sehr gut gestaltet!!

O Brasil merecia ter contato com essa autora maravilhosa , creio eu que seja meu primeiro contato com realismo fantástico e simplesmente amei; parece uma história completamente nova da série de tb the good witch com o vocabulário rico de Gilmore girls,