Customer Reviews
If you read only one book this year.................... - By: Mrs. J. E. Davies, 16 Apr 2008 
If you read only one book this year then make it this one.Having followed the author from her first book, she has come of age with this one.The characters are given attractive albeit flawed attributes which encourages the reader to identify with their joys & disappointments.The desciptions of the gardens & the enviroment do not in my opinion detract from the story but add to it, a reflection of the growth & eventual maturing of the main characters Ava & Jean Paul as well as the subsequent family.Her use of periferral characters to further illustrate the healing power of love is also clever.This sounds like a cheesy book but don't be fooled, it has a poignancy which will remain with you long after you have finished turning the last page.A thoroughly enjoyable read !
Growing affections - By: Mrs. M. G. Powling, 21 Mar 2008 
This is not quite the page-turner I anticipated but, nevertheless, I enjoyed this gentle romance. The story, at its roots (if you'll forgive the gardening pun) is a simple one: a garden is constructed with love by two people: Ava (happily married to Phillip) & Jean-Paul, a young Frenchman, son of a business acquaintance of Phillip. As often happens, the joy of a shared interest - gardening - brings Ava & Jean-Paul closer than they would normallly have become. The couple falll deeply in love but Ava cannot, nor will not, leave her husband & children for the young Frenchman.
Leap forward 25 years years. Ava & Phillip have now left. A young couple, again with young children, now own the house & garden ... & then a Frenchman mysteriously arrives, & becomes their gardener ...
I enjoyed this book but found it slightly over-long for a faily simple plot which would have benefited by tighter writing. I don't know how many times squirrels were playing in the trees or on the lawns, or how often the rain caused a brilliant rainbow to form, as I simply lost count. But setting aside the author's penchant for this kind of romantic metaphor, overalll I found the story entertaining & a very easy read. I would recommend this as I would recommend a warm bath & a box of delicious chocolates - to be indulged in occasionallly. But occasionallly.
