AUTHOR: Barbara Freethy
INFO: Paperback, Fiction, 368 pages
PUBLISHED: Pocket Star Books, 2011
SOURCE: Received from Publisher for Review
FROM GOODREADS: Dr. Charlotte Adams is torn between two men. Rev. Andrew Schilling is her past, a high-school romance that went drastically wrong. But he's back in town now and part of her present — along with newly-divorced Police Chief Joe Silviera, whom she's been powerfully attracted to for months. The question is, which man is her future — and Charlotte has to face and accept her past before she can build a life with Joe.
MY TAKE: In January, I discovered Barbara Freethy and her Angel's Bay series when I read and enjoyed my review of At Hidden Falls. I was drawn into the characters and the town immediately and wanted more.
Garden of Secrets is the fifth and final installment in Ms. Freethy's series set in the fictional town of Angel's Bay on the Central California coast. As with the other books in the series, this one can be read alone. I'm a sucker for stories in a series so I suggest reading all of them simply for the whole experience and enjoyment.
The people that populate this little town as well as the angels that are responsible for the name are what make this such a heart-warming and fun series. The author has filled her tale(s) with characters that tug at your heart and make you wish you lived there with them. I had already decided that I really liked Charlotte from the last book. She has a big heart and tries to help everyone else out while ignoring her own pain and past. Her biggest problem is trying to decide which of the gorgeous men who are pursuing her is the one she should take a chance on. I have to admit that I was rooting for Joe even back in the first book when he was still with Rachel. Charlotte's first love Andrew just never did it for me. I disliked him from the moment he showed up. I had a hard time with Charlotte forgiving him so easily and spending so much time with him.
The mystery and murder storyline was well done. The author kept me guessing until right near the end. I liked it when so many of the threads started to come together and several of the stories/issues were resolved.
I recommend this book as an enjoyable read with just the right touches of romance, intrigue and magic to appeal to everyone.
Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:
~~~~~ Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own. I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links. I may receive books in order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one. Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.
Another emotional and well written story from a very talented author. I've read a half dozen of her books in the last few months and enjoyed every fun. I liked all three of the female characters and their compelling stories. Liz was probably my favorite. Each of the women is turning a different age on the same day and I thought their feelings and worries about their particular ages to be really true to life.
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