Review by Booklist Review
The appealing British heroine of this delicious romantic romp is Althea, who loves her house, her three rambunctious teenagers, her dog, and her garden. At 38, she loses her job, faces the return of her disagreeable ex-husband, and tries to cope with her impossible younger sister. Always a bit distracted by the pressures of daily life, she doesn't welcome the arrival of the architect who buys a nearby mill in whose greenhouse Althea has been surreptitiously raising plants. Patrick is rich, extremely attractive, and attached to the perfect musculature of a woman named Topaz. Althea, who hopes that winning a gardening competition will enable her to do something she loves and still keep her family financially intact, rings such glorious changes on the themes of motherhood, the bliss of gardening, friendship, and sibling relationships that we almost forgive her for wildly missing the cues of Patrick's interest and for her knee-jerk response to putting what she thinks are the children's interests first. In the end, she gets to keep home, garden, and love interest, although not in ways she might have expected. As pretty a piece of wish fulfillment as can be imagined; enchanting withal. --GraceAnne A. DeCandido
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The pleasure in reading Fforde's new novel lies in the mounting she'll-show-'em expectations as the book becomes a modern Cinderella tale about a good-hearted, underappreciated supermom in her late 30s. Althea Farraday can grow a lemon tree from a pip but can't stand up against her bossy family. Sister Juno, two years her junior and "always soignee," is especially lavish with her criticism: of Althea's messy house, her weight and her generally unstylish appearance. Ex-husband Frederick calls from Hong Kong to criticize the way she's chosen to educate their three teens, though he's been absent from their home in Gloucestershire for 12 years. And the incoming head of the restructured primary school where Althea has worked as secretary for many years finds her too old-fashioned for his high-tech vision of the school's new mission. But job loss gives her the same euphoria as divorce, and, despite tight funds, she decides to transform herself from a casual gardener to a garden designer. Architect Patrick Donahugh, who buys the greenhouse Althea uses to grow her plants, lives with a fitness-crazed young shopaholic named Topaz; he lets Althea continue to use his greenhouse and is soon as taken with her womanly figure as he is by her selfless devotion to her children. The push-pull of their relationship plays out against the backdrop of Althea's garden design successesincluding delightful triumphs over the rich and snooty. OThis British bestselling author (The Rose Revived) has delivered a pocketful of posy. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
This is a Cinderella story that says even if you're 40 with three messy kids, you can find happiness with a millionaire Prince Charming. Althea Farraday, a passionate gardener, meets Patrick Donahue, a lovely man who is involved with very young and beautiful Topaz of the perfect physique. He also owns a boarded-up mansion with a large greenhouse. Althea's adventures in attaining her heart's desiresPatrick, a new place to live, a greenhouse, and a careermake for a delightful romp through the English Cotswolds. Throw in a smarmy ex-husband, a controlling mother, a sister just like Mom, and a new niece, and the story becomes even more spicy. There are a few Briticisms to puzzle out, but that just adds to the fun. An essential purchase; from the English author of The Rose Revived (St. Martin's, 1996).Dawn L. Anderson, N. Richland Hills P.L., Tex. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
British writer Fforde (The Rose Revived, 1996) returns, this time exhibiting a spirited sense of humor, a light touch, and a real sense of how families work. Althea Farraday is, at 40, perfectly content with her life. She has three good-natured teenagers, an ex-husband she was more than glad to say good-bye to, a lovely house in the countryside with plenty of space to garden (her passion), and a pleasant job at a local school. Her life is thrown into an uproar, however, when in rapid succession (1) she loses her job, (2) Frederick--the ex--decides he just might want her back, (3) her loving yet high-maintenance younger sister announces that she's pregnant, (4) she meets an immensely attractive (and already involved) architect named Patrick, and (5) she wins a contest to create her dream garden at the famous Chelsea Flower Show. To Althea's surprise, not long after she meets Patrick, his secretary/lover Topaz, a twentysomething with an aerobicized body and expensive tastes, runs off with Frederick, leaving Patrick suddenly single. Then, to Althea's additional surprise, Patrick announces that he finds her as fascinating as she finds him. But consumed with her children and not wanting them to be upset by a new man's appearance in their life, and consumed also with her money problems and with the upcoming Chelsea show, Althea turns a blind eye to Patrick's affections (with one glaring exception--a night of passion that she can't seem to forget). After much interfering by those who love her most--including her three spirited kids--she manages to iron out the kinks in her life to everyone's satisfaction. Althea, the womanizing Frederick, the charming Patrick, the shallow Topaz, and the snobbish but warmhearted Juno, not to mention Althea's children (the eldest of whom is a Buddhist), are all cleverly, endearingly, and realistically rendered. Altogether, a considerable improvement over the author's debut. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
