The Gardener's Plot, by Deborah J. Benoit

 Publication Nov. 5, 2024

I'm not much of a gardener but I love flowers, so decided to give this one a chance. I'm so glad I did. While I have to admit to finding Maggie Walker's questioning style pushy and rather obvious, I liked her. Like many, she's making a new start by going back to known places, ie living in her late grandmother's home, and dealing with both old friends and enemies as well as trying to make new friends. She's a master gardener and has started writing a gardening column for the local paper, so she seems to be on the right track. Even more impressive, she was tapped to help organize the local community garden. She's excited about that...until she discovers a boot in one of the plots. A boot attached to a foot. Uh, oh.

Without giving away the plot, I will say that while it seemed slow in spots, my hunch is we were getting valuable background for future book in a series. At least I hope so. I liked Maggie, pushy and occasionally fractious as she was when confronted by the standard operating procedure of the police. There seems to be a history with local police chief Sam, one that has lead to Sam's wife Catherine being openly hateful to Maggie. And, oh, that detective, Matt Quinn. While grudgingly admitting he's good looking, Maggie seems at odds with him the entire book. Well, almost the entire book. Love the possibilities the ending offers. Like Maggie, Sam and Matt seem to be good people, caught in the middle between their softer side and the bureaucracy of police procedure. Maggie's friend and neighbor, Sally, is there for Maggie, even when she fears it might put her family in danger. And, yes, danger is lurking. Not one but two murders occur. Even worse, Maggie is with Sally when they stumble across the second body thanks to Sally's dog Dreyfus. And that's just the beginning of the action, which also involves snotty encounters with Catherine, cranky garden plot owners, Maggie's annoying pest of a cousin, and a growing fear that this isn't over simply because the bodies have been discovered. Trust me, it isn't. 

You don't have to be a gardener to enjoy this one, either. In fact, if you read carefully, you might even pick up a few helpful tidbits. Maggie and Sally, the featured characters, are quite likable and seem to work well together, showing promise as amateur sleuths. Maggie seems to recognize at the end that her probing questions may have help create the danger Sally and she faced at the end, too, so it'll be interesting to see how that balances with her natural curiosity and need to know. Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am looking forward to the next. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for the early introduction to Maggie and the cast of characters that surround her. And, oh, I definitely liked the role the K9 police dog played at the end. What can I say? I'm a dog person. Grin.

A Twinkle of Trouble, by Daryl Wood Gerber

 

Publication April 23, 2024

Remember when, as a child, we believed anything was possible? A time we had invisible friends and were astounded adults couldn't see them, too? Well, this book will take you back to that time. In this case, Courtney's very real but invisible-to-most friend is Fiona, a righteous fairy. There are four kids of fairies, btw: intuitive, guardian, nurturer, and righteous, like Fiona. I couldn't help but think how cool it'd be to have a tiny friend like Fiona. It's been fun to watch her mature over this series, I might add, to the point where she is mentoring her younger sister Eveleen this go-round. Fiona takes her role seriously, as well she should since she's eventually destined to be the next fairy queen, albeit maybe a tad too seriously. Thanks to the very human Courtney, however, she's able to find her way and help Eveleen learn about the human world. In the process we meet Ulra, a shy fairy who I have a hunch we'll be seeing more of in future books.

But, enough of the fairy world. Courtney has a weekend festival to deal with, fairy gardens to create, lessons to give, and herbs and flowers to try to grow. And, oh, yeah, an unwanted murder to help solve. Who killed social influencer Genevieve? Maybe the key, why? As Courtney investigates, er, talks to people and asks questions, she finds it is far more complicated than who Genevieve recently insulted on her social media. Heck, she even heaved a mild insult at Courtney's boyfriend Brady's cafe. Brady takes it in stride but....did someone else try to shut Genevieve up for good? Was the shrieking seagull really an omen of bad things to come? If you got a threatening note on your door, would you get up and go running alone the next morning? Why is Bentley seen hovering around a victim's home? 

Could sweet Daphne, who seems like she wouldn't hurt a fly, have committed a vicious murder? How about Oliver, whose marriage was put on the rocks due to Genevieve? Will Courtney find herself in danger...again? Who...oh, enough teasers. Despite a slow to me start and build, I enjoyed the story, basking in the idea of fairies and fairy kingdoms when not pondering whodunit. You'll even learn a bit about gardening and caring for flowers in the process. It's also fun to imagine the various versions of the fairy gardens created by Courtney at the request of friends and customers. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks - #KensingtonCozies for inviting me through the fairy portal again for a sneak peek. It's wonderful to put on that childish delight and imagine a world full of magic and fairies.

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Kate Lewis (Illustrator)

 

Publication March 5, 2024

I still have my original hardback copy of "The Secret Garden". It's looking rough, true, since it was not only passed along to me by family members but printed in 1911. It also made the move with me from Florida to Alaska, so it's got a few miles on it. All of this said to clarify that I obviously loved this book as a youth enough to cling to it through the years of moves and downsizing. True, in my nostalgic memories of it, I didn't recall Mary Lennox being quite so, well, unlikable. Heck, shes downright ill-behaved and spoiled. 

The memory I'm sure my youthful mind clung to, however, was of the magic of the garden. Mary went from a sad, petulant, okay, nasty child to one who thrived in nature and with the hard work of cultivating a woefully neglected garden. Her friendship with Dickon, son of a servant, who adored animals and nature, and eventual friendship with the frail, sickly (and also not particularly nice) Colin Craven transformed her and, most likely, gave hope to many a sad, lonely child reading along. I won't belabor the plot, I see many others have detailed it far better than I ever could, so will simply say it is, well, magical. Not magical in the sense of wave of the wand magic, but in the magical healing power of nature. A bit new-age themed long before that term had even been though of, so to speak. I should note that this is an unabridged edition, In other words, it uses Burnett's original text, even parts that are derogatory towards others. As the publishers note upfront, however, they are aware and advising readers beforehand that they've made the decision not to change Burnett's words while still acknowledging their power to hurt. Adult readers might want to discuss why the matter in question is no longer acceptable with younger readers, making this a teaching tool, too.

As for the illustrations, while I was expecting more realism going into the book, the splashes of color and stylistic portrayals of the characters work. The colors, of course, mirror the wonder color and aromas of the secret garden itself. I had an ebook version, so can't address what the physical book might add, but the cover with its riotous burst of sprawling colors against the sunny yellow background definitely catch the eye. I've seen mention of a lovely ribbon bookmark, too. I'm thinking this would be a lovely gift for any age, both new and past readers. My thanks to #NetGalley and #ChronicleBooks for making this available to me early. I thoroughly enjoyed this time-travel back to my youth. I even dug out my old copy to sit beside me as I read, silly as that may seem.

All the Presidents' Gardens: Madison’s Cabbages to Kennedy’s Roses―How the White House Grounds Have Grown with America , by Marta McDowell

 

Publication January 2, 2024

Fascinating read. I've now been through this book twice and highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in gardening and/or history. Heck, just a curiosity about the White House itself apart from its multiple residents. That 18-acre site has an interesting, often complex history all its own. You'll read about each of its residents from Abigail and John Adams through modern times. Even George Washington, who never lived there, had a hand in the design and what went into the infant gardens at the time of the building's construction. Known by many as the "People's House," each resident has had a hand in the gardens' evolution and change. From basic gardens through more modern days when, say, watering is handled via modern technology rather than workers. As noted, each Presidential family's contributions and changes are noted but I particularly enjoyed that the largely unknown individuals in charge of keeping the gardens well and productive were highlighted and noted. 

I'll also note that the book's focus is the gardens themselves. The plants, flowers, landscaping, and such are the key. In other words, it's non-political. I could go on rather endlessly about the fascinating topics discussed, from the sheep used to mow at one point up through modern times, but will stop there. The author obviously knows gardening and how to research. There are also abundant charts of what is planted, where and when, as well as a detailed index. And, yes, there are photos. Again, I liked that the photos showing some Presidents and families were largely outnumbered by those solely of the gardens themselves and those in charge. A nice reminder that the White House gardens are always evolving, always changing. For instance, ways modern technology have impacted the gardens and their care is noted. And....so much more.

Bottom line, if you enjoy gardening and/or history, you will probably thoroughly enjoy this book. I came at it from the history buff angle and found plenty to like, not to mention learned a bit about gardening and flowers and plants as I read. While there were certainly slow moments, probably due more to personal interests and knowledge than any shortcoming of the book, it was an interesting look at a place I've only viewed from outside the fence. Thanks #NetGalley and #TImberPress for taking me on a virtual visit behind the fence. I thoroughly enjoyed that backstage look, so to speak, and will be recommending this book to my local library.

A Bean to Die For (A Coffee Lover's Mystery #4), by Tara Lush

 Publication Jan. 9, 2024

Do you know what a mushroom log is? You will after reading this book. It's actually rather intriguing, gotta admit, as was the latte art machine. Being a former Floridian, I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, happy that I didn't live in quite as quaint and quirky and area. In this case, Lana is living the good life on Devil's Island, It seems to be a cross between a mecca for hippy types and those wanting to start a new life. The gardens overseen by the community seem to bring them together although it isn't always in peace. Even worse, Lana stumbles across a body in the community garden. Her coffee related plans will have to wait.

Who killed cranky Jack Daggett? Unfortunately for Lana, she has no time to play sleuth. Boyfriend Noah's mother and sister are due to arrive in a few days and Lana desperately wants to make a great impression on them. So why can't she even seem to find the time to go shopping for dinner ingredients? Why are community residents arguing over....monkeys? Will Lana be able to withstand the pleading of suspect Darla to help her clear her name? Even with the help of her best friend and barista Erica, she's definitely feeling stressed. Her forever hippy father isn't exactly helpful. Amazingly enough, her boyfriend, Police Chief Noah, ultimately doesn't even try to stop her sleuthing behind his back. He simply asks her to do it safely, it via online and such, not in-person snooping, er, questioning. That's rather a pleasant twist of the ol' trope of the romantic partner being strongly discouraging. I do give kudos to Lana for not being TSTL, ie too stupid to live, too. I liked that her character didn't go rushing blindly into danger as many cozy mystery amateur sleuths do. In other words, this book offers up some refreshing twists in addition to an intriguing plot full of quirky characters.

Even better, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting these characters again (having read the previous book). Lana is a former crime reporter, so delving into crimes isn't exactly new to her. She'd hoped to have left all that behind her when she left Miami but, well, life (or death?) happens. Erica is a hoot. She seems far more into the sleuthing than Lana, to be honest, but isn't exactly subtle in her questioning. Read the room, Erica! And don't make Erica mad, either. Lana's father Peter, the once-and-forever hippy, is an odd mix of ol' hippy and techno pop, oddly enough. Ol' timer with a modern twist. He definitely enjoys the sleuthing. And, Noah? Well, he sounds like a saint. A good looking saint with patience to spare. So, why is Lana so anxious about meeting his mother and sister? They're....oh, enough teasers. Their meeting is....no, no, no more hints. Let's just say there is a lot going on when they meet. 

It's a fun read, full of likable, interesting characters, soft/sly humor that will make you smile, a cute dog, and a setting with some bizarre critters and townspeople Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me down to spend some time in Florida. It's always an adventure.