April & Oliver and The Forgotten Garden

April & Oliver by Tess Callahan

Unimpressed by this first novel, I continued reading it to the end. For me the story had no “punch”. Nothing about it warranted me using my time to read it. But I always want to give new authors the benefit of the doubt, so I shuffled on to the end.

April and Oliver have grown up together been each other’s soul mate from early on. At the point of the book where the story begins they are estranged from each other—Oliver newly engaged and a law student—April having difficulty separating herself from an abusive relationship.

From there the story continues to unravel and becomes a journey into the abyss.

Not worth the time it takes to read the title.


The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Released in 2008, this is not a brand-new book. I’m not really sure where I heard about it but I loved it.

The chapters in the book are set up as specific time periods- 1913, 1975 and 2005.

In 1913, the story opens and we meet a four-year old girl left on a dock in Australia. The dock master finds her and takes her home to his wife. Together they raise the child as “Nell”.

In 1975 “Nell” is informed by her father that she is not his and is given a suitcase that was with her when she was found in 1913. She begins a journey to find out all about her roots and in the process purchases a cottage in England.

In 2005, “Nell” passes away at the age of 95 and bequeaths everything she owns to her granddaughter Cassandra including a cottage on a cliff in England. Cassandra begins her own search to discover the real person behind her grandmother.

Interspersed throughout the story are fairytales, written by Eliza Makepeace, The Authoress, who proves to be integral to the story and its unfolding.

Ms. Morton has told a wonderful tale. It is beautifully written and engages the reader every step of the way.

Ladybookbug!