Tilly Silverberg loves her garden.
After her husband had passed away, her garden and her thriving plant business is her sanctuary. Between that and her son Isaac, Tilly finds enough to keep her mind busy and to avoid sticking a toe out beyond her own little world. Its safe in Tilly’s world and it is enough.
James Nealy has money to spare and when he wants something… it is just a matter of tossing money at it to make it so. As an in demand software developer he has trouble quieting the activity in his mind, but he has a plan to do just that… by creating a garden. He has seen Tilly’s work and wants her to be the designer even as she doesn’t think she is the right person for the job – after all, she sells plants, she does not design gardens.
And so the story goes, a family emergency creates a new way to escape for Tilly and as she retreats with Isaac to where she grew up she finds that while on the outside things look wonderfully the same – they clearly are not. Her best friend has a secret, her mother is plotting, and an old boyfriend is available and that is a temptation Tilly does not want… but does.
And then suddenly there is the compulsive and attractive James knocking on her door, asking again about an idea he has for a garden…..
Why did I want to read this book? Well… cover love for one! This was offered to me through a TLC book tour and I thought the synopsis sounded fun.
AND The Unfinished Garden was fun… an adventure really. Barbara Claypole White’s characters jump off the page. I was reading this book this past week and while at first it seemed a bit jumbled (those first pages…) do not be discouraged! Suddenly the book was flowing nicely along and I really found myself enjoying Tilly and her strength. While James is not normally the type of character I would find myself drawn to (the impulsiveness, the guilt he carries) I dd find myself waver a bit… it was not a love, but I was able to like him.
The book provided a nice story line that kept me engaged and interested. I am not a fan of romance reads, but this one never felt heavy in that department and I am thankful for that. This book to me was a story about second chances and finding the strength to let go… and in ways that are both sweet and surprising, I think you will find that both Tilly and James are characters with flaws that are endearing because they reflect some of the same flaws we can find in ourselves.
Amazon Rating
Goodreads Review
Thank you to TLC book tours for allowing me to spend some time in the garden.
Book Journey 
Another lovely review!
Thank you Patty!
I liked this one too, Sheila. I consider it more women’s fiction than romance.
That is right Mary, thats what I felt… light romance does not bother me 🙂
This one does sound tempting!
Its a nice light one Laurel 😉
Glad you liked it! Hadn’t heard of this one before! 😀
Glad you liked it! I hadn’t heard of this one before but I’ll check it out! Thanks for the review! 😀
Thanks, Sheila, for another inspiring review. Thanks to you, my tbr pile is growing by leaps and bounds!!
I hope you enjoy this one Lannie 😀
The Unfinished Garden seems like a metaphor for my own life 🙂 No, when it has “garden” in the title, I’m always attracted to the book. It sounds like a good one!
I like the word garden too – it really does sound like a metaphor for caring, nurturing and growing….
Sounds good and I agree about the cover.
It is picture worthy 😀
This looks good. Somehow this one slipped past me when it was offered on TLC Tours.
I picked it for the cover Leslie 😀
I remember the cover. I’m pretty sure I passed it over because I thought it was a romance.
Thank you for taking the time to read and review, Sheila. So glad you liked the characters. I’m all about character…and gardens (although mine is the neglected garden these days). Happy reading, everyone!
SO glad to be able to review it Barbara! My garden… is neglected as well this year. 😀
I love that cover too and can easily see why you would fall in love with it!! I’m very very interested in reading this one!
I think you would enjoy it Staci 😀
The title grabbed me since I’ve just read The Unfinished Journals of Elizabeth D – however this looks to be a interesting read too – must look it up, thanks!
I hope you do and I hope you enjoy it 😀
I have this one on my list to read next for the tour. So glad you liked it because now I look forward to reading it!
I think if an author is able to make you like a character you wouldn’t normally be drawn to, that says a lot about the book! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for being on the tour!
Thanks Trish!