GARDEN OF SPELLS: A Review

Like many small towns, Bascom, North Carolina has its secrets it likes to keep. Local caterer Clair Waverly lives a quiet life tending her garden and making mouth-water, seemingly magical dishes from the herbs and fruits from her garden. Her food tends to have odd effects on people.

Clair wakes one morning to find her long lost sister Sydney on her doorstep - with her five-year-old daughter Bay! What Sydney had been doing, and where she had been for the past ten years is no one's business. The sisters had endured a rocky childhood with a difficult mother and the two girls had become estranged through the years. But family is family, and Clair takes in her sister and niece who quickly discover there is something unusual about Clair and her garden - it blooms and flourishes year round. The large ancient apple tree in the center of the garden has a way of manipulating events. When the tree wants attention, it throws apples, and tempts passers-by with its fruit - if it likes you. If the tree dislikes you ... then could get nasty.

Then there is cousin, Evanelle, who has a knack for giving odd gifts that eventually become quite appropriate. And the hunk next door, Tyler, has his eye on Clair, who has no interest in romance - but the apple tree has other ideas!

Garden of Spells is a delightful book of charm, romance, myth and magic. Filled with small moments of wonder, quirky characters and situations it is over much too soon.

BIBLIO SAYS: Highly recommended.