Danger lurks for Julia Marsden, the daughter of the late vicar of St. Lodore’s Church in the quiet village of Borrowdale. Julia doesn’t believe in faeries or magic or dreams coming true, but odd things have been happening at the vicarage lately that cannot be explained. Her orphaned cousin, Charlie, believes in mythical creatures and claims that faeries now inhabit the vicarage’s bluebell garden. … bluebell garden. The boy also claims the faerie king, Cadeyrn, has promised to make him a prince in his kingdom and teach crippled Charlie to walk again if he will cross into the Fae realm.
As the faerie king’s influence on the boy grows stronger, another threat emerges from the boy’s uncle – Douglas Hawke, the Earl of Eastbourne, who has come to wrench him from Julia’s guardianship. Julia is determined to fight both men, but as she and the boy begin to fall under the spell of the faerie king, Julia realizes that only her love for Douglas can save them.
But is Douglas capable of loving her, even at the cost of his own life?
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I do love paranormal story and historical romance so this one was a perfect mix without behind too out of sort.
It was very different from the series I came to know her, the Farthingales. It is as entertaining but with a darker and oppressive side, the universe the author has built is astonishing, I felt like I saw it in front of me.
Outside the main couple, the other characters are well described, and I loved or hated them, little Charlie was so perfectly outlined.
Julia is the perfect interpretation of a vicar’s girl but she is not at all a religious zealot, only a young woman who cares and will endure any sacrifice to help or save those she loves, she gives easily her trust but once betrayed she need time to forgive, she is human.
Douglas is her opposite, he doubt everyone but he will be challenged, Julia is so different from the woman who was portrayed to him, not the greedy woman who will use a child to gain money. His heart and his head will both fight as even he feels in his heart she is innocent, his brain needs proof.
They will have quite a bumpy road, having to trust another, enough to confide their deepest thoughts, and at the same time, they will have to fight for a future, their future.
Even without the humorous side of her other regency series, it was a very entertaining and captivating read.
Paranormal romance is just not my reading choice but I have read all of Meara Platt’s historical romances & loved them, so I thought I would give this a read. I really enjoyed it – the story was captivating & I couldn’t put it down until I read the last word. Julia Marsden, daughter of the late Vicar of St. Lodore’s Church, has raised her cousin, Charlie from the day he was born & orphaned by his mother’s death in childbirth. Julia is a kind, loving, honest & dependable guardian to Charlie. Douglas Hawke, the Earl of Eastbourne (Uncle Douglas is a brother to Charlie’s father who died before Charlie was born) comes to Julia’s home. Douglas is stubborn, does not trust Julia, honorable but unwilling to budge from his pursuit to bring his nephew back to Eastbourne to become the next legal Earl. Julia knows Charlie has imaginary faeries, magic & dreams but she & Douglas do not believe in them until strange things start happening. Our heroine broke my heart more than once, Charlie was so sweet & you ached for how sick he was & prayed for a sudden recovery & Douglas was handsome, kind, loving & he just got better the farther you got into the story. I really enjoyed Homer, the Bow Street Runner who worked for Douglas as he was so kind to Charlie & Julia. To round the cast out we had the Faerie King, Cadeyrn who is unfeeling, evil but charming & handsome. I want a Blue Bell Garden like the one in the story(minus Caderyn)! The book has danger, suspense, drama, romance, love & Meara Platt’s description of the faeries, gardens & Caderyn was so vivid I could see them! If you like paranormal romance, or if you don’t, I highly recommend this historical romance book. I’m off to read Book 2, Garden of Light.
Wow! This had me drawn into the story from the first page. I do like some light fantasy as times. The faeries make up a central background to the storyline, but their involvement in the action is limited.
At times emotional, at times amusing, with the feeling of foreboding in the background. Well-written from start to finish. Certainly re-read worthy
Julia Marsden has looked after her nephew since her sister died giving birth to him. Unfortunately his father’s family have ignored him, even after she told them how sick he is. Young Charlie has a gift for art and a very vivid imagination ( or is it just imagination?) Now her father the Vicar has also died, a new Vicar will need the only home she and Charlie have.
Douglas Hawke, the Earl of Eastbourne recently discovered a family secret and is going to claim his nephew no matter who stands in his way.
There is much more happening in the Vicarage garden than unseasonably blooming flowers. The magic is strong, and not all of it is as innocent as first appears.
This is a magical adventure that will prove the power of love. The characters are fabulous and will have you believing in Fairies. This is the first book in a series and I will definitely read the rest.
I loved it.
From the first paragraph I was hooked and couldn’t put this story down. Meara Platt wove quite the tale of love right to the dark realm of the Fae! Julia has taken care of her sickly cousin since the day Charlie was born. Now that his Uncle Douglas, the Earl of Eastbourne, has discovered he has a nephew, he wants him back! The betrayal runs deep in this story…lies, blackmail, and most importantly love! The Fae King Cadeyrn wants Julia to be his Queen. She can bring new life to the Fae and they need her to fulfill a prophecy so they can defeat the Dragon Lords. When Douglas realizes he love both Julia and Charlie can he defeat the King Cadeyrn? Will the Julia and Douglas ever learn to trust with so much betrayal thrown at them…A beautifully written story. The characters are full of depth and you really want all parties to win. Can’t wait to read the part 2!!