In the Light of the Garden is a novel about unearthed family secrets, the enchantment of past loves, and the indelible power of forgiveness.Inheriting her grandparents’ island estate on Florida’s Gulf coast is a special kind of homecoming for thirty-one-year-old Charity Baxter. Raised by a narcissistic single mother, Charity’s only sense of a loving home comes from childhood summers spent with … childhood summers spent with Gramps and Grandma. But piercing her fondest memories is her sharpest grief—the death of her beloved grandmother, when Charity stopped believing in the magical healing power of the weeping willow that still casts a shadow on their property.
Now that Charity has returned, she’s full of longing and regret, until she befriends her neighbor Dalton Reynolds, who has come to Gaslamp Island carrying his own heartache. As other exiles arrive—a great uncle harboring secrets, a teenage runaway—Charity begins to reconsider what makes a family. When her own estranged mother shows up in crisis, Charity is challenged to search her heart for forgiveness. But forgiving herself may require a little magic from the last place she’d expect to find it.
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I’ve been meaning to read this book for a couple of years, and am glad I finally did. After reading just the first few pages, I felt such compassion for the young girl, Charity, as she grappled to understand her distant and narcissistic mother. How she carried this baggage forward into maturity kept me reading long into the night.
Filled with plot twists and romantic intrigues, Heather Burch patched together and painted a cast of characters that will capture your heart.
I especially appreciated the Magical Realism embedded into the landscape. A solid 5-star read for me!
Every book from Heather Burch, which I am privileged to read, is a full ride of emotions that reach down deep into your heart and soul, grabbing tight and refusing to let go. You become so attached and invested in the characters and see yourself as an extension of the story and In The Light of the Garden, is no exception. This story is full of happiness, sadness and guilt as well as forgiveness and acceptance. A well told story of family and unconditional love. Do yourself a favor, pick up this amazing book and go on a personal journey with the main character, Charity as she comes to her own and grows as the story unfolds. You will grow attached to her stories, memories and other characters that become part of this amazing journey you are on. Heather’s storytelling and descriptions are so vivid, you feel as though you are an extension to the story and surrounding areas. You won’t be sorry.
An island mansion, possibilities for romance, family secrets and a magical tree; what’s not to love? Maybe the not-so-lovable narcissistic mother? But love can sometimes conquer all, particularly in this charming, whimsical, fairytale-like story where the protagonist has a heart that’s larger than life. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I’ve just picked up another, One Lavender Ribbon. By the way, In the Light of the Garden reminded me somewhat of The Stationmaster’s Cottage by Phillipa Nefri Clark, which was also enchanting.
I liked this book. When you start reading it you think — another romance novel. But no, it takes a surprising turn. the characters find out about themselves and it weaves a great story. It is a bit surprising in parts, but overall it is a good book.
I’m on an exciting journey of discovering new to me authors of great women’s fiction! I decided to read this book because, a) that cover, and b) it had great reviews, and sounded like the kind of fiction I adore. I was not disappointed. Heather Burch is a master storyteller. I loved all the characters, well, maybe not Ellen, but by the end I did understand her. This is a beautiful story of fractured family, letting go of the fantasy we often have of an ‘ideal world’, and making a life out of what we’ve been given. Themes of forgiveness and restoration run deep throughout the novel, and the symbolic weeping tree gently reminds us that grace and mercy are readily available and freely given to those who have the courage to ask.
In the light of the garden is story of loss and redemption as the characters interact with the weeping willow tree in the garden. Family secrets are revealed slowly while relationships are being forge by an unlikely group of people.
This was a quick read. I felt like the ending was a bit anti-climatic and as a whole it was predictable.