The third installment of a bewitching series “brimming with charm and charisma” that will make “fans of Outlander rejoice!” (Woman’s World Magazine). New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston’s second novel in the Found Things series, Secrets of the Chocolate House, was called a “time-swapping romance [that] will please fans of Alice Hoffman” (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns … (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with a third book, The Garden of Promises and Lies.
As the bustle of the winter holidays in the Little Shop of Found Things gives way to spring, Xanthe is left to reflect on the strange events of the past year. While she’s tried to keep her time-traveling talents a secret from those close to her, she is forced to take responsibility for having inadvertently transported the dangerous Benedict Fairfax to her own time. Xanthe comes to see that she must use her skills as a Spinner if she and Flora are ever to be safe, and turns to the Spinners book for help.
It is then that a beautiful antique wedding dress sings to her. Realizing the dress and her adversary are connected in some way, she answers the call. She finds herself in Bradford-on-Avon in 1815, as if she has stepped into a Jane Austen story.
Now in Xanthe’s time, Fairfax is threatening Xanthe into helping him with his evil doings, and demonstrates all too clearly how much damage he is capable of causing. With Fairfax growing ever more powerful, Xanthe enlists the help of her boyfriend Liam, taking him back in time with her. It is a decision that might just ensure she prevails over her foe, but only by putting her life–and his–on the line.
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Another Fabulous Journey with Xanthe! 5 stars
Paula Brackston has an undeniable talent when she creates Xanthe’s worlds, and once again, she shows us something completely suspenseful, intriguing and unique with her characters! What more can I say! Humour from the first chapters, I loved this cute comment ”Hmmm, I think it’s a bad idea to wear vintage if you yourself are vintage”. I had to giggle! So, I am pleased to announce another 5 stars plus with Xanthe’s new time travel adventure, the third story in the ‘Found Things’ series. A real page-turner to please everyone who love time-travel adventure!
I just adored this third story ‘The Garden of Promises and Lies! Again, we embark with Xanthe on a wild journey through time, as she is a time Spinner. This time, it’s an antique Edwardian wedding dress that ‘sings’ to her! Her mother Flora brings us humour and Liam a romantic touch! A violent man, from the four centuries ago, still lurks around Xanthe and leaves danger everywhere he goes. She and Liam will even put their lives in danger to avoid this evil man. Where will the ‘vintage wedding dress’ bring her through time this time? What connection does it hold? What is its secret?
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my own honest opinion.
The Garden of Promises and Lies is the third book in the Found Things series and may be the best in the series so far! I recommend reading the first two in the series first and trust me, once you read the first book, you will want to read all 3 back to back. Paula Brackston’s attention to detail always puts me smack dab in the story. I cannot wait for book 4!
This is a wonderful series! I could not stop reading. Zanthe is still at risk from Fairfax. He has followed her to her time and is endangering her and her family. Zanthe has also gone to an estate sale and found a connection to wedding dress. It is singing to her. She obtains the dress but finds that Fairfax is also connected to the dress and the woman who will wear it. Fairfax is very dangerous and Zanthe needs help to stop him. I won’t say more I don’t like to put spoilers!
Narration was very good.
I wanted to like this book, because I’m a fan of the author’s Witches books. But I won’t read any more of Xanthe’s “adventures”.
The first book was enjoyable enough, given the novelty of the plot. But in the second one, the main character, Xanthe, began to test my patience to a point where I wasn’t interested in any further books.
I reluctantly bought this third book, only to discover that the character is still an unlikable, immature, egotistical young woman who pretends to care about others, but doesn’t. It’s all about what she wants.
I’m giving this book 3 stars because:
Fairfax’s story was lacking and could’ve been worked out better.
Liam is like a love-sick puppy.
The characters in the past are superficial and boring.
The descriptions of locations and objects are often too lengthy and I began to skip over them.
Finally, I don’t like cliffhangers to begin with, but this one is enough reason for me to quit this series.
I am such a fan of this series and I was worried the 3rd book wouldn’t live up to the expectations I had after loving the first 2 as much as I did. Much to my surprise, this book is by far the BEST one yet!! I absolutely adore it and hope the author doesn’t keep us waiting for the 4th!!!
This was fantastic! I tend to enjoy time travel stories so I was drawn to this series from the start. Once I started reading the series, it became evident that this was something really special. I was really looking forward to this installment and it delivered on every level. I found this book to be a wonderful escape and really enjoyed going along with Xanthe during this adventure.
Xanthe is a Spinner, which is the term used for individuals with the special skill of being able to spin time. Certain objects sing to Xanthe and pull her into time so that she can set things right. When Xanthe finds an antique wedding dress, she knows that it has a story to tell. She also must continue to deal with Fairfax who is determined to get what he wants from Xanthe at any cost and in any time.
I loved the characters in this book. There were some pretty big developments for Xanthe in her personal life in this story and I loved seeing how supportive everyone in her life turned out to be. I found the characters in the past to be just as likable and I found myself hoping that Xanthe would be able to help their situation. I loved getting to know Xanthe better as she learned more about her abilities.
I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well done and exciting story that kept me glued to the pages until the very end. I do have to say that the ending has left me very eager to read the next installment in this wonderful series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
This third book in the Series picks right up where the previous book ended, making the Series a continuing story that will pick up in Book Four. I don’t have any problem with this type of series, because you have your characters grow and evolve till you feel like you know them.
I enjoyed this chapter in the story, Pie, traveling companions, and returning villain(s).
So this is book 3 in this series and I still find the series interesting to read. I like how we have the mix of the past and the here and now. We do get a resolution with a part of the series that started in book 1. The book ends on a cliffhanger. You get a great mystery with help this time around. We also go to the Regency Era so we get a time frame to learn about. I look forward to what happens next.
*I received this free book from NetGalley and am leaving my honest opinion*
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Wow! This is the third book in the Lost Things series and what a great addition. At first I wondered how this could compare to the first two books and where it would take Xanthe. Although slow initially when it took off I couldn’t put the book down. It was a whirlwind adventure of whimsy and danger while Xanthe time travels as a Spinner once again to restore peace and history. I can hardly wait for the next installment in this series. What a cliff hanger!
Brackston’s latest novel is the third installment of her Found Things series. While the author gives new readers plenty of backstory and detail to jump into the novel, I feel it is more prudent to read the series in order for full appreciation of the story arc.
The story starts a bit slow as the author provides new readers with references to prior books, but the pace quickly picks up, and the increasing threat from Fairfax along with the dangers of time-travel create a sense of foreboding and good tension as the story progresses. Xanthe travels back to the Regency period in this book, and the author provides ample, delicious detail of life in those times. The book is well researched, and the author’s presentation of historic information inspires me to do more research of the period on my own.
While the first book in the series, The Little Shop of Found Things, remains my favorite in the series, The Garden of Promises and Lies is a close second. I enjoyed the character and relationship development. I’ve become more invested in the characters with each book. Xanthe is becoming more adept at time travel and better at playing to win with her foes. I loved that she has begun to trust her friends more which led to a more intriguing plot.
I had thought this was to be the last book in the Found Things series, but the incredible cliffhanger at the end of The Garden of Promises and Lies is a pleasant clue that we readers can expect more Xanthe in our future.
THE GARDEN OF PROMISES AND LIES by Paula Brackston is a well-written and entertaining mix of historical fiction, fantasy, time travel and suspense. It is the third book in the Found Things series and readers will benefit from reading the series in order as there are references to events in previous books. The novel is set in and around Marlborough, a market town in the English county of Wiltshire in a mix of contemporary times and 1815.
Our protagonist, Xanthe, and her mother Flora live in Marlborough above their antique store, The Little Shop of Found Things. Xanthe has found that she can time travel to address injustices, an ability known to a few as Spinning. Also, objects sing and whisper to her. When Benedict Fairfax shows up in contemporary times coerces Xanthe’s assistance and an antique wedding dress calls to her at an auction, she knows that the two are somehow connected and she will once again be time traveling. But how will she determine what the dress needs her to do? Will the Spinner notebook she discovered provide the necessary information and will she be able to interpret it accurately? Who can she trust in the past?
Xanthe has gained some confidence in herself and her ability to understand what the found objects need her to do. However, she is still learning what it means to be able to travel to other times and places. Fairfax is well-portrayed as her nemesis and his motivations are personal to his history and upbringing. Secondary characters provide the emotional support that Xanthe needs at this juncture of her understanding of Spinning. They also bring realism to life through their quirkiness, hobbies and personalities.
Paula Brackston does a great job in giving the reader a sense of both time and place, and her descriptions help the reader to travel with Xanthe. The story has history, mystery, suspense, danger, deceit, uncertainty, secrets, a villain, hope, friendship, duty to family and much more.
Despite a somewhat slow start, overall, this is a steadily paced novel that brings history to life with an entertaining story that is both suspenseful, dramatic and emotional. Be prepared for the imagery to engage your visual, tactile, auditory and olfactory senses. While the climax was not a total surprise, the cliffhanger ending left me wanting more.
Readers that enjoy time travel mixed with suspense and history should enjoy this novel. I look forward to reading more books by Paula Brackston.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Paula Brackston for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for December 15, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
The Garden of Promises and Lies by Paula Brackston is the third book in her original time travel series that includes thrills, history, adventure, danger and romance. The ending left me on edge wondering what happened and where Xanthe will be going next. Who is the new time traveling villain and why? What will Xanthe’s book reveal? Xanthe’s time travel journeys bring her more knowledge, control and many surprises. I didn’t want to put this book down and had to make myself slow down for fear of missing any detail. I loved it!
Don’t miss this series,each book is more compelling than the last.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
The Garden of Promises and Lies by Paula Brackston is a different kind of novel: historical fantasy, I guess. A portion of it takes place in the time and place Xanthe, a spinner, has traveled to; called by a wedding dress to right some wrong. The other portion of it is her daily life in the present, where at the beginning of the story, only one other person knows about her life as a spinner. There, she runs into a man from the past, which appears to be after her, or more likely the Spinners book she has. After taking preliminary trip to her location, she discovers that someone (something) else can travel with her as a visiting friend’s dog hitched a ride and got back safely. Because of the nature of her mission, she shares it with her mother, and her boyfriend, Liam, inviting Liam to join her, as she may need some muscle.
This is third in the series and the first for me so it took a little catching up, which the author did nicely. It was a story well told with several enticing cliffhangers to entice the reader back for the next volume. It was easy to follow despite the complicated story, with characters both in the present and in the past. It is an intriguing concept: time travel. Interestingly, the butterfly effect was not mentioned or worried about, unique for time travel. I will be giving the next book a read. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of The Garden of Promises and Lies by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my won. #netgalley #thegardenofpromisesandlies
Answering the call of a song spun through time — Xanthe is at it again in this third installment of the series.
Though technically they can be read as standalones, I would highly recommend reading in order as there is a lot going and so much storyline in the overall ARC of the series that a reader just picking up somewhere in the middle can get confused and take awhile to catch up, thus missing out on something that may be important.
This story opens up more of the world of the Spinners and what a lonely life it has been for Xanthe thus far only having one person to confide in. Now with her archenemy brought forward from the past to save her love, she not only doesn’t know when and if he will strike next, but who to seek help from.
Xanthe starts to come into herself in this book. Her character continues to learn to build trust and believe in herself as she tries to protect her family and those she loves from the evil that seems to nothing more than to take what and who she is way. This is a journey that not only continues to explore the dynamics around the Spinners and her relationship with them, but also a personal one for her as she begins to close the chapter on the past and starts looking forward to the future with someone else. Trust will be tested; danger will follow; and a mysterious wedding dress may change they fate of these two friends.
I will say that with this book I was a little leery going into it knowing she left her love behind in the past to return to her life in the future. I felt that any feelings she develops for Liam may be forced or because of a love she can’t have so Liam would almost be a replacement. After reading, I, personally, still felt that Liam was a rebound despite how much he felt for Xanthe. It felt too forced to me. No one says you have to get over a great love in any certain amount of time, but I don’t know. None of if it makes since, love, heartache, so who knows. Like I said, my opinions. The author was able to capture my imagination and thoughts so she succeeded
** Thank you to the author and NetGally for the ARC. These thoughts are my own and I am voluntarily leaving a review. **
(4.5/5) I am loving this series. For those that are interested in reading this book, I would highly recommending reading the first two books in the series as it might be a bit confusing reading this one first. That said, Xanthe’s adventures in “spinning” (time-traveling) continue as a wedding dress she comes across at an estate auction “sings” to her. As with all objects that sing to her, she must find out the reason why they are calling to her and the only way to find out is to time-travel to that period in time. She worries about leaving her mother alone again while she time-travels and lying to her once again about her absence. And to add to her worries the sinister Benedict Fairfax has now been transported to her time causing her to fear for her and her mother’s safety. She has to get him to leave. Something she accidently discovers is that someone can actually time-travel with her and return safely. She confides in her boyfriend Liam, telling him about her spinning and how she must leave again to find out why the wedding dressing is calling to her and to make certain Fairfax leaves her current time and stays back in his time. (I hope that’s not too confusing.) Anyway, Liam offers to go with her this time to help as he does not want her to deal with Fairfax alone. Liam actually does very well going back in time with Xanthe and is a great help to her. Why was the dress calling to her and did Fairfax stay behind? I’m sorry but I can’t tell you. You must read this book (but first Books 1 and 2) to find out. Don’t want any spoilers here. I do have to say that the beginning was a bit slower, more so than the first two books, but once she’s on her time-travel adventure with Liam, things do get very interesting. And the cliffhanger at the end……..well, it was totally unexpected and now I have to wait for the next book to find out what will happen next. It will be such a long wait! If you enjoy books about time-traveling, I highly recommend this series.
A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the review copy.
The Garden of Promises and Lies is the third book in the Found Things series and once again Ms. Brackston has filled our minds with the most rich, dynamic and intriguing adventures of Spinner, Xanthe.
In this installment we have many of our questions answered in regards to the abilities of a Spinner but once again Xanthe must use her abilities to ensure the safety of those in her time as well as those in the time that the found thing sings to her. A beautiful wedding dress is very urgent in it’s singing. For she knows it is utmost to answer its call. But things are much more precarious this time as Mr. Fairfax is not only playing dirty in his time but also in Xanthe’s time and is messing with those closest to her. She knows it is now time to share her abilities and to let someone else help her even if she doesn’t want anyone close to her in danger.
This time she will not journey through time on her own but with a person very close and dear to her. She will follow the course the dress has lead her to and hopefully she will be successful in thwarting Fairfax. But Xanthe soon feels that there may be someone else she must be cautious of even if she felt this person was an ally. Not everything is as it seems and soon Xanthe’s world is turned upside down and she must now rush against the clock to save someone very important to many.
This was a brilliant continuation of the Found Things series and I cannot wait for the next one as this one ended on quite the cliffhanger!!!
**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**
I love Paula Brackston’s books and this one is no exception.
I want to be a “spinner” and travel back in time too!
“Spinners are supposed to keep the order of things, to protect the way things are meant to be”.
It does seem easier said than done as we see in the third book in the series “Found Things”.
This time Xanthe goes to the year 1815 to solve a mystery and to protect her family from catastrophe!
She also has learned how to travel with non-spinners, including animals which may or may not be a “good” thing!
I love this series and can tell you that while reading, I am nervous for Xanthe and her companions each time she travels, no matter how short a journey!
I cannot wait for the next book so I can find out if everyone is ok and are there any consequences to time travel?
If you like time travel, this is for you!
This was a great story with wonderful characters and a great story that I could not put down. I have not read the first two books in this series since I was told that you could read them separately. However, I think after reading this one I will go back and read those. I loved this one. The start was a little slow but the rest of the book was wonderful!
3.5/5
This is the third in the Found Things series. Not my favorite so far as this one was slower in spots and didn’t hold my attention as well until the final 25%.
A story of time travel to places from antique objects that “sing” to Xanthe, I liked that she finally confided in some her ability as a Spinner. Dastardly villain and trust issues as well as a cliffhanger here.
I’ll definitely continue with the series.
My thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Another really good book in the series. I enjoyed the past that Liam and Xanthe found themselves going to.
I like how she has learned more about what she’s able to do. Everything was wrapped up in a neat little bow until the very end. Now I have to wait a bit impatiently for the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy