The Gardens of Covington

Ladies of Covington #2

by Joan Medlicott

Begun by young rebels committed to revolutionizing the creative arts, pre-Raphaelitism has moved from the margins of 19th-century art and literature to the vanguard of interdisciplinary studies. The term is now used to denote the Pre-Raphaelite, Aesthetic and Decadent movements in art, culture and literature, but it has remained as difficult to define as ever. This work attempts to meet the challenge of defining and illustrating the full spectrum of Pre-Raphaelitism.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2001

About the author

Joan Medlicott lives with her husband in Barnardsville, North Carolina, where she conducts the popular Tea on the Porch workshops.

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I can give the same review for all of the Covington books. I like them obviously because I can't seem to put them down once I've started and I always want to read the next in the series but...

What does the author have against men? I mean, I am all for women taking charge of their lives and being independent. Don't get me wrong. But it just seems like the author sort of belittles men in general as if they are expendable. Women need men and men need women- that's the bottom line. And what's wrong with marriage between a man and woman? Please tell me. Why is marriage considered "just a piece of paper" for so many people nowadays?

I'll get off my soapbox, but suffice it to say that the trivial fashion with which Mrs. Medlicott treats men and marriage bugs me.

But I still read the dang books because the story totally draws me in to that cute little town. Grrrrr!!!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The three Covington books by Joan Medlicott are very sweet stories about three ladies in their 60s who meet at a boarding house where their families have left them to live out their later years. Good fortune results in the three being able to live together in their own home and share everyday joys and disappointments. Although very simple reads, they cover the tough issues of today, providing us a fresh, mature viewpoint.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visiting with the Ladies of Covington in Book 2 of the series by Joan Medlicott was enjoyable. This book introduced a few more neighbors of Cove Road, as well as shared events of Hannah, Amelia and Grace's lives in a small area of western North Carolina. I am looking forward to continuing this series.

[Mary Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a review of the book, but WHO messed up the book description here on Goodreads?
This is not an art history book!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 of the series and is just as delightful. The personality and character of each of the three ladies shines through--Grace's kindness and tact, Amelia's vanity and vulnerability, and Hannah's determination. All of our friends are back and we meet new ones. Life doesn't stand still and the author has a way of making these changes be momentous. And, in the last few pages, we discover the true significance of the title. I've already placed a hold on book 3.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a lady of a certain age, I am really enjoying this series about 3 mature ladies who do not allow age limit how they live their lives to the fullest. They originally meet in dreary boarding house they were living in. They decided there was more to life, pooled their resources and purchased a large old farmhouse in the the mountains of North Carolina and start living the next chapter of their lives.

[Nancy Bellers]

I enjoyed the first book, The Ladies Of Covington Send Their Love, so it was good to get to know the main characters even better in this book. It wasn't an exciting book but definitely enjoyable. I now feel as if Amelia, Grace, and Hannah are old friends. I would love to live in an old farmhouse with or near these ladies.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second adventure in the series. I liked it!

The story is full of joys and sorrows. The women face obstacles (with a few good men). It seems to me that the story is peopled with characters we have all experienced in one way or another.

I will keep reading the series as it is a good antidote to the times. Oh, and it ends with a cake recipe!

[JLS10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A continuation of the story of Grace, Amelia and Hannah and their life in a small souther town. This one has the threat of Covington being turned into a bunch on apartments and townhouses, and Hannah will not have it. Two weddings are also a part of this one, as well as some life lessons learned by Amelia.

[Marie Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. I saw it as a Golden Girls in book form. Three elderly women move in together and share their experiences in dating, community affairs and everyday problems in dealing with the world. They don't always get along with one another, but they triumph through it all.

[Rosie Guidry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ladies of Covington are at it again. This time Hannah has to find a way to save the quaint town of Covington from developers who want to turn it into a modern-day city with new modern homes and shops. And join 81-year-old Lurina when she marries 91-year-old "old man".

There is plenty of adventure in this book so pick up a copy, sit back and enjoy.

[Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this before I entertained my book club. This is the first book in the "Ladies" series. I wanted to tell them some other things that happen in the series incase they were interested in reading others. They weren't.

[Donna Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed meeting these ladies and how their friendship developed and grew. Each had strengths and their combined forces made them an interesting dynamic. It showed how a village can support each others strength and weaknesses.
I'd read other books by this author.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light comfortable read of 3 mature(mid to late 60's) ladies making it on their own and bringing the community in. More of an update in their life than a particular story. Many insights on fear - fear of being alone, fear of failure, and especially fear of change. Also highlights the difference of working for the community vs with the community.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ladies continue settling in. Grace and Bob's Tea Room is very busy. Amelia and Lance continue their outings, much to Mike's dismay. Hannah has a new Cause which will make waves throughout the land. Good Read.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series! Beautiful setting, likable characters. Looking forward to next visit to Covington!

[Stephanie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read,

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the Covington series. Grace, Amelia and Hannah are ladies if certain age who share s house in Covington. Nice, light, easy read.

[LInda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been thrilled with these ladies since Book #1 and continue to admire them. Just wondering what they will get into next. Gives me a lot of hope for my future.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Markves book

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t finish. I slogged my way through the first in the series but I just couldn’t get into the second book.

[Sherry Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series, I request the next one before I finish the current one.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in a series of books about three older ladies who have moved in together as newcomers to a small town in South Carolina. The ladies have distinct personalities with strengths and flaws that interact but never destroy the bond that they've established. In this book, we see them becoming more involved with community affairs and acquainted with quirky individuals who seem to have been pigeon-holed and written-off by long-time residents. We also see a questionable romance and two weddings. I don't expect that this series would appeal to most guys, but I believe it would be very enjoyable for women of all ages who like some light reading with a number of threads to follow.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ladies of Covington are at it again. This book took a little longer to get into than the first one, but soon I was eager to see what they were up to next. Hannah is determined to save Cove Road from being developed into another condo development and resort. Amelia finds romance--but is it really? And Grace is there to advise and encourage them and all the new friends they meet in this wonderful town of Covington. What a fun book!

[Patricia Solla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book written by the author about three older women who start new adventures living in South Carolina. In the first book we found out how they left the adult home they were living in and moved to Covington. In this book we find out what they have been doing and how it's affected their lives. I like the characters and the storyline.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a nice read. I love the characters of this series...especially the ladies of Covington. They are each different...different gifts and talents, different goals and dreams, different personalities. But they blend together and create a lovely home and a strong friendship. Looking forward to the third book in this delightful series.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. The book is based in a fictional city of Covington, near Asheville. But she refers so often to real places in Asheville that I became so familiar with... it's like visiting Asheville every time I open the book.

This was the 2nd book in the series and I am really enjoying watching how the character develop, the stories about their lives develop.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story continues. Hannah gets more involved with her gardening. Grace and Bob open a tea Shoppe and Amelia becomes quite the photographer. Here and there are stories sprinkled in about the ladies' immediate families. We are getting to know the locals more and they are more accepting of these three women who moved into the old farmhouse.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me back to my childhood living in a small town. It was about accepting strangers and being there for others in time of need. It is about friedships, relationships, love, passion, and commitment. I would recommend this for light reading.