I only recently discovered the joys of the bestselling Trisha Ashley's warm hearted novels when I read The Christmas Invitation and some of the characters from that make background appearances here. 36 year old Marnie Ellwood, lost her beloved mother, Martha, in 1993, who told her magical stories of growing up in Jericho's End but told Marnie she must never go there. She was adopted by the wonderful Ellwood family, gaining a sister and best friend in Treena, a vet. Marnie made an ill fated marriage to Mike Draycot, a man who turned out to be a manipulative emotional abuser, coercive, controlling, isolating her and maliciously wrecked her professional career as a horticultural gardener. She managed to escape to France, divorcing him, working in various crumbling Chateau gardens and buildings. Hearing Mike has remarried, she deems it safe to return, securing a gardening position in Jericho's End that pays a pittance but comes with a home.
This turns out to be the best move she could have made, she adores the turquoise haired Elf, who makes mouthwatering ice creams for her cafe and her artist sister, Myfanwy, sorting out their garden, but spending the bulk of her time into the back breaking work of helping to restore the gardens of Old Grace Hall, owned by ex-TV garden designer, Ned Mars. Marnie had been at the same horticultural college as Ned, who like her, is recovering from a personal nightmare relationship that resulted in tabloid scandal, all untrue, that has made it harder for him to trust. Marnie finds herself in seventh heaven, putting her heart and soul into bringing the rose garden back to life and more, becoming embedded in the local community with ease. One of the first people she meets is the unprepossessing, workshy, shifty, light-fingered Wayne Vane, her first meeting with a family member, although he is unaware of this.
Ashley immerses the reader in the rich descriptions and intricate details of restoring the Old Grace Gardens to open them to the public. Jericho's End is a beauty spot and rural idyll, a magical location with its Fairy Falls, a location that will snake its way into your heart, with its folklore, tales of treasure and local traditions. The drama comes from Marnie and Ned delving into their family history and the surprising connections between them, with Marnie too afraid to open up about being related to the unpopular Vane family, and a Mike that refuses to stay in her past. The romantic elements are very much background material, Marnie's increasing involvement in the strong and active community life ensures that she feels like she belongs, that this is the home she has hungered for, with the bonus of a Ned who shares her passion for gardening. A fabulously beautiful and entertaining read that I recommend highly to readers looking for a well written, feel good novel. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.