Garden Spells (Waverley Family, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

May 22, 2011 Nancy Brady rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-exchange-library-group-read, library-book

While a bit hard to define, genre-wise, this read was enjoyable. The Wavereleys, a family in Bascom, North Carolina, have a special garden of flowers and spices which include an apple tree that throws fruit. Their lives are both complicated by and enhanced because of this garden. All of the Waverleys have a special gift, but they don't always understand it. Claire and her sister Sydney are at the heart of this novel, but Evanelle, an aunt, and the other members of the community of Bascom certain ...more

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Apr 28, 2010 ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, women, 2015, killeen-library-paper, magical-realism, contemporary-romance, green-cover, slytherin-mmp, 2024, uno-green

4/17/24: Third time reading this and loved it all the same.
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2015 Update: I re-read this and loved it even more the second time around. There's something comforting to me in this type of book, where magical elements and food and aromas and senses are all heightened. It's like comfort food.

Oh, I have read Practical Magic since the first time I read this book and it has some similar elements but overall, I find the books different enough from one another to not feel like I was j ...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Book Concierge rated it it was ok

Shelves: concierge, library, nature, north-carolina, magic

2.5 stars This is basically a fantasy romance novel.
The Waverleys have a long-standing history in Bascom NC. They are among the “founding” families. But they are “poor” now and to say that they are eccentric is an understatement. Claire is living in the family Queen Anne, tending the garden, and running a catering business. Her younger sister Sydney has been gone for at least 10 years, but suddenly appears one day with her little girl, Bay, at her side.

Their aunt Evanelle lives independently b 2.5 stars This is basically a fantasy romance novel.
The Waverleys have a long-standing history in Bascom NC. They are among the “founding” families. But they are “poor” now and to say that they are eccentric is an understatement. Claire is living in the family Queen Anne, tending the garden, and running a catering business. Her younger sister Sydney has been gone for at least 10 years, but suddenly appears one day with her little girl, Bay, at her side.

Their aunt Evanelle lives independently but has a sixth sense that requires her to give things to people, for reasons unknown even to her. E.g. she gives Emma two quarters which she’ll suddenly need to make a call from a pay phone. She gives Fred a mango slicer which he’ll take to a new culinary course, finding love with the instructor. She gives Henry a jar of maraschino cherries he’ll eventually use to make sundaes for Sydney and Bay.

Claire has used the knowledge of plants she gained from her grandmother in her catering business. Most of the time she just makes pretty, unusually flavorful recipes. But some of her clients have hidden agendas and ask her help with the ingredients. Zucchini blossoms promote understanding; violets bring calm and happiness.

Sydney is running from an abusive relationship, but of course, she’s left a trail so that David will eventually find her and Bay.

Next door is Tyler … new to town. … an art instructor at the college. He is completely smitten with Claire, especially after he eats one of the apples from the Waverley’s magic tree. The apples, when eaten, bring on visions. His is of Claire and there is nothing he can do but work to achieve it.

There are other barely realized characters – Emma & Hunter John, Ariel Clark, Henry, Fred, James. Some of these side plots just distract from the book. And the use of food to entice, influence, seduce is an old plot and better done elsewhere (e.g. "Like Water for Chocolate" or "Mistress of Spices")

The plot kept me interested, but the magical elements were really stupid and the ending was abrupt for all its predictability.
...more

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Apr 02, 2010 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, books-read-in-2023

I loved this book. It was a page turner from the start. I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed the book even though it wasn't something I would normally read. I enjoyed the characters and the sisterly issues. I also enjoyed how the town is involved in the folklore of the Waverly family.

I read this book for the second time and it still was amazing, I think I read stuff I forgot or didn't recognize. ...more

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Jul 23, 2013 Kayla rated it it was amazing

Shelves: x-2015, x-2023, 00-own-read

Wow!!! This is my first SAA book and I was really nervous because I'm not really into fantasy books but I had great reviews from my sister in law. I was completely intertwined with this book. It was so beautifully written and it felt like I was actually there. I can't wait to read some more of SAA's books. If they are as enchanting and magical as this one I'll have them all read in no time. ...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Moondance rated it really liked it

Shelves: family, quirky-characters, small-town, southern, unusal-characters, culinary, romance, spousal-abuse, second-chances, herbs

Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood.

The Waverley women of Bascom, North Carolina each have a special talent. These talents keep them separate from the good citizens of their small town. Claire and Sydney grew up in Bascom, tended by their grandmother after their mother left. Claire stayed in the town to take care of the enchanted garden in the back yard while Sydney ran away as soon as she could. Sydney returns to Bascom with her daughter after being involved with an ...more

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Aug 31, 2014 Shan ~A~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1st-in-series, audio, paranormal, favorites

This is a reread for me. I wanted to be prepared for reading First Frost, which is also about the Waverley Family, so I decided I needed to be refreshed and reacquainted with the characters.

So glad I took the time to do this. Rereading this reminded me of how much I love Sarah Addison Allen work. The books are about magic of different sorts: actual magic, the magic of love(familial and romantic), the magic of community.... She does such a wonderful job pulling you in and making you feel as thoug ...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Norma rated it really liked it

Shelves: spring-2011

Fantasy or magical, Garden Spells is just that, Sarah Addison Allen takes you into the life of one family in a small town where herbs and edible flowers have that magical effect on people. Drama, comedy and romance all roled into one.

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Nov 15, 2010 Diane ~Firefly~ rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal, magic, kids, romance, food

Sweet story, but there was things I couldn't get behind.

What I liked:
* Bay was my favorite character. For a little girl, she seemed very sure of things.
* I like how the power manifested differently for everyone in the family. There were some interesting ideas there.

What could have been better:
* I couldn't connect with Claire, nor did I really learn much about Tyler.
* As I said above, I don't understand the purpose of the apple tree or why it would throw fruit.
* I also don't get why families have ...more

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