Allen, Sarah Addison - Garden Spells - Informal Buddy Read; Start: January 13, 2015

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Chapters 3 through some of 6... wow, these chapters are pretty long.

Okay, that party! (view spoiler)[I felt so bad for Sydney when she found out about the theme of the party and how she felt betrayed by Claire, but I'm glad Claire served everyone the lemon sorbet of regret! Man, that Emma and her mom, what characters! How sad to only be known for how good you are in bed! (hide spoiler)]

Tyler... (view spoiler)[Love how persistent he is and how Claire's food is backfiring against what she is trying to make it do to Tyler and his feelings. I laughed when Claire turned him down for a date by telling him she had to make him another casserole, hahaha. Poor guy doesn't have a clue what he's getting into. (hide spoiler)]

Sydney and her 'dream/vision' thing when she thought about the pictures under the couch cushion back home... (view spoiler)[I wonder if we'll see David in the future. I can't remember from the last time I read this. I have a feeling we'll be seeing him. (hide spoiler)]

Evanelle (view spoiler)[I felt bad for her being surrounded by all the stuff she picks up without knowing when or why she is going to need it!! She seems burdened with her gift and it makes me feel for her. (hide spoiler)]

[Mary X]

Oh yes the party made me cringe.

Tyler (view spoiler)[I wonder if their magic doesn't work with their true loves? (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Oh, good theory, Mary! I can't remember if that's something we ever find out.

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Finished this morning! I loved this book even more on the second read. There is just something so comforting about the magical elements to me.

(view spoiler)[I do love a HEA story. (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Loved all the characters and can't wait to see what they are up to in the sequel, First Frost, coming soon!

[Allison Ann]

Read this today. Needed a light and fluffy book to counteract all the nasty mean people I've been reading about lately. (view spoiler)[I liked the Waverly family quite a bit. The precociously adorable child isn't generally my favourite character, but Bay was lovely. And Evanelle was nothing short of perfect. The only thing that bothered me was the "blahblah family was known for blahblah". I've yet to meet an entire family who is great at sex or all marry older women or anything like that. It was a little too silly for my liking and I'm pretty sure this author used the exact same device in the other book I read by her. But otherwise, good book, nice romances and cute twists. (hide spoiler)]

I used to have an apple tree, got tired of the bears breaking off the branches and eating all the apples. (view spoiler)[I wonder if the bears would see their futures with that tree? (hide spoiler)]

[Apoorv]

Started this last night, and currently into the 5th chapter.

Honestly, it irked me in the beginning coz I felt it was going nowhere but the real fun started when (view spoiler)[ Sydney came back to Bascom to live with Claire. This was when the real story kicked in with the way the relation of the two sisters is developing is really fun to read. (hide spoiler)]

I absolutely love Tyler. (view spoiler)[ The conversation they had when Claire got food over to his place with Bae in tow was amazing. I love their camaraderie and I hope they go a long way. (hide spoiler)]

Teresa, I have a very strong feeling (view spoiler)[ David will be back, but I also think Sydney will be more stronger to face him this time. She wont take anything lying down this time she faces him. (hide spoiler)]

I really hope the (view spoiler)[ Apple tree gets more significance in the second half of the book. I am really looking forward if the magic that the tree has is actually true. (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

Apoorv, I love that (view spoiler)[apple tree (hide spoiler)].

[Apoorv]

Oh lord !
Chapter 8

(view spoiler)[The way Fred and James ended just burnt my heart. I feel just immensely sad. (hide spoiler)]

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Allison Ann wrote: "Read this today. Needed a light and fluffy book to counteract all the nasty mean people I've been reading about lately. [spoilers removed]

I used to have an apple tree, got tired of the bears br..."

Allison Ann, I'm with you on precociously adorable children but Bay was really sweet, wasn't she?

Ha, I like your spoiler about the bears and the apple tree. That would be amusing to know!

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Apoorv, I loved the development between Claire and Sydney. Family dynamics are such a funny thing. It's interesting how little things can be misinterpreted by someone's silence and inability to open up and be honest.

I agree with your spoiler about (view spoiler)[Fred & James! Soo sad!!! (hide spoiler)]

[RachelvlehcaR]

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Allison Ann wrote: "Read this today. Needed a light and fluffy book to counteract all the nasty mean people I've been reading about lately. [spoilers removed]

I used to have an apple tree, got t..."

If the bears didn't (view spoiler)[see their futures, they be extra frisky. :P (hide spoiler)]

[Apoorv]

Is it just me or does anyone feel that the book plateaus a lot in its narration.. its like it has its moments when it gets really beautiful especially every scene between Claire-Tyler-Sydney is amazing. Even the scenes between Tyler and Bay are awesome. But then it flows in a monotone otherwise, or maybe its just me and the mood that I am reading it in !

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa)]

Hm, I'm not sure, Apoorv. My mood was pretty whimsical when I read it so I just felt sucked into the whimsy of it all.

[Apoorv]

Chapter 13,

.. and there he comes !
Geez ! (view spoiler)[ Why? David returns. And he had to meet that bitch Ariel and Emma ? Goodness gracious ! (hide spoiler)]

[Allison Ann]

Apoorv wrote: "Is it just me or does anyone feel that the book plateaus a lot in its narration.. its like it has its moments when it gets really beautiful especially every scene between Claire-Tyler-Sydney is ama..."

This was my second Sarah Addison Allen novel and honestly this kind of romance novel isn't usually my thing, but I need some fluff every now and then; but I agree that her "in-between" writing is somewhat lacking. She writes these pretty scenes but between them is filler and bland filler at that. It's why it is such a quick read.