The Gardens of Covington : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: COVINGTON IS COMFORTABLE AND QUIET
Review: Gentle readers, and I do mean 'gentle' in the literal sense, here's a book for you. It is amiable, peaceful, and pleasant. "The Gardens of Covington," Joan Medlicott's sequel to her engaging "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" (2000 ) brings us up to date on the three widowed women who moved across country, refurbished an old farmhouse, and revitalized their lives.

Now nearing seventy and settled in Covington, North Carolina, the ladies are very much unchanged. Hannah remains formidable and no-nonsense; Grace is the quintessential caregiver, and Amelia is well, Amelia - fluttery, vain, unable to assert herself but nonetheless endearing.

They've settled into a comfortable routine with each one's tasks suiting the individual's desires and interests. Hannah repairs, easily unsticks windows, and tends the garden. Grocery shopping falls to Grace who happily cooks, bakes, and sings off-key. Flowers and music are the bailiwick of Amelia who also finds contentment in dusting and cleaning. It's an easy, satisfying existence.

Yet, all is not as serene as the trio might wish because their beloved land onCove Road is threatened by development. Hannah attempts to spearhead an effort to stop the interlopers, but neighbors don't rally behind her. Instead, some look upon her with jaundiced eye, view her as a newcomer, a foreigner who doesn't know the difference between "dinner" and "supper."

Evidencing her independence, Grace opens a tearoom. Her partner is Bob, a man for whom she has come to care. Both discover that running a tea room is not a piece of cake.

Grace also makes a new friend, Miss Lurina, a woman who "used to walk behind Pa's plow settin' potatoes." She is now a spinster octogenarian, seen guarding her cabin porch with a shotgun. No one is more surprised than Grace when Miss Lurina starts spending time with "Old Man." Who could have foreseen that the two would decide to be "married up"? Selecting a wedding gown, let alone planning the ceremony stretches Grace's imagination and patience.

When Amelia, an incurable romantic, is involved in a minor two-car accident, she finds the driver of the other car, Lance Lundquist, to be handsome, "larger than life." Claiming to be a retired architect, he soon becomes her ardent suitor.

However, Lance is secretive, prone to weeks long unexplained absences. Amelia believes he will tell her about himself when she has won his trust, while Hannah and Grace are wary of him. They see him as manipulative and possessive.

These scenarios are played out against evocative descriptions of North Carolina's verdant countryside. Ms. Medlicott's appreciation of nature is made evident by her thoughtful word paintings. For those who enjoy a leisurely paced tale with no more violence than an annual invasion of ladybugs, "The Gardens of Covington" is certainly their cup of tea which, by the way, the ladies often enjoy on their shaded veranda.

Rating:
Summary: COVINGTON IS COMFORTABLE AND QUIET
Review: Gentle readers, and I do mean 'gentle' in the literal sense, here's a book for you. It is amiable, peaceful, and pleasant. "The Gardens of Covington," Joan Medlicott's sequel to her engaging "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" (2000 ) brings us up to date on the three widowed women who moved across country, refurbished an old farmhouse, and revitalized their lives.

Now nearing seventy and settled in Covington, North Carolina, the ladies are very much unchanged. Hannah remains formidable and no-nonsense; Grace is the quintessential caregiver, and Amelia is well, Amelia - fluttery, vain, unable to assert herself but nonetheless endearing.

They've settled into a comfortable routine with each one's tasks suiting the individual's desires and interests. Hannah repairs, easily unsticks windows, and tends the garden. Grocery shopping falls to Grace who happily cooks, bakes, and sings off-key. Flowers and music are the bailiwick of Amelia who also finds contentment in dusting and cleaning. It's an easy, satisfying existence.

Yet, all is not as serene as the trio might wish because their beloved land onCove Road is threatened by development. Hannah attempts to spearhead an effort to stop the interlopers, but neighbors don't rally behind her. Instead, some look upon her with jaundiced eye, view her as a newcomer, a foreigner who doesn't know the difference between "dinner" and "supper."

Evidencing her independence, Grace opens a tearoom. Her partner is Bob, a man for whom she has come to care. Both discover that running a tea room is not a piece of cake.

Grace also makes a new friend, Miss Lurina, a woman who "used to walk behind Pa's plow settin' potatoes." She is now a spinster octogenarian, seen guarding her cabin porch with a shotgun. No one is more surprised than Grace when Miss Lurina starts spending time with "Old Man." Who could have foreseen that the two would decide to be "married up"? Selecting a wedding gown, let alone planning the ceremony stretches Grace's imagination and patience.

When Amelia, an incurable romantic, is involved in a minor two-car accident, she finds the driver of the other car, Lance Lundquist, to be handsome, "larger than life." Claiming to be a retired architect, he soon becomes her ardent suitor.

However, Lance is secretive, prone to weeks long unexplained absences. Amelia believes he will tell her about himself when she has won his trust, while Hannah and Grace are wary of him. They see him as manipulative and possessive.

These scenarios are played out against evocative descriptions of North Carolina's verdant countryside. Ms. Medlicott's appreciation of nature is made evident by her thoughtful word paintings. For those who enjoy a leisurely paced tale with no more violence than an annual invasion of ladybugs, "The Gardens of Covington" is certainly their cup of tea which, by the way, the ladies often enjoy on their shaded veranda.

Rating:
Summary: The big three
Review: Gentle readers, and I do mean `gentle' in the literal sense, here's a book for you. It is amiable, peaceful, and pleasant. "The Gardens of Covington," Joan Medlicott's sequel to her engaging "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" (2000 ) brings us up to date on the three widowed women who moved across country, refurbished an old farmhouse, and revitalized their lives.

Now nearing seventy and settled in Covington, North Carolina, the ladies are very much unchanged. Hannah remains formidable and no-nonsense; Grace is the quintessential caregiver, and Amelia is well, Amelia - fluttery, vain, unable to assert herself but nonetheless endearing.

They've settled into a comfortable routine with each one's tasks suiting the individual's desires and interests. Hannah repairs, easily unsticks windows, and tends the garden. Grocery shopping falls to Grace who happily cooks, bakes, and sings off-key. Flowers and music are the bailiwick of Amelia who also finds contentment in dusting and cleaning. It's an easy, satisfying existence.

Yet, all is not as serene as the trio might wish because their beloved land onCove Road is threatened by development. Hannah attempts to spearhead an effort to stop the interlopers, but neighbors don't rally behind her. Instead, some look upon her with jaundiced eye, view her as a newcomer, a foreigner who doesn't know the difference between "dinner" and "supper."

Evidencing her independence, Grace opens a tearoom. Her partner is Bob, a man for whom she has come to care. Both discover that running a tea room is not a piece of cake.

Grace also makes a new friend, Miss Lurina, a woman who "used to walk behind Pa's plow settin' potatoes." She is now a spinster octogenarian, seen guarding her cabin porch with a shotgun. No one is more surprised than Grace when Miss Lurina starts spending time with "Old Man." Who could have foreseen that the two would decide to be "married up"? Selecting a wedding gown, let alone planning the ceremony stretches Grace's imagination and patience.

When Amelia, an incurable romantic, is involved in a minor two-car accident, she finds the driver of the other car, Lance Lundquist, to be handsome, "larger than life." Claiming to be a retired architect, he soon becomes her ardent suitor.

However, Lance is secretive, prone to weeks long unexplained absences. Amelia believes he will tell her about himself when she has won his trust, while Hannah and Grace are wary of him. They see him as manipulative and possessive.

These scenarios are played out against evocative descriptions of North Carolina's verdant countryside. Ms. Medlicott's appreciation of nature is made evident by her thoughtful word paintings. For those who enjoy a leisurely paced tale with no more violence than an annual invasion of ladybugs, "The Gardens of Covington" is certainly their cup of tea which, by the way, the ladies often enjoy on their shaded veranda.

Rating:
Summary: The big three
Review: Our book club recently read three books which were outstanding (unlike the previous three that will go unmentioned . . .)At any rate, the ones we really liked were "The Life of Pi," Jackson McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood," and "The Gardens of Covington." Of the three, "Gardens" was our favorite, with "Dogwood" coming in second. All three are wonderful though. In addition, we're now reading "The Ladies of Covington" which we really should have read first as "Gardens" is a sequal to that one. But not to worry, for Medlicott's books can stand on their own--there's not a bad one in the bunch!!!

Rating:
Summary: The big three
Review: Our book club recently read three books which were outstanding (unlike the previous three that will go unmentioned . . .)At any rate, the ones we really liked were "The Life of Pi," Jackson McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood," and "The Gardens of Covington." Of the three, "Gardens" was our favorite, with "Dogwood" coming in second. All three are wonderful though. In addition, we're now reading "The Ladies of Covington" which we really should have read first as "Gardens" is a sequal to that one. But not to worry, for Medlicott's books can stand on their own--there's not a bad one in the bunch!!!

Rating:
Summary: The ladies of Covington return, better than ever
Review: The Gardens of Covington finds the ladies back in fine form. Hannah is busy with the nursery and worriedly looks to the threat of development that looms over the valley. Amelia is as self-absorbed as ever, busy with her photography. (one wonderful thing about this book is the characters remain the same....no rapid character changes). Grace is busy with the tearoom her friend, Bob, and the youngster, Tyler who had captured her heart. This book once again captures the nuances, the joys and the strains of small town life. The three women are distinct, and there is the give and take of family life...even though the three aren't a conventional family. Familiar themes are explored, the risks taken when you grow beyond your boundries, the tug of family, the quest for love, recovering from betrayal and leaning on friends to recover. There are also some new people to meet and new challanges to attack. This book was a delight, I was so glad to have the ladies back and true to form. A wonderful summer read.

Rating:
Summary: The ladies of Covington return, better than ever
Review: The Gardens of Covington finds the ladies back in fine form. Hannah is busy with the nursery and worriedly looks to the threat of development that looms over the valley. Amelia is as self-absorbed as ever, busy with her photography. (one wonderful thing about this book is the characters remain the same....no rapid character changes). Grace is busy with the tearoom her friend, Bob, and the youngster, Tyler who had captured her heart. This book once again captures the nuances, the joys and the strains of small town life. The three women are distinct, and there is the give and take of family life...even though the three aren't a conventional family. Familiar themes are explored, the risks taken when you grow beyond your boundries, the tug of family, the quest for love, recovering from betrayal and leaning on friends to recover. There are also some new people to meet and new challanges to attack. This book was a delight, I was so glad to have the ladies back and true to form. A wonderful summer read.

Rating:
Summary: Please, please let there be a sequel to this book!
Review: This newest book picks up the lives of our "Ladies" without missing a beat. It not only entertains us with their day to day activities and interests, but also adds some colorful new characters as well. There is eccentric, eighty-one-year-old Lurina Masterson who brings a grin to everyone's face when she dons a white satin wedding gown and marries "Old Man", her ninety-one-year-old boy friend. Then there is the frail yet unforgettable lady whom Hannah met and befriended who was to play a most important part in their lives and the lives of everyone in the Covington area. These new friends and neighbors are woven into the lives of our ladies in a masterful and entertaining way.

Precious, gentle Amelia, who carries burn scars on her neck from an automobile accident that claimed the life of her husband, finds herself swept up in an unexpected romance. My heart ached for her while she was under the spell of this charming yet demanding man, and at the same time I wanted to scream at her to WAKE UP! I found myself hoping that she would keep a firm hold on the independence that she had so recently found.

Grace, who makes cookies and mothers everyone, continues her loving relationship with her friend Bob and together they open the Cottage Tearoom on Elk Road. I was enchanted with the idea of their Cottage Tearoom, but it would prove to be quite an undertaking and too much hard work for the two of them. The awesome wedding reception for Bob's son and his new bride, planned and presented by Grace's son and his partner, was an event that kept Covington talking for months. WAY TO GO, GUYS!

Then there is our strong and steady Hannah, the boldest of the ladies. It was Hannah who became embroiled in attempting to save their valley from developers who would strip the land without regard for anything except profit. I cheered for her indomitable spirit as she persisted with her plans for stopping them before they wrecked her beautiful valley. Help for Hannah's cause finally came from an unexpected source.

Wow! I loved this book, and so will everyone else who got to know Amelia, Hannah and Grace in the Ladies of Covington Send Their Love. Please, please let there be a sequel to this book!