The China Garden

Rating:
Summary: Definitley on my top 10 list of books!!!
Review: This was an AWSOME book. It had the mixture of things I like in a book. Romance, Supernatural, Mystery, and just a bit of tragety, you can't have a good book without just a little tragety, right?
This book is about a college student named Clare, who goes with her mother to a town called Ravensmere, which she knows nothing about. Then, she finds out her mother, who she thought was from London was born there. She spends her time finding out just how much more of a mystery this secluded town is to her. There is a secret that no one will tell her. Not even her mother.
Then, she meets this guy, named Mark, who in my opinion, would be totally hot, if he were actually real. Anyways, she meets him and finds that she is falling in love with Mark. In short, this book is really awsome! It's one of those books you can read over and over and always find out something new. I've read it about 3 times myself. BUY IT!

Rating:
Summary: GREAT READ : )
Review: The China Garden
By Liz Berry

Although a fictional story, The China Garden is written in such a way that it takes you to Ravensmere, the manor where Clare Meredith and her mother move to, and creates a believable atmosphere which keeps you hooked until the end.
Recently graduated Clare has high hopes for the future, a goal-driven boyfriend, and plans for the summer before University. This changes when her mother comes home with a new job offer in the estate of elderly Mr. Aylward, Earl of Ravensmere. Sensing a need to follow her mother, she declines the invitation to stay with her friend in London and travels with her mother.
Ravensmere has a questionable effect on Clare: everyone in the town of Stoke Raven has been awaiting her arrival, she starts having visions of people and places, and she has a discerning knowledge of places and people at Ravensmere. She has a connection with this place, and with Mark Winters, a classic bad boy biker living on close-by Kenward Farm. Her midnight visits to the derelict China Garden raise questions and open Clare to a part of her life hidden from her-until now.
From the minute I picked up the China Garden, Liz Berry and the characters and places in her story had me turning pages until the last word of the story. The many mysteries of Ravensmere waiting to be solved by Clare keep the reader interested and wanting more. There are references to historical events and Greek mythology, which gives it a realistic aura and makes it even more exciting to read. The China Garden is an amazing book that has become one of my favorites, and I recommend it to all.

by Meghan P.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Young Adult Mystery
Review: Seventeen-year-old Clare Meredith was born and raised in London, and has never thought of leaving the beautiful country that she calls her home. That is, until her Mother, Frances, tells her that they are leaving their beloved London, and heading for a place called Ravensmere, an English estate filled with tons of history, located in the British Countryside. Almost instantly, Clare feels as if everyone living near Ravensmere knows everything about her. From how old she is, to her name, to her family's history. Especially Mark, a fantastic looking biker, whom she has become extremely attracted to, and whom she can't stop thinking about. Clare is also extremely attracted to Ravensmere's China Garden, an abandoned and uncared for garden, where she often takes midnight walks. Clare knows that there is a mystery inside the walls of Ravensmere, and soon, with tons of poking and prodding, her Mother reveals that their own past is linked to Ravensmere, in a very big way. Now it's up to Clare and Mark to save Ravensmere, as she finds out that it is in grave danger. But saving Ravensmere means risking their own lives.

THE CHINA GARDEN is one of the most fabulous books that I have read in a long time, written for young adults. Berry's vivid descriptions of the British Countryside seemed so real, and I felt as if I were right there, alongside Clare, and Mark. Clare is a fantastic character, whom is intelligent, strong-willed, and adventurous. While Mark is an intriguing character whom stirs many mixed feelings and emotions within the reader. Filled with romance, mystery, suspense, and more, THE CHINA GARDEN is a must have for all readers, young and old.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: The Most Captivating Book!
Review: The China Garden casts a spell on anyone who picks it up to read and will not let go until you are finished. Once you get few the first few chapters, it is almost impossible to put down. Liz Berry magically unfolds Clare's story in the most amazing way. I was so shocked every time another piece of this mysterious puzzle would fall into place. This story has the perfect mix of romance, mystery, fantasy, history, and reality that anyone, no matter what genre they usually read, will adore this book. I usually don't like mystery or fantasy, but this book had just the right mix of everything that I loved it! This book is similar to the Harry Potter books in the way that it incorporates fantasy into real life. The China Garden has a more realistic swing to it instead of Harry Potter which is more fantasy based. Clare and Mark's love is so amazing that every girl would long to have Mark for her own. And this true love story is not too mushy to turn you away, but just enough to pull you in and not let you go. Her quest to uncover her family history, sends Clare on a journey that sends her to talk to the earl himself. As more and more pieces fall into place, I kept rereading the earlier chapters to realize the full effect of Berry's foreshadowing. Over all, this book is the most amazing book that I have ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery and intrigue
Review: Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book when I was younger. At 14, this novel definitely appealed to me and I felt like wishing I was Clare all the time, who got to go through some awesome adventures in England. However, I re-read this recently, and I can't believe I missed this little fact: did anyone else notice that Mark is her blood-related cousin? Yeah. I'm a little squicked... Liz Berry, what were you thinking?!!

Rating:
Summary: "The China Garden" Review
Review: This suspenseful, romantic, and mysterious book, "The China Garden", is what keeps you turning the page to read more. Liz Berry has done a wounderful job grabing the readers attention in the first chapter.

In this book, Clare Meredith, is a teenager who is living in London with her mother and is planing to go off to college. However things didnt go as planned. Her mother needed to mave to Ravermere to become a nerse to an old sick man and to pay off a debt. While not being able to understand some of the secrets that her mother was keeping, she was determined to go with her, leaving behind her school and her boyfriend Adrian.

When they finally settle in, things start to act strange. Clare begins to feel like people know her and as she figures out some of her mother's secrets she starts to wonder about all the things that her mother told her when she was little. Now Clare finds some unexpected things about herself since she came to Raversmere. She will also meet a handsome young man named Mark in which she will soon have strong feelings for.

The way Liz Berry describes every object and place makes you feel like you are in the room and can actually see the item that she describes. As she slowly reveals the secrets, you cant help but to keep reading. Overall, I found this book to be extreamly well written and would recommend this to people who enjoy suspenceful,mysterious and a romantic book.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: This book is about when a 17 year old girl named Clare moves away. She moves to Ravensmere, English Estate. She plans on resting throughout the summer because she is going to attend a University in Fall. She begins to have Psychic visions. One leads her to go to the China Gardens around midnight. Her mom tells her that Clare and herself have a connection with the estate and all of Ravensmere is in danger... Clare might have to risk Ravensmere's future... will she?

Read this book to find out. I thought it was pretty good. It's worth the time. I enjoyed this book, its not my favorite but it is very good. I would reccomend it to all of you.

Rating:
Summary: A Different Kind of Romance...
Review: When I first bought this book I thought it would be more historical and less romancy - but I was very wrong. It had the perfect combination of romance, plot, and history.
The idea of the book is also very differnent from any other book I've ever read. It's one of the best romance novels out there.

Rating:
Summary: The China Garden
Review: I am so glad to have bought this book. It is such an intense story about a girl named Clare. Clare, 17, was prepared to go to the university if she had made the grades but her mother, Frances, all of the sudden says that she is moving to Ravensmere to help take care of an ill man named Mr. Aylward. Clare decides to go with her until for a couple of weeks until the university started. When Clare arrives she feels that everyone already knows her and that her mother is keeping things from her about Ravensmere. Clare meets a biker boy named Mark who she starts to date. She also feels compelled to take walks in the dead and abandoned China Garden which holds much mystery.

This story had me in an instant. I've given it 4 stars because, in my opinion, the story became a bit dull in a few chapters. I would suggest this book to everyone who loves mystery, suspense, and romance.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, so sweet
Review: Well, I was skeptical about this book, and I bought it because of all the wonderful reviews it recieved, and because I liked the cover. I was expecting a completely different story, but I would not trade in the one that I got. This novel was beautiful, and romantic, and historical. I was moved by the characters, none of them were shallow, and all were unique. I would reccommend this novel to anyone over the age of 14, and I know you'll adore this story as much as I have!