The Garden of Promises and Lies

This is the third in the Found Things series, and while I actually havent read the first book (yet) I loved the second one The Chocolate House.

Xanthe lives in a little town in the UK, runs an antique shop with her mum, sings in a band, and can time travel. More accurately, shes one of a handful of Spinners who can spin backward and forward through time. Xanthe just started discovering her gift fairly recently and is still working out how to use it, control it, and who else might be like her.

She is often called to by antique objects that have a story to tell, and pulled back through time to right a wrong, or save someone. In this book, a vintage wedding dress starts singing to her and she has to investigate, finding herself in Bradford-on-Avon in 1815, as if she has stepped into a Jane Austen story.

Of course its not all smooth sailing. Its difficult enough to step into an unfamiliar time, but there are also people out to get her and harness her abilities for themselves!

Take some historical fiction, throw in some mystery, a dash of adventure, and a hint of romance and youve got The Garden of Promises and Lies. I find the authors writing is compelling, and I dont want to put it down, but it somehow also feels like home. The characters and places feel familiar and comforting, despite the fact that theyre fictional and often in a time and place that is obviously not my own.

I am already dying to find out what happens in the next installment (and there better be one) because Xanthe has some serious unfinished business to sort out! The only reason it didnt get a full five stars from me is that I wanted a little more from Xanthes current-day relationships this time around. It felt like the people in her life were introduced in the last book, and while they did evolve through this one, I wanted just a little more depth and connection between them. Having said that, I loved this book so much, and if The Chocolate House is anything to go by Ill still be thinking about this one a year from now. This author just has a way of crafting characters and stories that stay with you, and revisit your thoughts long after youve turned the last page.

I will say that I was able to pick up the second book and follow the story despite not having read the first, but this latest installment builds so much on previous events I do think you should read the other two first. And thats definitely no hardship, so enjoy!

I’ve read all 3 of these books, and absolutely loved the first 2 this one I found a bit too predictable and the story was a bit boring. I’m not sure I liked how the story progressed with her current family sharing in her travels I found this a bit too silly (well like time travel in-it-self isn’t silly, but it’s fun to read). I like the suspense when she has to deal with this on her own. But the end although I knew it was coming was a bit of a cliffhanger but not as much as the end of the second book. I was hoping to see a little bit on how Fairfax dealt with the future & modern days, adding a bit of a twist on time traveling to the future. I enjoyed the book and it was a good story held my interest somewhat but not as good as the first 2 books.

I wanted to like this book, because Im a fan of the authors Witches books. But this series isnt for me and I wont read any more of Xanthes adventures.

The first book was enjoyable enough, given the novelty of the plot. But in the second one, the main character, Xanthe, began to test my patience to a point where I wasnt interested in any further books.
I reluctantly bought this third book, only to discover that the character is still an unlikable, immature, egotistical young woman who pretends to care about others, but doesnt. Its all about what she wants.

Im giving this book a reluctant 3 stars because:
Fairfaxs story was lacking and couldve been worked out better.
Liam is like a love-sick puppy.
The characters in the past are superficial and boring.
The descriptions of locations and objects are often too lengthy and I began to skip over them.

Finally, i dont like cliffhangers to begin with, but this one is enough reason for me to quit this series.

For those of you that have read the first two books in this series, you won’t be disappointed. For those new to this series, you’ll get an update, and won’t be lost, to what the story’s about. In fact, I feel this one is, (so far) more interesting and written at a better pace than the last (2 books). The main character has decisions to make on who she can share this “part gift”, “part nightmare” with, to keep her loved ones safe, and “if she can”…would give away too much. I highly recommend this one if you enjoyed the other two. At once you pick up right where you left off.

Update: I just finished it. What a horrible horrible ending..there had better be a fast book 4 with these sudden, (as in the last paragraph) sudden loose ends and sudden sad shocking ending . Highly disappointed now. I don’t enjoy being strung along in the last paragraph when a better ending would have been much better…with no hope of a 4th..assuming I’ll fall for this again.

This was a very good book. I thought it would be the last one as it was number 3 but I see Ms Brackston must indeed write a 4th book which I may never get to read. (Age) I have enjoyed all 3 thought. Thank you

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