The Peculiar Garden Of Harriet Hunt by Chelsea Iversen

 

My thoughts

I thought this was a great read. Yes there were a few things that made my skin crawl but nothing to overt. It is a magical read in many ways. A tense read also. There is a lot going on and the main character, Harriet, is treated horribly by both her father and then her husband. 

There is a magical garden and a young woman who tends this garden. Harriet's father disappeared one night after locking her in her bedroom. She does not know for sure where he went and why that is her responsibility is crazy. The law tends to think she should know though. Harriet's father was very abusive to her and threatened to have her committed to an asylum many times. That was his goal before he went away. Harriet had a garden that thrived under her touch. The plants came alive no matter what time of year. They also protected her when they could. From roses to thorn bushes, they all seemed to love her and come alive at her touch. 

Harriet marries a man, Christian, who she hasn't know long and finds out he is not what he seems. He proceeds to treat her like she is nothing shortly after they are married. Harriet is confused as to why he even married her. He claimed to love her but then treated her horribly. 

Harriet goes through a lot and her only escape is her garden. When her husband gets out of hand or does something extra bad the vines in Harriet's garden try to stop him. They fight for her in ways that he is not quite sure is happening. But he is afraid. When Harriet finally escapes and goes to her cousin's home things take a different turn for her. 

This book was a fun read with some serious actions going on. It kept me turning the pages until the sweet ending. Yes I loved the ending very much. Harriet was a kind, caring, loving, young women who did not deserve the abuse she endured. She did not deserve the guilt she felt either.

Thank you #NetGalley, #Sourcebooks/Landmark, and #RBmedia/RecordedBooks, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts. 

4.5 stars

About

True magic is found among the bluebells and brambles

Harriet Hunt is completely alone. Her father disappeared months ago, leaving her to wander the halls of Sunnyside house, dwelling on a past she'd rather keep buried. She doesn't often venture beyond her front gate, instead relishing the feel of dirt under her fingernails and of soft moss beneath her feet. Consequently, she's been deemed a little too peculiar for popular Victorian society. This solitary life suits her fine, though – because, outside, magic awaits.

Harriet's garden is special. It's a wild place full of twisting ivy, vibrant plums, and a quiet power that buzzes like bees. Caring for this place, and keeping it from running rampant through the streets of her London suburb, is Harriet's purpose. 

But a woman alone in the world is vulnerable. Soon, a sinister plot involving her father's disappearance begins to take shape, with Harriet herself at its center. Everything she holds dear – from the thorny roses she tends to her very freedom itself – is at stake. To save herself, Harriet will have to unearth her past, discover the secrets of her garden, and finally embrace the wild magic inside of her.