Customer Reviews

Dark Garden

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Mason Cavender and Vienna Blake find themselves locked in a Hatfield and McCoy feud that has ravaged their families for generations. Though the two families originally started out as partners and intermarried, Mason now finds herself struggling as the last of the Cavenders to save what little they have left and Vienna is poised to deliver the death blow that the Blakes have desired for so long. Vienna has held back however because of the impossible attraction she and Mason have felt for each other since they were young. Though they have tried to establish a relationship several times in the past, family animosity always got in the way. This feud definitely has overtones of Romeo and Juliet mixed in with it. The two women desire each other, but don't trust each other. The problem is they can't seem to be happy without each other. Both families are haunted by secrets from the past. Secrets that might stand between any happiness Mason and Vienna can share if they aren't dealt with.

Jennifer Fulton writes a very convincing romance. Her characters are attractive, dynamic and dominate the pages. Although the reader knows they will work out their problems and find a way to be together, the battle between them and the inner working of the family dynamics keep the story interesting. The puzzling part is why this is tagged as paranormal. There are hints of an ancestor's ghost and one of her dogs that prowl one of the estates, but they play a minor part in the story. Paranormal fans who are expecting an otherworldly presence that affects the progression of the plot will be disappointed. The secrets the families hide play a huge part in what happens, but they're hardly paranormal. The book would have been just as satisfying to read without the slight references to ghosts, which are more distracting than anything. There are also some plot lines that seem to be unresolved, especially one involving shocking behavior by one of Vienna's cousins, and the ending seems abrupt. The romance carries the book though.

Dark Garden is a typical Fulton romance, nothing surprising, but a good story. It has a somewhat dark tone to it that gives it a Gothic feeling which should appeal to those fans, but it provides a few hours of entertaining reading for anyone. Fulton is normally a solid writer and this book reflects that.

Loved this book! Enough plot for three novels! I grew up reading the likes of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and this story delivered on all my expectations.

The novel opens with a fabulous opening chapter that sweeps you in. This is a book to be savoured so don't rush the reading.

Thirty-five year old Mason Blake is at the end of her rope. Her corporation is on the brink of collapse. Her family's mortal enemy Vienna Blake is poised to capture her company and the family's estate in the Berkshires. Mason and Vienna have know each other since childhood when eleven year old Mason first meets seven year old Vienna and literally sweeps her off her feet. They have chance encounters through the years and are compellingly drawn towards eachother with an attraction that goes beyond everything they have been taught by their hate filled families.

Mason physically and emotionally reminds me so very much of Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. I love her housekeeper's name!

The story was a complete pleasure to read and the ending totally satisfying.

If you like this novel you will also enjoy these other novels by the author -

Dark Dreamer
Dark Valentine

Jennifer Fulton can always been counted on for a solid novel, and this one is no exception. But it's not her best work, and the ending felt rushed after so many years of family feud. And I was puzzled that this is marketed as a paranormal romance. It has very few paranormal elements, but it does have a gothic feel.

"dark garden" was so engrossing that i could hardly put it down. seriously, for roughly 24 hours my life revolved around reading this book. while it isn't the best that i've read, it was a nostalgic piece for me.

the romantic tension between Vienna and Mason reminds me so much of the old school of romance books; a naive, "good girl" from the "right family" gets swept up in an against-the-odds love affair with a dangerous, brooding rogue from the enemy camp. the build-up of tension is pleasantly palpable as all consuming chemistry leads to a quick unfulfilling lusty encounter, followed by regret and mutual hatred, then a slow, gradual build-up to love and lust once again.

while the beginning and middle were excellent, the resolution was tied up too neatly and quickly. it seems that after all Mason and Vienna went through, their story deserved more than a few pages with very little exposition to tidy up the mess. in short, the ending was rushed and more than a little disjointed from the rest of the novel.