Like a Watered Garden: A Novel (Garden Gates) [Paperback]

Patti Hill (Author)

Book Description

Series: Garden Gates | Publication Date: January 1, 2005

Mibby Garrett walks through grief as if feeling her way through an unfamiliar room on a moonless night. She's been unable to get her life back on track after losing her husband in a bicycle accident. Owner and operator of Perennially Yours Garden Design and mother to twelve-year-old Ky, Mibby struggles to keep her "boat tied to the dock" as she avoids reminders of her husband and their former life. A new garden design project, the puzzling case of dying rosebushes, and a mysterious young stranger bring Mibby out of her fog. Has God answered her prayers in the most unexpected way? Garden Gates, Book 1.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the opening line ("I received a box of flowers from my dead husband"), debut novelist Hill hooks the reader with this intriguing look at love, faith, grieving and relationships. The unusually named Mibby Garrett is a garden designer who runs Perennially Yours, serving her clients' eclectic landscaping needs from behind the wheel of the Daisy Mobile with her companionable dog, Blink. The redhead's life is turned topsy-turvy when her husband is unexpectedly killed; she can barely cope with her business and with her 13-year-old son, Kyle. Her next-door neighbor, well-heeled 30-something Louise Giovanelli, keeps Mibby sane, supplying her with love, advice and baked goods from the B&B she owns next door. Odd guests at the B&B and Mibby's eccentric garden customers, including a handsome widower, are competently portrayed. When Mibby discovers her husband had a secret past, it threatens to destroy her last shreds of faith. Although some elements of the plot are well-worn chestnuts of Christian fiction (the eligible widower, the quirky neighborhood inn, the deceased character's clandestine past), Hill refreshingly resists the urge to tie up all the loose ends and avoids clichés in portraying the spiritual growth of her characters. Fresh prose, wry humor, an enjoyable protagonist and strong pacing make Hill a welcome addition to the ranks of inspirational novelists.
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Review

"A hint of romance keeps the book interesting... [it] will probably be one of my favorite books of 2005." -- Road to Romance

"Hill plots a fine-tuned story of a woman's journey from life-wilting grief to fresh hope." -- RT Bookclub RT Bookclub

"I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants an inspiring read with realistic characters and events." -- Romance Readers Connection

"It reminded me... to see life in it's totality, no bloom lasts forever but neither does any winter." -- Christian Fiction Reviewer

"The depiction of the depth of her loss is beautifully conveyed and readers will empathize with her feelings." -- Bookloons.com

"This novel is written well enough and broad enough to interest many more than just women who like gardens.... Recommended." -- Christian Fiction Review

"With her beautifully unique imagery, Hill captures your attention from the first page of this book and holds it throughout." -- Romance Junkies

"[O]ne of the best novels I've read this year...has special appeal for those interested in gardening." -- CBA Marketplace © CBA MARKETPLACE Official Publication of CBA. Reprinted by permission

"less a story about the memory of a lost mate than an account process of re-growth after personal loss." -- ForeWord, June 2005

"this book captures a widow's journey from pain and grief to growing faith and hopefulness... with gentle humor and realism." -- InFuzeMag.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764229370
• ISBN-13: 978-0764229374
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #882,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

It took me a while to develop the moxy to invite folks to read my writing. Actually, the painful and stomach-churning incident was forced on me by my creative writing professor in college, part deux. Being a teacher for four years toughened me up, so I decided to give novel writing a go. My first book, Like a Watered Garden, was published Jan. 2005 and Always Green followed in July. The third book, and the most challenging one to write, In Every Flower, comes out this fall. My editor at Bethany House had a little trouble convincing the publishing committee to look seriously at my first novel. "It's a story about a widow that makes you laugh a lot," she told them. I'm very thankful they gave me a chance.

What's next? I like to give my books a strong sense of place, so I'm starting research on an early 20th century story about southern Orange County, where I lived before moving to Colorado. At least, that's what I think I'm tackling. First, I'll have to wiggle my toes in the sand of San Clemente for some meaningful research.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful treat!, February 5, 2005

By 

F. Evans "french tortilla" (Truckee, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Like a Watered Garden: A Novel (Garden Gates) (Paperback)

From the highly intriguing first line ("I received a box of flowers from my dead husband"), I was hooked!

Whithin the first chapters, a wonderful set of characters had won me over, each in their own way...

I felt I was perched on Mibby's shoulder all along, smiling with her and handing her tissues during her "blubberfests"...
If I reached down my sofa, I could even Pet black lab Blink.I could feel his breath down my neck riding the Daisymobile with Mibby...I could smell and taste Louise's pastries and hear her comforting sermons to Mibby.

The gardener I am NOT could feel the sun on her back, the dirt under her fingernails and smell the flowers... Not a small feat!!

In her first book, novelist Patty Hill has managed to address the very personal and private topic of grieving, without sounding too mushy, languishing or pessimistic. The Catholic-girl-gone-bad that I am even enjoyed the religious bits intertwined here and there all along...

Her fresh, quirky writing style and her down-to-earth, warm tone left me wishing for more when I got to the last page.

I will be eagerly waiting for book number 2. In the meantime, I am actively looking for a house in Orchard City... Preferably in Mibby and Louise's street!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like having a cup of tea with a friend, December 27, 2004

By 

Janna Mori (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Like a Watered Garden: A Novel (Garden Gates) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this witty and heart-felt novel. It's unusual for me to both cry and laugh while reading a book but this one made me do both. Patti Hill intertwines friendship and faith in her story using the lovely visuals of her main character's garden and the physical setting of the book. The plot has a surprise twist which kept me intrigued until the end. I couldn't help but feel like I was sitting down with friends while I was reading the book. I can't wait for the next one!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like the comforting touch of a good friend, December 8, 2004

By 

Cindy Swanson (Rockford, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Like a Watered Garden: A Novel (Garden Gates) (Paperback)

In her fiction debut, author Patti Hill has given us a book about grieving that manages to be warm, comforting, wryly humorous and realistic at the same time...no small feat for any writer, much less a first-time novelist.

We learn right away that Mibby Garrett is a widow, and we are instantly pulled into her world. While still struggling to cope with the painful loss of her beloved Scott, Mibby immerses herself in her garden design business. Indeed, plants and gardens are an ongoing theme in the story, with each chapter opening with Mibby's daily forecast and updates on her own garden.

But as Mibby takes comfort in frequent "blubberfests" and avoiding what she calls "whammies o' grief," her 13-year-old son Ky is enduring his own confusion and loss, and acting out accordingly.

And just as she thinks things can't get any worse, a young girl enters her life with stunning news that sends Mibby reeling with questions about how well she really knew her late husband.

The book is peopled with memorable characters, some eccentric and some just plain wonderful, like Mibby's ever-optimistic Southern neighbor, Louise--who bolsters Mibby's faith with frequent sermons and lots of love, humor and baked goods left over from her bed-and-breakfast.

Complicating matters is Mibby's growing attraction to Ben, one of her male clients, over which she feels confusion and even guilt.

Like the comforting touch of a good friend, this book captures a widow's journey from pain and grief to growing faith and hopefulness, and does so absorbingly and with gentle humor and realism.

Patti Hill is a gifted storyteller who possesses a lovely and engaging way with words. I look forward to future books from this talented new author.