The Gardens of Covington: A Novel (Ladies of Covington) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Carrying a silver platter brimming with dainty tea sandwiches, and another piled high with her famous, especially thin sugar cookies, Grace Singleton shoved open the..." (more)
Key Phrases: Cove Road, Loring Valley, Miss Lurina (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The ladies are at it again in this sequel to Medlicott's successful debut, The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love. Amelia, Grace and Hannah are now happily ensconced in their beautiful old farmhouse in the foothills of North Carolina, but when developers threaten to turn their Eden into a condo haven, Hannah at least is up in arms. Grace and her lover, Bob, are busy preparing to open a tearoom and Amelia's photography talent continues to bloom. She falls for a man she meets in a fender-bender, but the new romance isn't all sweetness and light; she hides her suspicions about the gent, whom both her roommates dislike. Grace loves the tearoom and her relationship with Bob, but worries about what to tell him regarding his request to build a cabin on the women's property, even as she tries to keep the nuptials of Bob's widowed son, Russell, on track. Hannah encounters resistance as well as support in her crusade against the developers; she is reminded that she is a newcomer and a Yankee, and that some interpret her assistance as interloping. The woomen befriend their charming but frail neighbor, Ms. Maxwell, only shortly before her death but she is to play an important role in the drama. Though the theme of friendship among older women is appealing, the prose is occasionally flat, and the characters seem present merely to tout the author's causes (feminism, diversity, environmentalism), with very little life of their own. Despite these drawbacks, Medlicott still knows how to charm her target audience. Agent, Nancy Coffey. (May)Forecast: Medlicott's many fans undoubtedly will lap this book up, and a regional author tour will help. Newcomers might be better off with the paperback of its predecessor.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The "ladies" return in Medlicott's gracefully written sequel to The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love (LJ 3/1/00). The three seventyish friends, who live together in a North Carolina farmhouse, are busy growing and learning through life's experiences. Stalwart Hannah, who is still involved in her plant nursery business, rallies the town's forces to combat a ruthless developer and save the area's natural beauty. Sweet, soft Grace and beau Bob open a tearoom together (Bob's son Russell and grandson Tyler are major players in this story). And dreamy Amelia falls hard for a scoundrel who is sure to hurt her. Two weddings figure prominently Russell remarries after much family conflict, and an elderly friend (and virgin bride) marries an old codger. The story ends happily with disputed land being given as a gift (and saved from development) for transformation into the Gardens of Covington. Highly recommended. Carol J. Bissett, New Braunfels P.L., TX
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 337 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1st edition (May 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312275552
• ISBN-13: 978-0312275556
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #596,133 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 2 in The Ladies of Covington Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars COVINGTON IS COMFORTABLE AND QUIET, July 19, 2001

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Gentle readers, and I do mean `gentle' in the literal sense, here's a book for you. It is amiable, peaceful, and pleasant. "The Gardens of Covington," Joan Medlicott's sequel to her engaging "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" (2000 ) brings us up to date on the three widowed women who moved across country, refurbished an old farmhouse, and revitalized their lives.

Now nearing seventy and settled in Covington, North Carolina, the ladies are very much unchanged. Hannah remains formidable and no-nonsense; Grace is the quintessential caregiver, and Amelia is well, Amelia - fluttery, vain, unable to assert herself but nonetheless endearing.

They've settled into a comfortable routine with each one's tasks suiting the individual's desires and interests. Hannah repairs, easily unsticks windows, and tends the garden. Grocery shopping falls to Grace who happily cooks, bakes, and sings off-key. Flowers and music are the bailiwick of Amelia who also finds contentment in dusting and cleaning. It's an easy, satisfying existence.

Yet, all is not as serene as the trio might wish because their beloved land onCove Road is threatened by development. Hannah attempts to spearhead an effort to stop the interlopers, but neighbors don't rally behind her. Instead, some look upon her with jaundiced eye, view her as a newcomer, a foreigner who doesn't know the difference between "dinner" and "supper."

Evidencing her independence, Grace opens a tearoom. Her partner is Bob, a man for whom she has come to care. Both discover that running a tea room is not a piece of cake.

Grace also makes a new friend, Miss Lurina, a woman who "used to walk behind Pa's plow settin' potatoes." She is now a spinster octogenarian, seen guarding her cabin porch with a shotgun. No one is more surprised than Grace when Miss Lurina starts spending time with "Old Man." Who could have foreseen that the two would decide to be "married up"? Selecting a wedding gown, let alone planning the ceremony stretches Grace's imagination and patience.

When Amelia, an incurable romantic, is involved in a minor two-car accident, she finds the driver of the other car, Lance Lundquist, to be handsome, "larger than life." Claiming to be a retired architect, he soon becomes her ardent suitor.

However, Lance is secretive, prone to weeks long unexplained absences. Amelia believes he will tell her about himself when she has won his trust, while Hannah and Grace are wary of him. They see him as manipulative and possessive.

These scenarios are played out against evocative descriptions of North Carolina's verdant countryside. Ms. Medlicott's appreciation of nature is made evident by her thoughtful word paintings. For those who enjoy a leisurely paced tale with no more violence than an annual invasion of ladybugs, "The Gardens of Covington" is certainly their cup of tea which, by the way, the ladies often enjoy on their shaded veranda.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The ladies of Covington return, better than ever, June 1, 2001

By	Mary G. Longorio "Texasbookgirl" (Eagle Mountain, UT) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The Gardens of Covington finds the ladies back in fine form. Hannah is busy with the nursery and worriedly looks to the threat of development that looms over the valley. Amelia is as self-absorbed as ever, busy with her photography. (one wonderful thing about this book is the characters remain the same....no rapid character changes). Grace is busy with the tearoom her friend, Bob, and the youngster, Tyler who had captured her heart. This book once again captures the nuances, the joys and the strains of small town life. The three women are distinct, and there is the give and take of family life...even though the three aren't a conventional family. Familiar themes are explored, the risks taken when you grow beyond your boundries, the tug of family, the quest for love, recovering from betrayal and leaning on friends to recover. There are also some new people to meet and new challanges to attack. This book was a delight, I was so glad to have the ladies back and true to form. A wonderful summer read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garden of Salvation, June 5, 2007

By	J. E. Stephens "Jeanne" (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Gardens of Covington: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the second book in the Covington series.The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love: A Novel (Covington) This is a great series about three ladies who choose to live together and leave their retirement boardinghouse. The big problem in this story is encroaching development. Hannah becomes an environmental activist. I am amazed about the depth of the characters in this series. I can't wait to read the next book!