Forbidden Garden (Sonnet Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In mystical 19th-century Ireland, widow and exceptional botanical illustrator Anne Sherwood is hired to draw the rare plant species inhabiting the castle grounds of Glendale Hall. Anne, desperate for the chance to finally be recognized as a scholar, keeps secret her extrasensory ability to "read" the emotions of plants. But it is her fierce attraction to Michael McEvoy, a piratical naturalist who collects plants for the prized gardens, that tests her reputation even more than her unusual abilities. Soon it is evident that all is not right in the forest. Anne is stalked by a stealthy ivy that appears only at night. She and Michael set out to uncover the sinister origins of the dark forest, all the while resisting the strong desire building between them. Fobes (Heart of the Dove) enhances the tale by weaving Celtic folklore throughout. At times, the heroine's gift of communicating with plant life comes off as silly instead of fascinating. Ultimately, this romance focuses too heavily on the trappings and obvious outcome of the paranormal/mystery plot, rather than on the relationship between its passionate protagonists. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Anne Sherwood has made her life into a safe, orderly garden. She draws the plants of London's famous Kew Gardens, an entirely suitable occupation for a widowed lady in Queen Victoria's England. Then a compelling invitation takes her to Ireland, to sketch a recently discovered tree...a golden sapling with unusual qualities and even more mysterious origins. Determined to learn more, Anne finds herself confronting Michael McEvoy, an enigmatic figure who prefers the lonliness of the wild to society and its entrapments.

Michael's heart beats to the rhythm of the land. The ebb and flow of the seasons and the cadence are his calendar and clock. When the prim Englishwoman arrives, he is stunned to discover her conventional exterior hides a kindred spirit, one as sensitive as he to growing things...his perfect mate. But, as much as he longs to make her his, they must first expose the origin's of the sapling and the dangerous corruption of nature that it represents...

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671041738
• ISBN-13: 978-0671041731
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,366,637 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unfulfilled promise., August 13, 2000

By	L. S. Tucker (Port St. Lucie, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mrs. Anne Sherwood was a talented plant illustrator whose late husband had stolen credit for her work. Now she has another chance to be taken seriously by the scientific community. Lord Connock has hired her to draw unusual plants in his property. Michael McEvoy, Connock's official plant gatherer, is in Ireland to help Anne. He also tempts her to come back to life and laughter again. As something evil comes to light at Connock's home, Anne and Michael must reassess their loyalties and fight for their lives against plants not meant to exist.

The premise was promising but flat characters detract from the story. The book was very disappointing and loose in structure. The idea of Anne's talent in sensing plant emotions and health was inspired, but wasted.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful paranormal romance, February 21, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1860, Lord Connock visits London's Kew Gardens to meet the Botanical Gardens illustrator Anne Sherwood. Connock thinks highly of Anne's work and hires her to draw a special tree that has grown from a seed world traveling naturalist Michael McEvoy brought home. Anne desperately wants acceptance from her all male peers who do not believe she does her work nor her claim she drew the plates in her deceased husband's work on plants.

In Ireland, Anne meets Michael and quickly, to her chagrin, is attracted to the adventurer. He reciprocates, as he fully desires the uptight lady. Both share the ability to know how plants feel and both of them think something is wrong with Connock's garden. As they work together on the collection, they fall in love, not yet aware that an evil essence lurks nearby planning to destroy the duo if they learn the truth about the garden.

FORBIDDEN GARDEN is an exciting historical romance. The story line is fast-paced while cleverly showing how ironically the freethinking male elite scorns the possibility of a female being their equal. This obsession to be accepted by the leading thinkers of her time serves as the prime motive for Anne until she meets Michael. Real persona such as Huxley and Darwin add to the nineteenth century ambiance of the novel. Tracy Fobes has provided a triumphant tale that will stimulate sub-genre readers to search for more of her works (see HEART OF THE DOVE).

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forbidden Garden, June 16, 2000

By	"purelyjoy" (Hong Kong SAR) - See all my reviews

In 1860 England, Anne Sherwood lives only for her work. A widow, she resents the fact that her late husband passed off her botanical illustrations as his own work. Anne has an unusual talent; she can sense the emotions of plants. Later she becomes an in-house illustrator for Lord Connock at Glendale Hall in Ireland (he illustrates a new species of tree). Glendale Hall is full of secrets, and the plants give off the oddest emotions she's ever felt. Her stay is complicated by Lord Connock's naturalist, the handsome and glib Michael McEvoy, a botanical adventurer. She's enthraled by him. Later they realize there's something wrong with the garden and that Anne and Michael are facing what could be a deadly enemy. Can love bloom in the forbidden garden of Lord Connock?

Paranormal romance is often a difficult genre in which to write, yet Ms. Tracy Fobes makes it look easy. She is one of the most inventive of the authors working in this field. Forbidden Garden is just another fabulous work. Delightfully creepy setting, wildly passionate love scenes, well-organised plot. And most important, Forbidden Garden doesn't follow the standard romance steps, and that makes it more worth-reading.