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

by Patti Hill (Author)

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: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #359,213 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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 (REAL NAME)

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 (REAL NAME)

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

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.