What do You think about Sowing Secrets (2008)?
Trisha Ashley's books are some of my favourites and I was excited to read this one of her earlier books. On the down side, it took me at least 100 pages to get into the swing of this story and get a feeling for the characters. I could tell immediately that this was earlier work and it was clear that the more recent books are much more refined and the writing is smoother, the characters in subsequent books are developed quicker and become familiar much faster. On the upside when I did get into the story I really enjoyed it so I am glad I stuck with it.
—Kim
I finished reading this more out of stubbornness than anything else. I got to the end and wondered why I bothered seeing as all the characters were so hateful! Fran was a complete doormat, and the singing/humming was a really irritating habit which was totally unnecessary to the story. Mal was despicable, and there was no reason for Fran to have continued the relationship seeing as he was so cruel, and she said as much herself! Instead all she would talk about was how gorgeous he was. Rosie was annoying and not much politer than Mal. It was difficult to believe her neighbours as anything more then caricatures. Overall I just thought it was awful.
—Rebecca
Fran March is an artist who's living in a beautiful village where she has great friends. She's married to a very demanding husband named Mal. Her daughter Rosie has moved away to study, but she visits Fran regularly. There's always the question of her paternity, nobody actually knows who Rosie's father is. When Gabriel Weston comes to St Ceridwen's Well for his gardening television show and her ex boyfriend Tom wants to get in touch again things are getting a lot more complicated.I really liked Fran, her friends and the village. Gabriel Weston's a very nice guy as well. I kept thinking how horrible Mal is though, which is part of the appeal of the story. I very much wanted to interfere, because Fran could definitely use a wake up call. Trisha Ashley's writing is so vivid, the whole village and everyone in it magically comes to life. I kept dreaming away about the beautiful gardens. The ending is wonderful, I absolutely loved it!
—Suzanne
