THE KISSING GARDEN by CHARLOTTE BINGHAM

THE KISSING GARDEN

BY CHARLOTTE BINGHAM

THE BLURB:-

As children, George Dashwood and Amelia Dennison loved to roam the Sussex Downs and, just as their two very different families were friends, so were they, until they are caught in a thunderstorm. Sheltering from the elements, George realizes that the way he feels about Amelia has changed. But it is 1914 and the declaration of war cuts across any romantic plans that the two might have.

George is away at the front for four years, but when the miracle happens and he returns home safely Amelia finds that the boy she loved has gone. Although they marry it seems that George does so from a sense of duty. It is only when they discover and old priory with a magical atmosphere that their chance for happiness becomes a reality.

THE REALITY:-

It took me a while to get into this one- the first few chapters were predictable and dragged, so I ended up speed reading the next hundred or so pages. But I forced myself to go back and start again and the story naturally became more interesting and made more sense.

The idea of an enchanted garden is a very lovely one but there were times when the story became almost too fey and whimsical. By the time the book got to Gwendolyn's illness and subsequent recovery you had to question whether the author was in some way...touched and soft in the head. I pressed on. The idea of a kind of magic from long ago purposely affecting a future place in time was nice, as were the sections from The Noble One and Longbeard.

But by the time George was becoming involved in politics the writing, although historically interesting, was long-winded and I yearned for the end! It was nice that the story started in exactly the same way as it began, with a shell shocked hero returning from war.

And that word sums up this work- nice. But nothing exceptional.