Enchanting
A Secret Garden Affair by Erica James is an enchanting dual timeline novel about love and life, guilt and grief, and memories that keep us warm at night.
The story is set in the summer of 1981 when the country was gripped by Royal Wedding fever, and also in the 1920’s moving forwards. We see the action in both the first and third person from alternating points of view.
We witness the passion for creating gardens that sees a character feeling at one with nature. And there is also a grande passion that not even death can break. Life is for living. We need to make the most of each day because we never know when life will be cruelly cut short.
There is a beautiful friendship between two ladies that has lasted almost a lifetime. Over the years they have shared each other’s confidences and kept each others secrets.
Guilt rears its ugly head as characters live with the fear that their individual actions caused a tragedy many years ago. Guilt binds us. We need to throw off the shackles and live free.
Appearances were everything. In the past an unmarried mother would be frowned upon. There were some hard choices to be made.
Erica James has perfectly captured the locations with her words. 1981 has been evoked by her descriptions as I have been transported back through the years.
Memories keep us warm. Photos and diaries have been locked away for years. Now is the time to open up and share the past.
I adored A Secret Garden Affair. It was my first book by Erica James but I intend to read more.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON