The Forbidden Garden - by Ellen Herrick (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Captivating [...] Herrick weaves a rich tapestry of family lore, dark secrets, and love." --Brunonia Barry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Fifth Petal

Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Sarah Jio, comes a lush imaginative novel that takes readers into the heart of a mysterious English country garden, waiting to spring to life.

Every garden is a story, waiting to be told...

At the nursery she runs with her sisters on the New England coast, Sorrel Sparrow has honed her rare gift for nurturing plants and flowers. Now that reputation, and a stroke of good timing, lands Sorrel an unexpected opportunity: reviving a long-dormant Shakespearean garden on an English country estate.

Arriving at Kirkwood Hall, ancestral home of Sir Graham Kirkwood and his wife Stella, Sorrel is shocked by the desolate state of the walled garden. Generations have tried--and failed--to bring it back to glory. Sorrel senses heartbreak and betrayal here, perhaps even enchantment. Intrigued by the house's history--especially the haunting tapestries that grace its walls--and increasingly drawn to Stella's enigmatic brother, Sorrel sets to work. And though she knows her true home is across the sea with her sisters, instinct tells her that the English garden's destiny is entwined with her own, if she can only unravel its secrets...

From the Back Cover

From the author of The Sparrow Sisters comes a sumptuous new novel, a story where family secrets are uncovered . . . and life is renewed

When Sorrel Sparrow is hired to restore the walled Shakespeare Garden at Kirkwood Hall--the ancestral home of Sir Graham Kirkwood and his wife, Stella--she finds desolation and shadows. According to family lore, generations have tried to return the garden to its former glory, but every attempt has failed. Determined, Sorrel vows to save the garden as only a Sparrow Sister can.

But as soon as Sorrel enters the garden, she feels a sense of heartbreak, betrayal . . . and perhaps even a dark enchantment. Intrigued by Kirkwood Hall's history--and also by the haunting tapestries that tell its story--Sorrel, increasingly drawn to Stella's enigmatic brother, sets to work. She slowly unravels the ancient garden's secrets, only to learn that its destiny is irrevocably entwined with her own.

Review Quotes

"A haunting, magical, modern-day fairytale. A feast for the senses." - Sarah Addison Allen, NYT bestselling author of FIRST FROST

"A delightfully intriguing debut, gracefully paced and skillfully crafted. Ellen Herrick's attention to sensory detail is magical and moving. Evocative to the last page." - Susan Meissner, author of Secrets of a Charmed Life

Praise for The Sparrow Sisters: "If you're looking for a read ala Elin Hilderbrand with a touch of magic, look no further than The Sparrow Sisters, Ellen Herrick's wicked and romantic debut." - Sarah Jio, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"Readers who loved Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic and Audrey Niffenegger's Time Traveler's Wife, are in for a wonderful treat with Ellen Herrick's lovely new novel." - M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author

"In this captivating read, Herrick weaves a rich tapestry of family lore, dark secrets, and love." - Brunonia Barry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lace Reader and The Fifth Petal

"[...] Sorrel's rapport with the plants and garden and the powers they possess will resonate with those who enjoy stories of drawing strength from the land. Recommend this to readers of Sarah Addison Allen, Kate Morton, and Vanessa Diffenbaugh." - Booklist

"In the spirit of the film Practical Magic, based on the novel by Alice Hoffman, mixed with a mesmerizing gardening book, this enchanted, romantic story will be savored..." - Library Journal

"The Forbidden Garden is a romantic, big-hearted novel that celebrates femininity in all its nurturing, resilient, and fearless power." - Heather Young, author of The Lost Girls