Review: The Forbidden Garden by Ellen Herrick

The Forbidden Garden

by Ellen Herrick

Publisher: William Morrow

Pages: 400

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  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…

Kritters Thoughts:   Sorrel Sparrow is called from her home to England to help the Kirkwoods with the garden at their ancestral home, although she is semi excited to leave the drama of her home, she is nervous to enter someone else's garden and try to work her magic.  

I know this book is just releasing, but from the beginning the words Ellen Herrick used seemed to make it feel as though I was reading a classic - I say this as a compliment!  I loved the words she chose and combining it with gardening and England, it all just worked together.  Although this wasn't a quick book to read, it was immersive and I was excited to go back to it each time I picked it up to hear what Sorrel would find out about the Kirkwoods.  

After finishing this book, I read reviews to see how my experience compared to others and like others didn't know that there was a previous book that told the story of the Sparrow sisters.  I agree with other reviewers to say that if I had read that book first, it may have helped with the reading of this one.  I felt as though the beginning almost started as though the reader had the prior knowledge of these sisters and their story.  So now I am intrigued by these sisters and will have to read The Sparrow Sisters.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from TLC Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.