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Garden Gates #2
Always Green
Mibby Garrett isn't asking for much, just a white knight to rescue her from lonely widowhood, her faltering garden design business, and an unrelenting drought. Or she'd settle for a super dad to guide her son, Ky, through the harrowing years of adolescence. Instead, her free-spirited mother and acerbic sister show up on her doorstep, only magnifying her loneliness. Mentor and friend Louise reminds Mibby that God's blessings flow during droughts of the land and droughts of the heart. Can Mibby put her confidence in Him and discover what it means to be always green and growing? Garden Gates Book 2.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
5 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Patti Hill
16 books46 followersAfter years of raising children and then joyfully teaching elementary school, Patti finally took her long-ago college English professor’s advice ("You should be a writer") and fulfilled the dream of having her first novel published to wide acclaim in 2005.
She now writes full time and loves connecting with readers via her web site and on Twitter.
She now writes full time and loves connecting with readers via her web site and on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 28, 2025
Bought in used book sale from small OK library as I was traveling home :) in June.
Widow has YA son and best friend who runs a B&B who is a recent breast cancer survivor. She runs her own landscaping business and is hoping for a new love in her life.
This is book 2 in the series. Read it first.
Widow has YA son and best friend who runs a B&B who is a recent breast cancer survivor. She runs her own landscaping business and is hoping for a new love in her life.
This is book 2 in the series. Read it first.
August 12, 2020
What a great read! It is the type of book that goes well with a cold ice tea on the porch after working with flowers. Christian inspiration refreshes the soul!
As Mibby attempts to start over with love she must first learn there are many types of love and sometimes those closest to us are the most difficult to love but with God's help she finds her way.
As Mibby attempts to start over with love she must first learn there are many types of love and sometimes those closest to us are the most difficult to love but with God's help she finds her way.
September 8, 2021
Enjoyed this book. Very different from others I've read as it does talk about the grief process. I have at least 3 close friends that are widows and maybe this will help me to get a glimpse of the struggles they face. Loved the "flower talk" too. I'm just an amateur gardener at best but I found this aspect of the book interesting also.
April 29, 2025
3.5
A nice sequel to "Like a Watered Garden." This novel focused less on the grief of Mibby's widowhood and more on her longing to connect with her emotionally distant mother.
The writing is much better than most Christian fiction. Humor is pretty tricky and Hill does a good job of injecting it sporadically. The scene at the speed-dating dinner was laugh-out-loud funny.
A nice sequel to "Like a Watered Garden." This novel focused less on the grief of Mibby's widowhood and more on her longing to connect with her emotionally distant mother.
The writing is much better than most Christian fiction. Humor is pretty tricky and Hill does a good job of injecting it sporadically. The scene at the speed-dating dinner was laugh-out-loud funny.
February 1, 2023
Nice to visit a favorite again...
January 26, 2025
fantastic follow up
So happy I continued the series. Author hit a home run with follow through. Adding life problems and scripture was amazing.
So happy I continued the series. Author hit a home run with follow through. Adding life problems and scripture was amazing.
May 22, 2019
Mibby Garrett is not having a very nice summer. Drought and extremely hot weather have hit Colorado, and her garden design and maintenance business is suffering. Her fourteen-year-old son Ky has become sullen and irresponsible. And don't get Mibby started on her love life, or lack thereof. The only man who seems interested is not the one Mibby would choose for herself. Larry is a nice guy and a good friend, but he doesn't give her the shivers that Ben did (before she told him she wasn't ready for a relationship). The icing on the cake is Mibby's mother. The free spirit who comes and goes at irregular intervals from the lives of Mibby and her sister Margot has decided to live with Mibby for awhile. All of these trials serve to teach Mibby how to trust in God. Will she be able to give up control and let God work in her life?
This is the sweet sequel to Like a Watered Garden, which introduced Mibby and her family. Patti Hill writes with a clear voice, and Mibby's character is fresh and likable. Readers of all ages and levels of experience will relate to her transparency and willingness to be open and honest with God. The scenes of parenting a teenager hit very close to home and endeared Mibby even more to me. The issues of becoming independent (even at forty) and dropping expectations of our parents are poignant and timely. As the story ended with much unresolved, there will be more in the Garden Gates series. Though the author deals fairly well with backstory and getting readers caught up with the previous novel, it is unfortunate that some of the main characters from the previous book have only peripheral mention in this one.
All in all, readers will delight in Always Green, which is full of fascinating gardening information and advice. Reading the gorgeous descriptions made me feel like I was walking through Mibby's beautiful gardens - if only I could hire her to make over my yard!
This is the sweet sequel to Like a Watered Garden, which introduced Mibby and her family. Patti Hill writes with a clear voice, and Mibby's character is fresh and likable. Readers of all ages and levels of experience will relate to her transparency and willingness to be open and honest with God. The scenes of parenting a teenager hit very close to home and endeared Mibby even more to me. The issues of becoming independent (even at forty) and dropping expectations of our parents are poignant and timely. As the story ended with much unresolved, there will be more in the Garden Gates series. Though the author deals fairly well with backstory and getting readers caught up with the previous novel, it is unfortunate that some of the main characters from the previous book have only peripheral mention in this one.
All in all, readers will delight in Always Green, which is full of fascinating gardening information and advice. Reading the gorgeous descriptions made me feel like I was walking through Mibby's beautiful gardens - if only I could hire her to make over my yard!
August 30, 2015
Always Green is the second book in the Garden Gates trilogy. Although it can stand alone, as a novel, the reader will have a better understanding of the characters and their behavior, if you have read the first book, Like a Watered Garden. The author has done an excellent job of building her characters into multidimensional people, who are realistic and easy to relate to. In this book, we see Mibby growing spiritually, emotionally, and maternally. I find this aspect of the story very satisfying. As a young teen, Ky, is my favorite character. His immature actions are somewhat balanced by his good nature.
I really enjoy the humor that the author incorporates into so many scenes. It takes the edge off of some heart-rending and awkward situations. Yes, there is some sadness scattered along the journey. There are also some laugh-out-loud lines!
Always Green is a book about relationships of many kinds. The book is filled with quirky and interesting characters. It’s about everyday life and how people cope with the myriad situations in which they find themselves. It is a good read.
I really enjoy the humor that the author incorporates into so many scenes. It takes the edge off of some heart-rending and awkward situations. Yes, there is some sadness scattered along the journey. There are also some laugh-out-loud lines!
Always Green is a book about relationships of many kinds. The book is filled with quirky and interesting characters. It’s about everyday life and how people cope with the myriad situations in which they find themselves. It is a good read.
April 1, 2016
This book is #2 in a 3-book series, but the OneClickDigital website, from which I borrowed the audiobook, didn't say that. Unlike many series, this is one where the separate volumes do NOT stand alone. Nothing that was introduced in the first volume was explained in this second one, so the characters, allusions, and plot didn't make much sense.
However, that was only part of my problems with this book. There were three aspects of this that I really hated. (1) Really unhealthy relationships that never improved, (2) some plot points that seemed important that were dropped, and (3) what extremely little character growth that occurred did not follow from the action.
I did not find this book particularly inspirational, either, perhaps because the protagonist just didn't seem to grow. She started reading her Bible more, but that alone doesn't inspire me. If belief doesn't spur growth and improvement, then it doesn't move me; and there was no growth or improvement in this long and tedious book.
However, that was only part of my problems with this book. There were three aspects of this that I really hated. (1) Really unhealthy relationships that never improved, (2) some plot points that seemed important that were dropped, and (3) what extremely little character growth that occurred did not follow from the action.
I did not find this book particularly inspirational, either, perhaps because the protagonist just didn't seem to grow. She started reading her Bible more, but that alone doesn't inspire me. If belief doesn't spur growth and improvement, then it doesn't move me; and there was no growth or improvement in this long and tedious book.
July 23, 2016
What a delightful book. Patti has a way of describing the characters, giving them each their own individuality, character and culture.
Although the main character has more friends with deep wisdom than I could ever imagine in real life, she is given guidance through their faith without preaching, but through life's experiences.
I do garden, but not to the extent of this character. The description of flower types and colors was easily skimmed over or skipped.
It was a refreshing change from some Christian fiction that bases friendship on touch rather than relationship and rules rather than life's application of the rules.
I could relate to the struggles of growing teenage boys who struggle to be men but act so much like boys sometimes. And the struggle of the mom who must continue to respect them into their manhood when they disrespect her.
I will look for other books by this author. She's a keeper.
Although the main character has more friends with deep wisdom than I could ever imagine in real life, she is given guidance through their faith without preaching, but through life's experiences.
I do garden, but not to the extent of this character. The description of flower types and colors was easily skimmed over or skipped.
It was a refreshing change from some Christian fiction that bases friendship on touch rather than relationship and rules rather than life's application of the rules.
I could relate to the struggles of growing teenage boys who struggle to be men but act so much like boys sometimes. And the struggle of the mom who must continue to respect them into their manhood when they disrespect her.
I will look for other books by this author. She's a keeper.
November 15, 2014
Fabulous read for a laid back weekend! It's the story of Mibby--a widow who is dealing with re-entering the dating world, a teenaged son, a flaky mother, a struggling small business and figuring out where GOD is leading her. Predictable, but as satisfying as a Hallmark movie!!
May 16, 2008
Mibby goes through some life-changing events. I highly recommend this for a light summer read.
Want to read
June 4, 2009book 2
January 23, 2010
this was a pleasant book, easy to read and the characters are easy to know.
July 22, 2010
This was as good as the first book.
December 24, 2012
OK follow up book.
October 21, 2017
I enjoyed this book! It was an easy ready. I didn't realize until after I started it that it's a series. I didn't lose anything by starting with this one, definitely a stand alone novel. I related to the main character and I loved going through her life with her. Heartwarming and honest. This book is a keeper for my bookshelf.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews