In a Celandine World

by Catherine Thorpe

Willow Jane has a secret.  She's in love with the Boogeyman.  He comes to her in her dreams.  Lately he's been speaking to her while she's awake.  She doesn't know why he comes to her, or how it is that she loves him.  She's never even seen him.

Until now.

She's accepted  crazy .  She's accepted isolation—heck, she's even welcomed it.  She'll do anything to be with him.

But now Betts Willoughby is on to her.  The mysterious wife of the village butcher watches her.  She knows things.  She believes things—things that are even  crazier than Willow.

The truth is going to come out.  A truth that has long been forgotten.  A truth that was concealed in a manuscript in the 12th century.  An impossible truth.  A dangerous truth that will blow Willow's secret wide open—leaving her scrambling to save the only man she could ever love.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2011

Reviews

[Emilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was close to giving the book three stars because of her writing, but in the end I settled for two because to be perfectly honest, I didn't enjoy the plot. I think Thorpe has a lot of interesting and unique ideas and I can honestly say I have never read a story like it before, yet I didn't feel that the story was particularly interesting or enjoyable, it was just odd. However, judging by the average review of the book it seems that quite a few people did enjoy the book, but it wasn't for me. The ending especially ruined the book even more for me, I don't want to ruin the book for anyone else who hasn't read it yet, but I will say that I just found the last end twist beyond strange and just really weird.

I hugely enjoyed some of the characters and I found them to be very well written, in particular Hugh's character was quite enchanting. I love the traditional British way in which he is described in his manners. Some of the descriptions are beautiful if you really pay attention to them, but sometimes they also slow the story down even more. However, I found Mr. Willoughby and the professor to be a bit overly British, it just felt a bit too much at times. I really couldn't stand the Willow as a character either, I just found her a bit annoying at times. However, I loved the descriptions of her interactions with Hugh and Boon, it was enticing and beautifully written. I do just really want to reiterate that Catherine Thorpe has an amazing style of writing, the way in which she describes things and especially emotions is just beautiful. She successfully captures several different aspects of moments, sometimes she'll spend quite a few paragraphs just describing specific things and I honestly love it - sometimes it does slow the story down but personally, I'm the type of reader who enjoys the details. Sadly, I just did not find the story plot as captivating as her choice of diction and writing style. In the end I really had to just force myself to finish reading it.

Basically, it's an odd and unique plot, I think some people will love it and others won't be too fond of it (myself included). But even though I didn't like the story, Thorpe is a talented writer and I do think it would be interesting to read something else that she has written which I might enjoy more.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already had high expectations when I started this book, but this book exceeded those expectations by a mile. I was expecting a story that was kind of like the usual same old paranormal romance story, but Catherine Thorpe completely came up with a whole new idea that was so interesting to read! Willow was in love with a man from her dreams, which is a common story, but her dream man is with her when she's awake too. That's never happened before! Everything that happens after that I'm like, "woah what??" because I'm never expecting what's next. It was so refreshing reading a story that kept me guessing with each page. Even though I may have been confused at parts, I was confused with Willow. Catherine Thorpe never withheld any facts or information from the reader that the main character knew too. I got annoyed when Willow got annoyed and I got scared when Willow got scared. I could really connect with Willow and I actually cared what happened to her, which is really important for me in a book. And what I also really liked was how there was a kind of historical, Jane Austen vibe with Hugh's character. I love historical romances, so I got to indulge a little bit with that while still enjoying the whole paranormal side of the story. But my favorite thing was when Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland would quote lines from the book in Willow's head. Willow should have sounded crazy, but instead it was really charming to me. This was such a good book and I am so glad I finally got to read a unique, addicting book for once.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read anything like this before. Everything about this book drew me in. A young girl (23) leaves her home to discover her self better. Friends, family, and a fresh start await her. Who knew everything could change in such a short time, but what she finds within herself is truly life changing.

There was nothing that slowed down the pace in this novel. Every page was something more to understand and piece together the bigger picture. Catherine Thorpe has put a tremendous amount of thought into her amazing novel to keep you guessing till the end. It was creatively written and lacked nothing.

I was able to find a connection with the main character Willow. She was well described in physical appearance and her thoughts were clearly written. I found myself role playing while I read, lol. There were several great characters making the story line dramatic, intriguing and filled with surprise.


"The delicate purr of his energy licked away at my skin in response. I wondered, though, if you can really love something like that, something that has no body, something you can't see except for when you close your eyes at night."


Hopefully Catherine has plans to continue it to a series.
Thanks so much for a great novel!

[ILoveBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever had an imaginary friend? How about one that becomes very close to you? The main character, Willow, has had an "imaginary friend" that she has loved for a long time, he went from being her friend to being "something more." When she gets older, she realizes that this is not normal; she isn't sure if she is crazy or if her feelings are correct, and her Boogeyman is real. She buys a cottage in England in an attempt to figure out which of her options are true.



The book is told from Willow's point of view, allowing the reader to get closer to Willow and understand her. Willow is caring, inquisitive, and somewhat demanding. She really draws the reader into the story. The author describes Willow as well as Willow's thoughts and actions very well, the reader can imagine Willow perfectly. The author also details the scenery and plot, making it very easy to picture. However, at times, there is almost too much detail.



The plot is unique, the author includes fairly controversial subjects-especially religion, bringing up the question "Are religious leaders followed too blindly?" The author makes a strong case for this though, without being too forceful. The love scenes were, once again, detailed and believable. They were the perfect blend of romance and steam. The reader can tell the characters really love each other, this can be a rarity in romance novels. The concept of a "Boogeyman" in a novel with romance may appear a little strange, but it worked perfectly. The Boogeyman represented the unknown rather than the scary guy in your closet.



The ending was perfect for the novel, the reader will be satisfied. The author writes very fluidly, the only complaint a reader could make would be that there could have been slightly less detail. This book was very enjoyable and adults/young adults will enjoy this novel.

[Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews* · Rating 1 out of 5]

In A Celandine World is a fantasy romance written by Catherine Thrope. I read this as a R2R with Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics! A special thank you to the mods and the author for allowing me to participate.

Review
I went into the book thinking it was one thing and it turns out to be a completely different experience then expected. And I have to say, it just wasn't for me. The book blurb leads you to believe this novel to be a paranormal type mystery when instead, I found it to be more of a book based on the inner ramblings in the POV of the main character, Willow, about beliefs, the contemplation of her sanity, reality and the possibility of magic and fairy folk. There was a story hidden in there as well but Willow spends the majority of the book wondering if the events around her are actually in her head and what this could mean for her own sanity and reality. The authors use of flowery imagery kept me reading. She has a poetic way with words for sure, but the story itself was confusing, leaving me stumbling over chapters trying to decipher what I had just read and where this story could possibly be going. It wasn't until the end that you understand the reason for everything and by that point I just didn't care. I wish there had been better, more discernible clues hidden in the mystery of the book. The characters were just as mysterious and confusing as the story and I didn't understand their point until the end.

This just wasn't my typical type of read so I may be judging to harshly, but I just couldn't get into the story. I assume by the ending of this novel there will be a second book but I probably wont pick it up.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the best stories I've read in a long time. It was like reading what would happen if Dan Brown got in to bed with Alice in Wonderland. Easy-paced, well-written, full of refreshingly unique ideas. I was swept up into the world the author created and I had trouble putting it down. The characters were charming and jumped out of the pages with real-life fascinating personality. (Jack Willoughby is my kind of guy.) The entire story was so engaging and thought-provoking that I'm eager to read the follow-up books. There are follow-up books coming, right? RIGHT? In a Celandine World

[Wayne Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read

I had trouble putting it down, a completely new perspective on life and death. A cross between Dan Brown and Jayne Austin.

The characters came to life for me and I felt like I was there, a part of the story.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a romantic at heart, or believes that life still holds some magic.

[Tawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this book 3 stars, which is as objective that I can be because, personally, I didn't so much like it.

The Story
I thought the synopsis of this story was way off base, so here is what I think it's about. This is a faith based book, not faith in the traditional sense, God and Hell, but faith nonetheless. Willow is the main character and ever since she was a child she has felt a presence with her, her parents said it was the bogeyman when she was a child and then thought she was crazy with keeping an imaginary friend as she grew up. Willow is now 22 and has moved from Chicago to England and a small cottage so that she can pursue Boon (her childhood boogeyman, though he was never scary and always loving, so not really the boogeyman). Once there she meets Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby and Hugh, these people eventually show her what Truth is and what the Truth is behind her love for Boon and the Truth about mankind.

Likes
--The reason for the 3 star rating, objectively: the writing flowed well, was crazy descriptive and you knew EXACTLY what to picture, the author had a point and plot that was explained and understandable
--Hugh, as soon as he was introduced into the book I wanted to read all of the parts with him in it.
--The old Victorian way that Hugh spoke.

Dislikes
These are all personal reasons:
--The synopsis was completely misleading or at least I took it wrong, I thought there was going to bee a fight for love and truth and blah blah, some paranormal aspect going on, Urban Fantasy, excitement. NO...no excitement what-so-ever...none. This was a book about a girl and her faith in herself and mankind. It was paranormal/urban fantasy in the way God and Jesus are. Which is to say, to some people not at all and to others completely.
--It’s way way too descriptive. I’m skimming over two or three paragraphs at a time because I just don’t care how green the grass is, or the fact that the ground was sun warmed and the butterflies flew past the window. It makes for the beginning of the book to be very slow and I just want the story to start already.
--The way the author wrote Mr. Willoughby’s accent. It was too hard to read, I don’t think the accent needed to be pronounced in every other word he spoke. A couple accented spelled words and I can imagine the accent in my head from there. Half the time I had to read the damn things he’s saaid two or three times to understand what the heck he said and it pissed me off.
--I understand that the concept of her connection to Boon is hard for her to explain to family; however it shouldn’t be hard for the reader to understand. It sounded confusing and I didn’t get it either.
--Boon, I didn't care for him...never got attached to him as a character wish he woulda been Arthur and Hugh woulda been Lancelot
--WTF Hugh was Judas? that pissed me off, not in the religious fact what-so-ever, but really? that's who the author chose him to be??? someone who killed himself (for, in this story, doing what was asked of him) and then becoming a gardener who found his True love only to not be able to be with her and now he's lost and waiting on Earth (well in Avalon) for his love to return? what??? WHAT THE HELL??? I didn't get it and didn't understand it. This pissed me off sooooo royally too because he was my fav character. Could have at least also made him be Arthur, no?
--When we finally get the answers to our questions about what the heck is going on, it is in one gi-freakin-normous info dump. Like a chapter and a half long info dump!!! bleh..
--Didn't like the ending at all

Conclusion
I have no idea. I would not recommend this book to anyone that I know in real life. It is a very slow paced book. Three stars based on the flow of the writing, the fact that the characters were developed with back stories, the world building and descriptive writing style (though that's not my cup of tea).

[Bonnie Lamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willow Jane knew that she was different from everyone else. Since she was a child, her parents have worried for her sanity, and so has she. But crazy or not, Willow has always known without a doubt that she loved the man that came to her in her dreams. Now an adult, it’s time to figure out the truth about who he is. Moving to a small cottage in England, she is suddenly amongst people who may be crazier than she is. Can she trust anyone in the village with her secrets? How do the Willoughby’s, the village butcher and his wife who have taken her under their wing, fit into the world of her dreams? And then there’s the mysterious gardener who no one seems to see but her. Will the answers she seeks put her in danger of losing more than her sanity?
In a Celandine World, Catherine Thorpe challenges some of human kind’s most basic religious beliefs. What if the religious leaders of the world have been intentionally misleading people? What if they hid the truth in order to further their own power? This fear is as old as religion itself. Once the pagan religions that worshipped and respected the earth and its people were wiped out, religion often brought with it battles of power as witnessed by the history of the Romans and Christians, the Christians and the Jews and Muslims, the Holy Crusades, and even the battle between science and religion. The list goes on and on. Catherine Thorpe does an excellent job in her book of arguing the point of view of her characters and making the reader feel the truth of their beliefs.
I will be honest and say that I only truly began to enjoy the book about two thirds of the way through. Catherine Thorpe is an excellent writer and is able to paint a clear picture of details and the internal turmoil of her characters. But what was difficult for me during the first two thirds of the book was that the majority of the writing was focused almost exclusively on describing these things, to the point where I almost did not continue to read the book as it was not moving forward in plot. No matter how well written, too much detail can be as detrimental to a book as too little. The same can be said for creating mystery. A reader’s curiosity and interest can waver if the plot does not move along at a steady pace. How much is too much or too little information will always be based on personal opinion, but in mine, I feel the book would have been better served with the ‘less is more’ philosophy in detail and a healthier dose of progress in the earlier parts of the book.
That being said, once the book finally started to come together and the pace picked up, I was glad I kept reading. The characters became much more engaging and the story kept me turning the pages way after my bedtime to finish the book. If the first two thirds of the book had been written as the last third, not finishing the book would never have crossed my mind.
I received a review copy of this book. I give it three stars.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willow Jane has felt the presence of Boon since childhood, but everyone else thinks she should have grown out of her imaginary friend by now. Instead she’s drawn closer to him till she feels she’s in love or going mad. In an attempt to find out which she buys a cottage in a small English village where she can be alone with her musical and artistic muses.

Author Catherine Thorpe conveys that dislocation of a foreigner abroad very well, though the meticulously rendered Wiltshire dialect is sometimes hard to read or hear in the mind. I found myself puzzling through a world of estates and multiple manors, but soon the magical aspects of the story take over—statues, obelisks, sunshine and flowers. Is the celandine a poppy, and are we drugged to sleep?

Willow’s mystery man reveals himself through dreams, introspection and visions. The story stretches in enchanted sun till it encompasses history, symbol, myth and ancient manuscripts. Willow’s rejection of established faith is finally brought to fruit in a whole new world-view with some surprising mystic revelations. And the concept of name being less than self is very nicely drawn.

Not a novel for those who prefer more established documents of faith, science and history, In a Celandine World presents a fascinating search for an intriguingly powerful love, with shades of Alice’s rabbit-hole guiding the path.



Disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willow Jane is a talented artist known for her paintings and her eccentricity. She doesn’t have friends which could be attributed to her fiery temper and quick mouth. Since her childhood she has grown to love the presence of someone she cannot see whom she calls Boon. Recently, she started hearing his voice. While her parents have paid for the best therapist to help her on-going imagination but nothing has helped.

She set off to live in a small English village, where she meets an elderly couple whom she has grown fond of. They are fundamental in her journey to find herself and learn more about Boon. She realizes that many things she sees are clues; such as the statues, charm bracelets, the weather and gardens.

Willow’s Professor shows her painting to a colleague whose feedback and praise leaves her ecstatic. What she doesn’t know is that her painting was like a red alert. Others are now aware that she might be the key to a puzzle no one has been able to decipher. Now she faces another problem when all she wanted was to find a way to be with the man she calls Boon.

I gave this book three stars because it wasn’t my cup of tea but I know many others that would enjoy it. It was TOO descriptive and informative for me and trying to understand the dialect of the store owner took away from me trying to get into a flow with the book. I must admit the story is very unique and different from any book out there.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** I recieved this book free from a Goodreads giveaway ***

This was a terrific book! The jacket description is completely misleading; from it I was expecting some type of horror book, or at least something strange and convoluted. This was nothing like that. This was a book about fate, destiny, souls and the impact of man; a thoughtful story about humanity and our potential fate. I loved the main character, an old soul trying to live in a world full of too many new souls. I will keep this book and definitely read it again.

This book made me think about something I saw on TV. A university has installed random number generators at various universities around the world. They are monitoring those generators and have found that BEFORE cataclysmic events occur the generators stop generating random numbers and start generating less than random numbers. They are starting to believe that humanity does have a collective conscience and that our energy is somehow responding to the negative energy building up. I believe this book was addressing that exact same theory with really dire outcomes.

[Sangita · Rating 3 out of 5]

*received a copy for a honest review

Willoow Jane has a secret. She can see Boon. Ever since she was little he has always been there. Now, that she is thirty three she's going to look for answers.

I have got to say that In a Celandiene World was outside the box of what i read. Although, it does have some really good things to it that i really like about it!

Firstly, i would say that Catherine's writing is so comfortable. You can slip right into the story anytime you like. And the first sentence just drags you in:

"In third grade, i was punched so hard in the face i thought i saw god"

Next, i also loved the Alice In Wonderland quotes that come up in the story. It fits perfectly into the story!

However, it also had some down sides to it. For example, there wasn't much thrill. In addition, it wasn't really my type of cup of tea. So, finally, i have come to desicion that i will give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Read 2 Review for allowing me to read this book for a review. It's quite interesting. There were several twists and turns and I was quite surprised with the ending with this book. I was totally shocked how they've put so much history and well know "names" and they all fit together. I have to say that was my favorite part. I was a little sad for the main character as she seemed to have quite a hard life. and when they people you love the most won't believe you or help you, and make you think you're crazy, it can make life miserable. I love the supporting characters, especially the Willoughby's!! I just love them :) This is an interesting concept of paranormal romance with mystery included. There is some magical landscapes and interesting things going on. If you like a sweet, fairy-tale type paranormal romance. This one is for you :) 3.5 PAWS!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard one to review. I thought the story was original and interesting blending magic and religion. The pace could have been better. I think the main reason I'm not totally thrown and in love with this is because the extreme everlasting love story told is not as believable to me part of it is I had a hard time picturing willow maybe I just missed the descriptions . I know boon is sexy but I want to feel more from them. I loved betts and her husband and I will admit i wouldn't mind reading the next installment ! Overall a great read!

[Steph Bennion · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued by other Goodreads reviews enough to give this a try. The first half of the book was exactly as I expected - a nice rambling tale of a young girl trying to 'find herself' and perhaps get a grip on her sanity - and if the book had continued in that vein I would have rated it higher. However, the second half veered too far into dodgy spiritual fantasy territory that felt contrived at best (Arthurian lore is complex and I felt it didn't sit well with this story). However, there's some good descriptive passages in this and it's certainly different.

[Liane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished my second read through this story. I found myself there with Willow through Catherine Thorpe's beautiful writing of the cottage, countryside and gardens. I came to care for Willow and wanted her to find the peace and answers she so deserves, and what answers they were. This story is a page turner that will have you asking questions throughout and be totally satisfied with the outcome! Thanks Catherine, I am hoping for another Willow story in the future!

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful piece of work that manages to mix Celtic myth-lore, religious thought, with Arthurian legends and Lewis Carroll, the Voyevich Manuscript and a smattering of quantum mechanics and present a fascinating tale of paranormal love. I envy those who will be picking this work up for the first time. It is a truly wonderful piece of writing and one that I found quite difficult to put down. It blows the mind!

[Amos Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was refreshingly different. The blurb gives very little away and as I started to read I found myself falling deeper and deeper into into the surreal world the author had created. I usually develop some theory as to which direction a story is going quite early on but with this book I was kept guessing right up until the end. An enjoyable read that I would recommend.

[Brenda Mccrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! I love the character descriptions and the humor, the writing was just wonderful! Willow seemed so complex; smart, confident yet insecure, funny...she just seemed so real to me. Great book!

[Shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all. This is not something I would choose to read in any way shape or form. Others may like it if it is what they like to read. Writing style was good but that is about all.

[Crystal Joxertd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still have so many questions. This didn't really satisfy the mystery.

[Suzie]

Weird but I'm intrigued....

[Seh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't really know what to say apart from that I did not get into this book. I was expecting much more but it didn't succeed in attracting my attention.