Forbidden Garden

by Tracy Fobes

Anne Sherwood has made her life into a safe, orderly garden. She draws the plants of London's famous Kew Gardens, an entirely suitable occupation for a widowed lady in Queen Victoria's England. Then a compelling invitation takes her to Ireland, to sketch a recently discovered tree...a golden sapling with unusual qualities and even more mysterious origins. Determined to learn more, Anne finds herself confronting Michael McEvoy, an enigmatic figure who prefers the lonliness of the wild to society and its entrapments.

Michael's heart beats to the rhythm of the land. The ebb and flow of the seasons and the cadence are his calendar and clock. When the prim Englishwoman arrives, he is stunned to discover her conventional exterior hides a kindred spirit, one as sensitive as he to growing things...his perfect mate. But, as much as he longs to make her his, they must first expose the origin's of the sapling and the dangerous corruption of nature that it represents...

Genres: Romance, Historical, Paranormal Romance

401 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Tracy Fobes writes historical, contemporary and paranormal romance; as well as in the horror/thriller genres. She’s been writing fiction in various genres for twenty years and has won numerous awards for her writing.

Tracy also writes contemporary and historical erotic romance novels under the pen name Georgina Sand.

Reviews

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widowed and robbed of scientific credit by her death husband, the heroine wants nothing more than to be recognized in the scientific community. In order to achieve this, she dulls her feminine appearance, wearing ugly dresses and denying herself womanly desires. But she keeps her secret love of flashy and sexy undergarments to herself. She's hired by a few scientists to document his expansive plant collection and helping her, is the mysterious and handsome hero. He's an adventurer, traveling all over the world to bring back rare plant life to Ireland. He's charming, animistic and more in touch with the forest around him then his fellow humans. As a boy, he spent five years in the woods and as a result he's very much a hippy with his love of nature. Together they try to figure out mysterious noises in the forest and discover grotesque plant life that results of experimentation as they struggle to understand their feelings for each other.

Let me start by saying this book seriously creeped me out. It has a mood about it, that keeps you on edge and gives you a healthy fear of plants. I loved how the characters were with each other. The heroine started out as a prude who never really got to experience desire or passion before meeting the hero and instantly she knows he's changed her life forever. The hero is a man’s man despite his being one with nature. He's immediately fascinated by the heroine who's a study in contradictions. They sleep together one night is a fit of passion but immediately after, they grow distant as they mull over how to take their connect and what it means for the future. It takes some time for the hero is come to grips with the fact he can no longer stand the idea of being alone. I really liked this book. It has action, a lot of passion (especially the second sex scene in the woods by the stream with the flower peddle) and a healthy dose of mystery.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book as a Birthday present from my two girls who bought it with their own money...we are reading it for our book club and so far I find it quite pleasant to read. Just wish I had more time to read!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice romance, with an interesting plot line...