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Gull's Landing #2
The Garden Guild
From a USA Today bestselling author, comes a story about three women, one small-town rumor, and a gardening project that's not for the faint of heart.
Lillian Gulch's husband died, and she’s ready to be something more than a small-town widow. So, she turns to the only friends she knows: a gardening club she joined years before. The only problem? They think she had something to do with her husband’s death.
Betsy Borden is a forty-something who happens to be Gull’s Landing’s most prolific, single socialite. But if she can’t find a way to make friendships (much less relationships) that last, then she’s destined to be nothing more than a gossipy spinster forever.
Emily Addams is twenty years old and twice divorced. Now, she is truly ready to start fresh, and the idyllic boardwalk town of Gull’s Landing seems perfect. Until she learns that the grass is never greener. Even if the only job available is secretary at Second Street Mortuary.
Female friendships, romance, and mystery—The Garden Guild is a standalone women’s fiction that has it all. This heartwarming, quirky story follows three very different women with one common goal: to survive the rumor mill. The only way they can do it? If they stick together.
Each book in Gull’s Landing is a standalone women’s fiction. These novels are not written sequentially and can be read and enjoyed in any order.
The Summer Society
The Garden Guild
The Country Club
Lillian Gulch's husband died, and she’s ready to be something more than a small-town widow. So, she turns to the only friends she knows: a gardening club she joined years before. The only problem? They think she had something to do with her husband’s death.
Betsy Borden is a forty-something who happens to be Gull’s Landing’s most prolific, single socialite. But if she can’t find a way to make friendships (much less relationships) that last, then she’s destined to be nothing more than a gossipy spinster forever.
Emily Addams is twenty years old and twice divorced. Now, she is truly ready to start fresh, and the idyllic boardwalk town of Gull’s Landing seems perfect. Until she learns that the grass is never greener. Even if the only job available is secretary at Second Street Mortuary.
Female friendships, romance, and mystery—The Garden Guild is a standalone women’s fiction that has it all. This heartwarming, quirky story follows three very different women with one common goal: to survive the rumor mill. The only way they can do it? If they stick together.
Each book in Gull’s Landing is a standalone women’s fiction. These novels are not written sequentially and can be read and enjoyed in any order.
The Summer Society
The Garden Guild
The Country Club
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2020
180 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Bromke
57 books226 followersElizabeth Bromke writes women's fiction and heartwarming romance. In her stories, she weaves together family dynamics and the triumphs and trials of modern relationships. Echoes of the past flavor her books with nostalgia.
Elizabeth lives in the mountains of Arizona. There, she enjoys walking, reading, and cooking with her husband, son, and their sweet Golden-mix, Winnie.
Elizabeth lives in the mountains of Arizona. There, she enjoys walking, reading, and cooking with her husband, son, and their sweet Golden-mix, Winnie.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 26, 2020
What do Lillian Gulch, newly widowed, Betsy Borden, a never married forty-something socialite, and Emily Addams, a twice divorced twenty year old who's new to Gull's Landing have in common? Nothing until the Garden Guild brings them together.
Although I don't have much in common with the three women in the story, I loved them all the same. I loved how they came together as each of them was starting over in different ways. Lillian (or Lil) didn't just want to be a lonely widow, Betsy had just sold her business and retired, and Emily was new to town and trying to get her life together and not make the same mistakes she'd made in the past. I liked how their lives interconnected--Emily worked at the funeral home that buried Lil's husband.
In addition to the main three women, there's Betsy's feisty mother, plus Norman, who owns the town's mortuary and his ailing mother. I loved how these people came to view one another as family and spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together. I love how they banded together to help Norman save his mortuary when another townsperson wanted to build another cemetery in the small town. I cheered when they helped Emily fight back when her soon-to-be ex-husband tracked her down, refused to sign the divorce papers and demanded she return "home". I enjoyed watching the transformation of the Garden Guild go from a monthly luncheon and gossip meeting and become a true garden club where the members plant flowers and help beautify their town.
Elizabeth Bromke weaves a story connecting all of these characters and makes the reader care about Norman and his mortuary, worry about Emily getting her divorce and root for Lil and her blossoming feelings for Norman. You'll laugh, cry and worry over the people in the small town of Gull's Landing.
I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Although I don't have much in common with the three women in the story, I loved them all the same. I loved how they came together as each of them was starting over in different ways. Lillian (or Lil) didn't just want to be a lonely widow, Betsy had just sold her business and retired, and Emily was new to town and trying to get her life together and not make the same mistakes she'd made in the past. I liked how their lives interconnected--Emily worked at the funeral home that buried Lil's husband.
In addition to the main three women, there's Betsy's feisty mother, plus Norman, who owns the town's mortuary and his ailing mother. I loved how these people came to view one another as family and spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together. I love how they banded together to help Norman save his mortuary when another townsperson wanted to build another cemetery in the small town. I cheered when they helped Emily fight back when her soon-to-be ex-husband tracked her down, refused to sign the divorce papers and demanded she return "home". I enjoyed watching the transformation of the Garden Guild go from a monthly luncheon and gossip meeting and become a true garden club where the members plant flowers and help beautify their town.
Elizabeth Bromke weaves a story connecting all of these characters and makes the reader care about Norman and his mortuary, worry about Emily getting her divorce and root for Lil and her blossoming feelings for Norman. You'll laugh, cry and worry over the people in the small town of Gull's Landing.
I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
October 24, 2020
This is a great story of friendship between three women, Lillian Gulch, who lost her husband, Betsy Borden, the single socialite and Emily Addams, the youngest and twice divorced. Their connection was The Garden Guild, a private club in Gull's landing. They all worked together to make the new cemetery in town a beautiful place with flowers and plants. Throw in a little romance, some mystery and growing friendships and you have a wonderful story. You will enjoy this sweet book. I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
October 20, 2020
Country clubs, garden clubs, and linen slacks are not really my thing, so I had a hard time connecting to the story......at first. However I have never had the problem of connecting with Elizabeth Bromke's characters. They are beautifully flawed and so relatable. They're like old friends that you have forgotten that you had only to rediscover them. It's for that reason I became enthralled in the story of these four women's lives. I laughed and, par for the course with Bromke's books, I shed a tear or three or five or ten. I fell in love with these ladies and the people that love them and I found myself fully invested in what was on the next page. I flew through this book and I'm anxiously awaiting book 2.
October 15, 2020
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Elizabeth Bromke, and this is my voluntary and honest review. This book started out slow but I enjoyed it as the story built and the the characters came to life and became true friends. The Garden Guild was a private club in Gull's Landing that had seen better days until Betsy who sold her business and retired at the age of 40 needed something better to do with her life. She took over the club and invited a newcomer, Emily, and a recently widowed, Lil, to join the group. In the end they all became close friends and became a charitable club that made a new cemetery into a showcase with beautiful plants. I recommend this book for a one that makes you feel good and makes you want to nurture friends that you have.
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October 14, 2020The is a sweet story of women of different ages and backgrounds that meet and become great friends, Lil, Betsy and Emily. Lil’s husband dies and a rumor that she had something to do with his death.; Betsy finds out her dad was not really her dad and Emily who is only 20 but has been married twice and her last husband refused to sign the divorce paperwork.
Lil, Betsy and Emily belong to the Garden Guild and have each other’s back. This is a warm fuzzy page turner that keeps you reading as the author weaves the ladies personal lives together as they reside in a small coastal town.
I received this ARC for free from the author via Bookfunnel and this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
Lil, Betsy and Emily belong to the Garden Guild and have each other’s back. This is a warm fuzzy page turner that keeps you reading as the author weaves the ladies personal lives together as they reside in a small coastal town.
I received this ARC for free from the author via Bookfunnel and this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
October 14, 2020
Part of the A Gull's Landing Novel series a well written story with a very good storyline the story flowed smoothly across the pages. A group of women, widow Lillian Gulch, single socialite Betsy Borden and Emily Addams is twenty years old and twice divorced meet and are able to help each other when they need it. A story of Female friendships, romance, and mystery. I enjoyed reading this story. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 11, 2020
Women of Differing Ages are Friends in Gardening
This is a warm and clean story about a group of women in differing stages of life finding friends, healing, and growth in each other. I really enjoy these pieces of women's fiction that include more mature women. Partially it is because I am in the last third of my life. Mostly because I have seen so much of this and relive it through the words of good writers like Elizabeth Bromke. She weaves this story so well! In the end, all of the threads are woven into a beautiful tapestry of life in a small coastal town. I received this ARC book for free from the author and this is my honest review.
This is a warm and clean story about a group of women in differing stages of life finding friends, healing, and growth in each other. I really enjoy these pieces of women's fiction that include more mature women. Partially it is because I am in the last third of my life. Mostly because I have seen so much of this and relive it through the words of good writers like Elizabeth Bromke. She weaves this story so well! In the end, all of the threads are woven into a beautiful tapestry of life in a small coastal town. I received this ARC book for free from the author and this is my honest review.
October 13, 2020
Women from three generations become close friends after two of them join a garden club. A little slower than usual for me but still, an interesting story. Who doesn't need friends? Don't we all feel better with friends to support us. So glad they were so nice to the new young lady and made her feel welcome. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Get ready for a warm fuzzy feeling.
March 23, 2026
Three very different women become close friends, their only connection is the Gardening Club, which is more a social gathering than gardening discussions. Newly retired Betsy takes over the ailing Gardening Guild and persuades recently widowed Liv and twenty year old Emily to join her. Together they form a close friendship despite their very different backgrounds and ages.
This unusual plot centres around the local mortuary, who's business is threatened when the town receives a planning proposal for a second, and unnecessary, mortuary and cemetery to be built. Betsy, Liv and Emily join forces with Norman, the owner of Second Street Mortuary, to oppose the plan. Together they discover a way to expand the existing cemetery and, using their gardening expertise, design a memorial garden of calm beauty.
A delightful story of friendship.
With thanks to the author, Elizabeth Bromke for supplying me with an ARC of this book. My review is unbiased and entirely my own opinion.
This unusual plot centres around the local mortuary, who's business is threatened when the town receives a planning proposal for a second, and unnecessary, mortuary and cemetery to be built. Betsy, Liv and Emily join forces with Norman, the owner of Second Street Mortuary, to oppose the plan. Together they discover a way to expand the existing cemetery and, using their gardening expertise, design a memorial garden of calm beauty.
A delightful story of friendship.
With thanks to the author, Elizabeth Bromke for supplying me with an ARC of this book. My review is unbiased and entirely my own opinion.
October 16, 2020
Lillian Gulch just lost her husband to illness and subsequent death.
Betsy Borden recently retired and needs something to occupy her time.
Emily Addams is running from her second failed marriage in as many years.
All three are learning an important lesson: Change is hard, but it's easier to cope when surrounded by friends and given purpose. That's exactly what Lil, Betsy, and Emily find in the Garden Guild.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mild small town drama with even milder romance thrown into the mix. Bromke provides a "slice of life" look at three women of Gull's Landing in the 80s.
Content: clean; some implications of infidelity.
Language: mild profanity.
Betsy Borden recently retired and needs something to occupy her time.
Emily Addams is running from her second failed marriage in as many years.
All three are learning an important lesson: Change is hard, but it's easier to cope when surrounded by friends and given purpose. That's exactly what Lil, Betsy, and Emily find in the Garden Guild.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A mild small town drama with even milder romance thrown into the mix. Bromke provides a "slice of life" look at three women of Gull's Landing in the 80s.
Content: clean; some implications of infidelity.
Language: mild profanity.
October 16, 2020
This is a well written book that was an absolute joy to read. It's a clean heartwarming read that will keep you turning the pages. I hated to see this book end. I received a complimentary copy and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own
October 14, 2020
This book won me over. I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was fantastic and the characters made this story seem so real. Loved it.
November 17, 2020
I've loved all the other books I've read but this one just fell flat for me and I couldn't get into it. DNF, stopped at 60% read
September 21, 2022
Great read
This is the story of four women who come to rescue the local funeral home when it is threatened by a possible competitor. And it is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. I really enjoyed it.
This is the story of four women who come to rescue the local funeral home when it is threatened by a possible competitor. And it is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews