The Enchanted Garden Café

The South Side Stories, Book 1

By: Abigail Drake

Narrated by: Sarah Naughton

Something magical is happening, but will she be brave enough to see it?

For her sixth birthday, Fiona Campbell’s mother, Claire, made her a peace-sign piñata filled with wishes for a better planet instead of candy. When she got her period, her mother held a womanhood ceremony at their café and invited the neighborhood. On her 16th birthday, they celebrated with a drum circle.

Fiona grew up trying to keep the impulsive Claire in check and their struggling café afloat. She plans to move out, but first she must find a way to stop a big corporation from tearing down their business and destroying her mother’s livelihood. Claire thinks karma will solve their financial and legal problems. Fiona prefers a spreadsheet and a solid business plan. The last thing she has time for is Matthew Monroe, a handsome complication who walks through their door with a guitar on his back and a naughty gleam in his eye.

©2020 Abigail Drake, second edition (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Amazing audiobook!

I enjoyed this book very much and it’s a plus when the audio is also well done

Relationships between characters

Good story (if a little predictable) with interesting characters. Little holes in the plot here and there, but overall a good listen.

Loved the characters and the story

Abigail Drake strikes again what an enjoyable read!!! Loved the characters, the setting so fun to have it set in Pittsburgh and the fun storyline!!

Lovely story!

I really enjoyed the ambiance of the magical cafe and garden as well as the intricate sweet intoxicating love story of Fiona and Matthew. Kudos!

Fun and good listening book!

I really liked this book and the narration was great! All the characters were interesting and though there wasn’t really any surprise endings I still enjoyed it.

Highly recommend

Couldn’t stop listening. Great story with some fabulous twists, fun characters and a great narrator!

Should have had rewrites before publishing

Author has potential but really could use some help with character development and better editing. Sometimes the story was skipping around in ways that made no sense.

I couldn’t finish

After 7 hours, I finally gave up. It’s kind of boring. It’s a very interesting story concept but the main character needs to be developed more. She’s too mean and distrustful of “artsy” types when she was raised by them and none of them seem to have shown her any reason to give her that idea. You would think her obvious distrust would have influenced her mother to tell her paternity story sooner rather than at the peak of her confusion at 25.

Her blind spot for secure and perfect in a suit is pretty vapid. I get she’s young, but her emotional immature comments and internal dialogue made me eye roll way too much.

I stopped caring so I won’t finish it.