The Garden

Lavender Shores, Book 2

By: Rosalind Abel

Narrated by: Kirt Graves

Beautiful Gilbert Bryant designs jewelry for the rich and famous, and he made his escape from his gossipy little hometown of Lavender Shores. However, with so many friends and family, he keeps getting pulled back. When he attends his best friend’s engagement party, Gilbert can’t help but sample one of the new men in town. It’s just some innocent—or not so innocent—fun. Nothing that will even cross his mind once he gets back to his everyday life.

Walden Thompson dreamed about living in Lavender Shores since he visited as a child. He finally gets his chance, and he embraces the opportunity to start over, to become someone new. He leaves both hurts and dangerous habits in the past, where they belong. When Gilbert crosses his path, Walden gives in to his baser instincts. He can indulge in the carnal pleasures this once and still be okay. Their few hours together haunt Gilbert, the two-hundred-mile buffer from home no longer shutting out the past or the sexy man he left behind. Walden is just beginning to recover from the smoldering encounter with Gilbert when they are thrust together once more. This time, neither of them can walk away, no matter how hard they try. But when their pasts crash into each other as surely as the magnetism that pulls them together, walking away may be the only option.

©2017 Wings of Ink Publications, LLC (P)2017 Wings of Ink Publications, LLC

Hardcore sex mixed with sweet romance

It's unusual that a sweet romantic gay love story is combined with hardcore, kinky sex. I loved it. Such naughty, naughty boys bring the piquancy to a genre that can sometimes be a very predictable. The two beautifully created, charming, lovable, main characters overcome sad backgrounds by discovering that they are worthy of each others love. My twisted imagination was titillated by the unusual sexual taste of Gilbert and Walden. (Love the nerdy names) They certainly opened my eyes when they first discovered each other. I couldn't stop listening. Kirt Graves is a wonderfully calm narrator and never over acts. He gives just enough distinction to the different voices to easily know who's speaking.

Two Wounded Souls find each other

This is my fourth visit to Lavender Shores because I’ve been reading/listening to them out of order. So if you’re in the same situation, no worries. This book picks up after Book One with Andrew and Joel celebrating their engagement.

Gilbert is very close to Andrew, so he leaves his home and jewelry business in Tahoe for a few days and heads to his hometown of Lavender Shores. He plans to keep this visit as short as possible, because unlike Andrew, he has no desire to stay or, in his case, come back. Lavender Shores is a gay-friendly community where people are embraced and loved for who they are, not who they are attracted to. For good reason, however, Gilbert has tried to put the town in his rearview mirror. But the love of family keeps drawing him back.

Walden is the opposite. He has chosen Lavender Shores specifically so he can feel safe and welcomed for the first time in his life.

The two men meet with a bang, of sorts, only to later discover they know all the same people and have, in fact, been invited to the same engagement party.

As with many of my favourite romances, Ms. Abel has created characters with flaws. Flaws the men believe would turn the other away from him if he knew the truth. Both men have serious incidents in their pasts that have shaped who they are today. Those pasts are slowly revealed because despite initial hurt feelings and apparent rejections, there is an undeniable draw between the two men. They have the ability to help heal each other – if they can get that far. Because although the initial attraction was physical – specific body parts – the connection is two wounded souls finding each other.

In the end, they are almost kept apart by their own belief of unworthiness. I will leave the story of the garden for you to discover, but it is another magical and enchanted place in Lavender Shores, much as the Palisades was. Another heaven on earth where one can be made whole again.

I’m a sucker for a character who has endured, survived, and is – even if he doesn’t know it – seeking redemption. I believe in the power of forgiveness. It is the reason I love Ms. Abel’s books.

Kirt Graves narrated this book as well as the first in the series and I’m glad. He does a good job, bringing the characters to life and making the listening enjoyable. I look forward to the next release, hopefully sometime soon.

Sweet and Poignant Second Chance Romance

Okay, is official ! I am hook, line and sinker 💖💜💚

The Garden is book 2 in the Lavender Shores series ; it tells the tale of Walton and Gilbert, two fractured and damaged souls; two individuals with a lot of emotional baggage and low self esteem . Two lovable and good men who deserve a second chance to love.

A compelling , poignant and romantic story with lots of hot AF , sexually explicit , smutty sexy times . And just like book 1 , it have also a delightful fairytale , magical quality to it.

Kirt Graves narration gave me all the feels. His emotional performance was well paced and natural. He transported me to Lavender Shores and Walton's magical garden.

This series seem to be written in a continuous time line as Joel and Andrew story from book 1 continues in this book; as well as, the first families and the town people lives are all integral part of the overall story arc. My point on this is , books should be listen in chronological order.

I enjoyed and was entertained by The Garden and I'm looking forward listening the next audiobook in the series.

3.5 Stars

The Garden is about two men with troubled pasts who aren't looking for, but both desperately need, someone special in their lives. Ultimately this is a sweet romance featuring a hookup that becomes a friends with benefits thing to something more.

The dual POV works beautifully here. There's a lovely thread of hurt/comfort throughout, and while there's lots of sex, it's supported through the characters getting to know one another...sometimes even when putting themselves out there makes them uncomfortable.

There is some humor that helps lighten the angst, and a lot of passion and emotion to the story that I wish were highlighted more in the narration.

Kirt Graves delivers a more subdued reading with different character voices, but only mild embellishment in tone to highlight some of the humor or passion.

In my opinion I think this audio will appeal more to those who prefer to have less "performance" or "acting" in their audiobooks.

Bottom line, this is a sweet and angsty romance with some humor, lots of hot sexy times, and a pretty awesome HEA.

Two broken men find love.

When you’ve been broken by life and feel unworthy of love finding a soul mate is unimaginable. Watching these two beautiful men fight their attraction until gradually lowering their walls made for a wonderful journey.
Kirt Graves is a superb voice actor who bought these gorgeous men and their friends and family to life.
A thoroughly enjoyable listen. Highly recommended.
Special mention goes out to the cover artist. The cover models were simple perfect for the characters!

Stunning Story

I loved the story when I first read it and didn't think that I could possibly appreciate it more, but I absolutely do.. Gilbert first catches your attention in the first page and doesn't leave you until the end, and both men stay with you
Gilbert and Walden, individually believe that their lives are as good as it can be and don't expect much more but they have surprises in store.
Walden has always wanted to live in Lavender Shores but never could he anticipate everything that Lavender Shores would be for him.
The wonderful thing about this presentation is that even if you have read the story, you will noticed so many wonderful details, emotions that just add so much more.
I so enjoyed spending time with these men again and I'm sure I will return to them in the future.

Loved the second half of this story

The Garden is #2 in the Lavender Shores series, but this story can easily be read as a standalone. It features the main characters from book 1, Andrew and Joel (their engagement party and wedding happens here), and also Gilbert, whose story is now told.

Both Gilbert and Walden have issues that keep them from committing to a relationship early in the story. Gilbert has been in therapy because of an incident that still haunts him. He’s done his best to avoid visiting Lavender Shores and the incessant gossips, but has returned to celebrate Andrew and Joel’s engagement.  We eventually find out what happened when he was sixteen and the guilt that still plagues him makes it difficult for him to enter into a relationship with anyone. He’s all about hookups and anonymous sex, which for me seemed to be entirely contradictory to his past. And this runs throughout the story, he feels guilty for his past actions yet he still behaves in a similar manner. He’s arrogant yet not confident enough to begin a relationship or go for what he wants.

Walden comes across as a geek, albeit a sexy one. He’s a new teacher in Lavender Shores and has his own heartbreaking past that he’s trying to forget and keep hidden, lest anyone should feel sorry for him. Once bitten, twice shy could be his motto.

Right from the start when these two hot guys meet, they are instantly attracted physically and have an intense hookup in a gym's steam room. And that’s fine. It’s just sex, or so they keep telling themselves. More hookups follow, along with a lot of internal reflection and doubting. The more they spend time together, the more their feelings get in the way. Instead of going with it, they try to avoid each other and what it could mean for them. And this I found quite frustrating, all the will they or won’t they as they give in and change their minds once again. This goes on for over half of the book. They don’t think they're good enough for each other or want to risk a chance of happiness.

They struggle with their pasts and these are gradually revealed as the story progresses. You can sort of understand why they behave the way they did. It didn’t quite work for me, I’m afraid.

I enjoyed the second half of the book much more, where they kind of work at being together and finally give it a go. They work through issues and doubts together. The Garden features in some of these scenes and is partly responsible for their healing. The story moves to a lovely HEA with a little angst thrown in from Walden’s ex.

The story was well written and it was great to have the dual point of view. The chemistry between these two characters is hot and explosive from the start, with plenty of sizzling scenes whenever they get together, whether they are talking, kissing, or making out.

Kirt Graves is new to me and, as always, it took me time to adjust to a new narrator. His voice is soft and steady, and I gradually came to like his style of storytelling. He created subtle differences in the characters’ voices and overall I enjoyed this audio version.

wow

I had such a fun time listening to this story. I loved the ebook but listening to it was so much better. The narrator really brought the story to life.

more complex than the first one.

It's review time 🎧

Narrator score🎧 ; Kirt is probably one of mine favorite narrator's ever. I don't have a bad word to say about his performance.

Level of steam🔥: if tool it's time but it happened. and it was hot, sweet and completely incredible. it will be there but you will have to wait.

Level of anxiety and sadness0😱😢: this book is more complicated than the first book in the series for sure. you had some sad moments and the slow realization and development of the MC could break your heart a little.... but it would be for the better eventually ....I don't think I cried per say but it was a bit sad

The book itself📖: this book is definitely more complicated than the first one. I don't want to make any spoilers but you have some very complicated MC will a lot of self blame involved. the book is still on the same kinda funny place and with the same theme as the first one but it's definitely different. and I liked it a lot.

A Very Good Story with Excellent Narration

While I haven’t read ‘The Garden’ (Lavender Shores # 2) by Rosalind Abel, I have to believe this version is hands down the better way to experience an introduction to the Lavender Shores.

In my mind at least, the credit for the audiobook being the better way to enjoy the Lavender Shores series belongs exclusively to Kirt Graves for his masterful narration.

Without Mr. Graves, the story simply would have been one scene of angst and doubt, followed by one scene of sex, followed by another scene of angst and doubt, and yet another scene of sex until the main characters, Gilbert Bryant, a jewelry designer and Walden Thompson, a school teacher, finally decide enough is enough and it’s time for their own personal happy ending.

Gilbert and Walden are actually wonderfully developed characters, each with his own painful past and each afraid to find true happiness with another man.

Ultimately, though, as the narrator says, ‘The Garden’ is a story of love and acceptance.