The French Gardener by Santa Montefiore
8.5/10 (That's a high rating for me!) Two intertwining love stories, backed by two more love stories. One French gardener. First the young Frenchman is sent to work in England when he seems to be frittering his life away. He does not want to take over the vineyard as his father dictates, so this seems to be an acceptable alternative. In England the lady of the estate teaches him about gardening. Between them, they create a beauty to behold. He got to express his artistic side, painting and planting. There begins one love story. But she already is happily married with a family. Eventually he is called home to France where he doesn't want to be, but duty calls. Many years later he can escape those responsibilities for awhile and he returns to find his first love. In the meantime the original owners of the English estate have moved away, the love he waited for is gone, the gardens he created have deteriorated into a memory of greatness. The new lady of the house, a city gal, is overwhelmed trying to acclimate to a country estate, troubled children, a mostly absent husband, and a career as a writer. Now he is the teacher of gardening and a new love story begins. The plot keeps changing time periods back and forth which was confusing at the beginning, even though chapters are marked. This author doesn't disappoint.
Read in March of 2021.
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