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Rosalind Abel
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The Garden (Lavender Shores Book 2) Kindle Edition

by Rosalind Abel (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 411 ratings
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.

(Now contains Lavender Shores maps and family trees.)
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  1. Book 2 of 9
    Lavender Shores
  2. Print length
    264 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    July 25, 2017
  6. File size
    10.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B072KT4PTD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wings of Ink Publications, LLC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 25, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 10.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 9 ‏ : ‎ Lavender Shores
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 411 ratings

About the author

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Rosalind Abel

Rosalind Abel

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Rosalind Abel grew up tending chickens along side her sweet and faithful Chow, Lord Elgin. While her fantasy of writing novels was born during her teen years, she never would have dreamed she’d one day publish steamy romances about gorgeous men. However, sometimes life turns out better than planned.

In between crafting scorching sex scenes and helping her men find their soul mate, Rosalind enjoys cooking, collecting toys, and making the best damn scrapbooks in the world (this claim hasn’t been proven, but she’s willing to put good money on it).

She adores MM Romance and the power it has to sweep the reader away into worlds filled with passion, steam, and love. Rosalind also enjoys her collection of plot bunnies, and welcomes new fuzzy ones in her home all the time, so feel free to send any adorable ones her way.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
411 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love this romance novel for its well-written story about finding true love, with strong character development and a marvelous Lavender Shores setting. The book features honest, messy emotions and intense drama, while maintaining a great balance between hot and steamy scenes. Customers praise the writing style, with one noting the author's wonderful talent with narration and dialog, and they appreciate the top-notch humor throughout the book.

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Story qualityCharacter developmentBeautyEmotional contentSteamy contentSeries qualityWriting styleHumor
29 customers mention "Story quality"29 positive0 negative

Customers love the story of finding true love in this book, with one customer describing it as a wonderfully written love story.

"...It also explains the origins of the town and its residents. With this second offering, I think this series will take its place among my favorites...." Read more

"...This is a story of finding true love, and for Walden, found family...." Read more

"...and finally allowing yourself to be happy, to be loved, and to love unconditionally. Oh, and there’s a wedding. Bring your tissues." Read more

"...Gilbert and Walden had an amazing story to tell us about how love is possible even after mistakes and that there can be a love match out there for us..." Read more

16 customers mention "Character development"16 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, with one noting the supporting cast is a hoot.

"...The characters are strongly written and I really became absorbed in their stories and emotional over their struggles...." Read more

"...These guys are each a productive and interesting person in their own right, each has been deeply hurt and has determined that they do not deserve..." Read more

"...is the opportunity to revisit familiar landscapes, check up on characters from previous stories, and see side characters develop into much more...." Read more

"...feelings and don't want to admit them - it was so real and true to their characters...." Read more

9 customers mention "Beauty"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one customer particularly appreciating the descriptions of nature and the marvelous Lavender Shores setting.

"...The Lavender Shores setting is marvelous, the small town personality encompassed in a LGBTQ friendly atmosphere, but still set firmly in the real..." Read more

"...Before I start this review, I have to call attention to this gorgeous cover...." Read more

"...This is another beautiful book in the series, all about breaking free of ones past once and for all, and finally allowing yourself to be happy, to..." Read more

"...The 'garden' was a beautiful visual of how both of these men kept trying to make their lives better piece by piece until they really were..." Read more

9 customers mention "Emotional content"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the emotional journey of the book, appreciating its honest and messy nature, with one customer noting that the sex scenes feel integrated rather than added as an afterthought.

"...Even better than book 1 for my tastes, there’s a deeper, more emotional storyline, given more impact by access to the MC’s inner dialogue, through..." Read more

"...This book was a great balance between sexy hot exchanges and honest messy emotions...." Read more

"...Gilbert and Walden each being such hurt flawed characters, they felt more real...." Read more

"...Full of hot super sexy moments, emotional scenes and hilarious banter!!..." Read more

8 customers mention "Steamy content"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the steamy content of the book, appreciating the hot and flirty exchanges between characters.

"...This book was a great balance between sexy hot exchanges and honest messy emotions...." Read more

"...Full of hot super sexy moments, emotional scenes and hilarious banter!!..." Read more

"...This second book in the Lavender Shores series is of course steamy, funny, and hopeful...." Read more

"...A good story, well written characters, some steamy sex, some angst to work through and ultimately a happily ever after - all the pieces needed for a..." Read more

7 customers mention "Series quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series quality, with one customer noting that it keeps getting better with each book.

"I'm really enjoying this series and was very happy to read Gilbert's story. I really loved his character in book one and I'm glad he got his HEA...." Read more

"I loved Gilbert and Walden from the beginning. What amazing and crazy journeys they had to find one another and heal." Read more

"...Wow, loved Gilbert and Walden, flaws and all.. This series keeps getting better and better, and so much hotter, lol!!..." Read more

"...This series is great. Wish I could travel to Lavender Shore." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing style"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing style of the book, with one noting the author's wonderful talent with narration and dialog, while another mentions it can be read as a standalone.

"...This is the sign of a great writer: you know it's supposed to be a romance, presumably with a happy ending, yet, Rosalind Abel (aka Brandon Witt)..." Read more

"...The pacing of the book was so well done and it is so well written. The story just flows and you feel immersed in their feelings and world...." Read more

"...The author has a wonderful talent with both narration and dialog, so this is a very readable novel and a wonderful addition to the Lavender Shores..." Read more

"...I really enjoy the writing style. The characters were likable but not perfect...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book.

"...Full of hot super sexy moments, emotional scenes and hilarious banter!!..." Read more

"...This second book in the Lavender Shores series is of course steamy, funny, and hopeful...." Read more

"I simply cannot get enough of these families. I love them and the humor is top notch. You will not be disappointed." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Misanthropic
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gilbert and Walden forever!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I just fell more in love with Lavender Shores! Even better than book 1 for my tastes, there’s a deeper, more emotional storyline, given more impact by access to the MC’s inner dialogue, through alternating POV’s.

    Gilbert is Andrew’s best friend and owned the cabin Andrew and Joel bought. So it’s already known that something in his past keeps him away from Lavender. He sees Walden at the gym, while visiting Andrew, and they hook up, against Walden’s better instincts. But neither is looking for more and part ways easily at first. Yet they each felt a connection and after hooking up again unexpectedly, they can’t forget each other.

    It’s hurt/comfort times two, with a layer of angst and Rosalind Abel wrote this just the way I like. Both men have painful episodes in their past, although Gilbert has had the worst repercussions. And while they don’t share every detail right away, they don’t keep their troubles secret from each other or hide the way it’s affected their current views on relationships. The characters are strongly written and I really became absorbed in their stories and emotional over their struggles. There’s the addition of a new secondary character, Donovan, who is Gilbert’s therapist, and the return of most characters from book 1. The Lavender Shores setting is marvelous, the small town personality encompassed in a LGBTQ friendly atmosphere, but still set firmly in the real world; a haven but not a utopia.

    It can be read as a standalone story but I’d hate for anyone to miss the first romantic story of Andrew and Joel. It also explains the origins of the town and its residents. With this second offering, I think this series will take its place among my favorites. Can’t wait for the next installment and Donovan’s story!

    *An ARC was also provided to me by the author, via Hearts On Fire Reviews, for the purpose of an honest review*
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Carol
    4.0 out of 5 stars "I will always choose you."
    Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    The Garden is book two in the Lavender Shores series by Rosalind Abel. Before I start this review, I have to call attention to this gorgeous cover. I think I could have just gazed at it for a few hours without even reading the book. Maybe I did! And I loved having these images in my head while reading about these two.

    We met Gilbert Bryant in the first book of the series as Andrew’s best friend with so many secrets. Now it’s his turn to get his story. Gilbert is a jewelry designer for the rich and famous and lives near Lake Tahoe. He doesn’t visit his family in Lavender Shores as often as he should. There are memories here that he’d rather not revisit, things some of the town’s people won’t let him forget. But when he’s in town for Andrew’s engagement party, and he’s at the gym, a chance encounter leads to one of the hottest hook ups of his life. It was supposed to be one time only. But forgetting that night has been impossible. Then when back in town for Andrew’s wedding, everything changes.

    Walden Thompson is twenty six years old and is a high school biology teacher in Lavender Shores. Living in this beautiful little town has been his dream all his life and he’s finally made it come true. He has found the perfect little house and created it into a peaceful home with a garden he created himself. A refuge, because he also has secrets, pain in his past that he can’t let go of. The one night he allows himself with Gilbert wasn’t supposed to ever happen again. But when they see each other again, they can’t stay away from each other.

    Both Gilbert and Walden have so much pain and neither has been able to deal with it or get past it. But when they are together, somehow it fades. They both feel the rightness of being together, something neither of them ever expected. But will they be brave enough to take that last step and leave their pasts behind?

    This is a story of finding true love, and for Walden, found family. I loved the way they found each other and how they were able to help each other finally move forward. I didn’t enjoy the sex scenes as much in this book. For me it kind of took something away from their romance. But that’s just on me. The next book in the series is book three, The Veranda, which is Donovan’s book. I can’t wait to read it.

    “I will always choose you.”
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  • Michael E Lorigan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome back to Lavender Shores
    Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Welcome back to Lavender Shores. Glad you could make it.
    If this is your first visit, don’t worry, we’ll get you caught up on all of the small town gossip. Unfortunately, if you’re Gilbert, you may be the topic of said gossip.
    From his introduction as Andrew’s best friend in “The Palisade”, Gilbert was the character I was most excited to read about. Even in that book, he was treated as the dark spot in the otherwise colorful landscape of Lavender Shores, and that treatment has left scars and survival skills that, while perhaps not the healthiest, allow him to survive day-to-day. He’s run away, if you will, from the town he grew up in, only returning when absolutely necessary.
    Walden is a new teacher in Lavender Shores. He, too, is running from his hurtful past. Passing through the small town as a child, he made it his dream to move there because of its openness. Accepting a teaching position allows him to not only attain his dream, but also reset his life, thereby leaving the past behind.
    But, as we all know, we may be done with the past, but the past is never done with us. That’s especially true for both of these characters.
    There’s a unique dichotomy at play. You have a relatively open town, accepting of all walks of life, and yet simply by virtue of its size, you also have the problems of basic human nature, including rampant gossip.
    A Lavender Shores book wouldn’t be complete without some fairy tale element. This time, you get it with The Garden. Yes, that capitalized on purpose because, much like The Palisade, it plays an integral role in not only the book, but also the developing relationship of Gilbert and Walden. Think The Enchanted Forest, but on a smaller scale.
    This is another beautiful book in the series, all about breaking free of ones past once and for all, and finally allowing yourself to be happy, to be loved, and to love unconditionally.
    Oh, and there’s a wedding. Bring your tissues.
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Erryn Barratt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Two Wounded Souls find each other (an audio review)
    Reviewed in Canada on January 1, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    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.
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  • Celpompom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just wow
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I fell in love with Gilbert and Walden in this book.

    Gilbert hooked me in from the start, i loved his sass and the underlying fragility that you see more and more of.

    I loved everything about Walden. He is a beautiful soul.

    I loved the intense chemistry at the beginning and then the slow burn of love. I loved how they couldn't stay away from each other even if they both thought their past was too much to love somebody else.

    I just really loved this book and it will be definitely part of my 'to be read' again catalogue :-)
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  • Charleyrose
    5.0 out of 5 stars So, So damn good, 6 stars the whole series is fabulous.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 27, 2017
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Gilbert Bryant, jewelry designer, man with a troubled past, he's viewed as the towns' home wrecker and has been in therapy since he was sixteen. He's out, proud and full of self-loathing, he knows exactly what he wants in a sexual partner. Quick, uncomplicated sex. He spies the gorgeous Walden Thompson at the gym and falls madly into lust with him. What follows is a scorching hot quickie that rocks the world of both men.
    Walden Thompson is a man with his own troubled past. A respected teacher, he is recovering from a major disillusionment and has a tendency to self destructive behavior. He falls off the chastity wagon when he hooks up with Gilbert. The sex was out of this world and he would love nothing more than to have a little but more, even though he shouldn't. When he least expects it his past comes back to haunt him.
    Gilbert is not looking for love, just an occasional hookup and Walden agrees because in the mean time he's back on the straight and narrow.
    Oh boy, both men didn't know what hit them. I particularly loved Gilbert, as he muddled through his own self awareness and growth, that allowed himself to open up to the real possibility that he might actually be worthy of some happiness. It was great to see such a professionally together man such as Walden have such a destructive personality. He really needed someone strong like Gilbert to iron him out. The man on man sexy times was unbelievably scorching hot. Stuff I hadn't even thought about and I only read M/M, so yeah WOW. This series has been an absolute ripper. So, damn good. 6 stars.
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  • Helennnlouise18
    4.0 out of 5 stars Read via KU
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I love how broken Gilbert is and the moments between him and Walden were terrific.
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  • Linda A
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gilbert and Walden
    Reviewed in Australia on May 29, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Gilbert and Walden enjoy a passionate encounter at the gym and then go back to Walden’s home to continue. Gilbert is only interested in one night but they keep bumping into each other and another one night happens each time.
    Great story, loved it.
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