The Stone Flower Garden
A Book Review By Catie Hayes
The Stone Flower Garden
Author Deborah Smith
Little Brown & Company
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The sleepy North Carolina town of Burnt Stand is the stage for a suspenseful battle between family loyalty and heart's desire. This is a tangled conflict spanning generations where reputations, wealth and love meet head-on with betrayal.
Darl Union, heir to the Hardigree Marble Company, lives with her controlling grandmother. Her orderly life is forever changed when Eli Wade and his family come to town. Unknown to Darl, Eli's arrival re-opens unspoken family secrets; secrets her family will go to any lengths to rebury. The Union's desperation to maintain appearances creates a conflict, pitting Darl's feelings for Eli against her family loyalty. In the process, a murder is committed, and Eli's father appears to be the prime suspect. As the investigation and cover-ups progress, the Wades are forced to leave Burnt Stand in disgrace.
After 25 years, Darl remains haunted by the Union family secret. In an effort to exorcise her demons, she dedicates her life to helping others, but still her heart mourns. When she has reached the end of her rope, Eli reappears in her life. Their reunion is heart-wrenching, as Darl holds the answers Eli seeks. If she remains silent, her torment will continue, and any chance of happiness with Eli will be lost. If Darl tells her secret, it could mean the destruction of her own family.
"The Stone Flower Garden" is intense, riveting and highly suspenseful. It is filled with interesting plot twists, true-to-life characters, and a story spanning generations.
Review Copyright 2003 Catie Hayes
About the Reviewer:
Catie Hayes is founder/editor of WomanLinks.com. She is a freelance
writer, a single homeschooling mom of two, and an avid fan of laughter, cats and
chocolate (not necessarily in that order).
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