words are magic

Back in July I read and reviewed Sarah Addison Allen's The Girl Who Chased the Moon.  I was so charmed by the book that I had to find the other three books she wrote.  The library, being so awesome had all three.  I wanted to tear through them, but I paced myself.

The Peach Keeper brings us back to North Carolina, this time Walls of Water, a small town whose famous waterfalls attract tourists from all over.  But for the people who reside there the real attraction is The Blue Ridge Madam.  Built in Walls of Water & the Jackson family's heyday it is about to reopen as an Inn by the Osgood family.  Willa Jackson is the only surviving Jackson left.  After high school she ran as far away from Walls of Water as she could, but circumstances bring her back.  Despite wanting to keep to herself and stick to her lonely routine she finds herself drawn to the renovated house.  When a body is discovered buried on the property it throws the entire town into a tailspin and the Jacksons and Osgoods find secrets won't - and shouldn't - stay buried forever.

Everyone in town knows that the Waverleys are special.  Their garden is secret and always carefully tended as well as guarded.  Claire is the caterer that everyone wants because her food makes things happen, but despite her success she remains closed off and alone.  Until her long lost half sister returns to Bascom with her daughter in tow.  Claire suspects that something has driven her sister back, but she's determined not to pry and try to make amends for pushing her away when they were children.  The more she lets her sister into her life the more she finds herself stepping outside of her comfort zone and into the real world.

Josey Cirrini has spent her entire life in North Carolina living down her reputation as a horrible, difficult child,  trying to live up to the golden image of her father and trying to make amends to her mother for not being who she wanted.  When Della Lee takes up residence in Josey's closet Josey's whole world turns upside down.

All of Sarah Addison Allen's books are touched with magic, love and suspense.  She's able to perfectly blend all three without making the book feel supernatural or out of touch.  The characters are all incredibly charming.  I wanted to tear through the books, but at the same time I wanted them to go on forever.  Garden Spells was probably my favorite.  I loved the garden, the food, the sisters and everything in between.  Claire made a brief appearance in The Peach Keeper but that doesn't mean you have to read them in any sort of order.  You should just read them.  They're beautiful and poignant and full of perfection.