Let's just start by writing that I love this book. The mystery is more of a behind-the-scenes story compared to the discovery of the characters' true selves. This book chronologically predates the first book in the series, Aunt Dimity's Death, but you don't have to read that one before this one. I love that the main female character isn't young, fashionably slim, and beautiful. She's in her 40s, a bit frumpy, and an avid gardener. She's also recovering after being dumped by her longtime lover.

There was a good amount of musing about marriage that I enjoyed, but mostly I loved watching the characters grow. The mystery was solved, and I was pleased with the results.

I highly recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries. ( )

This is a great travel book. Easy to get involved in, interesting enough to want to return, and the paperback was small enough to put in carry on luggage. ( )

This is the second of the Aunt Dimity books I've read. The first was one I won in a drawing here. It made me curious about the series and here I am!

This is one of the first in the series and gives me some background on Aunt Dimity. I enjoy finding out who she is.

American, Emma Porter, is suddenly single as her past beau has gone off and married one of those Barbie doll types. Plans had been set for the two of them to go to England that summer and Emma chooses to go it alone.

An avid gardner, she plans to visit some of the fantastic gardens and manor homes while there. When she runs into the Pym sisters in the middle of a maze, her itinerary is changed. The twin sister insist she visit Penford Hall in Cornwall and give her a card of introduction to be sure that she is welcomed.

When she arrives the Duke assumes she is the new Garden Lady who will help him restore the family gardens to their original beauty. She did come highly recommended by the Pym sisters, after all.

Quite taken with the grounds, but seeing they need lots of work she is torn between carrying on the charade and confessing she isn't what he thinks. 'Fessing up and then deciding to stay on, with the insistence of the Duke, Emma finds herself amoung an unusual group of people who share the Duke's love and passion for Penhall. She also becomes involved in solving a few mysteries such as the death of a rock star five years previous, the disappearance of missing lantern and more.

A cozy that is a very enjoyable read of this genre. ( )

I enjoyed the book, the characters were easy to like and the writing was enough to put you right in the middle of the gardens with Emma and the rest. I thought the mystery itself was a little too neatly tied up at the end, but I guess I don't feel is was the focus of the plot as much as the relationships were. I could have done without the overly cutesy epilogue, though. I didn't bother reading all of it, it became too maudlin to stand. Overall, an enjoyable read and I'll probably try other books in the series. ( )

I actually liked this one better than the first. I thought the characters were better-drawn and were more real to me. The story was intriguing with just enough of the paranormal to not get weird. Emma as the lead role in this story was so much more believable than Lori in the first book, Aunt Dimity's Death. I found her to be introspective, sincere, and appropriately emotional. The love between Derek and Emma was predictable but that did not stop the flow of satisfaction once it occurred. The supporting characters were fun and I hope to see them in the upcoming installments of this delightful cozy mystery series.

Recommended. ( )