BLURB:
Recently fired and residing with her sweetly overbearing mother, Madlyn needs a job—bad. In a moment of desperation, she accepts a part-time position reading at the bedside of adventurer and amateur writer Cody Lofton. A near-drowning accident left the young man in a vegetative state, and his chances of recovery wane with each passing day.
Cody’s older brother, Dustin, and eccentric grandmother aren’t prepared to give up on the youngest son of Portland, Oregon’s royalty.
Dustin’s a personable guy, bordering on naïve, and overwhelmed by familial corporate duties and cutthroat partners. Grandmother Lillian’s a meddler with an eye for the esoteric, dabbling in Dustin’s life and dealing out wisdom like a card shark. One innocent conversation at a time, she sucks Madlyn into the Lofton story, dubbing her the princess and bestowing on her the responsibility of both grandsons’ destinies.
And all Madlyn wanted was a simple reading job.
Uninspired by her self-imposed stack of literary selections, Madlyn opts for Cody’s work-in-progress. Fantasy isn’t her favorite, but with only four chapters completed, reading The Sorcerer’s Garden should be no sweat, right?
Little does she realize, the story will begin writing itself and, by the hand of destiny, become her own.
***
D. Wallace Peach’s eighth novel is a collision of medieval and urban fantasy centered in the Northwest Hills of Portland, Oregon.
Madlyn is quirky, blessed with a sarcastic sense of humor, and a tendency to say exactly what’s on her mind. At 28, she’s also abandoned her dreams of a fairytale life. A satisfying career and happily-ever-after romance simply aren’t turning up in her cards, and in fact, her junky car is careening downhill fast. A strong female protagonist with a reluctant streak, she finds herself trapped in a heroic adventure through overlapping worlds, unsure whether one or both are real.
Don’t look for a run-of-the-mill fantasy here. This is one tangled tale crafted especially for readers who enjoy plot twists that keep everyone, including the characters, guessing.
MY 5-STAR REVIEW:
A Fabulous Fantasy with a Twist
The Sorcerer’s Garden by D. Wallace Peach ranks high in the unique and clever category. The storyline weaves back and forth between reality and fantasy. Qualities such as integrity, greed, and feeling defeated by life itself play a big part. Peach intersperses delicate pieces of wisdom throughout this adventure that only entice you to press on – eager and excited to see what‘s revealed with each page turn. Madlyn, Cody, and Dustin become likable and genuine characters, keeping you entertained from beginning to end. Grandmother Lillian adds spice to the twist and turns. You’ll run into some bloody circumstances where you may be inclined to cover your eyes, but please don’t. You’ll miss the compelling action and superb description; even the subtle hints of humor add a bit of lightheartedness.
I began reading this book with the niggling awareness that fantasy isn’t my favorite genre. Candidly, I wasn’t sure if I’d like the story for this reason. But let me tell you, I was hooked from page one! Peach has an exceptional skill of painting pictures with her extraordinary words, along with her knack for excellent world-building.
Since I was thoroughly impressed with the writing and story-telling, I’ll peruse the author’s collection for more compelling tales to transport me into exciting imaginary worlds. So, if you’re a fantasy genre enthusiast, then I highly recommend reading The Sorcerer’s Garden. And even if fantasy isn’t your go-to genre, I implore you to dive into this adventure just as I did. Five stars for a fantastic adventure!
If you’d like to pick up a copy, below is the Amazon link:
Visit D. Wallace Peach to peruse her fantasy collection:
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Reading!
Lauren ❤️
(Book blurb was pulled from Amazon)
Baydreamer ~ Lauren Scott 
Lovely review, Lauren and like you, fantasy is not a genre I usually go for. With your review and because it’s Diana, I will read this one. Thank you. ❤ Xxxx
Thanks for your lovely comment, Jane, and for also wanting to read Diana’s book because of my review. That’s great and I’m sure you’ll love it. It’s an exciting and clever story that I honestly couldn’t put down. Hugs, my friend! xoxo
Thanks so much, Jane. I was delighted to find Lauren’s review today, and couldn’t be happier with her kind comments about the book. If you give it a try, I hope you enjoy it. Hugs.
I am sure I will, Diana. Hugs and much love flowing to you. xXx ❤
Sounds cool!
It is a very cool story, Nico. I encourage you to read it. 🙂 Thanks for commenting and have a good day!
Thank you Lauren! Peace my friend.
Thanks for stopping by to read Lauren’s review. I couldn’t be happier. Have an awesome day.
Awesome! Is this the real D. Wallace Peach? If so, I’m so looking forward to reading your book! Peace and beautiful blessings.
Ha ha ha. Yes, the real one. I would get an absolute kick if you gave it a try. It was a fun one to write and it’s still one of my favorites. Thank you!
Blessings! 🙂
What a fabulous review Lauren! Diana would love it. It is indeed her “exceptional skill of painting pictures” that endears her to us. 😊
Thanks, Balroop! I hope she is happy with my review. 😉 She is a fabulous writer and your kind words are appreciated. 🌻
Thanks for stopping by to check out Lauren’s review, Balroop. I love it indeed. What a wonderful surprise. 🙂 Hugs.
An excellent review!
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 💜
Thanks for commenting, Rebecca. I was sincerely touched by Lauren’s review, once I stopped jumping up and down with joy. I love it when I can make a convert of a non-fantasy reader. 🙂 Happy Reading!
You are very good at converting non-fantasy readers, Diana. Guest what I just downloaded – The Ferryman and the Sea Witch!!! Excited!!
Ha ha ha. I’m so glad, Rebecca. I never considered “converting” anyone before, but it’s a good thing when it comes to reading. It’s a dark story, but not too long, and I hope you find it exciting. Get ready… Thanks for your kindness and lovely support. Happy Reading. ❤
Wonderful review! Diana is an amazing writer… Thanks for sharing, Lauren.
Thanks so much, Bette. She sure is and your support is appreciated! 💗
Thanks so much for the kind comment, Bette. Lauren surprised me today and what a wonderful surprise! Have a wonderful week, my friend. ❤
Beautiful review, my dear Lauren! xoxoxo
[Happy June!]
Thanks, Marina! And Happy June to you! Time is flying, isn’t it? 🙂 🌺💜🌺💜
Oh, yes it does! 🙄😘🤗😘🤗❤
Thanks for taking the time to read Lauren’s review, Marina. What a wonderful surprise to find her kind thoughts about the book. I couldn’t be more delighted. Have a lovely, creative week.
Lauren’s review is just like her poetry, pure, beautiful and kind hearted. It was a pleasure reading it! You too have a wonderful week ahead! 🤗
She definitely gave me a giant smile. Thank you!
😘 🙂
Super review, Lauren. Congratulations to Diana.
Thanks so much, John!
Thanks, John. It’s been a happy day over here on the book front. I loved Lauren’s review and am so appreciative that she took the time to read. Have a lovely afternoon. 🙂
Thank you. I will.
Great review, Lauren! Diana is a wonderful writer. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Jill! Diana is a fantastic writer. Thanks for popping in. 🌻
Thanks for taking a peek at Lauren’s review, Jill. I was tickled to find it today. So late to the party! But I made it. Have a lovely week, my friend.
Sounds like an interesting story.
It really is, Binky. I encourage to pick up a copy. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Thanks so much for stopping by to read Lauren’s review. I was honored and overjoyed. Have a great week.
It speaks to the skill of the author, when you can truly get immersed in a genre that falls out of your normal range of preference. I’m not surprised, though, as Diana is such a gifted author. Thank you for the excellent review Lauren and congratulations, Diana.
I agree with you, Mark, and that’s why Diana is such a wonderful writer. Thanks so much for your kind comment and support for her, too. Have a good weekend ahead.
Thanks, Mark. That was perhaps the best part of the review. I love creating converts. Lol. It was wonderful stopping by here and finding Lauren’s thoughts about the book. I couldn’t be happier. Have a beautiful week, my friend.
This is a terrific review, Lauren. You speak honestly about trying a genre you didn’t think you’d enjoy. I’m so glad you enjoyed Diana’s book. I’ve been working my way towards reading one of her books. Your review tells me I will like this one!
Thanks, Barbara! This is great to “hear” – that I convinced you to read Diana’s book means my mission is accomplished. 🙂 I appreciate your kind words and visit. Enjoy your Sunday!
Lauren’s review was a winner, Barb. Thanks so much for your comment. This is my only book set in the modern world, and it’s the closest I’ve come to writing myself into a story. It’s also probably the “lightest” of my tales. If you decide to give it a go, I hope you enjoy it. Hugs.
What a wonderful surprise, Lauren. Thank you!! I love hearing that a non-fantasy reader had been converted. Lol. This story was so fun to write. It takes place in my “neck of the woods” and is the closest I’ve come to writing myself into a story. Ha ha. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Yay. Thank you for sharing your review and your kind comments. Hugs.
I’m glad you’re happy with my review, Diana, and thanks for sharing a little backstory of how this book unfolded. Yes, I’m converted. 🙂 And I look forward to reading other books from you. Hugs back!
It was wonderful, Lauren. I’m sorry I was so late finding it! But that made for a wonderful surprise with all those comments. Thank you again for your incredible kindness. ❤
You’re very welcome, Diana! 🥰💗
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