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  • A Secret Garden Affair

  • By: Erica James
  • Narrated by: Laura Aikman
  • Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (111 ratings)

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A Secret Garden Affair

By: Erica James
Narrated by: Laura Aikman
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Summary

Recapture the summer sunshine this autumn with the Sunday Times bestseller that readers are calling ‘captivating’ and ‘a treasure of a read’…

Love grows where you least expect it…

July 1981. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby flees London – and her cheating fiancé Marcus – for the Suffolk countryside.

At Larkspur House, she hopes to put the pieces of her life back together. And Libby’s great-aunt Bess and renowned garden designer and former socialite Elfrida are happy to help.

But for lifelong friends Bess and Elfrida, Libby’s arrival has stirred up the ghosts of the past. And before they can help her rebuild her shattered future, they must confront their own secrets, lost loves, and tragedies…

From the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James comes a captivating story that sweeps through sixty years of history, love, and family drama.

©2023 Erica James (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Critic reviews

"This could well be her best yet…this is the most beautifully lyrical, romantic saga and if you're looking for a Mother's Day present you couldn't do better than this…ideal for every age." (Bishops Stortford Independent)

What listeners say about A Secret Garden Affair

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely story to escape to

A great story and it’s very well written as it jumps from the past to present day with ease, you do become immersed in the story and characters. Lovely narration too, a nice easy listen

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good storyline

Perhaps this moving between strands of this story sometimes felt a little contrived, Pronunciation was occasionally eccentric but narration was otherwise empathetic

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A bit of a slow start

Story was slow to start with but was ok eventually. Jumped about too much for my taste

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Initially postponed because of the narrator

I didn't think that I would be able to listen to this as I found the narrator annoying, however, having left it some time I went back to it, and although there are some mispronounced words, I found that I got used to the narrator and that I actually enjoyed the story. Whilst not Booker Prize winning material, it's sometimes nice to listen to a gentle, upbeat story and this is pretty much there.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listening

I enjoyed how the author slipped into different era’s. It helped me follow and build the storyline. Getting to know characters and where they fit into the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this

Wonderful characters and an enjoyable story. This is the first novel I have read (or listened to) by Erica James, and I can recommend it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful escape into different worlds

What a pleasure to slip into the lives of these wonderful characters. Brilliant narration, with a wonderful array of voices.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The secret garden

Enjoyed this book was a good story and well written recommend it to listen to

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

enchanting romantic story

loved this story that took the reader through a passage of time and family secrets

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A gentle and compelling listen

This audiobook story - beautifully narrated - explores the themes of friendships and their complexities. The characters were skillfully drawn, and the story gently compelling. This is the first novel I have read by Erica James, and I look forward to reading / listening to many more by this author.

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