Liz Berry (1) (1935–)

Seventeen-year-old Mel Calder is desperate for her life to change, and she is learning the hard way that only she can make it happen. Left alone in their run-down house after her mother’s breakdown, Mel decides to repair and redecorate it for her mother when she comes home, but it’s not long before the whole neighborhood is involved.
When Mel meets attractive Mitch Hamilton, lead guitarist with top rock group Asssassination, Mitch is more than willing to help with the house, but Mel is suspicious. She has no time for a boyfriend, particularly a famous one who will be off to other girls in other countries soon enough, and, besides, there’s her lovely teacher, young Mr Edwards, so helpful and sympathetic. So when Mitch announces his intention to marry Mel, no one is more astounded than Mel herself except, perhaps, Mitch’s girlfriend, the formidable Roxy Leigh.… (más)

This book has a great feel to it and I love the way the author describes the setting and the mystical aspects of the story. I see a very vivid picture in my mind of gardens and hills the protagonist explores and I was drawn in by the mystery and magic of the quest she embarks on. My primary complaint about the book, and my reason for not rating it higher, is the main love interest. He pulls all this nasty manipulative boyfriend bullshit and the story just glosses over it and paints his actions as romantic. I couldn't get behind the relationship because it didn't seem healthy or logical so any appeal the romance has for others was lost on me. Despite this I did enjoy the book and might read it again in the future.… (más)

Clare has just completed her A-levels when her mother announces that she is moving to Ravensmere, an estate in the west country, for a private nursing job. Although Clare has the option of staying in London until she goes up to university, she decides instead to accompany her to Ravensmere. There she discovers a strange connection between herself and Ravensmere, as well as its grounds. There is also her intense attraction to Mark, an enigmatic, motorcycle riding, local. With Ravensmere threatened with demolition, Clare is left to solve its mysteries and try to preserve this magical bit of land.

A bit of a mixed read, The China Garden has its charms. Lush descriptions of the gorgeous English country side and the beautiful estate are well done and the creation of a magic that is not entirely understood by anyone creates an excellent source of tension. The characters, however, have rough patches in terms of development and both Clare and Mark have multiple lightning changes in attitudes. Their relationship also develops extremely quickly (partially explained by the magic, but I'm still not sure I've forgiven Mark for his actions at his introduction to Clare). The book also shows its age a bit. Originally published in 1996 (and feeling even a bit older than that), it has an environmental conservation sub-theme that was lacking in subtlety. A not bad read if you're in the mood for a quiet YA romance with a menacing magic undercurrent.… (más)