Book Review ~ Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Serpents in the Garden by Anna Belfrage – Book Review

by
Patty
-
April 7, 2014

I received a free copy of Serpents in the Garden from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my honest opinion.

Serpents in the Garden by Anna Belfrage

About Serpents in the Garden:

Publication Date: March 1, 2014
SilverWood Books
Formats: Ebook, Paperback
After years of hard work, Matthew and Alex Graham have created a thriving home in the Colony of Maryland. About time, in Alex’s opinion, after far too many adventures she is really looking forward to some well-deserved peace and quiet.
A futile hope, as it turns out. Things start to heat up when Jacob, the third Graham son, absconds from his apprenticeship to see the world – especially as Jacob leaves behind a girl whom he has wed in a most irregular fashion.
Then there’s the infected matter of the fellow time traveller Alex feels obliged to help – no matter the risk. Worst of all, one day Philip Burley and his brothers resurface after years of absence. As determined as ever to make Matthew pay for every perceived wrong – starting with the death of their youngest brother – the Burleys play out a complicated cat and mouse game, and Alex is thrown back into an existence where her heart is constantly in her mouth, convinced as she is that one day the Burleys will achieve their purpose.
Will the Burleys succeed? And if they do, will the Graham family survive the exacted price?
Serpents in the Garden is the fifth book in Anna Belfrage’s time slip series featuring time traveller Alexandra Lind and her seventeenth century husband, Matthew Graham.


 About the Author:

I was raised abroad, on a pungent mix of Latin American culture, English history and Swedish traditions. As a result I’m multilingual and most of my reading is historical – both non-fiction and fiction.
I was always going to be a writer – or a historian, preferably both. Instead I ended up with a degree in Business and Finance, with very little time to spare for my most favourite pursuit. Still, one does as one must, and in between juggling a challenging career I raised my four children on a potent combination of invented stories, historical debates and masses of good food and homemade cakes. They seem to thrive … Nowadays I spend most of my spare time at my writing desk. The children are half grown, the house is at times eerily silent and I slip away into my imaginary world, with my imaginary characters. Every now and then the one and only man in my life pops his head in to ensure I’m still there. I like that – just as I like how he makes me laugh so often I’ll probably live to well over a hundred.
I was always going to be a writer. Now I am – I have achieved my dream.
For more information, please visit Anna Belfrage’s website.  You can also find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

My Opinion:

This is my fourth Graham Saga book and I’m just as excited with this time travel tale this many books in as I was with the first one that I read. I still haven’t found time to read the very first book in the series but salient facts from past books are always seamlessly woven in so a new reader never feels lost. This fifth installment continues the lives of Alex and Matthew as they make their mark in the New World having left Matthew’s beloved Scotland in fear of his life because of his religious convictions.

This book seems more family focused with relationships beginning and ending, births, deaths and injuries filling the pages from beginning to end. The family is just trying to live in peace but it just doesn’t seem to be their lot. Young Jacob leaves to see the world and all is not joy and happiness with everyone at the homestead. To write much more would spoil plot points.  The evil Burley brothers are stalking Matthew with the intent of killing him and this particular plot development is one that about drove me crazy. They were everywhere the Grahams were. In the 17th century world they always knew where they would be at the exact time? A little too convenient and it got a little comical where it most certainly wasn’t meant to be.  I realize a book needs tension but their appearances were getting to be almost rote.

Despite the Burley brothers I really did enjoy the book and I thoroughly enjoy these characters and the world in which they live. It’s well developed whether it’s taking place in London or the New World. You feel you are in the world with the characters as the writing transports you into their lives. I can’t wait for the next installment so I can continue to follow the love story of Alex and Matthew Graham.

Rating:
4

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 Other Books by Anna Belfrage:

The Graham Saga

Like Chaff in the Wind
The Prodigal Son
A Newfound Land
Serpents in the Garden
Revenge and Retribution
Whither Thou Goest
To Catch a Falling Star
There is Always Tomorrow

The King’s Greatest Enemy Series

In The Shadow of the Storm
Days of Sun and Glory
Under the Approaching Dark



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City girl turned farm girl, Patty Woodland
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Montana farm. Drawing inspiration from
her garden, cats, and the
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