Ellie Pringle is back and married and housing her long lost sister's twin daughters. In the beginning of this book her life is in a pretty good spot, but of course in a fiction book, life can't stay all sunshine and rainbows for long! Quite a few things go wrong and there are a few storylines going on at the same time in this book, they are very different storylines so easy to keep them straight, but this book had quite a bit jammed into few pages.

The storyline that I loved the most was watching Ellie piece together a new kind of family. With the help that is hired in her home, to the girls that she "collects" she is able to create a new family that works just right for her and her husband. I loved that it was so far from conventional but seemed just so right for her.

After finishing this book, I was ready for another book with Ellie and the antics that are her life. I hope there is more after this one, maybe a time jump that centers around Lia's twins and maybe the good and evil twin storyline can be repeated in an interesting way . .

I read this book in one sitting. It is fast paced and I was hanging on for the ride. This book has a little bit of everything. It has murder, loss and love. I loved how the author captured all of the family dynamics. She was spot on with the description of bipolar disorder. I know that as I have it. The characters are complicated and well developed. They are believable. This story flows well from beginning to end. I felt such a wide range of emotions. From love to anger. I highly recommend this book for a good read. Also, I did not read the first book in this series but I feel this can definitely be read as a standalone book. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Loved this book. Was a perfect second book to the series. Hope there is more to come. Lots of twist and turns to keep the reader wanting more.

Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of this book.

After reading Magnolia Nights this is a must read. It has it all. It’s a thriller, mystery, love story and more. It pulled me in and would not let go. I throughly enjoyed it from the first book to the last page of this book. It’s one you will not be able to put down. I love this author’s work and will be reading more by her.

It’s a big 5 star read for sure. A must for your TBR list.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC ecopy for my Kindle.
"Magnolia Nights" is the first book in the series, and I recommend that this book is read first.
"Beyond the Garden" is a continuation of the story set in Lowcountry. There's murder, mystery, surprises, and finally peace. An enjoyable book; looking forward to the next one in this series.

While I enjoyed this book, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had known it was the second in a series. It worked as a stand alone but I think some parts would have made more sense if I had read the first book first; I loved the idea that Ellie would be raising all the kids and can't wait to read the next book in the series to find out what happens next.

Beyond the Garden

What amazing women Ellie was. I loved how she cared so much for children that needed her. Her sister Lia had left her twin girls with Ellie and is really an unfit mom. Ellie husband was supportive of her but not in all things and sometimes gave her mixed signals. I found the book very interesting, at times I got so involved in the story I forgot they weren’t real people. I received an complementary copy of the book from the author.

Today is Mothers Day and I decided to spend the day relaxing and reading. Good decision because once I started Beyond the Garden, I couldn't put it down until the last page was read. It was a fantastic sequel and it was great to get back to Charleston with Ellie from Book 1 Magnolia Nights. You could read Beyond the Garden as a stand alone but parts of it will make more sense if you read it in order.

Ellie and her new husband Julian are restoring the house on the Battery left to her by her grandmother. They are also taking care of the three year old twins that her twin sister Lia left behind months earlier. As they make the twins part of the family, they are fearful that her sister will try to claim them again despite the fact that she has mental issues. This book has several plots going on - the murder of Lia's husband, custody of Julian's daughter from his first wife, Ellie's pregnancy plus a little girl who Ellie met at the art class that she was teaching that kept me engrossed in the book.

This was a fantastic sequel and I enjoyed every minute of it. The characters are well written - flaws and all and I really cared about what happened to them. This is a story about love and family - not just family by birth but the family that is made out of love.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This is book 2 in the Magnolia series and it is quite a thriller. With murder and intrigue from page one, Ashley Farley keeps you guessing from beginning to end. Ellie is happy and content with her life. She and her husband,Julian are adopting a little girl and Julian’s daughter is living with them. When Ellie’s sister,Lia comes into their life long enough to drop off her young twin girls and disappear things are looking unsettled. Lia becomes the primary suspect in her ex-husbands murder and she seems to be capable. Explores mental illness and family interactions very well. It’s a page turner for sure. I enjoyed book 1 also, this one is a little more on the edge. Can be read as a stand-alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Thank goodness it is a series so we can figure out what is going to happen to Ellie and all her new children. It was fast paced and easy to read. It would be perfect for the beach and/or summer reading.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I enjoyed this book and did not realize it was part of a series and think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book

BEYOND THE GARDEN is Book 2 in the MAGNOLIA SERIES. MAGNOLIA NIGHTS was an amazing 5 star read and the sequel does not disappoint. Each book can be read as a standalone, but if you haven't read MAGNOLIA NIGHTS I recommend that you get both books.
BEYOND THE GARDEN is a novel of
fate, discovery and determination. Life is good for Ellie Pringle Hagood. She married the man of her dreams, they are renovating the huge house she inherited, her sister's three-year -old twins are living with her and Abbot, her dad lives near.
Then something dreadful happens to upset and threaten Ellie's perfect life. Her brother-in-law is brutally murdered in Key West and her twin sister, Lia, is wanted for questioning. Is Lia involved in the murder? Would Lia kill her husband? Is she in Key West? What will happen to Lia's little girls?
There are several storylines in this novel, suspense and twists and turns, some 'fingernail biting' and red herrings, happy times, sad times and scary times. It is about family dynamics, sisters, twins, fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, blended families, love and determination. Ashley Farley expertly weaves this altogether making an exceptional novel. 5 shining stars

Special thanks to Ashley Farley and NetGalley for providing me the privilege of reading an ARC of BEYOND THE GARDEN in exchange for an honest review.

Beyond the garden is the second book in the magnolia series. Ellie is now happily married to Julian and renovating her home, she is looking after the twin daughters of her sister Lia who disappeared seven months ago when she hears that Lia's ex husband had been murdered in Key West and that Lia is the prime suspect!

A great follow up novel, Ellie is a brilliant character and you are really rooting for her but you can't help but feel for Lia with all her emotional problems she has dealing with bi polar. I would say it is definitely worth reading the first book Magnolia Nights before this one

Beyond the Garden is the follow up to the first book, Magnolia Nights. It picks up where that book left off and it took off like a rocket! Murder, suspense, mystery, ups, downs, emotional turmoil...and so much more are in this book. I started reading it and couldn't put it down except for when I had to. I was anxious to read the sequel to find out what happens when Ellie and Julian are left with the twin daughters of her twin sister Ellie had just found out about after they had been separated at a young age. Beyond the Garden took me on that journey in unexpected ways. I didn't see things coming and the twists were surprising. The love and support of family was amazing through out. I loved the main characters and their belief in each other. I disliked Lia tremendously ..she was a very troubled character. I loved every word of this book! I am so honored that I got to read such a fantastic book.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley for review.
Although I thought this would be a stand alone novel, the fact that I had read the first novel in the series was very helpful here. The story was compelling until the end when everything was tied up just a little too neatly with a pretty bow and everything fell into place exactly as the main character wanted it to. It seemed implausible at best. I was disappointed in how trite the ending seemed after the first book was so good. Almost made me wish I hadn't bothered reading it which surprised me because I had previously read all of the authors other books and enjoyed them immensely. The ending seemed like a lazy cop out.

Wow! This book had you holding your breath. From one traumatic episode to another, you never knew what was going to happen next. Ellie and Julian find themselves with more children than the twins Ellie's sister left in their care. And how each child becomes part of that family is one more emotional roller coaster.

This book deals with mental health issues and walking through the story from Lia's point of view was interesting. And how her behavior affects everyone around her is interesting.

Definitely a good closure to the first book in this series, Magnolia Nights.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read Magnolia Nights which is the first book in this series and absolutely loved it! In this book I loved catching up with Ellie and Julian and was quite surprised to find them in such an overwhelming position. Not only are they still taking care of Ellie's niece's but are also searchimg for their mother who is being accused of murder. Lots of drama and suspense in this book! Highly recommend!

This is the second installment in the Magolia Seires. I read the first book Magnolia Nights and completely taken with the characters, and their story. While this couple be read as a stand-alone lone book, I would certainly tell you to read the first book too, this does give you some back story of the main characters, but reading the first book will tell you how they got to where they are today, in their current situations. Plus the first book was amazing, so of course I’d recommend it.

The last several months, Ellie and her husband Julian have been caring for her sister, Lia’s two daughters with out hesiation. I wouldn’t expect anything less of Ellie either. Ellie and Lia might be twins, but they couldn’t be more different. I believe it had to do with their upbringing, both were brought up in very different homes. Ellie is such a strong and independent woman, who loves with all her heart. She’s been volunteering at the local elementary school teaching children something that is dear to her heart, art.

Lia. Has had her fair share of problems during her life. Drug addiction, abuse, and her upbringing wasn’t all the great of an environment, and I think this was her way of dealing with it. And having mental health issues on top of all of that, doesn’t help. Some of the decisions she makes are just plain selfish espeically that she had now has 2 beautiful daughters. Her struggle with mental health was something that made my heart go out to her though, I know all to well who bipolar disorder does to your life. I wanted to root for her, she made it so hard with her greediness and abandonment of her children.

Julian was just as amazing as I remember him being in the first book. So understanding and patient. No wonder Ellie was so in love with this man. Abbott, her father played a much larger role this time around and I just adored him. He was willing to help his girls in good times and in bad.

The story itself had a few little side plots going on, however they all played into the bigger picture. You have Ellie and Julian’s need for a child of their own. Julian’s daughter from a previous marriage living situation. A little girl that Ellie taught at school, and her journey. A murder mystery, and the search for Lia. All of this together had my emotions all over the place. The way that Farley writes is simply amazing. To have my heart be broken and warmed at the same time is something I don’t get all the time when reading this genre. But Farley did just that.

Beyond the Garden is a beautiful story of family dynamics and love, blended families and mental health issues. Have you tissues handy…

#BeyondTheGarden #NetGalley

Thank you #NetGalley for the E-ARC Copy of Beyond The Garden

Beyond The Garden is book number two in the Magnolia Nights series, the story is set in Charleston, SC. This is a wonderful story that will tug at your heart and keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved it, I read it in one evening. The characters seem to come to life and you experience all the emotions they are dealing with right along with them. I highly recommend this book. As a fan of Ashley Farley's books I know you won't be disappointed in this or any of her books.

Beyond the Garden is a follow up novel to Magnolia Nights and takes place in Charleston, SC. The novel is filled with circumstances and emotional passages that deeply affect the life of the main character, Ellie, and are caused by her erratic and unstable twin, Lia. At stake are Lia’s twin daughters that she voluntarily left eith Ellie and now want to use as pawns to get money from Ellie. Throw in murder and things become even more complicated. Ellie is devastated by the turn of events and more than fearful of what Lia will do. External and internal struggles play out until the very end.