PAINT AND NECTAR by ASHLEY CLARK is the second novel in the Heirloom Secrets series and the sequel to The dress Shop On King Street. Although it can stand alone I suggest you read the books in sequence. Some of the characters are those we meet in the first book and the stories are quite intertwined.
The story takes place in Charleston South Carolina and revolves largely around the house and garden at 86 Longitude Street, where a piece of heirloom silver was buried in the garden causing a feud between the Legare and Pinckney families.
In 1929 we come across the beautiful watercolour artist Eliza Ravenel and William Pinckney, who are from the two warring families, and in the present age we come across Lucy Legare and Declan Pinckney. Lucy is Eliza's great granddaughter, and is part of the Charleston Preservation Society, as was Eliza. There are irreconcilable differences between Lucy and Declan due to his father's development company wanting to buy her house, whose history she wants to preserve.
There is intrigue and betrayal, and we see the lengths to which people will stoop in order to obtain what they want. There are so many secrets and things are not as they seem. When William resorts to forgery to help his sister he brings danger to the woman he loves.
The author portrays the characters' emotions and struggles beautifully and their stories are bittersweet. Throughout the book we are reminded of the restorative power of beauty. Music and dancing also play a part. We see great attention to detail in the descriptions of the plants and birds in the garden, especially the bluebirds.
It is a story about second chances and following one's dreams, of unconditional love, forgiveness and mending that which is broken. The author brings the biblical stories of the gardens of Eden and Gethsemane into the mix in a most interesting way.
That is all that I am going to tell you as I do not want to spoil things for you. I highly recommend Paint and Nectar as a most enjoyable and inspirational read. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.