Labor of Love

Gardens in Time, Book 1

By: Marguerite Martin Gray

Narrated by: Christa DelSorbo

Something sinister lurks in Pitti Palace.

Despite having spent eight years as companion to her cousins, Ana Geovani still questions her role and place in the Medici household. This uncertainty compounds and alarms as her cousin's marriage approaches and a marriage is arranged for Ana.

With no say in her own future, fear and despair dulls even the splendor of the gardens she holds so dear.

As the newest under-gardener at the palace, Marco Rossi should have everything he's dreamed of—beautiful gardens to tend and master architects and gardeners to learn from. Yet a secret mission threatens his peace of mind, his position, and even the love of Ana. Although God is always with him, reminding him of a bigger plan, Marco feels the weight of the consequences he will face if he challenges a Medici member.

The desires of men and women, both royal and common, create costly dilemmas and potential disasters of hearts and souls. What will it take for Marco and Ana to prevail against everything driving them apart?

©2022 Celebrate Lit Publishing (P)2023 Celebrate Lit Publishing

Labor of Love

I’ve enjoyed several of this author’s works in the past. So happy she is now available on audible!

Romance and Suspense

Have you read or listened to any good books lately? In other words, have you started a book you couldn’t put down until you finished it?

I did this week. Marguerite Martin Gray’s first book in her Gardens in Time Series captivated me. I was looking for an Audible book, but I didn’t realize that Marguerite had produced any of her books as recordings. According to the Audible dot com page, Labor of Love is her only recorded book that has been produced.

What a delightful book it is! After Marguerite catches her readers in the romance of the book, she introduces suspense-filled crime drama. We readers and listeners always expect stories with these elements to turn out well, but she presented problems that could not be solved without divine intervention.

The recording is ten hours long. I listened to it in two days. It was impossible to stop. First, the writer’s clever use of language and exquisite details of courtly Italian life in the sixteenth century fascinated me. I don’t know how Marguerite does so much. She has written a series about life during the Revolutionary War period (I’ve read all those), an instruction book to help short-term missionaries speak Spanish, and some island romances. Now she’s publishing her Garden Series. Meanwhile, she teaches Spanish and French. She still has time to be a wife, mother, promoter of her writing, and thoughtful friend.

In the beginning of the book, her scholarship amazed me. Her word pictures enticed me to keep listening. Then I fell in love with the characters. As the suspense developed, I found myself listening while I went through my activities of daily living.

Soooo enjoyed!!!

Thank you for a wonderful escape into the world of your characters!!!
Awesome!and so enjoyed!