The Secret Garden of Yanagi Inn
by Amber Logan
January 18-21
Cracked doesn’t always mean broken.
Grieving her mother’s death, Mari Lennox travels to Kyoto, Japan to take photographs of Yanagi Inn for a client. As she explores the inn and its grounds, her camera captures striking images, uncovering layers of mystery shrouding the old resort—including an overgrown, secret garden on a forbidden island. But then eerie weeping no one else in the inn seems to hear starts keeping her awake at night.
Despite the warnings of the staff, Mari searches the deep recesses of the old building to discover the source of the ghostly sound, only to realize that her own family’s history is tied to the inn, its mysterious, forlorn garden . . . and the secrets it holds.
See the book on Amazon here.
“The Secret Garden is hallowed ground for so many readers, and Logan has clearly honored it and made an elevated piece of work.” —Keri Wilt, speaker, historian and great-great-granddaughter of Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret Garden
“The gradual but compelling unraveling of this family mystery captivated me. Heartfelt celebration of female friendship across the Pacific!” —Naomi Hirahara, Edgar Award-winning author of Hiroshima Boy and Clark and Division
About Amber Logan
Amber A. Logan is a university instructor, freelance editor, and author of speculative fiction living in Kansas with her husband and two children―Fox and Willow. In addition to her degrees in Psychology, Liberal Arts, and International Relations, Amber holds a PhD in Creative Writing from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.
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Camcat Books
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Review:
Story: First of all, I want to say how beautiful I find the cover. I hope that it never changes. Well, maybe some tweaks here and there, but the same for the most part. I really enjoyed this book. I went into it blindly like I do with most books. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved learning some more about Japanese culture. I have to be honest, there were a few times that I thought this was going to wind up being a horror novel. I had some theories on how the book was going to end up. I was wrong. The ending was still very beautiful. I really enjoyed it.
Characters: We follow Mari in this story. She takes a trip to Japan after her mother passed away. She found herself struggling with grief and unable to go on. Then she discovers that she’s been offered a grant to photograph an inn. I really liked her, but there were some things she did and thought that I didn’t agree with. I loved the maid! I forget her name, but she was so quirky!!! I’d have liked to see more of the sister in the book if I’m being honest.
Critiques: None
Narration: I really feel like the narrator got as into this story as I did. I didn’t want to stop listening. I will most likely listen to this audiobook again because of how good the narration was.
Final Thoughts: This was such a beautiful story. It is a story that really invokes thought and reflection on life. That being said, it’s also got a very quirky and sassy flare to it as well. I feel like that kind of breaks up the heavy of the story overall. I probably would have finished this book in one sitting had I had the chance. I will be rereading this in the future. It’s just so beautiful!
Stars Books & Tea 