Earlier this year I discovered The Found Things series by Paula Brackston and fell in love. Book three in this series has me continuing my love affair with Xanthe’s world, her travels and her wonderful community.

As the bustle of the winter holidays in the Little Shop of Found Things gives way to spring, Xanthe is left to reflect on the strange events of the past year. While she's tried to keep her time-traveling talents a secret from those close to her, she is forced to take responsibility for having inadvertently transported the dangerous Benedict Fairfax to her own time. Xanthe comes to see that she must use her skills as a spinner if she and Flora are ever to be safe, and turns to the Spinners book for help.

It is then that a beautiful antique wedding dress sings to her. Realizing the dress and her adversary are connected in some way, she answers the call. She finds herself in Bradford-on-Avon in 1815, as if she has stepped into a Jane Austen story.

Now in Xanthe's time, Fairfax is threatening Xanthe into helping him with his evil doings, and demonstrates all too clearly how much damage he is capable of causing. With Fairfax growing ever more powerful, Xanthe enlists the help of her boyfriend Liam, taking him back in time with her. It is a decision that might just ensure she prevails over her foe, but only by putting her life--and his--on the line.

Paula Brackston has a way with creating the most vivid and almost cinematic worlds in her stories. She has once again brought her talent for creating a scene and its setting as Xanthe’s adventures in time travel continue in The Garden of Promises and Lies. Not only was I immersed in the setting and feeling as if I was traveling through 17th century England, I was also held hostage through the suspense and mystery of what would happen as the series continues and the evil Fairfax is still on the hunt for Xanthe and The Spinners book.

The Garden of Promises and Lies was just as entertaining, engrossing and exciting as the first book...Actually it was even more engrossing, and I found myself unable to set this book down. I loved how the characters and plot continued to develop, make deeper connections and bonds with each other as they form a tighter knit community. They really are a unique and endearing cast, and I was fully invested in all their lives.

Brackston’s writing is still as eloquent and engrossing as ever, and creates an atmosphere that is thick and palpable. Just like the first book, the storyline is intriguing, warm and suspenseful. Oh…and that cliffhanger at the end has me salivating for book four!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the author’s series of found things. But they really are stand alone books so a reader can pick them up in any order. I am lucky enough to have read them as they have been published and LOVE them. As an antique dealer myself I love the role that the found items play. And the descriptions are just wonderful. The story lines really resonate with me as an antique lover! Now I can’t wait for the next book to be published! Ms. Brackston has me hooked. She also has me planning a post COVID trip to England. Cannot wait to see all the villages for myself.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wow! This is the third book in the Lost Things series and what a great addition. At first I wondered how this could compare to the first two books and where it would take Xanthe. Although slow initially when it took off I couldn’t put the book down. It was a whirlwind adventure of whimsy and danger while Xanthe time travels as a Spinner once again to restore peace and history. I can hardly wait for the next installment in this series. What a cliff hanger!

THE GARDEN OF PROMISES AND LIES is another fantastic installment in a charming time-traveling series. Xanthe is back in the present, and acquiring more items for her mother and her shop, when she finds a wedding dress singing to her. The dress is connected to her foe, Fairfax, who is also threatening Xanthe and her mother's safety in the future. How he is destroying their house in the future is not clear, but he will stop at nothing to get the spinner book, which Xanthe knows would be too dangerous in his hands.

She must now take additional people into her confidence to help resolve the past which is singing to her and to prevent Fairfax from harming her in the present. This is an intriguing combination of history, sci-fi, and mild suspense that makes it quite a fascinating read.

This third book has less romance than past books, but it is so well-written that the lack does not detract from its general appeal. The writing really pulls the reader in, and we get swept away in Xanthe's plotting to keep the book out of Fairfax's hands while also preventing the havoc he seems intent on wreaking. I was highly engaged in the story and eager for the new things we learn about Xanthe's ability - of which we know there is still so much to learn.

The ending is quite the cliffhanger, and I am definitely eager to continue this series. Perfect for fans of OUTLANDER, this series is quite enthralling. Highly recommend checking this out if you like history and/or time travel!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Garden of Promises and Lies (Paula Brackston) is a story that all who like reading about time travel will enjoy. Our heroine is a "Spinner" and can spin her way to various places by items that "sing" to her. In The Garden of Promises and Lies a wedding dress draws Xanthe to the past. This is one in a series but is easy to follow along for the new reader. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy to review.

3.5 stars rated down. "The Garden of Promises and Lies" is the third book in the "Found Things" series- if you have read the first two in the series and have enjoyed them, then I think that this book will be a welcome next installment.

In my reviews of the previous two books, I complain about the secrecy that Xanthe always justifies with her time traveling skills. Things are a bit different in this book- it was a nice change, but at the same time I felt that the interactions between the characters were forced and the characterization felt 'off.'
Since the previous two books have had the same villain, I would have expected him to be a bit more dynamic. I never really understood his motivation as the villain to the story.

I would give this story a "four star" rating because I do really enjoy the series, but I really disliked that the story ended with a pretty big cliffhanger. It is apparent that Paula Brackston has a plan for where the series is going, but as a reader, I always find it a disservice to the reader to end a book without a better sense of a resolution.

And yet, I really enjoy this series and highly recommend it, especially to people who enjoy romance-adventure-time travel-history. I will happily continue to read the series and look forward to book 4!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's press for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, I highly recommend following the author on her FB page- her posts are full of cute dogs and updates :)

We return to the Little Shop of Found Things in the third novel of the Found Things series. Xanthe is upset over having unintentionally transported the evil Benedict Fairfax to modern times and is scared of what his presence might mean to her and her mother. This leads her to try to find a way to not only get him to leave their time period, but possibly destroy him once and for all. When an antique wedding dress calls for her, Xanthe realizes it might be the very item to take her back in time to where she can have a final showdown with the crafty Fairfax. But doing so might be her undoing.

The Garden of Promises and Lies is another brilliantly written novel by the ever-talented Paula Brackston. As I always say in my reviews of her books, I love how she writes. Her style is so beautiful and descriptive, but she also weaves an interesting story that keeps you turning the pages. I highly recommend this series and this novel to anyone who enjoys historical and time-travel novels.

Xanthe- and Benedict Fairfax- are back in this latest installment of a gentle time traveling series. Xanthe is a spinner, a person who hears object singing to her and who is able to transport back and forth in time. She lives with her mom Flora in a delightful village where they sell antiques and now an 18th century wedding dress is the object which sends Xanthe backwards. Unfortunately, Fairfax, the villain of the series, is the bridegroom to be but he's also come to the present because he wants the book of Spinners held by Xanthe. The plot is complicated to explain but simple to understand, especially if you've read at least one of the two preceding books. Brackston does provide enough info to catch you up or to help a new reader appreciate the characters. Xanthe's mom Flora is a treat as is the dog Pie. Liam, who travels with Xanthe as her brother (although he is a chaste love interest), is a bit of a mystery. It's a light, fun, and entertaining read. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Know that this ends with a bit of a cliff hanger and I'm very much looking forward to the next one!

A little slow and dragged out at the beginning, The Garden of Promises and Lies picks up once Xanthe begins to time-travel in response to a wedding gown that "sings" to her. Benedict Fairfax is once again Xanthe's nemesis, both in the present and in the past when she encounters him again. Once she returns to the past, the tension mounts between Benedict and Xanthe. Will her plan to convince Benedict to give up his astrolabe succeed? Or will he double-cross her again? In addition to Benedict, there is another character from the previous books who has a very different attitude about Xanthe learning more about being a Spinner.

It helps to have read the previous two books in this series as there are key characters whom we meet in those books who have important roles to play in The Garden of Promises and Lies. This novel ends with a humdinger of a cliffhanger, thus guaranteeing that I will read the next book in this series to find out what happened and why. Will Xanthe be able to use her developing skills as a Spinner to change things?

The Garden of Promises and Lies is a captivating, well-written mix of historical fiction, fantasy, time travel, and suspense. The third book in the Found Things series set in and around Marlborough, a market town in Wiltshire's English county, in a mix of contemporary times and 1815. Found Things series must be read to know the reason for the character's actions and the backstories. The Garden of Promises and Lies is a fast-paced read with a plot that unravels at a smooth, steady pace. Readers that enjoy time travel mixed with suspense and history should enjoy this novel.

This book is the third in Paula Brackston’s series of novels about time spinners and follows after The Little Shop of Found Things and Secrets of the Chocolate House. All three feature Xanthe as the main character. She works in an antique shop she shares with her mother and various antique objects “sing” to her in a special way. In the first novel she is inadvertently thrown back through time at the calling of one of these objects and her purpose was to help fix whatever particular situation this item had drawn her to. In each book Xanthe has learned more about her skills and abilities as a spinner of time.

If you have not read the first two books in the series, I would highly recommend that you do so before starting The Garden of Promises and Lies. It will make it much easier for you to understand what is going on and who the different characters are. Even having read both of the earlier books, it had been long enough ago that I had to stop and think about some of the characters and what part they had played in Xanthe’s experiences.

In this book, Xanthe quickly realizes that one of her nemesis’s has arrived in her current time and clearly has an agenda that involves her. Not only that, he appears to have figured out how to cause harm to her and those she cares for, all from a different time period. Up until this point, her only confidant in modern time is pub owner Harley, but as the danger level increases Xanthe decides she must bring her mother in on the secret and perhaps others that she cares about too. The object calling to her this time around is a lovely antique wedding dress that she finds at a local estate sale. She knows that she will soon be travelling again, but perhaps this time, she will have some control over where and when she goes.

The story itself is well researched as have been all the books in the series. The cover artwork drew me in as a reader and helped set the mood for this enjoyable read. Each of the previous two books left me wanting more but were still pretty compete in and of themselves. My one complaint about this third book is that it left me with a fullblown cliffhanger. It will probably be another year until book four comes out which is quite a long time to wait to discover what happens in a particular situation.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book. The opinions expressed are completely my own.

I don't normally enjoy time travel books, but this series, starting with The Little Shop of Found Things, is the exception. It has so many great aspects going for it. It begins as a sweet story about a little antique shop in England. But Xanthe, the daughter of the shop owner, has a special ability. Some items with historical significance call to her. Once she buys them, she learns the object's secrets, and then goes back in time to solve a mystery. Then the fun really begins, as Xanthe must find a way to navigate a different historical time period. This is a really fun series, that is getting better with each succeeding installment.

What I Liked:

Premise:

I love learning about the ins and outs of the antiques business. What seems like a romantic job going to estate sales, really is a challenging business. Xanthe and her mother must constantly look at items not for their sentimental value, but for how well they will sell. I enjoyed seeing all these behind the scenes of this world.

Then there's the time travel aspect of the story. Rather than gloss over all the logistics of how one could blend into an period hundreds of years ago, this book revels in all the possible issues that would crop up. How can one find clothes that would look authentic to the time period? Would you know the appropriate way to speak? Would you recognize where you were? All these small, but important details add so much to the story.

Characters:

Although Xanthe is obviously a risk-taker, she also feels a great responsibility towards her mother, Flora, and I love their relationship. Since her parent's divorce, Xanthe and Flora are rebuilding their life in a relatively new town, and with a new antiques business. Xanthe knows if she isn't careful she could be left behind in time, and she doesn't want to leave her mother alone. But Flora is a survivor, who knows the business like no other. Xanthe truly respects her.

Xanthe has a complex adversary in Benedict Fairfax. This is a character who has continued in all three books. When he learns he is also a "Spinner" (someone who can spin time), he wants to use this skill to enrich himself. He sees Xanthe as the key to understanding how to master time travel. Knowing how close she is to Flora, Fairfax uses this knowledge to motivate Xanthe to do what he wants. But Flora is about to fight back...

Story:

I particularly liked this story. Xanthe finds a wedding dress at an estate sale that "sings" to her. She knows the dress has something to do with Fairfax, and must determine what it is. She has to travel back to the Regency period (Jane Austin's time) and befriend the bride. When she realizes that the bride is marrying Fairfax, she has a dilemma. Does she let the wedding go on as planned, or should she warn her new friend of Farifax's true nature? Would it even make a difference? It's the old time travel quandary, can you change historical events, or will your actions only make events happen anyway?

I started reading this without realizing it was the third in a. series. However, after picking up some information when I read the first book, this time traveling novel was very entertaining. Xanthe, in this novel, comes upon a wedding dress that sings to her and travels back in time not only to help the women who will wear the wedding dress but to solve some more mysteries of the Spinners. In this book, she also fears for her family's safety and employs some interesting partnerships to accomplish her goals. What a cliffhanger at the end of the book! I can hardly wait for the next one!

Brackston’s latest novel is the third installment of her Found Things series. While the author gives new readers plenty of backstory and detail to jump into the novel, I feel it is more prudent to read the series in order for full appreciation of the story arc.
The story starts a bit slow as the author provides new readers with references to prior books, but the pace quickly picks up, and the increasing threat from Fairfax along with the dangers of time-travel create a sense of foreboding and good tension as the story progresses. Xanthe travels back to the Regency period in this book, and the author provides ample, delicious detail of life in those times. The book is well researched, and the author’s presentation of historic information inspires me to do more research of the period on my own.
While the first book in the series, The Little Shop of Found Things, remains my favorite in the series, The Garden of Promises and Lies is a close second. I enjoyed the character and relationship development. I’ve become more invested in the characters with each book. Xanthe is becoming more adept at time travel and better at playing to win with her foes. I loved that she has begun to trust her friends more which led to a more intriguing plot.
I had thought this was to be the last book in the Found Things series, but the incredible cliffhanger at the end of The Garden of Promises and Lies is a pleasant clue that we readers can expect more Xanthe in our future.
4.5 stars

3 stars--I liked the book.

Brackston's Found Things series is perfect 2020 reading--not too complicated and very distracting. If you're looking for a quick, simple, engaging read, this book fits the bill.

The book isn't flawless--I still find the villain pretty flat and some anachronisms irritate me--but the characters are so engaging and the plot so quick that these irritations are minor. I also appreciate how Brackston clearly has an overarching plot for the series, with each book revealing more.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

This third book in the series was entertaining. It held my interested and advanced the stories and ended on a cliffhanger! So now we will have to wait to see what happens in book 4. This is a fun series which combines historical fiction with time travel.

ow! What a wild ride! Xanthe is mastering how to navigate the Spinners book but Benedict Fairfax is back in her life and must be stopped without fail.

This installment is maybe not as strong as the previous two but I still liked it. I loved the wedding gown and all the descriptions of clothes. Petronella was a darling character, and Harley is one of my favorites!

I can't wait for the next book! There's gotta be a next book... right??

Thanks, Netgalley, for this ARC!

Many stories involving time travel bug me, but I enjoy the time travel in this series. Xanthe is drawn to items from the past, and sometimes she finds an item with a mission that calls her to travel back in time and help. Book 2 in this series had a good ending but also a cliffhanger, and this story continued about from the end of that one. Xanthe finds a beautiful old wedding dress that sings to her. In modern times, an old nemesis is...well also a current nemesis and threatening Xanthe and those she loves.
By book 3 in a series, it is really hard to do any kind of book description without spoiling the book (or previous ones). I will say that my favorite characters in this story may be the family Xanthe met when she time traveled.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for letting me read this book. It too had a good ending and then a cliffhanger. I'll think of that cliffhanger as a "trailer" for the next installment. And I cannot wait to learn more about the Spinners.

It is always wonderful to have a Paula Brackston novel in my hands. Her newest release, The Garden of Promises and Lies does not disappoint and is probably among one of my favorites of hers. Five stars.

This is the third book in the Found Things series. In this book, Xanthe finds an antique wedding dress at a sale that sings to her, and she discovers the dress has ties to her adversary, Benedict Fairfax. Xanthe travels back in time in order to help the wearer of the wedding dress, and to try to stop Fairfax from doing anything else to hurt her or the ones she loves. She hopes to get his precious astrolabe from him so that he will be prevented from time-travelling any more, and doing more damage. Fairfax is intent on stealing the Spinners book from Xanthe. no matter the cost, because he feels he will then have ultimate power over time travel. Xanthe enlists her boyfriend Liam's help in this mission, and he travels back in time with her so they can work together to get the astrolabe while keeping the book from his grasp.
I love this series, and this book was just as good as the first two. Let me say, that I do suggest you read the books in order, just so you get the full picture. This was a great book, with enjoyable characters, and a captivating storyline that ended with a cliffhanger. I am already anxiously looking forward to the next one!. I highly recommend this one.