The Chocolate Garden: Dare River: Book 2

· Ava Miles Inc.
188 reviews
Ebook
400
Pages
Tools
Eligible

About this ebook

International Bestselling Author Ava Miles shares a heartwarming and emotional novel about overcoming the past, trusting in second chances, and finding new beginnings in life and love.

Chosen by Bookbub as one of the 20 Most Romantic Books of All-Time. 

Visionary gardener Tammy Hollins is making a new life for herself and her children after an abusive marriage. Plants she understands, but men…well, they’re of the weed variety. She’s started her own landscaping business, catering to her country music rock star brother’s friends. Her first client is sexy, soulful, boy-next-door material, and the one man who tantalizes her and scares her to death.

John Parker McGuiness is a man of many talents, working as a songwriter and lawyer for country music’s biggest stars. He’s drawn to Tammy like no other and hires her as his landscaper, wanting to show her they’re made for each other. When Tammy learns he’s a professed chocoholic, she fashions a magical garden for him—a chocolate garden.

As the garden comes to life, their love for each other grows. When tragedy strikes Tammy’s home, John Parker is willing to move mountains to protect her and her children. Tammy struggles to guard her newfound independence as they use the magic of the chocolate garden to help her children feel safe again. But when secrets from Tammy’s past resurface, can their love and passion survive the memories haunting her?

***

There’s more waiting for you in Dare River…


Ava Miles welcomes you to her bestselling small-town family series featuring bad boys, reluctant heroes, and boys-next-door. Find love, uncover family secrets, heal betrayals, and discover there’s nothing more powerful than happily ever. Treat yourself to the complete series:


COUNTRY HEAVEN

A down-on-her-luck cook uses food’s magical properties to tame a beastly country singer after he hires her under false pretenses to restore his image.


THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN

An inventive gardener creates a magical chocolate garden for a sexy songwriter only to be swept away by the magic of their love.


FIREFLIES AND MAGNOLIAS

A steel magnolia turned crusading law student must face a haunting family secret while falling in love with a cynical country music manager who’s lost his faith in magic.


THE PROMISE OF RAINBOWS

A military vet overcomes the shadows of his past with the help of country music and a woman he’s hired to remake his new home.


THE FOUNTAIN OF INFINITE WISHES

A determined businesswoman searches for her long-lost father while helping a tough private investigator believe in wishes again.


THE PATCHWORK QUILT OF HAPPINESS

A sassy quilter invites a long-lost family member to her quilting class only to fall for the sexy single dad next door.


BONUS COMPANIONS:

THE COUNTRY HEAVEN COOKBOOK

THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN (children’s book)


*** Rye Crenshaw and his Dare River friends also show up in Ava’s bestselling Dare Valley series starting with the #1 National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND, and it’s chock full of small town family charm, friendship, mystery, and happily ever after, of course. Millions love it. Discover why today.


International Bestselling Author Ava Miles shares a heartwarming and emotional novel about overcoming the past, trusting in second chances, and finding new beginnings in life and love. Chosen by Bookbub as one of the 20 Most Romantic Books of All-Time. Visionary gardener Tammy Hollins is making ...

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Ratings and reviews

188 reviews
Midge Odonnell
October 20, 2017
Although I haven't read the first Dare River book I don't think that really hampered this tale. There is enough information in this book that you know pretty much what happened in that book - probably enough that if you have read the first one you find it gets in the way of the story. It must be said that this is a very formulaic book and that there are little to no surprises within its pages. The characters aren't particularly interesting or even likeable. John Parker in particular comes across as a complete wet blanket who is far too in touch with his feminine side which makes the character completely one dimensional; in fact all the characters read as one dimensional. I did manage to complete the entire book but it was relegated to the bedtime slot so too a while to hack through it but I did get there - have to admit it did mean I went to sleep pretty quickly after going to bed instead of reading for far longer than I should. I am sure there are plenty of people out there who enjoy an uncomplicated romance with cardboard characters but I can definitely conclude that I am not one of them.
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Jeanne Anderson
February 1, 2017
I have fallen in love with the people of Dare River! Having been raised as a "proper Southern lady" I totally understand the character, Tammy. I am a domestic abuse survivor and I feel her pain. This book is wonderfully well written and totally engrossing. I can't wait to see what happens next with the Hollins family.
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Nancy Maitland
June 16, 2020
I have never had a book that made me cry. I have had some that made me teary eyed but no this was a tissue or two worths. Sometimes I would get so tired of her wanting to be in charge to the point I felt she was putting her children in danger just to be independent. Having never been in her situation of an abusive relationship I can not say that I could connect with her on that level. Also I didn't get why it was such a big deal over who leaked to the press that for one million dollars her husband gave her a divorce and relinquest all claim to the children. He was an abusive scumbag. It was a good story even if I could not relate to a lot of her issues.
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About the author

Millions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and Women's World Magazine in addition to being chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor's picks.


Translated into multiple languages, Ava’s unique style has been compared to Colleen Hoover for bringing light to difficult situations including PTSD, agoraphobia, domestic violence, and homelessness, to name a few, all the while delivering happily ever after with empathy and humor. However, Ava's strongest praise comes directly from her readers, who call her books and characters unforgettable.


Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.


After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.


Millions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, and Women's World Magazine in addition to bein...

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