Please Note:  I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston's second novel in the Found Things series, Secrets of the Chocolate House, was called a "time-swapping romance [that] will please fans of Alice Hoffman" (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with a third book, The Garden of Promises and Lies.

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.

Review:

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?

Rating: 

Release Date:  December 15th, 2020

Author:  Paula Brackston

Genre:  Fantasy

Publisher:   St. Martins Press

Page Length: 320 Pages

Source:  NetGalley

Format:  E-Book

Recommendation:  This is a wonderful addition to the series.  But start at the beginning with The Little Shop of Found Things.