About the Book

Book: Labor of Love

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: February 15, 2022

Labor-of-Love-b-663x1024 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?

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About the Author

Marguerite enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband in north Louisiana. She writes historical fiction.

More from Marguerite

Are you a gardener? My mom calls me the accidental gardener. Is there such a thing? Well, I threw a pumpkin off my deck into a flower bed in December. By March, I had a garden full of beautiful, big pumpkins and luscious vines.

I love the idea of gardening, although I’m not very successful with my planting and grandiose plans. I stick with zinnias, potatoes, and onions. But I admire all kinds of gardens—flower and vegetable. Gardens are full of surprises—zingers in my ordinary life.

From the beauty of organized formal gardens like Versailles and Boboli to quaint, colorful English gardens, I relish the assault to all the senses. I’m refreshed, renewed, and relaxed just by being in a garden.

The birth of my Gardens in Time series arose from my travels. Labor of Love, set in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, springs from memories of wonder and beauty as I roamed the avenues and paths as a child and then an adult. I never had the adventures of Ana as she struggles and grows in the court of the Medici, but I walked in the Medici’s steps and let my imagination journey with Ana. She now has her own story.

I hope that you can experience some of the awe and amazement through Ana’s wanderings. I invite you to roam the Boboli Gardens with Ana.

My Thoughts

Labor of Love is book one in Gardens in Time series. This series is written by Marguerite Martin Gray. I’ve read several of the authors books and have always loved everything I’ve read. The author always puts a great deal of research into her books to ensure that they are as real feeling as possible.

In this story, we are traveling back to Piti Palace. We’re in 16th century Florence Italy. There are so many social obligations that are in place and it’s fun to see how many different roles and such goes into the story. Ana was brought to be a companion to her cousins. Ana takes great pride in tending to the garden. She is careful with each flower. She handles the herbs so they thrive. I aspire to be as careful with my garden as Ana is with hers. Her father has arranged a marriage for her. The suitor is not a nice man. He’s cruel and her father is looking for wealth and not what is in the best interest of his daughter.

Marco has come to Piti Palace under the assumption as a gardener. I enjoyed trying to figure out what exactly he was there for. The friendship that Marco and Ana strike up is gentle. He recognizes the man that Ana is to marry and He remembers he isn’t a ideal person.

The main theme in this story is to trust God. Ana isn’t thrilled with her fathers intentions so she cries out to God. I love how she trusted God despite the bleak circumstances in front of her. It was a great reminder to all of us that God is always listening to us. The characters are well written, the story is filled with suspense, love, and so much more. I enjoyed all the historical tidbits for this is not a time period I’m familiar with.

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own.