Come to the Garden

Come to the Garden: A Novel 

Paperback, ebook, hardcover 

February 23, 2016

by Jennifer Wilder Morgan

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books 
• ISBN-13: 978-1501131332

A novel based on true experiences, Come to the Garden is a story about a woman's journey with a mysterious angel that encourages readers to believe heaven is closer than they think.

Years ago, author Jennifer Wilder Morgan served as a hospital volunteer, visiting critically ill patients--praying with them and listening to their stories. As she created a safe space for those of all faiths and backgrounds, patients began confiding in Morgan about the mysterious ways God speaks to them--from encounters with angels to reassurances from loved ones who've passed on. She witnessed the profound healing that occurs when people are permitted to talk about these experiences, and as a result, Morgan was inspired to share her own personal encounters with God in a novel.

In Come to the Garden, the main character Jenn wakes up on her birthday to find an angel introducing herself as Margaret in the backyard garden. Lately Jenn has been struggling to make sense of the mysterious ways God has been speaking to her and is trying to understand what he wants her to know. The angel takes Jenn back through her memories and life experiences, revealing how God has been connecting with her all along. Under the angel's guidance, Jenn finally understands the messages God has been speaking to her, in her dreams, divine promptings, and unexplained coincidences. It becomes clear that God is a faithful and persistent pursuer of the human heart.

Framed as a series of conversations between Jenn and her guardian angel, this unconventional and charming narrative will strike deep into the hearts of anyone seeking a greater understanding of God. Based firmly in scripture, Come to the Garden is an inspirational fictional story about the surprising ways God works in our lives and affirms that heaven is truly closer than we think.

My thoughts:  COME TO THE GARDEN is more memoir than fiction.  Based on fictionalized real accounts the author tells about meeting her guardian angel and discussing her whole life with her - which made it a little too memoir-ish for me (I'm not a fan of memoirs.)  I believe in guardian angels and I believe God connects with us and that things happen to us for a reason. COME TO THE GARDEN is a good reminder of that. I'm glad Ms. Morgan was among the blessed who met angels, knew it, and was brave enough to tell of it.   If you like memoirs, meeting angel stories, and need confirmation that God cares about us, then COME TO THE GARDEN would be a good read. 4 stars.