The Gardener came out this week. I just about forgot to post on it. I read this a couple of months ago and enjoyed it greatly. I was attached to the main character. He’s a big guy with a disfigured face and a desire to help his mother and save the world. He’s smart and brave and I liked him very, very much. I also loved the fact that the beautiful girl he falls in love with is perfectly suited to him. She can love him back because of the life she’s lived. She’s unspoiled. She has no expectations about what a boyfriend should look like.

This is why I read books—relationship. I want to see characters interact with good guys and bad guys. I don’t care so much about the backdrop to the story. You may set the story in Zanzibar, or LA. You may choose a fantasy or a mystery as the vessel for your story. And those things are important. I have my preferences. But character trumps all, I think. I want to see characters I love triumphing over something.

So I liked The Gardener a lot.

I also loved the premise—human greenhouses are very creepy. I’m sure you’ll agree.

I’m not altogether sure that the baddie was convincingly bad or the ending was sufficiently earned. It felt a little too easy to me. I think the book had potential that wasn’t quite reached. And yet, I enjoyed it greatly and will definitely buy the next SA Bodeen book that comes along.