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The Garden Key

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Every time aspiring writer Madeleine Winger spots her crush at church or at the music store where she works, she is sure she will need a defibrillator to restart her beat-skipping heart. Maddy doesn’t even know his name. She’s never spoken to him either.Peter is the guitar player in a local up-and coming-garage band, who has made a fresh recommitment to his faith. He vowed to stop treating the women he dates as “disposable.” No more hit and quit it for him. When they finally bump into each quite literally (in keeping with rom-com criteria guidelines), and they start to date, Maddy will be the first woman Peter has dated in a year. Can Peter and Maddy wrestle with their desires and keep their thoughts in check, and their hands off of each other? Abstinence seems so old-fashioned, but is it the key to a meaningful relationship for Peter and Maddy?The Garden Key is a tale of pure sweetness and beauty, as two people learn to love each other without the distraction of physical relations. Their romantic comedy brims with relationship trials and triumphs which will have you laughing out loud, and you’ll probably cry too, so keep a tissue or two handy.The Garden Key is the first novel in THE GARDEN KEY TALES series. This series in the Young/New Adult/Christian romance genre will move you as it illustrates the urgent need for faith in our lives, especially when it comes to love relationships.

348 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

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64 people want to read

About the author

Angela Dolbear

15 books13 followers
Interests include: Hiding God's Word in my heart, leading worship with my hubby Tim, writing fiction and songs, singing, some light housekeeping, scheduling dental appointments for others, endlessly hurling tennis balls for my angelic Golden Retriever, and feeding and caring for a baby squirrel.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
1 review2 followers
February 21, 2010
It's worth every penny. Just buy it and read it now.

Christian art (writing, music, etc.) tends to be very prescribed and repetitive. Not this book. This is really something new and enjoyable.

I'm in the book's audience age range, and I can tell you that it is truly inspiring and helpful on issues of purity and sex when you're trying to honor God. Why? Because it's REAL.

It's easy to tell someone what not to do. But it's hard to apply what seems like a very difficult and strict principle to everyday life. There aren't many examples to live by. Realistically, how do you avoid temptation and still figure out if you're with the right guy? Just read this book. It's an awesome example of how to (realistically) live by the right standards.

Madeline (the protagonist) is not the overly sexualized "modern woman," (because how many women actually live a Sex In the City lifestyle?) nor is she the "I'm wearing an invisible chastity belt" perfect Christian girl. She's a woman. A flesh-and-blood, three dimensional, real and relatable girl. And that's what makes this story precious. So many romance novels strive to conform to the same old formula. But this is a story. A real, true, beautiful, original story that lets the reader enjoy all the details and themes that life inherently weaves throughout our lives.

And PS, I won't give away the ending, but I will tell you that you'll cry. :-)
Profile Image for Ellen Maze.
Author 43 books249 followers
February 10, 2010

The Garden Key, by Angela Dolbear, is a book that could literally change the world. I can say with all honesty that if every man and woman on the planet read this book and let its words sink deep into their souls; when they opened their eyes the following day, they would be transformed. Changed into people who love. Really love. And in a real sense, The Garden Key is about real love.

Told in first person, in a voice that I fell in love with immediately, The Garden Key sweeps you into the protagonist’s life; so much so, you feel like part of her story. You experience her joy, her triumph, her failures and her desire for redemption. And because the author walks so closely with God, it is impossible to not be encouraged in your own faith as you travel through novel-time with the main character.

Promos for The Garden Key entice the reader with comical, tongue-in-cheek, real-life phrases, dialogue and emotions. Honestly, I was convinced by one line from the web site which said something about ‘lust and cheeseburgers.’ But rest assured, the promises on the back cover can be trusted absolutely. As I read this book, I did indeed laugh often, and I cried with joy aplenty. I wept most when I reached the last page—do you know why? Because the novel ended.

Selfishly, I wanted it to go on and on and never conclude. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this book so much (it was literally un-put-down-able), that when I got to the last 30 pages, I forced myself to stop reading. I would not pick it up for fear of finishing it. For over a week, I peeked at it next to my desk, carried it to my room to peek at it as I went to sleep—but I would not read on. I was terrified to see the last page. I was horrified that this wonderful, sweet, delightful, insightful and encouraging book was about to be finished. I have never read a book like this and I thank God that he led me to read it now. I have no doubt in my mind that I will read it over again many times.

And thankfully, the author hinted that she would write another. Praise the Lord.

Ellen C Maze, author Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider Rabbit Chasing Beth Rider by Ellen C. Maze
Profile Image for Melanie.
4 reviews2 followers
November 11, 2010
The Garden Key, by Angela Dolbear, is a book that holds a most beautiful and pure relationship. This book has the sagacity that could change the way we treat our relationships, and even change the world. Angela’s gift for writing human emotion is precisely affecting. It is a book that hooks you in from the first sentence and doesn’t let you go. Her words and message are both powerful, and rewarding. I encourage all to read The Garden Key, we all have a great deal to learn from this story. Praise Angela for her honest and brilliant writing! - Melanie Poitras
Profile Image for Krisi Keley.
Author 11 books80 followers
January 12, 2011
The Garden Key is a love story in the truest sense.

This might seem like a rather dramatic and grandiose pronouncement but, in actuality, I think it’s the most simple, straightforward way to describe this beautiful novel. It’s the story of how self-proclaimed “lust-o-holic” Madeleine Winger meets and learns to really love the man of her dreams (and she’d admit, of her fantasies), the handsome musician she’s long admired from afar, Peter. It’s not a love story in the truest sense because it’s the sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always down-to-earth story of her struggles with the desires all human beings experience, of her trials and tribulations with her college roommate who gives in to those desires or of her frequently painful relationship with her critical and looks-obsessed mother. It’s a love story because of all those things, but a love story in the truest sense because, in it, Maddy and Peter, a very normal, very modern, very real couple, each of whom has learned the hard way that lust is not desire and that desire, however beautiful and natural, is not, in itself, love, seek, with the help of God, to give one another the only truly unique gift we have to give our spouse – that is, ourselves.

Such a rarely portrayed and beautiful view of the sacredness of the sexual relationship and the celebration of a desire that yearns to respect and cherish, rather than objectify and lust, would have been enough to make this one of my favorite and most recommended novels, but there are so many other things that add to its excellence. Author Angela Dolbear has created an incredible love story that encompasses love in all its facets. Not only is it witnessed through Maddy and Peter’s relationship with one another, but also in their relationships with their family and friends. Every character in this book is so amazingly developed that the reader can identify and sympathize with the foibles and the triumphs of every one, in such a way that the self-giving, forgiveness and patience required for every type of love – marital, familial and fraternal – and the strength in faith which supports that challenge to love truly is attested to in every relationship.

An outstanding and recommended novel, not just for young people bombarded with and often pressured by a culture that frequently glorifies and normalizes submission to one’s every desire, but also for anyone who has experienced the emptiness of the promise that this will fulfill and who believes real love should and can be something so much more.
Profile Image for Sophie.
29 reviews2 followers
September 19, 2016
There is nothing I can say that will ever do this book justice.
It was truly so exquisite with all of the romance and faith.
It is about a girl named Maddy (Madeleine), who attends a Christian college and works at a music store. She is what everyone would call a "goth" always wearing black clothes and thick black eyeliner.
She has a crush on a guy who visits the music store she works in often, but she is always too afraid to talk to him.
But God brings these two amazing people together one day.
They've both had bad pasts of sleeping around with people etc. So when they are brought together by the hand of God, they have to learn what a true relationship is like.
Their relationship with God and each other is truly so captivating and beautiful.
I don't want to give too much away, but I have never read a book that is so romantic but believable. It is a book that will make you cry, smile and dream about having your very own guy just like Peter's beautiful character.
I think this is the first book I have read that is so faithful and it taught me a lot about God.
When you pick this book up, you won't want to put it down again.
Now words can ever describe how beautiful, amazing and incredible this book is and I am so happy that I had the chance to read it.
I love everything about this book.
I highly recommend everyone to read this book, everyone needs this book in their lives.
Definitely 5/5 stars.
Profile Image for Carolina Galrão.
49 reviews24 followers
December 17, 2016
So, first of all I need to thank Angela for sending me this amazing book!

This book is about this girl Maddy (Madeleine) who has this huge crush on this gorgeous guitar player (Peter) but doesn't have the courage to talk to him.

But then God bring these two amazing people together and we go on this journey with them through everything that means being on a relationship.

Both of them have an history with sleeping around with people they have just met and they decide not to follow that path this time, even tough it's so hard for both of them.

I must say that I was a bit afraid at start with all this Christian themed book, but I must say it surprised me! It really gives us a different perspective on God and I highly recommend it to everyone!

You won't be disappointed!
15 reviews
June 16, 2022
This book was written by my mom's best friend, and my mom suggested I give it a read. I was expecting a dark, gothic Victorian book with modern-day influences. I'll admit, I was hesitant to continue on because I'd never read any Christian books before. I had the expectation of it being too pandering, too preachy, too "high above", so to speak.
Instead, I read a very grounded and motivational story focused on improving the relationship with God in a very real, not idealized life. It truly blew me away and Dolbear sets her writing apart from other Christian media. I will note that The Prince of Egypt and Heaven is For Real are my only reference points for Christian media, but even The Garden Key exceeds many of my expectations that I have for secular books.
I do want to be as unbiased as possible, from both a secular and Christian view. So I will be first addressing what I didn't like and what I did in that order. Allow me to preface this, though: what I like soars above what I don't.

The writing feels teenage in nature. Granted this can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for. On one hand, it's an easy read for people wanting to dive into Christian books and can be considered educational for those just entering or in college that want to find advice on the dating scene, but at times it feels like there is too little to enjoy in the story. This problem goes away once I read past the first quarter of the book, but I believe this may have been a creative choice. We're seeing an immature worldview by Madeleine at first that turns into a more mature, wise one. There are hints of selfishness in Maddy's prayers in the beginning, but they start to shape into genuine outreaches for help from the Lord for her friends, family, etc.

The book has a slow start. This may seem shocking because a lot happens in the beginning, but to me, it felt tiring to get through the first ten chapters. There are some character tropes in here, like the popular girl, the goth girl (Maddy), the girl who sleeps around, and the lovable goofball. Thank goodness they don't stay stagnant though; Dolbear does a phenomenal job showing their growth throughout the story, but we'll get back to that.

I can't help it, I have to talk about the good.

This book is laser-focused on a greater relationship with God. Yes, the romance is a huge part of the story, but there's no denying that the cast and God come together tightly throughout. God works in big and small ways, and like in real life, some things may appear bad but are for the good of the people that experience them. I won't spoil the details, but side characters including Bethany, Maggie, Anthony, and even Matt all experience losses and gains in ways that can happen in life. All of these characters have had growth by the end, whether that be through a mistake realized or a situation fixed.

Maddy and Peter's romance is relatable and real. Maddy and Peter have some of the best chemistry I've seen between two lovers in a while. The best part is that there are no shocking miracles and no Hollywood-style romance where the main characters fall in love and get married in a week. This is truly a slice-of-real-life romance that has flaws between the two families and within each other's friend groups. This was a major relief for a couple of reasons, but one of them is that I just finished reading Next Year in Havana and was tired of the insta-love trope. I love this couple and the relationship highly reminds me of what my boyfriend and I are like together. Their struggles, their triumphs, and most of the challenges these two face I can relate to.

The cast of characters is vibrant and alive. No two characters feel the exact same. There may be similarities, but I can clearly visualize Bethany, Suzette, and Maggie as their own people. I connected with a lot of the characters here, felt disgusted by the actions of some, and felt similar joy and dread. Dolbear is truly talented at writing character interactions. Some chapters may have long paragraphs of dialogue, but they never detract from the message or they are important pieces of the story.

The humor is top-notch. I love the sarcasm, the jokes, and the mannerisms of these characters. Although some of the references are a little out of date, I still could see my friends and me talking to each other the same way Maddy and her friends do. The late-night In-N-Out runs seem to be a staple among Californian college students, myself included.

You don't have to be Christian to enjoy this book. The main character is goth and loves burgers. She is not a pastor and she doesn't preach about the Lord every single second, but as the reader, you can see how deeply she loves the Lord and how often she prays to Him. This is not a "bad girl gets saved and rejects her past life" story, but rather she is already a follower of Christ. It shows the reader how Maddy remains who she is while still keeping an important promise. She doesn't stop being goth because her parents or friends think it's "un-Christian", she doesn't stop listening to the music she loves because it's unholy, none of that. This is a genuine character drama that focuses on a person's growth and not a personality change.

I think Dolbear really hit it out of the park with this one. If this has been on your reading list for a while, go read it and see what I mean. It will make you consider your own walk with God and perhaps strengthen it as it did for me. If you aren't Christian, I think you'll still enjoy the strong message of faith and perseverance in whatever life throws at you.

Score: 4.7/5.0
Profile Image for Elisabeth Wheatley.
Author 34 books4,806 followers
February 19, 2019
This is WAY out of my genre. New Adult Contemporary Romances are seen on this blog about as frequently as the Loch Ness Monster, but here we are. And yes, a full five stars. I had intended to just try the first book, but felt the Holy Spirit tell me to get the whole series right away. Now I kind of get it. Books 2 and 3 are coming right up in my TBR!

The plot:

In case you hadn’t figured it out from the blurb, this book is about sex. Or, more specifically, two people seeking to honor the Lord with their sexuality. This book threw me a lot of surprises, from the array of backgrounds of the characters to the complicated plot twists. (I have been disappointed by Christian fiction before. I'm sorry.) Not everything in the story is tidy, not everyone does the right thing, and not everyone who does the wrong thing keeps on doing the wrong thing by the end.

I deeply appreciated the complexity of the story. It’s hard to describe it beyond that. The author portrays a Spirit-led life along with a flawed world remarkably well. It’s the kind of book I think you have to embrace a certain mindset to appreciate, but I deeply appreciated it. This book came at a time when I didn’t know I needed it.

The characters:

Madeleine or Maddy has the distinction of being neither girly nor tomboy. It was refreshing to read a Christian heroine that’s a “goth” and the characteristic isn’t seen as something that needs to be changed. For those of us who rock out to Skillet and like leather, there’s a lot to give us hope. (She’s also named after Queen L’Engle.)

Peter is just freaking adorable, okay? I just…so sweet. He’s the kind of character that gets accused of setting unrealistic expectations, but guys like that exist, I promise. <3 Read it. You'll love him and you'll love them together!

Suzette, Josiah, Leah, and even Bethany and Andrew were supporting cast that brought life and depth to the story with unique backgrounds and scenarios. Many of them were recognizable for anyone who’s been in a church long enough. Parts of their stories were heartbreaking, but with a glimmer of hope at the end of all of them—realistic on all counts.

There was a standard of writing I’m not used to seeing in debut authors. If you’ve hung around this blog long enough, you know I’m not a fan of literary “body fat.” There were some places where I felt ten words could’ve been four words, but...we'll call that a stylistic choice.

Overall: a quirky, honest, and squee-worthy Romance novel I can wholeheartedly recommend!
Profile Image for Angela Dolbear.
Author 15 books13 followers
February 2, 2010
I'm re-reading this novel now as I am in the editing stage of its sequel. It may seem narcissistic, but I'm really enjoying the story and the characters. It's a moving and charming tale of love, commitment and coming of age. And it's funny. It confounds me that I wrote it! The pressure is on for its sequel to measure up.
Profile Image for Rachella Tirazona.
79 reviews
March 28, 2017
Angela Dolbear is nice enough to send my a copy of her book. It’s the first book of The Garden Key Tales.

As a devoted Christian, this book fits for everyone. It talks about something people loose right away: Purity

Nowadays, we get news about teenage pregnancy, couple loosing their purity even though they are not married. People tend to forget how bad it is to lose your purity before marriage.

This novel tells about Madeleine, a college student. She has a crush on someone and tries to avoid lust.

This book centers God. I love how religious Madeleine is and how each bible verses fits in her situation. I couldn’t stop smiling.

The story keeps me reading. I get to finish it in one day, Isn’t it amazing?

Im a huge fan of Peter and Madeleine. I love their religious relationship and how they avoid lust and stay pure before marriage. They are my ideal couple.

I advise everyone to read this. The author speaks a lot about keeping yourself pure and I love how a good example she was.

I finally found a Christian themed book.

Im willing to review the other books in the series if I will be given a chance.

This book is 5/5 stars!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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