Riley, a semi-retired, unmarried bureaucrat with too much time on his hands lives beside new neighbour Cynthia, an assertive ex-sportswriter with a new-found love of gardening. 

They meet under unfortunate circumstances unfortunate for Riley because he just happens to be helping himself to a few perennials from Cynthia's backyard when she arrives to take possession of her new home. Riley would never actually steal anything, he just takes advantage of opportunities. But it's too late, his reputation is soiled and in his bumbling way must strive to restore it.

Although both Cynthia and Riley share a passion for gardening, their competitive natures cause their developing relationship to blossom and shrivel, as their repressed emotions heat up slowly like a well made compost heap.

The East Coast Gardener October 
Review by Carla Allen

"It's easy to find a "How-to" book on gardening; there are thousands of them out there, all containing helpful information for a variety of purposes. Unless you possess a highly retentive memory, these weighty volumes must be referred to time and time again. It's a refreshing change when one discovers a gardening book that concentrates not on the mechanics of this subject, but rather provides an enjoyably light and comical view through the actions of its characters.

In Soiled Reputations, David Hobson introduces us to the "Tim the Toolman Taylor" of the gardening world. Meet Riley, a bumbling, sometimes conniving neighbour to Cynthia. Both are passionate gardeners with a well rooted sense of competition. 

Over the garden gate, actually more often than not, through the garden fence, Riley finds himself in one misadventure after another as he tries to keep pace with Cynthia's grand plans for the garden. Throughout the book, Riley has to deal with a persistent pest -- Cynthia's 12 year old nephew, Gneville.

A large percentage of Soiled Reputations is dialogue, a literary challenge that Hobson has handled very well. He portrays the emotions of both characters and the humour of each situation repeatedly, whether it be the battle of the big pumpkins, the hydroponics fiasco or the grand garden tour. 

Each of the ten chapters highlights situations which gardeners will find familiar; however the outcome of each is decidedly unconventional. Through it all, the relationship between Cynthia and Riley experiences spurts and setbacks. In the last chapter, my personal favourite, several scenes are described in hilarious detail. 

Surely the shared experiences of reciprocal wheelbarrow rides will cement the fragile bonds of this friendship and we can expect more escapades? Hobson prefers to leave the hole in the fence for that possibility".

"A delightful read. Even though it's fiction, it could be true".

Shirley Crowe BC, Canada

Hi Dave:
"Got it.  Read it. Loved it.  You REALLY made me laugh.  Abashedly I confess
to recognizing my own thoughts on occasion.
Thanks for making a dreary winter day sparkle with mirthful sunshine."

Janet Main.
"I loved it. It was a hoot."

Jane D. . .
"I really enjoyed it."

Lynne. . .
"I almost fell out of my chair I laughed so hard"

Anne S . . .
"A wickedly funny book!"

Judy B. . .
"You'll never look at another garden gnome or think about a slug without a
good laugh after reading this humorous book!"

Ines M. . .
"Enjoying your book immensely -- getting strange stares from my non-gardening husband as I read,  (maybe I'm L.O.L.) I finished last night, and will be passing it on to friends to read."