Helpful Score: 3
This is a very enjoyable read. It has a couple of satisfying romantic story lines with good dialogue and humor.
Helpful Score: 2
Jude Deveraux's books have always been either hit or miss with me, and this one is a miss. The story line is a good one, but there's no flow to it at all. The ending seemed like it was pulled out of thin air when it was decided there were enough pages. While I plan to read the following books in the series, it is to see what happens to the other ladies and to see if the storylines improve. If someone asked me if I would recommend this book, I'd have to say no - don't waste your time.
Helpful Score: 2
This story grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me up too late that night and the next day I couldn't wait to jump right back into Jocelyn's life. Absolutely riveting and at no point was it even the least bit boring! I'm not much into the whole Civil War era or Colonial Williamsburg but the author didn't cram any of this down your throat but made it interesting and exciting even. The characters were believable and real and people you would actually like to know.
I instantly loved Luke and disliked Ramsey and his "your mine" attitude (he was overly familiar with Jocelyn and acting as if she was his destiny). I found his demeanor creepy and almost stalkerish. On the other hand Jocelyn had an instant friendship with Luke and camaraderie with his family but was distant and stifled with Ramsey's family. To me that said it all! I saw the ending coming a mile away or should I say 200 pages in but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and the many revelations that were a surprise. I totally loved this book and will be reading Days of Gold in the coming months.
I instantly loved Luke and disliked Ramsey and his "your mine" attitude (he was overly familiar with Jocelyn and acting as if she was his destiny). I found his demeanor creepy and almost stalkerish. On the other hand Jocelyn had an instant friendship with Luke and camaraderie with his family but was distant and stifled with Ramsey's family. To me that said it all! I saw the ending coming a mile away or should I say 200 pages in but it certainly didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story and the many revelations that were a surprise. I totally loved this book and will be reading Days of Gold in the coming months.
A pretty good book, I kind of guessed most of the plot , but had surprise at the last. I enjoyed it enough to order books 2&3 of the same series
Great Book, love this series
I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read!
Great book. Loved the ending....can't wait to read the next in sequal.
A wonderful story of love and loss. Joycelyn is left a house by Miss Edi, an old lady with whom she had a relationship that her family could not understand. Miss Edi knew her well and had plans for her after she (Miss Edi) died.
As a young girl, Jocelyn Minton lives between two worlds. Her mother had attended private schools but yet she married the handyman. After her mother died, Joce lived with her father, step-mother and two beautiful step-sisters. Sounds a bit like Cinderella but that is where the stories become different.
The neighbor, Miss Eli, became Joce's best friend and showed her many of the good things in life. A strong bond was formed between them and Joce felt she knew everything about Miss Eli. When she died, Joce learned that this was not so. Miss Eli left Joce her 18th century house in Edilean and a letter that creates a mystery.
Ramsey was the estate lawyer and in Miss Eli's letter, she told Joce that Ramsey was the man for her. Miss Eli was never wrong about affairs of the heart. The house came with a gardener, Luke, and two tenants, Tess, Ramsey's administrative assistant and Sara, the local seamstress.
Edilean is a small town and as with all small towns, everyone knows everything about everyone. Ramsey informed Joce that there was no money so she took out a loan and used her only skill - baking cupcakes - to make ends meet and settle into small town life.
Ramsey and Luke are cousins and both are smitten with Joce but for very different reasons. Joce's heart leans towards Luke but she remembers Miss Eli's prediction that Ramsey is the one for her. With a few more twists and turns, Ms. Deveraux keeps us on the edge of our seats to find out where all will end up.
This is the first book in a series and is written well enough to stand on its own but will make the listener want to keep going with the rest of the series.
The neighbor, Miss Eli, became Joce's best friend and showed her many of the good things in life. A strong bond was formed between them and Joce felt she knew everything about Miss Eli. When she died, Joce learned that this was not so. Miss Eli left Joce her 18th century house in Edilean and a letter that creates a mystery.
Ramsey was the estate lawyer and in Miss Eli's letter, she told Joce that Ramsey was the man for her. Miss Eli was never wrong about affairs of the heart. The house came with a gardener, Luke, and two tenants, Tess, Ramsey's administrative assistant and Sara, the local seamstress.
Edilean is a small town and as with all small towns, everyone knows everything about everyone. Ramsey informed Joce that there was no money so she took out a loan and used her only skill - baking cupcakes - to make ends meet and settle into small town life.
Ramsey and Luke are cousins and both are smitten with Joce but for very different reasons. Joce's heart leans towards Luke but she remembers Miss Eli's prediction that Ramsey is the one for her. With a few more twists and turns, Ms. Deveraux keeps us on the edge of our seats to find out where all will end up.
This is the first book in a series and is written well enough to stand on its own but will make the listener want to keep going with the rest of the series.
My favorite of Jude Deveraux's books....I love the characters, because each is so multi-faceted....The main character thinks she understands the men in her life, and her women friends, and then keeps finding a totally opposite side to their nature, and many secrets that are brought out to fill out the puzzle pieces...Which kept my interest throughout the book. A book written on several different levels, that can be interpreted as a simple story, or as I took it, a fairly realistic view of the many family secrets that make up a community, especially in a small southern town.
I am looking forward to the next of the Edilean series!
I am looking forward to the next of the Edilean series!
The first book of new series - will follow with Days of Gold. good book - looking forward to the follow up book. a love story with twists and turns, deception in a samll Virginia town.
Excellent book! I had a hard time putting it down!
First book I have read by this author, nice light read, although it was kind of obvious from the start the big secret, but maybe I've read too many of these kind of novels. Good holiday read.
Book keeps you interested from page one to ending.
this book was like 2 stories in one. It was slow in the parts for me but it got my attention again vert quickly. (Not a very romantic romance, no love scenes)But great twist at the ending.
LAVENDER MORNING
Jocelyn Minton was only five years old when her mother died. After her handyman father remarried, Joce never felt lonier-until she met Edilean Harcourt. Sixty years Joce's senior, Miss Edi was a kindred soul who understood her like no one else ever had. When Edilean passes away, she leaves all her worldy possessions to Joce-including an eighteenth-century house and a letter with clues to a decades-old mystery. The letter also reveals that Miss Edi has found the perfect man for Joce-a handsome young lawyer-and that a new life awaits her in Edilean, a small Virginia town. Curious to seek out her new destiny, Jocelyn moves to the tight-knit village and does indeed meet a man with his own hidden past. And as she pieces together the puzzle left by Miss Edi, shocking surprises about Joce's family's history-and her future-come to light.
Jocelyn Minton was only five years old when her mother died. After her handyman father remarried, Joce never felt lonier-until she met Edilean Harcourt. Sixty years Joce's senior, Miss Edi was a kindred soul who understood her like no one else ever had. When Edilean passes away, she leaves all her worldy possessions to Joce-including an eighteenth-century house and a letter with clues to a decades-old mystery. The letter also reveals that Miss Edi has found the perfect man for Joce-a handsome young lawyer-and that a new life awaits her in Edilean, a small Virginia town. Curious to seek out her new destiny, Jocelyn moves to the tight-knit village and does indeed meet a man with his own hidden past. And as she pieces together the puzzle left by Miss Edi, shocking surprises about Joce's family's history-and her future-come to light.
The prologue was so confusing I did not read the rest of the book. And I am typically a patient reader.
