“The Mulberry Tree” by Jude Deveraux

“The Mulberry Tree” by Jude Deveraux
2002, Atria Books
ISBN: 0-671-01421-8

“The Mulberry Tree” by Jude Deveraux takes a wealthy woman, a protected and isolated woman named Lillian and turns her world upside down when her husband dies. She and her husband had loved each other and had a fairy tale marriage. Lillian’s husband Jimmie was one of the wealthiest men in the world, but he left his wife a ramshackle house to live in. The rest of his wealth went to his brother and sister.

This is a story of what happens to Lillian, who has to change her name and go into hiding to avoid the press and Jimmie’s siblings who would take from her even the falling down house. She has no interest in fighting the will and wants only to curl into a ball. But, there is a mystery here and gradually she finds out just what has been going on.

As Lillian comes back and makes a life for herself you will be fascinated to follow along.

We tend to think that people who have it all don’t need anything else. This story will show you something else.

I enjoyed “The Mulberry Tree” as I have other books I’ve read by Jude Deveraux.

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux

“First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux
2005, Atria Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-3714-1

I started it yesterday and finished it today. “First Impressions” by Jude Deveraux is a fast paced romantic mystery. I also like that the heroine and the heroes are getting along there and are solidly middle-aged.

It’s a terrific triangle of the heroine Eden Palmer and two, count them two heroes, Jared the FBI agent and Braddon the local lawyer.

Eden is bequeathed a very old house in North Carolina by a woman she hasn’t seen in years. But, the house doesn’t come to her peacefully. There is someone out there killing people and Eden finds herself being watched by the FBI.

The action is fast and furious at times. And to watch those two heroes vying for Eden’s favor and love is rather interesting. Lovely to have two men fawning over you at the same time whatever age you are.

It’s funny. It’s heart warming. It’s a really good story.

“Lavender Morning” by Jude Deveraux

“Lavender Morning” by Jude Deveraux
2009, Atria Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-3720-2

I have two great things I love to do. I eat and I read. Today I almost ate this book. “Lavender Morning” is a huge romantic mystery. I can’t tell you the end because that might spoil the book for you, but I can tell you that you’re not going to be able to put this one down.

At the heart of it is a gentile old woman named Edi and a young girl named Jocelyn. Edi takes Jocelyn under her wing when Joce was about 10 years old. Joce’s family doesn’t pay too much attention to her anyway, so they don’t miss the time she spends with Miss Edi. The love these two have for each other is endearing.

And, then the old woman dies. And, in her will she leaves something of extraordinary value to Joce.

Read this book to see how a lonely and grieving young woman can follow the last wishes of an older woman to find her destiny.

“Someone to Love” by Jude Deveraux

“Someone to Love” by Jude Deveraux
2007, Atria Books
ISBN: 978-0-7434-3716-5

“Someone to Love” by Jude Deveraux was delicious. It was just delicious. This is a mystery/romance with ghosts and love and a mystery that you won’t figure out until the end.

Jace Montgomery has been grieving for the last 3 years, ever since his fiancé was said to have killed herself just before they were to have been married. It just doesn’t add up and Jace has been unable to move forward.

Poking around he happens to find a picture of an English mansion with a note to his fiancé, Stacy, with arrangements made to meet her the day before she died. He can’t tell who wrote the note; it is not signed.

But, he is determined to discover what drove her to her death. This is the first clue he’s had that something was going on in Stacy’s life. He moves to England and buys the house.

With the house comes the village of Margate full of eccentric folks. They all want to know what he is doing and try their hardest to ferret out any information about him. He is just as determined that his quest remain private.

Into all of this comes a reporter, Nigh, short for Nightengale. She is home to Margate from 10 years of reporting all over the world. She is tired and has seen more than she needs of violence and death. But, the reporter in her won’t stop.

And, then there are the ghosts who appear to both Nigh and to Jace. You can guess who falls in love here? "Someone to Love" is a terrific book. You won’t want to put it down.

“Remembrance” by Jude Deveraux

“Remembrance” by Jude Deveraux
1994, Pocket Books
ISBN: 0-671-74459-3

It’s fascinating to read about Soul Mates. People who aren’t happily married might wonder if they are ever going to meet their soul mate. People who are ecstatically in love with somebody might think they’ve already met their soul mate. People just flat out want to be with that one person who will please them no matter what, who will love them forever and who will be the only person in the world who understands them.

Jude Deveraux has given this wondering a twist in “Remembrance”. It’s a totally fascinating yarn. She examines the issue of Soul Mates in a way I’ve just never considered before. She takes us on a story of two people through lifetimes of involvement with each other and who just can’t seem to get it right.

You can see how the traits of each of the characters in this story; not just the soul mates themselves either, but the folks who surround them carry forward from one lifetime to the next.

It’s heartening to think that you’ve got more than one lifetime to get it right.

This is a hilarious story, it’s a gripping story, it’s a sentimental story, but above all it is a romance that stretches for hundreds of years.

If you like romances and dabbling in New Age stuff do see if you can get a copy of, “Remembrance” at your library or click on the links in this blog entry to get it at Amazon. And, more fun than that you can do your own past life regression and see if you can’t come up with something interesting to think about.

“Wild Orchids” by Jude Deveraux

“Wild Orchids” by Jude Deveraux
2003, Atria Books
ISBN: 0-7434-3712-8

I’ve read a lot of books and most of them have been pretty good. Some have been absolutely fabulous. That’s what “Wild Orchids” by Jude Deveraux is. Absolutely fabulous. I don’t even want to tell you much about it so as not to spoil the story at all for you. I think I’ve been holding my breath for the last 50 pages or so. I just let it out.

Look into my eyes. You want to read this book.

Ford is the writer. Jackie is his assistant. They didn’t start out that way. The story goes back and forth from Ford’s point of view to Jackie’s. That in itself was interesting as hell to me.

Look into my eyes. You want to read this book.

My usual benchmark of a good book as to the amount of it I spend with a Kleenex in hand was spot on. This was definitely a three-hanky tearjerker. But, it appears there might be a new standard for me to judge good books; how often I find I’m holding my breath. “Wild Orchids” kept me on the edge of my seat.

It’s a rollicking good story. I was hooked from the first page and stayed that way to the last. It is a certainty that I will be seeking out other books by Jude Deveraux to read.

Normally I would say something about the story. Today I will not. What I want to know is that you’re intrigued enough to go find it at your library.

Look into my eyes. You want to read this book.