Lavender Morning (Edilean)

Remember the days when reading a romance was all about the romance, and not down-and-dirty, no-holds-barred sex scenes?

This newest book by Jude Deveraux is an enjoyable afternoon of reading. Jocelyn has inherited a lovely old mansion near Williamsburg, and upon arrival meets two men: one that was recommended as Mr. Right, and one that is so obviously wrong. While there are no surprises and the plot is predictable, the characters are likable. Lavender Morning is reminiscent of "Sweet Liar", though "Sweet Liar" is the better of the two.

I started looking up reviews because I had so much trouble with this book that I thought I was losing it. I've been a Jude D. fan for ages and what I liked most about her books were the deep characterizations. Even fantastic happenings had resonance because of the characters. I found this book confusing, shallow, silly, inconsistent on many details, boring and just not worth the effort. I finally gave up last night and put it on the "to be returned to library" pile only half read. Thanks goodness I didn't pay money for it. And I too found myself thinking this book was ghost written. There is a school of thought out there that once an author becomes famous enough, any old thing will do. Well, that's just not true. I'm not sure I'll even try another of her books.

I agree with the other reviews that felt this was written by someone other than Jude Deveraux. It is lacking her sense of humor and the fun she put in her other works. I know Jude has included time travel and other scifi elements to other books and they are far more believable than the nonscience fiction ending she threw into this story. I waited months for the release of this book and if I based my opinion on purchasing other Jude Deveraux books only from this one, I would not bother. Check this book out from the library if you must read it.

I found Lavender Morning to be a wonderful book with a little something for the mystery lover, and the romance lover alike. If you're looking for a steamy romance read, then I would suggest another book, as this is not it. I've read many other Deveraux books and though this is not like her others, I found it equally appealing. She has a way of making you feel like you're actually in the story watching it happen. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Jocelyn, and could understand why she made the choice that she did.

I would definitely read this book again and again. I could not put it down and found myself thinking about it even when I wasn't reading.

Whatever happened to the Jude who used to write books that kept me awake reading into the wee hours? This book has very little plot and what it does have is not interesting or believable. Half the story line doesn't even make sense. I couldn't make myself finish it. Boring.

I agree with the other reviews that felt this was written by someone other than Jude Deveraux. It is lacking her sense of humor and the fun she put in her other works. I know Jude has included time travel and other scifi elements to other books and they are far more believable than the nonscience fiction ending she threw into this story. I waited months for the release of this book and if I based my opinion on purchasing other Jude Deveraux books only from this one, I would not bother. Check this book out from the library if you must read it.

I found Lavender Morning to be a wonderful book with a little something for the mystery lover, and the romance lover alike. If you're looking for a steamy romance read, then I would suggest another book, as this is not it. I've read many other Deveraux books and though this is not like her others, I found it equally appealing. She has a way of making you feel like you're actually in the story watching it happen. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew Jocelyn, and could understand why she made the choice that she did.

I would definitely read this book again and again. I could not put it down and found myself thinking about it even when I wasn't reading.

Whatever happened to the Jude who used to write books that kept me awake reading into the wee hours? This book has very little plot and what it does have is not interesting or believable. Half the story line doesn't even make sense. I couldn't make myself finish it. Boring.

Lavender Morning is a good story, but not the best from Jude Deveraux. If this is the first Deveraux you read, make sure you try another story. This is not her best work.

The story is read by Gabra Zackman. The story was read well-- nice voice.

I enjoyed Jude Deveraux's Lavender Morning but somewhere past the middle of the book I started wondering when the romance would begin. I was thrilled with the southern mansion and the family secrets but missed the excitement of the romance building and escalating. It is only at the end of the book that you feel any love connection and it is very trivialized and rushed. I also would have liked to hear from Jude about her inspiration for the story as I am writing a time travel based in Virginia and think I know the house she described--but without her personal reflection on the book I can't be certain.

In Williamsburg, Virginia, the parents of Jocelyn "Joce" Minton come from different sides of the track. Her mom was the upper class elite debutante while her dad was a working class handyman. When Joce was five years old, her mom died. Her father remarried someone from his side of the tracks. Joce's maternal relatives cut her and her dad off due to his new family, which also include twin brats.

Joce fails to fit in with her new step-family, but finds her elderly neighbor Miss Edi Harcourt as an angel watching over her. When Miss Edi dies, Joce inherits her estate including an ancestral house in Edilean, Virginia. However, it is the 1941 letter that she finds that intrigues Joce. Though a bit hurt that her "grandma" Miss Edi hid her past, Joce arrives in town to investigate what happened to her beloved guardian angel during WWII. There she meets two hunks who are interested in her.

LAVENDER MORNING is a fabulous family drama filled with twists especially in involving Joce. The story line effortlessly rotates between WWII and modern times. Although too much coincidence occurs that move the inquiry too easily forward, fans will enjoy the optimistic contemporary romantic trip to Edilean and the bittersweet tragic events of the 1940s.

Harriet Klausner

I had some really trouble with this book. First, the ending seemed like she looked at the page count midway thru and said opps I have to end it NOW! Second, the romance seemed contrived and stilted. There is a triangle yet none of them seem to actually be involved in said triangle. And if a man were to propose after one somewhat chaste kiss I am gong to believe he is really just looking for a beard to hide is real tendencies. This is the second book that she has written that the main characters never made love. Is she scared of sex? Don't get me wrong I am not looking for smut, but a romance should have a mention of the physical side of there new love. Jude, please go back and reread some of you earlier work to refresh your self on why we love your books so much. You seem to have forgotten.

Well I must admit Lavender Morning is the last Jude Deveraux book I will buy. I have been a loyal fan since the Velvet series and I eagerly awaited her new titles. Lately I have found her books to be less intriguing than her earlier ones but this was one of the most boring books I have ever read. It had potential with the triangle and the war story but nothing happened. I kept waiting for interesting events, plot twists, sparks between characters, something ... anything to happen. And when I got the ending all I could think was there must be a chapter or two missing - it couldn't possibly end like that. There is no way that this is the same author who wrote all those lovely books like Knight in Shining Armour, Sweet Liar and Mountain Laurel. Well I won't be reading any new Jude Deveraux books again. Very disappointing indeed.

I absolutely LOVED this book! I thought that it was fast paced and it kept me very emotionally involved. The only problem I had with it was that I felt it needed MORE- particularly from Luke and Joce. They had a very sweet story - but it did not have enough follow through. I was heartbroken over Miss Edi's and David's lost years together. It was very tragic, unrequited love. The realization of what they both lost brought me to tears. I look forward to the future books- and am curious as to where she will take this story. I hope towards second chances maybe? Jude is an amazing author - I love how she writes!

I was afraid to read Lavander Morning when I realized it was a series but Jude Deveraux is one of the only romance authors I read so I took the plunge and was not disappointed. I hate that I have to wait for more because typical of Jude I fell for the characters!! I loved this book

Jude devereaux is one of my favorite authors and this book was a wonderful read. The story within a story was fun to follow. It wasn't her typical highland stuff either which was interesting I truly enjoyed the WW2 aspect.

Jude Deveraux new novel Lavender Morning I thought was a very well written book. It had some interesting characters and the storyline was fast pace and never boring.If you are looking for any great sex scences not! Pure Romance and a book about a variety of different personalities. This book made me laugh and to tear up.
Enjoy! True Love