He needed me. For nearly twenty years, those three words dictated the life of Lillian Manville. Quiet, unassuming, and overweight, Lillian did anything to please her husband, the self-made billionaire James Manville. Since the age of seventeen, she had obeyed this powerful older man's every command and in return she received a life beyond her wildest dreams. Elaborate mansions. Trips around the world. The finest jewels and the most luxurious fashions.
But when Jimmie dies suddenly in a plane crash, Lillian's pampered life comes to an abrupt halt. She learns that Jimmie has bequeathed all of his riches to his devious siblings, Atlanta and Ray, except an old farmhouse in small-town Calburn, Virginia. Lillian soon discovers a well of secrets that connect to a long-ago tragedy concerning a group of boys hailed as the "Golden Six."
Lillian's unexpected circumstances quickly transform her. She loses weight, and, with the help of Matthew Longacre, a kind, handsome local man, renovates the farmhouse and develops her own thriving business. Although Lillian's new life seems as strong as the mulberry tree firmly planted outside her farmhouse, there remain secrets that threaten to uproot the past she cherished and the future she will fight to protect.
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"I really enjoyed this Jude Deveraux book. It had just the right mix of romance and mystery with a lot of great character development. Even though the story is a bit far-fetched (why else do we read fiction?), the plot kept me entertained and interested. As Lillian/Bailey's life takes on new twists and turns, you really rout for her to come out a winner in the end. I would definitely recommend this book to all of Deveraux's fans and any who want to try her out."
— Linda (4 out of 5 stars)
“Deveraux’s touch is gold, and her protagonist combines innocent appeal with wry experience in a way that readers will surely find irresistible.”
— Publishers Weekly" This is a heartwarming piece of fiction. The mystery we have to solve is also interesting. The author keeps the secrets coming open slowly with each new piece tying together with the earlier. A great read. "
— June, 2/18/2014" Definitely a page-turner with some unexpected twists and turns. It's a good book to read if you want something light but entertaining. "
— Line, 2/12/2014" This is fun summertime lighthearted read. I tend to like books that protray strong women characters, in fact, lots of times the women turn out stronger then they originally belief themselves to be and this is one of those. "
— Laurie, 2/12/2014" This was an easy read. It had some romance to it, plus mystery. Pretty fun and light. I read it while I was on a food detox though and there was a lot of writing about food, so that made it a bit tough. :) "
— Shannon, 2/6/2014" It was a quick read. Liked the beginning and end..the middle got a bit long. Way to go for girl empowerment! "
— Elizabeth, 1/30/2014" Quick reading. It caught my interest right away. "
— Diana, 1/14/2014" this book isjust ok, unfortunately it's so out of reality. "
— Sheryll, 1/13/2014" I really enjoyed this book. I have it so anyone wants it let me know it is yours or it will be donated to the local library. "
— Kathleen, 1/11/2014" This book was so wonderful i didn't want to finished but wait for a while to let it last.Learned to depend on myself. "
— Owusua, 1/9/2014" I enjoyed this story but wish there had been a cookbook attached. The main character enjoys cooking and mentions many things that made me hungry. How she was able to buy some of the exotic ingredients in a small village store, I'll never know. "
— Wendy, 1/7/2014" An okay romantic thriller from Jude Deveraux. Entertaining enough but she's written better. "
— jen8998, 12/29/2013" Good book with a unique story-line, but it was a little bit of a downer with so many people doing horrible things to each other. "
— Miriam, 12/28/2013" The story was very good. It got wordy at times, and there were too many minor characters, I think. But it was a good chick-lit mystery. "
— Tamalam, 12/25/2013" This is a great read! "
— Karen, 10/27/2013" I think there was too much left out in this abridged edition. "
— Margaret, 8/6/2013" This book was great. I never knew where it was going to go - so that was enjoyable for me! I also just really felt a connection with the character and did not want to put the book down! "
— Caroline, 7/12/2013" Okay normally I really like Jude Deveraux but this book was just okay for me. There were a lot of characters on the edges of the plot that I found myself struggling to keep track of who was who and wondering why I cared. Overall it was a decent book but not likely one I will pick up and read again. "
— Brooke, 6/26/2013" I really enjoyed this one. It read like I was listening to it or watching it. "
— Leah, 6/11/2013" It was cute and I enjoyed it but there was so many questions that went unanswered. The story could have been so much better if there were a little more details. I thought there would be a more pivotal scene around the mulberry tree but there really wasn't. "
— Karen, 1/24/2013" I like Jude Deveraux's books because they are fast, fun and easy to read romances with a little bit of drama added. "
— Niki, 1/10/2013" I needed a good romance novel that was not as trashy as most... "
— Erica, 11/25/2012" this was a great book i enjoyed it very much but at first it is an older person book but i found the book intreging and insightful "
— Amber, 11/1/2012" It was a fun read that made me want to cook and eat most of the time I was reading it. I enjoyed the first half more so than the last part. It dragged just a bit. "
— Angela, 8/19/2012" good, but not as good as Wild Orchids. "
— Lesli, 5/30/2012" great book!! enjoyed it till the very last page!! :) "
— Yashfa, 2/18/2012" Loved this story and its characters. I will always remember the mulberry tree. "
— Lia, 9/15/2011" Jude Deveraux never fails to keep me glued to the story until I've finished. "
— Cynthia, 7/27/2011" An intriguing premise, exciting plot twists. A good read. "
— Wilmina, 6/7/2011" A little slow in the beginning, but it came together in the end, and was surprised with the answers to the questions everyone wanted to know during the book! "
— Rose, 5/1/2011" Its very good book. and i liked it very much..:) "
— Amudhasenthil, 4/28/2011" Lillian has been married to billionare Jimmie Manville for 16 years when he suddenly dies in a plane crash. As the will is read she is left with nothing but an old run down farm in Virginia with a note asking her to solve the secret. What secret she does not know but will find out. "
— Joanne, 4/4/2011" This is a heartwarming piece of fiction. The mystery we have to solve is also interesting. The author keeps the secrets coming open slowly with each new piece tying together with the earlier. A great read. "
— June, 3/18/2011" Me gusto aunque es más de intriga que romance, hubiera querido un poco más de interaccion entre Mat y Lilian. "
— Gisela/chise, 2/23/2011" The story has so many twists and finding out the truth about the 6 Golden Boys as the story unfolds is quite a suspense. "
— Christle, 2/19/2011" Loved it, as i do all her books. This was about a plump woman who finds herself after her husband dies and leaves her almost nothing. This was something she needed to find for herself. "
— Jennifer, 1/30/2011" I enjoyed reading this book. There was an bit of mystery, love, and she changed her life. "
— Sue, 1/17/2011" Jude never disappoints. Different from her other creations. <br/> <br/> "
— Janice, 12/30/2010" I know I read this book, but I can't really remember it. It has been a long time. "
— Kinsley, 12/29/2010" Hands down, my favorite romance novel--none others have beat it in the last four years' worth of my reading. Story line was creative in itself--Deveraux signature. Crystal clear imagery, killer suspense, and jaw dropping character connections and disclosures. Suitably and eerily perfect title. "
— Annakrizia, 12/17/2010" Lillian became "Bailey" because she went into "hiding". James (Jimmy) Manville was a mystery man but also her husband who gave her everything, maybe. This was a good read. "
— Joanie, 11/24/2010" It was a quick read. Liked the beginning and end..the middle got a bit long. Way to go for girl empowerment! "
— Elizabeth, 10/26/2010" its good but not typically quintessential of my Jude Deveraux but i like it porn kinda on the violent side but overall great book terrible ending could be more interesting. "
— Coraline, 10/13/2010" Okay, not stellar, it passed the time. "
— Monica, 10/2/2010Jude Deveraux is the author of more than forty New York Times bestsellers, including For All Time, Moonlight in the Morning, and A Knight in Shining Armor. She was honored with a Romantic Times Pioneer Award in 2013 for her distinguished career. There are more than sixty million copies of her books in print worldwide.
Karen Ziemba is an Earphones Award-winning narrator and a Tony Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer. In 2000 she received the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress, along with the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards, starring in Susan Stroman and John Weidman’s hit musical Contact. She also starred as “Roxie Hart” in Chicago and “Rita Racine” in Steel Pier, for which she received her first Tony award nomination as well as Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations. She is also active on tours to American cities and has made appearances in television series dramas.