Wednesday, July 15, 2015

In the Garden trilogy

Someone the other day asked if I was a fan of Nora Roberts and I have to answer that with an emphatic yes! I have several of her books and she's another summer time author for me. I find I read a lot of her stuff in the summer. One of my favorite trilogies of hers (I have a few, maybe I'll spotlight those another time) is the In the Garden series.

Blue Dahlia (In The Garden, #1)
Recently widowed Stella Rothschild has found a new love in Logan Kitridge. But there is someone who isn't happy about Stella's growing feelings for Logan: the Harper Bride, an unidentified woman whose grief and rage have kept her spirit alive long past the death of her body.

Black Rose (In The Garden, #2)
A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night...

At forty-seven, Rosalind Harper is a woman whose experiences have made her strong enough to bend without breaking--and weather any storm. A widow with three grown sons, she survived a disastrous second marriage and built her In The Garden nursery from the ground up. Through the years, In The Garden has become more than just a thriving business--it is a symbol of hope and independence to Roz, and to the two women she shares it with. Newlywed Stella and new mother Hayley are the sisters of her heart, and together the three of them are the future of In The Garden.

But now the future is under attack, and Roz knows they can't fight this battle alone. Hired to investigate Roz's Harper ancestors, Dr. Mitchell Carnegie finds himself just as intrigued with Roz herself. And as they being to unravel the puzzle of the Harper Bride's identity, Roz is shocked to find herself falling for the fascinating genealogist. Now it is a desperate race to discover the truth before the unpredictable apparition lashes out at the one woman who can help her rest in peace...
 
Red Lily (In the Garden, #3)
Three women learn that the heart of their historic home holds a mystery of years gone by, as number-one bestselling author Nora Roberts brings her In the Garden trilogy to a captivating conclusion, following Blue Dahlia and Black Rose. A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night...

Hayley Phillips came to Memphis hoping for a new start, for herself and her unborn child. She wasn't looking for a handout from her distant cousin Roz, just a job at her thriving In the Garden nursery. What she found was a home surrounded by beauty and the best friends she's ever had-including Roz's son Harper. To Hayley's delight, her new daughter Lily has really taken to him. To Hayley's chagrin, she has begun to dream about Harper-as much more than a friend...

If Hayley gives in to her desire, she's afraid the foundation she's built with Harper will come tumbling down. Especially since she's begun to suspect that her feelings are no longer completely her own. Flashes of the past and erratic behavior make Hayley believe that the Harper Bride has found a way inside of her mind and body. It's time to put the Bride to rest once and for all, so Hayley can know her own heart again-and whether she's willing to risk it.


All three books are really great, but I think Blue Dahlia is maybe my favorite. Nora always develops characters really well and the characters in all three books are really fantastic. We have Stella who comes to town looking for a fresh start. She soon meets Logan, who comes off as a pain in the ass, but a sexy one. We have Rosalind (Roz) who owns the garden center Stella is hired to manage but she also owns the Harper House, which has been haunted for as long as anyone can remember. The problem is that things are certainly more active as far as haunting activity, so Roz hires an investigator (Mitchell) to sort things out. Except Mitchell and Roz basically fall in love which sends the Harper Bride ghost over the edge. Cue book three, where Roz's son Harper falls in love with Hayley. Hayley is new to town and literally rolls up pregnant and in dire straights. We meet her in book one, but she doesn't get her story until book three. But Hayley and Harper fall in love which sends the ghost into overdrive because of the unborn child. It's like the ghost sees herself in Hayley. 

If you love traditional romance novels without obscene or vulgar language, with a good story line? Easily this trilogy will fit the bill, but anything by Nora Roberts will. Truly. But I love this series for the summer because the stories all take place in the summer and with the garden theme running throughout, it's a nice set of books to read while relaxing in your own garden. 

These books have been out for awhile so you will be able to find them at online discount stores for very cheap, otherwise if you like to have them all at once and on your e-reader, Barnes & Noble and Amazon has those sold together. 

1 comment:

Jen Mc said...

I am not a HUGE fan of hers. I have heard a lot of people rave about this series. You have encouraged me to give it a try.

I hope you are all well!