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The Jacaranda Tree
by
A sense of foreboding had gripped Arabella Darracott when she left England to join her guardian in Australia. Years before, a gypsy fortune-teller had told her of a purple blossomed tree, a far-off shore, and a devil of a man who awaited her there. Now, as she neared her destination, shipwreck and fate threw her into the arms of a rescuer, "Demon" Lucien Sinclair, the noto
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Mass Market Paperback, 365 pages
Published
March 1st 1995
by Warner Books
(first published 1995)
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This is my kind of Brandewyne: there's passion, a subplot that didn't overtake the romance, colorful prose minus the purple, well-researched historical details and last, but never least, a dreamy alpha hero who didn't ever waver from his devotion to the heroine (hell yeah!).
Here are the five reasons why I love Lucien, and the main reason why this Victorian romance set in 1850s colonial Australia held my interest.
*mild spoilers*
Lucien is . . .
1. Compassionate. Nursed Arabella back to health afte ...more
Here are the five reasons why I love Lucien, and the main reason why this Victorian romance set in 1850s colonial Australia held my interest.
*mild spoilers*
Lucien is . . .
1. Compassionate. Nursed Arabella back to health afte ...more
The Jacaranda Tree was the last historical romance Rebecca Brandewyne published with Warner Books. After that, she wrote a few contemporaries, some paranormals, and a few gothic mysteries for Harlequin, before disappearing from the writing field. The Jacaranda Tree is about an Englishwoman seeking employment in Australia and finding love with a former convict after they get shipwrecked together. It's a murder mystery written in Brandewyne's gothic style.
Since I wrote this comment in my reading u ...more
Since I wrote this comment in my reading u ...more
This author is pretty much my favorite romance novelist, but I found myself a little disappointed with this book.
While I was still able to enjoy it, I pretty much figured out the main "twist" if it can even be called that, I was pretty disappointed with the way she unveiled who the real killer was. Then again, since I pretty much knew from the get-go who it was going to be, I have a biased opinion.
Anyway, despite the predictability, it's a sweet story of love. ...more
While I was still able to enjoy it, I pretty much figured out the main "twist" if it can even be called that, I was pretty disappointed with the way she unveiled who the real killer was. Then again, since I pretty much knew from the get-go who it was going to be, I have a biased opinion.
Anyway, despite the predictability, it's a sweet story of love. ...more
I know that The Jacaranda Tree is touted as a classic romance; however, this was way too dated for me. The romances of the 90s are strange and really not for me. Times have changed and I'm cool with purple prose not flowing on every page that I read.
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Exciting story, filled with adventure, danger, and passion. The setting is colonial Australia, and the author does a wonderful job describing and creating the atmosphere of the early years of Australia as a penal colony. The hero, Lucien Sinclair, has been sentenced and served a prison sentence of 14 years hard labor for a crime he didn't commit. He then strikes it rich in the gold fields during the early gold rush period. He also becomes a prominent leader of the "Emancipation" movement. During
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I think this may have been the first romance novel I ever looked at. It was something my mom left lying around. Ha.
So, 2020 Beth is a bit aghast this is one of the first romance novels I ever read. Rife with racist slurs, dubious consent, on page rape, and a host of other problematic themes and issues, I've decided to quit after getting about halfway through.
I like the Australian setting and the discussion about the plight of those sent to Australia as punishment for crimes they may or may not h ...more
So, 2020 Beth is a bit aghast this is one of the first romance novels I ever read. Rife with racist slurs, dubious consent, on page rape, and a host of other problematic themes and issues, I've decided to quit after getting about halfway through.
I like the Australian setting and the discussion about the plight of those sent to Australia as punishment for crimes they may or may not h ...more
I read this decades ago and loved it so much that I decided to re-read it.
This is HOT romance with adventure, historical history, plus a murder mystery all rolled into one.
Wherever Rebecca Brandewyne is, I wish her well. Her books were always amazing. It was awesome having a bestselling author in my own hometown.
This is HOT romance with adventure, historical history, plus a murder mystery all rolled into one.
Wherever Rebecca Brandewyne is, I wish her well. Her books were always amazing. It was awesome having a bestselling author in my own hometown.
J'ai beaucoup aimé : L'histoire, les personnages (j'aime les personnages de caractère comme Lucien, qui ont bossé pour avancer dans la vie), le lieu (Australie), différent des autres livres A&P se passant à la même époque.
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I should've known that the jacaranda bonsai I planted a week before scooping this up at a Goodwill was an omen. The bonsai, like my interest in this book, never grew.
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4 and 1/2 Stars! Another Great Romance from Brandewyne and Another Great Escape, this time to 19th Century Australia
Brandewyne serves up a suspenseful tale of 19th century Australia and a society that consisted of those trying to recreate London in the far continent, the Exclusivists, and those sent there against their will, primarily convicts, who struggled to survive, and once freed became the Emancipists, looking to better their lives.
Set in the period 1855-1870, this is the story of Arabell ...more
Brandewyne serves up a suspenseful tale of 19th century Australia and a society that consisted of those trying to recreate London in the far continent, the Exclusivists, and those sent there against their will, primarily convicts, who struggled to survive, and once freed became the Emancipists, looking to better their lives.
Set in the period 1855-1870, this is the story of Arabell ...more
Really good historical romance..
Belle histoire et héros insupportable lol
Gothic Romance....good leisure reading.
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