What do you think?
Rate this book
Landry #4
Hidden Jewel
Sheltered from sorrow, innocent young Pearl thrives in the sunshine of a loving home... except for the haunting nightmares of her earliest years, and the dark family secrets she worries will one day shadow her destiny...
Raised in a New Orleans mansion filled with kindness and laughter, Pearl dreams of becoming a doctor. With all the finest families wishing her well, her high school graduation party is almost as festive as Mardi Gras itself. But still, she fears that she will never know the essence of romantic passion, or her family's buried secrets. Yet her summer job in an elegant old hospital is fascinating... and an experienced intern is eager to share his friendship with her.
But the sultry Louisiana heat cannot dispel her family's sinful legacy, the snakelike treachery of a man who threatens Pearl's innocence, or an awful portent of disaster. After a cruel accident befalls one of Pearl's twin brothers, the bayou that seized him beckons to Ruby, who flees, tormented, back to her Cajun roots. Pearl's faith in her mother abides, but she cannot hold back her tears when her other brother falls deathly ill, and her father retreats into his own bourbon-soaked world.
Pearl's dreams of success swirl away with the hurricane winds, and she journeys to the swamps in search of her mother and the shocking truth of her heritage. In the warm embrace of a gentle Cajun man, she discovers a blessed refuge. But, until the storm clouds clear, Pearl cannot savor the springtime sweetness that always, always seems beyond tomorrow...
Raised in a New Orleans mansion filled with kindness and laughter, Pearl dreams of becoming a doctor. With all the finest families wishing her well, her high school graduation party is almost as festive as Mardi Gras itself. But still, she fears that she will never know the essence of romantic passion, or her family's buried secrets. Yet her summer job in an elegant old hospital is fascinating... and an experienced intern is eager to share his friendship with her.
But the sultry Louisiana heat cannot dispel her family's sinful legacy, the snakelike treachery of a man who threatens Pearl's innocence, or an awful portent of disaster. After a cruel accident befalls one of Pearl's twin brothers, the bayou that seized him beckons to Ruby, who flees, tormented, back to her Cajun roots. Pearl's faith in her mother abides, but she cannot hold back her tears when her other brother falls deathly ill, and her father retreats into his own bourbon-soaked world.
Pearl's dreams of success swirl away with the hurricane winds, and she journeys to the swamps in search of her mother and the shocking truth of her heritage. In the warm embrace of a gentle Cajun man, she discovers a blessed refuge. But, until the storm clouds clear, Pearl cannot savor the springtime sweetness that always, always seems beyond tomorrow...
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
139 people are currently reading
3742 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,075 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 28, 2009
The beginning of this book was a let down, compared to the first 3. So I actually had to put it aside and read a few other ones before I picked it back up. But after I was finished the first few chapters it got so good.
Read
November 11, 2022J’ai pris un peu plus de temps à embarquer dans l’histoire. Déjà c’est un gros gap d’années entre le tome 3 et 4, environ 16 ans. J’ai apprécié les rappels des tomes précédents sous différentes formes.
Perle est intéressante à suivre parce qu’elle a une personnalité très logique et a vécu une enfance plus douce que sa mère Ruby. Sa personnalité forte fait du bien. Ruby était malgré tout toujours dans le repli.
L’histoire tourne autour d’un gros drame, d’une grosse situation. Ce qui est différent des autres tomes et qui est un peu moins enlevant. Vers la moitié du roman, d’autres péripéties s’ajoutent et ça amène le rythme effréné des autres tomes.
Petit coup de coeur pour Jack.
Perle est intéressante à suivre parce qu’elle a une personnalité très logique et a vécu une enfance plus douce que sa mère Ruby. Sa personnalité forte fait du bien. Ruby était malgré tout toujours dans le repli.
L’histoire tourne autour d’un gros drame, d’une grosse situation. Ce qui est différent des autres tomes et qui est un peu moins enlevant. Vers la moitié du roman, d’autres péripéties s’ajoutent et ça amène le rythme effréné des autres tomes.
Petit coup de coeur pour Jack.
October 11, 2013
First the errors. Ruby made a big deal about giving Pearl her luckly dime (No idea why as it did nothing to help Ruby the last 3 books), but correct me if I'm wrong....Didn't Ruby put that dime around Gisselle's ankle when she was in a coma? and then never visit her again? So how did she get that dime back? I doubt Gladlys Tate was making sure Ruby got all her sisters things after she died. And the other error is a silly one which should have really been picked up by an editor. Pearl tell's Jack to just call her Ruby. Oh dear.
Now to the story, I liked the story. Pearl did find herself in a situation with a man that I think could have easily been avoided. She's not naive like her mother so I'm not sure why she wasn't wiser to him. But other than that I did really like Pearl. And I loved her brothers. The scene with Jean had me tearing up. Why is there always so much tragedy in these books? I was really disappointed with both Ruby and Beau in this book. Both of them should have known better and Beau was completely spineless, turning to drink when you still have children that you should be looking out for. Ruby was totally off her rocker in this one, sleeping on graves, talking to cats and sometimes killing them? As there seemed to be to many cat's bones mentioned in this book. I loved the scenes Pearl has with Jack in the Bayou. He seems like a nice guy and I felt there love story was much more realistic than Ruby's and Beau's was.
Overall a nice addition to the series but not as strong as the others, would have also liked the epilogue to have told us about Pearl's life in the future.
Now to the story, I liked the story. Pearl did find herself in a situation with a man that I think could have easily been avoided. She's not naive like her mother so I'm not sure why she wasn't wiser to him. But other than that I did really like Pearl. And I loved her brothers. The scene with Jean had me tearing up. Why is there always so much tragedy in these books? I was really disappointed with both Ruby and Beau in this book. Both of them should have known better and Beau was completely spineless, turning to drink when you still have children that you should be looking out for. Ruby was totally off her rocker in this one, sleeping on graves, talking to cats and sometimes killing them? As there seemed to be to many cat's bones mentioned in this book. I loved the scenes Pearl has with Jack in the Bayou. He seems like a nice guy and I felt there love story was much more realistic than Ruby's and Beau's was.
Overall a nice addition to the series but not as strong as the others, would have also liked the epilogue to have told us about Pearl's life in the future.
August 31, 2011
Another case of a good series gone boring the longer it goes on. VC Andrews was very popular in her time, but the first books in each of the series was really great, the second books were treats that answered questions brought up by the first, but by the time the 4-5 books came along, it simply became too repetitive for my taste.
December 4, 2013
I was kind of disappointed with this book as it took a lot longer to get into than the first three books did. This book is told through Pearl rather than Ruby and it took a little while to get used to that fact. Around the sixth chapter or so is when the action started to pick up and the book became a page turner. It was still a good book overall. It just didn't have the feel of the first three books. I can't quite figure what the difference was, it just was.
Overall I am upset that this is essentially where this series ends. There are still some questions that need to be answered and mores story that needs to be told but unfortunately we will just never know as the next book (#5) is a prequel to the entire series. I'm not as thrilled to read that as I would have been had the story continued but I guess we will see how the book is as I cannot leave a series unread....My OCD just won't let it happen.
At this point in the series I would still recommend people to read this as it is good. There is so much heartache and happiness and suspense as only V.C. Andrews seems to be able to deliver. I still look forward to reading many more books by her.
Overall I am upset that this is essentially where this series ends. There are still some questions that need to be answered and mores story that needs to be told but unfortunately we will just never know as the next book (#5) is a prequel to the entire series. I'm not as thrilled to read that as I would have been had the story continued but I guess we will see how the book is as I cannot leave a series unread....My OCD just won't let it happen.
At this point in the series I would still recommend people to read this as it is good. There is so much heartache and happiness and suspense as only V.C. Andrews seems to be able to deliver. I still look forward to reading many more books by her.
November 5, 2015
Spoilers for this and All That Glitters.
I'm still pissed off at Ruby(bitch) and Beau(asshole) for the stunt they pulled and what they did to Paul(and Ruby forgetting about Jean when she could have helped him.) Not that I ever wish for something bad to happen to an innocent person in order to punish someone but I have to admit I spend half this book getting some satisfaction out of their well deserved misery. I was hoping she'd lose her marbles in book three but I guess it took a bigger push for her to realize the hurt she caused and finally snap. Too bad it's not permanent. idgaf I have no sympathy for her.
Beau is a useless coward, as usual. Dumb mofo falls down the stairs like a drunken idiot and breaks his leg, lol.
and how does Ruby not notice that her sons are pretty much replaying what happened with the brother's they were named after? I think that's the curse. Not her fuck-up with Paul.
Oh yeah. Pearl's "I'm so precocious but I'm VERY modest about it" act gets on my nerves a bit. Glad she's a iron willed girl who sticks to her guns though. Hard to find in these novels :|
And why the shit are there 3 people named Jack in this series?
I'm still pissed off at Ruby(bitch) and Beau(asshole) for the stunt they pulled and what they did to Paul(and Ruby forgetting about Jean when she could have helped him.) Not that I ever wish for something bad to happen to an innocent person in order to punish someone but I have to admit I spend half this book getting some satisfaction out of their well deserved misery. I was hoping she'd lose her marbles in book three but I guess it took a bigger push for her to realize the hurt she caused and finally snap. Too bad it's not permanent. idgaf I have no sympathy for her.
Beau is a useless coward, as usual. Dumb mofo falls down the stairs like a drunken idiot and breaks his leg, lol.
and how does Ruby not notice that her sons are pretty much replaying what happened with the brother's they were named after? I think that's the curse. Not her fuck-up with Paul.
Oh yeah. Pearl's "I'm so precocious but I'm VERY modest about it" act gets on my nerves a bit. Glad she's a iron willed girl who sticks to her guns though. Hard to find in these novels :|
And why the shit are there 3 people named Jack in this series?
September 8, 2021
This book, I gotta say, was a tad boring. I thought there was going to be a bunch of dirty laundry bringing the family down or the past coming back on Ruby. Which it did, sort of.
I definitely didn't think it was going to be Buster who tried to screw things up for Pearl.
I think she spent too much time out there looking for Ruby. Not that she should have stopped, but it could have been written differently to cut out the middle parts where absolutely nothing was achieved. I think it was on contrived to throw her and Jack together. That's fine and all, but it could have happened quickly. Shoot, the years that Paul and Ruby took to fall in love went by more quickly than Jack and Pearl.
Either way, it was a meh finish to the series and I hope the next is better.
I definitely didn't think it was going to be Buster who tried to screw things up for Pearl.
I think she spent too much time out there looking for Ruby. Not that she should have stopped, but it could have been written differently to cut out the middle parts where absolutely nothing was achieved. I think it was on contrived to throw her and Jack together. That's fine and all, but it could have happened quickly. Shoot, the years that Paul and Ruby took to fall in love went by more quickly than Jack and Pearl.
Either way, it was a meh finish to the series and I hope the next is better.
June 4, 2009
This was a good book. I liked the storyline, but I have to admit, it dragged on a bit with Pearl looking in the bayou for her mother. The storyline was good, but at some point made little sense. Also, I found an error in the book. When Pearl meets Jack, he doesn't know what to call her, (Pearl, Ms. Andreas, etc). She says to call her Ruby. That's a misprint. It should've been to call her Pearl. I thought I missed something and reread it 5 times before I realized it was a printing error.
Now I'm going on to the last book in the series. This was one of the better VC Andrews series. I have to say I've enjoyed every book in this series so far.
Now I'm going on to the last book in the series. This was one of the better VC Andrews series. I have to say I've enjoyed every book in this series so far.
May 18, 2017
Hmmm... honestly not sure about the rating I should slap on this since there were tons of annoying stuff about it, but there was one thing that did kind of have potential and that's Pearl's search for her mom. Or rather, the mystery of where on earth Ruby ran off to. Pearl's efforts to find her were boring and filled with stupidity at best.
As for the negatives-- it's the usual. Flat protagonist (who, like her mother, is a naive idiot), insta-love, repetitive wording (which is also guilty of 'saying' instead of 'showing'), stiff unrealistic dialogue (which might be bc of the setting, but since it's never made explicit what decade it's in, it does not help this series' case) and actually, I felt like a lot of the text was just long passages of dialogue or thoughts that were basically regurgitated summaries of events in the past books. Also, at one point Pearl tells Jack to call her Ruby, which made no effing sense.
That being said, if you really must read a book of the series, pick up this one and be done with it. It really does mention all major plot points of the previous 3 without you having to trudge through 300+ pages for each previous book.
As for the negatives-- it's the usual. Flat protagonist (who, like her mother, is a naive idiot), insta-love, repetitive wording (which is also guilty of 'saying' instead of 'showing'), stiff unrealistic dialogue (which might be bc of the setting, but since it's never made explicit what decade it's in, it does not help this series' case) and actually, I felt like a lot of the text was just long passages of dialogue or thoughts that were basically regurgitated summaries of events in the past books. Also, at one point Pearl tells Jack to call her Ruby, which made no effing sense.
That being said, if you really must read a book of the series, pick up this one and be done with it. It really does mention all major plot points of the previous 3 without you having to trudge through 300+ pages for each previous book.
June 16, 2018
Enquanto lia o quarto volume, pensava no quanto esta história me tinha cativado e sabia que tinha que aguardar pelo tão esperado último volume...
August 30, 2020
1/5
The absolute worst VC Andrews book in existence (of what I have read).
Nothing was redeemable about this, not from our new voice of Pearl, to the ruination of the old voice Ruby, to the love interests, and dramas. It was overreacted bullshit that wasn't even interesting. It was fucking boring.
First off, the ruination of Ruby. Ruby literally is trash within this book. She is not redeemable in any sense and actually worsens from the last book from her perspective. She is a flighty mother who is obsessed with voodoo (like bitch get a life) and leaves her ill child who is in critical need and in need of his mother for no fucking reason. She says "oh nina talked to me through the dead, blah blah blah." I don't give a fuck, Ruby. You are still a shit mother, who honestly if I was Beau (and we all know I feel about Beau) I would have divorced your ass during this period. You're the reason why your son was getting worse, why your daughter was almost raped by your old abuser, you are a piece of shit, Ruby.
Second, Pearl is fine I suppose but not anything noteworthy. If anything, she is so walked over by people because of her innocence. Like this girl is supposed to be so scientific but omg she be trusting her mother's psychotic breakdowns by the heart, believing in mumbo-jumbo like it was a word of the holy grail (thats a joke to religion, as I am an athiest and do not even know what the holy grail is haha). She is not interesting, nor anything interesting really happens to her. Yes, she is molested by almost all the men in this book (in different ways): the first Jack (the doctor), her father (stripping in front of her, like wtf it doesn't make sense in this context), and Buster (the idiot who tried to buy Ruby from her grandfather and is looking for a sex slave (cough cough I mean wife). Like that seems like so much happened within this book, right? So how could it be boring as I report to you all?
Because everything seems rushed for shock value but nothing is that shocking when many of this stuff is shit from other VCA books. Nothing for this character is unique. You are literally following her, following her crazy-ass mother. Nothing is special in this book.
And finally the relationship. Bayou Jack (because we have to differentiate the two because some idiot named 2 characters the same fucking name in the same book) is fine, essentially, but this was insta-love. Nothing special. Nothing I was dying to watch. Nothing steamy. Just boring ass vanilla shit. Like nothing to make me love him or crave him. He just is a nice guy.
I feel like I'm wasting my time at this point; however, I want to read every VCA book ever because I apparently wanna torture myself after being an avid reader of her/his (ghostwriter's) books when I was younger. But this was complete shit.
The absolute worst VC Andrews book in existence (of what I have read).
Nothing was redeemable about this, not from our new voice of Pearl, to the ruination of the old voice Ruby, to the love interests, and dramas. It was overreacted bullshit that wasn't even interesting. It was fucking boring.
First off, the ruination of Ruby. Ruby literally is trash within this book. She is not redeemable in any sense and actually worsens from the last book from her perspective. She is a flighty mother who is obsessed with voodoo (like bitch get a life) and leaves her ill child who is in critical need and in need of his mother for no fucking reason. She says "oh nina talked to me through the dead, blah blah blah." I don't give a fuck, Ruby. You are still a shit mother, who honestly if I was Beau (and we all know I feel about Beau) I would have divorced your ass during this period. You're the reason why your son was getting worse, why your daughter was almost raped by your old abuser, you are a piece of shit, Ruby.
Second, Pearl is fine I suppose but not anything noteworthy. If anything, she is so walked over by people because of her innocence. Like this girl is supposed to be so scientific but omg she be trusting her mother's psychotic breakdowns by the heart, believing in mumbo-jumbo like it was a word of the holy grail (thats a joke to religion, as I am an athiest and do not even know what the holy grail is haha). She is not interesting, nor anything interesting really happens to her. Yes, she is molested by almost all the men in this book (in different ways): the first Jack (the doctor), her father (stripping in front of her, like wtf it doesn't make sense in this context), and Buster (the idiot who tried to buy Ruby from her grandfather and is looking for a sex slave (cough cough I mean wife). Like that seems like so much happened within this book, right? So how could it be boring as I report to you all?
Because everything seems rushed for shock value but nothing is that shocking when many of this stuff is shit from other VCA books. Nothing for this character is unique. You are literally following her, following her crazy-ass mother. Nothing is special in this book.
And finally the relationship. Bayou Jack (because we have to differentiate the two because some idiot named 2 characters the same fucking name in the same book) is fine, essentially, but this was insta-love. Nothing special. Nothing I was dying to watch. Nothing steamy. Just boring ass vanilla shit. Like nothing to make me love him or crave him. He just is a nice guy.
I feel like I'm wasting my time at this point; however, I want to read every VCA book ever because I apparently wanna torture myself after being an avid reader of her/his (ghostwriter's) books when I was younger. But this was complete shit.
July 27, 2016
3.5 stars: This is the conclusion to the Landry series (book 5 is a prequel, so...yes. This is technically the ending). And we now have Pearl as the narrator, the daughter of Ruby and Beau is graduating high school in hopes of being a doctor. I'm not sure what year this book takes place in but I was really confused at how sexist the characters were. Almost ever nurse and doctor was discouraging Pearl because "being a female doctor was extremely difficult". Of course Pearl quickly gets in over her head since this is a VC Andrews book...a young, male doctor tries to seduce her. I'm shocked Ruby and Beau were so ok with her going to this strange man's apartment in the first place? Anyway, the plot was slow to get going but ended up being a refreshing plot, deviating from the normal Andrews tropes. One of Pearl's twins brothers gets into a fatal accident and Ruby loses it and turns to voodoo to "expel the curse" that has followed her during her life. It's up to Pearl to find her mother and save her from this destructive spiral. It was actually quite exciting to go on the journey through New Orleans seeing Pearl actually act intelligent (a rare trait for Andrews heroines) and meet a nice boy not obsessed with sex. The Landry's belief system was confusing and the medical anomalies certainly questionable but it was definitely a great read for this series if you can get past the slow start.
July 18, 2007
The first three books took us on a journey of Ruby Landry Dumas Tate Andreas's life. This is finally the first book that was not from Ruby's point of view, but the one of her daughter, Pearl.
Pearl was 18 years ago, has recently graduated from high school, and had twin brothers who were twelve years old. When one twin brother got bitten by a cottonmouth and died, Pearl's mother Ruby started to act odd and kept on saying that the tragedy was set off by the lies of Ruby's past. After that, she disappeared for a while and the twin brother who was alive got into a comatose state. Pearl's father was drowning himself in booze.
Pearl had to investigate her mother's life, and went back to her Cajun roots at the bayou to figure things out and to look for her mom. While at the bayou, some secrets slithered out, and Pearl finally understood her mom, where Ruby was coming from, and how her state of mind came to be.
Pearl was a true descendant of Ruby and Grandmere Catherine, for she was a strong woman, and had a mind of her own. The 4th book of the series was GOOD, but not AMAZING, ADDICTIVE like the three others were...
Now, onto "Tarnished Gold," the last book of the Landry Series by V.C. Andrews!
Pearl was 18 years ago, has recently graduated from high school, and had twin brothers who were twelve years old. When one twin brother got bitten by a cottonmouth and died, Pearl's mother Ruby started to act odd and kept on saying that the tragedy was set off by the lies of Ruby's past. After that, she disappeared for a while and the twin brother who was alive got into a comatose state. Pearl's father was drowning himself in booze.
Pearl had to investigate her mother's life, and went back to her Cajun roots at the bayou to figure things out and to look for her mom. While at the bayou, some secrets slithered out, and Pearl finally understood her mom, where Ruby was coming from, and how her state of mind came to be.
Pearl was a true descendant of Ruby and Grandmere Catherine, for she was a strong woman, and had a mind of her own. The 4th book of the series was GOOD, but not AMAZING, ADDICTIVE like the three others were...
Now, onto "Tarnished Gold," the last book of the Landry Series by V.C. Andrews!
August 17, 2016
This book reinvigorated my interest in the Landry series which was starting to wane after 3 books. Unlike, the other books, this one is told from the viewpoint of Pearl - Ruby's daughter - rather than Ruby. I think Pearl is a far more likeable character than Ruby and seems to have her head screwed on a bit more. When tragedy strikes the family once again, Pearl is the only one doing something about it unlike Ruby who has run away and Beau who is sitting around drinking. It's nice that there is a mix of city like and the bayou again and I'm pleased when it is a happy outcome for Pierre, although, I think Pearl should have been at his side when he started to get better as she put the most effort into his recovery!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2009
I enjoyed the series up to a halt on book 3. I only read this in order to complete the series. Pearl is one of the worst characters in a book. V.C. Andrews ruined Ruby, and should have kept her as narrator.
September 3, 2010
I really enjoyed the Landry books
I have many more of the VCA books to start reading I have almost all of her book, just missing a few newer ones. The ones I have are her older ones and they took forever to find.
I have many more of the VCA books to start reading I have almost all of her book, just missing a few newer ones. The ones I have are her older ones and they took forever to find.
April 17, 2012
V.C. Andrew books has always been one of my little guilty pleasures!
August 25, 2025
2.5 Stars
So...if you know one thing about me by now, it's that I love V.C. Andrews. Her twisted plots and insane characters are like a soap opera unfolding on the page in the most delectable way. However, this story lacked so much of the insanity I have come to expect, and therefore lacked a lot of the character V.C. Andrews stories are known for.
It took about 2/3rds of the story for things to even get going, and by that point I was so uninvested that I was just ready for things to be done. For that final 3rd I was pleased with where things went, but the payoff could only lift this star rating so high when the rest of the story was bland and boring and followed an uninteresting character through a relatively blah series of events. My least favorite V.C. Andrew book so far and it's not even close. Every other story of hers has been stellar (this is my ninth book by her now) but this one just really didn't do it for me.
So...if you know one thing about me by now, it's that I love V.C. Andrews. Her twisted plots and insane characters are like a soap opera unfolding on the page in the most delectable way. However, this story lacked so much of the insanity I have come to expect, and therefore lacked a lot of the character V.C. Andrews stories are known for.
It took about 2/3rds of the story for things to even get going, and by that point I was so uninvested that I was just ready for things to be done. For that final 3rd I was pleased with where things went, but the payoff could only lift this star rating so high when the rest of the story was bland and boring and followed an uninteresting character through a relatively blah series of events. My least favorite V.C. Andrew book so far and it's not even close. Every other story of hers has been stellar (this is my ninth book by her now) but this one just really didn't do it for me.
March 11, 2024
Probably one of my favorite VC Andrews novels. Lots of drama, good story telling, and a happy conclusion. I liked that there was voodoo and magic involved again. It made this story unique and interesting. Pearl is a great character in my opinion. She’s strong and smart and has a good head on her shoulders. These books are usually incredibly misogynistic so her character was refreshing. And I like that she found a man that was actually kind and didn’t have any ulterior motives when helping her.
While the ghost writer did rely on a death to write this story, I’m glad he didn’t fall back on any other of his usual storylines. There wasn’t any r*pe, despite the attempts. There weren’t any clueless adults, for the most part. And there weren’t a ton of characters being cruel just for the fun of it.
Overall, a great read!
While the ghost writer did rely on a death to write this story, I’m glad he didn’t fall back on any other of his usual storylines. There wasn’t any r*pe, despite the attempts. There weren’t any clueless adults, for the most part. And there weren’t a ton of characters being cruel just for the fun of it.
Overall, a great read!
August 7, 2024
I wish the series had ended with All That Glitters as I felt enough bad stuff had happened. The whole plot of this book existed on .
I also thought Pearl fell in love so quickly with that Jack guy and wondered how their relationship would pan out long-term as they didn't have much in common. She wanted to live in the city, and he wanted to live in the bayou. I wish the epilogue had shown us more of a future between them. I could see them living in Cypress Woods, the great mansion Paul had built for Ruby.
When I pick up my hold from the library, I'll read the prequel and finish the series.
I also thought Pearl fell in love so quickly with that Jack guy and wondered how their relationship would pan out long-term as they didn't have much in common. She wanted to live in the city, and he wanted to live in the bayou. I wish the epilogue had shown us more of a future between them. I could see them living in Cypress Woods, the great mansion Paul had built for Ruby.
When I pick up my hold from the library, I'll read the prequel and finish the series.
February 8, 2022
This book was a bit hard to read, I know I said they deserved punishment but this was cruel.
Beau and Ruby really felt out of character.
The theme of the past coming back to haunt them was also done badly.
It seemed like the writer tried to make it seem that Paul’s death was the reason but rather it felt like a repeat of the previous Pierre and Jean, mixed with what happened with Ruby and Giselle.
Pearl was a nice character though and Jack too. His hesitation at the ending surprised me though. I mean, maybe it’s only logical but still.
Beau and Ruby really felt out of character.
The theme of the past coming back to haunt them was also done badly.
It seemed like the writer tried to make it seem that Paul’s death was the reason but rather it felt like a repeat of the previous Pierre and Jean, mixed with what happened with Ruby and Giselle.
Pearl was a nice character though and Jack too. His hesitation at the ending surprised me though. I mean, maybe it’s only logical but still.
September 24, 2024
I found this book in the series boring and far too convenient in many plot points. I found myself often saying no, I don't want to read today. It's too boring, and while it's fiction, it really took a lot of ridiculous plot twists. While it follows some similarities in VC Andrews writing to this ghost writer, it just didn't have that umph behind it to draw me in and keep me interested. I won't be reading the last book in the series as my interest in these characters is completely gone.
April 10, 2018
Not bad! A little slower than the last one. I'm excited to read the prequel!
October 31, 2020
Not my favorite in the series. The first half of this book was a real slog to read through. A little too much Mary Sue in the main character for my liking. The romance was cute though.
December 13, 2025
This is such a great YA series.
August 6, 2017
Okay so it was alright.
I didn't like that Ruby went crazy. Nor did I like how this turned into some heroic story of a girl needing to save her family. I did really like Jack. I liked the Buster part and was horrified by his abuse. I felt disappointed though. And though it was said I believe Pearl moved to the Bayou and lived in that big house with Jack.
The following I wrote as I read.
The way she says Mommy bothers me BUT I called my mom that past that age so I can't really judge.
I'm shocked the twins got Ruby's uncle Jean's room. I thought she was keeping it a shrine.
Pearl is surprised the crowd grew quiet to hear her speech? They shouldn't have been noisy by that point anyway.
I had thought the twins would become evil when finishing the last book. Ya they are naughty but that's fine. Now I hope the parents don't die. I'll be mad.
Well after her breakup at least she doesn't have to go to school anymore and deal with those mean kids.
Wow!!!! This intern Jack. What a dick! All this talk like she has a sexual problem to convince her to have sex with him. I hate him.
Seduce??? What wretched word to describe what he said and did. That was trickery. I'm glad he didn't rape her.
Not happy Pearl didn't allow more to be done to Jack. Jerks like that need to be punished for their actions. She seems so confident that this guy will leave her alone. Geez!
I keep wanting to call Pearl Jewel. Lol Titles fault.
Thinking of her mom like a sister doesn't seem right to me.
Ahhhh stupid girl. When Jack traps her in the closet.
She's waaaaaayyyyy too worried about having sex. That something is wrong with her. Asking will she ever have sex. Seriously she's almost 18. That's it. Geez!
I'm not happy they convinced Ruby to not rush to Nina. You just never know. Once there I wasn't happy Pearl pressured her mom to leave but I'm sure it was creepy. Especially the dead black and white cats. And live lizard Earrings? I'd like to see that.
Jean can't die!!!! I'll be sad. I like those boys.
Funny how Jean and Jean are different names yet spelled the same. 😏
Odd how Ruby worked on Jean not Beau. He would have actually had more training. Though Ruby is more recent.
I thought it would be the parents. Did not see it being one of the boys. 😢 I didn't want anyone to die. Like when she gave up her dime. I thought oh here it comes.
Poor Pierre! I couldn't imagine.
I hope Ruby isn't killing herself. I don't like how much they frown on these superstitious stuff. Ruby grew up seeing it.
Well I'm glad she isn't killing herself so far. Still sad. Cruel to say she was going to visit Pierre then didn't.
I find the whole "gotta find Ruby or Pierre will die" thing a bit overdramatic.
Ok a bit weird. After Pearl and Jack had kissed and cuddled multiple times, Pearl asked Jack if he had a girl. Shouldn't that be something you ask before you kiss? Being that they aren't lying.
Could you imagine if they got intimate and her mom saw??? Geez!
Dang it! They did so it. Lol
Born in a hurricane?! 😏 Giggity! Lol
I was horrified by what Buster did. Glad she was raped.
Geez thought to be maybe frigid and instead she's a wild cat. Lol
- [ ]
I didn't like that Ruby went crazy. Nor did I like how this turned into some heroic story of a girl needing to save her family. I did really like Jack. I liked the Buster part and was horrified by his abuse. I felt disappointed though. And though it was said I believe Pearl moved to the Bayou and lived in that big house with Jack.
The following I wrote as I read.
The way she says Mommy bothers me BUT I called my mom that past that age so I can't really judge.
I'm shocked the twins got Ruby's uncle Jean's room. I thought she was keeping it a shrine.
Pearl is surprised the crowd grew quiet to hear her speech? They shouldn't have been noisy by that point anyway.
I had thought the twins would become evil when finishing the last book. Ya they are naughty but that's fine. Now I hope the parents don't die. I'll be mad.
Well after her breakup at least she doesn't have to go to school anymore and deal with those mean kids.
Wow!!!! This intern Jack. What a dick! All this talk like she has a sexual problem to convince her to have sex with him. I hate him.
Seduce??? What wretched word to describe what he said and did. That was trickery. I'm glad he didn't rape her.
Not happy Pearl didn't allow more to be done to Jack. Jerks like that need to be punished for their actions. She seems so confident that this guy will leave her alone. Geez!
I keep wanting to call Pearl Jewel. Lol Titles fault.
Thinking of her mom like a sister doesn't seem right to me.
Ahhhh stupid girl. When Jack traps her in the closet.
She's waaaaaayyyyy too worried about having sex. That something is wrong with her. Asking will she ever have sex. Seriously she's almost 18. That's it. Geez!
I'm not happy they convinced Ruby to not rush to Nina. You just never know. Once there I wasn't happy Pearl pressured her mom to leave but I'm sure it was creepy. Especially the dead black and white cats. And live lizard Earrings? I'd like to see that.
Jean can't die!!!! I'll be sad. I like those boys.
Funny how Jean and Jean are different names yet spelled the same. 😏
Odd how Ruby worked on Jean not Beau. He would have actually had more training. Though Ruby is more recent.
I thought it would be the parents. Did not see it being one of the boys. 😢 I didn't want anyone to die. Like when she gave up her dime. I thought oh here it comes.
Poor Pierre! I couldn't imagine.
I hope Ruby isn't killing herself. I don't like how much they frown on these superstitious stuff. Ruby grew up seeing it.
Well I'm glad she isn't killing herself so far. Still sad. Cruel to say she was going to visit Pierre then didn't.
I find the whole "gotta find Ruby or Pierre will die" thing a bit overdramatic.
Ok a bit weird. After Pearl and Jack had kissed and cuddled multiple times, Pearl asked Jack if he had a girl. Shouldn't that be something you ask before you kiss? Being that they aren't lying.
Could you imagine if they got intimate and her mom saw??? Geez!
Dang it! They did so it. Lol
Born in a hurricane?! 😏 Giggity! Lol
I was horrified by what Buster did. Glad she was raped.
Geez thought to be maybe frigid and instead she's a wild cat. Lol
- [ ]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2018
Pearl is a good character, but I found Ruby and Beau to have acted terribly and rather out of character, even though they suffered tragedy. Still an entertaining read, but I found Pearl’s story didn’t have the impact of Ruby’s.
June 2, 2015
I didn't know this one was part of a series until I finished it, but I do remember thinking that Ruby had enough backstory for her own book. I didn't enjoy the book as much as I wanted to, because while I felt like I should have been able to identify with Pearl over our similarities, I just couldn't. Or rather, I could, but then she'd say something a parent would say, or she'd narrate like a stuffy old matron, and the little bit of progress she'd made with me would be lost. I suppose the plot was pretty interesting, and Andrews managed to keep its convolutions from confusing me, but I found the whole thing just a hair far-fetched and the narration just a hair (okay, maybe more like 17 hairs) too stiff to really enjoy it. And I've got to say, not that it really made a difference to my enjoyment at the time of reading, Pearl is such a leaky faucet. She's always throwing herself on her bed to sob or realizing that tears are streaming down her cheeks or letting her tears mingle with the rainwater… It didn't bother me much as I was reading, but it's definitely coloring my perceptions of the character and her book now that I'm thinking back for this review. Overall conclusion, it wasn't a waste of the quarter I probably paid for it, but I won't be reading any of the other books in this series. I probably won't read anything from this author unless her characters are adults and the teaser-blurb really, really intrigues me.
September 5, 2016
This 4th book in the series is from the point of view of Pearl, the daughter of Ruby and Beau. She is graduating high school and ready to embark on her college studies of becoming a doctor. We see at the beginning of the book that she is mature for her age, just like her mother was. Pearl wants to know about all of the secrets her family holds, and Ruby tells her about the past. When the family is on vacation, tragedy strikes, leaving one of Ruby's twin brothers, Jean, dead from a snake bite. Pierre, the other twin, is left comatose, thinking the accident was all his fault, and losing the brother he was extremely close to. Ruby becomes mesmerized with her grandmere's magic, and disappears, thinking all this sadness happened because she did not visit her dying friend Nina who used to be their family cook. Pearl quits her summer job at the hospital to help find her mother and bring her back. She is led back to the bayou, back to Cypress Woods, where she meets Jack, one of the men who drills for oil on the land. He takes care of her, and even helps her recover from a run in with Ruby's near-rapist, Buster Trahaw. Jack and Pearl finally find Ruby one night in Cypress Woods. They let her finish a magic spell to get rid of the evil, and bring her back home so she can visit Pierre. Thankfully, Pierre recovers, and the family gets back to normal. Pearl starts college, and it looks like Pearl and Jack may have the real deal...I guess we'll see in the last book of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews