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This HaBO request is from Julia. Spoilers ahead for this historical:
I remember reading this book and the plot was VERY similar to The Flame and the Flower. Beautiful, innocent female is on the London docks and runs into trouble. Strapping, handsome American sea captain rescues her and she ends up on his ship. They arrive at his plantation and at some point they get married. There is a woman who the hero has known since childhood. She hates the heroine because she wanted the hero for herself. Heroine is intimidated by the beautiful childhood friend of the hero.
Heroine does not see much of the hero as he is always working. She mostly hides in the bedroom because she has no idea how to run a house and deal with servants, and she is freaking out. At some point she gets pregnant. She finally gets upset and leaves.
Heroine ends up working in a boarding house with her son Adam, who is now six. Hero starts working at the house under an assumed name and the hero and heroine are reunited. Apparently, he has been looking all over for her since she left six years ago. I distinctly remember this part because I never could figure out how the plantation kept running while he was gone for six years.
Anyhoo, they go back to the plantation and the childhood friend dies in a fire.
Thus, the beginning storyline follows The Flame and Flower pretty closely, but the long separation and baby named Adam are different.
If this book doesn’t exist, I may be confusing two different books! Please help, this is driving me nuts.
I also have to think how much the hero has changed in six years that the heroine wouldn’t immediately recognize him.
Lost Lady
by Jude Deveraux
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sounds like great catnip
I’m pretty sure this is one of the “Lady” books by Jude Devereau. When I read it in the 80s I remember thinking it was a complete copy of Flame and the Flower. Maybe Lost Lady (James River Book 2)?
Rachel, I thought of that series too, but it’s been so long since I read them I wasn’t sure. The description for Lost Lady sure sounds like it could be it.
I’m want to ! !
I also think this is Lost Lady by Jude Deveraux. Except the heroine had a daughter named Jennifer. The hero didn’t work at the boarding house but rather had to stick around and court his wife to make her go home with him. Via millions of roses and a circus.
Oh My God. This is it. You guys figured it out!!!! You are the BEST! I can’t believe it, it’s been forever since I read it so I was hazy on a few of the details buy, yeah, it’s the Lost Lady by Jude Devereaux.
Thanks!!!!
I was also thinking of Jude Deveraux. The heroines’ adventures all bring them to James River plantations in Virginia. Lost Lady may be the one. My romance-loving neighbor and I shared this series back in the day.
I was just looking up Lost Lady and realized that I also remember reading River Lady, which is COMPLETE crazy sauce.
im looking or a science fiction romance about a woman on a space ship that went into stasis with the rest of the crew but something went wrong and she woke up thousands of years later and every bodies dead except a guy trying to kill her and aliens have found them but have never heard of humans