Emma Jo Massey, 21, lives in a trailer with her granny,
Tandy Massey, and has a dream. In her small town of
Hickory, Texas, everyone knows everyone's business. For
three generations, it is common knowledge that the Massey
women had children out of wedlock. It is time for Emma Jo
to change that. In June when she marries Logan Grady, her
best beau since she was 16, she plans the biggest wedding
she can afford. She will invite the whole town to witness
her marriage to Logan, knowing it will be legitimate. At
the Hickory Health Services where she works, a well paying
two months assignment comes in.
It is to be an assistant to 82 year old Seth Thomas while he
recovers from hip surgery. Great pay to be put toward her
dream wedding, and she jumps at the opportunity. Seth, a
recluse, lives in a beautiful mansion he built for the
supposed love of his life. When the lady calls the wedding
off, Seth moves in alone. Logan begs her not to take the
job, as does BFF, Diana. Grandmother Tandy demands she not
take the job. Emma Jo knows Tandy has always despised two
local men, One is Seth Thomas; the other Logan's
grandfather, Jesse Grady. Why? Emma Jo has asked her many
times but Tandy refuses to discuss the past. Tandy also
refuses to accept Logan as kin and has been trying to break
them up for many years. Stubborn and determined, Emma Jo
heads to the mansion to begin her new job.
The mansion looks like a fairy-tale castle but not a sprig
or a flower anywhere. Oma Lynn, the housekeeper and cook
for over 20 years, answers the door and tells Emma Jo, "you
won't last the day." Meeting Seth, he glares at her with
steely blue eyes. He reminds her of Sam Elliot, the film
star her grandmother swoons over. What did Seth do to make
her hate him all these years? And why does she also loathe
and not speak to Logan's grandfather? In time she hopes to
discover the cause and put an end to this vendetta.
Seth tells Emma Jo his sister insisted he hire an assistant
and when he finds out she is a Massey he becomes upset. It
is time to learn what is expected of her as his assistant
and he gives her a description of her duties. Seth has a
firm routine. Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. sharp, snack, lunch,
nap for over an hour, snack, supper at 5 sharp, read
newspapers, books, and visit his mother's grave on Sunday.
No TV, and only one radio that he listens to for hours on
the country station. She has to simply abide by his
routine, read newspapers, listen to music and share his
meals. She must cook on weekends and always make
homemade chicken and dumplings on Sunday, Emma Jo decides
to make him like her, make him smile. They are sassy and
grumpy together but soon they begin to talk and what happens
next is magic.
Emma Jo is a smart, sarcastic, strong, loving heroine. But,
it is Seth who stole my heart. I adore his sense of humor,
his patience with Emma Jo, and how his life changed from the
moment she enters it. What fun is his bucket list, his
growing love of Emma Jo, and the drama of his long overdue
reunion with Tandy. I loved, loved, loved THE LILAC
BOUQUET. A delight about life, love, secrets, country
life and new beginnings. It is sometimes sweet, often
funny, sometimes sad, but ALWAYS touching. Told simply by
Carolyn Brown, it is a bittersweet tale that proves it is
never too late to dream, feuds to end and love to soar. 5
stars. Ms. Brown you have a new and loyal fan. Thank you!
Come hell or high water, Emmy Jo Massey will have a
wedding. After three generations of Massey women with
children out of wedlock, she wants the whole town of
Hickory, Texas, to witness the legitimacy of her union with
Logan Grady. But dream weddings aren’t cheap. So she accepts
a highly lucrative stint as a home health assistant to
retired realtor, and town recluse, Seth Thomas—a decision
her great-grandmother Tandy is dead-set against.
Seth isn’t happy about it, either. The eighty-two-year-old
doesn’t want a “babysitter”—much less a Massey—something he
makes clear when Emmy arrives at his house, an empty mansion
built for the woman who broke his heart. But as Emmy stays
and the two eventually open up to each other, she learns the
reason behind a feud between Seth, Tandy, and Logan’s
grandfather Jesse Grady that goes back six decades. She also
uncovers a secret that forever changes how she sees her past
and her future…
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy