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Casa Grande
Dissatisfied with her life at art school, Laura Taylor returns to her small hometown in New Mexico and struggles to convert an old Spanish mission into a vacation resort
304 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1982
2 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,061 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 20, 2019
This book was so freaking good! Copyright 1982. Dates covered 1935 - 1946 - 1956. Such strong women! Laura, Clarry, Julia! Ross, Brad and Ryan. We aren't going to think about Garrick, lololol
June 17, 2018
As other reviewers have already written ,this book is not a romance novel -certainly not the sort of romances that made Jude Devereux a name to reckon with as a romance novelist. If anything it reminded more of novels by Danielle Steele whose books follow the same format - heroine's loving family life is over for some reason , falls in love with a much older man & marries him , has difficult relationships with her daughter , very successful at business , becomes a widow & finds love again with a man her own age . I had to keep looking at the cover many times to check whether I have not bought a Danielle Steele by mistake!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2019
This was a great book, not written in Jude’s usual lighthearted way. This was an epic story about a woman with strength and the hardships she overcame to persevere in a small desert town. It was a great story with betrayal, anger, and a regal mission at the center of it all.
September 26, 2017
A good romance novel with non stop action.
March 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. Laura, Clary and Julia had interesting lives, many heartaches, great loves.
The Mission sounds like it would be a wonderful place to visit and vacation at.
The Mission sounds like it would be a wonderful place to visit and vacation at.
April 24, 2020
Such a great read!! I think this is the best Deveraux has written, and it was one of her earliest.
January 7, 2024
My 2nd favorite book ever
Read
May 18, 2024Did not enjoy
August 5, 2011
This book is not good, m'kay?
Thankfully, I knew going into this that it is not typical Deveraux style. She has quite a following, and I want to read her books by order of publication date. This was the 4th one I've read, and thankfully it wasn't the first or I'd never pick up another. The first three I read were fair, and I'm hopeful she evolves as a writer (as her huge fanbase says she does). Surely the 5th title she wrote is better than this one, as I can't imagine anything much worse.
Thankfully, I knew going into this that it is not typical Deveraux style. She has quite a following, and I want to read her books by order of publication date. This was the 4th one I've read, and thankfully it wasn't the first or I'd never pick up another. The first three I read were fair, and I'm hopeful she evolves as a writer (as her huge fanbase says she does). Surely the 5th title she wrote is better than this one, as I can't imagine anything much worse.
March 5, 2012
Re-read this over the weekend. Not my favorite but fascinating as she takes us through her whole life and so many different events that happened during it.
I did like to see Clarry and others really CHANGE throughout the book and grow. Laura is definitely frustrating in how she looks and behaves toward her family.
I did like to see Clarry and others really CHANGE throughout the book and grow. Laura is definitely frustrating in how she looks and behaves toward her family.
April 7, 2011
What I found interesting about this book was that it is a completely different style of writing than all the other Jude Deveraux books.
August 21, 2012
i enjoy Jude Deveraux's books because the are fast, fun and easy romances.
January 14, 2018
First Edition paperback 1982- signed by author at a Romance Novel convention I went to while working for B Dalton Booksellers. ISBN so old it doesn't show up
May 11, 2015
Took me decades to read because it's not a genre I normally enjoy, even though I love Jude Deveraux. The story was unique and I really enjoyed the book. I wish I'd read it sooner.
August 26, 2013
Good story. Different then her regular live storys.like how it followed Laura through the years. Glad she finally made up with her daughter
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews