Tree of Pearls Book

Tree of Pearls is the final instalment in the Evangeline Gower trilogy. Louisa Young's heroine is as slangy and stroppy but she has a gloriously romantic heart, something often missing from the other literary modern misses. Evangeline's tender passion embraces her daughter Lily, the five-year-old "octopus of love"; the two men in her life, mysterious tempting Sa'id and long, tall Harry, all cheekbones and louche cockiness. Evangeline, ex- belly dancer and single mother, has attitude and intelligence, and a glorious understanding of what makes life worth the living. Once again Evangeline has Eddie Bates on her case. This psychopathic villain caused strife in Desiring Cairo, and his sinister shadow once again draws her to Cairo and Luxor to sort him out once and for all. She' s accompanied by his ex-wife Chrissie, and her own romantic dilemmas: Harry or Sa'id, Sa'id or Harry. The story unfolds slowly and gracefully, with a gorgeous sound track for the heartache and dangerous events: "and then, oh glorious joy, Umm Khalthoum singing Enat Omri--You Are My Life. Whenever I hear it my backbone grows longer and my foot arches, I begin to sway and to feel a mild but definite yearning for the weight of a heavily sequinned band around my hips." Louisa Young doesn't stick to a plain old story but allows Evangeline digression and musings that shimmer and sparkle. She contemplates mythology, the colours of the landscape and the sky, the rapture in Egyptian love songs. Tree of Pearls is seductive, romantic and realistic. Evangeline Gower is redeemed by love but remains strong and independent, and in control of her own life: "I close no doors, I send love. I am not wasting away for you." --Eithne FarryRead More