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Summary: Unbelievably silly plot - A waste of time!
Review: After having read and thoroughly enjoyed The Black Lyon, I just could not believe that the same author had written this book! The notion that a young woman in the early 1900's who acts like an automaton with apparent willingness would simply toss away all of her mental and physical restrictions and be instantaneously transformed through some bizarre "awakening" that includes passionless sex and social dancing lessons followed by a lame attempt at social protest is just not believable - let alone entertaining. In contrast, The Black Lyon (the only other book I have read by Jude Deveraux) proves that this author is capable of creating characters and story lines with greater depth and interest.
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Summary: A most marvelous awakening
Review: Amanda Caulden has lived a sheltered and privileged life on the hop ranch belonging to her father. At 14 a tutor, Taylor Driscoll was brought in by her father to educate her and to tame her. Now at 22, Taylor has become her fiance and he rules her World with an iron rod. He sets her schedule for each day and she must adhere to the schedule which even includes how many minutes she can spend in the bathroom, what she must eat and what she must wear. She knows no different other than her orderly life and until the arrival of Dr Hank Montgmoery, an economics professor and union organizer. Hank Montgmomery has been requested by the government to surveille the conditons of the workers of Caulden Ranch. Prior to the hop picking season, Hank is invited by Amanda's father to stay on their ranch and Amanda is allocated the task to keep him entertained by going to museums and lectures. Hank is not the stuffy professor that Amanda expected but a handsome young man that likes fast cars, women and the good life but he is also concerned about the welfare of the poor workers who have a tough life. Slowly Hank awakens Amanda to a life of other than books and lectures. He takes her dancing, to restaurants, moonlight trysts and the movie theatre. Later he also opens her eyes up to the plight of the poor migrant workers. They both fall for each other but can Hank persuade Amanda away from her safe orderly life in the arms of her cold tutor and fiance, Taylor? This was such a wonderful book. Hank was so charming and such a gentleman, as with many of Jude Deveraux's heros. It was funny to read Amanda keeping to her strict schedule and then breaking free from it. The love story was beautiful as you could see both protagonists trying hard not to fall for each other but they cannot prevent the inevitable. A thoroughly good read indeed. I'll have to search for more Jude Deveraux books I have yet to read. Lealing
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Summary: MUST READ!!
Review: Awakening is a GreaT book. After reading it, I bought all the Jude books I found and I'm happy and proud to say that I don't regret spending all my allowance buying her books. Way to go JUDE!!!
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Summary: Another great one, Ms. Deveraux
Review: Hank Montgomery and Amanda Caulden's story kept the reader turning the pages. The friction was there with just the right shadowing of romance. I think Amanda tried to deny her feelings for Hank, but was unable to deny the attraction of another one of the dashing Montgomery men. "The Awakening" was an uncovering romance of Amanda and Hank. It was a stirring book.
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Summary: Another great one, Ms. Deveraux
Review: Hank Montgomery and Amanda Caulden's story kept the reader turning the pages. The friction was there with just the right shadowing of romance. I think Amanda tried to deny her feelings for Hank, but was unable to deny the attraction of another one of the dashing Montgomery men. "The Awakening" was an uncovering romance of Amanda and Hank. It was a stirring book.
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Summary: I love it!
Review: I enjoy this book alot. I finish it in 1 day even though it was a very short story, i love how Hank comes into her life and change everything that goes on since she was young. I didn't like how her father and so call teacher runs her life for her.(it reminds me of my own life)but anyways i love this book and hope you will enjoy it as much as i did.
Rating: 
Summary: Great writing, even if it was a bit heavy-handed
Review: I enjoyed this book mostly for Ms. Deveraux's writing style. The setting was wonderful and I thought the story was well-paced. The characters were well-developed. I suppose the one aspect that kept getting under my skin was the whole labor vs. owner saga. I thought it was a bit heavy-handed.
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Summary: Lovely book.
Review: I indeed like most of Jude Deveraux books. And this one is like most of them. They are joyable to read and keep one in nice world while reading it.
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Summary: i liked it...
Review: I liked it, Amanda and Hank Montgomery... how he was trying to save her from this life she had of being controlled,not thinking for herself,to be FREE... someone predicted that they would have a son who will be King in the future,their son will be in the book, The Princess , with Aria and J.T. Montgomery,lovely story as well... The Awakening,i would recommend it,i liked it and hope you would...
Rating:
Summary: Great writing, even if it was a bit heavy-handed
Review: I love all of Jude Deveraux's work, and _The Awakening_ was no exception. I was at first a little dissapointed with the begining though. Amanda is really too stiff, and Hank was not sympathetic enough. He just automatically put her in the catagorie of a prig who couldn't feel anything. Amanda took a little too long to wake up and see the world. She's run raged by her fiance, yet she still clings to the notion that she loves him. This was very exasperating to read about. Both characters were being strange and stubborn. It was like they were both looking at their lives through a screne door. They could see part of it, but most of it was shady. But, towards the second half of the book, the door opened, and _The Awakening_ became wonderful. Amanda became more of a real character, and Hank acted with much more compassion then he origionally showed. His way of courting Amanda was knee weakening. Jude Deveraux has a gift with words. She makes all of her books come alive! I loved the time change. I've never really encountered books that took place in the early nineteen hundreds, and it works really well. The setting of a California hop ranch was delightful, and Jude Deveraux's research efforts shine as this book is rich with detail about the hop riots that happened around that time. I enjoyed reading about the trails of the workers, however, it was very heartbreaking. Jude Deveraux captured the essence of the hop fields, and her book made me want to research it more. Although _The Awakening_ started strangly and it was rather annoying in the begining, grit your teeth and get past the first couple chapters. From then on, the story picks up steam, and you will get involved in the characters' plots and lives. This book is definitely worth your time. I'd recomend it to anyone.
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