I always hate when trilogies end, and the "In the Garden" trilogy (BLUE DAHLIA, BLACK ROSE, and now RED LILY) is no exception. You get to know the characters so completely, and feel such a connection with them, that they become almost real--and you just want to keep on reading about their lives!

RED LILY is the story of Harper Ashby, oldest son of Rosalind (BLACK ROSE), and Hayley Phillips. Hayley had come to Harper House the previous year, pregnant and alone, to beseech Roz, a distant cousin through marriage, for a job. Unwed, with her baby's father out of the picture, Hayley wasn't looking for a handout, but for a chance to start over. What Roz offered her was so much more--a job, a place to stay at the renowned Harper House, and a family.

Now she has her daughter Lily, a great job, and a roof over her head, but lately she's been thinking of Harper, the man whose been her friend through it all, in a brand-new light--that of a love interest. Afraid to ruin their friendship by telling him how she feels, she keeps quiet. Harper, on the other hand, has wanted Hayley in a more than friendly fashion ever since he laid eyes upon her--pregnant and all--more than a year ago. But he's sure that she doesn't think of him in the same way, and he's leary of messing up the friendship that means to much to him.

As these two friends--both wanting to be so much more--fight their attraction to each other, the resident ghost of the house, the Harper Bride, kicks into high gear. She's always been loving and kind to the children in the house, singing them lullabies in the night, but she seems to hate men, and she's become especially violent now that Hayley is entertaining thoughts of romance.

As the whole crew--Roz and her new husband Mitch, a geneologist trying his hardest to discover who the Harper Bride really is; Stella and Logan, both employees of Roz's In the Garden shop; and Hayley and Harper, who live on Harper/Ashby land--try to figure out the Bride's agenda, their lives are in danger, and their hearts and passions intertwine with that of the ghost's.

I loved this entire trilogy, and read RED LILY in one day. It was a perfect conclusion to this powerful family saga, and I was especially happy to finally learn the answers to who the Harper Bride was, and what happened to her.

I will admit that there was one surprise twist to the storyline that I didn't see coming, and wasn't really thrilled with, but since Ms. Roberts wrote it and I didn't, I can't complain! Overall, the story was still great, and in time I learned to live with what I thought was an unnecessary plot device.

Pick up this trilogy today--you won't be disappointed! ( )

Finally finished the last book in the trilogy. I enjoyed this one better than the second one but I don't really care for this author. In the final installment we find out more about Hayley and Harper (surprise, surprise) and Amelia's ghost is finally put to rest. Looking back over these three books, everything just tied together too nicely. Each woman was married after know their partner for less than two years and you are led to believe that they will live happily ever after. Just a little too Pollyanna for me. ( )

Enjoyed this trilogy from Nora Roberts. This book was perhaps the "scariest" or most unsettling, ghost-wise. People sometimes complain that Nora's characters are "all the same," but honestly, I don't get that. She always manages to surprise me with a character's quirkiness or unusual situation. ( )

Wow! Part 3 of the Gardening series is just as good as the first 2. The saga of the angry, crazy, sad family ghost continues. Now, we spend more time in the propagation facility and dip into hybridizing. Love strikes another couple. And, the entire ghost problem is resolved. A very satisfying story. ( )

Red Lily didn't catch my passion for reading Nora Roberts'books. Too slow in development and a sense of déjà vue for me. ( )