Pearl in the Mist

Pearl in the Mist continues the enthralling new Virginia Andrews@ series which began with Ruby - a tale that saw young, innocent Ruby Landry unearth dark family secrets which tore her from everything she cherished in the Louisiana bayou, and whisked her to an unimagined life of privilege in dazzling New Orleans.

After a year in the Dumas' grand New Orleans mansion, Ruby has learned how to enjoy her new life and rejoices in the love of the father she had never known. And with her boyfriend, Beau, she has found a blissful love. But a year has done nothing to warm the iciness of her stepmother, Daphne, who cringes and sneers at Ruby's backwater upbringing, or her sister, Gisselle, who is vindictive and backstab- bing.

So Ruby is delighted to be sent to Greenwood, the exclusive girls' boarding school that her father has chosen for his daughters. And though it means less time with Beau, Greenwood promises peace from the conniving Daphne, and maybe even a fresh start with Gisselle. But behind Greenwood's polished doorknobs new enemies plot to shame Ruby at every turn, for Daphne has planted seeds of contempt in the strict headmistress, Mrs Ironwood.

Still Ruby does not lose hope, until her beloved father dies. Alone once again, Ruby learns that almost everyone is against her. Only if she can reclaim her family, and find her true home, will she be able to experience the most delicious sort of happiness, one that mixes melancholy with joy, and memories with hope... --front flap