Eileen Goudge Books In Order

Publication Order of Super Seniors Books

Publication Order of Cypress Bay Books

Publication Order of Garden of Lies Books

Publication Order of Gold Creek Books

Publication Order of Seniors Books

Publication Order of Eileen Goudge's Swept Away Books

Publication Order of Who Killed Peggy Sue? Books

Publication Order of Carson Springs Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Eileen Goudge was born in San Mateo, California, and is the author of many novels (and even a cookbook) including a series of novels called the “Garden of Lies”, “Sweet Valley High” series (for teens), and a mystery series called “Cypress Bay” series. Goudge has also written other stand alone works for readers of all kinds. She is the wife of a film critic; who she says is not her first but will be her last marriage. They met when he interviewed her on air on his radio talk show (he called her after she asked him to and they talked for three hours), his name is Sandy Kenyon. He is known as the “taxi TV” film critic. After their first three hour chat, it started a ritual where they talked on the phone every night; due to the fact that he lived in Arizona and she in New York. When they met face to face, it was love at first sight, even though they knew each other and have been married since 1996.

She is someone who hears what people tell her, and then puts it in one of her novels. Her writing is what funded her and her family’s life while she was married a few times, a single mother, and moving to New York. Throughout all of that, she wrote fifteen women’s fiction novels. Eileen Goudge describes her journey as welfare mother to millionaire. She has incorporated all of her good times and bad times into a novel somehow.

Her first adult novel, “Garden of Lies” is a New York Times bestseller and has been translated in over twenty languages.

“Garden of Lies” is the first book in the “Garden of Lies” series. The novel was released in 1990. The series is set in the forties. Sylvie is married to a man named Gerald who can afford to give her the life that she wanted while she was growing up. When they got married, eight years ago, the country was going through the Great Depression. She wants to start a family with her new husband, but is unable to love this man. Not entirely. Their handyman, Nikos (who is Greek and earthy), shows her what passion is and gets her pregnant. She knows that her husband will never accept a baby with dark hair and dark eyes (knowing that it is not his). While she is giving birth, there is a fire in the hospital she is in. So she switches her baby for someone else’s. It is quite a bold thing for her to do, something that will resonate throughout decades.

Fans of the novel enjoyed the novel for its riveting and heartbreaking read. Most found this to be one of the best romance novels they had ever read; even better than the work written by Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts. Readers found the novel to be refreshing and full of characters who were new and did not just serve the plot, but acted in their own, real way. Fans found the novel to be a thrilling, roller coaster ride of a read. Fans found the novel to be an epic read, not just a simple romance that some woman are known for writing. Fans found themselves unable to put the book down until they were done so that they could find out what happened in the novel. Even some readers who do not usually read this type of novel found themselves enjoying the story that Goudge told. Some liked the way that Goudge talks about the two women’s lives and how different they both are, knowing the whole time that they will eventually meet up at some point in the novel.

Those that did not like the novel found it to be too long, too depressing, with an ending that was not all that interesting. Some found the novel to be a waste of time that they gave up on due to its sophomoric writing. Some found certain things to be too coincidental and not realistic. Some felt that the ending also left them hanging without much satisfaction or feeling that the complete story was fully told. Readers did not like the part of the novel where Goudge takes them to Vietnam, they felt it cheapened all that soldiers sacrificed in fighting for this country. Additionally that she should stay in her lane, authorially speaking, and not try to talk about what happens to people who serve in the military.

“Thorns of Truth” is the second book in the “Garden of Lies” series. The novel was released in 1998. Sylvie Rosenthal is about to die and her greatest mistake still burns her up. She did not know what she would do all those years ago when her husband saw what was supposed to be their child. Decades later, she has told her real daughter the truth and told her to keep it to herself, to keep it from destroying Rachel’s world. Rachel is the girl that Sylvie made everyone believe was her child. The two women are connected in more ways than one. Their children are about to marry each other. Rachel and Rose are both bound by a secret and must face the truth.

Fans who liked the novel enjoyed the place that Goudge took these characters and the way she chose to test them, this time around. Fans found the book to be a riveting read that was juicy and about like a soap opera, and they were able to keep the pages turning. This novel was nice, for some fans, as they were able to finally get the closure that the first novel did not offer them. Some felt that the book ended just right and fit the story that Goudge was telling. Fans felt that they got to know the characters in the book and were sad that the journey that they had taken with them was now over.

Some found that the novel had nothing going on and quit right in the middle of the book. They also did not like the way that Sylvie kept the secret of who her real daughter was. There was a lot of telling and no showing in the novel as well. Some felt that this novel was also rushed, just so that people could have closure on these characters.

One Response to “Eileen Goudge”

1. Nancy Johnson: 8 months ago

   I just finished reading The Replacement Wife in large print – enjoyed it but glad to be done with the big book.

   Reply