Kate van Tonder and Patterson's Curse are two of a kind - both attractive and both misfits. Don't be fooled by either. The pretty purple-flowered Patterson's Curse is an "alien " plant infesting the Western Cape of South Africa, where the English-born Kate lives with Pete, her Afrikaaner husband, and their two small children.
When Pete dies tragically in a car-crash Kate's grief threatens to destroy her, but she is determined to honour Pete's passion for preserving the unique flora of the Cape Kingdom. On this journey she gives a home to Jo Jo an orphan boy with the voice of an angel and Nomatuli Izhaki a Zulu who comes to work for Kate on a government sponsored scheme to rid their land of Patterson's Curse and other alien plants.
Helping and hindering Kate in her quest are Maarten, Pete's kindly brother, his sisters Gloria and Antoinette and Ma van Tonder, Pete's estranged mother. "Ma" is an Afrikaaner of the old school -- a formidable woman -- who hates the Brits in general and Kate in particular. Ma wants Kate's children and is prepared to do anything to get them.
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