The Summerhouse

Rating:
Summary: Refreshingly New Perspective
Review: Despite many of the mixed reviews I read here, I ordered this book anyway, and was very glad I did. I find Ms. Devereaux's work to be hit-and-miss, but overall enjoy her work quite a bit. This novel, however, was truly excellent. It helped me face my impending aging with the perspective that life is not over at 30, or 40, or 50, depite what many books, magazines and movies seem to tell us, and that we can start over or re-make our lives in whatever way we wish - even if we don't get to go back in time. These women were very rich creatures, had made mistakes as all of us do, and yet were given the opportunity to retrace their steps and right an ancient misstep - what a fantasy! I found Madison's story the most compelling and wished for more. This reminds me somewhat of Katherine Stone's work, in the development of such different stories at once, and I think we receive enough detail but each of these stories could easily fill its own book. Great read, you won't be able to stop turning the pages until you finish.

Rating:
Summary: Would someone please teach her how to write?!
Review: I don't usually read books of this genre, but I liked the premise of having an opportunity to go back to an earlier time, to redo a past mistake(s). And the author had received many favorable reviews. But the book was a disappointment. The writing was stilted and awkward - her words and sentences were without beauty or grace. Similarly, there was no subtlety in the way she discussed her characters. Everything was spelled out bluntly, as if she doesn't expect her readers to be bright enough to read between the lines. I will not be reading any of her other work.

Rating:
Summary: A book you'll think about long after you finish it...
Review: I love JD and I own almost all of her books. I faithfully read each one she writes because she was the first romance author I read and I'll always be a loyal fan. This book was so different from her usual works, but just as good. This story takes you into the minds and hearts of 3 women whose lives take very different turns after meeting for a few short hours on their birthdays which they share. Each woman goes on to make bad choices in her life. Years later when the 3 meet in a Maine summerhouse for a weekend, they discuss their lives and desperately wish they could go back and change things.

Here JD weaves her storytelling magic and we are taken into a world where dreams do come true and people get second chances. We see these women drastically change their lives by going back in time to any 3 weeks in their lives that they want. The touch of magic in the book is enchanting... and while unbelievable, it is so refreshing because who of us wouldn't want to go back just once and change something we did in our lives and make it better?

This is a good read and a great addition to your bookshelf!

Rating:
Summary: I was disappointed by the middle/ending of the book
Review: I was really very excited to read this book because it sounded similar to the plot of my favorite movie "Sliding Doors". I even got my girlfriend who is a devote of that movie psyched about the title, however I am not sure if I want to give it to her now, I don't want to disappoint her. This is a new author for me, I have never read one of her books, and I really hate it when people give away the whole storyline of the book. However, I will say that the book had a great beginning and even the middle where they get to go back to their past lives was pretty good. My complaint with the book is that the author spent too much time focusing on the beginning of the book and not enough on what happened to the characters during their three week period or what happened to them after they came back and why they made the choices they did. I don't know whether she ran out of pages or time, but I was really disappointed in Part Two and Part Three of the book. It was a major let down after building up the characters so much. I will read another title by this author, however as most people I hate to be disappointed and love a good book to "sink my teeth into". But if I am disappointed again I can't bring myself to read another title by her. She needs to focus on the characters in the middle and end of book as she does in the beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Good concept, but little imagination in the writing
Review: I would definetely recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read! I found it to be horribly close to the American home, the three women involved going through such real (sometimes exaggerated, but nonetheless real)disasters. And then a chance to do it all over again... This book teaches about the rarity of second chances. Live life to the fullest now!

Rating:
Summary: I was disappointed by the middle/ending of the book
Review: Leslie Headrick has a husband who she believes is having an affair with his personal assistant, a girl half her age named Bambi of all things. Her children don't seem to know she's alive. And her life seems to be one committee meeting after another. Her husband has taken over the house she loved and turned it into a showcase she hates. Years ago she had a summerhouse out back that she'd planed on setting us as a dance studio, her retreat from the world, but her husband put a TV out there and her children started storing their junk in it, so now even that isn't hers.

Elle Abbott is a writer who hasn't been able to write a word ever since her good for nothing husband took everything she had in a brutal divorce. He claimed he co-wrote her books and the judge believed him, so now she has to support him for the rest of his life off her royalties. And if that isn't bad enough, she's gained forty pounds since the divorce. Her life has gone to pot.

Madison Appleby, who used to have such big plans, wound up going back to Montana to care for a fiancée who had jilted her. He'd had an accident and can't walk. His wealthy parents were cheap and because Madison had some nurses training all of a sudden she was a good catch for their invalid son. She married him and her life had gone downhill ever since.

Nineteen years ago, these three woman met when they had such promise, now Elle wants to meet her friends again. She asks them to visit for a few days in a cabin in Maine. Leslie and Madison come and while out for an evening walk they decided to go to visit Madam Zoya who tells them she can send them back to any point in time and they can change their lives. Can she? And if so, will the change be for the better?

I am a voracious reader, but as a general rule I don't read romance. My tastes run more to King, Koontz, Baldacci and Grisham, but every now and then a girl just has to read a romance and when I do, there is no contest, I buy a book written by Jude Deveraux, because she writes a story as good as anybody out there. Plus she can add that certain touch of the unbelievable, a la Madam Zoya, and have the reader swallow it hook line and sinker, and come back begging for more. Ms. Deveraux never disappoints and THE SUMMERHOUSE is one of her best.

Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

Rating:
Summary: He Done Her Wrong
Review: THE SUMMERHOUSE by Jude Deveraux is a new semi-romance novel involving three pathetic women friends turning forty together. In their early twenties, each of the trio--Madison, Ellie, Leslie--made a wrong turn into disastrous marriages. They tossed aside long-held dreams like yesterday's garbage for insensitive jerks. Madison's ravishing beauty had destined her for the modeling industry in New York City, but she returned home to care for an egocentric, crippled and rich but cheap boyfriend as his nurse-wife. Ellie, an artist wanna-be, sacrificed her dreams for her musician hubby who was completely unappreciative. In reaction to her anguish, she became a famous and fabulously wealthy romance writer. Leslie married her high school sweetheart and struggled with suspicions about affairs with his secretary, Bambi. The gals decide to meet at a summerhouse in Maine and celebrate their shared birthday. While there they meet Madam Zoya, who gives them the opportunity to go back in time at a critical juncture and change the outcome of their lives.

Jude Deveraux began writing in l976. Her books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list twenty-four times. In addition, more than thirty million copies of her books are in print. She has a huge following of fans who have made her one of the best-selling romance writers ever.

Deveraux's message in THE SUMMERHOUSE to her women readers is don't live your life through your man's--follow your dreams. It's a worthy and admirable message but unfortunately her trio--Madison, Ellie, Leslie--don't seem to strike out on brave new paths. (Madison does more than the other two, but it leaves us wondering--how? Where did she get the gumption since her beauty was always portrayed as her gift--her TALENT?

The trip back in time is a trite way to get this miserable group of heroines to change. It would have been much more commendable for them to bring about the necessary changes through their own efforts and intelligence rather than through magic tricks. Why couldn't Madison be seen making a decision to switch to medicine instead of modeling BECAUSE of Roger's condition? Her courage could inspire the many young soccer "moms" who read Deveraux's books to take charge of their own lives and perhaps move out of the mind-numbing suburban morass.

THE SUMMERHOUSE will appeal to abused women in similar predicaments. However, let's hope they make more gutsy choices than Madison, Ellie, and Leslie did--like teaching seventh grage English, becoming an airline pilot, or working on a road construction gang. Some other books by Jude Devereaux are THE BLESSING, AN ANGEL FOR EMILY, and A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.

Rating:
Summary: A great read even the third time!
Review: This book is just fast enough to keep you on your toes. The characters are real enough to care about and the plot although not realistic (by intent) is well plotted out and exciting to witness. You won't be bored for even a moment!

Rating:
Summary: Silly
Review: This book was amazing from start to finish. The characters are very real, tender people who make you feel as though you know them. This book ran me through a rollercoaster of emotions. It was an utter joy to read!