Rating: Summary: Totally corny Review: I wanted a "light read" for the beach this past week, but this book was just plain stupid. I haven't read anything this poorly written, corny, or ridiculous in a long time. I was reading parts of it out loud to my husband and daughters and we were all laughing out loud.Spend your money on something else - this book is really BAD...
Rating: Summary: Light, entertaining "beach" book Review: Very unrealistic, but entertaining. If you want a light read for lounging in the sun, this is a great choice. It also inspired some great conversations afterward, not in discussing the book per se, but pondering the question of "what three weeks of my life would I live differently if I were given the chance?"
Rating: Summary: Good until the end Review: I enjoyed this book for the most part. However the ending was anti-climactic. This great buildup then the ending falls short. Oh well, I guess. The premise is good, the characters are interesting, and the idea of being able to go back in time for 3 weeks is certainly something everyone can relate to, but the ending kind of ruins it.
Rating: Summary: A great light summer Read Review: You don't pick up this book expecting it to be great literature. You pick it up expecting a little bit of fluff..a bit of plot..some escapism thrown in and something to keep your interest. That's what this novel does in spades. I don't think anyone reads a time travel novel expecting realism. Instead you get the what-if's. And that's what this novel is all about..the what if's in life. What if we hadn't done this or had done that. Or what if we just did things in our existing life a little bit better. I read this book non-stop and and wish I could pay a mere $[money] to change my life around. Wouldn't we all?
Rating: Summary: Dreaming About That Soul Mate... Review: What a wonderful story idea! This was fun and refreshing, an escape book. Characters you can identify with and a story line that lets you reminisce or dream about that special soul mate. Just finished reading Shade of the Maple by Kirk Martin, which so many reviewers are raving about. Romance from a guy, but very deep. Captures that connection you dream of having one day. Another quick, enjoyable read like The Summerhouse. Both are perfect for rwading by the pool!
Rating: Summary: Don't waste your time! Review: This is the first Jude Deveraux book I've ever read and it may be the last. The idea for the book was a good one but I think the story ended up being too far fetched. The story is about three women who happen to meet in the DMV on their 21st birthday. There's a connection between all of them in the hour or two that they spend together but then they don't see one another for 20 more years till they decide to spend their 40th birthday together. They get together at a summerhouse to talk about where each of their lives have taken them. They each, separately, happen upon a business card for "Madame Zoya" who can miraculously transport them back twenty years and allow them to relive two weeks of their life. The story focuses on what they would do differently or the same in their life. Number one, the Madame Zoya character is too unbelievable. Time travel isn't possible so this was very distracting for me. I couldn't enjoy the story because I kept thinking: "Yah right, how ridiculous!" I just couldn't get past this. Secondly, I find it hard to believe that meeting someone in the DMV, chatting for an hour or so, would establish a strong enough bond to want to reunite 20 years later. Lastly, I felt the book read like it was written by a sixteen year old high school student not by a New York Times Bestselling Author. Ms. D used very basic vocabulary and grammar. My seven year old could read this book.
Rating: Summary: Definately Skip This One! Review: This was my first and last Jude Deveraux book! I was looking for some light summer reading but this is ridiculous. How could anyone believe such a nonsense story of three women (of course they all had to be absolutely gorgeous) meeting at the DMV once 20 years ago and agreeing to meet up again on their 40th birthdays?! Jude Deveraux does not know how to write and anyone who reads her novels is insulting his or her intelligence in my opinion. The story and characters were totally unbelievable and I found myself embarrassed to be reading such worthless [material]. Never again will I waste [money] on such garbage. If this is the kind of book that makes it into America's top ten bestsellers list we should all be ashamed of how low we have sunk. I am all for a light read but I cannot stand a writer who does not even know how to write! How on earth did she become one of the country's leading authors?! It baffles me.
Rating: Summary: Could have been better Review: The premise for this story was interesting, however, the characters weren't. I really didn't feel sorry for any of these women. Especially Ellie. I found her character to be very boring and annoying. Madame Zoya does not appear until more than halfway through the book. But all in all, people who like romantic novels will probably like this book. I liked the way the ending was done. But the rest is just mediocre. Pick this one up at the library like I did.
Rating: Summary: pass on this one Review: I was looking for a great beach book and unfortunately chose this one. It is poorly written which is ironic since the main character was a writer. The plot was silly at best. If most reviewers felt it was the best book they have read in a long time I hate to think what other books they have been reading. I will not read other books by this author. If you are debating on this one, take a pass and move on to something else.
Rating: Summary: Quick, Fun Reading - Pure escapism Review: Jude Devereaux can tell a story. Who cares if the plot is somewhat implausible and if she doesn't quite tie up all the loose threads... The Summerhouse still is very entertaining and fun to read. One day 3 beautiful but different girls all meet by chance at the DMV in New York City. They are all 21 years old and none are native New Yorkers. They bond quickly as they share stories and a birthday cake for a few hours in their lives. Skip to their 40th birthday and one of the girls, who has in the meantime become a rich and famous author, decides to find these two other women to share her 40th birthday with. Of course, she finds them with no problem and of course, they decide to meet her in northern New England to get away from their lives for a few days. As this book is somewhat of a time travel book, anyone who is used to that genre knows what will happen. The women are given a chance to relive 3 weeks of their life - and then decide if they want to change their life to the new one or stay with the old. The book is fun to read and one that gets passed along just because you know your friends will like it too. If you like books where the main characters get to relive the past, I highly recommend "This Body" by Laurel Doud.
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