Rating: Summary: A Unique, Fascinating Tale Review: If you are looking for a fresh take on historical romance, pick this up. JD combines some unusual plot elements (including time travel, life after death, magic, etc.) with some memorably unique characters to create a masterpiece of a romance novel. Nellie, the heroine, is much more "real" than most leading ladies. She isn't a perfect size 6, or even an 8. The hero, Jace, is a strong, caring Montgomery (of the infamous Montgomeries featured in other JD novels)who has the helps Nellie find the courage to love and live! I laughed out loud during parts of this book!
Rating: Summary: An unusual Romance Review: I have read almost everything that Jude Deveraux has written, and have enjoyed all of her books emmensly. However, this is the only romance that I have ever read that does not have the herorine a beautious maiden who is legally underage and fighting off the unwanted attentions of every suitor around. The heroine, Nellie, it a wonderful, compassionate and deeply loyal woman. She is given a gurdian angel in the form of a wealty and cold hearted socialite from a more progressive era, Bennie. Bennie dies somewhat prematurely and is sent to wait in a place called the "kitchen", it here that she discovers that she is neither in heaven nor in hell, she is in limbo. Her assignment while waiting is to help a poor soul in another time, all times run parrallel in the kitchen, Nellie. The problem that Bennie runs into is that Nellie represents everything that she hated in life, an overwieght, poor, and seemingly boring person. While Nellies younger sister Terel seems to be exactly like Bennie had been in life, Bennie simply ignores the older sister and leaves her to fend for herself while she indulges in the strange yet fascinating waitng rooms of the kitchen. Enter Jace Montgamery, a handsome and kind man who has lost the love of his life in child birth some years prior, he is immediately taken with Nellie. Confusion reigns as he sees the way that her family treats this beautiful and sweetly innocent woman, never did it cross his mind that she was either fat nor old, but instead the most beautiful woman that he had seen since the death of his wife. But the journey for true love is never easy and the addition of three poorly granted wishes from Bennie makes Jaces' bid for Nellies love all the more heart rending and endearing. The misunderstandings and the cold and ruthlessness of Nellies family makes the reader wish that they could recieve a little of their own medicine, but alas that was never one of Nellies wishes. This was a wonderfully written and unique story and I have read it numerous times, and it never fails to amaze me the depth of the characters of this seemingly short romance. I enjoyed the deeply insightful inner dialogue of both the hero and his heroine, it helps to tell the story at a more personel level. Anyone who reads it will fall in love with the determined hero and his sweetly innocent heroine.
Rating: Summary: Undeniably a true romance! *sighs* Review: To say this book was a classic romance, is to put it mildly. Nellie is 28 years old. An old maid by her society's standards. She is beautiful but plump. Dont get me wrong, I have no problem with real size and plus size women, being one myself, but this seemed to be the main characteristic people in Nellie's town saw of her. When she was 12, and her sister, Terel, 4, Nellie's mother died. After that she had to take care of her entire family and the house. A burden for any child. But since she was craving for any type of love from her family not been given any previously, she dutifully took her duties. Shortly after she grew accosumed to be depended upon and to serve her father, who "could give Scrooge lessons" and her sister, who takes the word selfish to a whole new level. On top of all teh burden Nellie most carry, she also is told by her sister and father, constantly, how fat she is, and what little confidence she ever had as a child, was taken away by the constant reminder of her imperfections, by father and sister. Jace Montgomery comes from a big family who is very, very close. They are all good at something and they support each other. Did I forgot to mention that this man is a HUNK? He is tall, dark and kind...what a great and rare combination. After his wife and son die 4 years earlier, Jace decides to go in a self destructive period, until he visits some of his relatives and starts to wonder if maybe he should pick the pieces in his life and carry on. By this time Jace saves the life of a man who's being mugged. As fate might have it, that man is Nellie's dad. He invites Jace to hos home for dinner and offers Jace a job, all this with ulterior motives, after all he does know that Jace is a heir and he wants to marry him off to Terel. Jace is no fool, but still goes to the dinner invitation since Nellie's dad lives in the same town one of Jaces cousins live. When he sees Nellie for the 1st time he falls in love and agrees with Nellie's dad praises of his daughter. It is not until dinner it's well on it's way that Jace figures out that Nellie's dad was speaking of Terel and not Nellie. But not of this will stop Jace from wanting to be close to Nellie and to get to know her better, becuase she is the only woman, since his wife, that makes him feel wonderful, that stirs somethign in him. So he starts his pursue. But poor Nellie doesn't know what to do with this gorgeous man that could have any women in the world. He is flirting with her and making it obviously clear that he is only interested in her. After a little struggling acceptance on her part and some strong persuation from Jace, Nellie begins to blossom and beleive in Jace. The plot thickens when the jelous, selfish sister finds out that Jace Montgomery is after her sister and not her, as she had thought. So she decides to keep them apart, whichever way. And their father helps Terel because if Nellie leaves, well, who's going to cook and clean, and iron for him...for free! The story gets even more interesting when a formerly selfish person enters the story in order to help...but who? This is my 2nd Deveraux book and I have not been dissapointed so far. This book was wonderfully writen and very easy and fast to read. I was done with it in some hours, and I'm a slow reader. The character are well defined and the vilans exasperate anyone with a heart. The only thing that bothered me a little was that Nellie and Jace dont get to have as many moments as I wished, but there's so many thigns goign on, well decribed, that I didn't noticed the flaws, until I was done reading it and analyzing it. Highly recomend.
Rating: Summary: This book was just what I needed to get my spirits up! Review: This book is perfect for all women becuase it shows that a woman does not have to have the perfect body to find a good man. As an overweight woman this book helped to bring up my self esteem. It is what is inside that counts, not what is outside. Big woman are just as beautiful as skinny women and this book shows that by the fact that handsom Jace Montgomery chose shy, sweet, and overweight Nellie over Nellie's skinny sister Terel. Terel is also the type of character that you love to hate because she is so self-centered. This is truely and excellent book and I suggest that all women should read this because as a woman you know what it feels like to inadequate.
Rating: Summary: A Good opening but not a good ending Review: Nellie Grayson was a beautiful, sweet and shy woman who adored her sister very much. She practically raised her sister when their mother died when Terel, her sister was only four years old. She cooked, washed, cleaned , do all the house servant ought to do in order to make her sister and father life easier. No time for romance, no time for her to spend anything at all except to her sister and father. Then came, Jace Montgomery, who recognized the beauty of Nellie soul not just her overweight appearance. He made Nellie believe that she was also a desirable woman. He made Nellie wished for all the things she had buried years ago. Married and children. But Terel, who hate loses to her sister will fight tooth and nail to win Jace Montgomery although it included trickery and deceit. But fear not, cause with Nellie new ally who really was her fairy godmother, she would found out that she deserved all the happiness and the ultimate dream she hope for, winning Jace Montgomery heart. A very good book at first but a bad ending . How come Terel, the evil sister, didn't get just a little of punishment for all she had done to made Nellie life miserable by lying and made sure that Nellie had a low opinion about herself, unattractive overweight old maid that did not deserved anybody except being a house servant. She even didn't make any apologize to Nellie. It all end well cause of some hocus pocus from a fairy godmother. Just like that. Mrs. Deveraux lost a bit of her touch in this book. It still a good book to read , lot of laugh and tears, and you can meet the Montgomery's clan again. But don't gave yourself a high expectation when you started read this book, and you won't get a big disappointment in the-end.
Rating: Summary: Deserves ten stars (* * * * * * * * * *) Review: I love this book above all other romances for three reasons: 1) Berni, 2) Jace, 3) the plot. When I began reading this book, I was sure that the "Kitchen" scenes would hinder the story. But as soon as Berni began to utter her witty replies, I realized that Berni and her "Kitchen" experiences were the greatest assets of "Wishes". Berni is hillarious and the discovery that she has a soft heart is touching. I wish Ms. Deveraux would write more books about Berni helping to bring people together as she moves through the levels in the Kitchen. Jace is probably the sexiest male ever to grace the pages of a romance novel and also, suprisingly, the most noble and decent. It is almost improbable to find that during the time he mourned his first wife, four years!, he was never intimate with a woman. Still, he is a phenomenal character and his relationship with Nellie is sweet, tender and endearing. The plot itself, is unusual. The greatest plot twist is that Nellie has an unusual beauty -- she is a bit overweight. Yet, it does not diminish her beauty in Jace's or readers' eyes because she is so kind-hearted and sweet. For all those reviewers who like "pretty" heroines, as Kane Taggert aptly put it: "She looks like a peach. As plump and ripe as a peach." She might not conform to a standard, but she is still a wonderful heroine. I also liked the villains in this book. Terel was not just evil and devious but smart as well. All her plotting of Nellie were results of her insecurity that if Nellie moved on with her life, Terel would have no one to love and care for her. Although she went too far, her motives were not completely without reason. All in all, this is a great book. It has something for everybody, and even if it is not your cup of tea, it is still worth a read.
Rating: Summary: Outstanding work by Ms. Deveraux!!!!! Review: This was the first book that I read by Jude Deveraux. Because I loved this book so much I began to buy other works by her despite my strong dislike for romance novels. Over the years she has become one of my favorite novelists. I love the outlandish themes in her books like Forever, The Summerhouse and The Mulberry Tree! Her writing style is great! The characters in Wishes were honest, tender and most of all loveable. This book is a must read!
Rating: Summary: A wonderful-feel good read! Review: I've read this book over and over and each time I love it more! If you want to read a romance novel with a different flare, read this one! Wishes is one of approximately 25 books in the Montgomery and Taggert series
Rating: Summary: Awesome Book Review: the plot goes behind that old saying. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", It was so touching. I loved every minute of it!
Rating: Summary: Not The TYPICAL ROMANCE Review: yes its true this book is much , infact very much like a fairy tale, but that doesnt means its not real infact i think its very near to being real ! for once the hero doesnt fall in love with the heroines body first ! i admit at times like when Berni said that "hope Nelli loses weight " & no matter how much she eats she loses , that was a bit unreal , but all in all the message which i think was that no matter one's body size its the heart which really counts was clearly dilevered. I think Jace & Nelli made quiet a cute couple
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