Most helpful customer reviews
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3.0 out of 5 stars
all right, but not the best, April 25 2009
I'm trying to read every possible jude deveraux I can find, and after reading wishes, well...it was somewhat entertaining in parts, and yes, j.d. managed yet again to incorporate unworldly things into the story...plus, the book's about a montgomery, i really don't know why but when i hear the name montgomery, what comes to my mind are strong, handsome men who are perfect...i gotta tell you, its already stuck in my brain..perhaps that's why i like reading her books. Every character has a connection with the other....
what i didn't like was how the hero seemed to immediately fall in love with the girl and how she was too blind to see what her family really needs her for? I mean, come one...nobody's that insensitive! And even though it was kind of interesting to put in some hocus pocus in the book, it didn't bode well for me that she lost weight so suddenly...but it's actually a book with a moral. it's not always about the looks, it's the inside that matters...Perfect cliche, but definitely true!
It wasn't the best read that I've ever encountered, but i'm not at all sorry that i bought it, even for collection's sake....until now, nothing has topped the Velvet Series and A Knight in Shining Armor for me...
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An unusual Romance, Mar 26 2004
By A Customer
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.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Undeniably a true romance! *sighs*, Jan 4 2004
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.
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