True Love

True Love is the 1^st book in the Nantucket Brides Trilogy from NYT bestselling author Jude Deveraux. The publisher is Ballantine Books and the release date is July 9, 2013. From the back cover.~

Jude Deveraux, the New York Times bestselling author of unforgettable romance, returns with a breathtaking first book in a fantastic new series—the Nantucket Brides trilogy. Set on the magical Massachusetts island, True Love introduces characters from a new generation of Montgomery-Taggerts, the beloved family from Deveraux’s classic novels.
 
Just as Alix Madsen is finishing up architectural school, Adelaide Kingsley dies and wills her, for one year, the use of a charming nineteenth-century Nantucket house. The elderly woman’s relationship to the Madsen family is a mystery to the spirited Alix—fresh from a romantic breakup—but for reasons of her own Alix accepts the quirky bequest, in part because it gives her time to plan her best friend’s storybook wedding.
 
But unseen forces move behind the scenes, creaking Kingsley House’s ancient floorboards. It seems that Adelaide Kingsley had a rather specific task for Alix: to solve the strange disappearance of one of the Kingsley women, Valentina, more than two hundred years ago. If that wasn’t troubling enough, Alix must deal with the arrogant (and extremely good-looking) architect Jared Montgomery, who is living in the property’s guesthouse.
 
Unbeknown to Alix, Jared has been charged with looking after her while she lives on the island—an easy task for him, considering the undeniable chemistry between the two. But Jared harbors secrets of his own, which, if revealed, may drive a wedge between the pair.
 
With a glorious Nantucket wedding on the horizon, sparks fly, and the ghosts of the past begin to reveal themselves—some of them literally. Finding their lives inextricably entwined with the turbulent fortunes of their ancestors, Alix and Jared discover that only by righting the wrongs of the past can they hope to be together.

I’ve been a fan of Jude Deveraux for years, and was very excited to get a chance to read her newest book early. I’m thankful to the publisher for approving me for a review copy through NetGalley.

My love for the Montgomery-Taggart families has gone on for years. When I saw the newest book would be about a Montgomery, I couldn’t wait to read it. I was pulled into this story from the very beginning. There is a good bit of reincarnation involved with this story. I don’t always buy into that type of storyline, but think Ms. Deveraux did a great job with this story.

Alix is such a strong and talented woman.  She arrives in Nantucket after finishing architecture school and a breakup with her boyfriend. She meets her architecture hero Jared Montgomery on her very first day on the island. The attraction between Alix and Jared is obvious from the moment they meet. Not that Jared shares who he really is when he and Alix first meet. It actually takes Alix’s dad threatening Jared for him to get his head on straight. Jared has to keep the fact Alix’s parents have both spent time on the island over the years. He also doesn’t share with Alix right away about his grandfather Caleb…who is actually a ghost living in Kingsley House.

The chemistry between Alix and Jared only grows the more time they spend together. I love they not only enjoyed being together, but they loved working together too. Alix is the first person to ever tell Jared something wasn’t right with his drawings. Even with the secrets Jared kept from Alix, I loved them as a couple. They end up working together to figure out the secret of Valentina’s disappearance. I admit this was where I had to open up my mind to reincarnation to a large degree. It totally worked for me in this book and I loved how everything fit together in the end.

I am really excited to be back with the Montgomery-Taggart families and can’t wait to read more in this newest trilogy from Ms. Deveraux.