THE GIRL FROM SUMMER HILL (SUMMER HILL #1)

Sparks fly as fiery Casey Reddick and brooding Hollywood actor Tate Landers clash in the Virginia summer heat. A chef who puts her career first and her love life second, Casey doesn’t see what every girl in town is swooning over. She made up her mind the moment she met Tate—he’s gorgeous, but stuck-up, nothing like his ex-brother-in-law, Devlin who’s playing the Wickham to Tate’s Darcy in local production of Pride & Prejudice. Casey makes the perfect Elizabeth Bennett—how could she be star-struck when she’s heard Devlin’s damning stories about Tate? As they rehearse together, however, Casey finds herself attracted to Tate—he’s much more down-to-earth than she expected and any physical contact between the two of them literally gives her a tingling, electric shock. As opening night draws near, Casey has some difficult decisions to make. Whom should she believe? The seemingly sincere, slighted Devlin or Tate, whose rough, arrogant exterior may only be skin deep. She’s come to love that jolt she gets when they touch—but will she get burned? 

Release Date: May 3, 2016

Ballantine Books

Contemporary Romance

Summer Hill #1

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza’s Review:

I've been a huge fan of Jude Deveraux since I read my very first historical romance by her when I was in 8th grade. I feel equally in love with her contemporary romances and she has been on my auto-read list for years. I was interested to see what Ms. Deveraux had planned with The Girl From Summer Hill, as I knew from reading the back cover, it was set up as a contemporary re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, which is one of my favorite books ever.

I enjoyed The Girl From Summer Hill very much. I felt Ms. Deveraux did a great job with writing the perfect characters for each of the original roles from Pride and Prejudice. I loved Casey from the moment we met her and absolutely loved all of her half-siblings we met along the way. Tate Landers was the perfect character to equal Darcy, though i will always picture Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in my mind. Devlin, Tate's ex-brother-in-law was perfectly cast as Wickham, and in fact his character was really the only one I hated in the entire book. Seriously Ms. Deveraux made me hate Devlin more than I ever hated the original Wickham.

The Girl From Summer Hill was a beautiful romance, but I also found myself laughing out loud so many times while reading this book. I honestly didn't expect to find as much humor in the story as I did and found it completely refreshing. I honestly think all fans of the original Pride and Prejudice will really enjoy this story and believe those who have never read it before, might feel compelled to read the it after reading The Girl From Summer Hill. 

4 stars (B+)

FOR ALL TIME (NANTUCKET BRIDES #2)

New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux returns to the ruggedly magnificent island in For All Time, the second novel in her Nantucket Brides trilogy—this time featuring the next generation of her beloved family of Montgomery-Taggerts. 

The wedding of Alix Madsen and Jared Montgomery is a glorious affair at an elegant little chapel in the woods, followed by dinner and dancing, all while moonlight blankets the festivities in a romantic glow. While most guests are fixed on the happy couple, Jared’s cousin Graydon can’t look away from a bridesmaid, Toby Wyndam. It’s not just her quiet beauty that enthralls him or the way she makes him laugh. Toby possesses the truly remarkable ability of being able to distinguish Graydon from his identical twin brother, Rory. According to family legend, such a gift marks her as Graydon’s True Love.

But Graydon knows there is no possible way that they can ever be together, for he is heir to the Lanconian throne and is to marry a noble woman who has been chosen for him. Yet, intrigued by Toby, he asks her to help him hide on Nantucket for a week away from regal responsibilities. In exchange, he’ll assist her with planning acclaimed novelist Victoria Madsen’s lavish wedding. Since they both know their union is impossible, the pair promises that they will never be more than just friends.

But there’s more going on between Graydon and Toby than her unique power to tell him apart from his twin. At work are forces beyond their control, which are ruled by time itself. Combine that with the magical island of Nantucket, and a seductive spell is cast over Graydon and Toby. If they are to be together, they must change what once was, as well as what will be. 

Release Date July 1, 2014

Ballantine Books

Nantucket Brides #2

Review copy provided by publisher

Liza's Review:

I've been a fan of Jude Deveraux for years and absolutely love her book. I'm particularly fond of her Montgomery-Taggert books. With her Nantucket Brides series, we get to spend time with the next generation of the Montgomery-Taggert clan.

Toby and Graydon are both fun characters and I really did like them as a couple, even with all the roadblocks that seemed to be in their way. I loved that Toby could tell the difference between Graydon and his twin brother Rory and didn't realize how significant it was to their family legend. Toby and Graydon have really great chemistry, though I hated they both held back because Graydon was heir to the throne and Toby was a virgin. I'm not a huge fan of the virgin heroine trope honestly, but felt like Ms. Deveraux did a good job explaining Toby's reasoning for her choice.

For some reason, I didn't really realize For All Time would involve time travel. I enjoy time travel books when they are done well, but they still aren't my favorite type of book to read. That being said, I did enjoy seeing Toby and Graydon as Tabby and Garrett in the past. I loved that Tabby and Garrett could be together in the past in a way Toby and Graydon couldn't be in the present. I did like the way they were able to change history for Tabby and Garrett.

While there were certain aspects of For All Time I didn't love, I did enjoy the story overall. I really liked the connection Toby and Graydon had from the beginning and loved there were several laugh out loud moments for me while reading. I'm excited to read Ever After, the 3rd book in the Nantucket Brides series next.

EVER AFTER SPOTLIGHT

Praise for Jude Deveraux’s Ever After

“A sweet cast of supporting characters rooting for the lovers adds zest and humor to this thoroughly pleasurable novel.” –Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

“Best-selling Deveraux’s fans will relish the closing installment in her Nantucket Brides series, which features many of her trademarks—a sensual love story, a touch of the supernatural, and members of the sprawling Taggert clan…The combination of a popular setting, likable characters, and happy endings for all make this another winner

from this prolific author.” –Booklist

“Deveraux saves the best for last in the final installment of the Nantucket Brides trilogy…This sexy, lighthearted romp brings the series to a satisfying close.” –Kirkus

New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux’s wildly popular Nantucket Brides trilogy concludes with, EVER AFTER (Ballantine Hardcover, on sale June 23, 2015). With more than 60 million copies of her books in print, Deveraux has captivated readers worldwide with her masterful storytelling, spirited heroines, and smoldering heroes.

EVER AFTER opens with physical therapist Hallie Hartley working overtime to take care of her spoiled stepsister, Shelly, after the untimely death of their parents. When she learns of a house on Nantucket bequeathed to her by a mysterious ancestor and Shelly’s plans to steal it, Hallie throws caution to the wind, taking on the house and a physical therapy client who comes with it―the handsome and troubled Jamie Taggert. Their mutual attraction is undeniable, but if they want to be together, they need answers first―why can’t Jamie sleep through the night without terrors and why was Hallie left the house in the first place?

Susan Elizabeth Phillips agrees readers of Jude Deveraux are in for “a very late night turning the pages straight through to the delicious end!” EVER AFTER delivers all the elements of a spellbinding love story—secrets and surprises abound every step of the way.

Jude Deveraux is the author of more than forty New York Times bestsellers including Moonlight in the Morning and A Knight in Shining Armor. She was honored with a Romantic Times Pioneer Award in 2013 for her distinguished career.

Connect with Jude: FB.com/JudeDeveraux | @JudeDeveraux1 | jude-deveraux.com

EVER AFTER A Nantucket Brides Novel by Jude Deveraux

Ballantine Hardcover | 978-0-345-54185-7 | On Sale June 23 |$27.00 | 368 pages

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.