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The Blessing
Wealthy corporate genius Jason Wilding is accustomed to being solicited for money. But his beloved younger brother, David, asks him for more than access to his bank account. David is infatuated with a lovely young widow, Amy Thompkins, but she's so attached to her son, Max, that he can't wangle a moment alone to court her. David wants Jason to come home to Kentucky for Christmas and act as Max's nanny for a week, thus freeing Amy to date. Much as he'd like to, Jason can't refuse his little brother's request and he puts his high-powered life on hold to move in with the widow and her adorable son.
Amy Thompkins is nothing at all like the glossy, high maintenance women that have decorated Jason's life in New York. She's poor, has no marketable skills, and is so determined to be independent that Jason has to trick her into accepting food and clothing. Before long, her sparkling humor and zest for life, not to mention her little 6-month-old dynamo, Max, soon enchant the difficult, reluctant Jason. He swiftly decides to negotiate a "takeover" and acquire Amy and Max for his very own. But Amy is wise enough to know that she needs more from Jason than to become a part of his corporate world. She needs a loving husband and devoted, full-time father.
Jason and Amy must search their hearts and face difficult truths about themselves before they can find a way to mesh their lives and love. Set in a small town in Kentucky during the Christmas season, The Blessing is a story filled with unforgettable characters and heartwarming romance, a blessing for readers regardless of the season. --Lois Faye Dyer
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
347 people are currently reading
1337 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,056 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 10, 2017
Loved! witty,enjoyable and quite a humorous love story..well written (paperback!)
January 10, 2020
Very different story. Not really romantic at all. He dated a lot of women while they were apart and almost married one. So I don't think he was celibate but it never says. She was of course but the whole story was just off to me. It didn't read right or flow. I tried to be funny but wasn't to me. I know humor is subjective. But it just didn't touch me at all. Don't even get me started about the two year old. Crazy stuff.
May 23, 2018
Come on people really??????????
If you buy a book by Jude Deveraux or Danielle Steel, you know what your going to get - so why give it one or two stars. This book was really, really good. In fact, it was so good, I read it in one sitting.
Yes, it's fluff. Yes, it's a Cinderella story - but it's FICTION. It's that kind of book - so please be fair. I love, love, love Jude Deveraux. Her books make me smile, they make me feel good, they make me feel warm and cozy.
If you want to read "literature" read an Oprah book.
If you buy a book by Jude Deveraux or Danielle Steel, you know what your going to get - so why give it one or two stars. This book was really, really good. In fact, it was so good, I read it in one sitting.
Yes, it's fluff. Yes, it's a Cinderella story - but it's FICTION. It's that kind of book - so please be fair. I love, love, love Jude Deveraux. Her books make me smile, they make me feel good, they make me feel warm and cozy.
If you want to read "literature" read an Oprah book.
November 20, 2013
Don't go there! One of the worst plots ever.
The H is a multi millionaire and moves in with a widowed mother and her toddler because his younger brother has a crush on her. Makes sense. He falls in love with her in the course of three days (surprise!) and does all kind of funny things to help her out because she is dirt poor and does not accept charity. She finds out about this and vanishes (the reason why she is mad because he helped her is still not fully clear to me).
He hires detectives to find her but no luck. He gives up his business, moves back to his hometown and starts a new life by using his money to help the people and businesses there. He even helps the kids with their homework ( oh, c'mon!).
When he is renovating the library, the artist who should do the walls falls ill. But as the president (of the United States!) has announced his visit to the new opening of the library, he is in urgent need of a new artist. Guess who it is.
If you think that I'm drunk while I'm writing this review, just let me say that it's eight in the morning and I'm wide awake. This really is the plot of the book. I don't know what JD was thinking. Even her book with the lice was better.
One and a half star. The half star is because there were some funny moments in the beginning of the book.
The H is a multi millionaire and moves in with a widowed mother and her toddler because his younger brother has a crush on her. Makes sense. He falls in love with her in the course of three days (surprise!) and does all kind of funny things to help her out because she is dirt poor and does not accept charity. She finds out about this and vanishes (the reason why she is mad because he helped her is still not fully clear to me).
He hires detectives to find her but no luck. He gives up his business, moves back to his hometown and starts a new life by using his money to help the people and businesses there. He even helps the kids with their homework ( oh, c'mon!).
When he is renovating the library, the artist who should do the walls falls ill. But as the president (of the United States!) has announced his visit to the new opening of the library, he is in urgent need of a new artist. Guess who it is.
If you think that I'm drunk while I'm writing this review, just let me say that it's eight in the morning and I'm wide awake. This really is the plot of the book. I don't know what JD was thinking. Even her book with the lice was better.
One and a half star. The half star is because there were some funny moments in the beginning of the book.
February 24, 2017
Приятна романтична история. Чаровни герои и очаквана развръзка.
July 5, 2018
No thank you -not my type of brand.
DNF 14%
DNF 14%
June 19, 2011
There's a reason why I can't read novels of this ilk anymore. This is not real life! Now really, I do believe that certain novels from the romance genre have their place, and I will admit that I have read many of Ms. Deveraux's books, and enjoyed them. This one, however, I did not. Romance novels are often imbued with a sense of reality, so that the reader thinks - hey, this could happen to me too! _The Blessing_ is not one of those novels. Too much happens too quickly when a wealthy man almost instantly falls in love with a poor widowed single mother that the story becomes too fantastical to be believed. And don't even get me started about the precocious savant-like son of this poor, but honest widow. I struggled to get through this book, and quite frankly it was not a quick, easy read. There are better books out there. Pass this one by, and keep looking.
March 15, 2012
*High 2/Low 3 Stars*
There was nothing really special about this book and you really had to suspend your belief in reality to read it. So much of the story was improbable, only to be topped at the end by a 2 1/2 year old bossing people around and turning out to be a spectacular artist... The couple repeatedly lied to each other - that was hard to stomach. But I still rooted for them. I'm a sucker, I know. The story had potential, but the characters needed to stop manipulating each other to realize it. I read this for the March 2012 FAC challenge and was new to this author, I'm not opposed to reading more of her work, but I will not be rushing to do so.
There was nothing really special about this book and you really had to suspend your belief in reality to read it. So much of the story was improbable, only to be topped at the end by a 2 1/2 year old bossing people around and turning out to be a spectacular artist... The couple repeatedly lied to each other - that was hard to stomach. But I still rooted for them. I'm a sucker, I know. The story had potential, but the characters needed to stop manipulating each other to realize it. I read this for the March 2012 FAC challenge and was new to this author, I'm not opposed to reading more of her work, but I will not be rushing to do so.
April 27, 2020
5/10
La primera parte de este libro me ha parecido un poco absurda, con una protagonista tan "happy flower" que no se entera de nada... ha sido absurdo todo lo que pasa a su alrededor y no se percata de nada... estuve a punto de abandonarlo en un par de ocasiones, solo segui leyendo porque me va bien para uno de los retos en los que estoy.
La segunda parte la vi mas logica y me gustó mucho mas. Por eso no he suspendido el libro.
Los personajes no me han gustado nada, ni siquiera el niño. Y el final ya ha sido de partirme de risa por lo irreal que me ha parecido.
Odio decir esto, pero es un libro que no me ha aportado nada de nada
La primera parte de este libro me ha parecido un poco absurda, con una protagonista tan "happy flower" que no se entera de nada... ha sido absurdo todo lo que pasa a su alrededor y no se percata de nada... estuve a punto de abandonarlo en un par de ocasiones, solo segui leyendo porque me va bien para uno de los retos en los que estoy.
La segunda parte la vi mas logica y me gustó mucho mas. Por eso no he suspendido el libro.
Los personajes no me han gustado nada, ni siquiera el niño. Y el final ya ha sido de partirme de risa por lo irreal que me ha parecido.
Odio decir esto, pero es un libro que no me ha aportado nada de nada
August 6, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Even tho Jude's books are usually a miss for me and that I've only read 3 so far (The Invitation, Velvet Song and this one) I have to say im really starting to like her storytelling and writing style.
The Characters were interesting to read about. At first I didn't like Amy and Jason because they both seemed very defensive towards each other but as the story continued I was happy to see they both mellowed out by the end.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in Abernathy Kentucky especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Contemporary Romance about a newly widowed single mother !! Can't wait to read more by Jude in the future!!
Review:
Even tho Jude's books are usually a miss for me and that I've only read 3 so far (The Invitation, Velvet Song and this one) I have to say im really starting to like her storytelling and writing style.
The Characters were interesting to read about. At first I didn't like Amy and Jason because they both seemed very defensive towards each other but as the story continued I was happy to see they both mellowed out by the end.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in Abernathy Kentucky especially when the scenery was described.
Overall a Good Contemporary Romance about a newly widowed single mother !! Can't wait to read more by Jude in the future!!
February 23, 2010
The Blessing bring moments of tenderness and openness that make love possible.
We are introduced to Jason Wilding, businessman-extraordinaire and Amy Thompkins, a vulnerable and needy but prideful young widow. They come from completely different worlds, for Jason it is an impersonal but productive world where he is wealthy beyond means yet his life is without substance, without love. Amy's world is one of loneliness, where she does not have much in terms of materialism, but she is blessed with love, in which she finds in her young son Max.
Although a happy ending is expected, that eventual outcome reflect a story chronicled through moments, rather than an involved plot line. Jason and Amy interact, both in words and actions in dialogue form, where a character acts out and the other character respond. This is frequently demonstrated by Jason's attempts to help Amy and her resistance, until he feels left with no choice but to resort to more creative ways of giving. While vulnerable, it is Amy's pride that support her mistrust of Jason's actions. She does not want his pity, she wants his love, whereas for all intents and purposes, ironically Jason's giving is how he knows to show his love.
A tug-of-war love and the perils of that love existing between Jason and Amy is through their own making, their own walls and blindness to the other's intent and needs. Jason is used to taking matters into his own hand, and for him a successful love is comparable to a business transaction, an area of competence for him. Therefore, the act of loving, and giving and expecting success is taken for granted and become impersonal and a matter of fixing through money. Amy's problem stems from pride and her refusal to understand, much less accept Jason's attempts to help her. She has already taken Jason at face value and when she discovers Jason's "creative ways of giving", for her it is manipulation and a solidification of the person Jason is, thus she runs away.
The interaction between Amy and Jason continue just so throughout the story. The action and response, but in the moments that connect Amy and Jason and their underlying love is Max, Amy's baby son. His presence is the connecting factor, bridging Jason and Amy's love, as well as bringing tenderness appeal. Where sometimes the characters' actions can seem too deliberate, Max's character softens and brings innocence and feeling to the story, a blessing in the story.
We are introduced to Jason Wilding, businessman-extraordinaire and Amy Thompkins, a vulnerable and needy but prideful young widow. They come from completely different worlds, for Jason it is an impersonal but productive world where he is wealthy beyond means yet his life is without substance, without love. Amy's world is one of loneliness, where she does not have much in terms of materialism, but she is blessed with love, in which she finds in her young son Max.
Although a happy ending is expected, that eventual outcome reflect a story chronicled through moments, rather than an involved plot line. Jason and Amy interact, both in words and actions in dialogue form, where a character acts out and the other character respond. This is frequently demonstrated by Jason's attempts to help Amy and her resistance, until he feels left with no choice but to resort to more creative ways of giving. While vulnerable, it is Amy's pride that support her mistrust of Jason's actions. She does not want his pity, she wants his love, whereas for all intents and purposes, ironically Jason's giving is how he knows to show his love.
A tug-of-war love and the perils of that love existing between Jason and Amy is through their own making, their own walls and blindness to the other's intent and needs. Jason is used to taking matters into his own hand, and for him a successful love is comparable to a business transaction, an area of competence for him. Therefore, the act of loving, and giving and expecting success is taken for granted and become impersonal and a matter of fixing through money. Amy's problem stems from pride and her refusal to understand, much less accept Jason's attempts to help her. She has already taken Jason at face value and when she discovers Jason's "creative ways of giving", for her it is manipulation and a solidification of the person Jason is, thus she runs away.
The interaction between Amy and Jason continue just so throughout the story. The action and response, but in the moments that connect Amy and Jason and their underlying love is Max, Amy's baby son. His presence is the connecting factor, bridging Jason and Amy's love, as well as bringing tenderness appeal. Where sometimes the characters' actions can seem too deliberate, Max's character softens and brings innocence and feeling to the story, a blessing in the story.
April 1, 2020
*Reread Review*
Completely enjoyed this reread. I wasn't even planning on reading it this month but it kept jumping out at me from my kindle.. and I just couldn't resist. It is just so "feel" good. I really love the references to pretty woman in this and how our FMC asks "What happens after?"
This book is so simple in its plot and yet was so profound to me the first time I read it. What happens when a man falls head over heals for a woman and wants nothing more than to rescue her and sweep her away and spend all his money on her. What if she is smarter than that and knows that she needs more than his money... she needs to make it on her own first? What happens when she runs away? Even more what happens when he realizes that throwing money at problems don't always fix them and that if you truly love something you have to set it free?
Want to know.. read the book lol. So sweet and just what I needed this month!
Completely enjoyed this reread. I wasn't even planning on reading it this month but it kept jumping out at me from my kindle.. and I just couldn't resist. It is just so "feel" good. I really love the references to pretty woman in this and how our FMC asks "What happens after?"
This book is so simple in its plot and yet was so profound to me the first time I read it. What happens when a man falls head over heals for a woman and wants nothing more than to rescue her and sweep her away and spend all his money on her. What if she is smarter than that and knows that she needs more than his money... she needs to make it on her own first? What happens when she runs away? Even more what happens when he realizes that throwing money at problems don't always fix them and that if you truly love something you have to set it free?
Want to know.. read the book lol. So sweet and just what I needed this month!
March 26, 2018
Yeah, even 2 stars is generous on this book.
It was almost silly, and predictable, and even though it was not very long it felt very long...
You can pass on this one.
It was almost silly, and predictable, and even though it was not very long it felt very long...
You can pass on this one.
October 25, 2024
The Blessing is about how David thinks he is in love with a small town widow but he can’t spend time with her because of her young baby that takes up her time and doesn’t take to David, so he makes a deal with his brother to take care of the kid to make her have time. But instead, his brother starts falling hard and fast. And when the truth comes out everything goes up in flames for years.
A book that was certainly good in the beginning with the slow burn love story but when it became even more complex towards the middle and end (3rd act breakup vibes) it was crazy good! This book figured out how to create memorable characters and moments as well as keep you on the edge of your seat wandering what’ll happen in the end. Great read.
A book that was certainly good in the beginning with the slow burn love story but when it became even more complex towards the middle and end (3rd act breakup vibes) it was crazy good! This book figured out how to create memorable characters and moments as well as keep you on the edge of your seat wandering what’ll happen in the end. Great read.
May 9, 2025
Tikėjausi daugiau. Knyga parašyta labai skubančiu, keistu stiliumi. Skaitai ir atrodo, kad kalba eina apie XIXa laikotarpį, tačiau išleista ji 2000 metais. Veikėjai vieni kitus vadina ponais, dialogai labai svetimi, bejausmiai, vien dėl to sunkiai pavyko įsijausti.
Apskritai, knygoje vaizduojamas gyvenimo suvokimas labai tolimas man. Ypač, kai kalba pasisuka apie vyro paieškas ir kaip džiaugsmingai moteris priima vyrą į savo lovą, nes jis juk švarus ir blaivus. Rodos, tai didžiausia vertybė kokia tik gali būti.
Ir taip, taip iš tiesų kadaise mąstė žmonės. Bet man tai visiškai svetima.
Apskritai, knygoje vaizduojamas gyvenimo suvokimas labai tolimas man. Ypač, kai kalba pasisuka apie vyro paieškas ir kaip džiaugsmingai moteris priima vyrą į savo lovą, nes jis juk švarus ir blaivus. Rodos, tai didžiausia vertybė kokia tik gali būti.
Ir taip, taip iš tiesų kadaise mąstė žmonės. Bet man tai visiškai svetima.
April 24, 2019
What, in one day? And no ghost, hauntings, demons, angels. Just love, lots of love and money.
July 17, 2022
Like all Jude Deveraux books, one is rich but unhappy, one is poor but gifted….
A good little story if highly improbable.
A good little story if highly improbable.
January 31, 2023
In The Blessing, author Jude Deveraux weaves a heartwarming tale of unexpected love.
Jason Wilding is a wealthy NYC corporate CEO, who goes home to Abernathy, Kentucky, when his brother, Dr. David Wilding asks for a favor, to spend the week and be a live-in babysitter for David's girlfriend, Amy Thompkins' six month old baby son Max, so that he could spend time alone with her and woo her.
Jake has a no-nonsense exterior but is a soft teddy bear inside, and he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to take care of Amy, a widow, and enjoys interacting with little Max. With a mutual attraction that grows between Jake and Amy, what will they do about David?
The Blessing is a wonderful story that engages the reader to follow along as Jason and Amy find unexpected love with the help of little baby Max. As their story unfolds, it will bring plenty of drama, trials and tribulations, life challenges, family issues for them to overcome, and a dash of humor thrown into the mix. The story will keep the reader wondering if this ruse turned attraction can become an everlasting love story, but it all culminates in a heartwarming ending that will leave them with a smile on their face.
The Blessing is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances in life.
Disclaimer: I purchased a PB copy of the book from Bubbles & Books monthly book club subscription.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
Jason Wilding is a wealthy NYC corporate CEO, who goes home to Abernathy, Kentucky, when his brother, Dr. David Wilding asks for a favor, to spend the week and be a live-in babysitter for David's girlfriend, Amy Thompkins' six month old baby son Max, so that he could spend time alone with her and woo her.
Jake has a no-nonsense exterior but is a soft teddy bear inside, and he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to take care of Amy, a widow, and enjoys interacting with little Max. With a mutual attraction that grows between Jake and Amy, what will they do about David?
The Blessing is a wonderful story that engages the reader to follow along as Jason and Amy find unexpected love with the help of little baby Max. As their story unfolds, it will bring plenty of drama, trials and tribulations, life challenges, family issues for them to overcome, and a dash of humor thrown into the mix. The story will keep the reader wondering if this ruse turned attraction can become an everlasting love story, but it all culminates in a heartwarming ending that will leave them with a smile on their face.
The Blessing is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances in life.
Disclaimer: I purchased a PB copy of the book from Bubbles & Books monthly book club subscription.
https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspo...
January 18, 2019
Readable but not very substantial. Liked it enough to finish it, but probably won't bother reading it again. Everything happened too fast and I don't feel like the story was fleshed out enough. Had some cute moments but nothing remarkable. I felt like the side characters were more entertaining than the love story part.
August 13, 2016
I have loved everything by Jude Deveraux, until now. This was a love story between a millionaire and a extremely poor widow with a baby. I felt that the millionaire fell in love with the kid and not the mother. I usually read books straight through but this was painful. I felt that the hero was to be pitied the entire book. His love interest had him working as her nanny and thought he was gay. His brother lied to get him to town, then lied to get him to help trick the widow, then used the hero's staff and money to try to win the woman who was oblivious to him, oh and he can't stand her baby, when she was more interested in the "gay" brother he threw a fit and abandoned her at a party. Finally the hero reveals his feelings to this "saint" of a woman she runs out in the middle is the night on Christmas. No! Seriously, Jude, no. She leaves him in HER house and skips town within no money, no car, no where to go with a baby.
I kept putting this down. It was painful to finish because even with those awful plots above, it gets worse.
I kept putting this down. It was painful to finish because even with those awful plots above, it gets worse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2009
I picked this book up at the used book store and I'm kind of glad that I didn't buy it at full price. The story started out good and was cute in a lot of places. But it seemed to lose steem in the middle. I liked the aspect of a man being conned into staying at a womans house to care for her child so that his brother can date her and get her to fall in love with him. But the twist is that he starts to fall for the woman and her baby. Wanting to solve her problems he buys her things and fixes things but ends up pushing her away with too much generousity. the road getting them back together is long and to drawn out. Not one of my favorites.
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December 31, 2017David Wilding had told his brother, Jason, that their father was dying in order to get him to return to his hometown of Abernathy, Kentucky. Jason was an overworked multimillionaire businessman who now resided in New York. David was a hometown doctor. David told Jason that he had fallen for the widow of the town drunk and drug addict, Amy Thompkins. He had told Amy that Jason was his gay cousin who had recently broken up with his boyfriend and he needed a place to stay during Christmas week while his place was being renovated. In actuality, David wanted Jason available to babysit her 6 month old son, Max, while he took Amy out.
Max didn't like strangers but he took to Jason right away. Amy was attracted to Jason and would never have let him stay with her if he wouldn't have been told he was gay. The house she lived in was falling in around her. Jason used the week to make things better for Amy like buying a baby furniture business and telling her they were having a sale and needed to get rid of some furniture really cheaply. She won a drawing for a new Dior gown from a dress company that was changing owners. Amy felt really lucky. Jason took her shopping and bought lots of clothes and toys for Max. By the end of the week, Jason had decided that he was going to marry Amy. He told her that he loved her and he wasn't gay. They slept together and a package was delivered on Christmas morning telling her about Jason's business and how wealthy he was. She told him that she knew that he had plans for her and they involved them getting married and moving to NY. She would be put in an expensive house and be waiting on him to come home when time allowed. He agreed that was what he had in mind. Amy felt like she deserved more than that. She didn't want to be bought. She wanted to prove her independence and provide for Max so she packed her and Max's belongings and left Jason while he was asleep at her house.
Jason worked the next year and hired numerous private detectives to find Amy and Max. They had no luck. At the end of the year, he realized that he had been trying to buy Amy and that wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want herself and Max to end up as his possessions. He realized that was what he had been trying to do. His secretary had left him and three months later had married his brother, David.
After Christmas, Jason left New York and went back to Kentucky to work on building his hometown. He invested in his former chef's business of making gourmet baby food and it was now doing well. Abernathy was once again a growing town. Cherry Parker had convinced him to hire her sister as his secretary and she was inefficient as Cherry had been proficient. She kept getting things messed up and her way of thinking was crazy. Jason couldn't wait for Cherry to have her baby so she could fire Doreen without worrying about upsetting Cherry.
Amy's former mother-in-law arranged for a painter that Jason thought he had hired delivered a note saying that he had a broken arm and couldn't come to town to paint a mural in the library. Jason called Mildred to ask for help and Mildred took the opportunity to contact Amy. She had left Kentucky to go live with a friend in NY. She had gotten a job illustrating children's books and had become successful during the past 2 years. She agreed to return to Abernathy to paint the mural in the library. She knew that she would see Jason again and wondered how he would feel about that.
She arrived in town and saw Jason at the library. She made up a fictitious boyfriend and Doreen, Cherry's sister, pretended to be his fiancee. She was nearly crying when she arrived at her former mother-in-law's house. Mildred was trying hard not to laugh and explained that Doreen would never be Jason's fiancee. She told Amy about Jason asking Doreen to order some duck a l'orange for the new municipal pool backers. Doreen thought he wanted orange ducks so she filled the pool with 200 lbs of orange jello. She then had a chicken farmer bring in 400 ducks for the building and thought that Jason was upset at her because she couldn't find ducks and had ordered the chickens instead. She filed paperwork by how the color feels when she touches it. No one can figure out how her brain works so no one can interpret her filing system.
Amy came back and worked on the murals in the library. Max trusted Jason again as he did when he was a baby. He also liked Doreen. Amy worked with Doreen to get Jason to buy her a house before he fired her. Cherry had a baby girl. Doreen took Max into a room in the library and took care of him while Amy worked on the mural. Max had told them all that he wanted monkeys so that's what was painted in the room where Max took his naps. Amy watched Jason and learned that he had changed. He was helping the town for their sakes rather for his own.
After the mural was done and the president came to visit the town, the townsfolk all came to the library to celebrate and they all stayed late. Amy and Jason were the last to leave. They talked and kissed and made love. Jason asked Amy to marry him and she agreed. He also realized that she could take care of herself by doing children's book illustrations. She wasn't as needy as she was when they first met and that was okay with him. Amy also told Jason that she was alright with having more children.
Max didn't like strangers but he took to Jason right away. Amy was attracted to Jason and would never have let him stay with her if he wouldn't have been told he was gay. The house she lived in was falling in around her. Jason used the week to make things better for Amy like buying a baby furniture business and telling her they were having a sale and needed to get rid of some furniture really cheaply. She won a drawing for a new Dior gown from a dress company that was changing owners. Amy felt really lucky. Jason took her shopping and bought lots of clothes and toys for Max. By the end of the week, Jason had decided that he was going to marry Amy. He told her that he loved her and he wasn't gay. They slept together and a package was delivered on Christmas morning telling her about Jason's business and how wealthy he was. She told him that she knew that he had plans for her and they involved them getting married and moving to NY. She would be put in an expensive house and be waiting on him to come home when time allowed. He agreed that was what he had in mind. Amy felt like she deserved more than that. She didn't want to be bought. She wanted to prove her independence and provide for Max so she packed her and Max's belongings and left Jason while he was asleep at her house.
Jason worked the next year and hired numerous private detectives to find Amy and Max. They had no luck. At the end of the year, he realized that he had been trying to buy Amy and that wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want herself and Max to end up as his possessions. He realized that was what he had been trying to do. His secretary had left him and three months later had married his brother, David.
After Christmas, Jason left New York and went back to Kentucky to work on building his hometown. He invested in his former chef's business of making gourmet baby food and it was now doing well. Abernathy was once again a growing town. Cherry Parker had convinced him to hire her sister as his secretary and she was inefficient as Cherry had been proficient. She kept getting things messed up and her way of thinking was crazy. Jason couldn't wait for Cherry to have her baby so she could fire Doreen without worrying about upsetting Cherry.
Amy's former mother-in-law arranged for a painter that Jason thought he had hired delivered a note saying that he had a broken arm and couldn't come to town to paint a mural in the library. Jason called Mildred to ask for help and Mildred took the opportunity to contact Amy. She had left Kentucky to go live with a friend in NY. She had gotten a job illustrating children's books and had become successful during the past 2 years. She agreed to return to Abernathy to paint the mural in the library. She knew that she would see Jason again and wondered how he would feel about that.
She arrived in town and saw Jason at the library. She made up a fictitious boyfriend and Doreen, Cherry's sister, pretended to be his fiancee. She was nearly crying when she arrived at her former mother-in-law's house. Mildred was trying hard not to laugh and explained that Doreen would never be Jason's fiancee. She told Amy about Jason asking Doreen to order some duck a l'orange for the new municipal pool backers. Doreen thought he wanted orange ducks so she filled the pool with 200 lbs of orange jello. She then had a chicken farmer bring in 400 ducks for the building and thought that Jason was upset at her because she couldn't find ducks and had ordered the chickens instead. She filed paperwork by how the color feels when she touches it. No one can figure out how her brain works so no one can interpret her filing system.
Amy came back and worked on the murals in the library. Max trusted Jason again as he did when he was a baby. He also liked Doreen. Amy worked with Doreen to get Jason to buy her a house before he fired her. Cherry had a baby girl. Doreen took Max into a room in the library and took care of him while Amy worked on the mural. Max had told them all that he wanted monkeys so that's what was painted in the room where Max took his naps. Amy watched Jason and learned that he had changed. He was helping the town for their sakes rather for his own.
After the mural was done and the president came to visit the town, the townsfolk all came to the library to celebrate and they all stayed late. Amy and Jason were the last to leave. They talked and kissed and made love. Jason asked Amy to marry him and she agreed. He also realized that she could take care of herself by doing children's book illustrations. She wasn't as needy as she was when they first met and that was okay with him. Amy also told Jason that she was alright with having more children.
November 6, 2012
In this heart-warming and unforgettable bestseller, Jude Deveraux celebrates the unexpected paths on the heart's journey toward love, and the eternal bond between mother and child. A great read.
April 17, 2008
She used to be a decent author, but so many of her books she puts out now are subpar.
July 23, 2008
I was very disappointed with the ending
January 30, 2020
I read this romance back in 1990. I usually enjoyed most of Jude Devereux's books, but this one disappointed. I didn't like the characters, so didn't feel vested in the story.
June 8, 2016
Not very exciting. A billionaire leaves his busy work life to play babysitter? Mmmm I was disappointed in this one but I had to see it through to the end.
April 16, 2013
Setting: small town of Abernathy, Kentucky – its streets, businesses, homes, people; penthouse / business office in New York.
Theme: falling in love; confronting one’s own demons; gentle humor
Characters:
Amy Thompkins: young widow with an infant; had married the town drunk (having met him in one of his sober periods), and too prideful to walk away when she realized the truth; living in his rundown house, trying to make ends meet while caring for her baby. Tried various jobs (waitressing, office work, fast food), but none lasted. Is a great mother, and a decent artist, and will not accept charity…. And then too prideful to stay when confronted by Jason’s fabrications (of a different kind).
Max Thompkins: Amy’s son; into everything; responds to Jason; eventual artist…
Jason Wilding: high powered, rich businessman who buys and sells businesses; called back to Abernathy by his younger brother on the pretext of his father’s heart, but finds dad playing poker and drinking beer with his friends; brother wants his help to clear the way for himself to be with Amy – as her son takes up all of her time; brother misleads him into thinking that the son is a teen and throwing a bit of a challenge in – (You can’t last a week) – and he agrees to help his brother out before knowing all of the details – including the story his brother told Amy. He is wealthy, good looking, used to ‘friends’ and girlfriends happy to spend his money; cold; cut off; lonely. After mother died when they were young, and dad ‘checked out’ – throwing himself into work to ward off his grief - Jason played mother/father for his younger brother – up to and including sending him to college, and resents father a bit.
Dr. David Wilding: town doctor; loved by all, especially the ladies; charming; did not let brother pay for doctorate, though still paying off the loans; he wants time with Amy, and he wants his brother to live \ see more of life, so he contrives to get his brother to come for a visit and help him out. He tells Amy that his cousin (not brother) is gay and broke up with his partner, and has no place to go for Christmas and is temporarily homeless while they fix his house. (In his defense, Jason doesn’t confirm- nor does he deny these claims to Amy).
Cherry Parker: Jason’s assistant; with a minimum of fuss she takes care of all he assigns – information, purchases, etc. Is installed at Dr. David and his father’s house during Jason’s time with Amy… she buys the furniture warehouse and negotiates the sales, she buys the clothing shop so as to auction off the Chanel dress – both with rivals from Jason’s high school days so they hold out for top dollar.
Doreen Parker: Cherry’s sister – gorgeous; not too smart; Cherry asks Jason to hire her, which Jason is eager to do thinking he’s getting another Parker – but she is not. Example: she files by what color the paper feels like, but then can’t retrieve because she isn’t holding the paper. Takes on 2 ¾ year old Max – helping him with his painting, organizing his meals, naps, etc. Jason suggests Max found is intellectual equal in her. Jason won’t fire her because Cherry is pregnant, and his brother insists it would hurt Cherry and the baby if he had to worry.
Charles and Co.: Jason’s chef – travels everywhere with him; under the guise of starting a new business (so that Amy will accept the food), he provides interesting baby food for Max (duck ala orange; beef stroganoff, etc) and regular meals for Amy and Jason (often delivered by Mark under the guise of gifts from his patients).
Summary:
This is a charming story of a rich, lonely man who responds to the needs of a young woman and her son – falling in love with them. He uses his money to ease her way, trying to do so without her knowing so that she will accept his gifts. They fall in love, but neither trusts themselves or others to be themselves fully.
After he tells her he loves her, and they make love – she gets a package of articles of the real Jason – his wealth, his philanthropy (of which she is convinced she is one of now), his women. Realizing he expects to install them in a house, and to visit as he can, she walks out when he is sleeping rather than staying and fighting for him.
2 years later, he has changed, or perhaps better said, he true self is more to the front – after a year of failed PI reports, and almost marrying a woman just so he isn’t so lonely, he gives up his business and returns to Abernathy to help rebuild… he faces the challenges of the townspeople, finally winning most of their acceptance. Challenged by his brother that there are other children besides Max that need help, he finds out that the children of Abernathy have low scores… he hires tutors – actors, retired doctors, scientists, etc. to work with the school for 3 months, and many stayed in Abernathy. And he has offered to help any child with their homework – and when he is painting with Amy, he is interrupted by children that show him papers or ask questions – and a hostile teen comes in, he takes him into the office for an hour, and the boy leaves with a smile. He finances Charlie’s baby food company,(even though it means he loses him as his personal chef) putting the plant and the advertising in Abernathy.
And Amy’s mother-in-law manipulates things so that the artist Jason hired for the library refurbishment wasn’t available, and when Jason comes to her (after all the president will be there in 6 weeks), she calls Amy and asks her to take the job.
She puts up barriers when she sees him, telling him about her boyfriend… and then Doreen, thinking she is helping, pretends they are engaged; he insists he will be her assistant and they spend 6 weeks together. The first day, when a restless Max won’t stay with grandma, he asks Max if he’d like to paint the children’s reading room – and agrees to leave him to it, letting him lock the door, and to have Doreen as his assistant.
And after the opening (where the president came) and Amy’s work is praised (it’s good, but not unique) – Max’s room is opened up… a shadow jungle with monkeys peaking out… and an artist is born to high acclaim. A party that includes many of the townspeople… and when the party winds down, all leave but Amy and Jason… and in a bit of nervousness, Amy mentions all of his women, and the throws his glass, and snatches her in a passionate kiss… and he tells her he has always loved her, and she admits there is no boyfriend… and they make love, and they talk and share, with the goal of understanding… and the story ends with Max returning (with Doreen of course), jumping on mom… and then dad thinking about adult privacy, when Max jumps on his stomach and jumps on it while saying monkeys, monkeys… a life of many blessings.
Memorable scenes:
2 ¾ year old Max locking out everyone from the reading room he is painting – even his mother.
The ease with which high powered exec Jason responds to and cares for 6 month old and then 2-3/4 year old Max – with firmness, with laughter, with love, with practicality.
Jason – multitasking while on the phone – taking paper out of Max’s mouth, taking the electrical plug out of his hand, catching him when he is sliding off the couch, getting him a bottle of juice.
To save Amy’s pride, he arranges for baby furniture to be bought for $250 (from a warehouse he ended up purchasing) with a single advertisement added to her newspaper… but she calls friends and there are a dozen families at the warehouse for the same deal.
Amelia Bedelia-like Doreen – who orders water colors in they trays with circles of colors instead of the gallons the artist will need (every child in Kentucky got a set : ), or when ordering an overhead projector purchased 9, but when she turned them overhead, the slides fell out; or ordering red paper clips (her favorite) from office stores around the state, and they are all the same and from the same company…
Jason Wilding - who left Abernathy with a distaste for small town, gossipy life, that spread rumors that his mom was fooling around when in fact she was staying over in the town 30 miles away at a motel during medical treatment she didn’t want her husband/family to know about – and her husband going out trolling when he heard the rumors… and Jason following mom to learn the truth, and then her swearing not to tell anyone, because life was for living, not dealing with dying – returning years later, once a big business success, and dealing with the criticism of the townspeople as he pushed/funded changes and his staying because they related to him, not to his money.
Jason arranges for a Chanel gown to be auctioned off at the mall when he realizes Amy needs a dress for the dance his brother invited her to – and when she hears about the contest and before she wins it, she agrees to give the dress to her friend if she should happen to win it… and then has to borrow it when she gets invited out.
Theme: falling in love; confronting one’s own demons; gentle humor
Characters:
Amy Thompkins: young widow with an infant; had married the town drunk (having met him in one of his sober periods), and too prideful to walk away when she realized the truth; living in his rundown house, trying to make ends meet while caring for her baby. Tried various jobs (waitressing, office work, fast food), but none lasted. Is a great mother, and a decent artist, and will not accept charity…. And then too prideful to stay when confronted by Jason’s fabrications (of a different kind).
Max Thompkins: Amy’s son; into everything; responds to Jason; eventual artist…
Jason Wilding: high powered, rich businessman who buys and sells businesses; called back to Abernathy by his younger brother on the pretext of his father’s heart, but finds dad playing poker and drinking beer with his friends; brother wants his help to clear the way for himself to be with Amy – as her son takes up all of her time; brother misleads him into thinking that the son is a teen and throwing a bit of a challenge in – (You can’t last a week) – and he agrees to help his brother out before knowing all of the details – including the story his brother told Amy. He is wealthy, good looking, used to ‘friends’ and girlfriends happy to spend his money; cold; cut off; lonely. After mother died when they were young, and dad ‘checked out’ – throwing himself into work to ward off his grief - Jason played mother/father for his younger brother – up to and including sending him to college, and resents father a bit.
Dr. David Wilding: town doctor; loved by all, especially the ladies; charming; did not let brother pay for doctorate, though still paying off the loans; he wants time with Amy, and he wants his brother to live \ see more of life, so he contrives to get his brother to come for a visit and help him out. He tells Amy that his cousin (not brother) is gay and broke up with his partner, and has no place to go for Christmas and is temporarily homeless while they fix his house. (In his defense, Jason doesn’t confirm- nor does he deny these claims to Amy).
Cherry Parker: Jason’s assistant; with a minimum of fuss she takes care of all he assigns – information, purchases, etc. Is installed at Dr. David and his father’s house during Jason’s time with Amy… she buys the furniture warehouse and negotiates the sales, she buys the clothing shop so as to auction off the Chanel dress – both with rivals from Jason’s high school days so they hold out for top dollar.
Doreen Parker: Cherry’s sister – gorgeous; not too smart; Cherry asks Jason to hire her, which Jason is eager to do thinking he’s getting another Parker – but she is not. Example: she files by what color the paper feels like, but then can’t retrieve because she isn’t holding the paper. Takes on 2 ¾ year old Max – helping him with his painting, organizing his meals, naps, etc. Jason suggests Max found is intellectual equal in her. Jason won’t fire her because Cherry is pregnant, and his brother insists it would hurt Cherry and the baby if he had to worry.
Charles and Co.: Jason’s chef – travels everywhere with him; under the guise of starting a new business (so that Amy will accept the food), he provides interesting baby food for Max (duck ala orange; beef stroganoff, etc) and regular meals for Amy and Jason (often delivered by Mark under the guise of gifts from his patients).
Summary:
This is a charming story of a rich, lonely man who responds to the needs of a young woman and her son – falling in love with them. He uses his money to ease her way, trying to do so without her knowing so that she will accept his gifts. They fall in love, but neither trusts themselves or others to be themselves fully.
After he tells her he loves her, and they make love – she gets a package of articles of the real Jason – his wealth, his philanthropy (of which she is convinced she is one of now), his women. Realizing he expects to install them in a house, and to visit as he can, she walks out when he is sleeping rather than staying and fighting for him.
2 years later, he has changed, or perhaps better said, he true self is more to the front – after a year of failed PI reports, and almost marrying a woman just so he isn’t so lonely, he gives up his business and returns to Abernathy to help rebuild… he faces the challenges of the townspeople, finally winning most of their acceptance. Challenged by his brother that there are other children besides Max that need help, he finds out that the children of Abernathy have low scores… he hires tutors – actors, retired doctors, scientists, etc. to work with the school for 3 months, and many stayed in Abernathy. And he has offered to help any child with their homework – and when he is painting with Amy, he is interrupted by children that show him papers or ask questions – and a hostile teen comes in, he takes him into the office for an hour, and the boy leaves with a smile. He finances Charlie’s baby food company,(even though it means he loses him as his personal chef) putting the plant and the advertising in Abernathy.
And Amy’s mother-in-law manipulates things so that the artist Jason hired for the library refurbishment wasn’t available, and when Jason comes to her (after all the president will be there in 6 weeks), she calls Amy and asks her to take the job.
She puts up barriers when she sees him, telling him about her boyfriend… and then Doreen, thinking she is helping, pretends they are engaged; he insists he will be her assistant and they spend 6 weeks together. The first day, when a restless Max won’t stay with grandma, he asks Max if he’d like to paint the children’s reading room – and agrees to leave him to it, letting him lock the door, and to have Doreen as his assistant.
And after the opening (where the president came) and Amy’s work is praised (it’s good, but not unique) – Max’s room is opened up… a shadow jungle with monkeys peaking out… and an artist is born to high acclaim. A party that includes many of the townspeople… and when the party winds down, all leave but Amy and Jason… and in a bit of nervousness, Amy mentions all of his women, and the throws his glass, and snatches her in a passionate kiss… and he tells her he has always loved her, and she admits there is no boyfriend… and they make love, and they talk and share, with the goal of understanding… and the story ends with Max returning (with Doreen of course), jumping on mom… and then dad thinking about adult privacy, when Max jumps on his stomach and jumps on it while saying monkeys, monkeys… a life of many blessings.
Memorable scenes:
2 ¾ year old Max locking out everyone from the reading room he is painting – even his mother.
The ease with which high powered exec Jason responds to and cares for 6 month old and then 2-3/4 year old Max – with firmness, with laughter, with love, with practicality.
Jason – multitasking while on the phone – taking paper out of Max’s mouth, taking the electrical plug out of his hand, catching him when he is sliding off the couch, getting him a bottle of juice.
To save Amy’s pride, he arranges for baby furniture to be bought for $250 (from a warehouse he ended up purchasing) with a single advertisement added to her newspaper… but she calls friends and there are a dozen families at the warehouse for the same deal.
Amelia Bedelia-like Doreen – who orders water colors in they trays with circles of colors instead of the gallons the artist will need (every child in Kentucky got a set : ), or when ordering an overhead projector purchased 9, but when she turned them overhead, the slides fell out; or ordering red paper clips (her favorite) from office stores around the state, and they are all the same and from the same company…
Jason Wilding - who left Abernathy with a distaste for small town, gossipy life, that spread rumors that his mom was fooling around when in fact she was staying over in the town 30 miles away at a motel during medical treatment she didn’t want her husband/family to know about – and her husband going out trolling when he heard the rumors… and Jason following mom to learn the truth, and then her swearing not to tell anyone, because life was for living, not dealing with dying – returning years later, once a big business success, and dealing with the criticism of the townspeople as he pushed/funded changes and his staying because they related to him, not to his money.
Jason arranges for a Chanel gown to be auctioned off at the mall when he realizes Amy needs a dress for the dance his brother invited her to – and when she hears about the contest and before she wins it, she agrees to give the dress to her friend if she should happen to win it… and then has to borrow it when she gets invited out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2020
I read this to give Jude Deveraux a second chance after my first encounter with her stuff left me scratching my head... and I'm seeing a trend.
Realism is NOT her bag.
Am I supposed to believe that Jason, a grouchy rich dude goaded into babysitting the single mother Amy, would seriously start shelling out seven figures after a couple days of knowing her just so he could underhandedly force charity on her? That in that same time span (a few days) she'd run into a friend at the mall, and the friend would ask her "are you in love with him?" Do full-grown adults really think like this? No man alive would act like Jason unless he thought there was some serious sex exchange coming, I know that much. Especially not one who's characterized as epicurean and cold like he is. This guy is Santa Claus and Cinderella's fairy godmother rolled into one and there is NO reason provided for his behavior. Amy's a nice person but a dummy. I don't get why all the boys are trying to marry her overnight. Airhead with no life ambition PLUS has the baggage of dragging around someone else's kid... yeah, what a catch to the average bachelor. (Not to mention that some of her later actions make her a wildly irresponsible mother.) I swear 50 Shades of Grey makes more sense than this book.
The whole premise - Jason's brother David poses Jason as a gay nanny to Amy's kid, so David will have time to chase her without the baby around - is so convoluted and weird. I found this same kind of implausible, nonsensical premise in the first Jude Deveraux book I read.
While it's true I'm a cynical reader and not the target audience for formulaic romance, I've also read enough of them to realize they can be decently written and developed in ways that at least have a ring of reality. I'm not finding any of that in this author's books. They're far-fetched and silly, and the characters act like teenagers. Hell, Danielle Steel is a terrible writer (SHOW don't TELL, Danielle, remember creative writing class?) but at least the relationships she portrays make some degree of sense.
I've also noticed, even though Deveraux is American, she uses some British-sounding slang and grammar in her dialogue, which is just weird. Stilted and formal, always "yes" instead of "yeah", etc. Since when do modern-day Americans describe flirtation/dating as "courting?" I've never in my life heard an American say things like "I've no idea" or "bloody". Not unless they were being deliberately pretentious, anyway.
Time for me to move along and stop tearing apart this author's work, I think. She's successful so obviously this sort of thing has an audience, but it's completely missing its mark with me.
Realism is NOT her bag.
Am I supposed to believe that Jason, a grouchy rich dude goaded into babysitting the single mother Amy, would seriously start shelling out seven figures after a couple days of knowing her just so he could underhandedly force charity on her? That in that same time span (a few days) she'd run into a friend at the mall, and the friend would ask her "are you in love with him?" Do full-grown adults really think like this? No man alive would act like Jason unless he thought there was some serious sex exchange coming, I know that much. Especially not one who's characterized as epicurean and cold like he is. This guy is Santa Claus and Cinderella's fairy godmother rolled into one and there is NO reason provided for his behavior. Amy's a nice person but a dummy. I don't get why all the boys are trying to marry her overnight. Airhead with no life ambition PLUS has the baggage of dragging around someone else's kid... yeah, what a catch to the average bachelor. (Not to mention that some of her later actions make her a wildly irresponsible mother.) I swear 50 Shades of Grey makes more sense than this book.
The whole premise - Jason's brother David poses Jason as a gay nanny to Amy's kid, so David will have time to chase her without the baby around - is so convoluted and weird. I found this same kind of implausible, nonsensical premise in the first Jude Deveraux book I read.
While it's true I'm a cynical reader and not the target audience for formulaic romance, I've also read enough of them to realize they can be decently written and developed in ways that at least have a ring of reality. I'm not finding any of that in this author's books. They're far-fetched and silly, and the characters act like teenagers. Hell, Danielle Steel is a terrible writer (SHOW don't TELL, Danielle, remember creative writing class?) but at least the relationships she portrays make some degree of sense.
I've also noticed, even though Deveraux is American, she uses some British-sounding slang and grammar in her dialogue, which is just weird. Stilted and formal, always "yes" instead of "yeah", etc. Since when do modern-day Americans describe flirtation/dating as "courting?" I've never in my life heard an American say things like "I've no idea" or "bloody". Not unless they were being deliberately pretentious, anyway.
Time for me to move along and stop tearing apart this author's work, I think. She's successful so obviously this sort of thing has an audience, but it's completely missing its mark with me.
August 27, 2023
A zany, mistaken-identity story where Jason, the handsome, New York hot-shot millionaire (this book is set in the 80's) visits his younger brother David in a small Kentucky town and is co-opted into a plan to pose as David's heartbroken cousin, in need of a place to stay over Christmas.
David believes he's head over heels in insta-love with Amy, a new-to-town, young widow. The trouble is that Amy has a young son who she is (rightly) protective of, and David wants Jason to act as a built-in babysitter so he can woo Amy without distraction. Jason reluctantly agrees, then discovers that the son is not just a young boy, but rather a six month old baby, and that David has told Amy that he's gay.
This is a proximity romance with the two MC's bonding over everyday tasks associated with caring for a baby. Jason is fairly cold and analytical in business and initially sees Amy as a problem to solve, then a damsel in distress to rescue.
Around Amy and her son Max Jason begins to act differently and see joy and fulfilment in everyday things and the simple pleasures she enjoys. He loves that she sees and likes him as a person, and because she doesn't know about his net worth he knows she has no ulterior motives. Amy is really poor with no good job prospects, but she has too much pride and self esteem to be thought of as a charity case. Jason uses many sneaky but well-meaning ploys to secretly help her out which end up costing him a small fortune. That part of the story was quite funny.
All in all I enjoyed this. It is a bit dated, but was fun to read.
This book contains very mildly descriptive love scenes.
David believes he's head over heels in insta-love with Amy, a new-to-town, young widow. The trouble is that Amy has a young son who she is (rightly) protective of, and David wants Jason to act as a built-in babysitter so he can woo Amy without distraction. Jason reluctantly agrees, then discovers that the son is not just a young boy, but rather a six month old baby, and that David has told Amy that he's gay.
This is a proximity romance with the two MC's bonding over everyday tasks associated with caring for a baby. Jason is fairly cold and analytical in business and initially sees Amy as a problem to solve, then a damsel in distress to rescue.
Around Amy and her son Max Jason begins to act differently and see joy and fulfilment in everyday things and the simple pleasures she enjoys. He loves that she sees and likes him as a person, and because she doesn't know about his net worth he knows she has no ulterior motives. Amy is really poor with no good job prospects, but she has too much pride and self esteem to be thought of as a charity case. Jason uses many sneaky but well-meaning ploys to secretly help her out which end up costing him a small fortune. That part of the story was quite funny.
All in all I enjoyed this. It is a bit dated, but was fun to read.
This book contains very mildly descriptive love scenes.
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