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Meant to Be: A Novel
“An entertaining page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews on Met Her Match
An inspiring family saga about two headstrong sisters who long to forge their own paths.
It’s 1972 and times are changing. In the small farming community of Mason, Kansas, Vera and Kelly Exton are known for their ambitions. Vera is an activist who wants to join her boyfriend in the Peace Corps. But she is doing her duty caring for her widowed mother and younger sister until Kelly is firmly established. Kelly is studying to become a veterinarian. She plans to marry her childhood sweetheart and eventually take over his father’s veterinary practice.
But it’s a tumultuous time and neither sister is entirely happy with the path that’s been laid out for her. As each evaluates her options, everything shifts. Do you do what’s right for yourself or what others want? By having the courage to follow their hearts, these women will change lives for the better, and the effects will be felt by the generations that follow.
Meant to Be delivers an emotional, smart, funny and wise lesson about the importance of being true to yourself.
An inspiring family saga about two headstrong sisters who long to forge their own paths.
It’s 1972 and times are changing. In the small farming community of Mason, Kansas, Vera and Kelly Exton are known for their ambitions. Vera is an activist who wants to join her boyfriend in the Peace Corps. But she is doing her duty caring for her widowed mother and younger sister until Kelly is firmly established. Kelly is studying to become a veterinarian. She plans to marry her childhood sweetheart and eventually take over his father’s veterinary practice.
But it’s a tumultuous time and neither sister is entirely happy with the path that’s been laid out for her. As each evaluates her options, everything shifts. Do you do what’s right for yourself or what others want? By having the courage to follow their hearts, these women will change lives for the better, and the effects will be felt by the generations that follow.
Meant to Be delivers an emotional, smart, funny and wise lesson about the importance of being true to yourself.
448 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2021
551 people are currently reading
3139 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
201 books7,075 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
February 18, 2021
I normally love Jude Deveraux but this one was just okay. It was hard to follow. We are meant to follow 3 generations of women in one family, but the time shifts were so abrupt and the relationships flip flopped all over the place. Just when I felt like I was getting to know a character, boom! Her story was over and it was on to the next one. I didn't feel a bond with any of them because I didn't have time to form that bond. I came the closest with Kelly since I feel her character was the most developed. I wish the focus had just been on 1 or 2 women and not all of them.
March 11, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
MEANT TO BE by Jude Deveraux is a multi-generational family saga that begins in 1972 with two sisters living in small town Mason, Kansas. Ms. Deveraux’s writing brings them to life and realistically portrays each as the reader follows them as they follow their dreams. This is a standalone novel had me completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Throughout the story there are many instances of love, understanding and strong family bonds even through heartbreak and betrayal. The story flows through Vera and Kelly’s lives in the 1970’s and 80’s intertwining history shaping events, then moves on to Caitlyn’s life in 1996 and finally ends featuring Michaela’s life in 2007. The men in their lives also play a major role in lifelong decisions and friendships which tie together the entire clan, but the focus is always on the women.
Ms. Deveraux has written a story that shows how every life choice not only effected the character making the decision, but it rippled throughout their relationships and family members. The women found true happiness when they were honest and true to themselves.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it!
MEANT TO BE by Jude Deveraux is a multi-generational family saga that begins in 1972 with two sisters living in small town Mason, Kansas. Ms. Deveraux’s writing brings them to life and realistically portrays each as the reader follows them as they follow their dreams. This is a standalone novel had me completely engrossed from beginning to end.
Throughout the story there are many instances of love, understanding and strong family bonds even through heartbreak and betrayal. The story flows through Vera and Kelly’s lives in the 1970’s and 80’s intertwining history shaping events, then moves on to Caitlyn’s life in 1996 and finally ends featuring Michaela’s life in 2007. The men in their lives also play a major role in lifelong decisions and friendships which tie together the entire clan, but the focus is always on the women.
Ms. Deveraux has written a story that shows how every life choice not only effected the character making the decision, but it rippled throughout their relationships and family members. The women found true happiness when they were honest and true to themselves.
I loved this book and I highly recommend it!
April 15, 2021
I'm a long-time fan.
I own every single book she's ever published, all but 3 of them, in hardback. I even have Casa Grande in hardback. I ADORE her work. Love the old historic romances (The Raider, KISA, the Velvets) and I love the Summerhouse series and I really enjoy the new Medlar series. I endured the "Forever" series and that whole "supernatural" phase she was in but I still purchased them.
This newest book?
😕
I just didn't like it.
I'm disappointed.
SPOILERS AHEAD...
It was definitely her writing but, am I the only one who felt it was ALL OVER THE PLACE? Like she had ADD while writing or something?
I didn't like Vera. At all.
I didn't even like Miguel (what he did in that cellar was despicable).
It seems like it was a whole series of books about a sort of family or town that she just smooshed into one book almost. Not only is it set in 3 different time periods but the beginning of the book is about 2 sisters and the focus keeps shifting between them. Then it shifts to a daughter. Then, right at the end of the book, it shifts to another daughter - ??? WHY? There were SO MANY characters and the focus kept shifting that it was hard to really care about any of them.
AND THEN, in the very last few pages (literally like 3 pages left) and SHE KILLS A MAIN CHARACTER???
I chose not to purchase the Tara Sheets co-authored novel until the rest of the series comes out and I see if I like it but this is the FIRST TIME EVER I really think I'm going to not purchase a Jude Deveraux novel. It bothered me that much.
Am I the only one?
I own every single book she's ever published, all but 3 of them, in hardback. I even have Casa Grande in hardback. I ADORE her work. Love the old historic romances (The Raider, KISA, the Velvets) and I love the Summerhouse series and I really enjoy the new Medlar series. I endured the "Forever" series and that whole "supernatural" phase she was in but I still purchased them.
This newest book?
😕
I just didn't like it.
I'm disappointed.
SPOILERS AHEAD...
It was definitely her writing but, am I the only one who felt it was ALL OVER THE PLACE? Like she had ADD while writing or something?
I didn't like Vera. At all.
I didn't even like Miguel (what he did in that cellar was despicable).
It seems like it was a whole series of books about a sort of family or town that she just smooshed into one book almost. Not only is it set in 3 different time periods but the beginning of the book is about 2 sisters and the focus keeps shifting between them. Then it shifts to a daughter. Then, right at the end of the book, it shifts to another daughter - ??? WHY? There were SO MANY characters and the focus kept shifting that it was hard to really care about any of them.
AND THEN, in the very last few pages (literally like 3 pages left) and SHE KILLS A MAIN CHARACTER???
I chose not to purchase the Tara Sheets co-authored novel until the rest of the series comes out and I see if I like it but this is the FIRST TIME EVER I really think I'm going to not purchase a Jude Deveraux novel. It bothered me that much.
Am I the only one?
February 18, 2021
In this touching story of two sisters, two lives take on directions neither of them ever expected. Vera Exton is an activist who has long had plans to join the Peace Corps and to join her boyfriend in Africa. However, she had lost her father and takes her responsibilities towards her mother and sister quite seriously. Vera's sister Kelly is in veterinary school and Vera does not want to leave until Kelly becomes established.
Kelly's life seems well on track. She is doing well in veterinary school, might be marrying a boy she has loved since childhood, and just might be able to take over his father's veterinary practice.
However, neither Vera nor Kelly are truly happy. Things seem well in line for both of them, but their lives take on tumultuous change when Adam Hatten, Vera's long-time boyfriend, returns home from Africa. His father has passed away and Adam's eighteen-year-old brother Robbie has been getting into trouble and is in need of guidance. While things look good for Vera as she gets back together with Adam, it soon becomes clear that their hopes for the future have been derailed.
This would be a good time to discuss the title of this book - Meant to Be. The title is quite apropos because it becomes quite clear that what has been expected might not always be the best course of action - especially where matters of the heart are concerned. Things began to change for both Vera and Kelly, including the men in their lives that they thought they would be with forever.
This book is more than Vera and Kelly's stories. It is a multigenerational tale that began in the year 1972. The book then brings the reader to 1996 and we then have Caitlyn's story. I'll not tell you whose daughter she was, but her story is pivotal to this book, and is part of Vera and Kelly's continuing saga. Caitlyn's story is just as touching as to what took place during the first half of the book, and then segues to modern times.
Whether the book took place in 1972, 1996, 2002 or 2007, it all flows together remarkably well. This is a wonderful family that dealt with disappointment, heartbreak and betrayal. Yet it was more than evenly balanced with love, hope, joy, courage and the strong connection of family. This is an excellent book and I love the experience of reading an author that my mom read during my younger years.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Kelly's life seems well on track. She is doing well in veterinary school, might be marrying a boy she has loved since childhood, and just might be able to take over his father's veterinary practice.
However, neither Vera nor Kelly are truly happy. Things seem well in line for both of them, but their lives take on tumultuous change when Adam Hatten, Vera's long-time boyfriend, returns home from Africa. His father has passed away and Adam's eighteen-year-old brother Robbie has been getting into trouble and is in need of guidance. While things look good for Vera as she gets back together with Adam, it soon becomes clear that their hopes for the future have been derailed.
This would be a good time to discuss the title of this book - Meant to Be. The title is quite apropos because it becomes quite clear that what has been expected might not always be the best course of action - especially where matters of the heart are concerned. Things began to change for both Vera and Kelly, including the men in their lives that they thought they would be with forever.
This book is more than Vera and Kelly's stories. It is a multigenerational tale that began in the year 1972. The book then brings the reader to 1996 and we then have Caitlyn's story. I'll not tell you whose daughter she was, but her story is pivotal to this book, and is part of Vera and Kelly's continuing saga. Caitlyn's story is just as touching as to what took place during the first half of the book, and then segues to modern times.
Whether the book took place in 1972, 1996, 2002 or 2007, it all flows together remarkably well. This is a wonderful family that dealt with disappointment, heartbreak and betrayal. Yet it was more than evenly balanced with love, hope, joy, courage and the strong connection of family. This is an excellent book and I love the experience of reading an author that my mom read during my younger years.
Many thanks to MIRA and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
March 18, 2021
MEANT TO BE is the story of two sisters, Vera and Kelly Exton. Both girls are total opposites and they are well known in the town for their strong personalities. I found myself cheering them on and laughing right along with them! Hang on my reading friends, it’s going to be a crazy ride!
MEANT TO BE is the exact reason why I have always enjoyed Jude Deveraux stories! Trust me, as you read it you will be shaking your head, saying “no way” over and over again. Jude Deveraux writes about characters that become real right before your eyes. In her writing, she gives you a pathway toward getting invested in their lives and all they are going through.
All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. MEANT TO BE is a heart tugging and wonderful tale and I loved it. The characters are flawed and the story is definitely about family, but it’s also about romance and being true to yourself. The positive female friendships make you want to go out and make some new best friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading MEANT TO BE. It is heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Jude Deveraux does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then giggling on the same page. More than once I wanted to be right there in this small town laughing away the night with these awesome ladies! Once you finish devouring their stories you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
MEANT TO BE is the exact reason why I have always enjoyed Jude Deveraux stories! Trust me, as you read it you will be shaking your head, saying “no way” over and over again. Jude Deveraux writes about characters that become real right before your eyes. In her writing, she gives you a pathway toward getting invested in their lives and all they are going through.
All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. MEANT TO BE is a heart tugging and wonderful tale and I loved it. The characters are flawed and the story is definitely about family, but it’s also about romance and being true to yourself. The positive female friendships make you want to go out and make some new best friends.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading MEANT TO BE. It is heart warming and filled with so many different emotions. There is so much going on in this story, but Jude Deveraux does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then giggling on the same page. More than once I wanted to be right there in this small town laughing away the night with these awesome ladies! Once you finish devouring their stories you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 13, 2021
Originally published at Reading Reality
Shakespeare said that “the course of true love never did run smooth”. That’s especially true when you don’t know where it’s going in the first place. Or rather, when everyone around you is dead certain that you are “meant to be” with someone – everyone except you, that is.
Because what you’re really meant to be is – you.
Everyone in tiny Mason, Kansas knows that Vera Exton is meant to be with Adam Hatten, and that they are meant to run off together, far away from Mason. That same everyone is equally certain that Vera’s younger sister Kelly is meant to be with Paul, the stepson of the local vet.
What that same everyone did NOT know was that Vera loved escaping from Mason considerably more than she loved Adam, and that Kelly loved her future as a veterinarian, going into partnership with Paul’s stepfather Dr. Carl, more than she ever did Paul. That Adam loved taking over his responsibilities to the Hatten holdings way more than he did Vera, while Paul loved his fledgling organic apple orchard considerably more than he ever loved Kelly.
The story that opens Meant to Be in the summer of 1972 is the story of that entire herd of drama llamas sorting themselves out into a configuration that no one in town had the remotest thought might ever come to be.
Except for one important part. When the dust settled – and was there EVER a lot of dust – Vera Exton left Mason, just as she had always planned to.
Vera became a world-famous journalist and war correspondent, while life in Mason went on its slightly altered way, as Kelly married Adam, the man that Vera was supposed to marry. Paul’s organic farm became a very successful part of a growing trend – and he finally came out of the closet.
While, the man that Vera really loved stayed in Mason to raise the daughter that he fathered the night he deliberately drove Vera away to seek her fame and fortune, and fulfill her dreams and her destiny. He set her free – and she flew.
When Vera returns home for a brief visit 20 years later, the family she left behind is broken and hurting. It turns out that there are plenty of secrets still left to reveal from the mess of that singular summer so long ago.
It’s time for all of Vera’s, and everyone else’s, chickens to come home to roost – and maybe even lay a few more eggs.
Escape Rating B: I have to say that it is weird seeing a time period that I remember living through portrayed as historical. I was in high school in 1972, and the ferment about the Vietnam War was very present and feels true to life. It was also a time when attitudes towards women’s careers and women’s accomplishments were just beginning to change. We were told we could do and be anything, but faced a lot of skepticism when we tried and had few examples to follow.
Which meant that parts of both Vera’s and Kelly’s dilemmas felt very real, while at the same time their situations felt like a bit of a throwback. And it may very well be that I remember this period a bit too well and that I’m too close to it to step back and see it as “historical”.
At the same time, this is very much of a “family saga”, more women’s fiction or relationship fiction than romance. Romances definitely occur, but the backbone of the story feels like it’s wrapped around all of the many, many interrelationships among the families and the town itself.
Mason is small enough that everybody knows everyone else’s business whether they want it known or not. Expectations and assumptions are impossible to escape.
Vera and Kelly are both caught on the horns of multiple familiar dilemmas. Vera is expected to stay in Mason to take care of her mother and her sister until Kelly finishes vet school and gets married so she and her husband can take over that job. And then Vera can leave town as she’s always wanted to.
Kelly feels like the only way she can get to stay in Mason, where she wants to stay, and be a vet is to go into partnership with her boyfriend’s stepfather. Because her boyfriend’s mother is snooty and hates everyone and won’t allow a young woman to become her husband’s assistant unless that young woman is married to her son.
It seems like a lot of the story in 1972 is set up that way, where each person assumes that they have to take care of someone or something else in order to have half a shot at getting what they want. In a place where everyone relies on everyone else, no one seems to be allowed to just reach out and grab their own dreams – especially if they are female.
The first two thirds of this story, the 1972 part, read a lot like a soap opera. Everyone seems to be saying one thing, doing another, and hiding all of it from as many people as possible, until all the secrets blow up in everyone’s face, with all the mixed results and circling drama llamas that one might imagine.
What lifts this story from something typical to something a bit more interesting is the way that it continues from that 1972 soap opera start into the 1990s and eventually comes almost to the present. We get to see the consequences of the earlier events into a troubled middle and a bittersweet end.
All of the characters manage to find, not necessarily a happy ever after, which is why this isn’t strictly speaking a romance, but rather, to not just find out but to actually live as the people they were Meant to Be.
Shakespeare said that “the course of true love never did run smooth”. That’s especially true when you don’t know where it’s going in the first place. Or rather, when everyone around you is dead certain that you are “meant to be” with someone – everyone except you, that is.
Because what you’re really meant to be is – you.
Everyone in tiny Mason, Kansas knows that Vera Exton is meant to be with Adam Hatten, and that they are meant to run off together, far away from Mason. That same everyone is equally certain that Vera’s younger sister Kelly is meant to be with Paul, the stepson of the local vet.
What that same everyone did NOT know was that Vera loved escaping from Mason considerably more than she loved Adam, and that Kelly loved her future as a veterinarian, going into partnership with Paul’s stepfather Dr. Carl, more than she ever did Paul. That Adam loved taking over his responsibilities to the Hatten holdings way more than he did Vera, while Paul loved his fledgling organic apple orchard considerably more than he ever loved Kelly.
The story that opens Meant to Be in the summer of 1972 is the story of that entire herd of drama llamas sorting themselves out into a configuration that no one in town had the remotest thought might ever come to be.
Except for one important part. When the dust settled – and was there EVER a lot of dust – Vera Exton left Mason, just as she had always planned to.
Vera became a world-famous journalist and war correspondent, while life in Mason went on its slightly altered way, as Kelly married Adam, the man that Vera was supposed to marry. Paul’s organic farm became a very successful part of a growing trend – and he finally came out of the closet.
While, the man that Vera really loved stayed in Mason to raise the daughter that he fathered the night he deliberately drove Vera away to seek her fame and fortune, and fulfill her dreams and her destiny. He set her free – and she flew.
When Vera returns home for a brief visit 20 years later, the family she left behind is broken and hurting. It turns out that there are plenty of secrets still left to reveal from the mess of that singular summer so long ago.
It’s time for all of Vera’s, and everyone else’s, chickens to come home to roost – and maybe even lay a few more eggs.
Escape Rating B: I have to say that it is weird seeing a time period that I remember living through portrayed as historical. I was in high school in 1972, and the ferment about the Vietnam War was very present and feels true to life. It was also a time when attitudes towards women’s careers and women’s accomplishments were just beginning to change. We were told we could do and be anything, but faced a lot of skepticism when we tried and had few examples to follow.
Which meant that parts of both Vera’s and Kelly’s dilemmas felt very real, while at the same time their situations felt like a bit of a throwback. And it may very well be that I remember this period a bit too well and that I’m too close to it to step back and see it as “historical”.
At the same time, this is very much of a “family saga”, more women’s fiction or relationship fiction than romance. Romances definitely occur, but the backbone of the story feels like it’s wrapped around all of the many, many interrelationships among the families and the town itself.
Mason is small enough that everybody knows everyone else’s business whether they want it known or not. Expectations and assumptions are impossible to escape.
Vera and Kelly are both caught on the horns of multiple familiar dilemmas. Vera is expected to stay in Mason to take care of her mother and her sister until Kelly finishes vet school and gets married so she and her husband can take over that job. And then Vera can leave town as she’s always wanted to.
Kelly feels like the only way she can get to stay in Mason, where she wants to stay, and be a vet is to go into partnership with her boyfriend’s stepfather. Because her boyfriend’s mother is snooty and hates everyone and won’t allow a young woman to become her husband’s assistant unless that young woman is married to her son.
It seems like a lot of the story in 1972 is set up that way, where each person assumes that they have to take care of someone or something else in order to have half a shot at getting what they want. In a place where everyone relies on everyone else, no one seems to be allowed to just reach out and grab their own dreams – especially if they are female.
The first two thirds of this story, the 1972 part, read a lot like a soap opera. Everyone seems to be saying one thing, doing another, and hiding all of it from as many people as possible, until all the secrets blow up in everyone’s face, with all the mixed results and circling drama llamas that one might imagine.
What lifts this story from something typical to something a bit more interesting is the way that it continues from that 1972 soap opera start into the 1990s and eventually comes almost to the present. We get to see the consequences of the earlier events into a troubled middle and a bittersweet end.
All of the characters manage to find, not necessarily a happy ever after, which is why this isn’t strictly speaking a romance, but rather, to not just find out but to actually live as the people they were Meant to Be.
December 1, 2021
Džūda Devero "No mīļotajiem nešķirieties"/ "Meant to Be"
Romantiskais romāns, viegla lasāmviela, kas šajā gadījumā mani īpaši neaizrāva.
Trešā zvaigzne par ticības uzturēšanu, ka 'dreams come true'.
Romantiskais romāns, viegla lasāmviela, kas šajā gadījumā mani īpaši neaizrāva.
Trešā zvaigzne par ticības uzturēšanu, ka 'dreams come true'.
March 21, 2021
I have been reading Jude Deveraux's books for years and years. I don't think there is a book she has written that I haven't enjoyed. There are many of her books that I have re-read. "Meant to Be" has to be one of her best ever! I LOVED THIS BOOK! I didn't expect this amazing story about three generations of women, the choices they make, how they make those choices, why they do and how they are all related. And, that ending! Oh my goodness. Just a fabulous book and one I will be re-reading again. Just loved it!
January 12, 2022
The story seemed too scattered. It felt like the story was split too much, and left out details that would have made it much more interesting.
March 15, 2021
Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux is a story that covers three generations in Mason, Kansas beginning in 1972. Vera and Kelly Exton have their futures planned out. Vera is looking forward to joining her boyfriend in the Peace Corps in Africa. Kelly is going to marry her beau while working with his father in his veterinary practice. The 1970s were a time when things were changing, and people questioned their roles which is what happens with Kelly and Vera. These two women need to decide what is best for them even if it upsets others. Meant to Be is an intriguing escapist novel. I thought the story was well-written with developed characters. I liked that Vera and Kelly were strong, smart women. Meant to Be is an appealing romance. There is some foul language in the book as well as intimate situations. I have been enjoying this author’s books since I was a teen, and I did miss the humor that is normally present in Jude Deveraux’s books. Lounging by the pool with a copy of Meant to Be is a lovely way to pass a warm afternoon. Meant to Be is a charming multigenerational tale with protest rallies, fields of fruit trees, high-speed horses, hidden hideaways, matchmaking mamas, and heart pounding romances.
March 23, 2021
3.5 stars
Meant to Be is a stand alone family saga that begins in the 1970s and ends in modern day. It follows sisters, Vera and Kelly and how their choices affected their lives for decades. I have really mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the first 75% of the story. Vera and Kelly are sisters, but they are complete opposites in personality. I liked their story. I also liked Caitlin's story in the 1990s. I could have read about those three women for a lot longer.
What made me hesitate to say I loved the story was the last 1/4 of the book. "Mike's" story was kind of boring as it only takes place over a day or two. It just wasn't very well fleshed out. The ending really disappointed me. It was almost like the author didn't know how to end the book. Without really spoiling anything, there was a death that came out of nowhere and was completely unnecessary and unexplained. Then it just ended. I would still recommend the book. It actually was a very quick read and enjoyable for the more part.
Meant to Be is a stand alone family saga that begins in the 1970s and ends in modern day. It follows sisters, Vera and Kelly and how their choices affected their lives for decades. I have really mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the first 75% of the story. Vera and Kelly are sisters, but they are complete opposites in personality. I liked their story. I also liked Caitlin's story in the 1990s. I could have read about those three women for a lot longer.
What made me hesitate to say I loved the story was the last 1/4 of the book. "Mike's" story was kind of boring as it only takes place over a day or two. It just wasn't very well fleshed out. The ending really disappointed me. It was almost like the author didn't know how to end the book. Without really spoiling anything, there was a death that came out of nowhere and was completely unnecessary and unexplained. Then it just ended. I would still recommend the book. It actually was a very quick read and enjoyable for the more part.
March 21, 2021
3 1/2 stars. I love Jude Deveraux and I binged the book but didn't enjoy it as much as most of her books. I felt like I was reading a trilogy all in one book and I hated the ending. It was a huge disappointment after reading over 400 pages to have an ending like that.
March 10, 2021
Vera and Kelly Exton are both well known in Mason, Kansas, because they both know what they want and are working hard on getting it. Well that’s normal nowadays, the story starts off in 1972. Kelly wants to be a vet, she’s in school and is working in the towns vet’s office. It just so happens that her boyfriend’s stepdad owns the office. Vera, on the other hand, can’t wait until Kelly is settled down so she can get out. She can’t wait to leave the country. She’s joining the Peace Corps with her boyfriend Adam. That’s been her plan for as long as she can remember. Adam’s been gone for awhile now, but he’s back in town because his father passed away and he needs to get everything settled before they can head out.
The summer of 1972 brought the town many changes, business, friendships, and relationships.
Next, we’re transported to the next generation, we find out what’s been going on in Mason, Kansas since 1972. We find out which relationships are still going strong, who’s back in town, who’s moved, who’s passed away, and who’s pregnant. We also find out who in the next generation finds love.
Finally, we’re transported to the present. We meet the next generation, we’re brought up to date with the previous generations, we’re invited to a wedding, and to a carnival. There’s also a shocking ending, one that I actually had to read twice to make sure I read it correctly.
I’ve been reading stories by Ms. Deveraux since the 1990’s and I have to say that this story hits me hard. This has to be up there as one of my favorites by her, up there with my all time favorite, A Knight in Shining Armor. The characters, storyline, writing, they pull you in, they keep you in, and you don’t want to leave Mason, Kansas until the very page.
** I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and the publisher and this is my honest and voluntary review.
The summer of 1972 brought the town many changes, business, friendships, and relationships.
Next, we’re transported to the next generation, we find out what’s been going on in Mason, Kansas since 1972. We find out which relationships are still going strong, who’s back in town, who’s moved, who’s passed away, and who’s pregnant. We also find out who in the next generation finds love.
Finally, we’re transported to the present. We meet the next generation, we’re brought up to date with the previous generations, we’re invited to a wedding, and to a carnival. There’s also a shocking ending, one that I actually had to read twice to make sure I read it correctly.
I’ve been reading stories by Ms. Deveraux since the 1990’s and I have to say that this story hits me hard. This has to be up there as one of my favorites by her, up there with my all time favorite, A Knight in Shining Armor. The characters, storyline, writing, they pull you in, they keep you in, and you don’t want to leave Mason, Kansas until the very page.
** I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley and the publisher and this is my honest and voluntary review.
May 3, 2021
Right from the very beginning, I was gripped by this enthralling tale by Jude Deveraux, an inspiring family saga that spans generations, telling the story of two sisters Vera and Kelly Exton. Set in the small farming community of Mason, Kansas, going back to 1972, the story leads the reader through to 1996 when we come to Caitlyn's story which is a pivotal part of the tale. Meant To Be is a great romance, a well-written story and will be appealing to many for not being too syrupy. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Harlequin MIRA via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 4, 2022
Meant to be
Jude Deveraux
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was not a fan of this book, I feel like it has way to many people and it just way to confusing to keep up with… you need a notebook to keep up with all the characters and who was doing what and sleeping with who….
#bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookstagram #goodreads #goodreadschallenge2022 #ilovebooks #booknerdigans #currentlyreading #library
#readersofinstagram #readingtime #weekendreading #bookworm #readmorebooks #bookwrapup #igbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations
Jude Deveraux
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was not a fan of this book, I feel like it has way to many people and it just way to confusing to keep up with… you need a notebook to keep up with all the characters and who was doing what and sleeping with who….
#bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookstagram #goodreads #goodreadschallenge2022 #ilovebooks #booknerdigans #currentlyreading #library
#readersofinstagram #readingtime #weekendreading #bookworm #readmorebooks #bookwrapup #igbooks #bookreview #bookrecommendations
April 11, 2021
I wanted to like this book because it was very interesting, very intricate and detailed and spanned several generations. At the same time, there were some glaring points that made the book hard to like despite being difficult to put down. 1) the numerous characters did not allow for adequate character development 2) many actions occurred for the sake of storyline yet seemed a little far fetched for the character 3) a lot occurred in a few pages spanning long periods of time 4) I could not like any of the characters because they all had serious flaws and unbending personalities
Is it possible to appreciate a novel for its writing and storyline but at the same time not find the novel enjoyable? This would be that book.
Is it possible to appreciate a novel for its writing and storyline but at the same time not find the novel enjoyable? This would be that book.
March 9, 2021
As a fan of Jude Deveraux's writing, I was so excited to get the chase to read this new book. I have been a fan of hers since I was 16 that was over 30+ years ago. My love of her writing has spanned decades.
So it was no surprise that I would love this book.
As I dived into this book I was immediately captivated by the main characters. They were complicated, strong, loving, and flawed. As I read I could see myself in each one a little. As Vera and Kelly tried to be who they thought people needed them to be their true selves started to breakthrough. Eventually, they found their true path.
Fast forward through time and the path the sister started on and the secrets they kept begin to find the light. The next generation feels the effects of the decisions that were made. As doe the generation after that.
What I loved about this book was how poignant it was and how clearly Jude puts into words how life choices can have a rippling effect on others. That if you don't live your life authentically you could lose out on true love, friendship, and more importantly on the life you truly want.
This book left a huge impression on me and I loved every moment I was lost in it.
So it was no surprise that I would love this book.
As I dived into this book I was immediately captivated by the main characters. They were complicated, strong, loving, and flawed. As I read I could see myself in each one a little. As Vera and Kelly tried to be who they thought people needed them to be their true selves started to breakthrough. Eventually, they found their true path.
Fast forward through time and the path the sister started on and the secrets they kept begin to find the light. The next generation feels the effects of the decisions that were made. As doe the generation after that.
What I loved about this book was how poignant it was and how clearly Jude puts into words how life choices can have a rippling effect on others. That if you don't live your life authentically you could lose out on true love, friendship, and more importantly on the life you truly want.
This book left a huge impression on me and I loved every moment I was lost in it.
March 28, 2021
I really did enjoy this book. The characters were full and interesting. I only gave it four stars because of Vera. What was the point of her? I feel like the author wanted to make her important because the other characters were pulled from her. Thats fine but she was in the beginning & than came in the end and wasn't really mentioned in the middle only as a side to explain the story line as needed. Vera was rude for no reason. Selfish but yet the others were like "oh thats just Vera being Vera..its ok if she's a bitch for no reason at all".
The parenting stuff got confusing at times and really what was the point of Mike being Vera & Miguel's daughter if they (Miguel really) just see here a couple of months a year and as a vacation for the girl not really seeing her 'parents' they didn't seem to have any part of her upbringing. Coop & Clair should have legally adopted her or did they? Vera is so self-centered and selfish. The thing that bothered me the most is how everyone enabled her. She is freaking out about being recognized & signing books yet it was one of her nephews wedding weekend. OH but yet we have to keep her here. Let her go..bye bye don't let the door hit you in the ass since you are so important that you can't bother to care about your family. She has moments but its usually only if its something that works for her
The other thing was everyone's obsession with marriage. I'm from the mid-west and we are just as sophisticated and modern as any other part of the country. I get it in the 70s part of the book but by the mid-90s society was not as obsessed.
The ending was really bad. They kill off Vera like she is some martyr. WHY? she added nothing to this family except heartache. She pretty much abandoned them for YEARS at a time. Its almost the author couldn't figure out how to end it so lets just kill off the least important character and pretend she was REALLY important.
I do actually recommend this book even though it doesn't seem like it. I loved Kelly and Adam. Miguel was a bit of sap at times but only when it came to Vera.
The parenting stuff got confusing at times and really what was the point of Mike being Vera & Miguel's daughter if they (Miguel really) just see here a couple of months a year and as a vacation for the girl not really seeing her 'parents' they didn't seem to have any part of her upbringing. Coop & Clair should have legally adopted her or did they? Vera is so self-centered and selfish. The thing that bothered me the most is how everyone enabled her. She is freaking out about being recognized & signing books yet it was one of her nephews wedding weekend. OH but yet we have to keep her here. Let her go..bye bye don't let the door hit you in the ass since you are so important that you can't bother to care about your family. She has moments but its usually only if its something that works for her
The other thing was everyone's obsession with marriage. I'm from the mid-west and we are just as sophisticated and modern as any other part of the country. I get it in the 70s part of the book but by the mid-90s society was not as obsessed.
The ending was really bad. They kill off Vera like she is some martyr. WHY? she added nothing to this family except heartache. She pretty much abandoned them for YEARS at a time. Its almost the author couldn't figure out how to end it so lets just kill off the least important character and pretend she was REALLY important.
I do actually recommend this book even though it doesn't seem like it. I loved Kelly and Adam. Miguel was a bit of sap at times but only when it came to Vera.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2021
This is a saga covering three generation. There were a lot of characters and a lot of bed hopping and at times it was hard to follow. Then we had the second generation and then the third, so, it added to the characters and the family secrets. I did have to continue reading to see how it was all going to work out. I will say that I did not like the ending
January 31, 2021
Deveraux wrote an ambitious novel. It spans 3 generations, 40 years, and many horizons. In the beginning, the characters are a bit of a mishmash and playing musical chairs with partners. It’s easy to figure out who belongs with whom, but how will that occur. Deveraux is a master of crafting scenes that work while being outrageous. I loved that the setting was in Kansas, the heartland of America. I loved the initial time setting of the 1970s and a world that was not yet so technologically based. An array of unforgettable characters litter the narrative. The ending is bittersweet. Thanks to NetGalley and Mira for the advance copy.
August 3, 2021
Maybe a 2.5. I found some of the characters interesting (Vera , Miguel and Mike) but felt like the book reads like a soap opera. About two thirds through the book it takes a huge leap forward in time and begins a new plot thread that helped to hold my interest and did help bring closure to the story.
An easy read and an ok story but not the best from Jude Devereaux
An easy read and an ok story but not the best from Jude Devereaux
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March 8, 20213 1/2 stars
I received a copy of Meant to Be in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Jude Deveraux is back, and she's done it again! Meant to Be tells the story of two sisters, traditions, and the desire to choose our own fate.
Set in 1972, Kansas, the story follows two sisters, Vera and Kelly Exton. Both girls are about as different as you can get, and they are well known in the town for their strong natures. The elder sister, Vera, wants to join the Peace Corps more than anything. But she's tied to her home, taking care of her mother and younger sister. For now,
Meanwhile, younger Kelly has dreams of becoming a veterinarian; of growing up, and marrying her high school sweetheart. You've heard the story before, and you'll hear it again. Both women must evaluate their wants and needs. Their hopes, and the expectations laid upon them.
Honestly, I almost feel like there's no description that can do Meant to Be justice. This is a novel that will hit home with anyone who has ever felt conflicted in their lives. Those who have had to deal with the crushing weight of expectations, and the intense highs that come with having a dream.
For the most part, I really enjoyed reading about Vera and Kelly. Both sisters read as vastly different characters to me, and yet at the same time, they were both going through very similar struggles.
Admittedly there were parts of this novel that felt a little too slow for my liking, which is the main reason I am not rating it higher. It was an easy book to put down and take a break from, and a slightly harder book to pick back up and dive on into again.
I loved the time and setting of this novel, and do believe that it enhanced the overall story and feel of Meant to Be. Likewise, the romantic plots were well done, as were the aspects surrounding multiple generations. Which I should probably mention in a bit more detail: this novel actually follows three generations of the same family, not just Vera and Kelly. They just happened to be the two I connected to the most.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
I received a copy of Meant to Be in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Jude Deveraux is back, and she's done it again! Meant to Be tells the story of two sisters, traditions, and the desire to choose our own fate.
Set in 1972, Kansas, the story follows two sisters, Vera and Kelly Exton. Both girls are about as different as you can get, and they are well known in the town for their strong natures. The elder sister, Vera, wants to join the Peace Corps more than anything. But she's tied to her home, taking care of her mother and younger sister. For now,
Meanwhile, younger Kelly has dreams of becoming a veterinarian; of growing up, and marrying her high school sweetheart. You've heard the story before, and you'll hear it again. Both women must evaluate their wants and needs. Their hopes, and the expectations laid upon them.
Honestly, I almost feel like there's no description that can do Meant to Be justice. This is a novel that will hit home with anyone who has ever felt conflicted in their lives. Those who have had to deal with the crushing weight of expectations, and the intense highs that come with having a dream.
For the most part, I really enjoyed reading about Vera and Kelly. Both sisters read as vastly different characters to me, and yet at the same time, they were both going through very similar struggles.
Admittedly there were parts of this novel that felt a little too slow for my liking, which is the main reason I am not rating it higher. It was an easy book to put down and take a break from, and a slightly harder book to pick back up and dive on into again.
I loved the time and setting of this novel, and do believe that it enhanced the overall story and feel of Meant to Be. Likewise, the romantic plots were well done, as were the aspects surrounding multiple generations. Which I should probably mention in a bit more detail: this novel actually follows three generations of the same family, not just Vera and Kelly. They just happened to be the two I connected to the most.
Check out more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
April 9, 2021
The iconic Jude Deveraux is back with a sensational family saga guaranteed to keep readers spellbound and reading all through the night.
It’s 1972 and the world is changing. Women who have long chafed at the conventions that society has imposed upon them are determined to become the ones in charge and the mistresses of their own destiny and in the small farming community of Mason in Kansas, sisters Vera and Kelly Exton have vowed not to be left behind. Already well known throughout their community for being headstrong and ambitious, Vera and Kelly plan to ride the crest of this wave and will not let anyone or anything stand in their way – however, fate might have other ideas for these two sisters, who soon realize that they are going to need all their strength and courage if they want to make their dreams a reality. Will happiness be within the sisters’ reach? Or are they doomed to a lifetime of regret and disappointment?
Duty has so far kept the sisters very much tied to home and hearth. While activist Vera would love nothing more than to join her boyfriend in the Peace Corps, she needs to stay home to look after her mother and her sister. Kelly is also looking to the future and plans to finish her studies to become a veterinarian and take over her father’s practice and marry her childhood sweetheart. The current circumstances the sisters find themselves in aren’t exactly to their liking, but when everything changes they find themselves forced to make the most difficult decision of their lives.
What will Vera and Kelly do? Will they let their responsibilities stand in the way of their dreams? All it takes is one courageous move for the sisters to find the fulfillment they seek as their decisions will impact not just their lives, but those of subsequent generations as well…
Jude Deveraux has done it again with her latest novel, Meant to Be. Written with all the charm and warmth that are this legendary author’s trademarks, Meant to Be is a brilliantly told tale about hope, loyalty and love featuring two inspirational heroines who leap off the pages and will take up residence in readers’ hearts.
A fantastic family saga that will make readers laugh and cry, Jude Deveraux has penned another must-read tale with Meant to Be.
It’s 1972 and the world is changing. Women who have long chafed at the conventions that society has imposed upon them are determined to become the ones in charge and the mistresses of their own destiny and in the small farming community of Mason in Kansas, sisters Vera and Kelly Exton have vowed not to be left behind. Already well known throughout their community for being headstrong and ambitious, Vera and Kelly plan to ride the crest of this wave and will not let anyone or anything stand in their way – however, fate might have other ideas for these two sisters, who soon realize that they are going to need all their strength and courage if they want to make their dreams a reality. Will happiness be within the sisters’ reach? Or are they doomed to a lifetime of regret and disappointment?
Duty has so far kept the sisters very much tied to home and hearth. While activist Vera would love nothing more than to join her boyfriend in the Peace Corps, she needs to stay home to look after her mother and her sister. Kelly is also looking to the future and plans to finish her studies to become a veterinarian and take over her father’s practice and marry her childhood sweetheart. The current circumstances the sisters find themselves in aren’t exactly to their liking, but when everything changes they find themselves forced to make the most difficult decision of their lives.
What will Vera and Kelly do? Will they let their responsibilities stand in the way of their dreams? All it takes is one courageous move for the sisters to find the fulfillment they seek as their decisions will impact not just their lives, but those of subsequent generations as well…
Jude Deveraux has done it again with her latest novel, Meant to Be. Written with all the charm and warmth that are this legendary author’s trademarks, Meant to Be is a brilliantly told tale about hope, loyalty and love featuring two inspirational heroines who leap off the pages and will take up residence in readers’ hearts.
A fantastic family saga that will make readers laugh and cry, Jude Deveraux has penned another must-read tale with Meant to Be.
March 17, 2021
RATING: 3 STARS
2021; Mira/Harlequin
Meant to Be starts off with two sisters, who are night and day, wanting a life of their own. Their decisions in the 1970s trickles down to the next two generations in the 1990s and present day. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but felt like it was a bit too ambitious in covering several decades. The novel started out slow introducing the main characters and the backstory. Just when I was starting to enjoy the story and find out what happens next, it's the 1990s. Like a child I was pouting at the quick change, but fine, I began to trust Deveraux's writing and read on. Again, once I got my footing into the story, boom it's present day. At that point I was reading just to see what happens. This novel is over 400 pages, but each story felt like novella. The short side of a novella. Granted, I probably would not have picked up this book if it was 700+ pages (though would put it on my TBR list). Maybe this novel would have made a better trilogy. I wanted to know more about the decisions. None of the bombshells were really surprising, so I would rather known what was going on while it was happening, instead of a summary of what happened. I did enjoy the story, and reminded me of romance sagas from the 90s like Nora Roberts, Belva Plain, etc.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2021; Mira/Harlequin
Meant to Be starts off with two sisters, who are night and day, wanting a life of their own. Their decisions in the 1970s trickles down to the next two generations in the 1990s and present day. I enjoyed the story and the characters, but felt like it was a bit too ambitious in covering several decades. The novel started out slow introducing the main characters and the backstory. Just when I was starting to enjoy the story and find out what happens next, it's the 1990s. Like a child I was pouting at the quick change, but fine, I began to trust Deveraux's writing and read on. Again, once I got my footing into the story, boom it's present day. At that point I was reading just to see what happens. This novel is over 400 pages, but each story felt like novella. The short side of a novella. Granted, I probably would not have picked up this book if it was 700+ pages (though would put it on my TBR list). Maybe this novel would have made a better trilogy. I wanted to know more about the decisions. None of the bombshells were really surprising, so I would rather known what was going on while it was happening, instead of a summary of what happened. I did enjoy the story, and reminded me of romance sagas from the 90s like Nora Roberts, Belva Plain, etc.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
March 14, 2021
Meant to Be is a story that sweeps generations. There are lots of characters, but it's not hard to keep track once you get into this family. The characters are interesting and the story is definitely about family, but it's also about romance and being true to yourself. The thing that struck me most while reading was how it's about the decisions we make. More specifically, how the decisions we make affect others, how they trickle down and impact the next generation and even the one after that. It's been a while since I've read a family saga, so it did take me a bit to get into the pacing, but the author's writing style and storytelling were as I expected, and once I got caught up in these women - because the story is very much about the women - I found myself reading far past time for dinner or bedtime, and I was turning that last page before I knew it. Meant to Be is well written, interesting, and entertaining, and I'm once again reminded of why I'm glad Jude Deveraux does what she does.
December 3, 2022
RR 22-3
Two very awkward stars.
This is my first Jude Deveraux, and based on it, it will be my last. This is a generational family saga, and sometimes I dig that, but not here. The plot is bland, the characters are unrelatable, (because they are flat and one note characters), and the sex scenes that punctuate it are awkward and clunky.
Deveraux is a prolific writer, but she's not my cup of tea.
DNF at 56%.
Two very awkward stars.
This is my first Jude Deveraux, and based on it, it will be my last. This is a generational family saga, and sometimes I dig that, but not here. The plot is bland, the characters are unrelatable, (because they are flat and one note characters), and the sex scenes that punctuate it are awkward and clunky.
Deveraux is a prolific writer, but she's not my cup of tea.
DNF at 56%.
February 7, 2021
A multigenerational novel with amazing characters and while it was predictable, I was in it for the journey and I enjoyed it. Written so wonderfully and with such great characters.
Vera and Kelly have had the same boyfriends since elementary school, there was never a question of who they would marry. Vera wants to change the world, Kelly wants to heal it .
Again, I loved the characters and the story. I definitely recommend this book !
Vera and Kelly have had the same boyfriends since elementary school, there was never a question of who they would marry. Vera wants to change the world, Kelly wants to heal it .
Again, I loved the characters and the story. I definitely recommend this book !
February 27, 2021
Meant to Be by Jude Deveraux is a family drama spanning multiple generations. It almost read as two books. We start with sisters Kelly and Vera both trying to follow their dreams and take care of their families. We have Adam and his brother Robbie with their own family issues. One of my favorite scenes was when Adam finds his parents apartment.
For animal lovers you will love Kelly and her animal whispering senses. Dr Cooper is a vet so the animal scenes continue to a degree. We have Caitlyn and Dr Cooper for the next generation.
Personally I would have preferred it be a trilogy and we stayed with each of the generations a bit more. I think some of the stories could have been fleshed out more.
There is a very large cast of characters but they were easy to keep up with, If you love small town romances you will enjoy.
Sexual content – there is sex throughout the book, but little details. However there is betrayal and this could be a trigger for some.
Violence – minor, fighting, men trying to take advantage but don’t get far,
Drinking – minor
Language – 2 d&mn used about 20 times
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
For animal lovers you will love Kelly and her animal whispering senses. Dr Cooper is a vet so the animal scenes continue to a degree. We have Caitlyn and Dr Cooper for the next generation.
Personally I would have preferred it be a trilogy and we stayed with each of the generations a bit more. I think some of the stories could have been fleshed out more.
There is a very large cast of characters but they were easy to keep up with, If you love small town romances you will enjoy.
Sexual content – there is sex throughout the book, but little details. However there is betrayal and this could be a trigger for some.
Violence – minor, fighting, men trying to take advantage but don’t get far,
Drinking – minor
Language – 2 d&mn used about 20 times
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
August 14, 2021
A good familiar saga, engrossing and well written.
The plot is well developed, the characters interesting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The plot is well developed, the characters interesting.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 1, 2021
A family saga starting with two sisters in the 70's to the present day.
Lovely storytelling, different characters and an ending that needed tissues.
What more can you ask for for an entertaining read!
Lovely storytelling, different characters and an ending that needed tissues.
What more can you ask for for an entertaining read!
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