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Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux captures love’s magic in this heartwarming novel about desires that are unexpectedly fulfilled.Jace Montgomery was a stranger in Chandler, Colorado. Tall, proud, and rugged, he would make any woman’s heart beat faster—even shy, sweet Nellie Grayson’s. Nellie, who has always been pleasantly plump, worked tirelessly to help her beautiful younger sister, Terel, to become the belle of the town. But it is Nellie who catches Jace’s eye. For the first time, she is the center of a man’s attention. And with their first kiss, Nellie finds herself falling helplessly, unexpectedly in love. But with her newfound joy comes the certainty that Jace will, sooner or later, be won over by Terel’s charms. With the help of an enchanting new friend, Nellie discovers that her flirtatious sister might not be the woman for handsome Jace Montgomery after all…
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1989
545 people are currently reading
2241 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
200 books7,067 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 238 reviews
April 12, 2016
A highly entertaining, enjoyable and humorous romantic novel.
April 30, 2012
he Heroine (and that's stretching it a bit) is one of the most pathetic characters I've about in awhile. She spends more than half the book as a doormat with perhaps two little acts of defiance. TWO! And the romance between Nellie and her love is cute but not sizzling. Personally I thought the most interesting character in the book was perhaps Berni and that was even stretching it abit. I spent most of my time not focusing on the romance but on Nellies complete and utter nativity and total lack of self esteem. I wanted desperately for her to see her own worth and stand up for herself instead of Jace always giving her a pep talk. How can you even begin to love someone else if you don't even love yourself first or at the very least have a little self respect?
Now for her sister Terel. If you really want to picture Terel just think of that mean popular chick in high school who has the face of angel but always gives back handed compliments like "You know what you'd be really pretty if it weren't that zit on your nose" Yeah remember her? She's here and poor Nellie of course always stuffs her face with every criticism her sister doles out. So yes please save your money and yourself a little aggravation and pass on this book.
Now for her sister Terel. If you really want to picture Terel just think of that mean popular chick in high school who has the face of angel but always gives back handed compliments like "You know what you'd be really pretty if it weren't that zit on your nose" Yeah remember her? She's here and poor Nellie of course always stuffs her face with every criticism her sister doles out. So yes please save your money and yourself a little aggravation and pass on this book.
June 21, 2015
WARNING: This is NOT a better love story than Twilight. And that's about as harsh as one can get.
Definitely one of the weirdest books I've ever read. At the end of it all, I don't get what the book was trying to say. That true love triumphs over every obstacle? Scratch that, magic trumps it all. Why introduce any conflict at all if you would fix them with a Deux (or Douche) Machina fairy godmother? If the fairy godmother could've made people fall in love with whomever, why did we even have this book?
That you reap what you sow? Hah! There is no such thing as comeuppance. Apparently, selfishness and cruelty will get you exactly where kindness and self-sacrifice will, but with much less effort.
That despite being called fat or overweight, people will still appreciate you as long as you're kind and good? No such thing, let's make the heroine instantly thinner by magic!
That the hero liked the overweight heroine because of her golden heart and glowing soul? Nope, he liked her because he had some Oedipus complex going on, as his opera singer mother and her amigas were also overweight.
Gaah, this book makes me so angry for being so stupid and pointless. Such a waste of my life. Don't let it waste yours.
Definitely one of the weirdest books I've ever read. At the end of it all, I don't get what the book was trying to say. That true love triumphs over every obstacle? Scratch that, magic trumps it all. Why introduce any conflict at all if you would fix them with a Deux (or Douche) Machina fairy godmother? If the fairy godmother could've made people fall in love with whomever, why did we even have this book?
That you reap what you sow? Hah! There is no such thing as comeuppance. Apparently, selfishness and cruelty will get you exactly where kindness and self-sacrifice will, but with much less effort.
That despite being called fat or overweight, people will still appreciate you as long as you're kind and good? No such thing, let's make the heroine instantly thinner by magic!
That the hero liked the overweight heroine because of her golden heart and glowing soul? Nope, he liked her because he had some Oedipus complex going on, as his opera singer mother and her amigas were also overweight.
Gaah, this book makes me so angry for being so stupid and pointless. Such a waste of my life. Don't let it waste yours.
September 26, 2024
5/5⭐
“Los corazones destrozados necesitan tiempo para componerse.”
ME ENCANTÓ. No recordaba NADA de la primera vez que la leí (en mis inicios de adultez) pero ahora con 39 años AMÉ ésta novela cuyas reseñas en inglés, son muchas de baja puntuación, cosa que me sorprende, porque es una historia cuya sinopsis NO LE HACE justicia, plantea el tema del atracón emocional (y más no diré, no sea que alguna red social me bloqueé🙄) cuyas escenas las sentí muy personal. Ésta novela toca el tema de cómo la sociedad ve a la obesidad y a la delgadez. Tan actual y la sinopsis no da ningún indicio de la "magia" que hay en este romance.
Publicado en español en el 2016, pertenece a la saga Montgomery/Taggert y el libro da comienzo con Bernie, una mujer cincuentona, egocéntrica, que se ha dedicado a casarse con hombres ricos, acaba de fallecer y, en su funeral, ninguno de los presentes lamenta su partida porque en su vida solo ha vivido para sí misma pensando solo en las cosas materiales. La cuestión es que Berni no está ni en el cielo, ni en el infierno, sino en “La Cocina”, una casa a medio camino, que está entre el cielo y el infierno. Se la reserva exclusivamente para las mujeres -no las malas, ni las buenas- sino aquellas que no merecen el cielo ni el infierno. Berni para poder ir al Cielo tiene que realizar una buena obra; Es ayudar a otros y así aprender ella misma las lecciones de la vida. De modo que decide “convertirse”en el hada madrina (cosa que no le agrada mucho) de una de las hermanas Grayson. De la hermosa Nellie Grayson, una chica que padece de obesidad, una solterona y la hermana no deseada, en contraste con Terel que es egoísta, delgada, envidiosa, que no puede tolerar que su hermana sea una especie de heroína. Nellie es esclava de su padre y de su hermana.
La historia se sitúa en Chandler, Colorado 1896; Hasta allí llega Jace Montgomery. Él es alto, HERMOSO, viudo, elegante y TODO UN CABALLERO. Las chicas que están en edad de casarse, suspiran por él, pero Jace solo tiene ojos para Nellie, la cual solo piensa y vive para su hermana, para que ésta consiga el amor de su vida, se case, sea feliz.
Es una HERMOSÍSIMA historia de amor que me hizo suspirar, es lo más cerca que podemos soñar laslectoras de novelas románticas. Nellie cuando se siente culpable o se deprime ingiere grandes cantidades de comida, el famoso atracón, que esto desde la psicología responde a necesidades emocionales que le llevan a comer de manera descontrolada. Jude Deveraux es muy delicada y REALISTA al narrar las escenas de éste tipo. Son incómodas de leer, yo me veía en Nellie pero bueno, luego hay tantos detalles románticos que te quita esa sensación triste, porque duele, sufrí con Nellie.
El padre de Nellie es avaro, egoísta, mezquino, que paga lo menos posible a sus empleados y les reduce el salario por cada minuto de retraso; Él y su hermana saben muy bien el problema de Nellie y se burlan de ella, la incitan a que “coma chocolates”; Es más, es la vergüenza y no debe asistir a los bailes “porque se va a comer todo”.
Nellie es muy buena, es dulce, todo el pueblo la quiere tanto que te conmueve y está al cuidado de su hermana desde que su madre murió y la consiente en todo. De modo que Terel se aprovecha de la buena voluntad de su hermana para tratarla como una criada; Ella y su padre “le han envenenado la mente” y Nellie es tan buena que es objeto de manipulación de éstos dos.
Y acá entrará Berni que como hada madrina hace desastres con la familia de Nellie pero tendrá que hacer un trabajo sucio, y en el proceso aprenderá que los pequeños actos de bondad es lo que importa.
Lo que más AMÉ es a Jace, quien está enamorado de Nellie desde el principio. Él la ve como lo que es: una mujer dulce que ayuda a los demás y solamente ella puede devolverle las ganas de vivir. Jace la cortejará pero a Nellie no se le ocurre pensar en nada serio con este hombre, que es uno de los solteros más codiciados y atractivo; Mucho menos tiene tiempo para soñar con su propio final feliz junto a Jace.
“Deseos” plantea una trama que va de malos entendidos, de un boicot por parte de Terel contra Nellie, pero Jace la defenderá de tal modo que le hará ver a la gente del pueblo cuán bella es Nellie. Él es un amor de hombre, es romántico. Quiere a Nellie, pero tendrá que luchar por ella; la desea con intensidad suficiente y luchará con todas sus fuerzas para poder conseguirla. Así y todo no será un cortejo fácil. Tendrá que hacer frente a Terel y a su padre, pero él está dispuesto a luchar por esa mujer que a ojos suyos es casi perfecta y cariñosa. Nellie no tiene maldad y es incapaz de pensar que su hermana lo sea.
Deseos es una especie de cuento de hadas donde Nellie es la cenicienta de su familia, con un hada madrina que al principio no me agradó, pero luego me resultó muy divertida. Sufrí mucho con las injusticias que le toca vivir a Nellie, a Terel quería agarrarla de los pelos, es un personaje insoportable y QUIERO UN JACE MONTGOMERY en mi vida.
SUPER ARCHI MEGA REQUETE CONTRA RECOMENDADO.
“Los corazones destrozados necesitan tiempo para componerse.”
ME ENCANTÓ. No recordaba NADA de la primera vez que la leí (en mis inicios de adultez) pero ahora con 39 años AMÉ ésta novela cuyas reseñas en inglés, son muchas de baja puntuación, cosa que me sorprende, porque es una historia cuya sinopsis NO LE HACE justicia, plantea el tema del atracón emocional (y más no diré, no sea que alguna red social me bloqueé🙄) cuyas escenas las sentí muy personal. Ésta novela toca el tema de cómo la sociedad ve a la obesidad y a la delgadez. Tan actual y la sinopsis no da ningún indicio de la "magia" que hay en este romance.
Publicado en español en el 2016, pertenece a la saga Montgomery/Taggert y el libro da comienzo con Bernie, una mujer cincuentona, egocéntrica, que se ha dedicado a casarse con hombres ricos, acaba de fallecer y, en su funeral, ninguno de los presentes lamenta su partida porque en su vida solo ha vivido para sí misma pensando solo en las cosas materiales. La cuestión es que Berni no está ni en el cielo, ni en el infierno, sino en “La Cocina”, una casa a medio camino, que está entre el cielo y el infierno. Se la reserva exclusivamente para las mujeres -no las malas, ni las buenas- sino aquellas que no merecen el cielo ni el infierno. Berni para poder ir al Cielo tiene que realizar una buena obra; Es ayudar a otros y así aprender ella misma las lecciones de la vida. De modo que decide “convertirse”en el hada madrina (cosa que no le agrada mucho) de una de las hermanas Grayson. De la hermosa Nellie Grayson, una chica que padece de obesidad, una solterona y la hermana no deseada, en contraste con Terel que es egoísta, delgada, envidiosa, que no puede tolerar que su hermana sea una especie de heroína. Nellie es esclava de su padre y de su hermana.
La historia se sitúa en Chandler, Colorado 1896; Hasta allí llega Jace Montgomery. Él es alto, HERMOSO, viudo, elegante y TODO UN CABALLERO. Las chicas que están en edad de casarse, suspiran por él, pero Jace solo tiene ojos para Nellie, la cual solo piensa y vive para su hermana, para que ésta consiga el amor de su vida, se case, sea feliz.
Es una HERMOSÍSIMA historia de amor que me hizo suspirar, es lo más cerca que podemos soñar laslectoras de novelas románticas. Nellie cuando se siente culpable o se deprime ingiere grandes cantidades de comida, el famoso atracón, que esto desde la psicología responde a necesidades emocionales que le llevan a comer de manera descontrolada. Jude Deveraux es muy delicada y REALISTA al narrar las escenas de éste tipo. Son incómodas de leer, yo me veía en Nellie pero bueno, luego hay tantos detalles románticos que te quita esa sensación triste, porque duele, sufrí con Nellie.
El padre de Nellie es avaro, egoísta, mezquino, que paga lo menos posible a sus empleados y les reduce el salario por cada minuto de retraso; Él y su hermana saben muy bien el problema de Nellie y se burlan de ella, la incitan a que “coma chocolates”; Es más, es la vergüenza y no debe asistir a los bailes “porque se va a comer todo”.
Nellie es muy buena, es dulce, todo el pueblo la quiere tanto que te conmueve y está al cuidado de su hermana desde que su madre murió y la consiente en todo. De modo que Terel se aprovecha de la buena voluntad de su hermana para tratarla como una criada; Ella y su padre “le han envenenado la mente” y Nellie es tan buena que es objeto de manipulación de éstos dos.
Y acá entrará Berni que como hada madrina hace desastres con la familia de Nellie pero tendrá que hacer un trabajo sucio, y en el proceso aprenderá que los pequeños actos de bondad es lo que importa.
Lo que más AMÉ es a Jace, quien está enamorado de Nellie desde el principio. Él la ve como lo que es: una mujer dulce que ayuda a los demás y solamente ella puede devolverle las ganas de vivir. Jace la cortejará pero a Nellie no se le ocurre pensar en nada serio con este hombre, que es uno de los solteros más codiciados y atractivo; Mucho menos tiene tiempo para soñar con su propio final feliz junto a Jace.
“Deseos” plantea una trama que va de malos entendidos, de un boicot por parte de Terel contra Nellie, pero Jace la defenderá de tal modo que le hará ver a la gente del pueblo cuán bella es Nellie. Él es un amor de hombre, es romántico. Quiere a Nellie, pero tendrá que luchar por ella; la desea con intensidad suficiente y luchará con todas sus fuerzas para poder conseguirla. Así y todo no será un cortejo fácil. Tendrá que hacer frente a Terel y a su padre, pero él está dispuesto a luchar por esa mujer que a ojos suyos es casi perfecta y cariñosa. Nellie no tiene maldad y es incapaz de pensar que su hermana lo sea.
Deseos es una especie de cuento de hadas donde Nellie es la cenicienta de su familia, con un hada madrina que al principio no me agradó, pero luego me resultó muy divertida. Sufrí mucho con las injusticias que le toca vivir a Nellie, a Terel quería agarrarla de los pelos, es un personaje insoportable y QUIERO UN JACE MONTGOMERY en mi vida.
SUPER ARCHI MEGA REQUETE CONTRA RECOMENDADO.
January 17, 2012
I didn't like it perfectly describes how I felt about it. The fairy Godmother was useless, the main chick is a doormat, and the only person I liked was the guy, but even he started to bug me after a while, I like reading about strong women and strong men, who come together in passion, and both make compromises, huh, I've just got an idea for what to request a romance novel for...
January 11, 2014
WHAT ON EARTH?????!
May 6, 2024
Great book! I like this Writer's books. This book is great to read in the evening, because it sets a romantic mood. I like the relationship of the main characters.
December 22, 2012
The heroine for the most part is very lovable and beautiful, but I was very annoyed by many things. Her eating out of sadness was realistic and she needed emotional help for it, but since when is 160 pounds considered morbidly obese? If she was 260 I would be concerned.
The hero loved the young lady exactly as she was, so why have her lose weight? It was as though the author wanted everyone to "accept" the girl, and the only way to accomplish this is to make her thin, the way all women "have" to be.
The younger sister is a bitch. We all know that. No need to say more.
The modern woman is a bitch too, and ends up learning a good lesson. But the overall effect left me annoyed more than happy.
Deveraux is a great and well known writer of womens' romance and is a nice storyteller, but when you sense a refusal or reluctance to create a truly strong character because of society's prescriptions of what women are supposed to be, it takes away from your enjoyment of the story. I loved the heroine and hero anyway, especially the hero. Very rare to find a man falling in love with plus sized woman.
This book is one of many that make me prefer gay m/m fiction to m/f fiction!
The hero loved the young lady exactly as she was, so why have her lose weight? It was as though the author wanted everyone to "accept" the girl, and the only way to accomplish this is to make her thin, the way all women "have" to be.
The younger sister is a bitch. We all know that. No need to say more.
The modern woman is a bitch too, and ends up learning a good lesson. But the overall effect left me annoyed more than happy.
Deveraux is a great and well known writer of womens' romance and is a nice storyteller, but when you sense a refusal or reluctance to create a truly strong character because of society's prescriptions of what women are supposed to be, it takes away from your enjoyment of the story. I loved the heroine and hero anyway, especially the hero. Very rare to find a man falling in love with plus sized woman.
This book is one of many that make me prefer gay m/m fiction to m/f fiction!
June 5, 2022
This the 15th book in the Montgomery/Taggert Family Series. 1896 Chandler Colorado. The H is Jocelyn (Jace Montgomery) son of Ring and Madeleine Warbrooke Shipping in Maine. The h is Nellie Grayson who takes care of her father and sister. She cooks and cleans and raised her little sister from the age of 12. She is like Cinderella with a heart of gold. Berni a ghost is assigned to help Nellie find happiness with Jace. She grants her 3 wishes. When that backfires because all her wishes were to make her sister and father happy. She grants her to be thin which makes her more popular but doesn’t change her outlook. Berni comes down from the in between’Kitchen’ not heaven not hell to fix the problem. After a few attempts she gets it right and the couple end up stranded overnight soaking wet and have to light a fire removing their wet clothing and cover with blankets. Berni gave them a basket filled with food and champagne. They kiss and make love planning on their wedding. This was a cute story maybe a little cheesy kind of a cross between Bewitched and Cinderella. I gave this 4 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 8, 2015
This is undoubtedly one of the weirdest books I have ever read. The plot is so unbelievably formulaic, the characters so steroetypically bland that I literally had to suspend any feeling realism in order to get any enjoyment out of this book. Meet Nellie, the most insecure woman on the planet. She could also give the Sugar Plum Fairy a few lessons in niceness and sacrifice. She was ridiculously depressing.
Meet her sister Terel, a selfish, egoistic brat who seriously had not the capacity to consider anyone's well being besides hers. She was ridiculously evil
The meet Jace, the only one in the entire book who seemed to show a modicum of sense, though how he put up with the bundle of joy that is Nellie I do not even.
Throw in magic, a fairy godmother, a bunch of children and one of the weirdest punishments ever, like seriously I can't even.
2 stars, because the dreamer cinderella-lover in me did manage to get some enjoyement out of this, for reasons I would rather not examine.
Meet her sister Terel, a selfish, egoistic brat who seriously had not the capacity to consider anyone's well being besides hers. She was ridiculously evil
The meet Jace, the only one in the entire book who seemed to show a modicum of sense, though how he put up with the bundle of joy that is Nellie I do not even.
Throw in magic, a fairy godmother, a bunch of children and one of the weirdest punishments ever, like seriously I can't even.
2 stars, because the dreamer cinderella-lover in me did manage to get some enjoyement out of this, for reasons I would rather not examine.
July 27, 2020
Friend of mine gave this to me in high school because I was complaining about the lack of fat heroines in romance novels. (If you ask me they still don't really exist. Dear writers, if a woman is ONLY a size 16 US and over 6 feet tall SHE IS NOT FAT no matter what society might claim.)
The whole plot was stupid. Woman in the future dies and has to somehow bring together two characters in the past so she could go to Heaven. Would've made more sense if the dead woman was either one of the character's ancestors or the evil sister of the heroine.
Hero is nothing more than a chubby chaser. Utter garbage and not a hero at all.
Heroine allows abusive father and abusive sister to walk all over her and never fights back once. They only care about her when dead woman magically makes her thin.
Whole thing was stupid. Terrible book with terrible characters.
The whole plot was stupid. Woman in the future dies and has to somehow bring together two characters in the past so she could go to Heaven. Would've made more sense if the dead woman was either one of the character's ancestors or the evil sister of the heroine.
Hero is nothing more than a chubby chaser. Utter garbage and not a hero at all.
Heroine allows abusive father and abusive sister to walk all over her and never fights back once. They only care about her when dead woman magically makes her thin.
Whole thing was stupid. Terrible book with terrible characters.
April 6, 2024
Chips out of the blue recommended this insane book and at first I was like no way but then she kept pitching it to me and my brain was like yeah actually let’s read this.
If I had an eating disorder, this book would trigger me so badly. It’s a historical western romance within the frame of an 80s guardian angel storyline. The guardian angel is a 50-year-old socialite with anorexia who dies and is tasked with improving the life of the “chubby“ historical western heroine. So much fat phobia so much misogyny. The “hero“ is a super flat character with no development who is into tubby girls because his mom was an opera singer.
All that to say, I really enjoyed reading this book and even teared up a few times.
If I had an eating disorder, this book would trigger me so badly. It’s a historical western romance within the frame of an 80s guardian angel storyline. The guardian angel is a 50-year-old socialite with anorexia who dies and is tasked with improving the life of the “chubby“ historical western heroine. So much fat phobia so much misogyny. The “hero“ is a super flat character with no development who is into tubby girls because his mom was an opera singer.
All that to say, I really enjoyed reading this book and even teared up a few times.
February 8, 2013
this book pissed me off to no end. other than Jace there were no likable characters in the story at all. and the ending ugh. I like happily ever after but when people who don't deserve it get them I am over it.
September 5, 2015
Yeah...no. A spin on Cinderella but definitely not one that I liked. Obviously, you're meant to like the main characters but Nellie wasn't even human- she was a battering doll. And her family (especially Terel) weren't "human" either. They were evil for the sake of it.
November 17, 2012
Just...ugh. No. The concept had soooooo much potential, but it was horribly executed and completely unrealistic, even when you add in the "magic" of the "fairy godmother." Just no.
January 12, 2020
WISHES by Jude Deveraux is about two sisters Nellie and Terel Grayson, and their father, Charles Grayson. Their mother died when Nellie was twelve and Terel four (I think), so since that age, Nellie has assumed the mother role for Terel and is the default maid/cook (slave, actually).
NOTE TO THE AUTHOR : I read the Dutch version of the book (my native language) and there are A LOT of incorrect translations and typos in there. Please check that out. You're welcome. <3
The first time I read the book was over ten years ago, I LOVED IT!! So, why not read it again?
When I read it for a second time I did not like it as much as the first time. The heroine, Nellie, is so weak, she has absolutely no backbone. I don't know who I wanted to slap first and hardest: Nellie or Terel.
I don't like the whole martyr-I-need-to-be-saved-and-told-I-am-beautiful type of heroine. I think there was little to no character development when it came to any of the characters.
The fact that the author thought Nellie had to be thinner for her life to improve... that bothered me. And of course, Jace had to be a millionaire...
LOL! I don't know, it is a quick read, it is sometimes entertaining, but it wasn't my favorite book. I would not read it again, but I would recommend it to someone who likes to read and doesn't care what they read.
NOTE TO THE AUTHOR : I read the Dutch version of the book (my native language) and there are A LOT of incorrect translations and typos in there. Please check that out. You're welcome. <3
The first time I read the book was over ten years ago, I LOVED IT!! So, why not read it again?
When I read it for a second time I did not like it as much as the first time. The heroine, Nellie, is so weak, she has absolutely no backbone. I don't know who I wanted to slap first and hardest: Nellie or Terel.
I don't like the whole martyr-I-need-to-be-saved-and-told-I-am-beautiful type of heroine. I think there was little to no character development when it came to any of the characters.
The fact that the author thought Nellie had to be thinner for her life to improve... that bothered me. And of course, Jace had to be a millionaire...
LOL! I don't know, it is a quick read, it is sometimes entertaining, but it wasn't my favorite book. I would not read it again, but I would recommend it to someone who likes to read and doesn't care what they read.
January 27, 2018
Who doesn't like to see the chubby Cinderella find her prince? Well her prince was a 10 and liked her from the get go. But she is such a doormat that she keeps trying to hand him over to her sister . This is possibly the weakest heroine I have ever seen. She doesn't even seem to realize how toxic her family is. WAKE UP NELLIE. In the end her fairy godmother straightens it all out. She makes Nellie skinny before the hero makes love to her. Why? He liked her the way she was. Finds an adoring husband for her selfish sister and a wife for her father because in all probability she was way to wimpy to leave them for her true love. Why were they rewarded for meanness. Dad should have lost all his money and sis should have had to take in laundry. WAKE up fairy godmother.
May 9, 2013
I just couldn't do it. I read 36 pages in and could no longer deal with the woe is me mentality. I figured out the book within the first chapter. No need to read any more.
THe concept of the book is good but the story was awful.
THe concept of the book is good but the story was awful.
September 26, 2014
Nettie was just too stupid for a 28 year old woman and I just got tired of her falling into her sister's traps.
December 28, 2024
Love this book and want to read it again and again.
March 25, 2019
*Reread Review*
This is probably one of my favorite Jude Deveraux books ever! The guardian angel concept, working of sins in purgatory by helping others we teach ourselves life's greatest lessons! This author is a dang genius that's all there is too it! This book has a whole different feel than her other books because Jude writes about strong, fierce women who don't take no for an answer and could rule the world on their worst days.. usually. This FMC though, she is strong in a completely different way and seems ordinary in comparison to the other women but it makes the book all the more touching when she comes into her own. What I love even more is that the blurb doesn't even prepare you for the "fantasy" involved in this romance.
Berni our sideline FMC has lived her life only for herself and material objects! Upon her death noone cares they are happy to see her go, to take her place in the social circle. Berni on the other hand ends up in a white waiting room.. it seems she didn't quite earn her keep on earth.. no she must work her way through levels of purgatory if she wants the prize. Her current client Nellie Grayson.. whew what a project. Nellie only lives for others, and has no time for own happy ending, even if come in a deliriously handsome, kind, gentle and wonderful Mongomery male package. Berni thinks Nellie's case is open/shut just give her some wishes to use to make herself happy and make her loose some weight and shell be right as rain... Not everyone uses their wishes for themselves though and as Nellie uses her wishes for her family she becomes a slave to her wishes.. Now Berni has to come in a do some dirty work, and in the process learns that none of those "things" are important and little acts of kindness can change the world slowly but surely.
The best thing about this book is that it was set up at the end to continue the story if the author had wanted to. She could have made a whole series about Berni and her clients as she works her way through the levels of Purgatory. Thats still an option.. even thought its been a million years since this book came out.. I still hold out hope. Until then I guess Berni is stuck on level 2.. and those options were horrendous lol.
This is probably one of my favorite Jude Deveraux books ever! The guardian angel concept, working of sins in purgatory by helping others we teach ourselves life's greatest lessons! This author is a dang genius that's all there is too it! This book has a whole different feel than her other books because Jude writes about strong, fierce women who don't take no for an answer and could rule the world on their worst days.. usually. This FMC though, she is strong in a completely different way and seems ordinary in comparison to the other women but it makes the book all the more touching when she comes into her own. What I love even more is that the blurb doesn't even prepare you for the "fantasy" involved in this romance.
Berni our sideline FMC has lived her life only for herself and material objects! Upon her death noone cares they are happy to see her go, to take her place in the social circle. Berni on the other hand ends up in a white waiting room.. it seems she didn't quite earn her keep on earth.. no she must work her way through levels of purgatory if she wants the prize. Her current client Nellie Grayson.. whew what a project. Nellie only lives for others, and has no time for own happy ending, even if come in a deliriously handsome, kind, gentle and wonderful Mongomery male package. Berni thinks Nellie's case is open/shut just give her some wishes to use to make herself happy and make her loose some weight and shell be right as rain... Not everyone uses their wishes for themselves though and as Nellie uses her wishes for her family she becomes a slave to her wishes.. Now Berni has to come in a do some dirty work, and in the process learns that none of those "things" are important and little acts of kindness can change the world slowly but surely.
The best thing about this book is that it was set up at the end to continue the story if the author had wanted to. She could have made a whole series about Berni and her clients as she works her way through the levels of Purgatory. Thats still an option.. even thought its been a million years since this book came out.. I still hold out hope. Until then I guess Berni is stuck on level 2.. and those options were horrendous lol.
October 2, 2017
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. It was like watching a train wreck; I wanted to stop reading but I just couldn't look away. I feel like there was supposed to be a lesson in there somewhere, but I have no idea what it was.
I was filled with rage about Berni being sent to "The Kitchen" after death and thought there was going to be some inside joke, and that the author was making a statement about women's rights or something, but NOPE. There's really no reason why Limbo is called the Kitchen, except maybe to make me mad.
Nellie's sister, Terel, was the worst character I think I've read about since Amy March. Actually, she could probably give Amy some good competition.
And every time it seemed like Nellie was FINALLY going to realize that the only person not lying to her was Jace, she'd fall right back into her old ways until even Jace felt he had to resort to manipulating her.
I just can't with this book. If I read this as-is and pretend there's nothing more to it, it would get negative fifteen stars. For my own sanity, I'm going to pretend that it was all a joke and Jude is just having a laugh at all the cliches. I don't know where that leaves me. Three stars implies that I liked this, so I guess it has to be two.
I was filled with rage about Berni being sent to "The Kitchen" after death and thought there was going to be some inside joke, and that the author was making a statement about women's rights or something, but NOPE. There's really no reason why Limbo is called the Kitchen, except maybe to make me mad.
Nellie's sister, Terel, was the worst character I think I've read about since Amy March. Actually, she could probably give Amy some good competition.
And every time it seemed like Nellie was FINALLY going to realize that the only person not lying to her was Jace, she'd fall right back into her old ways until even Jace felt he had to resort to manipulating her.
I just can't with this book. If I read this as-is and pretend there's nothing more to it, it would get negative fifteen stars. For my own sanity, I'm going to pretend that it was all a joke and Jude is just having a laugh at all the cliches. I don't know where that leaves me. Three stars implies that I liked this, so I guess it has to be two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2020
When I was 12, my mom handed this book to me and said "want to read this? It has sex in it though" and thus began my love for this story.
I'm 20 now, and just re read it for the first time as an adult... And I felt so connected to Nellie. I was always the fat kid growing up, and when I was 14 my mother was diagnosed with RA and I had to drop out to take care of her and my less empathetic little sister. Same age gap. I've been waiting for my Jace all my life, and I'll keep waiting for him.. This book gave me hope in a weird way. I'm not Nellie and life isn't a story, but if it were.. I'd be Nellie.
So for that reason.. I love this book! And I'm reading the other 24 as soon as I get my hands on them.
I'm 20 now, and just re read it for the first time as an adult... And I felt so connected to Nellie. I was always the fat kid growing up, and when I was 14 my mother was diagnosed with RA and I had to drop out to take care of her and my less empathetic little sister. Same age gap. I've been waiting for my Jace all my life, and I'll keep waiting for him.. This book gave me hope in a weird way. I'm not Nellie and life isn't a story, but if it were.. I'd be Nellie.
So for that reason.. I love this book! And I'm reading the other 24 as soon as I get my hands on them.
September 5, 2023
When I read this book several years ago, it was my first introduction to plus sized romances, and I have to say it has remained a favorite re-read. Nellie is a very kindhearted heroine who only wish is to be loved. However, her loneliness has caused her to use food to try and ease the aching inside. Jace is the only one that sees her inner beauty, but is waging a war for Nellie's affections. It is a very endearing Cinderella story, and one that does not come across as dated, based on when it was written. I really enjoy it and look for it whenever I need a pick me up romance!
March 17, 2018
Things I know: I like a couple things of Jude Deveraux's that I can remember, Legend and A Knight in Shining Armor, and she does write about time travel in those I think.
Things I didn't know: That this book was part of a series and how awful it is to a modern reader.
The adverb "softly" was used as much as the adjective "fat" to describe our "heroine" and it is frankly a mean and pathetic story. (She isn't fat by 2018 standards, not that I can seriously recommend this book.)
I've already written more than is deserving. I wish there was a half-star "ugh " option.
Things I didn't know: That this book was part of a series and how awful it is to a modern reader.
The adverb "softly" was used as much as the adjective "fat" to describe our "heroine" and it is frankly a mean and pathetic story. (She isn't fat by 2018 standards, not that I can seriously recommend this book.)
I've already written more than is deserving. I wish there was a half-star "ugh " option.
March 15, 2018
I guess a short book like this should be a simple happy-romantic story, or maybe even a sad one but conveying a nice message. But this was neither. It never gave me joy, it was annoying. Characters, description and plot were too simple, sometimes even boring and I didn't find that the "message" of the book was well conveyed. Unfortunately, I just wanted it to be over.
November 25, 2012
Wishes is one of my favorite books of all time. Escapist fiction magic at its best, in a recipe that bakes only pure happiness.
When I broke up with my high school boyfriend, WISHES was one of the two books he refused to return to me.
The other book was The Princess Bride.
When I broke up with my high school boyfriend, WISHES was one of the two books he refused to return to me.
The other book was The Princess Bride.
February 14, 2012
Not much to the book. Very little plot and so far fetched.
August 18, 2012
What a waste of my time. If I had another book to read, I never would have finished it. Too hokey to describe. Not worth the effort to even write a review.
May 19, 2024
I'm reading this series out of order on this reread and we're spending time in Chandler in this installment. Which is cool because there has been some mention of the town in other books, but this is my first revisiting of the place itself.
So. Jace and Nellie. He's a grieving widower and she's...well, her family is terrible and actively works to chip away at her sense of self worth so they can (quite selfishly) continue to use her to make their lives more comfortable. Which is awful because Nellie is a genuinely good, kind person and her father and sister systematically tear her down for their own benefit.
On the upside, Nellie has a fairy godmother looking out for her. On the downside, Bernie is...well, she's Bernie. She wasn't a great person in life (she was quite a bit like Nellie's sister, actually) and some of her earlier "help" makes things more difficult for Nellie. Which is unfortunate. But she does have a few tricks up her sleeve and once she gets invested in helping Nellie and Jace end up together, things start moving in the right direction.
Some sweet courting, Kane and Houston (and now I want to snap up THEIR book and reread them!), wishes, a little magic, kisses, complicated family dynamics, a man who doesn't know he's ready to love again until he meets his person, and a lady who is very good at putting others before her time and time again. GOOD STUFF!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
So. Jace and Nellie. He's a grieving widower and she's...well, her family is terrible and actively works to chip away at her sense of self worth so they can (quite selfishly) continue to use her to make their lives more comfortable. Which is awful because Nellie is a genuinely good, kind person and her father and sister systematically tear her down for their own benefit.
On the upside, Nellie has a fairy godmother looking out for her. On the downside, Bernie is...well, she's Bernie. She wasn't a great person in life (she was quite a bit like Nellie's sister, actually) and some of her earlier "help" makes things more difficult for Nellie. Which is unfortunate. But she does have a few tricks up her sleeve and once she gets invested in helping Nellie and Jace end up together, things start moving in the right direction.
Some sweet courting, Kane and Houston (and now I want to snap up THEIR book and reread them!), wishes, a little magic, kisses, complicated family dynamics, a man who doesn't know he's ready to love again until he meets his person, and a lady who is very good at putting others before her time and time again. GOOD STUFF!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
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