I love books by Jude Deveraux. She has written tons of books and is a seasoned best selling author. This fact is evident the moment you start reading the book. There is something different about reading stuff written by top authors, some quality I cannot put my finger on.
Nora Roberts is an author who loves to explore the fantasy or supernatural element in her books. And Ever After does too. The whole book is like eating a triple fudge chocolate sundae, sweet and comforting with just a sprinkling of nuts to add some strife. Hallie has had a hard life. She has almost no family to speak of. There is a clingy step sister who takes her to the cleaners at every opportunity. Her latest ploy sees her trying to steal Hallie out of a surprise inheritance.
Said inheritance is a house on the island of Nantucket, bequeathed by some relative Hallie did not know. After a fortuitous save, she heads to the island on a private jet, all set to take care of her super rich patient, a playboy who has busted his knee in a skiing accident.
James Taggert is anything but frivolous. He is a decorated veteran suffering from PTSD. He has a huge family who are filthy rich and worried about him. And then there are the Tea Ladies. The ladies who lived in the house originally. There is a mysterious neighbor who keeps supplying the couple with decadent cream teas. Throughout the book, we keep reading how Hallie has lost weight despite indulging in all the fatty food. this is just a clue to what is causing her weight loss.
There is a wedding on the island and the whole Taggert clan descends in droves. The couple are attracted to each other but are very careful since both have been burnt in the past. We enter a fairy tale world where every family member is beautiful inside out, where the champagne and fancy food flows, and where nothing is impossible.
Ever After will transform you to a different world. That is what I expect and I was satisfied several times over. The lavish emotional opulence is matched only by the material wealth of these people. And of course, the Tea Ladies keep it all interesting.
Need I say, a Must Read!
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