Wednesday Review: Jude Deveraux's Heartwishes

Once upon a time, Jude Deveraux was my all time favorite author. I devoured each and very book she had, re-read them, and kept them neatly on my bookshelves. Then I moved on to darker stories, sexier ones, and Ms. Deveraux moved away from her Montgomery and Taggert stories onto other families with a touch of paranormal, and we parted ways.

Last month I picked up Heartwishes, which is apparently the 5th installment to a series I hadn't read. (Naturally!)

It's made me realize 2 things: 1) I like her earlier works too much to coninute with this series lest I begin to hate her writing and 2) Her books seem like they're becoming a tad too similar.

I didn't mind the story itself, it was fine considering I have no idea what went on in the previous 4 Edilean stories. And Ms. Deveraux's research is impeccable as always. Her writing was nothing different from what I recall.

All that can't erase the fact that Gemma was the type of person who not only doesn't exist but whom you want to strangle within hours of meeting. No one is that perfect! Or nice. Or flawless. My other problem is that I love series...except when I can't follow the current story for all the references to previous books I haven't read!

I give this 3 stars because I haven't read the other 4 Edilean books and am hoping that by reading them I can understand this book a tad better. (Though based on reviews I doubt it. Pity.)

Cliches

Biggest cliche pet peeves:



*The Big Misunderstanding (kisses another and instead of talking hero/heroine walks out) otherwise known as TBM
*Marrying because she's pregnant by his brother/BFF/cousin/father/etc
*Amnesia
*Evil other woman/man who are utter cardboard
*TSTL virginal heroine
*The Will Stipulation (oh how I despise that one!)
*Plain Jane who is gorgeous with a little makeup
*Making the mother/father the root of all the hero/heroine's issues
*The secret child (especially in an historical where she's pregnant by the hero, TBM occurs and she's married off to a kindly older man who never has sex with her and then conveniently dies)
*I didn't realize I had sex and thought it was a dream even though I'm a virgin (actually added this one thanks to a reivew I read last week)




Cliches I actually do enjoy:


*Marriage of convenience
*Office romances that doesn't involve the boss and assistant
*Starts off antagonistic but ends very passionately
*Gothic
*Evil relative if the evilness isn't cardboard
*Revenge
*Betrayal

What about you? Favs? Wall bangers? Ones you can tolerate?

Thursday I'm hosting Jean Hart Stewart as she talks about her book For Love is New.

Happy Christmas!

Just a quick note to say Merry Christmas to all. I hope this holiday season brings peace, happiness, joy, and togetherness to you and yours.

What's your favorite Christmas song? So very difficult: My top 3 are: I'll be Home for Christmas sung by Frank Sinatra, The Christmas Song, as lo by Frank, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams, and OK, my all time favorite is honestly Merry's Snoopy Christmas by The Royal Guardsmen. And pretty much anything by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby...oh White Christmas. Can't forget that one. I love the classics.

Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas hands down.

Favorite Christmas Cartoon? Charlie Brown's Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman (I love Jimmy Durante as the narrator). I enjoy the others, too but those are my tops.