JUDE DEVERAUX

|| The Teacher ||Legend ||Legend || The Princess || The Black Lyon || Just Curious ||

Last review(s) added 2/2/98

Rated 5.0
ISBN# 0-671-00170-1
$6.99 U.S.; $8.99 Can
Copyright 1996
Reviewed 9/19/97 by Pam

Since this book first came out in hardcover I have been anxiously awaiting it's arrival to paperback. During the waiting time I read several reviews and a few readers comments about this book. None of them were very encouraging. I asked myself this -- surely, my favorite author will not disappoint me with her newest book?

So, on a recent trip to Wal-Mart I saw "Legend" on the book rack, picked it up, hesitated for a moment, read the back cover and thought, I don't care, I'm going to give this book a try. Even though "Remembrance" was a bit of a disappointment to me, (it was so confusing,) I figured this one could only be better. So, against the opinions I'd heard I threw "Legend" in the shopping basket and bought a copy for myself. I'll also admit that it sat on my book shelf for a week before I opened it. Apprehension?!?

Let me also tell you this. Since I became connected to the Internet, my first use of it was to look up reviews and see which books I thought I'd buy next. (Boy did that list of books to buy get long.) I figured that I would save myself some money by reading reviews and getting the opinions of others. Right?

In this case, that did not do this book justice. I started it with negative feelings, but those soon dissipated.

To me, "Legend" is captivating and absolutely a time travel worth reading. I couldn't put the book away for even a moment. My heart was pumping rapidly as I went from page 1 to page 404. I felt the characters were absolutely delightful. In summary, my tastes did not lay in the same category as those who wrote the reviews I read. To describe it in one word -- I would have to say "Legend" is ---- spectacular!

Kady Long is a chef and a very good one at that. After graduation she decides to work in a run down restaurant called Onions, against the better judgement of everyone. Why doesn't she want to work in a well-known restaurant under a well-known chef? Well, Kady has her own ideas. She wants to be known for her own cooking and not what restaurant or what famous chef she is working for. Sounds good to me.

Kady also happens to be engaged to the owners son, Gregory. He treats her better than anyone ever has. (Doesn't he?) She convinces herself that she is madly in love with Gregory, even though she works like a dog in his restaurant, never takes a break, doesn't have a share in the profits nor part ownership of the place. Gregory was just too, oh, what's the word . . . sweet. I sensed some ulterior motives here and that was the only thing I was able to guess and figure out when it comes to this story.

Kady's two best friends come six weeks before the wedding in order to help her pick out a wedding dress. Kady has the figure of an hour glass (I believe in romantic fiction this is called arabesque.) This does not help when it comes to fitting into those wedding dresses made for women with "Barbie-Doll-Figures." Needless to say, Kady becomes discouraged. She and her friends part ways for the rest of the day so they can shop for a wedding present. Kady in turn finds herself in an antique shop, purchasing an old rusty tin and all it's contents for $10.

Kady does not know that this tin is going to change the course of her life dramatically. Inside she finds an antique wedding dress, a man's watch, and a photograph, all from the late 1800's. Unable to resist, she puts on the wedding dress and wow, it's an exact fit! Before long, Kady gets light-headed and passes out, only to wake up . . . in 1873, of course. And, to make matters worse, she is about to witness a hanging!

Shocked and scared, Kady doesn't know which way to turn. She can see inside the rock, into her apartment where she came from. What should she do? She decides the man about to be hung needs her and she saves his life. Here enters Cole Jordan and the beginning of a wonderful journey.

Now, I could go on for two more pages telling you about the story, maybe ruining it for you, but I'm not going to. I want to say that Kady and Cole are an enjoyable couple. I laughed so many times I lost count. Kady with her size twelve body and thinking she is fat, has a splendid sense of humor. You want her to stay with Cole, but ultimately she doesn't. She goes back to her own time and you will suddenly get discouraged with the story. I certainly did and realized that this may be what all the negativity was about. BUT HANG IN THERE!! There is a reason for everything, it doesn't last long, and you will soon be on another journey that you will enjoy even more.

I'd love to hear your comments about this book. Due to the negativity I read prior to reading it myself, I am anxious to hear what comments you all may have and would like to post them here. Did anyone else love the story as much as I did?

Drop me a line.

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Rated 4.5
Copyright 1987
Reviewed 7/27/97 by Anne-Marie

Aria is a beautiful princess who's life is in danger. J.T. Montgomery is an officer of the U.S. Navy who rescues her from her would be assassins.

The assassins believe her to be dead. The U.S. government wants to help the princess find out who wants her dead. They trick J.T. into marrying her so that she can pose as an American bride and return to her domain.

Their daring charade succeeds and now they must face the love and passion they have found with one another.

This takes place during WW II. It was interesting and sensual. It was also very hard to put the book down!!

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This was a beautiful story that takes place in England during the medieval times.

Handsome Ranulf de Warbrooke is the 3^rd Earl of Malvoisn. He is darkly handsome and rich beyond imagining. He is called the Black Lyon because of his color and fierceness.

Lyonene is a beautiful daughter of a Baron. She is named so because her tawny coloring reminded her father of a lioness.

Through a whirlwind romance and stormy marriage, she endured every peril to be by his side until jealousy and vicious lies drove her across the Irish Sea and into grave danger.

This was another page turner. The relationship and the storyline were well written by Jude Deveraux. If found my copy in a used book store. If you can find it I would buy it as it is sure to give you a delightful reading experience.

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What an exhilarating story Ms. Deveraux produced this time. I didn't want "Just Curious" to end!

Karen Lawrence, a widow, had allowed her appearance to become drab. Her husband, Ray, died two years earlier, leaving her no reason to continue living, so she thinks. She doesn't fix her hair, her clothes are very unappealing. She has taken a very unattractive, boring job as a secretary in a typing pool for a company owned by McAllister Taggert. Her co-workers are all older ladies, who give her an eyeglass holder for her birthday just because she will undoubtedly wear glasses some day. Her days of being the prettiest woman at the country club are over.

She does every bit of extra work that she can around the office to learn as much as possible. Her intentions aren't meant to help her co-workers, but to benefit herself in the store she wants to open, some day. . . She and her husband had owned half a hardware store together, but after his death she sold their half after the other owner pressured her for sexual favors. She knows she can handle the business well and a store with all baby supplies found in one place would be her dream come true. Along with this store of her own, she desperately wants a baby. She is about to make a decision on picking a sperm donor from an album of donors.

Mac, McAllister, is a very wealthy business tycoon. He was deeply hurt by his fiance who stood him up at the alter several years earlier. He gives everyone around him the impression that he is heartless and without emotion. As each girlfriend becomes the potential Mrs. Taggert, a cold and unfeeling prenuptial agreement is given to them prior. So far, not one will sign.

Mac's secretary passes on her work to a secretary under her, who is an older lady and works at a much slower pace than she used to. She is fearful of losing her job with the work load Mac's secretary keeps giving her. So Karen assists the her with her typing assignments. Thus, Karen is very up on all the happenings in Mr. Taggert's life, and doesn't think too much of him as a result.

The night of the company Christmas party she happens to be snooping around his office when he walks in on her. Feeling way beyond embarrassed, she quickly departs in a mad rush. Much to her dislike, she realizes she has forgotten her purse and has to go back to the office to get it. Mac is there again and after much insistence gets her to listen to an offer he has for a job. He needs a substitute fiance for a wedding he needs to go to. His ex-girlfriend was to stand up in it, and Karen happens to be the same size as the dress. She agrees, but wants something in return . . . some of his sperm donated during her fertile time of the month. Donated in a cup, of course.

Mac wants to take Karen for a makeover, she is rather homely looking, but she asks him to just trust her. She has her hair done and a refresher course on her makeup before going home. Once again, the country club beauty appears.

The wedding weekend turns into a dream for Karen. She enjoys being around his large family and group of friends, and even more the sound of children running and playing about. Karen soon discovers that she just may be able to love again after-all.

Mac is not oblivious to Karen's new look, and there is definitely more to this woman that what is seen on the outside. You start off the story thinking he is an arrogant, jerk, but soon his kindness and caring actions put that claim to shame. He is funny, adoring and has a sense of male sweetness that any woman could fall in love with.

There are more surprising secrets that I just don't have the heart to ruin for you. The story is exciting and thrilling. My heart throbbed from beginning to end. These two are wonderful characters. I could not put this story down, and I imagine you will have a difficult time doing that also.



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