RETURN TO SUMMERHOUSE

Pocket Books (2008), 425 pages, $7.99 (paperback)
Three more women get the chance to find the answers to “what if” in Jude Deveraux’s “Return to Summerhouse.”
Three strangers convene for a few days in Maine, sent there by their therapist. Each woman had experienced trauma, and each is struggling to return to their happy lives.
Amy has a 10-plus husband and two wonderful sons, but struggles to deal with a miscarriage.
Zoe awoke after a car wreck with amnesia, and discovered an entire town hated her. But she doesn’t remember why.
Faith is a recent widow who still has to deal with a domineering and unpleasant mother-in-law.
The three women meet Madame Zoya, and get the chance to go back in the past and change their destinies. Amy returns to the 1797, to save the life of one of her husband’s ancestors. She takes Zoe and Faith along with her, and while they’re each entitled to their own trip as well, both discover the keys to their destinies on that trip to 1797.
Long before readers come to care about the characters, you’ll become intrigued by their stories. You’ll find yourselves impatient to uncover the women’s secrets, and eager to read their happily-ever-afters.
It’s a different sort of book that still manages to offer enough romance in an easy read that is most definitely appealing. It’s the sort of book that will linger in your mind for years, the kind you’ll recommend to friends.




Overall rating: 4 of 5 hearts. Deveraux does a masterful job of blending the women’s lives, and turning the trip back to 1797 into a happy existence in 2008. While the characters grow on you, the story captures your attention right away.

Hunk appeal: 10-plus. We’ll call Stephen and Tristan (you can decide if they’re the same) the only real heroes, and both were understanding and loving men. But while romance played a part in all three women’s lives, it was really a story that didn’t dwell on the hunks.

Steamy scene grade: X. Actually, more like PG.

Happily-Ever-After: Very good. Lives that needed fixed are – even if it’s only a tinkering. They leave the summerhouse happy, and happier.

Also this week …

HIGH NOON, by Nora Roberts (2007, paperback) – 5 of 5. With her new hardcover due out next week, “High Noon” is now available in paperback. This is a high intensity, well developed and superbly written story that will ensnare you from page one and won't let you go until the final page. Nora Roberts does a masterful job of entwining Phoebe and Duncan's romance while spinning a suspenseful story of an evil man's plot to destroy Phoebe. This book is actually more of a suspense novel than a romance story, but romance readers won't feel cheated.
There are two scenes in the book that may be very disturbing to many readers, and may need to be skipped due to the graphically violent nature.
In the first, Phoebe gets attacked in the stairwell of her precinct. You'll see it coming, and just skip ahead.
Much later, Phoebe's ex-husband gets kidnapped and chained to a grave. Skip ahead.
Otherwise, be sure to read every word. Despite Phoebe’s distractions of work, of being stalked by a madman intent on killer her, dealing with an eccentric family, being a single mom and being manipulated by a dead relative through her will, she finds time to secure her future with her soul mate – who is pretty understanding about all the stuff in Phoebe’s life. The characters are well-developed and come alive right away. The dialogue is quick and witty in times, insightful and emotional at others.
It's simply a well-written book with an intriguing plot and unforgettable characters.
If you didn’t read it in hardcover, get it now.