Sweet Liar

Samantha is a damaged soul. Everyone she's ever loved has been taken from her and she has learned to put all the pain into an isolated part of her heart and move on. When Samantha was twelve, her mother, while in a mad rush to get through her schedule so she can take Samantha to a friend's party, was hit by a car and killed. Her father, blaming Samantha for the accident, plummeted into a clinical depression and ignored her throughout most of her teen years. In a desperate bid for her father's forgiveness, Samantha sacrificed everything in her life to take care of him including marrying the man he chose for her. Years later, on the day Samantha buried her father, she received divorced papers from her adulterous husband. To compound her unhappiness, she discovers that, in order to inherit all the money her father left her, he made a final demand: Samantha would have to move to New York, to an apartment he's already rented for her, to find her long lost grandmother. She has a year to complete this task or lose her inheritance. Samantha's saving grace comes into her life in the form of her landlord, Michael Taggert, a larger-than-life, math genius and millionaire, with a devil-may-care attitude. To Samantha's dismay, she finds out that Mike is Samantha's guardian and her father's will stipulates that Mike has to be satisfied with Samantha's research before the money is released to her. Mike joins Samantha in unraveling her grandmother's past, but their investigation draws unwanted and dangerous attention from a mysterious villain who has already resorted to murder to discover the secret that Samantha's grandmother has risked her life to preserve. This was such a great read. It's fast-paced, hard to put down, fraught with dangerous plots and twists that you won't be disappointed. I love Jude Deveraux's writing. Her talent at weaving such wonderfully complex storylines is sheer magic.

I have begun to think that Jude Deveraux isn't capable of writing a bad novel. Well, I've only read four of them so far, but they have all been winners and quite unique, not in the slightest bit repetitious. Sweet Liar is one of the best romances I've read. The heroine has a wounded soul and finds a sweet, hot, sexy hero to mend it. Samantha Elliot's father wants her to find out what happened to his mother. It is the condition in his will that says she will not have his money until she lives in New York City for one year and finds her wayward grandmother. A country bumpkin from Kentucky, she is terrified of New York, and decides she dislikes Michael Taggert, her gorgeous landlord, after her initial attraction to him. Samantha has years of pent-up sadness, frustration and anger inside her, and Michael does whatever possible to encourage her to find her grandmother and get to the bottom of her inner demons, all the while trying to get her into his bed... and into her heart. There are many twists throughout the novel. This novel wowed me from beginning to end. I enjoyed this beautiful love story so much and I adored Michael, not only because he is gorgeous, but also because he is kind and loving. The back story centered on Samantha's grandmother -- the things that happened to her -- is compelling and enthralling, a definite page-turner. I love the romance, the backdrop of New York City seen through the eyes of a country woman, and this amazing story that has a subplot centered on mobsters and the roaring 1920s (Sam's grandmother's era). I couldn't keep this book down and couldn't wait to see the conclusion to this suspenseful subplot. The one disappointing thing is that the whole recreation act of what had transpired on that night in 1928 is too unrealistic and wraps up a little too neatly for my taste. But that didn't interfere with my overall enjoyment with this novel. The characters are awesome. I love the protagonists and the secondary characters, especially Kane, Michael's twin brother. I look forward to reading his story in The Invitation. The get-together between the Taggerts and the Montgomerys is such a fun scene. I noticed that there are characters and back stories taken from other novels that I haven't read. I only recognized Dougless and Reed from A Knight in Shining Armor. I so look forward to reading every book by these families. Sweet Liar is one memorable romance. It is almost as memorable and poignant as A Knight in Shining Armor, my favorite Deveraux novel so far. This author has filled up my TBR pile and I look forward to more hours reading her wonderful books. In the meantime, I cannot recommend this gem enough.

The hero is the sweetest! i loved this romance. One of the best I have ever read. Jude's romances are so fresh with humour and genuine feelings of characters that u just can't help being touched to ur heart. The way Mike wanted Sam and cudn't have her because she was so insecure... just made me want to cry for him. Sexual tension was electric ! There was intriguing plot of sam's grandmother's story too... It surely kept me wondering that what happened on the night so long ago that her grandmother has to live her whole life in hiding... the climax was great! A well thoughtout suspense novel, no loose ends...just perfect romantic suspense! Just my kind of romance... Great Hero, Thrilling Sexual tension, Well Developed Plot, Heroine with a wicked sense of humour and last but not the least an endearing but interfering family... what else cud a romance fan ask for?

What a great book. I've read this umpteen times. It begins with - yes - an improbable situation, but goes right into a situation where Mike sails into Sam's arms and they end up going at each other with (and here is one of the funny parts) "desire, need, and something even more basic." ;-) There are many gems such as that - and other very memorable situations. The best part of the book is the voice. Devereaux really likes these characters; I feel as though I know them too. / The flaw - and this is the 80 pages I skip - is the whole gangsta stuff. The whole Doc and Abby episode. It's just not as compelling. / The book gets five stars for Mike and Sam's relationship - which is one of the best I've seen in a romance novel. They really deserve each other - in a good way. I want a Mike too!

In my opinion, the whole story & plot of this book is simply intriguing. Makes me turn each page with suspense... I especially wanted to know the true account of the night of April,1928 that changed the lives of Samantha & her family. The search for her grandmother and the emotional roller coster made me cry. The love story of Sam & Mike are both sweet & heart warming. Sam's slow realization of herself & the transformation into her true identity is somewhat frustrating, sad, interesting then relief follow. Mike's love and patience to help her in any way he can is just as heart warming. I am a fan of the Montgomery Saga (as well as the Taggert) eversince I read the Velvet series, that is why the mention of the Montgomeries ( & Taggert family) also made the book more interesting. If you are a J.D. fan & have enjoyed reading about the Montgomeries & Taggert in her previous books, then this is one you have to read. It contains many lovely characters. She even mentioned updates of previous couples from her other books stories. The family helping each other also made it more appealing to my taste. A keeper!