Wishes

A cinderella like story for all of you out there who are not a perfect size 10! Nellie Grayson is a "fat" 28 year old spinster who lives in Colorado 1896 and her life is devoted to caring for her penny pinching father and beautiful spoilt younger sister, Terel. Her life is turned upside down one day when Jace Montgomery, a handsome stranger arrives at their home in the town of Chandler. Jace is immediately struck by the kind, compassionate character of Nellie and confides in her of the grief he has been carrying for the past 4 years since the death of his wife in childbirth. Thus begins the courting of Nellie Grayson by Chandler's newly arrived most eligible bachelor. A wonderful tale of true love and not lust, for a change. Nellie is the most selfless heroine you will meet and Jace a most kind and considerate man who sees Nellie as the true beauty she is. Terel is the most wicked nasty ... sister you could ever meet in a story. What more could you ask for? ... Lealing

This is one of those books that, after reading it, made me grin like a fool even though it was just a book. I've been in love with the Montgomerys since Gavin but man, Jace takes the cake! He has got to be THEE sweetest, most caring, nicest hero I've ever read in a novel. And Nellie is one of my favorite heroines as well, with her sweet-natured personality. How would it be to have a friend like her, someone you know would never hurt you or let you down?? These two characters are dynamite and though it's a bit (ok, a LOT) cheesy, the whole time I was reading this book I had a warm and fuzzy little feeling in my heart.Go Jace and Nellie!

I have only read a few Jude Deveraux's books and had very few expectations for this one. After reading the first few pages, I was completely hooked! The heroine in this story is not your typical damsel in distress. She is a "fat old maid" who looks after her selfish father and sister's needs, who catches the eye of a handsome stranger new in town. Jace is the ultimate hero. He looks beyond the superficial side and see Nellie for who she really is. If anyone is in need of a hero rescuing her, it's Nellie. After many years of enduring and believing the criticisms from her family and people of the town and being a slave in her own household, Nellie needed someone to show her that she is worth much more than what her father, espcially her sister make her out to be. I loved this story. It's really beautiful and is realistic in that most women don't look like the heroines in many romance novels. This story reminds us that we don't have to be "physically perfect" to find our true love. Read it, you'll love it. However, I was disappointed that Nellie's father and sister did not get what should have been coming to them for being such abhorring individuals.

If you are looking for a fresh take on historical romance, pick this up. JD combines some unusual plot elements (including time travel, life after death, magic, etc.) with some memorably unique characters to create a masterpiece of a romance novel. Nellie, the heroine, is much more "real" than most leading ladies. She isn't a perfect size 6, or even an 8. The hero, Jace, is a strong, caring Montgomery (of the infamous Montgomeries featured in other JD novels)who has the helps Nellie find the courage to love and live! I laughed out loud during parts of this book!

This book is perfect for all women becuase it shows that a woman does not have to have the perfect body to find a good man. As an overweight woman this book helped to bring up my self esteem. It is what is inside that counts, not what is outside. Big woman are just as beautiful as skinny women and this book shows that by the fact that handsom Jace Montgomery chose shy, sweet, and overweight Nellie over Nellie's skinny sister Terel. Terel is also the type of character that you love to hate because she is so self-centered. This is truely and excellent book and I suggest that all women should read this because as a woman you know what it feels like to inadequate.