Jude Deveraux - Ever After

The third book in the Nantucket Brides Trilogy series, published June 23, 2015.
Genre: contemporary romance with ghosts
Cover: gorgeous wedding dress



One fateful day, Hallie Hartley, a young physical therapist, makes two startling discoveries: not only has a mysterious relative left Hallie a house on Nantucket, but her obnoxious stepsister, Shelly, has been trying to steal it. Impulsively, Hallie flees to the gorgeous island to view the property - and finds on the premises an unexpected guest: the wealthy and devastatingly handsome James Taggert, her newest client, who claims to have injured his leg in a skiing accident. Jamie's attentions draw Hallie out of her shell - but he has a dark secret, and is tormented by nightmares that only her presence can keep at bay. As Jamie's relatives arrive for a wedding gala, there's an aura of romance in the air - enhanced by a pair of matchmaking ghosts and a colourful legend. In their own little corner of the world, Jamie and Hallie unravel the timeless secrets of their own hearts, and a very special story of True Love destined to last forever after.


The third book in the series, and the best in my opinion. I liked Hallie a lot. Ever since her father remarried suddenly, and brought home a stepmother and younger stepsister, her life became hell. Now her grandparents and her parents have died, and Hallie has had to take care of Shelly for years. She has finally graduated from college, and is about to start her career as a physical therapist when she founds out something shocking.
Going home unexpectedly, as she lost some important papers for her boss, she finds her stepsister Shelly acting like she is Hallie, and about to sign some important papers. Apparently, a very distant relative has left Hallie a house on Nantucket Island, and Shelly was about to steal it from her. She has always been extremely jealous of Hallie, and as she is a total failure at her job as an actress, or waitress, or whatever, she has come back to Hallie to annoy her and leech of her. So when she intercepted an important packet of papers for Hallie, she cocked up this scheme. After all, why should Hallie own two houses, when Hallies' father left her nothing?
So, impulsively, Hallie packs her own bags, after tossing Shelly's luggage out of her own suitcase (finding more stuff Shelly "borrowed" in there), and accompanies famous architect Jared Montgomery on his private plane to the Island of Nantucket, to see her inheritance, and take on a job as private physical therapist for one of his gazillions cousins who has had a skiing accident.

But the young man she finds there, is not so young as she expected, and also the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. James Taggart in return is stunned when he sees Hallie. He has never been attracted to bean poles, and she is perfect in his eyes. But he doesn't trust her with his secrets, he refuses to undress and let her help him with his injuries, other than his bum knee, and he certainly doesn't need her helping him! (Stupid man, of course he does).


This time, they are not ghosts come back to a second chance at love, there is just a couple of matchmaking ghosts around, and that was fun to read about. I liked Hallie a lot, she finally took charge of her life, and got rid of Shelly, and the feeling that she needs to take care of her. And when James doesn't trust her, confide in her, and tries to boss her around, Hallie does what she needs to do, and she knows her broken heart will heal. He can't keep lying to her, trying to reveal his past. She has already guessed it anyway. I also loved how she dealt with his enormous family, and all those gorgeous males who wanted a massage from her.

And Shelly? She still doesn't see how wrong she was. And being jealous of Hallie as a child, and being so nasty to her because of that, nope, you were not entitled to that at all, no matter what your mother put you through. Because Hallie did not do anything to you. So no, you also don't deserve Hallie's childhood crush fall for you …

Yes, very good romance, I enjoyed it a lot. I hope there will be more books in this series.

10 stars.

© 2016 Reviews by Aurian