Wishes (The Montgomery/Taggert Family Book 7)

I actually bought this book and wished I had not. I found the heroine to be disgusting. I made it through two chapters and she had already shoved nine pieces of chocolate candy into her mouth at once. That image totally turned me off. I get tired of all of the perfect, size 1 heroines, but this was going too far the other way. I have not read anymore and doubt that I will. Not all overweight women eat like that and starting a stereotype of them this way is disgusting.

I have become a voracious reader (well, I already am one, but now more so than usual) as of late and I have Jude Deveraux to thank for that. I have devoured a few of her books and have found myself preferring them over the "meatier" books I combine with my "escapist" books to read. Wishes is another winner. This Cinderella-inspired story captivated me and I couldn't put it down. I finished it in a few hours and now I wish I had taken more leisure time with it. The year is 1896. Nellie Grayson is a beautiful, thoughtful and generous woman who would do anything for her selfish father and scheming younger sister. Nellie is overweight and she overeats whenever Charles or Terel not-so-subtly criticize her and call her a twenty-eight-year-old fat spinster who is lucky to have them in her life. But they hadn't expected that rich, ruggedly handsome Jace Montgomery would take a fancy to Nellie the moment he sees her. They do whatever is possible to keep her away from Jace so that she could remain at home catering to their every whim. But an angel of sorts -- a former, modern-day socialite turned fairy godmother who has to make up for her wrongdoings on earth -- will be there to give Nellie a helping hand. There are various twists throughout the novel.

I loved this book. I devoured it despite wanting to throw it across the room at times. But when a novel makes you feel such strong emotions, it means that the author has succeeded in moving you. Nellie is a wonderful heroine. Her lack of self-esteem is quite realistic, especially when she deals with her abusive family and the prejudice of the people in her small town. However, I thought her eating habits were a bit excessive. I don't think a person could eat two bagfuls of pastries and not go on a sugar-induced coma or something. I know about binge-eating when you're anxious or depressed -- heck, I've done it myself (who hasn't?), but Nellie's eating habits are of a four-hundred-pound man, not an 165-pound woman. I understand the moral of the story. The fact that Jace loves Nellie regardless of her weight made me smile. As for the people who are disappointed with the fact that she loses weight, it is to illustrate that being thin wouldn't make her happy or solve her problems. Her father doesn't love or approve of her any more than he does when she is overweight, Terel envies her sister regardless of her weight, and Jace doesn't love her more because she is thinner. Jace is a wonderful hero. He may not be as three-dimensional as Trevelyan Montgomery or Nicholas Stafford, but he is kind, generous, love-struck and gorgeous. The scenes in which he takes Nellie out for a stroll are the most romantic ones in the novel. I also like that Jace is the son of Maddie and 'Ring from Mountain Laurel. It was nice to read about those characters again. As for the secondary characters, I despised Terel. What a piece of work she is! I cannot believe Nellie doesn't see through this manipulative, scheming little weasel. Ugh! I would have strangled her if I could have. The fairytale aspects -- the magic, the (not-so-perfect) fairy godmother, the Cinderella-like ball -- add a nice touch to this story. The ending is a disappointment though. It is different, but unsatisfying. All in all, despite a few flaws, Wishes left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Jude Deveraux has done it again! I cannot recommend this enough.

Nellie Grayson was her family's slave, so belittled that she turned to food for comfort. Jace Montgomery, finally recovering from his wife's death in childbirth, has come to town to visit cousin Kane Taggert and his wife, Houston. Jace is immediately taken by Nellie, seeing a beautiful woman, not a fat, frumpy old maid. He must fight Nellie's loyalty to her family and their machinations to keep Nellie at their beck and call. Complicating the matter is a deceased woman's gift of three wishes to Nellie in an attempt to win her way into heaven.

Although the "fairy godmother" seemed out of place in the beginning, her importance to the story soon makes sense. A visit with the Montgomerys and their extended family is always a pleasure, but to have a plus-size heroine who is admired by the hero is wonderful. Having her lose weight seemed silly and wrong.

UPDATED FROM REREAD Aug 2011.

Based on the recent news of Jude Deveraux being scammed out of twenty million dollars, I felt like I should revisit one of her older books. I chose Wishes as I remember being pleased with the idea of a plus-sized heroine who got her man while heavy, not after losing her excess weight. This was actually the very first Deveraux book I had ever read.

Nellie Grayson was her family's slave, so belittled that she turned to food for comfort. Jace Montgomery, finally recovering from his wife's death in childbirth, has come to town to visit cousin Kane Taggert and his wife, Houston. Jace is immediately taken by Nellie, seeing a beautiful woman, not a fat frumphy old maid. He must fight Nellie's loyalty to her family and their machinations to keep Nellie at their beck and call. Complicating the matter is a deceased woman's gift of three wishes to Nellie in an attempt to earn her way into Heaven. Unfortunately those wishes only make Nellie's life worse.

I liked the story originally and still do, but my view of it has changed somewhat over the years. I found the whole "fairy godmother" bit to be unnecessary. Much of what happened could have happened even without the three wishes complicating the situation. Where I once loved Nellie, upon rereading it, I find her to be without a speck of backbone and not only has blinders on where it concerns her family, but goes out of her way to not see anyone as they really are. That said, I might still recommend the book to someone who has never read any of Jude's books before. Especially since there is only one real sex scene, one that isn't too graphic compared to some of her later books.

Heroine:  plump
Shallow, bitter, violently fat-phobic high society gal Berni has just gotten the shock of her life; which is to say, her death. Before she can go to heaven she is charged with a task. She must improve the life of one Nellie Grayson, a plump, loving spinster whose existence consists solely of caring for her selfish family members. In exchange for a ticket to paradise, Berni must assure that Nellie marries the handsome Jace Montgomery and has the life of happiness that she deserves.
However, Berni isn't interested in playing fairy godmother for poor Nellie, whom she assumes to be a superficial, selfish creature, and makes only a half-hearted attempt at her job before retreating into a "life" of luxury. But the spirit is in for a rude awakening when she checks on her charge and realizes not only that she judged Nellie unfairly but that she *gasp* is actually beginning to care for the poor put-upon girl. Suddenly Berni has to scramble to somehow repair the damage her own selfish irresponsibility has wrought.
Can Berni pull off this Herculean task and bring the two would-be lovers together, or are she and Nellie each doomed in their own way?
   What worked for me:
        The concept of this story was a fun one. Who doesn't love to root for an underdog and hope that their nemeses get their much-deserved come-uppance?
        And may I just say, thank heavens our heroine finally grew a spine!
Size-wise Nellie was plump, and Jace had no qualms about it.
What didn't work for me:
This is another case where the fat phobia experienced by the main characters was too modern a sentiment for the day. Despite the rise of the willowy Gibson girl, much admired actress Lillian Russell still reigned in that era and was far more zaftig than 160-odd-pound Nellie, who would have been about the same size as Marilyn Monroe at her heaviest.
There were some minor plot issues that stood out here and there, but I can't get into them without spoiling the story.
Overall:
Fans of Paranormals and American Historicals might like this Cinderella story. (Also see "Mountain Laurel", a novel about the hero's mother.)
Warning: this book has some weight loss and features one steamy scene.
If you liked "Wishes" you might also enjoy "The Hero's Best Friend", "The Bride of Willow Creek", "Beckett's Birthright", "A Country Christmas", "No Ordinary Princess", "The Bluebird and the Sparrow", or "Land of Dreams".

I love this book above all other romances for three reasons: 1) Berni, 2) Jace, 3) the plot.
When I began reading this book, I was sure that the "Kitchen" scenes would hinder the story. But as soon as Berni began to utter her witty replies, I realized that Berni and her "Kitchen" experiences were the greatest assets of "Wishes". Berni is hillarious and the discovery that she has a soft heart is touching. I wish Ms. Deveraux would write more books about Berni helping to bring people together as she moves through the levels in the Kitchen.
Jace is probably the sexiest male ever to grace the pages of a romance novel and also, suprisingly, the most noble and decent. It is almost improbable to find that during the time he mourned his first wife, four years!, he was never intimate with a woman. Still, he is a phenomenal character and his relationship with Nellie is sweet, tender and endearing.
The plot itself, is unusual. The greatest plot twist is that Nellie has an unusual beauty -- she is a bit overweight. Yet, it does not diminish her beauty in Jace's or readers' eyes because she is so kind-hearted and sweet. For all those reviewers who like "pretty" heroines, as Kane Taggert aptly put it: "She looks like a peach. As plump and ripe as a peach." She might not conform to a standard, but she is still a wonderful heroine.
I also liked the villains in this book. Terel was not just evil and devious but smart as well. All her plotting of Nellie were results of her insecurity that if Nellie moved on with her life, Terel would have no one to love and care for her. Although she went too far, her motives were not completely without reason.
All in all, this is a great book. It has something for everybody, and even if it is not your cup of tea, it is still worth a read.

This book begins with the death of Berni, a woman who made a living of marrying rich men, spending money to look young at other's expense and was basically a self centered selfish person. Berni dies and goes to the "Kitchen" a kind of half way place between heaven and earth where she must do a good deed for someone on earth to earn a place in heaven. Berni is assigned Nellie an overweight woman who is used by a servant by her selfish sister and father. Berni is turned off by Nellie because she is fat and thinks she wants to help Terel instead. Berni gives Nellie three wishes to use thinking it will show she is really a selfish person and will use them to get even with her family.

Nellie's sister Terel has the same kind of personality that Berni had while alive and Terel is very jealous of Nellie. Even though Terel has always been the popular sister, she is jealous that Nellie always draws people to love her because she is such a good person and is actually very beautiful. Terel keeps sweets around to feed Nellie when she is feeling depressed because she wants Nellie to stay fat so she never marries and always is there to take care of her. Nellie secretly wishes her family will always be comfortable, Terel will be popular and her father will be successful. She unknowingly uses her three wishes on other people.

Jace Montgomery, a wealthy associate of Nellie and Terel's father comes to dinner one night and instantly falls in love with Nellie. Nellie can't believe he actually likes her and Terel is extremely jealous. Terel plots to keep the two apart and spreads rumors that Jace is seeing women all over town and is actually dating Nellie to get to their father's money. What Terel knows and Nellie doesn't is that Jace is several times wealthier than their father. When Berni sees Nellie didn't use her wishes for herself she finally realizes that Nellie is a good person who deserves to be happy. Berni wishes Nellie to be thin thinking that will make her happy. Of course, that doesn't work.

After Terel plots and schemes, Nellie and Jace never get together. Berni comes to earth to straighten things out.

This story is a kind of cinderella and her fairy god mother story and is very sweet. The only disappointment I had was Nellie was a little too much of a victim. Enoughs enough already, give the girl a backbone. Still a very good story.

Ever wished you had a fairy godmother? Well after reading this book, I sure wished for one.

Since her mother passed away, Nellie Grayson has carried the burden of running the household. While young girls her age were busy flirting with boys and attending parties, she was busy doing the chores and looking after her hard-to-please father and spoilt little sister. Now in her late twenties, Nellie has resigned herself to being a spinster whose sole purpose in life is to make sure that her sister Terel is always the belle of the ball, and that her father is well-served and taken care of.

Four years ago, his beloved wife, Julie, and newly born child were taken away from him. From then on, he has lived the life of a nomad, wandering from place to place, always alone and reserved. Finally missing the company of his family, Jace Montgomery decides to visit his cousin in Chandler, Colorado where Charles Grayson, whose life he once saved, also happen to live. So Jace finds himself over at the Graysons one night not knowing that Fate had something in store for him.

Upon meeting Nellie, Jace is instantly drawn to her and finds himself discussing Julie for the first time since her death. And Nellie, always in tune to other people's feelings, senses his loneliness. What she never expected is for Jace to show interest in her. She, an undesirable, fat old maid who never had a suitor. And Jace is aware of her insecurities and goes out of his way to convince her of his sincerity. And for the first time in her rather uneventful life, Nellie Grayson has the attention of a handsome gentleman.

WISHES is a poignant tale of how two people found love when they least expected it. Nellie is one of the most selfless heroines I have read about, while Jace is just the perfect gentleman whose sincerity and love for Nellie will have you wishing that there were indeed a fairy godmother out there. The author has done so well with this story that you truly feel for the characters. I felt a whole range of emotions while reading this. It upset me to read Nellie telling herself that for once she will pretend that Jace was her man, when she still couldn't believe that such a handsome man could actually see past her not-so-slender figure. That is why Jace's determination to win Nellie is just to die for. In the end, all you'd wish is for them to live happily ever after.

A truly wonderful book, I guarantee that you won't be able to stop once you start.

Berni A woman who thought only of herself during her life is sent to the 'Kitchen' a place where during your life you weren't bad enough for hell but not god enough for heaven. She is given an assignment...Nellie. Nellie an overweight young woman who loves her family to a fault, eats entire cakes, pies, cookies, etc when she is distressed, which is always. Terel, Nellie's sister is a witch at best. She lies, slanders, demeans and criticizes Nellie at every turn; their no better father is a penny pinching jerk. Nevertheless, Nellie loves them both and believes all of their lies without question. Nellie meets Jace a handsome guy who falls in love with her and not Terel, much to everyone's astonishment. While this guy loves her, Nellie rewards him by not believing and not trusting anything he does or says, even when the evidence is smacking her in the face. The author depicts Nellie as a woman overwieght by approximately 10-20 pounds. If I ate like her, I would be 100-200 pounds overweight. The thing is... this woman never stops or slows down in her eating. (If she loses weight it's not through work or willpower). I like to read stories where in the end the bad guys pay for or at least acknowledge they were bad and apologize. If this occurred, I must have missed that chapter. Lastly, had Berni, (the 'fairy godmother') not intervened, the end result would not have occurred. It had nothing to do with the characters 'finally opening their eyes to the truth' on their own. I was half expecting Nellie to be declared a saint in the end. I personally would have declared her something else. How her sister and father are 'rewarded' for their actions made me sick. I won't be popular with this review and I know it, but I refuse to rate it highly if I don't think it's deserved.

Nellie Grayson was a beautiful, sweet and shy woman who adored her sister very much. She practically raised her sister when their mother died when Terel, her sister was only four years old. She cooked, washed, cleaned , do all the house servant ought to do in order to make her sister and father life easier. No time for romance, no time for her to spend anything at all except to her sister and father.
Then came, Jace Montgomery, who recognized the beauty of Nellie soul not just her overweight appearance. He made Nellie believe that she was also a desirable woman. He made Nellie wished for all the things she had buried years ago. Married and children. But Terel, who hate loses to her sister will fight tooth and nail to win Jace Montgomery although it included trickery and deceit. But fear not, cause with Nellie new ally who really was her fairy godmother, she would found out that she deserved all the happiness and the ultimate dream she hope for, winning Jace Montgomery heart.
A very good book at first but a bad ending . How come Terel, the evil sister, didn't get just a little of punishment for all she had done to made Nellie life miserable by lying and made sure that Nellie had a low opinion about herself, unattractive overweight old maid that did not deserved anybody except being a house servant. She even didn't make any apologize to Nellie. It all end well cause of some hocus pocus from a fairy godmother. Just like that. Mrs. Deveraux lost a bit of her touch in this book. It still a good book to read , lot of laugh and tears, and you can meet the Montgomery's clan again. But don't gave yourself a high expectation when you started read this book, and you won't get a big disappointment in the-end.

'Wishes' is the story that got me hooked onto Jude Deveraux's books. It wasn't the first I read of her's though. Suprisingly for the first time, I couldn't help but be drawn into the tale, and it was as if Ms. Deveraux had woven a web of enchantment that left the reader feeling absurdly happy for no reason at all. I kept jumping around the house for over an hour, not doing anything special, except smiling- a bit like a cheshire cat I think.
Since so many people have already told you about the book by now, in the other reviews, all I can say is that the story has a magical cinderella touch to it. It will get you championing the hero and the heroine, causing you to feel a myriad of emotions that leave you breathless.
Hoping I won you over, I say farewell:-D

Recently I've become a Jude Deveraux FANATIC and though I really enjoyed most of her books (except for The Heiress) I thought none could top Eternity for me. I was wrong because Wishes just did!!! What a wonderful story. Jace is a TRUE hero, seeing what no one else saw and loving Nellie no matter what. And sweet little Nellie is incredible, I loved that finally a perfectly shaped beautiful woman was recognized as a hero and fell in love! I even enjoy what happens to Terel and her father! And the fact that Houston and Kane are in this book quite a bit and we get to see what happens to them - 3 babies!! Plus Maddie and Ring are back, as well as Pam and Rafe Taggert, not to mention Zach and Ian and we get to meet Hank for the first time (read Twin of Ice for Zach, Ian, Pam, Rafe, Houston and Kane, Mountain Laurel for Ring and Maddie, and The Awakening for Hank, you'll understand). DEFINITELY read this book, it is absolutely incredible - the perfect historical Cinderella story, you'll fall in love with Jace and NEllie as much as I did! THIS is definitely my definitive Jude Deveraux novel!

I love Jude Deveraux books because she is always surprising me. Such a clever idea to take a nice romantic story and have the narrator be an angel earning her wings, so to speak. An angel in need of seeing the selfish way she treated people while she was alive. The romance is less consequential than the lesson taught to the angel, Bertie, during the time she is waylaid between Heaven and Hell. Spoiler alert. Sometimes, Deveraux books have sad endings, but this one has a happy ending, at least for the romance. I enjoyed it.

Okay i was actually very very surprised to even see 1 negative thing about Wishes, but hey lifes not perfect. If you have read my other reviews than you know there is only 1 jd book i don't care to much for and even that one i gave 3 stars. So as i was saying if you have read my reviews i don't like negative things said about any of them...excpecially about my taggerts and Montgomerys.

The ending wasn't rushed. Gosh!!

If it had been longer someone would have complained and said it was too drawn out...omg

Now take it from me. It's a great book. Do what i always do, pop some popcorn, put on your pj's, snuggle in a quilt (make sure the ac is at least below 70 degrees so u can get nice and snuggly in quilts) and get some dr pepper and any other munchies you need. Than you're set for romantic ride you'll want to experience again and again...

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!

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!

A heartbreaking and heartwarming story. A young lady that has been Cinderella her whole life and doesn't even now it. A young man WO falls for her, but has to get around her family. An uninterested fairy godmother to help or not.

Jude Deveraux was my favorite author until this book. I have read every Jude Deveraux novel and somehow had missed this one- Now I wished I had never found it. When I began to read this book I like others was overjoyed at the idea of the heroine being overweight- that was great- about time! Than everything she had done- every good deed she accomplished was destroyed for me in one simple paragraph. It wasn't enough that she found her man, he was good looking he was- a Montgomery! In Deveraux land you are either a Taggart kind of woman or a Montgomery, but neither is such a bad thing. But she had to go and explain his attraction because God know's he had to have a reason to like a fat woman!!!!!!!!!! It couldn't be that he was just a nice person or that he didn't see her outside, no it was because his mother was a large women and all the women he had grown up around were large or excuse me FAT! This has completly destroyed my opinion of Jude Devereux and that hurts'- this is the same women who wrote THE greatest romance novel in history with "Knight in Shining Armor" and who gave us a wonderful character like Michael Taggart in "Sweet Liar". It is a huge disapointment when someone you admire so greatly turns out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.

WISHES by Jude Deveraux, continues the Montgomery family saga with Jace. Jace finds the overweight Nellie Grayson more appealing than her spoiled beautiful sister, Terel. But the romance lays in Nellie accepting his love.
A mild summer read for all Montgomery family fans.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS AND SINS OF THE FATHERS.

The first romance that I ever read was Mountian Laurel by Jude and since then I have read almost all of her books. Wishes is a book that I have read at least a dozen times and I love it even more each time I read it. Jude ventures into uncharted waters with a heroine who is less that perfect(physicaly) and shows us that beauty is eye of the beholder.

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.

Great story as your other readers have all already shared. I didn't like that you made her plump and then you made her skinny. Other than this little bitty thing the book was a very good read. okay I also really wanted the sister to pay for her selfishness, the pig farmer and his kids should have gotten a better deal.

I love this one... Jace and Nellie ,a cinderella story,i like it how Jace doesn't look just at appearance he goes deeper,how he pursues this woman that nobody notices,he just saw something about her,that makes his heart flutter... Jace Montgomery is the son of Captain Montgomery and La Reina in MOUNTAIN LAUREL... I love this story,i love it love it love it...

The only thing I could have possibly wanted from this book was more pages. (or maybe a sequel) I loved the fact that the skinny girl did NOT get the guy and he loved Nellie all the more for her size. I have never read another book in which the heroine wasn't a skinny little thing. So many books are full of all sorts of problems, but the love story of Nellie and Jace was much more innocent. There were certainly enough problems to make it interesting though (Terel and Berni). He just met her and fell in love, no matter what she looked like. I like that in a guy.

yes its true this book is much , infact very much like a fairy tale, but that doesnt means its not real infact i think its very near to being real !
for once the hero doesnt fall in love with the heroines body first ! i admit at times like when Berni said that "hope Nelli loses weight " & no matter how much she eats she loses , that was a bit unreal , but all in all the message which i think was that no matter one's body size its the heart which really counts was clearly dilevered.
I think Jace & Nelli made quiet a cute couple

Jude Devereaux is my favorite romance author and has been since I started reading her books when I was fourteen. I have read all of her books (a few times) and, while "Wishes" is not one of my all-time favorites, I really enjoyed it. This is the ONLY romance novel I've ever read in which the heroine is bigger than a size 6! Her books are always fun and full of crazy adventures. While I am a big fan of Jude's, I don't care for her more recent work, "Temptation" and "High Tides" to name a couple. She seems to be losing her magic touch.

When I finished this book today I wanted to scream. As an obese woman I find it impossible to tolerate calling a woman of 160 something pounds of Nellie's stature overweight But what irritates me even more is that sweet Nellie wasn't found attractive by anyone except Jace, until she magically lost weight with the help of her Fairy Godmother. Then of course she becomes the most sought after woman in the entire town. Even in fiction can an entire town be that bigoted?

FYI even an obese woman can NOT sit down and devore 4 pounds of fudge without going into glucose shock, or scarf two entire bags full of pastries, cakes and donuts in one sitting without retching, or even move, after she has inhaled a roast that was intended to feed an entire family. These grotesque descriptions were wholly unrealistic unless Nellie is bulimic as well.

The inevitable sex scene in this book was ungratifying for me. There was little sexual tension or tender foreplay before Nellie and Chase consummated their relationship. Their behaviour was uncharacteristic of these two. I am weary of characters who fall into bed before marriage for the sake of 20th century book buyers.

There is one sentence in this book to treasure. When Nellie in her beautiful full figure descends the stairs to Chase, who is waiting to take her to a Harvest Ball she is overwhelmed by Jace's speechless adoration of her beauty. She finally truly feels beautiful when "For the first time in her life Nellie experienced how beautiful a woman can feel when her beauty is reflected in a man's eyes."

For this insightful sentence and the authors imaginative story line I gave it 2 stars instead of one star.