The first novel of New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux’s breathtaking new series set in Summer Hill, a small town where love takes center stage against the backdrop of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice
Enter Elizabeth Bennet. Chef Casey Reddick has had it up to here with men. When she arrives in the charming town of Summer Hill, Virginia, she leaves behind a demanding boss at a famous D.C. restaurant and a breakup with a boyfriend jealous of her success. Some peace and quiet on the picturesque Tattwell plantation is just what she needs to start fresh. But the tranquility is broken one misty morning when she sees a gorgeous naked man on the porch of her cottage.
Enter Mr. Darcy. What Tate Landers, Hollywood heartthrob and owner of Tattwell, doesn’t need on a bittersweet trip to his ancestral home is a woman spying on him from his guest cottage. Mistaking Casey for a reporter, Tate tries to run her out of her own house. His anger, which looks so good on the screen, makes a very bad first impression on Casey. Hollywood he may be, but he’s no sweetheart to Casey—and she lets him know it!
The plot thickens. Sparks fly—literally—when Casey is recruited to play Elizabeth Bennet opposite Tate’s Mr. Darcy in a stage adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Just brushing past Tate makes Casey’s whole body hum. As they spar on and off stage, Casey begins to think she’s been too quick to judge. Tate is more down-to-earth than Casey expected, and she finds herself melting under his smoldering gaze. But then Tate’s handsome ex-brother-in-law, Devlin Haines, who is playing Wickham, tells Casey some horrifying stories about Tate. She is upset and confused as she tries to figure out who and what to believe. As she finds herself falling for Tate, Casey needs to know: Is the intense, undeniable chemistry between them real, or is this just a performance that ends when the curtain falls?
Praise for Jude Deveraux
“A new Jude Deveraux novel means a very late night turning the pages straight through to the delicious end.”—Susan Elizabeth Phillips
True Love
“Evokes everything that makes Nantucket so special—the history, the atmosphere, the secrets, and the magic.”—Susan Wiggs
“Destined to be an instant romance classic . . . will haunt you long after you read it.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
For All Time
“Captures your imagination from the start and keeps hold till the very last page.”—Fresh Fiction
“A beautifully written story with a refreshing old-romance feel.”—RT Book Reviews
Ever After
“Thoroughly enjoyable.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Filled with family, friends, ghosts and the magic of love.”—BookPage
From the Hardcover edition.
Review by: Donna Feyen
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Sexual Content - 3/5
3/5
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Violence - 1/5
1/5
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Language - 1/5
1/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 2/5
2/5
Summary
The Girl from Summer Hill is a take on Pride and Prejudice. No judging; but I am never read the book or watched the movie. I still loved The Girl from Summer Hill. Jude did a great job of finding current situations that worked for the story. The opening scene is attention grabbing. There are a lot of characters but it as easy to keep up with them.
Casey is a chef which I found to be an interesting occupation as to how it played out in the story. It felt natural that everyone was drawn to her and her food. Her family tree is also very interesting. It appeared as if everyone was related somehow.
Tate is a famous heart throb in Hollywood. However Casey is more of a fan of his best friend, Jack’s action adventure movies. And after their first encounter Casey is definitely not a fan of Tate’s and his Hollywood attitude. Fans of Jude will love the reference to Tate playing a knight in shining armor
Casey’s disdain for Tate makes for interesting scenes after Casey is recruited to play Elizabeth Bennet to Tate’s Mr Darcy. There was a great balance of scenes being acted out in the play and real life playing out.
Fans of the Nantucket series will be thrilled to get to know more about Kit who has always been a little bit of a mystery. Kit is the director of the play and another of his secrets is revealed when a woman from his past plays Ms Bennet. I am really hoping Kit’s son Rowan is the next book!
I highly recommend Jude’s books and The Girl from Summer Hill is no exception.
Drug & Alcohol drinking wine