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A little mindless summer break reading. This one certainly drug on and on..
Audiobook. I usually enjoy Jude Deveraux's books, but the premise of this one seemed corny and did not hold my interest. I stopped listening just a few chapters in.
I'm on page 55 and I'm already regetting the fact that I have other things to do today and can't spend the whole day reading...there are lots of secrets going on...as the title suggests...i thought i had kinda figured out the plotline but what i've just read has blown that whole thing out of the water...i'll keep you posted
so i did get something done that day...then i came home and was just going to read a chapter or two...or two more...or two more...next thing i know i'm sleeping and reading...interesting to do
it didn't go where i was thinking...i still liked where it went...although i seem to remember being left with a question or two
so i did get something done that day...then i came home and was just going to read a chapter or two...or two more...or two more...next thing i know i'm sleeping and reading...interesting to do
it didn't go where i was thinking...i still liked where it went...although i seem to remember being left with a question or two
Here's the thing about this book:
It made sense. It didn't make sense. I get a squishy feeling. I love Jude Deveraux. I really really loved Wild Orchid--I thought mostly every word in that book made it into a perfect modern-day fairy tale. This is like a lesser fairy tale. Like The Juniper Tree--a lot happens but really nothing happens and maybe there is a dead body and maybe there is a happy ending for someone. Maybe.
It made sense. It didn't make sense. I get a squishy feeling. I love Jude Deveraux. I really really loved Wild Orchid--I thought mostly every word in that book made it into a perfect modern-day fairy tale. This is like a lesser fairy tale. Like The Juniper Tree--a lot happens but really nothing happens and maybe there is a dead body and maybe there is a happy ending for someone. Maybe.
I've read quite a few of Jude Devereux's novels over the years, but I have to say that 'Secrets' fell well below the mark.
The book almost read as two different books, as the first half and the second seemed to have very little to do with each other aside from using the same characters. The first was ridiculously over complicated and seemed to have absolutely no direction. There was so much backstory crammed in to explain both the plot and the characters relationships that I felt as though I'd stepped into the room halfway through a film and I'd missed the start which explained everything.
The second part of the book was a far simpler and I actually really enjoyed it. The murder of Florence and Jeff and Cassie being forced into working together to solve it. Unfortunately it was squeezed into such a short space that it barely had any impact and was overshadowed by their 'romance'.
Speaking of which… I didn't feel any romance in this book. The foundation of their relationship was weird, and neither character had a particularly sparkling personality. Jeff was horrible, and Cassie's personality seemed to change chapter to chapter. I was hoping that there would be some sort of sexual tension but there was nothing. In fact, I spent the whole novel waiting for the moment when they finally give in but they never so much as undress in front of each other. I mean come on if the plot is going to be so terrible then at least give me some steam!
Overall I really wasn't impressed with either of the main plots, the romance, the lack of sexual attraction or the characters. The 'secret' is, don't read this novel.
The book almost read as two different books, as the first half and the second seemed to have very little to do with each other aside from using the same characters. The first was ridiculously over complicated and seemed to have absolutely no direction. There was so much backstory crammed in to explain both the plot and the characters relationships that I felt as though I'd stepped into the room halfway through a film and I'd missed the start which explained everything.
The second part of the book was a far simpler and I actually really enjoyed it. The murder of Florence and Jeff and Cassie being forced into working together to solve it. Unfortunately it was squeezed into such a short space that it barely had any impact and was overshadowed by their 'romance'.
Speaking of which… I didn't feel any romance in this book. The foundation of their relationship was weird, and neither character had a particularly sparkling personality. Jeff was horrible, and Cassie's personality seemed to change chapter to chapter. I was hoping that there would be some sort of sexual tension but there was nothing. In fact, I spent the whole novel waiting for the moment when they finally give in but they never so much as undress in front of each other. I mean come on if the plot is going to be so terrible then at least give me some steam!
Overall I really wasn't impressed with either of the main plots, the romance, the lack of sexual attraction or the characters. The 'secret' is, don't read this novel.
Definitely not as good as her others. I think she should have done some research before setting a novel in a spy world. The characters were very cardboard or over-the-top. Meh.
A fantastically suspenseful plot with lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing what would happen. I really enjoyed the murder mystery weekend and I was also very fond of Jeff's father and daughter. Not quite as much romance as Jude usually writes but it was still a great book that I didn't want to put down.
(2.75⭐)
Secrets by Jude Deveraux is not a book I'd die for or as a matter of fact anyone would die for. It's a simple and light (prettyyy light) read that you just float through, if that makes sense (although i don't know how someone can float "through"
Secrets by Jude Deveraux is not a book I'd die for or as a matter of fact anyone would die for. It's a simple and light (prettyyy light) read that you just float through, if that makes sense (although i don't know how someone can float "through"
This was an interesting plot but I found some of the characters actions annoying.