Sweet Liar by Jude Deveraux Book Review

Samantha Elliot’s father ran her life – even after his own death. A strange provision in his will demands that Samantha move to New York City and investigate the mysterious disappearance of her grandmother.
Shy, divorced, and naive to city life, Samantha arrives in New York and meets Michael Taggert, the handsome landlord of the apartment her father has already chosen for her. What she doesn’t know is that her father also chose Michael to be her secret guardian. Soon sparks fly, but Samantha’s tragic past keeps her distant. But as her family’s history begins to unravel, so does Samantha’s cold exterior, and despite her determination not to, she cannot help falling in love.

THE AUTHOR

One distinctive skill of author Jude Deveraux is her talent not only in writing, but her ability to write across time. She can tell you a story set in 1928 or 1991 or a time from the early days of America and you'll form clear mental pictures of what she's trying to narrate. She can shift from one writing voice to another. And that's how I think that she's born a natural storyteller.

Back in high school, I thought Jude Deveraux's books were all about knights, princesses or ancient characters. At that time, a friend of mine suggested, The Enchanted Land, the very first romance novel I've ever read (I think). So when I stumbled upon Sweet Liar, I found it refreshing to read a book by her that does not include horses, wagons, riding habits or long gowns for the ladies.

If you haven't already, I suggest you read some of her historical romances like the Peregrine series. There you'll notice the differences in her writing style. See a full list of her novels here.


THE BOOK

Sweet Liar was set in 1991 New York and follows the love story of Samantha Elliot and Mike Taggert.

Samantha lived with rules. She grew up taking care of her own self. She even took care of her father after her mother died when she was twelve years old. She had experienced loss more than other people in this world. Mike was intrigued by this prim and proper woman. He wanted to know why she didn't want to go to bed with him, yet he's sure he felt true desire and longing when they kissed passionately the first time they met at the doorstep of Mike's apartment. He wanted to know because no woman had ever said no to him. He's determined to break down the cold exterior that Samantha had built for years.

Soon they'll realize that they weren't brought together by chance. Together, they'll discover the truth behind the tragic past that happened in the night of April 1928 and where her grandmother had been all these years.

***

I liked the genuineness of the characters. They laugh and they fight. They're not perfect. But they adore one another. Mike wanted to take care of Samantha even if Samantha thinks she doesn't need being taken care of. I especially love Mike when he fondly calls Samantha "Sam", "Sammy" or "Sam-sam".

What bothered me, however, is the idea of gangsters and killings, I had a hard time sleeping the night I finished reading the book. Today, a gangster could be a simple troublemaker. In the 1920s, as described in this book, a gangster is someone who makes money from illegal activities, including killing a room full of innocent people. What troubled me I guess are the details of those killings and I personally don't like horror or massacre stories, whether they be in book or film form.


CONCLUSION

Reading the book was like watching my favorite TV show. I wouldn't want to miss any episode so I'd leave whatever it is that I'm doing and just sit there in front of the television and see what will happen next with my favorite characters. The story will keep you guessing with every twist and turn, plot and subplot. It's a romance story, a comedy, drama and a mystery. It'll make you smile and it will make you sad, but that's how I felt that the story and characters were real, because in life, you'll experience happiness and you'll experience loss, but what's most important is you'll experience love.

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Peregrine Series by Jude Deveraux Book Review

The Peregrine Series is comprised of The Taming and The Conquest, both set in medieval England.

The Taming, the first book in the Peregrine series and set in 1445, tells the story of wealthy Liana Neville and infamous warrior Rogan Peregrine. The second book, The Conquest, set two years later, narrates how Zarred Peregrine and Tearle Howard withstood the feud from their rivaling families.

The stories are not likeable initially, especially at some parts where it talked about dirt and sex with many women. (I'm glad I wasn't born at that time). But what's intriguing about them is that the lead characters weren't the "love at first sight" type so it had me wanting to know how they fell in love.

The Taming

Liana is everything a woman would dream to be. Pretty, young and rich. Men from all over England paid court to her. They would sing for her, write her poems and tell her all the lovely things. All of these she gave up just to live with the handsome but rude Rogan Peregrine in a filthy, old and decaying castle.

Rogan married the lady for her dowry. He wanted a rich wife to build an army against his family's enemy. He didn't care a single bit for her. He left her alone all the time.

For all that she gave, her husband ignored her. Liana tried to be a meek and mild wife, hoping to win the man's heart. Not until she found out why her husband wouldn't spend the night with her. From a scared little rabbit, she transformed to a Fire Lady, setting his husband's bed on fire, literally.

For the first time in his life, Rogan was softening to a woman. Liana introduced him to the comforts of a clean home, the pleasure of bathing and to great food that doesn't have sand in it.

He spent all his life training for battle. For him, looking at the moon was a waste of time, but not when he looks at it with his wife. He had many women but only Liana responded to him so passionately.

But the three generations of war between the Peregrines and the Howards kept Rogan hard. His family is all that was left to him, and he would do anything to protect them.


The Conquest

For all her boy's clothing, only Tearle Howard knew that she is a girl the very first time she saw her.

Beautiful Zared Peregrine was raised and trained as a boy. She grew up with horses and lances and everything there is for a man. The Peregrines had suffered loss enough that they'd do everything to protect Zared from their enemies, the Howards.

Tearle, though a Howard, is very much different from his older brother. He grew up with all the finery and joys of life. He didn't grow up with hatred planted in his heart. He wanted to end the ancient feud with the Peregrines, but most of all, he wanted to have Zared Peregrine as his wife.

He did everything to have her trust and her love. He befriended her brother, showed her the things a woman should have and gave her all the things she didn't have. He did everything to prove to her that he deserves her trust. He did everything, but all the Peregrines could see is a Howard, not the man that he truly was.

For Tearle, one could end a war without a fight. Above all, his love is more important than the riches that the two families were trying to have.



I keep a list of Jude Deveraux novels so I could pick a romance book any time I'm feeling mushy or at times when I just want to take my time reading a book for a week or two and not get those ugly eye bags for staying up so late at night.

Though these are not the kind of books that I specially love and would be tucked in my Favorites shelf, what I do like about these are the way the stories are presented. The author wanted to tell a story about castles and motes and horses, and I imagine just that. These are the kind of books that I'd want to read every night before bedtime, like fairy tales, only they're intended for adults.

Well, I noticed that Deveraux has a thing for disguises and men with gorgeously shaped, big bodies and black hair. But there is this thing about Jude Deveraux. She seem to touch something deep within me with her novels. Maybe, I have a thing for romances and with men with gorgeously shaped bodies. ;) No, seriously, maybe because deep inside I'm still a princess and I'm dreaming that one day I'll meet my knight in shining armor.

Uhm, the last line is cheesy, I know, but please forgive me.


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