Customer Reviews

Simple Gifts : Four Heartwarming Christmas Stories : Just Curious / Miracles / Change of Heart / Double Exposure

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Simple Gifts By Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught

This collection of Christmas novellas from the mid-90s reminded me of why I use to enjoy both authors so much, each story is worth reading. Their characters are compelling and likeable. I care about the characters they created for these short stories because they were likeable in themselves and because they continued some family sagas from previous books.

There are four novellas "Just Curious" and "Miracles" by Judith McNaught and "Miracles" and "Change of Heart" by Jude Deveraux each story has been previously published and even though I read them when they first came out they were still fun to read again.

Actually I enjoyed these older stories far more than I have enjoyed anything that the two have put out in recent years. I wish that they would move away from the suspense or thriller type of stories that they have been writing the last several years and go back to what they did before. I haven't found recent stories of theirs as character based as they used to be now they seem to be more plot rather than person driven now. It used to be that they could make my stomach drop in empathy with a character now I can barely finish their books.

Anyhow this is a great collection and worth buying.

Four quick reads that are perfect for your wait at the doctor's office or waiting at your child's sports practice.

"Just Curious" is a touching tale about a woman who is a widow and stuggling to move on with her life alone. Her boss makes her a business proposition that she can not refuse, not realizing that it will lead to true love.

Some reviewers were disappointed with "Miracles", the story of Nicki and Juliana. Nicki was such an intriguing secondary character in Whitney My Love and Until You (two of Judith McNaught's best sellers), that I can see why fans wanted him to have a longer story.

Those of you who follow the Montgomery/Taggart series written by Jude Deveraux will be interested in "Change of Heart", a story about Frank Taggart. This is a story of mature love between a struggling single mom and a wealthy businessman. Unbelievably, a young boy orchestrates the meeting of these two unlikely characters and it really is a heart-warming story.

"Double Exposure" is a prequel to Remember When written by Judith McNaught. It is Corey and Spence's story. I liked it because I was familiar with the characters. It is an interesting, if not bizarre, wedding.

These short stories may be a good way to become acquainted with these fabulous authors if you have not read any of their longer romance novels. Avid McNaught/Deveraux fans will feel right at home with them!

I had waited and waited for so, so long for a story on Nicky and was really disappointed to find his story in this collection. Throughout most of her historical romance bestsellers, he was the champion for her heroines and deserve much better. I had expected him to have his own book. I am not sure why Ms. McNaught decided to cut his story short, but I am sure that I am speaking for all her fans out there, that she should consider publishing a full story on Nicky.

I only bought this book because of Judith's McNaught short on Nicholas Duville's love story, All I ever did through the piece was sigh and cuddle the book to my heart, and continued reading page after page, I cried I smiled, I felt my heart bloom with every kiss or embrace the characters had...and this is only a FICTIONAL story!! GOD! I miss Mcnaught!!! I miss her so much! So much that I want to wringe her neck for discarding the gift she had in making BEAUTIFUL historicals! she was a legend! and still is! does anybody know's what happened to her?! Honestly!
I adored her story with Nicki, Julliana was the classic Mcnaught Herione...perfection! But what I liked most about her was that she wasted no time in making things interesting, I related with Nicki so much through out the story he was always the "Friend" to the women he was interested in, interesting women on the whole seemed to back away from him and run into the arms of other men...and that was TWO books straight! good thing it didn't end there and had him star here as a hero for once! I loved him since Whitney, my love...I adore him now! the bit with Julianna excusing herself from Nicki saying "Goodafternoon,Mr....er....Deveraux." I laughed so much it was so clever to put Jude Deveraux's name in there...hehehe...

I recommend anything by Judith Mcnaught although for me I have no interest in her contemporary novels...its her historicals you should be looking out for and their the following:
-Almost Heaven
-Something Wonderful
-Once and Always
-A Kingdom Of Dreams
-Whitney, My Love
-Until you
-And lastly this book Simple Gifts (Nicki's story -Miracles-)

I'm sure your going to enjoy all of them! :)

I have bought this book to read two little novels written by J.McNaught which are not translated into french (I am French).
Despite of my very poor english, it was a very good moment of evasion and the great sense of humour of J.McNaught was still there. The stories were good but definitively too short...

I am a big fan of Judith McNaught's books. I got this book just to read about Nicholas DuVille. I agree with most readers & think that he deserved an entire novel to himself & Julianna. This book also introduced me to Jude Deveraux. I loved "Just Curious" but again I wished that it wasn't so short. I will start reading Jude Deveraux's books now since I have read everything from Judith McNuaght.

I'm a new reader to these two authors, and I find them fantastic! Not only are they dramatic, romantic, but they know what us women are dreaming about this day and age. I cired, I sighed, and I'm sure I'll do that every time I read another one of their FABULOUS stories.

I have always been a great fan of Judith McNaught, I think I have read all her works, and every year i would wait anxiously for her new works to hit the market. This very book, introduced me to Jude Deveraux and her Montgomery and Taggert families! After this book, I went on to search for more Deveraux's books and have read almost all!! almost ... :P
Now, I would wait anxiously for BOTH Judith's and Jude's new works every year :)

The stories by both authors are wonderful, I am a devoted fan of McNaught. I just find it upsetting - and a easy way to mislead people into spending money on something they've already read - to reprint stories that appeared one or maximum two years ago under a new title and cover. Anyone not careful is just going to see the new title and the authors names and will buy to be disappointed afterwards. I really don't like this approach - so I'm rating that and not the content which is very good.

"Just Curious" captured my heart completely!!! I have read the story a thousand times and still can't get enough of it!! The most fantastic part of it is that you can read it in less in an hour and it stills captures you the same way a 300 page book does. Although, I do wish the story can be extended!!! I recommend this short story a must read!!!! Deveraux definitely outshines McNaught in this book!!!