Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go
back in your past to correct a grave error? In Jude
Deveraux's latest novel, The
Summerhouse, three women on the verge of middle age come together
to share their birthday, the same day, after being apart for
nearly 20 years. They met in a NY DMV on the day they came in
to renew their drivers licenses and struck up a friendship almost
immediately. During the time they wait for their licenses to
be processed they learn that they've all come from different
corners of America to NYC to make it big. One is a dancer, one
a model and anther an artist. Now, 20 years later, these women
come together for a long weekend of celebration which turned
into a time that changes their lives forever.
The model: I start here because this story really is Madison's.
Madison Appleby is from a small town in Montana where her
height and beauty had been used, and abused, but the town
she lived in to attract visitors to stop who would normally
just drive through. As she grew up she attracted the notice
of the high school football star, very wealthy Roger Wentworth,
but learned early on that it was her intelligence that attracted
him. His parents didn't want him seeing Madison because she
was from a broken family and not "upper crust",
but this doesn't stop him bribing her to do his homework for
him while he's off with his friends. After high school, Madison
is dumped by Roger, finds that the town has collected "guilt
funds" (much of it from Madison's estranged father) to
send her to NYC to make something of her beauty. But what
will she do when she receives a call from Roger to return
home to him. He's been in an accident and it reminded him
how much he really loved her and wanted her back. But will
Madison go?
The dancer: Leslie Hendrick is from Ohio. Raised a traditional
home, her parent encouraged her to be what she wanted. What
she wanted was to be a dancer. To do that meant moving to
the big city. That also meant leaving behind the only man
she ever loved. But what of the possibilities? What would
her life had been like had she stayed with Alan? And more,
what would her life be like had she accepted a weekend at
the famous Formund's buy their son Hal who was attending the
same college as Leslie? Hal has become state governor and
is keyed to win the next presidential election.
The writer: Ellie Abbott is from Richmond Virginia. A talented
artist, Ellie managed to get a showing in New York City of
her work. It was while here that she met Martin Gilmore, budding
musician. When Martin is called to Los Angeles to advance
his career, new wife Ellie goes with him, giving up her life
as an artist effectively. But would have happened if she hadn't
gone to LA? Or fallen for Martin in the first place. She used
all of her savings to promote him and now he was asking her
to give up her life to go to LA. Would life be different?
Could it be different?
I approached "The Summerhouse" with some trepidation.
As a long time Jude Deveraux fan I have been disappointed
in many of her books since the blockbuster, "Knight In
Shining Armor". They've seemed amateur, lacking in the
gripping plot her historicals possess, and believable characters.
However I have been pleasantly surprised to find "The
Summerhouse" to be one of Deveraux's better books since
KISA.
"The Summerhouse" isn't just a time travel tale,
though it is pivotal to the plot and outcome of the three
woman characters. This is a story reminiscent of the film
"Sliding Doors" where each action and decision we
made effects the total outcome of our lives. While the story
mainly revolves around model Madison Appleby, each characters
stories are told full circle, in "chronological order"
as Ellie said several times through the story. We meet the
women in a chance circumstance and over the course of time
together, a few short hours, they become lifelong friends.
Now years later, they haven't seen each other or been on contact
with each other until a special weekend is arranged by Ellie's
therapist to celebrate their turning 40. A pivotal time in
any woman's life! And it's at the therapists summerhouse in
Maine where the women come to find out what happened to each
of them…and gain the chance to go back in time to do
something they'd always wanted to do that could possibly change
their lives forever.
Each woman is as real as you and me. Their circumstance true
to reality. This makes the base of the story believable. And
isn't this what we look for in escapism these days? Characters
and circumstances that we can relate to?
The plot is well driven and strong. This leads me to believe
that Deveraux is finding her stride again, which I believe
will help to drive her back to the top of the best sellers
list once more.
There was a lot of backstory, timeline hopping and chances
to get confused in the reading but Deveraux's experience in
telling backstory well keeps "The Summerhouse" on
line. And secondary characters, such as the odd and mysterious
Madame Zoya, will add to the intrigue.
While no story is perfect I feel compelled to point out that
"The Summerhouse" could easily have been another
100 pages or more and would have been most welcome. I felt
that Ellie and Leslie's stories could have been told is greater
detail, especially the endings, as Madison's was. I believe
the industry is moving towards the lengthier novel, this one
is nearly 400 pages in itself, and this one would have done
quite well to be longer in order to wrap things up a little
cleaner. I don't fault Ms Deveraux in this but the publisher
who set impossible standards at times.
For long time Deveraux fans who may have become disenchanted
since KISA I would recommend giving "The Summerhouse"
a try. You may find the same joy as I did.
For newcomers to Deveraux's works and prefer a more contemporary
story then I'd say that "The Summerhouse" would
be a good primer. Nothing beats her historicals, basically
anything pre-KISA, but this book will be an excellent start.
