Christmas

In The Blessing, author Jude Deveraux weaves a heartwarming tale of unexpected love.

Jason Wilding is a wealthy NYC corporate CEO, who goes home to Abernathy, Kentucky, when his brother, Dr. David Wilding asks for a favor, to spend the week and be a live-in babysitter for David's girlfriend, Amy Thompkins' six month old baby son Max, so that he could spend time alone with her and woo her.

Jake has a no-nonsense exterior but is a soft teddy bear inside, and he unexpectedly finds himself wanting to take care of Amy, a widow, and enjoys interacting with little Max. With a mutual attraction that grows between Jake and Amy, what will they do about David?

The Blessing is a wonderful story that engages the reader to follow along as Jason and Amy find unexpected love with the help of little baby Max. As their story unfolds, it will bring plenty of drama, trials and tribulations, life challenges, family issues for them to overcome, and a dash of humor thrown into the mix. The story will keep the reader wondering if this ruse turned attraction can become an everlasting love story, but it all culminates in a heartwarming ending that will leave them with a smile on their face.

The Blessing is a compelling story about love, friendship, family, and second chances in life.

Disclaimer: I purchased a PB copy of the book from Bubbles & Books monthly book club subscription.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-blessing-by-jude-deveraux... ( )

A rags-to-riches drama. Poor widowed single mom provides a room for a man who was finagled into doing child care for her by his brother. Of course she can't be told how wealthy he is or she would stand on her pride. Overly materialistic story, Devereux couldn't just have him buy a few toys or clothes for the kid, he's got to buy the whole store. ( )

I was very disappointed with the ending ( )

Jude Deveraux writes so fun...it takes a while before the suspension of disbelief drops you off the cliff. I loved the set-up of this novel, with the billionaire (He swears he isn't!) grump being dared into a zany romantic comedy situation by his brother the small town doctor. Hero is supposed to stay with a widowed new mother and babysit so that the brother can court her... The first of many 'say what?' moments. The heroine is dirt poor and was married to the town drunkard/druggie but somehow the hero falls in love with her because of her honesty, her refreshing sense of humor, and her lack of avarice. Oh, and the baby, who hates everybody, LOOOVES the grumpy billionaire... Much goosh, awwww....cuteness, and small town stuff happens. And I liked it! Until the big reveal, when heroine (who has NOTHING) walks away from the billionaire (with her baby!) because he gave her too much and disguised it all as happenstance. At least the hero suffers on-screen for a year while all his private investigators can't find her. The ending was weird--hero suffers his super-efficient former secretary's dingbat sister to wreak havoc on his business while he rebuilds the entire economy of his former home town, and then heroine returns, having come into her own... However, the final 'say what?' moment was the two 1/2 year old kid being allowed to, and completing, a stunning work of genius decorative paint job of an entire room in a rebuilt library. Is there any two-year old who could do that? (I will say I saw a 6-year-old's painting in a county fair once which WAS stunning. Kid's name was...Fiona?...and it was a dog and a dish...but it was a dog, dreaming a good dream while sleeping bonelessly by his beloved food dish... yeah, genius. And the colors... Oh well. So maybe it could happen. But...) ( )