REVIEW: Change of Heart by Jude Deveraux

In Change of Heart by Jude Deveraux, Elijah “Eli” Harcourt and Chelsea Hamilton became best friends in grade school after they realized they just didn’t fit in with the kids in their class. Chelsea came from a rich family and her only “friends” were kids who wanted something from her, whereas Eli had a genius level IQ, setting him apart from everyone else. They chose to use their resources to help others who were in need, like a modern day Robin Hood and Marian.

One such scheme was finding a loving husband for Eli’s mother Miranda, one who could provide and take care of her when Eli went away to college. Frank Taggert was an acquaintance of Eli’s who certainly had the money to take care of Miranda but was known to be emotionally closed off. Through the help of the kids and Frank’s family, the two unknowing adults were set up to fall in love. And fall in love they did…after a serious miscommunication, a lot of denial, and time apart to think things over.

‘There was something about her that…well, made him feel as though the half of him that had been missing for so very long had been returned to him.’

Two decades after that momentous event, Eli has grown up considerably, now working for the government on top secret projects. But he’s ready for a change. And to bring Chelsea back into his life. After losing touch with her years ago, Eli has kept tabs on what new and exciting things she’s been up to. He’s noticed that Chelsea looks increasingly unhappy in the photos online with her hot shot lifestyle. Settling down in Edilean, Virginia, sounds like just the right thing to do for Eli. Now if he can get Chelsea to admit to her feelings and stick around, without getting involved or hurt in a local mystery, he’ll be content for the first time since his teens.

“If we didn’t have this task to do, right now I’d remove your clothing.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” she said.

Eli frowned.

“Because I’d have every stitch off before you could get to me.”

For a second his eyes blazed at her, then he turned away. “Too bad we have to take care of this now.”

Change of Heart was an interesting contemporary romance in which we meet several couples over the span of twenty years who laugh, fight, fall in love, and finally find their happy ending.

Author Jude Deveraux split this novel into two parts, which I thought worked very well. Part one is basically the novella originally entitled A Holiday of Love about Eli and Chelsea finding a lovematch for his mother Miranda. The tweens concocted a scheme where Miranda, a nurse, would take care of injured Frank Taggert and fall in love, just like in the romance novels she constantly read at the time. The actuality of them being cooped up together in a cabin in the woods proved to be comical, frustrating, and, yes, romantic. They were definitely a case of opposites attract and it was difficult to see how Frank and Miranda could make their lives together work. But I must say that the big dramatic declaration of love from Frank was worth all of the emotions we go through as he redeemed himself.

Part two is twenty years later when Chelsea and Eli are in their early thirties. I really did like how Eli turned out as an adult, getting a government job helping to basically save the world just like he planned on doing as a kid. Chelsea on the other hand seemed shallow and like she was just floating through life, at least to me. I had a rough time connecting with her and her manipulative ways. It honestly made me a little bit angry that she let her friendship with Eli go because she was just playing games with him. And the charade where Eli pretended to be someone he was not for Chelsea felt like it kept building, like there was going to be a big fight…and then fizzled out. Aside from that, I thought Eli’s assistants Jeff and Pilar, as well as the people in town were a very nice addition to the story, having their own romances going on at the same time.

If you are already familiar with Ms. Deveraux’s Montgomery/Taggert series, this is a modern story with ties to the Taggert family. I think you’ll appreciate the new characters we meet with their fun quirks and their hearts of gold.

Book Info:

Published October 21st 2014 by Pocket Books

Two childhood playmates grow into more than just friends in #1 New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux’s full-length romantic novel based on her short story of the same name.

In the hugely popular, New York Times bestseller A Holiday of Love, Jude Deveraux wrote a novella about two kids playing matchmakers—Eli and Chelsea, best friends who were determined to find true love for Eli’s bighearted mother. But what happens when these ambitious children grow up? What exactly made Eli’s mother, Miranda, fall in love with Frank all those years ago? And how does that affect their future together?

Eli and Chelsea lost touch with each other over the years, until Eli bought a house in his father’s hometown of Edilean, Virginia, and invited Chelsea for a visit. She had her own life, and was certain that a childhood friendship could be anything more, but she went nonetheless—and found herself quite unprepared for the changes she saw in Eli. And neither of them were prepared to run into a mystery, with a family that needed to be rescued. Now, just like when they were children, they must join together to straighten out a very big problem. The question is what happens after the mystery is solved; they are very different people—so can they stay together?

Combining love and passion with sweet, unexpected twists, and shedding new light on Miranda and Frank’s relationship, Change of Heart is an unforgettable addition to Deveraux’s classic bestselling novels.