In small towns, no one lets the facts get in the way of juicy gossip… Kissel.
When she returns home from a short trip to find a handsome stranger living in her house, she smells a rat. Someone is trying to fix her up, and she has to admit that Nate Taggert is just her type. However, Nate is engaged to the daughter of the mayor and strictly off-limits.
Nate and Terri form an unlikely friendship while he throws himself into life at the lake. As Nate starts to hear rumors about Terri he’s confused. Knowing how smart, beautiful and strong she is, he’s determined to discover the source of the gossip. Terri doesn’t want to revisit the past, but Nate won’t stop until he discovers the truth—even if the truth might be more than either of them can handle.
Set in the beloved fictional town of Summer Hill, Virginia, Met Her Match examines the tensions between the wealthy townspeople, the summer vacationers and the working-class people who keep the town and resort running. Told with humor and heart, Met Her Match is the perfect summer escape.
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I enjoyed this book. But then again for years I’ve enjoyed the Taggerts and Montgomery family characters. While this wasn’t as entertaining as some of the other Montgomery-Taggert stories, this book was an easy read and entertaining. It was perfect beach read.
Terri is a woman marked by the past. After her mother mysteriously disappeared, the girl had to deal with various rumors about her mother’s alleged lovers, and as a result gained an unwanted and undeserved reputation.
Upon meeting the compromised Nate, Terri will need a lot of willpower not to grab the guy because he is everything she has always dreamed of: seductive, strong, hardworking, loves the Lake and has a visible affinity with her. His only fault is to be engaged to the perfect, beloved and sweet daughter of the mayor.
Terri works hard at the lake where her father and two friends have built a wonderful area involving housing, hotel and entertainment. With Nate’s arrival, the entire Lake people’s dynamic will change and with Stacy’s return to the city turnaround will occur as Nate is in doubt about his feelings.
Although I was annoyed by certain behaviors of Nate I loved the way he sought to redeem himself. The resolution on the mystery of Terri’s mother was very good and well built within the plot and I liked the touch of humor that the writing used to soften the book’s dramatic bit.
4/5 stars
Met Her Match is a win for the underdogs. Terri Rayborn is a girl from the wrong side of town, technically Lake Kissel. She has spent her whole life living down her mother’s reputation of running off with a man. Every bad situation Terri fell victim to, she always took the blame for. She spends her days running her father’s business at he the Lake seeing to the renters and any emergency that pops up until she comes home to find a hot man that seems to be sent just for her. Nate Taggert is in town to marry the mayor’s daughter and start a new business. A man of adventure and action, Nate and Terri fall into a routine like an old married couple. A man torn between two women and who he really is, Nate wins over hearts and Terri feels like your new best friend. The love story between the two is a long, complicated road that ends in an interesting mystery that needs solved to allow for a very satisfying HEA. Laced with humor and entertaining, the book is a fast paced, heart tugging read that leaves you with a smile. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
A slow-burn romance with that Jude Deveraux flair that keeps us reading every title. Plenty of sizzle and lots of good story.
In Met Her Match by Jude Deveraux, we visit the small town of Summer Hill, VA. Terrie Rayburn has been treated as an outcast because of actions by mother. While spending her days taking care of the summer resort on Lake Kissel, she keeps busy so she can avoid the small town gossip. When she returns home she finds Nate Taggert, a handsome stranger, living in her house. Nate came to Summer Hill to spend time with his fiancé, but she left for Italy for a few weeks. Terrie thought she had finally met her match only to learn Nate is engaged to the mayor’s daughter and strictly off-limits. Nate starts to throw himself into life at the lake and he and Terrie become fast friends. As Nate starts to hear the rumors about Terri, he’s determined to discover the source of the gossip. Terri doesn’t want to revisit her painful past, but Nate will stop at nothing to uncover the truth; even if the truth might be more than either of them can handle.
Ms. Deveraux wrote a truly interesting tale, part slow burn romance tied in with a mystery that is not to be missed. Met Her Match is book two in the Summer Hill series, although it is a stand alone story. I loved the development of the characters as well as the banter between Terri and Nate and how perfect they were for each other. I just wished he wasn’t engaged. Technically he didn’t cheat on his fiancé but the situation he put himself in made me a bit uncomfortable. I definitely recommend Met Her Match to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I wanted to like Jude Deveraux’s “Met Her Match” so much more than I actually did. For a number of reasons, I had a hard time getting on board with the romance between main characters Nate Taggert and Terri Rayburn. I think the biggest reason is because Nate was engaged to another woman for most of the book, so Nate and Terri were forced to hold back from expressing their feelings for each other. I didn’t care for the way they seemed to fall in love immediately, either. There was basically no relationship development between Terri and Nate; instead, they just moved in together and started acting like an old married couple almost right away. Truthfully, I found the mysteries of what happened to Terri’s mother and Billy Thorndyke to be much more interesting than either of the main characters or their love story.
I also thought that there was a lot of unnecessary detail and description in this book, much of which became annoyingly repetitious by the end. For example, why was it necessary to include so much detail on Nate’s weightlifting session with Dr. Jamie? I don’t know what a “preacher curl” is, nor do I care. In addition, almost every mention of Nate’s fiancee, Stacy Hartman, was prefaced with “cute little” or “sweet little” or “pretty little,” which got very old, very fast. I understood the characterization after the first few times and really didn’t need any more reminders of how (supposedly) perfect Stacy was in comparison with Terri!
Overall, I can’t say that this was a terrible book, but IMO it certainly wasn’t one of Ms. Deveraux’s best. I’d recommend it for established Jude Deveraux fans but not for anyone who isn’t already familiar with her previous books, especially those featuring the Montgomery and Taggert families. Ms. Deveraux has written a number of more interesting books that would be much better starting points for readers new to her work.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow..wow..wow….I thought it’s going to be an easy sweet small-town romance read, but I was so wrong and so happy that this book is so muh more than that, there’s drama, scandal and lots of secrets, so complicated and soooooo good.
There’s nothing like small-town mystery that keep me turn page after page, and finish it in short time, then the author put a wonderful strong lovable characters, that I can’t not root and love them from the first chapter. Yup I love this book, great story, great mystery, great characters, lots of emotions, although I wished there’s more in the end though, I felt like I need more closure, other than that everything is awesome.
If you love small-town romance read with a dash of mystery and lots of small-town’s gossips, I think you will love this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Met Her Match and was totally captivated by this amazingly, wonderful romance story! I am a huge fan of Jude Deveraux’s brilliantly written and enchanting historical romances. Having read most if not all of her historical romances, I was thrilled to read her newest contemporary novel. This book was everything I was hoping for! The story and plot pulled me in from the very start. The charming and entertaining romance completely held my attention and the mystery and intrigue made it difficult to put down. I absolutely loved this story and I highly recommend it.
Met Her Match is the second book in Jude Deveraux’s Summer Hill trilogy. Although I did not have the pleasure of reading the first book, I definitely feel that the author provides enough background information so that this story can easily be read as a standalone. This book is a contemporary romance with some mystery. It is written in the point of view of various characters and it takes place in the small town of Summer Hill, Virginia. It clearly depicts the struggles between the wealthy townspeople, the summer lake tourists and the working class who are often caught in the middle while trying to keep everything running. This story also deals with typical small town issues like popularity, rumors, quick to judge gossipers, and a whole lot of unsavory secrets.
Terri Rayburn has lived her whole life on the outskirts of Summer Hill, Virginia. She runs a summer resort for her father on Lake Kissel and is responsible for taking care of everything, including rescuing tourists when they fall in the lake. She’s strong, hard working, has a heart of gold and is fiercely loyal to her father. She is completely comfortable with herself and her life at the lake. Unfortunately, Terri has a bad reputation that began the year her mother suddenly left town. Although she doesn’t deserve to live under the shadows of her mother’s supposed betrayal, she prefers to stay away from the town to avoid the conflict and rumors. Knowing how small towns are when it comes to gossip, Terri is determined to just ignore it.
After spending the past 12 years traveling in the Middle East and working as a diplomat with his Uncle Kit for the CIA, Nate Taggert wishes to settle down. He decides to relocate to his fiancée’s hometown of Summer Hill, Virginia and is planning on opening his own business. When his fiancée unexpectedly decides to go to Italy for three weeks, he’s left with little to do. Totally aware that his future in-laws wholeheartedly dislike him, he allows his Uncle Kit to make arrangements for him to spend the next few weeks relaxing in a private home on Lake Kissel. However, Nate is totally unaware that his life is about to be turned upside down by the beautiful, “all American girl” responsible for running the resort.
Met Her Match begins with Terri Rayburn coming home from a short trip to discover a very attractive man living in her house. Her first inclination is to kick him out but she finds herself immediately drawn to him. Although she suspects that this might be a set up arranged by her father, she realizes that Nate Taggert is definitely her type- handsome, built and manly. From the very beginning, everything about Nate appeals to her. Unfortunately, she soon discovers that he’s also engaged to the mayor’s daughter. Completely aware that she does not need another reason for the town’s people to judge her and afraid that her reputation will permanently be ruined, Terri is determined to keep her distance.
Hoping to get rid of her unwanted house guest, Terri goes to her father and unapologetically insults Nate’s character. After overhearing Terri’s insults Nate sets out to prove her wrong by taking care of the many chores and repairs at the resort. After proving he’s fully capable of running Lake Kissel the two of them make a deal that allows Nate to stay with her at the house for the next three weeks. Forming a comfortable relationship of working together, the two of them attack the many responsibilities of running a resort. Nate’s kind, outgoing personality attracts the attention of many of the vacationers and soon everyone at the lake, including Terri and her father, adores him. As Terri spends more time with Nate and the two of them becoming close, comfortable friends will she be able to keep her distance and protect both her reputation and her heart?
As Nate spends more time at the lake, he begins to hear rumors about Terri that just don’t fit with the smart, strong, beautiful woman he’s come to know. He’s determined to discover the source of the rumors and hopefully clear Terri’s name. As he digs into the rumors and uncovers many dark secrets, the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Terri’s mother becomes dangerous. Will Nate get to the bottom of the rumors and find out what happened toTerri’s mother? As he considers the plans his fiancée is making for them, could he really be happy living in town? Will he be able to leave Terri and the resort behind when the three weeks are up?
I completely enjoyed reading Met Her Match! Jude Deveraux is an amazingly talented author who is well known for her epic romances. She always delivers a wonderful story with a realist plot, well developed main characters and extremely entertaining supportive characters. What I truly love about her descriptive writing style is that her stories completely capture your attention in such a way that you feel pulled into the story as if you’re a participant in the story. As a reader you feel a deep connection to her characters which ultimately makes letting them go at the end of the story very difficult. I enjoyed the mystery which was somewhat predictable but still had some unexpected surprises. Lastly, I truly enjoyed the many humorous aspects of this story. Everyone saying, “Nate did it” and of course the Bikini picnic with the twins were both totally hilarious! I highly recommend this story to readers who love a great small town romances with a strong plot, real to life characters, some mystery and intrigue and of course a happily ever after ending! I will definitely be reading the first book in this series and I look forward to reading the third book when it is released! I know that this is one of those stories that I will read again!
I would like to thank MIRA books and Goodreads for providing me with this free advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased review! I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and experience this wonderful romance by Jude Deveraux!
What a tangled web and Terri’s caught in the middle
4.5stars
This story morphed from romance to suspense and kept me engaged beginning to end. Terri, the young woman at the heart of the action, has had troubles and heaps of responsibility throughout her life in small-town Virginia where a reputation once ruined is hard to repair. When Nate shows up, his presence is a mixed blessing. He helps lighten her work burdens, but their flirtation and closeness also goads the town gossips into fresh critiques of Terri’s character. Terri’s a very sympathetic heroine. I particularly liked the manner in which author Jude Deveraux released bits of information throughout the book to reveal the events that made Terri and her mother Leslie such pariahs in the town. The plot, writing and character development were strong; I just thought the ending seemed slightly clipped and rushed compared to the rest of the story.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Met Her Match is a slow burn romance with a love triangle of sorts. Not exactly a triangle in the usual sense, but Nate is being pulled in two different directions even when he doesn’t realize it. The story moves a bit slow at first, which would normally turn me off in a romance, but I had forgotten how truly talented Jude Deveraux is when it comes to pulling a reader into the story. It didn’t take long before I was hooked on these characters and their lives. They’re all wonderfully developed, and the author has given us a whole town full of them. From our romantic couple to the visitors at the lake to the town gossip, they all add something to this story that is at its core a story about the differences between the haves and the have nots. The chemistry between Terri and Nate is darn near perfect. They fit together even when they’re butting heads, and I don’t want to give spoilers, so I’ll just say that I absolutely loved the dance scene. From start to finish, it’s sexy and about as romantic as it gets. I hesitate to say it, but if anything, Nate is a little bit too perfect. He knows how to do everything, and he fits in with any crowd. Part of that can be attributed to his past, but I kind of wanted to see him mess up a little. Regardless, I still liked him and spent a good portion of this book wanting him to make the right decision. Terri is just as likable if too concerned about what others think. It is understandable given her past, which also gives a mystery. And that mystery leads to a fair amount of mayhem for the conclusion. It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a Jude Deveraux book, and after reading this one, I’m wondering why. Met Her Match made for a great weekend read and I’ll certainly be checking out whatever she does next.
Terri has lived in the small town all of her life & knows all to well how hurtful small town gossip can be. The town has been spreading rumors about her for years. In order to survive in the place she loves, she keeps her head down & runs lakeside resort. Now, her father & his friend are trying to set her up with Nate. Nate who already had a fiancé.
Nate was supposed to be spending these three weeks with his fiancé, Stacy. However, she won an internship with an Italian designer so he’s in his own. He thought he was renting the house and Terri might be there. He assumed she was the elderly sister if his uncle’s friend but boy was he wrong. As they spent time together, he became torn between his feelings for the two women.
I really liked the plot of this story. In any typical small town, you have the small minded gossips that rarely base anything in total fact. They take one tidbit & it gathers it’s own life with every retelling. The background of this story is the lake & it’s residents – the weekend visitors, the visitors for the entire summer & the year long residents. There’s also the mystery of where Terri’s mother disappeared to years ago. This all makes for a compelling story.
Terri has definitely met her match when she stumbles out of bed to find Nate on her property. A diplomat at heart, Nate is an uninvited guest of her father’s best friend. He was given permission to stay at HER house for three weeks and no one told her!
Nate is an all around nice guy. He is able to handle anything that is broken or not working properly. As Terri begins to realize Nate and her are soulmates, she begins to realize she is in trouble. After all Nate is engaged to the perfect daughter of Summer Hill’s uptight mayor. Complications!
I loved this story! There is a mystery to solve, a killer to apprehend, and a marriage decision to make. What could be more thrilling?
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me.
I was close to “DNF” this book. I didn’t like the style of writing. Often there wasn’t any clear line between the different point of views. I found it difficult to keep track on who it was “leading” the story, the story jumped from one pov to another and back agian.
As I said I was on the verge to “DNF” this book, but there was something in this story luring me in, made me need to know how it all would end.
I love a good romance, I love second chances, I love forbidden romance and then some crime is thrown in – then I just have to continue reading.
Terri has been judged all her life because of the rumors about her mother.
Her mom disappeared when Terri was a little girl. The towns gosips said she had runaway with another man.
Then Nate arrives and everything gets turn upside-down. But is it for the better or for the worse?
Things are changing, and well hidden truths will be revealed.
In my point of view this story could go from good to great with some more editing.
I really liked this story, but the writing style didn’t quite match up.
*arc was provided by NetGalley*
Met Her Match (ebook) by Jude Deveraux I enjoyed this book and would like to thank the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview it. This is Terri Rayburn (runs resort on Lake Kissel with her father..has a bad rep that is not her fault) Nate Taggert’s( engaged to the mayor’s daughter and all around good guy) story. This book has angst, anger, rumors, laughs, steam, and a mystery which picks up the second half of the book. There are a lot of interesting characters… and we do get to a HEA.
I am a first-time reader of Jude Deveraux- and after finishing ‘Met Her Match,’ I realize I have been missing out!
I could not get enough of this small town with its big secrets, gossip, dark, murderous mysteries, and partying vibe!
A rollercoaster of highs, lows and plenty of frustrations ( anger and sexual ) the hidden gems of humor, zings of attraction between main characters Terri and Nate, those “helpful shoves ” from family, friends and nosey neighbors. Combined with emotionally broken pieces being put back together- made for beautifully heart squeeze of a romance that, Phew! I read it all in one sitting happily!
I look forward to digging into more work by this author very soon!
Met Her Match (Summer Hill #2) is full of small-town gossip, devilishly crafted characters, lots of secrets, and romance. There is mystery, and twists that round this book out and keeps the reader wondering what is going on in the seeming near-perfect fictional town of Summer Hill. I say near-perfect because there is lots of angst and tension between the three groups of people in the town, the wealthy townspeople, the summer lake people and the working-class people who run the resort of Kissel Lake.
Met Her Match is my first book by Jude Deveraux, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I did not have the pleasure to read the first book in this series, but I do plan to go back and fix that little misstep. I don’t feel that you have to read the first book as the author did an excellent job in explaining the history of Summer Hill.
Jude Deveraux’s writing style is spot-on; she made me feel as if I was part of this small town, and I could be best friends with the main character, Terri Rayburn. Terri has had to deal with the cruel gossip about her missing mother her whole life. This gossip has in turn been put upon her. In spite of this, Terri has become a strong, self-reliant woman who held fast to her beliefs and morals.
Terri returns from a short business trip to find the very handsome Nate Taggert living in her home. Together they figure out that Nate’s uncle Kit was the one that arranged for Nate to live in Terri’s house. Nate is the total package. He is a good looking, strong, intelligent man, with principles. After some very heated back and forth banter between the two Terri decides to let Nate stay in her house. There is an immediate attraction, but Nate being the great guy that he is tells Terri he is engaged. His fiancé happens to have gone to high school with Terri. But she is just not just any girl; she is the perfect, sweet, beautiful Stacy Hartman, who happens to be in Italy for two weeks. Over two weeks, Terri and Nate fall into an easy friendship that is full of sexual tension. Ahh, but don’t be fooled, this book is so much more than a simple taboo romance. There are decades-old secrets, and twists and turns I didn’t see coming. The supporting cast of “characters” were excellent, and I want to know more about them. The balance of tone is perfect in the book. At times the book had me smiling and laughing, and other times there was some intense darkness that had me wanting to give Terri a big mom hug.
I look forward to catching up with the first book in this series, The Girl from Summer Hill, and looking forward to reading future books in the series.
*** I kindly received this galley by way of NetGalley/publisher/author. I was not contacted, asked, or required to leave a review. I received no compensation, financial or otherwise. I have voluntarily read this book, and this review is my honest opinion. ***
Another great addition to her Taggert series! This was a fast story, it began with a little romance and ended with a mystery. I thought it was well written and kept my interest. I enjoyed the story! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
Jude Deveraux is a master at creating a town full of memorable characters and weaving a mystery that touches them all in meaningful ways. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. In fact, I couldn’t put it down. Even though I could guess what was coming I wanted to know how she would reveal it and how it would affect the characters. She’s always a go to author for me and I’m never disappointed.
This book returns us to the town of Summer Hill, where a few other books by Jude Deveraux have been set. We come back in contact with a few characters from her previous books, but reading them first is not at all necessary. This was an excellent book! Terri and Nate are wonderful characters, as are others in the lake community of Lake Kissel. Jude Deveraux writes stories with depth and feeling, and this one keeps that tradition. This is a story with many layers – the personal relationship between Terri and Nate, the dynamics of the lake community, the complex division between the lake people and the townies, the misguided history so many accept as truth, family relationships, and a bit of mystery. The book was engrossing and enchanting and I hated to see it end. I hope there is a return to Summer Hill in future books. I loved it and highly recommend it!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for a honest review.
I really enjoyed Met Her Match, Nate and Terri had so much chemistry between themselves. The book was well written, with lots of different emotions mixed into the storyline. Although this book does contain some suspense it is much more a book centered around romance. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends.