Stories should take you to another place. Not necessarily foreign or mythical, but out of your own conscious world or comfort zone so to speak. Can't think of another author that does that as well as Jude Deveraux. Her list of engaging novels speaks to her innate talent. Her popularity speaks of how many of us readers flock to get our hands on her next great story. AS YOU WISH has earned a place on that list. Expect to be entertained and touched and moved. But there is so much hearty soul about AS YOU WISH you will inevitably find yourself transfixed to each and every page as Jude Deveraux welcomes you to Summer Hill and the latest addition to the Summerhouse series.

AS YOU WISH by Jude Deveraux takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and reactions in several interconnected stories that at some points make you laugh and then to a point of anger and angst. Kind of like life I guess, but there is great turmoil present in the lives of the flawed and imperfect -- human -- characters at the core of AS YOU WISH. Strong women with harshly pointed out issues that have somehow managed to diminish them and their lives. I hesitate to say through no fault of their own, since I am a believer of being in control of one's fate. But AS YOU WISH clearly shows that not even the brightest person can honestly say that.

So, welcome to the dysfunctional lives of three really neat women: Olivia, Elise, and Kathy. Welcome to a world created in Jude Deveraux's imagination that is actually grounded in some hard realities of life.

Three women facing the real truths of their lives -- philandering husbands and in all cases being somewhat guilty of enabling this behavior.

AS YOU WISH is a story about unraveling the truth behind the lies that have clouded the vision and some might say good sense of these really smart women. Now they are becoming enlightened to the farce that their lives have morphed into. Control is back in their hands -- and the truth will give you strength. There is definitely power in a group and Olivia, Elise, and Kathy wind up being a force to reckon with. Question is, what they will do with this new knowledge, strength, and power?

Every women knows someone who has fallen into the trap of being the good wife and mother while not being happy and fulfilled. Habits are hard to break but continuing to live with these mistaken steps is just not an option. AS YOU WISH is Jude Deveraux's strong statement about taking back control of your own future. There are times that you will strongly react to the stories these women share and that is her intent. AS YOU WISH has just moved up the ranks to one of Jude Deveraux's best. And hopefully there are more to come in this crazy good series.