The Bewildering Bequest Review

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THE BEWILDERING BEQUEST
J.M. Jeffries
ISBN: 1-59279-151-4 (electronic)
ISBN: 1-59279-894-2 (paperback)
October 2003
Amber Quill Press, LLC
E-book, paperback
Contemporary Romantic Comedy

When a romantic comedy features Venus and Cupid as characters, all a reader can do is pour a cup of ambrosia and settle in for a heavenly read!

Eulalie Bidwell loved her Kerry blue terrier so much that she left seventy-five million dollars to the precious pooch. The money was in a trust fund that was handled by the canine’s custodians, Merrill Prescott and Jason Stavros. However, to fulfill the will’s requirements, and to provide the dog with proper guardians, Merrill and Jason also had to live together in Eulalie’s mansion house. And for Merrill Prescott the Fourth, lawyer, and granddaughter of Blythe Prescott, proper Southern matron, living with Jason the construction worker is a real problem. It’s a case of South meets North when this blue-blooded lady mixes with this red-blooded male.

Eulalie was in sound mind when she drew up this will. She not only loved her dog, but she also loved “Love” and couldn’t pass up the chance to play matchmaker. In fact, when she gets to the “great beyond”, she hangs out with Venus and Cupid and swaps strategies for getting the dog’s caretakers into a connubial connection.

This is when the “bequest” becomes “bewildering”. The heavenlies are unveiled and the reader is transported to the realm of the Roman gods. As the earthly story unfolds in sophisticated Charleston, South Carolina, the gods and goddesses watch, plan and even participate in the plot. The results are hilarious! The author’s knowledge of the Roman gods leads to some delightful dialogue among the deities.

This book is romantic comedy at its best. The world of the Roman gods makes an enchanting contrast to the refined culture of Charleston. The plot is priceless! All the characters are drawn with a healthy dose of reality and hilarity. Readers will cheer the dog and jeer the greedy relatives. Reading this book was a little like sitting on Mount Olympus and watching the mortals.

The Bewildering Bequest is a divinely delectable romp in the land of love.

Reviewed by Joyce
November 2003