Home :: Books :: Audiocassettes  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes

Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
Until You

Until You

List Price: $17.00
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 12 >>

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Typical Romance
Review: I want to start by saying that I am sooo glad I read this book before Whitney, My Love. If I had read that first, I never would have picked this one up. While this is certainly not the greatest romance ever written, it is a cute and enjoyable experience.
I am also very gald that Ms. McNaught seems to have gotten over her habbit of having the hero throw the heroine over his knee and spank her (once with a riding crop). And while many argue that it is not a brutal beating, in Kingdom of Dreams, the book says that he hit her until his had was throbbing with pain. Well, I'm sooo sorry for him!
But, anyway, this was a cute book, somewhat enjoyable, and, even though I know how tempting it is to read series books, DO NOT read Whitney, or a Kingdom of Dreams, Nightmares is more like it!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Deeply gripping
Review: This was my first Judith Mcnaught book, and I have not -to this day-read a romance novel that gripped me emotionally like the way this book did-as well as all her other Romance novels.
This is a wonderful story with a deep emphasis on the main character's characterization and relationship-which I prefer, rather than plot emphasis.
The emotions that run between Sherry and Stephen are honest, deep, and palpable. The story has many twists that I was not expecting and, like her other books, she leaves the best parts till the end of the book.
I get tired of reading other romance reader's bad reviews on this wonderful author who has brought us amazing characters you never forget and stories you do not want to finish. Yes, the hero and heroine tend to be alike in her books but why would you want somthing else. Frankly, realistic or "different" characters do not appeal to me, since I see enough idiocy in the real world.
So, if you want to escape in a romace novel that will turn you on, cry, laugh, and make your heart ache-I choose Until You and the rest of her romace books.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Drab...
Review: In the beginning, this story was a little confusing, which was a great feat considering how boring it was. I simply disliked everything about this one. Stephen and the rest of the characters were unappealing and not delightful in the least.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good enough fluff -- but disappointing in some aspects.
Review: As with all of McNaught's Regency/post-Regency books, Until You is an enjoyable read, with an original and entertaining (if somewhat implausible, given the number of coincidences) storyline and characters that are (mostly) easy to like.

My problems with the book may come from having just read two others by Mrs. McNaught, and becoming frustrated with what seems an unvarying MO. If you're looking for a hero who isn't the standard tall, dark, handsome rake who has become a hard cynic due to the wiles of greedy women, who has slept with half Europe and is irresistable to all -- don't look here. Stephen fits the cliche to a T. He is all that McNaught's other heroes are: cold and distant, until he finds the Right Woman, unforgiving and able to believe the worst about the woman he supposedly loves.

Where the book really shines is its heroine, Sherry. She does fit into the type of Beautiful Spirited Refreshing Innocent (BSRI) but she also has her own characteristics which make her enjoyable to read about -- and thus also her interactions with the other characters. Indeed, her actions in the book are what give the implausibility its contrary sincerity: you can believe that in her situation, a person might act exactly as she did.

Alas, Sherry is still doomed to the great overblown misunderstanding, in which she must incur the wrath of her beloved and then sacrifice her dignity in order to gain what she rightfully deserves. I found myself wishing she would just give him up and elope with Nicki. I'm waiting for the day when the very talented McNaught will give us a true reversal of roles -- and allow her heroine to keep her pride and get her man at the same time.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great read
Review: I'm not usually a fan of historical romance, but Judith McNaught changed me. While this one is not my favorite, I did enjoy it. I prefer the contemporary stories she has more, but it was another page turner. She spun her web around me, and I was caught until the end of the book, as always. Whether you enjoy historical romance or contemporary, Judith McNaught will make you a fan of both.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: No misunderstanding - bad
Review: Unbelieable the kinds of no account, sleazy, jerks that some authors dare to foist upon unsuspecting readers as attractive marriage partners and soul mates. Their equally superficial, hypocritical, amoral counter parts are not complex or courageous, but are some of the most desperate-for-a-man-to-worship females to clog litterary pages. Sherry is one of these. Any woman, who prior to saying "I do," who has never heard her man say "I love you," is not marrying for love: Unless his non-existent love doesn't count, leaving us with not romance but idolatry.

As part of her fiesty show of courage she is too reluctant to know if he's gotten rid of his coutesan she asked him to. She's obviously typical of many of the females of that period with a don't ask don't tell if you want to keep your jewels and frocks martyr complex. He does get rid of his courtsan, but in the end she doesn't know that and hopes to please him enough so if he hasn't, he will. This character deserves only to be told "until you."

These brooding pervs with titles, money, handsomeness and bad attitudes are allowed to debase and demoralize the women they "love," as long as they marry them in the end. Sherry the living doormat, who conveniently "forgets" her complete humiliation (public and private) at the kids party by Stephen the body slurping, one track minded damsel in distress rescuer, grovels her way through the 2nd half of the book to bring about some sort of reconciliation we are to think of as a romantic story book ending.

This author must have something against her own gender why her female lead drags herself week after week to an opera she can't afford, to stare lovingly at the face of a man (and the woman he's with this week) who didn't trust her enough to go looking for her, speak to, or determine her state of mind after she regained her memory. And since when does a doctor rely on hearsay to determine his patient's state of mind. The impromptu brain backlog that must precede and follow each "misunderstanding," robs the reader not only of their time and cash, but also their sense of romance if they are to get any satisfaction from this novel.

1/3 of the book is spent rehashing Whitney, 1/3 setting up another book's hero (DuVille), leaving 1/3 for the author to completely sacrifice the plot she created, and characters she ought to be developing for specious melodrama. The first 1/2 of the book is contrived and convoluted warmed over left overs. The age gap tried my sense of decorum, even decency. The 2nd 1/2 is too ill conceived to even bother letting the characters account for their behaviours - They can't! Not even they know why they're doing what they're doing, let alone the reader. When DuVille accounts for his behaviour by saying he may have "inadvertantly" cause the separation of Sherry and Stephen, I almost inadvertantly gagged on my bacon sandwich.

Most of the dramatic moments are a satisfaction let down. You're waiting for Sherry to show the courage we keep reading of. Her power of reasoning and comprehension of how she's been insulted seems lost on her, but not this reader. All that red hair must have blinded her. This story ought to have been about trust and honesty, instead (up until the very end), lies and tricks to get her to get her chapel.

Add to all this the author's tendency to time travel to 20th century morality whenever Regeny behavioral standards get too cumbersome for her frail storyline or whenever her characters can't extricate themselves from an overburdened plot, and you'll realize why this book doesn't work. The fight scene (or never seen) at Whites is suppose to be funny. My guess is since we never find out who really wins, most will find it more contrived let down rather than comedic. I'm still trying to figure out where the maid got to since she had no money for a return passage to America. Don't walk away from this book, Run! and keep running.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply Magnificent.
Review: This book made me laugh, made me weep, made my heart twist and I just could not put it down until I finished it.
Whitney, My Love was the first romanctic novel I ever read and I loved it. A great sequel to Whitney, My Love. It lives up to the expectations, I certainly was not dissapointed.
This is the second novel I read from Judith McNaught and it definitevely puts her among my favorites authors with Nicole Jordan and Stephanie Laurens. I can't wait to read more of her books, specially the story of Nicky DuVile.
I absolutely recommend it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! I finished Whitney, My Love a few days ago and was a little disappointed. Everyone has made such a big deal out of that book that I thought I was going to be blown away. However, I felt increasingly uncomfortable as the storyline progressed. It was a good book, don't get me wrong, but, the drama between the hero and heroine were too much for me. I just wanted to scream at them and tell them to get a clue! Well, I'm not supposed to be reviewing Whitney, My Love so I'll get to the point! Until You is the story of Stephen and Sheridan. The chemistry between these two characters is wonderful. Not everything is hunky-dory, they have their share of problems, but they aren't so overwhelming that you catch yourself thinking "What's the point in this?" Every romance needs a little conflict and Until You has just enough of that mixed in with tenderness and caring to make this book very enjoyable. I gave it five stars because it made me cry, made me laugh and, yes, made me scream (but only a little)! I thoroughly recommend this book over Whitney, My Love! However, being the follow up to Whitney, My Love, I guess you need to read that first. Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to though! :D

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This Book Doesn't Disappoint! Excellent!
Review: We first met Stephen in WHITNEY, MY LOVE, the younger brother of Clayton Westmoreland, the hero of WHITNEY, MY LOVE. Although cast in a supporting role in that book, he still managed to shine, and to appeal to so many readers that they requested of Ms McNaught that she write a story just for him. I'm so glad she listened! And UNTIL YOU is just perfect for Stephen Westmoreland!

The relationship between Stephen, and the amnesiac Sheridan Bromleigh, is both fun and romantic. Although jaded by past events, Stephen still had a very strong sense of honor and responsibility, and allowing Sheridan to believe HE is her fiance is what sets this story up so nicely. Sheridan, like Stephen, is a well written and well-rounded character whom I came to like enormously. Her spunk shines through every scene, and their growing love had me on the edge of my seat.

In particular, one of my favorite scenes was when both Stephen Westmoreland and Nicholas DuVille were "vying" for Sheridan at Almack's, to the vast discomforture of both of them. Classic! And other favorite was the scene in which dottering, elderly spinster Miss Charity gets to the heart of the matter with Stephen, bringing him to blows with....Nicholas DuVille! (He, by the way, is another favorite of mine from this and past books.)

The fact that Stephen, unbeknownst to Sheridan, was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt when the truth first came out, further endeared HIM to me. I fully understand why he reacted the way he did later....and even later, following his conversation with Miss Charity and the altercation with Nicki.

The appearance of so many past favorites in this book just had me in raptures, as I love all of Ms McNaught's heroes and heroines...although admittedly, some more than others. I just can never read enough about any of them!

I HIGHLY recommend this book to all who enjoy Historical Romance novels, and although it would probably be best to have read, at least, WHITNEY, MY LOVE first, it's not really necessary. I am, however, glad to have not only read W,ML first, but also ONCE AND ALWAYS, ALMOST HEAVEN, SOMETHING WONDERFUL and A KINGDOM OF DREAMS (although the last is, actually, a PREQUEL to W,ML) before reading UNTIL YOU. It made the secondary characters in UNTIL YOU so much more fun, remembering when the spotlight was on them in their own stories.

And in MY opinion, the ending did NOT fall flat, but was perfectly written for the characters, and what had come before. Both Stephen and Sheridan acted within character, and the involvement of Nicki was a perfect touch.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: My expectations were too high..
Review: If you've read WHITNEY MY LOVE, you will have already have met Stephen, the hero in UNTIL YOU. He is dynamic in WHITNEY MY LOVE and I was eager to read his story. Unfortunately, UNTIL YOU follows up a masterpiece, and cannot compare. Guest appearances by Whitney and Clayton are disappointing, ghosts of their original characters.
Sheridan Bromleigh is escorting Charise Lancaster to meet her betrothed from America. When Charise elopes, Sheridan is left to meet her fiancé and explain. However, upon arrival she is hit in the head, rendering her unable to remember who she is! Stephen Westmoreland, who has accidentally killed Charise's finance has arrived to meet his bride to be. He mistakes Sheridan for her and takes on the responsibility of her care while she recovers.

I wanted to like this book, but unfortunately I found it hard to get through. The in probability of the story left me scrambling to find something I did like. Sheridan, the heroine, is a pretty red head and I was curious about her character throughout the book, but it just wasn't enough.

Judith McNaught is an extremely talented writer. I believe the collapse of this story was mostly doing to it following up one of the classic romances of all time, WHITNEY MY LOVE.


<< 1 2 3 4 5 .. 12 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates