Rating: 
Summary: Loved It!
Review: I have read all of Judith McNaught's full length novels and this is one of my favorites. In fact, when I pick this book up with the intent of glancing through it, I always end up reading the entire book all over again. JM dealt with a subject that many authors have steered clear of - an interracial romance and I think she handled it well. She created a character who was not quite comfortable with the idea but over the course of the book, she discovers that her views are misguided. There is no doubt that Katie made stereotypical assumptions about Ramon but I think they were based in ignorance, not racism as some of the other reviewers have suggested. Katie is not a perfect character by any stretch of the imagination and she almost loses everything because of her fears. I liked this book because Katie is forced to learn that she does have some flaws but she overcomes them. I found this to be a refreshing contrast to so many books where the hero and heroine are so wonderful that you can't imagine why they don't get together and live happily ever after in two pages. As for Ramon, he is one of my favorite JM heroes. He saves the book. He is strong and sexy and keeps the romantic tension high. In my view, this is classic McNaught.
Rating: 
Summary: Cut the hero some slack!!
Review: Despite what a majority of the reviews have declared, I rather liked this book. I agree that it certainly isn't one of JM's best, but it still (to use the horrible cliche) "pulled at my heart strings" and "left me sighing" at the end. One has to understand that Ramon, the hero of the novel, is a product of his culture and beliefs. I found him to be rather endearing, and certainly extremely proud and quite arrogant in some instances, but honestly, have you read a romance novel yet where the "alpha male" isn't all those things and more? He did not resort to rape, or any sort of physical abuse that involved "spanking" (ridiculous for any author to even consider demeaning their heroines in this way...I HATE rape and spanking scenes). In many ways, Judith McNaught explained Ramon's culturally "archaic" beliefs in terms of their cultural perspectives, and a lot of it, to me, made sense, and cooled my indignant feminist outrage. If anyone has ever taken an anthropology course in college or university, they (as I) would recognize that these types of beliefs still exist in this world (sometimes even more extreme than what JM portrays) and that these beliefs and cultural morals have less to do with archaic "sexist" ideals, and more to do with the anthropological history of the culture. That having been said, I would also like to point out that Katie, the heroine of this tale, was an extremely irritating spoiled brat, although she had her shining moments, what few they were. I don't know WHAT Ramon saw in her, other than a leggy blonde, but on the whole, the book worked for me in the end. I would have given this book five stars, but for the sad lack of hoochie (although there was a lot of making out) I have to remove one star...i mean c'mon! how can you not include a steamy latin love scene?? ;o)
Rating: 
Summary: Truly terrible
Review: I started reading romance novels back in college and McNaught was one of the first authors I read. I have read all of McNaught's books and I did enjoy her stories until I read other romance writers. For some reason, I thought that all heroes had to be abusive, noncommunicative, and stubborn to the point of ridiculousness. Fortunately, I found other authors who showed me that this was not the case. I have to say that if I encountered any of her heroes, I would have given them the boot immediately. Most of them are NASTY to their love interests...makes me think that McNaught believes that women have to sacrifice their pride and dignity to find 'true' love. Her heroines are gluttons for punishment and her heroes behave like donkeys. None worse than Ramon. Halfway through this book I threw it across the room. I did not pick it up to finish it, I picked it up to toss it in the trash...I wasn't even going to pass it on to a second hand shop which is what I do with most of my romance novels. I didn't want to be responsible for anyone reading this book. If you like modern romances with suspense, check out Linda Howard's Dream Man and Mr. Perfect. Her heroines are spunky, intelligent and normal, and her heroes are just that...heroes.
Rating:
Summary: Oh common people, it was not that bad!
Review: I have read all of Mcnaught's romanitc novels, and while this is not her best work, it is a far cry from the awful spotlight reviews seen on top of the page!! I would even give Tender Triumph a 5 star-rating compared to the myriad of mediocre romances I have read through out the years that have unjustly received higher ratings. I really believe the bad reviews have stemmed from comparing this book with other superior Mcnaught novels. Tender Triumph is a lighter, shorter, shallower novel than any other of Mcnaught's romance fiction-excluding her mystery-based contemporary work. So my advise is to read those magnificent novels first and leave this one for a light read.
Paradise, Perfect, Double Standard, Almost Heaven, Until you, Something Wonderful,Once and Always, and a Kingdom of Dreams are my top choices-basically all her romance novels, that's how great she is! The previous reviewes for Tender Triumph ridiculously exaggerated when it came to depicting the main characters' personalities as "disgusting and idiotic".
Ramon is traditional, conservative, and has a hispanic background. Since I am from the mediterranean area, I found Mcnaught's depiction of his personality, his values, and his jealousies towards the heroine were very realistic and rightfuly passionate. The heroine is a spoiled and shallow rich girl, but that's exactly how she was brought up! Meeting Ramon changes her and her character slowly evolves into an admiring and mature woman. The plot is also realistic and not implausible whatsoever. I will not go into ridiculing other romace novels and their bizarre story-lines. I have seen many women in real life give up far more for far less than the heroine did in this story for the sake of love. Mcnaught clearly states the heroine's frustration and boredom with her sheltered and pampered lifestyle and seizes, albiet hesitantly and in what she believes will be, an exciting dramatic change with Ramon-do not see where the "unrealistic" decision the heroine made that so many were talking about. And I am sorry, but I have to say this:Americn-Hispanic-African American-Italian-Asian WHATEVER type of man, they ALL have issues-as in huge ego deflator that causes many problems with real-life relationships-when the woman has more money than the man. I do not care if it's the year 3000, it will always be the same! So, the problem Ramon made when she bought the furniture for their home that he clearly told her he would and could pay for was not an atypical reaction from an overly money-sensitive man who just lost his million dollar empire! In short, Tender triumph is light, heart-tugging, emotional, and passionate romance that churns your insides until the climactic finale. Unless you confuse a romanitc fantasy for a reflection of reality and have issues with dominating hispanic men, go ahead and read it, ENJOY!
Rating:
Summary: First book ive read of her..........
Review: maybe its because its my first book of her and i do not really expect so much.... this story is not really as intense as her other books...is much shorter...not much of her usual "misunderstanding" scenes but its good... alot might feel ridiculous that the woman is asked to leave all behind and follow him to some forgein place but mcnaught made it work out....
she is at first afraid to commit... then there are some problems and this book have mcnaught usual touching moments too..... its really great as a rather light reading after a stressful week and if you like her work but wanna avoid her usual more emotional books... this book might be the one for you....
Rating:
Summary: not as bad as reviews make it seem
Review: I was very afraid to read this book because of the horrible reviews that it received. BUT, while it was not her best work, I felt that it did not deserve such a scathing review. Katie, daughter of an owner of a supermarket chain and Ramon, ex-one of the most powerful men on earth...meet as he saves her from a gropping ex. He asks for a date and Katie agrees...only to be surprised by the force of the emotions that this one man can evoke in her, when so many others have failed. As Ramon is ashamed that he is now a failure since his business is filing for bankruptcy (because his father is a jealous and evil man), he lets Katie believe that he is only an ordinary farmer with a cottage in Puerto Rico and not a man who had once owned an island, several mansions and villas, and one of the most successful conglomerates in the world. Katie, who has been married before to a man who she sensed was not himself, is afraid to trust Ramon as she senses that he also is not revealing the whole truth. Because of this, she tries to stall marriage to him, by paying for half of his expenses, making the cottage look like a bachelor pad, and unintentionally demeaning him by asking if he could swim or dance and giving him a $5 bill in compensation for him driving her home. Not until the truth is discovered, does she realize the depth of Ramon's love for her and how much she wants that in her previously empty life. He is not chauvinistic and if anyone had read the book closely enough, it is even explained in the end when Katie asks Ramon if he really thinks that a wife's "place" is at home. And Ramon responded by saying that the only reason he said that in the beginning was because he was trying to make her "settle of rless than she has a right to expect" since he barely had anything to offer and desperately didn't want to lose her. I felt that he had a right to be angry with her for spending money on their cottage because 1) he was already seen as a failure by the villagers for losing his company and now it seems as if he has a sugarmama paying his bills and 2) his entire house had not one drop of her personality to make it her space...meaning that she didn't plan to stay. All in all, my problem was not Ramon's supposed chauvinism, but rather with the palpable hurriedness of the book. Though Matt and Meredith fell in love in a week in Paradise, this time, the length of their acquaintance was stressed a lot more, making it hard to ignore that they had only known each other for less than a week. Also, the ending felt too hurried as all of a sudden, everything was right again. Not enough detail was made to secondary characters, making them seem flat. These reasons made me want to flip through many of the pages so that I could get to the crucial moment when Ramon would reveal who he really is. It's a fast read, but there is no chauvinist pig in Ramon, so if you were deterred by that, don't be. Not as enjoyable as many of her others, but still a decent read.
Rating:
Summary: Abuse Glorified
Review: I was truly horrified by the main characters in this book. Ramon is an abuser and Katie an idiot. It's scary to think that a modern-day author could write this drivel and worse yet that it would be published. At one point Ramon, our handsome hero, grabs the heroine's arms and shakes her...and what terrible crime did she commit? Oh how could she do such a terrible thing, she gave two weeks' notice instead of quitting her job instantly like he wanted her to. Toward the end of the book when--oh horror of horrors--she pays for half of the furnishings of their new house, he's so angry he tells her he'd make her first husband (who was physically abusive) "look like a saint." I don't even have words to express my disgust that in our modern enlightened times this behavior could be considered as anything other than criminal!!! Ms. McNaught, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best
Review: I have read every one of Judith McNaught's books, but this is one of my all-time favorites. I have read it so many times that I have to rubberband the book to keep it together. Ramon and Katie are a delight and the story is entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Review: i had to keep glancing at the book cover to be sure i was reading a JM. I mean she's one of the best of romance writers. this was a disapointment to me. i've read almost all her books and i've always wanted to keep them to myself xcept borrow my close friends, until this. i hate it when men try to "test" a woman's trust and love, which was what Ramon did. the story generally lacked depth which is part of what makes JM an all time best and the customary JM'S classic humorous dialogue was missing... good for whiling away time.
Rating: 
Summary: Save this one till last
Review: If you decide to read this Judith McNaught book, save it till last. That way if you never get around to it, you won't be bad off. Might actually be better for it. I've read the reviews on this one, and it's not as bad as most are making it out to be. I wonder if people didn't finish the entire thing b/c then you'd understand why the main characters were who they were and why they acted that way. this is not my favorite. this one is probably my least favorite, but my least favorite of Judith McNaught is a lot better than a lot of other authors best. While that doesn't excuse it, it is fact. This is a shorter book, so it does move along pretty quickly. Most of Judith McNaught's books approach 700 pages, and this is only 300 or so. Give it a try, I don't regret it. It makes for a decent book on a plane or on the beach.
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