Paradise

Rating:
Summary: Wow - perfect summer read!
Review: There is no better beach book, as far as I'm concerned. I devoured this one. Even if you scoff at "romances" (and, well, I sometimes do), you'll enjoy this book if you're in the mood for something fabulous and light with plenty o' action to propel you through. "Paradise" goes over the top, but doesn't take itself too seriously. There is quite a bit of humor (intentional, amusing humor) and fairly normal situations (i.e. arguing over a Monopoly game or having to deal with some obnoxious preppies) thrown in to ground the story, but it still has the delicious trimmings that go with gorgeous main characters and a wealthy social setting. The heroine is a super blend of warmth, humbleness, sass and Grace Kelly class. One wishes one knew her. And the dashing hero is down to earth enough to love his sister and build relationships based on trust. If the character of Meridith's father is one-dimensional and a pseudo-mystery subplot is rather weak, they comprise a small part of the story, so who cares? This is a fun, sexy book. Buy it and keep it on the shelf for an occaisonal re-read.

Rating:
Summary: My Fantasy
Review: Imagine living a sheltered life in Chicago, if you can't than you have not read Paradise. You are a shy sheltered young lady from Chicago's society. He is a rough poor man from Indiana with big dreams for the future. When one night they meet and both their lives change forever. If you are looking for a book that will keep you guessing and reading then READ PARADISE. It is one of those books that you will find hard to put down, if you can put it down in the first place

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This is the first of Judiths modern romances I ever read, despite being hooked on her historical ones. The only reason I give it a nine not a ten, is that perfect is my all time McNaught favourite. This book has everything, romance, love, problems (and original ones at that) and I love it, love it love it!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Read it!
Review: Nothing is more ho-hum than a formulaic love story between the poor little rich girl and the dashing impoverished bum who find their destinies are inextricably linked. Readers know that, and so, much to my delight, does Judith McNaught.

Meredith and Matthew were star-crossed lovers if there ever was a pair. Meredith Bancroft, the late-blooming daughter of a department store dynasty, meets and marries (for that oh, so timeless reason of being pregnant) Matthew Farrell, a young man from the wrong side of the tracks determined to conquer the business world. Due to circumstances beyond their control, the two divorce, with bitter feelings on both sides of the aisle.

Fast forward eleven years... Meredith is next in line to take over the family business and Matthew is swimming in billions. Unfortunately, with all that money, he can't find another city in the world to live it than Chicago, Meredith's hometown. After being thrown back into the societal soup together, Meredith discovers she and Matt are not legally divorced. Uh oh...

Matt and Meredith are McNaught's second most exciting couple, behing Whitney and Clayton. There was so much drama in this novel, toward the end I wasn't even sure the two would end up together. I should never have feared. McNaught, in a singularly brilliant plot-twist, brings the two back together, where you know they belong.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful!
Review: This book made me laugh and cry. It is a wonderful comtempory romance. I love Judith McNaught's style. She makes you feel a part of it, like the characters are your friends or relatives. I never really liked historicals, but liked this author so much I read all her books and have loved them all. I like how she carries some characters from one book to another. It's like checking up on a lost friend. Perfect, by this author, is also just as wonderful

Rating:
Summary: Very highly recommend to all who enjoy romance.
Review: I actually laughed out loud. I also cried at sad parts and also cried at the happy parts. This kept me reading, till late into the night to see what happened next. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance novels. It is a wonderful contempory. I had never really enjoyed historicals, but enjoyed this author so much I tried her historicals and loved them also. Paradise, also by this author, is just as wonderful

Rating:
Summary: Literally paradise!
Review: As one of my favorite authors, Judith McNaught did it again. She wrote a book that can make you cry, be angry, laugh out loud and sympathetic to the characters

Rating:
Summary: Hated To See Book End
Review: What can I say? Except I LOVED this book. It was funny, sad, interesting and much more. I had a hard time putting it down for any reason. Meredith and Matt were one of the most sexy, exciting couples I've had the pleasure to read about. Buy it, read it...you won't be sorry. It's a keeper!

Rating:
Summary: Wow! ... what a rollercoaster!
Review: Are all Judith McNaught's books this good? I am not typically a big fan of romance novels, but after reading the glowing reviews of PARADISE here on Amazon, I picked it up at the library. Oh my, I can truly say that I lived and breathed this novel for the entire week. Even though it was written more than a dozen years ago, it still seems timeless and modern. Not only does Judith weave a brilliant story, she elicits emotions on every level - from anger, humor, lust, forgiveness, and ultimately love. I am still baffled by Meredith's ability to forgive her father after he deprived her not only of her mother, but also her husband. I guess learning to manage her tyranical father honed her for all the later trials in her life. Matt is just too good to be true - I loved his drive, decisiveness, leadership, and tenderness. As another reviewer already said, I particularly liked that Matt and Meredith's conversations had such intimacy, even when talking about business. The only negative I have to say is that the author rushed through several loose ends of the story all in the last few pages. After such detail in telling the story the ending was a little rushed, but that is a very minor negative. I hope you will read this book and savor its magic as much as I did. Guess I'll be reading PERFECT next; after my emotions have settled down a bit.

Rating:
Summary: Truly touching and captivating
Review: Paradise is a contemporary novel and the fourth book of Judith Mcnaught that I have read. After reading the glowing reviews here, not to mention my delight with A Kingdom of Dreams, Something Wonderful and Once & Always, I was eager to read more of her work and find out why this book is the highest rated of all her novels, and now I understand why...

Meredith Bancroft was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. As the daughter of Phillip Bancroft, the president of the most exclusive department store in Chicago, she has everything that a girl could want, at least everything that money could buy - for Meredith is insecure with her looks, hardly has any friends and lives a pretty sheltered life under the watchful eye of her manipulative and overbearing father. But four years later and the 'ugly duckling' turn into a swan. Those who have treated her as if she were invisible are now eager to befriend her. Yet, her father still expects her to do his bidding and follow his orders. But everything will change when she finally defies him.

Matthew Farrell comes from the lower class town of Edmunton, Indiana. He works in a steel mill five days a week, as a mechanic for the remaining two, and lives with his sister and alcoholic father. But Matthew has a burning ambition to succeed. Thus, after accepting a job in Venezuela that will see him with a large sum of money after two years, he finds himself at a party in Chicago one night where he meets Meredith, and where he dared to reach for the moon. And so begins a romance that will result in a decade of hate, deceit, doubts and misunderstandings.

When that chance meeting see them married a few weeks later, they make a pact to get to know each other and make their marriage work. Yet Phillip Bancroft never gave them the chance, for as soon as Matt left for Venezuela, he did everything in his power to drive them apart and so their ill-fated marriage ended up in divorce.

Fast forward to eleven years and Matt is now an industrial tycoon, with women throwing themselves at his feet, while Meredith is an executive at Bancroft and Company and engaged to Parker Reynolds, the man she adored as a child. When their paths cross once again, they find themselves dealing with suppressed pains caused by each other's 'betrayal'.

If there ever was a couple that you would most like to find everlasting happiness - Matt and Meredith would be them. Theirs is a story that's guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings. You can truly feel the love they have for each other and the agony that they have gone through during the years they've been apart. There are so many twists and turns in the story, that just when you think that things are finally working out, another obstacle will drive them apart. The author's talents shine in this book. She brings life to the characters that they almost jump out of the page. I laughed and cried, and in the end, I didn't want the story to end at all.

Don't let the length of the novel put you off - this book is fast paced and will hold your interest from the very start. Reading about Meredith's childhood will make you appreciate her more. And even though I wish that the same emphasis were done with Matt's childhood, I didn't think that the lack of it detracted from this book at all.

This truly is a special story and one that I will read over and over again. I can't wait to read Perfect, as I know that Matt and Meredith make their appearance on it.