Paradise

Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: Next to Shanna, this is one of my most favorite stories. At first I thought it was going to be too long as the story begins with Meredith's childhood years, but I was oh so wrong. The background helped me to understand her character in her later years. And Matt, oh! this man is my idol! I simply love men that are not only intellectual but have a strong insight into people's emotions. Yes, he's also very temperamental, but to me that's a person with strong convictions. The relationship between him and Meredith was fantastic in so many levels but the one I enjoy the most was when they discussed business. I was so jealous of that interchange. The mutual respect and admiration for one another was most enjoyable. I'm sure I'll be picking this book from time to time to relive such a wonderful story. It's a keeper!

Rating:
Summary: The Romeo and Juliet of our time.
Review: Matthew Farrell is the son of a widow who spends his time drinking ever since his wife died. Matt is the poor Indiana country kid who works two jobs---a worker at a steel mill and a mechanic. Meredith Bancroft is the daughter of a movie star and the owner(sorta)of Bancroft and Co., a chain of department stores. She dreams of one day becoming president of the company. One night, at a party, Matt and Meredith meet. Do sparks fly? Ya darn right! Something happens and they get married.(leave it up to YOU to find out what happened...hehe)Then something else happens(and it made me cry)and they get divorced. Approx. 11 years later, Matt is a corporate raider, buying company stock and selling it. He's VERY rich and practically every woman wants him. Meredith is now working at Bancroft and Co.(not much of a surprise)and has big hopes of becoming president. She also has a fiance---and it's not Matt. Then, Meredith finds out that she and Matt never got divorced after all because the lawyer her father hired faked the judge's signature. So they've been married for like, 11 years. Anyways, you have to read to find out the rest and then you'd know why this book was given 5 stars! In the first part, there's a lot about Meredith's life, and you might get a little bored, but you have to READ IT ALL!! It's all worth it in the end.
I really loved this couple. Matt is just a Prince Charming. I liked him more than Meredith, but she's cool. I even liked the "evil" Mr. Bancroft. But I HATED Lisa and Parker.(you'll find out who they are when you read.) They're the sorta secondary characters, and I wished they were never even mentioned in the book. Lisa is just, ugh, she makes me want to scream in annoyance and frustration. And so is Parker. I think the only reason they were ever in the book was because McNaught wanted more obstacles for the couple to go through (i.e. Parker as Meredith's fiance) and she didn't want everyone to feel bad for Parker so she put in Lisa. I just absolutely hate those two. I love Matt and Meredith though.
This book is worth reading...so you should read it!

Rating:
Summary: A big read.
Review: This book has it all, glamour, suspense etc. But it is also quite a hefty read which will take more than one weekend. McNaught fully develops her characters and really streches out her story which is very satisfying for the reader.

Rating:
Summary: I read this 2 weeks ago,and I still miss Matt,and Meredith!
Review: This is the best book I've ever read! PERIOD! i've been searching for others that might relate by Judith McNaught but have been unable to locate any. I hope there is a sequel!If not I'll read it again, maybe tonight!It's fantastic,and never takes you off your toes except for a little waylaying with an unsavory Lawyer and those details..otherwise,,it's so funny, and endearing I laughed and cried out loud at the doc's office while reading it!I'd really give it a 6 if I could!

Rating:
Summary: A second chance at love . . .
Review: A second chance at love is worth fighting for as Matthew Farrell and Meredith Bancroft prove in this blissful book by Judith McNaught. This book will keep you riveted from the first! You'll experience so many emotions and such intense feelings -- love, hate, grief, joy, sadness, anger and frustration -- that when you're finished you'll feel like you've just stepped off an emotional roller coaster that left you wanting more. Remember to have a box of Kleenex handy when you begin -- you'll need them!

Matthew and Meredith are some of the very best characters I've ever had the privilege to read about. They're true-to-life, three dimensional and so real that their emotions jump from the pages and weave themselves around you making the story come to life vividly. Matthew is the absolute definition of a romantic hero. Though hurt long ago by his true love he realizes he still wants her and does everything in his power to prove to her that they belong together. The way he stoically stands by his resolve to have Meredith for his own is beautiful. Though she feels betrayed by Matt, something inexplicably draws Meredith to him every time they meet. Watching Meredith burst free from the confines of her life that say she should not be with Matt is wonderful. The love between these two is explosive and oh-so-passionate! They have a deep and abiding love that even time and sordid lies could not kill.

Ms. McNaught has a keen talent to make you experience her work and feel as if you've stepped into the story. Her secondary characters are just as fleshed out as her main characters and become quite real themselves. Meredith's father is a hard, bitter and selfish man who makes everyone's life miserable. I actually wanted to climb into the book and choke a fictional character!

I really loved the way that Ms. McNaught showed the growth of her characters. Each character reshapes and expands throughout the book giving the reader a deeper insight into their personalities while keeping the characters genuine. By the end of the book Meredith's father even changes into someone half-way likable.

I appreciated the look at Meredith's youth that gave insight into the things that shaped her as a woman and I also adored the look into the future of our couple.

The plot was also outstanding -- I became engrossed in the business world that Ms. McNaught so realistically created.

I can't say enough good things about this book! My first by Judith McNaught that left me wanting to rush to the nearest bookstore and snatch up all her work. Don't be daunted by the length, this book will fly by and before you know it you'll be at the end. Don't forget to search up _Perfect_ by Ms. McNaught, I hear Meredith and Matt are mentioned in that book as well. Please don't hesitate to buy this book it's one of the best I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Judith McNaught is the best writer alive. Noone can develope characters like she can. No one can make you hate and love the characters at the same time as she does. This book is spectacular. Read Paradise then read Perfect which is even better.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing.Funny.Touching
Review: Romance are usually sloppy but not THIS. If tender love and care with a mixture of marriage humor. This is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely amazing
Review: This book puts everything you love about a book into one, without being cheesey. I've read books before where they try to throw all the major dramatic elements in together and it makes no sense- this is NOT one of those books, everything has its reason and the story is gripping and the characters lovable.