Perfect

Rating:
Summary: As beautiful as its cover!
Review: ..but it isn't as perfect as it's title. In fact, this book has many flaws and some of them are unable to be forgiven.

First of all, it left a lot of puzzles in my mind. -Where's Dom and his family? why didn't the story mention to them even a word after the world realised Zack's innocent?-Where's Paul Richardson? Isn't he suppose to come back and try to win Julie's heart after explaining the truth to Zack just to make it right for her after his mistake?

Moreover, I hate the fact that the hero's betrayed by the heroine even after she'd already known he love her. I still have a hard time fogiving julie for her silly weakness that led to her biggest mistake. I also think Zack is too forgiving. Julie deserved far more torture, and more suffering, than the story gave her.

Still, there're several reasons why I still give the book 5 stars. I give those stars to Zack, an incredible charming hero. I give it to his perfectly balance in strengthes and weaknesses, his gentleness, his sense of humour, his self-estreem, his occasional ruthless, ..and so on. I give them to a captivating story that forced me to finish the book in one sitting. I give it to those moving and touching moments that made me reread them again and again. I give them to all colourful supporting characters who add the right amout of spice to the bitter or sweet moments of Zack&Julie relationship. I also give them to the heroine, Julie, becase apart from her terrible mistake, her kindness, generousity, capable of strenght, and unconditional willingness to give her love to everyone make her the perfect soulmate for Zact's torture soul in every way.

And above of all, I give those stars to an incredible good feeling I felt after I finished the book.

So, let neither some negative reviewes nor those flaws in the book distract you from reading it. The most important thing is, if you ever read this book, you'll end up love it just as I do.

Rating:
Summary: As captivating as Paradise
Review: Any romance novel buff would be sucked into reading a story about a couple who falls in love, gets torn apart and then overcome insurmountable obstacles to live happily ever after. And Perfect is exactly just that.

Zachary Benedict Stanhope was born into a rich family. He had the looks and grace that comes with the breeding, not to mention the arrogance that characterizes the Stanhope males. But when a tragic incident led to him being banished from his home, he found himself working at a Hollywood studio, where he was soon discovered and launched into stardom to eventually become an academy award winning actor/director.

Julie Mathison is an orphan who grew up being thrown from one home to another. Thus, at the age of 11, she was an illiterate who's never had any parental guidance and spent more time in the streets learning how to hot-wire cars until a kind psychiatrist takes an interest in her and finds Julie a home with some relatives in the obscure town of Keaton in Texas. For the first time in her life, Julie is happy and vows to make herself perfect to show her gratitude to the Mathisons who gave her all the love and kindness she's always craved for.

More than a decade later and these two cross paths by accident, when Zach, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife, was forced to kidnap Julie when his escape from prison didn't go according to plan. Soon, trouble intensifies when Julie finds herself a willing hostage, and Zack develops a feeling of protectiveness over her, something he's never felt for a woman before. So when Zack sends her home, she did her utmost to convince the whole world of his innocence. But when things she starts discovering cause her to doubt Zack's innocence and mental health, she ends up betraying him, thus causing both of them much anguish and unhappiness.

As with the other four books that I have previously read (AKOD, Something Wonderful, Once & Always, Paradise), this book made me laugh and cry. It just goes to show the magic that Judith McNaught weaves, as I really felt drawn to the characters. Perfect is just so wonderfully told, I loved it and found myself unable to put it down. There are some pretty funny scenes like the movie session they had, with Julie ignoring Zack's movies and Zack criticizing every movie and actor she's picked. Then there are those heartbreaking moments - like Zack's letter, the airport scene - that brought tears to my eyes. And although I wanted to strangle Julie for betraying Zack, I couldn't help but feel sorry for how she's suffered because of it.

I've noticed that some readers mentioned feeling a little nauseated about the whole Barbra Streisand dance sequence, well I must agree it was a little too much, but I actually enjoyed them dancing to Jose Feliciano's "Light My Fire" and have been listening to that song over and over again since.

Another incentive to reading this is Matt and Meredith Farrell's appearance. For those who have read Paradise and found it hard to say goodbye to them, you will truly enjoy their part in this book, especially reading about how crazy they still are with each other.

Despite a couple of quibbles, namely the sudden disappearance of Paul Richardson and Dominic Sandini, the lack of participation of Greg, whom Julie was almost affianced to, Perfect is still a great novel, almost as great as Paradise. Read this and enjoy.


Rating:
Summary: Perfect is definitely Perfect
Review: I bought this book at a yard sale. It was the hardcover and looked brand new. However, I wasn't sure if I would like it. Boy, was I wrong. I couldn't put it down I soon as I started page 1. In the past 4 months that I have it I have read it 5 times straight, and many times I have read my most favorite parts. I have let some of my friends read it, and they absolutely love it.
Zack is my favorite male character ever written. Once I was asked who would I marry if I could marry any fiction character, and I picked Zack without a doubt. He is so sexy, and wonderful, every women's dream. And the good thing is, he makes mistakes too, (the whole 3 minutes thing) and that makes him sooooo believable. But he totally redeems himself with the apologies and THAT letter!!!
Julie is a great character too, however, I can't stand her whole Mexico City mistake. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?????? I can't stand that part, she was so stupid.
On top of everything, the book holds a valuable lesson. We should help people who can't read this book like we can, 'cause this book is PERFECT!
This book is the greatest I have ever read. I would recommend this for anyone.

Read Paradise if you read Perfect. It's the story of Matthew Farrell and his wife Meredith before Perfect. It's a good book, however, I like Perfect better.

Rating:
Summary: I dunno about you guys, but Perfect made me cry...
Review: i just absolutely love this story. it was one of the first books that ive read from ms. mcnaught---one of those that contributed to this enthusiasm over romance.

zachary or zack (oh gosh...is his name hot or what??) is so perfect for julie. as julie is perfect for him. you cannot help but fall in love with these two. the halcyon days they spent all cooped up from the authorities made me wonder if i'll let myself one day be "kidnapped" by a man as de-lish as zack.

but more than the sexuality and the sensuality, as usual (as i was bound to discover upon reading more from ms. mcnaught), the most provocative and compelling facet of Perfect is the emotional turmoil that the protagonists felt as they faced the charges that threatened Zack. and i was just brought to tears on that part where Zack sent Julie a letter. it was so heart-wrenching---and the way ms. mcnaught drove the atmosphere on that particular scene---nothing but a master could do that.

Julie is one of the best heroines ever lovingly created by a writer. she's brave, tough, generous, and so adorable especially when she gets agitated (note the alphabetical obsessive-compulsive thingie that she does...it's really sweet)

with all confidence, i would say that Perfect is the most "perfect" contemporary romance written by ms. mcnaught (and that's saying a lot--since Paradise is a close contender)--there's action, so much drama, passion, tender humor, and that rewarding part where Zack realizes how wrong he was about Julie on the airport ambush scene. and the way he atones for everything by practically lavishing Julie and treating her like she's the only woman on earth (which was really the case for him...)

Rating:
Summary: Perfect Winter Love Story!
Review: I just read Perfect over this weekend, while there was a major snow storm taking place right outside my house. It was just the perfect setting for a perfect winter love story.
July's wit and courage was a perfect complement to a dark and somber Zach.
Thank you Judith for including my two other most favorite characters from Paradise, Mat and Meredith Farrell, another unforgettable couple.


Rating:
Summary: Beautiful story, but.....
Review: I must say, I enjoyed Perfect very, very, very, VERY much for the first, oh - third of it. When I started it I never wanted to put it down, but I did have to sleep at night and go to work the next day. HOWEVER - I agree with one other reviewer who loses interest in romance books the minute the hero & heroine "get together" and/or profess their love for one another early on, which happened by the first third of Perfect. Under the circumstances of this story's particular plotline, it was believeable, but I was just a little disappointed. I like for the characters to truly know one another before anything really romantic happens. Now, that issue aside, I also agree with more than one reviewer who commented about a few missing characters near the end of this novel - Dominic Sandini for one, and Paul Richardson for another. I have to admit, I didn't really miss either one, because I was so caught up with the dramatics in the last 100 or so pages, but yes, now that they remind me, they both should have been mentioned again. A resolution to Paul's character was sorely lacking (it's like no one cared that he was the one who actually played the biggest part in bringing Julie and Zack together in the end). Dominic needed to be mentioned simply because he was so important to Zack in prison. I mean, the man was his best friend for five long years, and helped him escape for crying out loud! But the one character whom none of these reviews have mentioned (since 2/2002 at least) is Julie's original boyfriend, Greg. Or was is Glen, or Doug? Heck, I can't even remember his name and I finished reading the book 45 minutes ago! Now, don't you find something a little strange about a storyline that doesn't even mention the man Julie was thinking about MARRYING when she was kidnapped by Zack? Come on, not a mention of this man after she returned home to the great relief of her entire family - the entire TOWN, actually! Even though he lived in another state at the time - not a phone call, not a breath of word from this boyfriend Greg (I had to consult the book for his actual name). Don't you assume he at least wondered how she was after being held hostage by a deranged killer for a couple of weeks? Hmmmm.... I am so shocked that none of the editors caught that nor any of the reviews I read mentioned him. One other thing I found a little disturbing: Julie was so ready to drop her entire life (the wonderful, fulfilling life her adoptive family had selflessy given her when she was 11 and which she had vowed to never take for granted) and flee off to be with Zack in some far-away, unknown location, knowing there was a good chance she would never see any of her friends or family ever again, after only THREE weeks of separation from Zack? I would have really believed it more if the timeline had been stretched out A LOT more, like say, 6 months or a year. Three weeks is just too soon, and in my opinion, Julie would have had to think about it a great deal more before deciding to just disappear from the face of the earth for this man! If it weren't for the glaring character omissions mentioned before, and the fact that yes, I too agree that Julie was a LITTLE bit over-the-top of a goody-two-shoes, this book would have been a lot closer to being "perfect"!

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely PERFECT!
Review: I've just finished this book, and I can't wait to share with all of you how GREAT this book is. If you haven't read Paradise yet, I think you better do before you start on this Perfect, so that you can know about the loving relationship between Zachary Benedict's best friend, Matt and his wife, Meredith. They were in the story too.

This story is perfectly easily to get into. Julie Mathison was an adopted child with a very unhappy childhood but after she was adopted into the Mathison's family, she blossomed under their love and care. Zach was borned with a silver spoon, or you can say a diamond spoon, in his mouth. But when he was 18 years old, he got thrown out of his house. Determined, he made himself a name in the show business. But when he was wrongly accused of murdering his wife, his success crumpled around him. He was locked away. Five years later, Zach planned an escape from the prison with some help from an inmate's connections. Zach's nicely plotted plan went all wrong until he met Julie. He thought up a scheme to make her offer him a ride. The ever-kind Julie believed in him. That was the start of what would be the one of the most overwhelming romance stories...

You will certainly be touched by Julie's undying devotion to Zach and Zach's love for Julie later. It's really touching, and funny too, in some parts.

I really love this book and I feel that this story is easier to get into than Paradise. But both books are really excellent beyond words can describe. A must-read for all romance readers!

I also feel that the parts on the "Literary. Pass It On." program in America is very meaningful. It has made me, and I'm sure other readers too, see the importance of literacy and how illiteracy has been a major problem in the lives of many illiterate people all over the world, not only illiterate women in America. I really admire how Judith McNaught make her readers aware of this. You really make a difference, Ms McNaught!

Rating:
Summary: I can't get enough of this book!
Review: I've read this book more than a few times already... but every time I read it, I am moved and fall in love all over again. I love Zack Benedict more and more and my heart goes out to Julie Mathison. These two are a perfect match. They may not be the most perfect characters but they are perfect for each other. Zack is an Academy Award winning actor and director who gets imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. When his escaped attempt goes wrong, he has no choice but to take a hostage to secure his escape. Little did Zack know that his beautiful hostage has a heart the size of Texas and change his life forever. Julie Mathison may seem like the ideal daughter and the perfect small town teacher but she has had to over come many obstacles... and has tried so hard to keep her perfect life just the way it is. It isn't until she meets her kidnapper, she finds what true love really is.

This is such a beautiful story. Perfect is full of wonderful writing and beautiful characters with lots of soul. And the intriguing secondary characters add much pizzazz to the story. The romantic scenes in the Colorado cabin are sizzling and the letter that Zack writes to Julie when he was in Latin America is just... indescribable. This books takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions... which I enjoy going on over and over again.

This is one of Judith's best works!

Rating:
Summary: best of the best
Review: I've read thousands of books and this is by far one of the best if not the best. Judith Mcnaught is an amazing writer. If you haven't read Paradise read it first. Just when you think Paradise is one of the greatest reads, Perfect then blows you away. Definately a page turner which is very important to me. If a book doesn't grasp me in the first two chapters I don't even finish it. I really like how Mcnaught includes the problem of illiteracy in the book. I think it is wonderful how she makes us see what a problem it is and how it greatley effects peoples lives in ways that we "readers" couldn't imagine.

Rating:
Summary: Perfect read for lazy afternoon!
Review: Perfect by Judith McNaught is the perfect read for a lazy afternoon. It's also a book you will want to read more than once. I loved it!