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Summary: The medieval romance novel of you dreams!
Review: I got this book b/c all the reviews said it was "the best book ever." I had to see for myself, and OMG this has to be THE best love story I have ever read! All of you were right. I am obsessed w/medieval times, so of course I loved this book. However, even if you don't like that time period, I think you will still love this book! It is the most realistic romance novel I have ever read. I felt every emotion possible reading this book. It is hilarious, yet heartwrenching. It will make you furious, and disappointed. It brought out so many emotions that I felt like I was in the book. I laughed so hard, and cried so hard. The funny parts are hysterically funny, and the sad parts are painfully touching. I cannot express enough what a fabulous book this is. The one scene in this book that is so sad is the best scene I have EVER read, and it will stand out forever! You HAVE to read this book! Am I obsessed.....yeah, but romance novels are for escape, and I fully take advantage of the few escapes I get when reading a romance novel.
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Summary: Utterly Beautiful....
Review: This story is one of THE most romantic I have ever read in the 11 years I have been reading romance. This is the story of Jennifer Merrick from Scotland who is abducted by the powerful "Black Wolf", who is Royce Westmoreland. He is the most feared of the nobles of King Henry. Trouble is brewing between Scotland and England, Royce kidnaps his enemy's daughter to get the Clansmen to buckle. The story is filled with adventure and history. Knights in shining armor and castles...it's a beautifully written story of the ancestors of Claymore(from the Whitney, My Love book and Until You book.) The heartwrenching love between these two will make you cry. Especially when Jennifer swears feality to Royce. My eyes teared and my hearty constricted. It is the most romantic and beautiful scene I have ever read in a book. Judith McNaught has an uncanny way of knowing how to reach into the readers hearts with her writing. The characters were people I would love to know in real life. I especially loved Royce. He was so tender and what dreams are made of. Jennifer would make any woman proud with her defiance and bravery. I loved this story as much as I loved it's prequel "Whitney, My Love". This is a must read for those hopeless romantics out there like me. The other books in this series are: Whitney, My Love & Until You, in that order. Read this first before Whitney, My Love; even though it was written after. Then read Until You last. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did. It's beautiful beyond words....
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Summary: For Its Genre, This is the Best It Gets
Review: 11 years ago when I was in high school, my head just hurt from all the literature that they were stuffing into us. A friend of mine suggested I read some brain candy, and she leant me this book. I will always remember Stephanie Bickle for this because she introduced me to one of my guiltiest pleasures, this book, Kingdom of Dreams.When you turn the pages, just remember to suspend reality and slip into another dimension for a while. You will be very hard pressed to put this book down. The heroine is independent and fiery. She is also not perfect. She is who we all are. The hero is rough and tumble. Who doesn't want to fall in love with a proud warrior? He too has his faults, but that is what makes you love him more. I am not one to reveal a story. All I will say is that I love this book. Just pick it up. You will have a very hard time putting it down!!
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Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: I mostly read a lot of science fiction, fantasy, and horror books so when I saw this book I decided to try it. Jenny reminded me of myself, willful, and stubborn, always trying to come out on top. When Royce's brother steals her and her step-sister Brenna from her convent school the only thing on her mind is escape. She almost does, and in the process throws caos into Royce's camp, and leaves his men laughing at him behind his back. Slowly but surely Royce finds his attraction for Jenny growing, but is unwilling to act on it because she's the daughter of his enemy. After Brenna becomes "sick" Jenny begs him to send Brenna away, telling him she'll do anything if he agrees. Royce gives in, on one condition, she has to become his mistress. Worried sick for her sister, Jenny agrees. After a night of wild passion, Royce begans to fall deeply in love with Jenny, and Jenny begins to see him in a new light. I can't tell you anymore or it will ruin the book for you! The characters are all very well developed, and the story line well written. Definitely go read it!
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Summary: A Kingdom of Dreams
Review: "A Kingdom of Dreams" is the first Judith McNaught's novels that I have read. I fell like a rock for her books since then. Jennifer Merrick is a spirited, warm hearted beauty who brings a smile to readers reading about her antics, and tears when she cries. She's no weepy, weak damself in distress, awaiting her hero though. She only shedded tears once in the novel and it brought tears to my eyes as I felt her deep love for her husband and her guilt at having "brought him down" (read the book to understand what I mean by "having brought him down". Royce Westmoreland, the male protaganist, is an alpha male who loves her with an intensity that touches every heart. He is 10 out 10 hero who's also flesh and blood with the ability to feel love, pain and sorrow. Their story is a poignant tale in a web of political rivalry and cruel family machinations. The dialogues in the book are witty and humourous, touching and heartfelt. Read the book and fall into spell of Judith McNaught. Her other books are great too.
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Summary: I cant say enough about this book!!
Review: This book had all the elements and I truly loved it! It has surpassed even Whitney, My Love for me(and that is very hard to do, it being the regining champion for over a year!). Jennifer and Royce were so perfect for each other and there love grew and evolved and I found myself dreaming of my own kingdom of dreams. What a wonderful romance and the secondary characters were so great!!! I loved the comraderie of all of the guys and how Aunt Elinor nagged Arik constantly! she was too funny!! i have just finished this book and I am going to go back and read it again! It is truly a wonderful romance!!!
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Summary: My favorite of all... as of 11/7/2000
Review: This is my first book of Judith McNaught & surely not thelast! AKOD is simply the best historical romance (or any romancebook) I have ever read so far. I have never read a book like this...It brought different whirling emotions out of me while reading eachpage. I cried, squirmed, laughed, even jump out of my chair inresponse to many scenes & story twist. I simply cannot put itdown. I almost called in sick from work as I stayed up till dawnreading this darn book! I agree with one of the reviewer here inAmazon, I was like a zombie at work too! hehe... I must say thoughthat the effort was pleasingly worth it. I cannot even understand whythe avg rating here is only 4 1/2. I say, it deserves more than justa 5... A 10 would be perfect! Jennifer & Royce... both heartwarming couple! Different yet perfect for one another. Theirconfusions of love & hate made their love story riveting. Trapbetween love & loyalty for country also made this story moreexciting. Just when you begin to feel they start loving &trusting each other, situations/circumstances forces them to makechoices, which often times, lead them back to where they've started -hate & mistrust. Really exhilarating.... Of course, love wins inthe end ... love set them both free! I totally disagree with somereviews in regards to Jennifer being so "stupid" for notseeing his family & kin's faults. For me, it is understandable& her loyalty for them actually makes me admire her more. Itwould turn me off if she was easily swayed to give up her family &people without even trying... I say this book is more realistic! Yes,she's blind not to see the true color of her father... but regardlessof his mistakes, they are still her family. She loves her father justlike any daughter would. She also longed to be accepted & lovedby her people ever since she can remember & when they finally gaveher attention and recognition (which was his father's plan just tomanipulate her), it was difficult for Jennifer not to feel otherwise.Her choices, especially during the tournament made me squirm (i won'ttell what she did, don't want to ruin it for others...) Oh, but Icouldn't believe she did that! I wasn't disgusted though, I feltsorry for her. I can tell it was a hard decision for her to make,however wrong it might be. But this is where Judith McNaught reallyproved how she can touch her reader's soul by over turning this badchoice that Jennifer made. J.M. wrote a wonderful come back at theend of this tournament (again, i won't tell...), which proved thatlove is far greater than pride and even life... It is simply amazing! Each page of this book contains many exciting scenes. Amusingscenes: like the "THIS IS FORTY..." scene, her escaping fromcaptivity, the wedding & etc.... Heart warming scenes: WhenJennifer decided the fate of the boy who threw mudcake at her, WhenRoyce acknowledge her to his people, etc.... I can point outnumerous, numerous gestures in this book that really made my hearttwirl such as Jennifer kissing Royce's battle scars, standing in thebalcony together - sharing minds & dreams. There's more, lots more.... but I think it is best for the reader to find it out themselves.I can assure you, this book is really one of a kind. The one youwouldn't want to miss. If you are a romance book reader, YOU GATTAHAVE THIS ONE.
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Summary: Breathless
Review: Two years ago, my son's babysitter brought a book to my home to read while my son slept. Yes, it had one of "those" kinds of covers and I asked "how could you read this stuff (romance)?" She picked out a section for me to read and I was hooked! I realized you truly cannot judge a book by its cover. In the past two years I have devoured romances and have found that historicals are by far my favorite. Judith McNaught's writing is magical and this book left me breathless. When Jennifer does the ultimate act of love for her husband by swearing fealty to him in front of thousands and losing her father's "love" in the process, I cried. One of the most beautifully romantic moments I have ever read. I am a very discriminating reader and there are many authors in all genres I will not read. Judith McNaught is the first author I recommend to people to thumb their noses at romance (like yours truly used to) and she and I have made several converts! This book and Whitney, My Love are the first two I recommend. Ms. McNaught is magical and romantic and poignant without being sappy and overly emotional. When you want to close a book with a sigh and a good, warm feeling, read any of her books!
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Summary: I've never seen a more heartLESS heroine!
Review: I swear the only reason I finished this book was because I found Royce so endearing. But this is the first time that I have been compelled to write a review so I could vent my utter disgust about the leading "lady" -- if one can call her that. Jennifer's behavior throughout the book went from one deplorable act to another. And everything she did to embarrass or spite Royce was supposed to be forgiven, because it was either a misunderstanding or because she had be wronged. Give me a break. But anytime Royce made a mistake or acted badly, Jenny couldn't find it in her heart to forgive him. The inbalance in how their actions were either punished or just dismissed (as in the case of Jennifer) was frustrating. As a avid romance reader, I deplore when a writer forgives the heroine's nasty and mean behavior towards her husband or lover with a well-worded excuse. And we are supposed to applaude their "feisty" and "proud" behavior. Jennifer was just unforgiving and a hypocrit. And I have not found a more displeasurable heroine than the one JM created in this book.
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Summary: AFTER READING THE LAST PAGE...
Review: I flipped right back to page one and read it again. I was so enthralled in this book, I never wanted to leave Royce and Jennifer's world. I had never even heard of Judith McNaught, nor have I ever really been a fan of the romance genre...I am now. I don't think I can recall ever reading a book that made me laugh and cry out loud like this one did. McNaught brings these charachers to life so completely so as to insure that the reader would be both emotionally attached to them, as well as begging to know even more. Even the periphrial characters such as Gawin, Sir Eustace, Arik and Aunt Elinor were so charming (In their own special ways) and compelling that I was left wishing there was a novel devoted to each one of them. I would really love to see it made into a movie, I think Oscars would rain down upon it providing the best cast for it is esembled. My vote is for Brittany Murphy as the herione Jennifer Merrick Westmoreland. As a side thought, when I read the authors dedication to her son at that beginning I was so touched I knew I was in for an emotional roller coaster... Boy was I!
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