Paradise

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST OF THE BEST: BRAVO, BRAVO JUDITH SIMPLE MARVELOUS
Review: I must confess I love all of her books. When I read "Paradies" & "Perfect" I became slave of love. I fell in love with all the characters. I just wish one of these stories will made into a TV movie for lifetime. If anyone out there has not read any of her book with eyes close I strongly recommend these two books then you'll let me in your review. you will laugh, cry then there will be time you want to kill them all then you turn the page and you just fall in love over and over again. in paradise my favorite scene is the meeting between Meridith and Matt at his place she went to tell him the truth about the baby. I cried and cried along with them. I read that scence so many time the pages of the book just disappear on me. if you're going on vacation stop by a book store take Matt, Mer & Zack, Julie with you believe me you won't regret it. I thought "whitney my lovve" was it until I read these 2. judith keep up the good work and if you could write a little more often it will help. some of us are suffering waiting for the next novel. I felt she takes an eternity after "Remember When" came out until "Night Whispers". but you're my # 1 author. Love always your fan

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.

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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.


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!

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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.