Rating:  Summary: Doesn't Stand Up to the Test of Time Review: When I first started reading romance, Whitney, My Love was one of my favorite books. So, after finding myself stuck in an airport, I picked it up again to see what McNaught had done to revise the book. Unfortunately, I can't say the book is as good as I originally thought. All the contrived misunderstandings got to be too much, and I wanted to smack Whitney herself. Don't get me wrong, this is not a horrible book. However, it isn't as good as the reviews below would have you believe. I think romance writing has evolved beyond Whitney -- and the revisions only emphasize the antiquated writing and plot. I suggust reading Mary Balogh or Mary Jo Putney if you're looking for a good (longer) regency. Like Kathleen Woodiwiss, Judith McNaught's day is past.
Rating:  Summary: You've got to be kidding... Review: I've read a lot of reviews written by people who try to excuse Clayton's heinous behavior towards Whitney as being "realistic in the eighteen hundreds." While it is true that women were not liberated during this era, I have serious doubts that his actions were the norm during this time. Rape is never appropriate during any time period or in any context. Clayton did not "rape" Whitney (as so many people are inclined to write), he RAPED her. Rape is when someone forces sex on another person who is not willing, which was the case in this novel. They were NOT married, which is the only way the "realistic in the eighteen hundreds" arguement would even be remotely valid (which is still questionable in my opinion). Was behavior like this acceptable in England, a country who prided itself on the civility and delicate manners of its aristocracy? I doubt it. And while we're on the subject of realism, how realistic is it for a woman to fall deeply in love with a man who verbally abuses her, whips her like a dog, rapes her, and then accuses her of carrying another man's child? The worst part of all, was the fact that she had to practically grovel at his feet like some pathetic weakling in order for HIM to take HER back. Instead of being realistic, this book was utterly ridiculous. I feel truly sorry (but at the same time disgusted) for those who consider this kind of relationship the epitomy of what "perfect" love should be and for those who dream of a man as controlling and violent as Clayton. I despised him from almost his first appearance in the book. My feelings about the character of Whitney are not much better. I just could not comprehend how she kept going back to him and giving in to him after everything he did. It made me ill, and by the time the book was half finished, I hated her too. How I ever read this entire infuriating book is beyond me. It is NOT realistic and it is NOT romantic. The conflict between the two main characters was over the top. As it is obvious from my extremely negative review, I do not recommend this book.
Rating:  Summary: A thoroughly satisfying book! Review: Whitney, My Love is a book about a beauty named Whitney, who grew up on rough terms with her father, and was madly in love with a man who does nothing to return her affection. In desperation to rid himself of her, her father sends her to France in hopes of turning her into a lady. She returns to England four years later, grown into a woman, and nearly the most sought after bride in France. Meanwhile, her father had fallen into incredible debt, and bargained away his daughter to a duke for a large sum of money. Whitney has no clue of this and finds that her childhood love Paul is now very receptive to her advances. And yet another suitor, from France, is still in love with her and has been since he first set his eyes on her. By many strange turns of events, misunderstandings, and unusual plot twists, Whitney finally finds herself at the altar with her one true love... Whitney, My Love was wonderfully written and traps you in the story so that every emotion the heroine feels, you find yourself feeling. It's hard to put down and the everchanging twists in the storyline have you routing for Whitney to do first one thing, then another, and you end the book feeling much as Whitney did, content and happy with the turn-out. The only problem with this book is time, you'll need lots of it, because you'll want to finish Whitney, My Love in one sitting!
Rating:  Summary: Wonderful! Review: Let me start of by saying, IF YOU DON'T WANT A REALISTIC VEIW OF A RELATIONSHIP IN THE EIGHTEEN HUNDREDS, STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOOK! But, if you want a realistic view of real people going through real struggles, but having a real, true and perfect love, then this book is for you. Let me also say, YES, THERE IS ONE WHIPPING SCENE AND ONE RAPE SCENE IN HERE. But, let me also say that those are only one scene, it never happened again, and women often had it far worse in the eighteen hundreds. Okay, enough said out front. If realistic fiction turns you off, you can be done and gone by now. I really enjoyed *Whitney, My Love*. Infact, I think it is my favorite of Ms. McNaught's. This book really shows her writing style and imagination, and it is easy to see why so many people love her work. I adored Whitney. She was perfectly writen into the story, and most of the time, I felt that Clayton was putting his arms around me too. There were many times when I wished I could travel in time to take her place and experience for myself what was happening. That is what makes a good romance, when you wishing you were in the characters' shoes. Clayton knocked the breath right out of me! I could litterally see his face painted onto the pages instead of the words. Through out reading this, I felt like I was watching romance movie, complete with stunning cinamatography, heart break and betrayal. Romance is not a cake walk--- you have to work hard to keep it alive, and that's what Whitney and Clayton did. This is the first romance novel that I have started sobbing in. And, unless you heart is made of stone, you'll probably cry too. So let me say one more thing, this is one of my favorite romances of all time. You will not be sorry if you read it.
Rating:  Summary: McNaughts best book Review: Whitney My Love actually came out over ten years ago in paperback. It was so well written and so loved that recently it was reissued as a hardback in addition to the several paperback reissues. This is a fantastic story with an engaging story line and a hero and heroin that you can not help but fall in love with. Both main characters are believably flawed and wonderfully fantastic. In my opinion this is the best romance that I have ever read and I read a lot. This book is not worth reading just once or twice but again and again.
Rating:  Summary: A favorite to read over and over and over again Review: Okay, so I guess I'm a little biased. I've read the original version three times already and couldn't keep my hands off the new version. In 1820 the Duke of Claymore falls for a 'nobody' beautiful Whitney Stone. Realizing that her uncle is turning down every offer, he goes to her father and pays a fortune to become betrothed to her. Whitney is mortified, she's already in love with someone else. As Clayton's luck would have it, things don't work out too well with Whitney's first love and he finds Whitney in his arms. Many misunderstandings later the couple is happily married, only to have more misunderstandings. Oh how I love this book! Not everybody agrees due to the rape scene halfway through, but I overlook that just because this book is so wonderful. The new version has several added chapters that, while charming, could have been easily left out.
Rating:  Summary: Amazed and happy! Review: At first I was skeptical of reading this book mainly because all the reviews warn of the "rape", etc. But I am so glad now that I listened to my friend and read this for myself. The "rape" has signifigance to the story's plot. I know you're saying, "what! How! " Hear me out..I have read the newly revised edition, and I have heard it has been "softened" around the edges, so to speak, compaired to the older editions. Whitney you are sure to fall in love with, she is witty and charming and I even laughed out loud at times. The humor the author has put into this story will stay with you hours and even days after you read this. McNaught has a way of pulling you into the story like no other I have read. You feel for Whitney. The hero is Duke Clayton Westmoreland. At first you want to scratch his eyes out, he is so arrogant and frustrating, but when he reveals his unconditonal love for Whitney when she doesn't know it, you feel for him. The things he does he did for the unbelieveable love he feels for her. The "rape" is not what you think, you will know what I mean when you read it(without giving the story away). Even though it's no excuse for it, but remember ladies, this is the 17th century also... Whitney is forced to marry him because her father "sells" her to the Duke(Clayton)for a very large sum of money. The father feels he needs to do this because he is in dire finacial straits. Whitney is not at all happy with this because she has a well-known crush on Paul, one of her neighbors. Clayton at first tolerates it and tries to get her to get used to him, but he finds himself falling HARD for her. She still thinks she's "in love" with Paul this whole time. There's a lot of misunderstandings that happen between Whitney and Clayton that cause the inevitable anger on his part. The story is so well written that I fell in love with the characters. Even the "rape" didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. The love that they feel for each other is so great that it will bring a tear to your eye. This edition also makes it easier to move on to its sequels "Until You" & "Kingdom of Dreams". "Until You" is about Clay's brother. And "Kingdom of dreams" is about the 1st Duke and Dutchess of Claymore. "Whitney, My Love" is about the 9th Duke of Claymore, Clayton Westmoreland. This is a great story, I loved it beyond words, I hope you will too...
Rating:  Summary: Couldn't put down "Whitney, My Love Review: This is an excellent romance that keeps you reading continuously. I finished the book in 3 days while on a camping trip. It transports you to the 1800's and paints the scenes so clearly that you feel you are there. It is very descriptive and extremely entertaining. Whitney is an unpredictable character and very bold for a woman of this era. The problems encountered between her and Clayton lead you to believe they will never truly be together but somehow you know that their love must prevail. It is a well researched, historically interesting novel. I was immediately compelled to purchase another book by Judith McNought and thus came to this website to do so. If you love romance novels, this is a "must read". Enjoy.
Rating:  Summary: Fell In Love Review: I think that this must be one of my favorite books. Maybe I'm just too much of a romantic, but everytime Whitney and Clayton would be apart from each other, it just broke my heart. When reading this book, of course you have to understand that times were different back then - You need to have an open mind and just enjoy the book, rather than criticize certain parts (i.e. - rape scene)... first of all, he was devastated when he realized his mistake. I know that doesn't make up for it, but it shows that he does care. I'm glad they made it, and I have every intention on reading Kingdom of Dreams and Until You.
Rating:  Summary: Clayton of the "big sword" Review: Whitney Stone is sent to her aunt and uncle in Paris, in disgrace. She is a hoyden and the despair of her father and neighbors. She then grows into an exquisite, if spirited, young lady who catches the eye of Clayton, Duke of Claymore. He contracts a marriage with her from her impoverished father, but she has other ideas. In the midst of Claymore's jealousies and Whitney's attempts to win her childhood crush, a romance is born.
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