Rating: 
Summary: Why I loved this book
Review: Whitney, My Love has always been my favorite romance novel. In fact, I have read it more than twenty times in the years since I first found it. I was honestly astounded at the strongly negative responses I found in the reviews, and due to the complete mix of emotions, I wanted to give my thoughts and opinions on the book that I love so much. The main reason I loved this book - it made me feel. From the very beginning, I empathized with, cried with, laughed with and wanted to knock some sense into Whitney. She was strong willed, determined and full of love and the desperate need to be loved. Her fixation on Paul was very much a fantasy born from a child's heart that would give her the love she so desired. But Whitney herself was a very, very real character - she had faults, she had strengths and most of all, she had heart and courage. She wasn't perfect, and I as a woman identified with her need to be loved, her need to feel wanted and to find her place in the world. I was drawn to Clayton for many of the same reasons he drove me crazy. He was enigmatic, arrogant, strong-willed and beyond stubborn. And underneath it, even when she drove him crazy, he wanted to protect Whitney, he wanted to love her and share everything he had with her. But he also lived in a world where everything was handed to him on a silver platter...everything except Whitney. From the moment he met Whitney, he was intrigued by her personality and her beauty. He wanted her and he was used to getting what he wanted. As was fairly common practice in historial times, arranged a marriage through her father. This he kept secret, to give them time to know each other, so he could court her and gain her favor. The story of Whitney and Clayton is not about abuse, but it is about emotion - sometimes raw, sometimes loving and sometimes angry. It will make you cry, it will make you angry, but it will make you feel. And throughout reading this book, I fell in love with this couple, how they battled each other and what they felt, how they loved. I wished for them to clear up their misunderstandings, to admit to their love for each other and just be happy...but life isn't like that, and I appreciated that art follows life. Judith McNaught portrays two characters who live in a world very different from ours, where men possess and control and women are subserviant to them. But Whitney is loveable and likable, Clayton is strong and assured and everything male.
Their story is of emotion, of love and of learning how to conquer your own fears, how to recognize love above all things and understand that it really can conquer all. I am not an advocate of rape. But I still loved this book. Clayton's rape of Whitney made me cry, it made me hurt for her and it made my heart break. Judith McNaught did not gloss over this scene or make it something it shouldn't be. Clayton's actions were not right, and she did not portray them as right. But she did portray that though pain is not made of love, love can exist beyond it and in spite of it. This is obviously a love or hate book, and I'm not going to try and change anyone's opinion. But I loved this book the first time I read it, and every time after that. I still consider it my favorite book. It's a beautiful story of two people in their own time who manage to find love by finding a way to get past their own needs to start fulfilling each others.
Rating:
Summary: Oh My Gosh!
Review: Let me just start by saying that I've read many other romance novels before and only picked up this book by chance. Now I can say that it is lucky for me that I did not read this book first because the other novels just cannot compare to this one. It is absolutely breathtaking! The hero, the heroine, the supporting characters are so developed, you actually grow with them and feel with them. I never really want to recommend books to others because everyone have different tastes. However, I can 100% guarantee ANYONE will love this book. It'll be worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: You will either love it or hate it
Review: This is an unforgettable book. The number of reviews alone (over 200 so far) make this book stand out from all the rest of the romance novels. It's interesting to note that the author had originally meant for Nikki to be the hero and Clayton to be the rival. She reversed the roles because Nikki paled next to Clayton. Clayton and Whitney are my favorite McNaught's characters because they come to love each other despite their great differences. I also love the wonderful dialogue which is exceptionally witty, funny, and touching. The book is as melodramatic as a juicy romance novel should be. I truly enjoyed it!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book
Review: I love the story of Whitney and her escapades. I read this book a few years back and actually repurchased it recently so I could enjoy is again. It's rare that I reread a book, but Whitney and her story just suck me in every time. We see Whitney grow from a reckless, wild child out to impress the older Paul, to a respected, beautiful young woman who learns that what she wanted as a child, may not be what she wants forever. Although Clayton was at times a little too stubborn for my taste, I never thought there was a rape involved in their story. Just so many misunderstandings, and I have cried every time I read this book. Whitney is treated quite shabbily by the people she grows up with, and the reader struggles with her as she returns to her childhood home and faces her past reputation. I cannot put into words just how much I enjoyed this book, and know I'll read it again and again. It just never gets old for me.
Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: This is a wonderful historical novel. I loved it and always seem to go back and reread it time and time again.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: I believe this is Judith McNaught's best work of historical literature. I know many may argue my point because of Clayton and the rape scene, BUT I believe (and some of you may think this is taking up for a "male chauvinist" hero) that the author did an excellent job with her characterization and portraying Clayton as truly repentant and tortured with the anguish and guilt that went along with hurting Whitney. If you don't like the plot of this story, then I don't recommend that you read her others. There are constant clashes, perhaps not as dramatic and painful as this one though, which the characters eventually work out and live happily ever after in the end. (And yes, I am a hopeless romantic.) I loved this book mainly because of JM's rich characterizations and transformations, dynamic storyline, and exciting dialogue. It really pulls you into the story and gives you the ability to relate to the characters and what they're feeling. All in all, a captivating read you'll want to re-read again.
Rating: 
Summary: Disgusting
Review: I'm new to reading romance books, and on the advice of an online buddy I read Paradise. I enjoyed Ms. McNaught's writing style enough that I decided to try another one of her books. Unfortunately, I chose this one. It started out interesting enough, but the minute Clayton hauled Whitney off and raped her (I read the older version and have no doubt that it was a rape, not simply some painful first time experience)I wanted to cry. How in the world anyone could ever consider what Clayton did romantic is beyond me and a sad commentary on what passes as entertainment in our society. Giving McNaught the benefit of the doubt, I valiantly perservered, hoping that somehow this "hero" could been at least partially redeemed, but not only does he never apologize for his despicable act, Whitney is the one who ends up crawling back to him. If that isn't bad enough, after these two are married, Clayton then jumps to another erroneous conclusion and treats Whitney terribly once again, even plotting to take her baby away from her after she has had a few years to become atttached to it. And somehow we are supposed to believe that Clayton drying off Whitney with a towel is enough of an apology for her to accept him back with open arms. Once again, how anyone can consider this romantic is beyond me. After my awful experience with this sickening book, I will not read another book by Judith McNaught, and most likely will not read another "romance" book again. If this is what passes for romance, then I want nothing to do with it.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT BOOK!!!!!
Review: I really loved this book...I couldn't put it down. I especially liked it because it made me laugh a few times....
Rating:
Summary: Terrible book
Review: I read this book several years ago and was so upset by the end of it. The "hero" was downright abusive. First he rapes her because of a false rumor he heard. It's not seduction but rape. It's her first time so he hurts her. Then SHE runs after HIM, but when she finds him she gives him a look since she is unable to suppress her well justified anger. That look enrages him though HE HAS RAPED HER. He does not apologize to her but gets mad at her and ends up taking up with another woman and getting engaged to her very soon after the rape. You keep waiting for him to repent but he doesn't. He has moved on and she mourns over him. She has to travel to him where he is with his family and the other woman and win him over. The woman and him are rude to her in front of his family, and she stays and takes it to win him back. Then he marries her, decides she cheated on him, and abandons her at a party to go after and leave with another woman. This was just a heartbreaking book and I can not understand why so many people like it. At the end, he apologizes and Whitney takes him back, but by then he has hurt her unbearably and I do not know how she can trust him. He never suffers sufficiently for what he has done. It saddens me that this book is as popular as it is.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible!
Review: I was going to add my opinion but found there was no need. One only has to read the review written by a lady from Texas, Nov.12.02.
It says it all, certainly echos my sentiments exactly.
I do normally love this author, though.
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