Rating: 
Summary: Almost Heaven
Review: Only few heroes who really affect me so much that I can't help but wish that they are alive and real, in the flesh and mine to keep. They are: Ian (AH); Jamie (Outlander/Gabaldon); Samuel (The Shadow and the Star/Kinsale); Christian (Flower From the Storm/Kinsale) and Derek (Dreaming of You/Kleypas). Ian Thornton is just, IMHO, simply the best hero McNaught ever created and he ranks among the best of all the heroes in the world of literature. The heroine, Elizabeth Cameron, is just his perfect match. I love these two to death. Both are strong, stubborn, proud and yet vulnerable. I agree with one of the previous reviewers: I love how McNaught combined subtle humor and heartwrenching emotions in this book. Ian and Elizabeth are fully developed, and the ways McNaught developed them are just interesting. Another thing that I love about this book is that instead of a misunderstanding, as in her other books, we get a conflict (It's alright if you don't agree with me here). I thought the conflict was amazingly written. And the Courtroom scene! That was just classic. I really admired Elizabeth in that scene. 'Almost Heaven' is my favorite McNaught and my favorite romance. I'm going to buy a new copy of AH, since my copy at the moment is in poor conditions due to countless rereads LOL. Seriously, this book is just very special to me and I would recommend it to those readers who are yet to read it and hope youl'll love it as much as I do.
Rating:
Summary: Rules were made to be broken...
Review: I came onto this sight to look at the reveiws for Almost Heaven. I read the book a while ago and really loved it. Then, I saw that some one named Kelly had already reviewed it. Strange, I thought. But the other Kelly was not me! I'm not review it twice! Anyway, back to the book... If only Elizabeth Cameron had listned to the little rule, rules were made to be broken, she may have had a less complicated life when she met Ian Thornton. They fall in love over a weekend at a country party, and Ian proposes, not knowing Elizabeth's standing in Society (she's a countess) and that she is laready bethrothed. Her brother comes charging into the scene, yells foul things at Ian and reveals the truth about Elizabeth. Elizabeth is heartbroken as she watches sadness turn into hate in Ian's eyes. She knows she loves him, but dosen't have the courage to say it. Her brother mysteriously dissaperes, and Elizabeth is ruined by the scandal. Two years later, Elizabeth and Ian meet again and Elizabeth discovers she still loves Ian, and the same feelings come from him. But as a dark secret is revealed fron their pasts, will Elizabeth and Ian find true happiness? One reason I loved this book was that Ian was one of the most romantic heroes I have ever read about. I agree with a previous reveiwer that he says some heart stopping and heart melting things. You love him so much, and wish for a man like him for your own someday. Elizabeth was very naive at the begining, but transforms into a more organic and caring person the second time around. The book was written very thoughtfully and lets you feel every emotion known to man. I laughed, I cried, and I totally fell in love with this book. If you are a fan of Judith's or if you are just getting started, this is definatly a book for you. This was my first JM, and I have read everything that I could of hers since then.
Rating: 
Summary: it's ALMOST heaven
Review: I hope nobody will condemn me for what I have to say. I already gave it a four-star-review for I know giving it less than that will gain me dozens of "unhelpful-votes". Maybe, I'll start with the good stuff. This novel have excellent humorous dialogues. McNaught has delivered every witty remarks with style. I CONGRATULATE her on that part! I thought I had read all the books that can make me laugh out loud. I was wrong! Here is another book that can make a person laugh without him/her doubting the author's abilities. I also like how she created Elizabeth's and Ian's characters. There are no denials of their love for each other. I applaud Ian's honest confession of his feelings for Elizabeth. It always pleases me to witness a man admits his feelings FIRST before the woman does. In romance novels, that's surely a rare possibility, and that's one of the parts I like about this novel. The bad parts are not really that bad. You see, the humor and anticipation filled the beginning. The emotions and the excitement were at the end. I enjoyed both segments extremely well. BUT...uh-oh...I hate to do this to a 5-star-book especially to a McNaught one, but I have to be honest...The middle is a little bit dry and slow. I had multiple urges to put down the book and do something else. Still, I was touched by the sweetness and sincerity of the affection blossoming between Ian and Elizabeth. I was also impressed that McNaught had succeeded to blend the title, Almost Heaven, at the remaining lines of the novel quite properly(unlike "Until You" which ALMOST turned the whole thing sour for me) which gave the novel a whole new definition. After these musings, and may I mention that I didn't really say a lot of dreadful things concerning the story line, I have to say that it was almost good or heaven as my title implies. That's just because I can name another McNaught novel that'll beat this one, but still, it's worth ur time and Im sure ull enjoy the book like most people did.
Rating:
Summary: almost heaven
Review: This was one of the best Judith McNaught books I have read, if not THE best. I liked this book much more than *Whitney, My Love*. In my opinion, Ian Thornton is the ultimate hero. He's compassionate, romantic, intelligent....where can I find myself an Ian? :) I love how he comes to Elizabeth's rescue when he finds out what she has gone through in the past 2 years. This book kept me crying one second, then laughing the next. I didn't like the whole issue with Elizabeth's brother though. How could she have done that to Ian??? That was when I just wanted to go yell at her. I mean, I thought she was smarter than that!! How dumb can she be to not trust Ian, but trust her stupid brother instead?? I just didnt' like that whole conflict in this story, and then the courtroom scene. That was funny, but still, I started to not like Elizabeth after that. You can't blame Ian for being so angry like that. Overall, this was a good read, and i highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: heartwarming
Review: Almost Heaven is my first Judith McNaught book. Having been a Julie Garwood fan, I had run out of her books, so decided to try Ms. McNaught instead and I can't say I was disappointed. Now I have to get Whitney, My Love and already have Something Wonderful and A Kingdom Of Dreams, which I can't wait to read. Elizabeth Cameron had once been the most sought-after debutante in London history, blessed with indescribable beauty. Needing to make a successful union in order to save her beloved country home from creditors, she has agreed to marry whoever her brother chooses. One night, however, she meets the intriguing and handsome Ian Thorton at a party of more "experienced" ladies and gentlemen. The innocent deb comes to Ian's defense time and again when other gentlemen called him a cheat and challenged him to duels just because he wasn't a noble like them. This causes Ian and Elizabeth to become closer as he opens his heart to this brave young woman...and they fall in love, with Ian offering marriage. Except everyone finds out due to a trick and now Elizabeth's reputation has been torn to shreds by gossip and Ian has disappeared after finding out that she was already betrothed. There is no longer any chance of marrying well in order to save her beloved Havenhurst. On top of that, her brother has also disappeared after having tried to Ian twice. Two years later, with Elizabeth's uncle as her guardian, she is shamelessly offered to all suitors who had once sought her. Ian Thorton was one of them! Elizabeth hurt and betrayed, no longer wants to marry and tries to dissuade each and every suitor. Ian, finding her in his Scotland cottage, begins to soften toward her once again. He remains remote until Elizabeth is summoned home to marry a disgustingly perverted old man...realizing from his uncle, Duncan, the trials and tribulations that Elizabeth endured the past two years because of their scandal, Ian races to marry her...in order for her uncle to accept his offer for her hand, he must be titled. And so, after two decades of avoiding his grandfather, Ian reunites with the Duke of Stanhope, becoming his new heir. Ian then rushes to London to find Elizabeth and save her from the gossipers who will surely tear her apart if she tries to enter society again. Elizabeth has no other choice but to show herself in society in order to avoid marriage to a lecher...and though she's championed by one of the most powerful women in London society, everyone either laughs at her or ignores her...that is, until the new Marquess of Kensington and his grandfather the Duke of Stanhope step in and make things right. Ian then goes through the traditional courting methods to win Elizabeth's hand in marriage, even though the contract had been signed long before. After the marriage, all is happy as the characters confess their love...until one night, her brother Robert returns...and opens Elizabeth's ears to a horrifying story. She runs away leaving Ian to believe she has taken a lover, and also leaving him on trial for her and her brother's murder since Robert has disappeared for two years. Elizabeth comes back...but will she be able to earn back his love? This book is a treasure. I especially liked the ending because I believe that the ending ties everything together and no matter how well the story is woven, if the ending is lacking, then you will still be disappointed. However, this ending is so tender and sweet and the words spoken by the characters are so full of love, that I couldn't help but smile and wish I was ELizabeth. This book has made me laugh and cry, love and hate (esp. her uncle Julius and her brother Robert)...and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I have. It's a definite keeper! You will want to read it time and again.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Story
Review: I enjoyed this story immensely. The strong passion between the characters and the words of love spoken between them is enough to make the heart flutter. This book would have received 5 stars from me, however there are a few things I had a beef about... The first one being it was too wordy. I felt the same story could have been told without having to go into description over every little thing. I actually skipped some of the descriptions because they weren't needed in my opinion. Second, the main characters didn't make love until very late in the book. There were *many* passionate scenes (stress the many), but it felt unfulfilling in a way that they never made it to the bed in all those times of passion. Third, the heroine is just dense to believe her brother that he was tortured under Ian's care. She'd been around Ian long enough and made love to him many many times to know that he wasn't the kind of man to do such a thing. Sure, her brother convinced her of this, but she should have been suspicious of his story, since she knew he cheated at the duel with Ian and even had proof of his many attempts at Ian's life. I felt that the brother plot was contrived and the book could have ended before the whole courtroom drama unfolded. I believe that the brother/courtroom plot might have played out better *before* she married Ian, before she came to know the man that he truly was. I wanted to slap her silly when she ran away and broke his heart. However, (and that's a BIG however), the author makes up for the heroine's lack of wisdom at the end of the book with a splendid homecoming and epilogue. Even with it's faults, this book is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: awestruck!!
Review: At the age of 18, I have only read about 30 romance novels, most of which were only "so-so". From the moment I read "Once and Always" by JM, I was in complete and utter awe at her talent; I couldn't seem to get enough of her work! "Almost Heaven", however, is without a doubt my favorite one of them all. The characters are so lovable and seem so REAL, making it almost impossible to put the book down. (even at 2 in the morning on a work day :) Elizabeth is wonderfully witty and intelligent; who knew that this sweet, charming girl possessed such an uncanny knack for bargaining? Ian is definitely the man of my dreams. Yes, he was stubborn and extremely exasperating at times, but he said things to Elizabeth that made ME swoon! This book captivates you from the first page to the last; I love it so much, I'm in the process of reading it for the seventh time as we speak...so you can probably guess how highly I recommend it!!
Rating:
Summary: reading this book is almost heaven...
Review: ENCHANTING. HEARTWARMING. HEARTWRENCHING. UNFORGETTABLE. I was hooked from the beginning to the end -- staying up all hours of the night to finish it. The dialogue was wonderful -- poignant, clever, witty. I fell in love with Ian and Elizabeth and their story. I reread it immediately after reading it the first time -- it was that good! Mine was a library copy but I'm going to buy my own copy so I will always have it on hand. I think I'll be reading it again soon. I agree with the review that said the part of her leaving b/c of her brother and Ian not figuring it out was hard to believe but I forgive that because it is such a wonderful story. I loved everything about it. I wish their would be a sequel or that it could be made into a movie. Their love is so magical. It's inspirational.
Rating:
Summary: it's ALMOST heaven
Review: I hope nobody will condemn me for what I have to say. I already gave it a four-star-review for I know giving it less than that will gain me dozens of "unhelpful-votes". Maybe, I'll start with the good stuff. This novel have excellent humorous dialogues. McNaught has delivered every witty remarks with style. I CONGRATULATE her on that part! I thought I had read all the books that can make me laugh out loud. I was wrong! Here is another book that can make a person laugh without him/her doubting the author's abilities. I also like how she created Elizabeth's and Ian's characters. There are no denials of their love for each other. I applaud Ian's honest confession of his feelings for Elizabeth. It always pleases me to witness a man admits his feelings FIRST before the woman does. In romance novels, that's surely a rare possibility, and that's one of the parts I like about this novel. The bad parts are not really that bad. You see, the humor and anticipation filled the beginning. The emotions and the excitement were at the end. I enjoyed both segments extremely well. BUT...uh-oh...I hate to do this to a 5-star-book especially to a McNaught one, but I have to be honest...The middle is a little bit dry and slow. I had multiple urges to put down the book and do something else. Still, I was touched by the sweetness and sincerity of the affection blossoming between Ian and Elizabeth. I was also impressed that McNaught had succeeded to blend the title, Almost Heaven, at the remaining lines of the novel quite properly(unlike "Until You" which ALMOST turned the whole thing sour for me) which gave the novel a whole new definition. After these musings, and may I mention that I didn't really say a lot of dreadful things concerning the story line, I have to say that it was almost good or heaven as my title implies. That's just because I can name another McNaught novel that'll beat this one, but still, it's worth ur time and Im sure ull enjoy the book like most people did.
Rating:
Summary: Must Read
Review: This is such a great novel. Kind of hard to put down and the Thornton character was a really nice change from the polite socialite in Englist society. Most of the actions are true to character up until the end.
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