Rating: Summary: A 4 1/2 star read...slow beginning... Review: I loved this story, by I have to be honest here, the beginning was a bit slow and kind of dragged until you hit page 120. I wasn't convinced Ian was so entranced by Elizabeth in the beginning for some reason. But the story did pick up and it was a very good read. Elizabeth is an impoverished orphan who has her uncle holding her most prized possesion in his hands, her estate. He forces her to choose from three unlikely suitors, one of them Ian Thorton. A known gambler. It sort of reminded me slightly of Cinderella. I found it interesting to see Clayton Westmoreland mentioned in this story as someone Ian knew (Clayton Westmoreland was the main character to Judith McNaught's other story 'Whitney, My Love'). That made me smile. Also her other characters from 'Something Wonderful' appeared as Elizabeth and Ian's close friends, Alexandra and Jordon Townsende. It's nice how you can catch up on what they are doing and how things are going for them in Judith McNaught's books. Not many authors bother to do that. I liked the Elizabeth's eccentric butler, he made me laugh with all the stunts he pulls to get back at Ian. Her Duenna Lucy was funny also. My favorite part is when Elizabeth and Lucy have to go to Scotland and hitch a ride to the cottage, you'll see what I mean when you read it, haha. The story had a lot of humor and the characters made you smile. I would recommend this story to anyone. It's a lighthearted journey from England to Scotland, and the descriptions will make you wish you were there.
Rating: Summary: Another Masterpiece Review: This is yet another great work from Judith McNaught. It was sooooooo beautifully written. Ian and Elisabeth's lives were so realistically portrayed. Ian is a hero through and through. Elisabeth has definitely got a gift for bargaining because she only settled for the best man!
Rating: Summary: Wonderfully Entertaining Review: I bought this book just because I saw that it took place in Scotland and someone had recomended it to me. First of all, I love Scottland, but sometimes I feel that books don't give justice to the beauty of it. I mean, there are lines like, "He kissed her beneath the beautiful Scottish trees." Or "They walked hand in hand by the beautiful Scottish lake." Yeah, that says that the lake or tree is pretty, but it dosen't describe what they look like. We have pretty trees and lakes here in Washington, but that dosen't mean that they are the same as the ones in Scottland. Ms. McNaught did a spectacular job of describing the setting in this book, and I was very pleased with it. I could picture everything in my mind and it was like a movie with beautiful scenery. I loved the romance that blossomed between Ian and Elizabeth. You can tell from when Elizabeth's first glance at Ian that it is truly love at first sight, and it is totally the same for Ian. Also, Lucinda was a riot! I loved her thouroughly and she added much humor to the book. Elizabeth's attempts at cooking were cute and also hysterical. The betrayel is heartbreaking, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened next. Elizabeth's memories of what happened between her and Ian earlier in their lives added to the story, and I think it was really nice to have the backround info in you mind as you read the book. *Almost Heaven* truly takes you to heaven and back.
Rating: Summary: Enchanting! ~ May contain spoilers! ~ Review: Elizabeth Cameron and Ian Thornton fall in love almost at first sight. When Ian proposes for Elizabeth's hand in marriage, he had no idea that she was a Countess, and already engaged to someone else. Elizabeth's brother (her guardian) comes on time to save Elizabeth from marrying Ian, but causes a big scene. People at the ton find out about Elizabeth's behaviour through gossip and thus causing a scandal for her. 2 years later, Ian and Elizabeth meet again. Ian treats Elizabeth hostilely, but Elizabeth endures it all, because she realizes that she still loves him, and vice versa when Ian discovers that he was trying too hard to get her out of his life. And so, this begins their quest for love. This is my favorite romance novel of all-time. I have never, ever read such an emotional novel before. Judith McNaught has an incredible ability to write solid novels. With Elizabeth Cameron's character she was able to write Elizabeth as a young, innocent, naive girl of seventeen, and this was prior to her scandal. After almost 2 years later, when she meets Ian for the first time since her scandal (caused by him!) there is this new transition in Elizabeth's character and as a reader you can tell that she's grown up and matured. I did not believe that she was a weak character, she is probably one of McNaught's strongest heroines. A must read! This book is pack with details, and many tear jerker scenes.
Rating: Summary: A Good Read, Well Worth It Review: First of all, I bought this book because I'd heard many good things about it, and it was by one of my favorite author's. The begining was intruiging, but I started to get bored of Elizabeth's recolection of the past. When it finally got going again, I was having to wake myself up. At the end, I actually skipped some pages just to get to the reconciliation. But i loved the Scottish setting, and the characters seemed to come alive. And JM always does a good job, so if you like her, go on and read this book.
Rating: Summary: Almost Heaven Review: I am a habitual reader and I have read many books on many topics. But when a friend loaned me Whitney My Love to read I was not very interested. I had read some romance novels when I was quite young and thought myself "grown out of" this type of book. In desperation one chilly, windy night I read the book. Since that night I have now read everything Judith McNaught has written and I declare Almost Heaven the BEST OF THE BUNCH. She writes much the same in all her books and I'm always eager to get to the part where they finally fall in love. While this book is much like her others, there is something compelling, and, heart wrenching about Almost Heaven. I especially "adored" the hero in this book and couldn't wait until he finally let love melt the ice from around his heart. McNaught's books have made me fall in love with my husband all over again!!!!!
Rating: Summary: The WORST of hers Review: I read this book because of two reasons: First because JM is one of my fav. authors and secondly because all the reviews upon it. Unfortunately, I totally disaggre with them. I really disappointed and I barely READ the end of this story. The lady that she potrait in this story it doesn't fit with all the ladies'character that JM always put in her novels. Elizabeth is too weak, surrender herself to fast when it comes to Ian and her character totally out of my expectation. TWO THUMBS DOWN!
Rating: Summary: Wonderfully Written Review: I first read this book about a year ago. Last week I pulled it off of the book shelf and read it again. It was just as good the second time around. It is a "wonderful" book! The characters are so real. Ian is the kind of man every women dreams about and Elizabeth is the perfect woman. Judith McNaught's writing keeps you riveted to each word, sentence, paragraph and chapter. When I got to the end of the book, I wanted more. I've put it away again and when I bring it down to read next year, it will be just as "wonderful."
Rating: Summary: I Love this book Review: I have read this book over and over. I absolutely love it
Rating: Summary: THIS ONE GOT ME HOOKED! Review: I ALWAYS THOUGHT MYSELF TO BE A SOPHISTICATED READER, BEING A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN. I SCOFFED AT ROMANCE NOVELS THINKING THEM FRIVOLOUS. A FRIEND GAVE ME "ALMOST HEAVEN" AND I LET IT SIT FOR A FEW WEEKS. BUT THAT ONE BOOK HAS CHANGED MY OPINION OF ROMANCES AND MY READING CHOICES FOREVER. JUDITH MCNAUGHT HAS THE ABILITY TO TRANSPORT YOU INTO THE STORY. THE CHARACTERS BECOME FRIENDS(OR ENEMIES)AND YOU FIND YOUR SELF TOUCHED TO THE CORE WITH EMOTIONS. ALMOST HEAVEN WILL MAKE YOU LAUGH, CRY, AND CHEER----AND MAKE YOU WISH THAT IT WOULD NEVER END. I EVEN WROTE TO JM LETTING HER KNOW HOW DEEPLY THIS BOOK TOUCHED ME. AND SUBSEQUENTLY, ALL OF HER BOOKS HAVE HAD THE SAME RESULTS.
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