Rating:  Summary: caveat emptor, fellow mystery fans!! Review: I must admit, this was the first time I read any of Judith McNaught's novels. Probably serves me right for not checking to see what genre she is *really* considered (curses to the used book store for putting her in the Mystery section).
The plot, on preview, had a lot to offer - a missing husband, the target of police suspicion, and the whole "you-never-really-know-anybody" mystique really leads to high expectations. But that's where I found the real mystery ends. The book seemed to be more about developing a love/hate relationship (or two) that hardly prompted me to keep reading. And the ending was trite, cliché, and more like a literary low-budget B movie than the its promised "pitch-perfect duet of suspense and intrigue".
The bottom line? <yawn> Enough said.
Rating:  Summary: Trashy Review: I picked up this book because I'd read a review that made it sound like a mystery, and it was, for a while. Then it turned into a sappy romance, two sappy romances actually, and it lost what little appeal it might otherwise have had.I now realize that, as a general rule, when the author's name on the cover is bigger than the title, the book is not one I'm going to enjoy: Tom Clancy, John Grisham, Judith Krantz, et al ad nauseum.
Rating:  Summary: Good Read Review: I really enjoyed the characters. I do agree about more grieving time for the widow, it just seems like things was moving so fast.
Rating:  Summary: Someone to Watch over Me Review: I thought this was a wonderful book the best of all the Judith McNaught books.
Rating:  Summary: Great Book, after all! Review: I usually trust the amazon.com reviewers to help me decide so I dragged my feet on reading this one because of mixed reviews but finnally found it in a thrift store for .75 cents and figured I what the heck! Anyway, I knew being a long time fan of Ms McNaught I would not be disappointed! I started it friday afternoon and was done with it the next day! It was a page turner as usual. For those that found Leigh could not get over her husband so soon well that may be true, but for me it sounded like it was a marriage where they had grown apart anyway and Leigh was just holding on. I don't know where everyone got this great love between the two of them, he was always preoccupied and plied her with expensive gifts and she seemed to just be comfortable with him from knowing him for so long. Leigh was living in a dream world anyway and when that shattered it is only natural to seek comfort in someone from you past if they happened to be around. I loved Michael, I thought their relationship was deep if you realized the connection the shared. For those that said the secondary charaters stole the show well personally I disagree, I was actually less than interested in their story and found their romance forced. Ms McNaught wanted you to see the connection but I really didnt' believe it. I found it hard to believe they had this great connection that they did but I did not like Sam anyway so that could be it. For those that felt "robbed" by the whole stalker thing, well I never thought it was going to be a stalker, it was never written on the back page not even alluded to, he was not mentioned that much in the book. He was sort of just in the background and I never expected him to be anything of substance just someone to throw you off the trail. THe book title had nothing to to with the stalker and was explained in the book so i have no idea where everyone got the idea that this book was about a stalker. For those that felt it went from suspense to romance well, if you like mcnaught you know her books usually center on romance so I would be disappointed if there was NO romance. All in all I loved this book, many twists and turns and intrigue an romance. Loved it.
Rating:  Summary: Definately not her best Review: I wish Judith would stick to what she does best..... plain old romance. Perfect is my all time favourite book, along with Paradise and Tender Triumph, Whitney, Something Wonderful and Once and always. Her last two books have been sad in comparison. Judith just doesnt do suspense well. Half way thorough this book I was wanting the two female lead characters to get together....The men were boring. The story wasnt that great, and in places it was unbelievable. No way would someone who was that much in love with their husband fall head over heels with someone else. Two romances in the same story was just confusing, and I had no idea who the girl was who was from the previous novel until she spelled it out. Forget this novel by Judith, if you want qualtiy suspense/romance, try Elizabeth Lowell instead... she knows what she is doing!
Rating:  Summary: Simply the Best Review: I'm fairly new to Judith McNaught's books, so I really cannot compare "Someone To Watch Over Me" to her previous books, but I disagree with the negative reviews that claim that the book's content and plausibility were lacking in any way. Perhaps the role of Leigh Kendall's stalker was amplified by the cover jacket, when in fact, the stalker is a shadowy, inconsequential figure in the recesses of the background. Two love stories played out in the pages of McNaught's book, but one did not override the importance and significance of the other, because they were both poignantly thought out. The burgeoning romance between Sam and Mack didn't overshadow the main love story of Leigh and Michael, but instead it added depth and layers in ways that other writers are incapable of doing successfully. I loved the bittersweet heartache that Leigh and Michael experienced from their wrong-time beginning to their right-time ending. It is an amazing experience to be a witness to the power and endurance of love in any context, and Judith McNaught crafted a beautifully written story ripe with love's limitless boundaries.
Rating:  Summary: Simply the Best Review: I'm fairly new to Judith McNaught's books, so I really cannot compare "Someone To Watch Over Me" to her previous books, but I disagree with the negative reviews that claim that the book's content and plausibility were lacking in any way. Perhaps the role of Leigh Kendall's stalker was amplified by the cover jacket, when in fact, the stalker is a shadowy, inconsequential figure in the recesses of the background. Two love stories played out in the pages of McNaught's book, but one did not override the importance and significance of the other, because they were both poignantly thought out. The burgeoning romance between Sam and Mack didn't overshadow the main love story of Leigh and Michael, but instead it added depth and layers in ways that other writers are incapable of doing successfully. I loved the bittersweet heartache that Leigh and Michael experienced from their wrong-time beginning to their right-time ending. It is an amazing experience to be a witness to the power and endurance of love in any context, and Judith McNaught crafted a beautifully written story ripe with love's limitless boundaries.
Rating:  Summary: A wonderful read despite some minuses Review: I'm one of those who loved this book even though I thought it started to drag a little in the first few chapters. It was taking forever for Logan's body to be discovered and I didn't know whether this title was going to be a 'romantic' suspense (which is why I bought it) or I was going to end up feeling cheated because it was going to turn out like an Iris Johansen or Tami Hoag straight suspense (which is why I no longer read their books) but once Sam Littleton (a secondary character) met Mack (her superior in the investigative team) I couldn't stop turning the pages! These two just stole the show from Leigh Kendall, who must be the blandest heroine to come from McNaught! Her romance with Valente was completely overshadowed by Sam and Mack's. I find her ability to switch her feelings to Valente so soon after her husband's murder rather improbable, especially since McNaught portrayed Leigh as being deeply in love with Logan. If she switched off because she found out Logan had been cheating on her, wouldn't that make her going to Valente on a rebound? I'm more used to McNaught's heroines a lot more emotionally mature than Leigh. She reminds me too much of a friend of mine who, only after 30 years, discovered her husband had another family (wife, kids and dog!) Having said that, STWOM is a McNaught I'm thankful I read because I absolutely loved what she got going between Sam and Mack! They, and not Leigh and Valente, ought to be have been the main h/h! I'm so glad I stuck it through the first few chapters because it's now definitely a keeper and has got me lining up her contemporary backlist for a re-read!
Rating:  Summary: One of McNaught's finest. Review: I've always held the highest regard for Judith McNaught's writing. I think she is one of the very best in talented writers. And she didn't let me down with "Someone To Watch Over Me". I read the book in 1.5 days because I simply couldn't put it down. I think Valente had me completely mesmerized. But I'll have to admit, I was equally pleased with Samatha and Mack and the way that relationship evolved. More than this, the romance built in such a way that you could feel the characters falling in love with each other. And the suspense... well, I guess I read too much because I had it just about figured out before I got to the end. Still, the story was great, the writing was wonderful and as usual, McNaught didn't let me down. I have to respect this author's ability to write a story about politics that runs so true to life. I wonder how she got to be so smart. I have to say that I will highly recommend this book to my friends for future reading. Thanks, Judi. I'm looking forward to the next novel. Keep going.
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