Rating: 
Summary: Best Book On The Planet!
Review: Perfect is Perfect!
This book has "treasure me" writen all over it!
The combination of humor, suspense, romance and tragedy is divine!
Please buy this book, read it, and then keep it where all can see it.
My copy has been read so many times by so many people that it's almost
falling apart. And everyone who has read it goes out and buys it for themselves.
Julie and Zack are the perfect foils for each other. Whatever she lacks in charachter,
he has, and whatever he lacks, she has. She softens his hard, criminal, tortured edges
with her softness and compassion. She gives of herself to make him feel complete,
She gets only the hight of ecstasy in return.
Please, do yourself a favor and read this book!!
Rating:
Summary: I can't put it down!!
Review: I was given Perfect by my mothers best friend, who happens to be a romance-aholic. From page on until the end i could not put it down!
Julie Matison makes herself a perfect life out of her miserable child hood, witht he help of her adoptive family, the Mathisons. Throughout the book the Mathisons shine through, trusting Julie and their other children to do what they think is right.
Zachary Benedict is a Hollywood-hardened criminal who is doing time in jail for killing his wife. The actor is in prison for 5 years before he gets the chance to escape...and he takes the opportunity....
When Julie and Zach meet it is not very pleasent, given that Zach took Julie hostage, but the next week that follows their meeting, and the months after that will remain in their hearts forever.
This story is a heart-wrencher and it will remain in your hearts, and on your bookshelf, for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: The name says it all. The story is beautiful, it's perfect. I loved it.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost 5 stars!
Review: It took me until the wee hours of the morning to finish this enchanting story, so this review may not be too coherent. As suggested by other readers, I finished PARADISE first and that is good advice. The only reason I did not give PERFECT 5 stars is that I thought PARADISE was a notch above and the dialog between characters was slightly better than this book. PARADISE and PERFECT are the only two McNaught books I have read, but her writing style and character development are so real and the emotions and turmoil so strong that the stories come to life before your eyes. I am hooked after these two books!
Julie is such a big-hearted and sweet character, even from the first chapters when she is a child and attempting to rescue a dead fish from being attacked by the other fish in the tank. Her sincerity, goodness, and fun-loving attitude are just the thing to melt the cold heart of Zach. Oh, but so much deception, turmoil, and anxiety along the way!
Zach is awesome and made from a similar mold as Matt Farrell from Paradise - strong willed, alpha male hunks! Tall, dark, rich, and handsome with an attitude!
As other reviewers have mentioned, the repetition of Hollywood star names in parts of the book becomes monotonous and somewhat unnecessary. I also would have liked the author to mention Zach's loyal cell mate (oops, forgot his name)at the end of the book so we could know what happened to him.
All in all, this is a very satisfying read and I am about to buy both books so that I can re-read them again.
Rating:
Summary: Romatic Pageturner with a Heroine who is a bit *too* Perfect
Review: I have read and enjoyed *all* of Judith McNaught's historical romances (my true passion), so I decided to try one of her contemporary romances for a change. "Perfect" is a great story--a real page-turner with a complex, dark and sexy hero.
Zachary Benedict, a gorgeous self-made man with a mysterious past, is a phenomenally successful Hollywood movie star and director until his adulterous actress wife is murdered on the set of the film he is directing and he is convicted of her murder and sent to prison for 43 years. He escapes from prison 5 years later (with the help of some *amazingly* lax prison security) and in his flight takes Julie Matheson, an innocent schoolteacher, as his hostage to a mountain hideaway in Colorado. Although Zach initially plots cynically to seduce Julie to bind her to him, he finds himself genuinely drawn to her warmth and spirit. Julie is appalled to find herself attracted to her captor and desperately tries to escape (well, at least initially...)
Zach is a great hero--strong but damaged by his past, sexy and gorgeous but remote, cynical but with the heart of a romantic. He is the engine that keeps the story running, in my opinion.
Julie is a pretty good heroine, but (in my opinion) the "goody-two-shoes" stuff is a bit overdone. Abandoned by her mother at birth, she is a rebellious and unwanted foster child prior to being adopted by the Mathesons when she was 11 years old. Overwhelmed by their love and trust, she vows to be worthy of it by being "perfect". And, boy oh boy!, is she ever *perfect*! A minister's daughter and teacher who works with handicapped kids, an adult literacy volunteer and activist, a 26 year old virgin who has actively avoided dating sexy men, Julie is *beloved* in her small Texas town. Unfortunately, all this perfection is a little bit cloying. I liked more the fact that she was genuinely a *kind* person--she gives Zach a ride initially because she feels sorry for him. As his captive, Julie intially tries to escape, then to gull Zach into complacency. There is a little too much adorable woman-child behavior by Julie for my taste, but Zach eats it right up. He is a *little* bit suspicious when she wants to build a snowman in subzero weather, but (gosh, darn it!) isn't she cute! Of course, three days with Zach and Julie's 26 years of virginity are down the drain (talk about the Stockholm syndrome!)
The plot is interesting and moves along well, although there is the "trademark" Judith McNaught *major hiccup* in trust between the main characters that is later brushed off and forgiven. Although this plot event introduces all sorts of tension and turmoil into the story--I have to say that I thought that it was out of character, had potentially disasterous results and was almost *unforgivable*. My other major complaint with the story was with all the Hollywood name-dropping. I found it annoying and out of character for Julie and especially Zach to be so star-struck.
This is a longish book (over 600 pages) but I finished it in one day. The story is entertaining and Zach is the kind of dark, driven, sexy and complex hero that I adore. I love to see the strong, cynical type brought to his knees by his love for a good woman!
Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: As captivating as Paradise
Review: Any romance novel buff would be sucked into reading a story about a couple who falls in love, gets torn apart and then overcome insurmountable obstacles to live happily ever after. And Perfect is exactly just that.
Zachary Benedict Stanhope was born into a rich family. He had the looks and grace that comes with the breeding, not to mention the arrogance that characterizes the Stanhope males. But when a tragic incident led to him being banished from his home, he found himself working at a Hollywood studio, where he was soon discovered and launched into stardom to eventually become an academy award winning actor/director.
Julie Mathison is an orphan who grew up being thrown from one home to another. Thus, at the age of 11, she was an illiterate who's never had any parental guidance and spent more time in the streets learning how to hot-wire cars until a kind psychiatrist takes an interest in her and finds Julie a home with some relatives in the obscure town of Keaton in Texas. For the first time in her life, Julie is happy and vows to make herself perfect to show her gratitude to the Mathisons who gave her all the love and kindness she's always craved for.
More than a decade later and these two cross paths by accident, when Zach, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife, was forced to kidnap Julie when his escape from prison didn't go according to plan. Soon, trouble intensifies when Julie finds herself a willing hostage, and Zack develops a feeling of protectiveness over her, something he's never felt for a woman before. So when Zack sends her home, she did her utmost to convince the whole world of his innocence. But when things she starts discovering cause her to doubt Zack's innocence and mental health, she ends up betraying him, thus causing both of them much anguish and unhappiness.
As with the other four books that I have previously read (AKOD, Something Wonderful, Once & Always, Paradise), this book made me laugh and cry. It just goes to show the magic that Judith McNaught weaves, as I really felt drawn to the characters. Perfect is just so wonderfully told, I loved it and found myself unable to put it down. There are some pretty funny scenes like the movie session they had, with Julie ignoring Zack's movies and Zack criticizing every movie and actor she's picked. Then there are those heartbreaking moments - like Zack's letter, the airport scene - that brought tears to my eyes. And although I wanted to strangle Julie for betraying Zack, I couldn't help but feel sorry for how she's suffered because of it.
I've noticed that some readers mentioned feeling a little nauseated about the whole Barbra Streisand dance sequence, well I must agree it was a little too much, but I actually enjoyed them dancing to Jose Feliciano's "Light My Fire" and have been listening to that song over and over again since.
Another incentive to reading this is Matt and Meredith Farrell's re-appearance. For those who have read Paradise and found it hard to say goodbye to them, you will truly enjoy their part in this book. It was so good to see again just how much they love each other.
Despite a couple of quibbles, namely the sudden disappearance of Paul Richardson and Dominic Sandini, the lack of participation of Greg, whom Julie was almost affianced to, Perfect is still a great novel, almost as great as Paradise. Read this and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect Winter Love Story!
Review: I just read Perfect over this weekend, while there was a major snow storm taking place right outside my house. It was just the perfect setting for a perfect winter love story.
July's wit and courage was a perfect complement to a dark and somber Zach.
Thank you Judith for including my two other most favorite characters from Paradise, Mat and Meredith Farrell, another unforgettable couple.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect read for lazy afternoon!
Review: Perfect by Judith McNaught is the perfect read for a lazy afternoon. It's also a book you will want to read more than once. I loved it!
Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: Up to this day, I am one of those who will spend hours finishing two-inches-thick romance books. Perfect is an example why I spent a whole day away reading and re-reading lines that tugged my heart. Julie represents the good in all of us. Zack represents the cynic in us. While the main plot is rehashed (bad-boy-fell-in-love-with-good-girl), the way it was presented was definitely refreshing. Who could forget the tear-jerking love letter? Or the engagement ring? I was almost bawling when I finished those scenes. While others found it corny, the dance scene complete with a Barbra song, made me feel as if I wanted to be Julie.
Of course, it still has its flaws. As most of here pointed out, Paul and Dom suddenly vanished into thin air. And, the last chapters were a bit anti-climatic. After the tension-charged scene in the airport, I was expecting the ending with a BANG. But, JM settled with the serene and peaceful getting back together of the main protagonists. But, with a powerful love story together with the flaws abovementioned, I still consider Perfect as a perfect romantic book.
Rating:
Summary: I dunno about you guys, but Perfect made me cry...
Review: i just absolutely love this story. it was one of the first books that ive read from ms. mcnaught---one of those that contributed to this enthusiasm over romance.
zachary or zack (oh gosh...is his name hot or what??) is so perfect for julie. as julie is perfect for him. you cannot help but fall in love with these two. the halcyon days they spent all cooped up from the authorities made me wonder if i'll let myself one day be "kidnapped" by a man as de-lish as zack.
but more than the sexuality and the sensuality, as usual (as i was bound to discover upon reading more from ms. mcnaught), the most provocative and compelling facet of Perfect is the emotional turmoil that the protagonists felt as they faced the charges that threatened Zack. and i was just brought to tears on that part where Zack sent Julie a letter. it was so heart-wrenching---and the way ms. mcnaught drove the atmosphere on that particular scene---nothing but a master could do that.
Julie is one of the best heroines ever lovingly created by a writer. she's brave, tough, generous, and so adorable especially when she gets agitated (note the alphabetical obsessive-compulsive thingie that she does...it's really sweet)
with all confidence, i would say that Perfect is the most "perfect" contemporary romance written by ms. mcnaught (and that's saying a lot--since Paradise is a close contender)--there's action, so much drama, passion, tender humor, and that rewarding part where Zack realizes how wrong he was about Julie on the airport ambush scene. and the way he atones for everything by practically lavishing Julie and treating her like she's the only woman on earth (which was really the case for him...)
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