Author: Judith McNaught

Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Sweetest Thing by Judith McNaught

Posted August 22, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 6 Comments

Can’t Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and it was based on the meme Waiting on Wednesday that was hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Sweetest Thing by Judith McNaughtThe Sweetest Thing
by Judith McNaught
Series: Foster Saga #2
Published by Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books on October 23, 2018
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Point of View:Third Person
Pages: 224
Add It: Goodreads

In a sweeping and enchanting tale of romance and second chances, Judith McNaught shows us yet again that love is the greatest gift of all and that she truly “is in a class by herself” (USA TODAY). From the sensational #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Breath You Take and Paradise comes her first new novel in over a decade.

Corey Foster is the young creative genius and vision behind Foster’s Beautiful Living magazine and the enormous Foster lifestyle empire. While her stepsister Diana handles the business side of things, Corey is responsible for the distinctive look of the magazine. She is just beginning work on the pilot episode of their first wedding-based reality TV show when Diana lands the rights for them to film one of the most glamorous weddings of the year. But there’s a pretty big catch—the weekend will reunite Corey with an old flame. The one who got away. The one who incinerated her heart several years before.

Gah, I can’t believe that I’m including this book on this feature because I’m still high key annoyed at how much the eBook is. My issue is that this isn’t even a new book, I mean, sure McNaught went in and revamped the story but this is Spence and Corie’s story so they’re not new characters and I already read their original story so I’m not all happy that this eBook is going to cost $13.99. WTF is that even about?

Okay so even though I’m pissed off about this book, I’m still looking forward to it because I’m dumb and that’s how I roll.

Pre-Order the Book

The Sweetest Thing by Judith McNaught
Releases on October 23, 2018
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Books

Fosters Saga Series

Have you read Double Exposure by Judith McNaught, which is the novella that has been revamped into this book? Are you planning on reading this one? Share your thoughts!

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Throwback Thursday: Paradise by Judith McNaught

Posted August 9, 2018 by Rowena in Features, Reviews | 2 Comments

Each week, I’ll be writing a review for an oldie but goodie that I’ve read through again to see if these books are holding up for me. I’m a different person than I was when I read these books, older and wiser (at least I hope) so I’m curious to see if books that I used to love can stand the test of time.

Throwback Thursday: Paradise by Judith McNaughtParadise
by Judith McNaught
Series: Second Opportunities #1
Published by Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books on July 1, 2003
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 709
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
four-half-stars

Corporate raider Matthew Farrell had come a long way from the poor, scruffy kid of Indiana's steel mills. A long way from the country club where, feeling like an outsider, he had dared to fall in love with a beautiful blonde named Meredith Bancroft, and known a once-in-a-lifetime passion and betrayal that still haunted his memory... Now world leaders courted him, the media watched his every move, and he was ready to move in on the Bancroft empire.

A cool, poised executive in her family's legendary department store chain, Meredith had once defied her father for the sexually magnetic, intense Matt Farrell -- and their brief, ill-fated marriage was the disastrous outcome. Now, as the Bancroft firm is threatened by a hostile takeover, Meredith is forced to confront Matt. As tensions build between them, bittersweet memories rise to the surface, leaving them suspicious, restless, and uncertain. Will they be able to believe in each other -- and grasp the tender miracle that is before them?

It’s been ages since I read Paradise for the first time and I was a totally different person back then. I was curious to see if this book would live up to the love that I had for it back in the day. Judith McNaught is really good at bringing the angst and that is evident in this one.

Matt Farrell grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and fell in love with a girl far above him in station. When betrayal shakes him to his core, he works his ass off to become richer than any of those snobs at the country club he used to work at. Now, he’s a corporate raider who is at the top of the food chain and is treated like a King. Everything is different now, he’s not longer that poor boy that Meredith left behind all those years ago but when Meredith shows up in his life again, his life is all shaken up again.

Matt and Meredith had a really intense and passionate romance when they were younger. When it was just the two of them, they were perfect. I enjoyed seeing them together again and just as before, I was a complete sucker for Matthew Farrell.

The angst in this book really held up for me and that surprised me because though I don’t remember everything from my last re-read, I do remember Meredith getting on my nerves and though she did annoy me, for the most part, I was just wrapped up in their world all over again and it was lovely.

When Meredith shows up in Indiana to tell Matt the truth about all of those years ago, my heart damn near burst out of my chest. I cried and cried and cried like she was confessing to me. Goodness, Matt’s reaction to all of that, gah, like I said, I was such a sucker for him.

This scene gets me every time:

“If you’ll kiss me back,” he whispered huskily, brushing his lips along the curve of her jaw, “I’ll make it six million. If you’ll go to bed with me tonight,” he continued, losing himself in the scent of her perfume and the softness of her skin, “I’ll give you the world. But if you’ll move in with me,” he continued, dragging his mouth across her cheek to the corner of her lips, “I’ll do much better than that.”

Unable to turn her face farther because his arm was in the way, and unable to turn her body because his body was in the way, Meredith tried to infuse disdain in her voice and simultaneously ignore the arousing touch of his tongue against her ear. “Six million dollars and the whole world!” she said in a slightly shaky voice.

“What else could you possibly give me if I move in with you?”

“Paradise.”

Lifting his head, Matt took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced her to meet
his gaze. In an aching, solemn voice he said, “I’ll give you paradise on a gold platter. Anything you want— everything you want. I come with it, of course. It’s a package deal.”

Meredith swallowed audibly, mesmerized by the melting look in his silver eyes and the rich timbre of his deep voice. “We’ll be a family,” he continued, describing the paradise he was offering while he bent his head to her again. “We’ll have children … I’d like six,” he teased, his lips against her temple. “But I’ll settle for one. You don’t have to decide now.” She drew in a ragged breath and Matt decided he’d pushed matters as far as he dared for one night. Straightening abruptly, he chucked her under her chin. “Think about it,” he suggested with a grin.”

Gah, this book is an old school contemporary romance that will knock you on your ass and make you sit up and take notice of all things Judith McNaught. She’s an OG when it comes to writing romance novels and Matt Farrell is one of the many things that she did right. I absolutely love this book and though it’s not perfect, it’s still one of my favorites from McNaught. I definitely recommend.

Buy the Book

AMAZON || BARNES AND NOBLE || GOOGLE BOOKS || KOBO || THE RIPPED BODICE

Final Grade

4.5 out of 5

Second Opportunities Series

four-half-stars

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Throwback Thursday: Double Standards by Judith McNaught

Posted July 19, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Each week, I’ll be writing a review for an oldie but goodie that I’ve read through again to see if these books are holding up for me. I’m a different person than I was when I read these books, older and wiser (at least I hope) so I’m curious to see if books that I used to love can stand the test of time.

Throwback Thursday: Double Standards by Judith McNaughtDouble Standards
by Judith McNaught
Published by Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books on January 15, 1991
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 310
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
four-half-stars

In the exclusive, glittering world of business superstars, Nick Sinclair was a legend...

The ruggedly handsome president of Global Industries handled his business the way he handled his women -- with charm, daring and ruthless self-control. A man used to the very best, Nick hired Lauren Danner, and assumed the proud beauty would soon be another easy conquest. But Lauren's flashing wit and rare spirit dazzled him -- and slowly, against his will, he was intrigued, challenged -- and in love.

Yet Lauren was living a lie, a charade that became more dangerous with every passing moment. Trapped in a web of deceit, she fought her growing love for Nick. Her secret could destroy his fragile trust -- and the promise of life with the most compelling man she had ever met!

It has been ages since I read this book and I was so confident that I would love this book forever and I’m surprised that after this quick re-read, I still do, in fact, love this book. Sure, I can see why others wouldn’t be as impressed with Nick Sinclair and this story but for me? I am still a fan of Nick and this book. My heart still went weak wherever he was concerned. Sure, he was a playboy and was a dick throughout some of this book and even his courtship of Lauren but man, I just knew he loved Lauren and his flirty attitude and overall confidence completely worked on me.

Nick Sinclair is at the top of his game, is one of the most wildly successful businessmen and Philip Whitworth is tired of losing to him. So after Philip loses yet another big money contract to Nick’s company, he hires Lauren Danner to spy on Nick and Lauren, who is under the impression that she’s doing a good thing accepts the job. She’ll find out who is spying for Nick and the money she is paid will go a long way in helping with her father’s medical bills. The set up for this story is pretty basic and low key unoriginal but it wasn’t the story that I was invested in. I was invested in Nick Sinclair’s character growth and the romance between him and Lauren. I’m also a fan of office romances and this was one of them.

One of the things that I remembered most about Lauren was how naive she was and how inexperienced she was and that didn’t change with this reading. I remembered being frustrated with her character and how little she understood about sex and life but this time around, I appreciated her moral compass and how brave she was when the shit hit the fan. Gosh, that scene when Nick finds out who she really is and what she was sent over to do and his love for her is sorely tested still gets to me to this day. My heart was beating fast and I was furious with Nick, furious with Lauren and just so damn happy when they finally get their shit together and make things right.

Nick wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination but his feelings for Lauren were real and they were big and they completely melted me.

This book wasn’t easy to read and Judith McNaught writes those extra dramatic old school romances that hit me in my feels every time. I’m super happy that I read this book again and remembered my love for Nick Sinclair. It’s still going strong. Gah, such a great story.

Buy the Book

AMAZON || BARNES AND NOBLE || GOOGLE BOOKS || KOBO || THE RIPPED BODICE

Final Grade

4 out of 5

four-half-stars

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