Tag: 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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Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Quotes

Posted March 6, 2018 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke & the Bookish but now it’s hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl and it’s a feature that everyone participates in so I’m going to try and participate myself and see how long it lasts. Wish me luck.

This week’s prompt is:

March 6: Favorite Quotes

The Secret (Highland Lairds #1) by Julie Garwood

“One whisper, Judith, added to a thousand others, becomes a roar of discontent,”

Oh man, I love this quote from Iain even though The Secret isn’t my absolute favorite book by Julie Garwood. The support that Iain shows Judith with this talk and this quote never fails to melt my heart.

Love, love, love these two!

One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #3) by Ilona Andrews

“But would I get you, if I were an innkeeper?”

I think I’m obsessed with all things Ilona Andrews, more specifically, Sean Evans. Dina Demille’s silent bodyguard. The single-minded way that he has Dina’s back no matter what she gets herself into, I just absolutely love.

The love that he had for Dina was real and gah, I loved it when she’s telling him that she can’t unchoose being an innkeeper. She can’t travel the world and find herself and this quote was his response. All he wants is her. Gah, did I mention I love it? I love him? *swoon*

Lady Be Good (Wynette, Texas #2) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

“Now, this is where I draw the line! It’s bad enough everybody in town’s going to be thinkin’ I’m sleeping with a depressed, lice-ridden, hemorrhoidal foreigner who likes to be tied up and might be pregnant, although-since she’s just about cornered the market on condoms-I don’t know how that could have happened. But I will not-you listen to me, Emma!-I absolutely will not have anybody thinkin’ a woman of mine needs a vaginal moisturizer, do you hear me?”

This book is probably one of my favorite SEP books, I laughed my ass off while reading this book because of quotes like this one. Kenny Traveller and Emma Wells-Finch are a fantastic couple that bring the laughs. She’s trying to sully her reputation and he’s trying to clean his up, together they get into shenanigan after shenanigan and this particular scene had me laughing my ass off. So good.

What Happens in London (Bevelstoke #2) by Julia Quinn

“He’s an idiot,” Harry said again. “One who doesn’t deserve to lick your feet. You’ll thank me someday.”

“I have no intention of allowing him to lick me anywhere,” she retorted, then turned utterly red when she realized what she’s said.”

One of the reasons that I love Julia Quinn books is that they’re hilarious and this book is my favoritest funny book of hers to date. I laugh plenty in all of her books but not nearly as much as I did whenever I read this one.

Kiss the Highlander (Highlander #4) by Karen Marie Moning

“If aught must be lost, ’twill be my honor for yours. If one must be forsaken, ’twill be my soul for yours. Should death come anon, ’twill be my life for yours. I am Given.”

The Druid vows from the Highlander series by Karen Marie Moning. I will forever love these vows, these Highlanders and just everything about these books but my favorite is when Gwen is sitting outside the bathroom trying to make Drustan remember their time together and she recites that to him and…he remembers.

Oh goodness, that was such a great scene.

Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels #3) by Loretta Chase

“Jessica, you are a pain in the arse, do you know that? If I were not so immensely fond of you, I should throw you out the window.”

She wrapped her arms about his waist and laid her head against his chest. “Not merely ‘fond,’ but ‘immensely fond.’ Oh Dain, I do believe I shall swoon.”

“Not now,” he said crossly. “I haven’t time to pick you up.”

These two cracked me up throughout their entire book. From the time she shot him to all of the nagging she did, the complaining he did, all of it. This was a gem but only one of the gems from their story and I completely adored it and them.

Over the Edge (Troubleshooters #3) by Suzanne Brockmann

He looked up, directly at Stan. “Will you please f*^&*%^ go and f**^&% get me a real f**%^&* World Airlines 747, Senior Chief? Right f**^&%* now?”

My favorite quote from the entire series from my favorite character in the entire series. Sam Starrett and his potty mouth completely melted me and this scene is particular cracked me up. Sam has had it and he’s done messing around so would someone please fucking get him a real fucking airplane so that they can practice their extraction for real? Hahaha.

Oh, I love me some Sam. Shut up, Holly.

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

“C’mon! Anything over eight inches is strictly for show-and-tell. It’s there, but you can’t use it. It might look good in a locker room, but let’s face it—those extra two inches are leftovers.”

I remember when I read this quote, I laughed and laughed and laughed because what a ridiculous thing to discuss with your friends and yet…who doesn’t have these kinds of conversations with their friends? I know that me and my friends have re-enacted different sex scenes to see if the positions we read about are even doable in real life (they are) and we’ve also discussed things like whale and rhino penises and well, you get it…right? We’re an odd bunch, that’s for sure.

I haven’t read this book in ages but I have always thought of this quote when coming across this book. It never fails. Loved both Sam and Jaine.

Married by Morning (Hathaways #4) by Lisa Kleypas

“I’ve told you before, I love like a madman,” he said. “Immoderate, jealous, possessive…I’m absolutely intolerable.”

“I know I’m a bad bargain. But I’m begging you to have me anyway. Because I want a chance to make you as happy as you make me. I want to build a life with you.”

He fought to steady his voice. “Please come to me, Cat, because there’s no surviving you. You don’t have to love me back. You don’t have to be mine. Just let me be yours.”

Oh man, I ugly cried when I read this book and that surprised me because I didn’t even like Leo in the previous books of this series. He was a spoiled, piece of shit brother to his siblings and he was always drunk..but then I read his book and he said things and he felt things and ugh, I felt them too.

He was an anti-hero of sorts who didn’t exactly change completely but he did fall in love and his love for Cat was super adorable and he charmed the socks right off of me. When he said both of these quotes, I was choked up and crying all over the place. Love him!

Paradise (Second Opportunities #1) by Judith McNaught

“You can’t outwit fate by trying to stand on the sidelines and place little side bets about the outcome of life. Either you wade in and risk everything to play the game, or you don’t play at all. And if you don’t play, you can’t win.”

This is a throwback quote from a guy that I used to be obsessed with years and years ago. My friends and I used to read this book so often that we knew every single detail about this book. From the hero’s middle name to his birthdate to his flight number on the trips he took. Yeah, to say that this is a favorite is a total understatement. I love me some Matt Farrell and when he said this to the heroine, Meredith? Gah, hit me right in the gut. Love!

What are some of your favorite quotes from the books you’ve read? Share your favorite quotes in the comments!

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Book Club: Once & Always by Judith McNaught

Posted April 6, 2016 by Rowena in Features | 0 Comments

Book Bunch 1

Last month’s book club came and went and I forgot to blog about it. Well, better late than never. We welcomed Lilo back into the book club last week. She wasn’t very active last year but wants to join us this year and man did we laugh a lot having her back. This month we all met at Tasha’s house so that we can relax and be as loud and crazy as we wanted. That was probably a good idea considering we got pretty loud.

Book Club BookOnce and Always
Once and Always by Judith McNaught

Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin…the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought after at plays, operas, and balls by London’s most fashionable ladies, Jason remained a mystery to Victoria. Bewildered by his arrogant demeanor, yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she came to sense the searingly painful memories that smoldered in the depths of his jade-green eyes.

Unable to resist her spitfire charm, Jason gathered her at last into his powerful arms, ravishing her lips with his kisses, arousing in her a sweet, insistent hunger. Wed in desire, they were enfolded in a fierce, consuming joy, free at last from the past’s cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of blinding anguish, Victoria discovered the shocking treachery that lay at the heart of their love…a love she had dreamed would triumph…Once And Always.

To start off our discussion, I put together a trivia game and I knew that it was going to be a hit. I asked questions and the first person to answer got the point and the person with the most points at the end of the game wins the Starbucks gift card that I left at home. Haha. I’m the best discussion host ever, right? Haha.

I asked questions like…

  1. What is the name of Jason’s dog? (Willie)
  2. What is Tory’s full name? (Victoria Elizabeth Seaton)
  3. How did Victoria’s parents die? (Carriage accident)
  4. What is the name of Andrew Bainbridge’s cousin in Switzerland? (Madeline)
  5. Why did Victoria prepare a poltice for O’Malley? (He had a sore tooth)

The winner of the Starbucks gift card was B Nice but I’m really thinking this one through since she’s a hot damn cheater! Haha. She was over an hour late to book club because she was at work finishing the book. LMAO! Talk about everything was fresh in her head when she got there.

Still, the trivia game was a hit and we laughed so freaking much that I worried we were annoying Tasha’s kids who were doing their own thing around the house.

Book Club Thoughts

Hero: Jason Fielding was a hard hero to like for pretty much everyone in the club. He was cold and mean to Tory at every turn when she first showed up and didn’t really let up in his cold attitude toward her until a good chunk of the story in. In the end Lilo, B Nice, Shy and even I forgave Jason for being a complete dickhead for most of the book but Tasha, she admitted to Jason not being one of her favorites. Especially cause…he cheated! He totally did.
Heroine: Victoria was the highlight of the book for everyone. She was kind hearted, caring and just a delight to get to know. She went through so much and survived even more and she had huge fans in our entire club when all was said and done.
Story: The story itself was full of angst and everyone enjoyed the book but Tasha was the lone shark in the bunch because while she enjoyed it, it wasn’t her favorite. There were moments that she really enjoyed but she couldn’t get past certain big events and characters in the book. They wrecked her enjoyment (Jason, Charles, the Grandmother, etc…).

Most Memorable Scene: Hmm, for me it was after the wedding night (dumbass Jason!) and Jason left for London. His shenanigans in London is something that I won’t ever forget. So disappointing! But others that were mentioned were when Tory gave Jason her present, when Jason thought he was seeing Tory’s ghost and didn’t care that he was going crazy just as long as she doesn’t leave him, those kinds of things.
Pimp Worthy: We all thought it was a pimpworthy book, mostly because so much happens and the angst really pulls the feels out of you.

Book Club Next Book

Own the Wind
Own the Wind (Chaos #1) by Kristen Ashley.

Too hot to handle…

Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos—the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos’ leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby’s thinking about much more than friendship…

Tabby is everything Shy’s ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. She’s beautiful, smart, and as his friend’s daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more—much more—he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn…

We are entering the world of Motorcycle Club romances…should be interesting to see what everyone thinks. Tasha and I love MC romances but the other girls haven’t read any yet. I’m excited. I promise that I will be better about taking pictures at our club cause I feel like if there aren’t any pictures, it didn’t happen. Haha.

See you in a couple of weeks for April’s discussion wrap up!

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