Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Almost Heaven by Judith McNaught


"Elizabeth Cameron.....The Countess of Havenhurst possessed a rare gentleness and fierce courage to match her exquisite beauty. But her reputation is shattered when she is discovered in the arms of Ian Thorton, a notorious gambler and social outcast.

Ian Thorton.....A dangerously handsome man of secret wealth and mysterious lineage, his voyage to Elizabeth's heart is fraught with intrigue, scandal, and a venomous revenge.

Destined for each other, yet wary of each other's motives, Elizabeth and Ian engage in a dance of suspicion and passion that tests the very soul of their star-crossed love. As a twisting path of secrets takes them from London's drawing rooms to the mysterious Scottish Highlands, Elizabeth must learn the truth: is Ian merely a ruthless fortune hunter at heart?"
(from the publisher)

my thoughts:

Looking for the perfect summertime read? Grab a glass of iced tea and relax with a Judith McNaught novel, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

Her books hook me right from the first page, and the plot is always tightly woven threads that all fall neatly into place for a satisfying ending. Her characters always seem to be three-dimensional and, of course, beautiful. Lavish settings with dukes and duchesses, exquisite ballgowns glowing in candlelight, and ladies and gentlemen waltzing the evening away....until a shocking scandal and the mother of all misunderstandings disrupts what would have been a delightful evening and a promising future. Their road to recovering from the scandal and finding their way back to each other makes Almost Heaven an entertaining and poignant read.

My only minor complaint with the storyline was the silly turn of events near the very end -- without giving away a major spoiler, the heroine, Elizabeth, must take the witness stand and decides to play the part of a witless chit (translation: too stupid to live) and I think it came across as very silly and unnecessary in an otherwise really delightful tale of star-crossed lovers.

4/5 stars

Title: Almost Heaven
Author: Judith McNaught
Pocket Books
1990
517 pages
genre: historical romance

4 comments:

Kim said...

Oh dear, now where I am going to squeeze this one in? Thanks!

Joanne said...

I know what you mean! Will we live long enough to put a dent in our TRB piles? Have a wonderful summer reading!

Misfit said...

I really enjoyed McNaught when I was heavily into historical romances a few years ago, but I agree about the courtroom scene.

Kals said...

This sounds fascinating! I love the cover too :) I've never read McNaught and maybe it's high time I did.

Favorite Period Dramas

Mount TBR

Joanne's to-read book montage

On a Highland Shore
A Light on the Veranda
Entwined
The Queen's Vow: A Novel Of Isabella Of Castile
The Edwardians
Maisie Dobbs
Howards End
Lady's Maid
Instruments Of Darkness
When Maidens Mourn
Where Shadows Dance
What Remains of Heaven
Where Serpents Sleep
Why Mermaids Sing
When Gods Die
Shadowfever
Before Ever After
The Sugar Queen
Garden Spells
After the Night


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