Almost Heaven (Sequels, #3) in Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous

Aug 01, 2013 Lemon rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorite-romance, breathtakingly-romantic, favorite-romance-heroes, historical-romance-britain, regency, dukes-yes-please, yummy-heroes, if-it-s-not-scottish-it-s-crap, judith-mcnaught

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.5 stars. I am very, very, very upset with Judith McNaught. I cannot adequately describe in words my outrage with Ms. McNaught. How could she take such a beautiful love story and then completely ruin it for me at the end? I am so disgusted with what Ms. McNaught did to this beautiful love story, it is simply unforgivable. Truly, until the unspeakably preposterous occurrence at the end of the book, this was well on its way to being my all-time favorite romance book. I guess that's why the title 3.5 stars. I am very, very, very upset with Judith McNaught. I cannot adequately describe in words my outrage with Ms. McNaught. How could she take such a beautiful love story and then completely ruin it for me at the end? I am so disgusted with what Ms. McNaught did to this beautiful love story, it is simply unforgivable. Truly, until the unspeakably preposterous occurrence at the end of the book, this was well on its way to being my all-time favorite romance book. I guess that's why the title of this book is Almost Heaven and not Heaven. Because if the disgusting "twist" had not occurred at the end, this book truly would have been heaven. And despite my utter disgust with the turn to the theater of the absurd at the end, Ian is still my favorite romantic hero of all time. Another reviewer said that Ian was very cruel. I actually think he was incredibly forgiving given what the heroine did. I don't think I could ever forgive that kind of humiliation and lack of trust.

Judith McNaught is an incredibly talented writer. She creates such a beautiful, poignant tableau. The way Ian and Elizabeth met and fell in love up through the wedding night were so achingly romantic and passion-filled. I simply loved every minute of it and found it to be breathtakingly romantic. Judith McNaught's writing is compelling and poignant and I was completely enthralled with the fantasy and romance of her almost poetic writing. Then came the completely unexpected slap in my face and after such a beautifully written love story, it was a huge shock and an unforgivable insult for this reader. Ms. McNaught might as well have smacked me and spit on my face with how the book turned out in the end. Then to add insult to injury, she had to go and beat a dead horse by belaboring the arc. It really irks me that she does this with every one of her books. Her heroines always claim to love their heroes but suspect them of the unspeakable at the same time. To me, love cannot be true without trust as well. I wish Ms. McNaught would leave the mystery suspense to its own separate genre and focus just on the romance. Paradise had the same formula and it spoiled the love story for me there as well. I really wish she wouldn't ruin perfect romance with the preposterous. The "twist" in the end had me squirming in embarrassment and anger. But I think I figured it out now- read Ms. McNaught's books, but make sure to stop after the "I love yous" are spoken because you know she'll go and ruin it for you after that. This is definitely an example of you should have stopped while you were ahead.

Still, after I get over the trauma of the end, I'll try to conveniently develop amnesia with respect to that part and try to only remember the incredibly beautiful aspect of Ian and Elizabeth's love story, because once you delete the atrocity of that part in the end, this book truly is heaven. ...more

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May 21, 2011 Twiggy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: dark-hero, historical-romance, all-time-favourites

I loved this the first time I read it and it still makes me smile on every reread.

Elizabeth Cameron is a Countess in her own right but unfortunately was faced with impecunious father and brother. It is made clear to her that she must marry well in order to save her home and family.

She is the toast of the season and soon is about to be engaged to a Viscount.

Before the engagement is finalised she and her maid travel to a weekend country party where she meets the notorious gambler Ian Thornton, ...more

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