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Something Wonderful
written by Judith McNaught
Studio : Pocket
by Pocket
Publisher : Pocket
Released : 1991-01-01
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780671737634
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 152 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $3.10
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Product Description |
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Bestselling author Judith McNaught masterfully portrays a remarkable heroine, and an unforgettable passion, in this powerfully moving love story -- one of her most beloved novels of all time! The tempestuous marriage of Alexandra Lawrence, an innocent country girl, and Jordan Townsende, the rich and powerful Duke of Hawthorne, is about to face its ultimate test of tender loyalty. Swept into the endlessly fascinating world of London society, free-spirited Alexandra becomes ensnared in a tangled web of jealousy and revenge, stormy pride and overwhelming passion. But behind her husband's cold, arrogant mask, there lives a tender, vital, sensual man...the man Alexandra married. Now, she will fight for his very life...and the rapturous bond they alone can share. |
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Something Wonderful |
The first book that I read from Judith McNaught was called "Whitney, My Love", and I really enjoyed it. I have since read many of her books. My favorite one being a book called "Perfect".
I don't read Judith McNaught's books anymore, because there is one theme that repeats throughout every single one of her books, that ruins them for me now.
In each and every book, the man comes to some wrong conclusion about his woman, that she has in some way wronged him, and his fury is so powerful, unreasonable and blind, that no one can get through to him to get him to see the truth of what really happened, and even his closest friends and family are terrified of his anger and are afraid to bring her name up in his presence.
Reading this scenario once was fine, it was very emotional and you could really see that behind his rage was a deep well of pain (blah, blah, blah).
But seriously, in EVERY single one of her stories? It's literally the same scene repeated in every book. Even the book "Until You" with Stephen Westmoreland, who is the brother of the Duke in "Whitney My Love", (and who, incidently, sympathizes with and assists Whitney when she is trying to get her husband to forgive her for whatever imagined crime she supposedly committed)reacts exactly the same way when he thinks the girl he is in love with has tricked him about her identity.
It's not that the men don't usually have some legitimate reason to be distrusting or angry, but it's the fact that each and every one of her male characters reacts in exactly the same way. It's so annoying to me that she thinks the all Romantic Heros would be so supremely angry and unreasonable (and somehow always terrifyingly powerful in their rage) for often not very good reasons, without even stopping for one second to hear any kind of explanations from the women that they supposedly love.
I know that individually, Judith McNaughts books are good, but I just can't stand the reaccurring theme anymore. Not all men react that way. Mary Jo Putney writes some very emotional stories and none of the men freak out over some imagined wrong at the drop of the hat. I wish Judith McNaught would put a little more realistic behavior in her male characters. |
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Good but not my favorite |
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For some reason, I had a few issues with SW. It's still one of the better written historical romances and there really isn't anyone better at it then JM. I think I had some issues with the storyline when Jordan returns to Alex. And the murder plot, really shallow. That's probably why I can't give it a 5 star. To me something wasn't quite right about the story but it's good for it's genre. |
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Lovely |
This is the first Judith Mcnaught book i have read and i am so glad i did. I've already got some of her other books on hold at the library now!
Something Wonderful was just such a lovely, entertaining read that when i finished it this morning i couldn't help but smile. Alex may seem to some to be a bit of a 'goodie goodie' but rather than making me cringe or roll my eyes at her character i liked her and i think her character worked perfectly with Jordan's - who is so cynical and bitter to begin with, but changes over time. All in all i loved this book and would recommend it to anyone! It reminded me a lot of 'the secret pearl' by mary balogh (another absolute classic! recommend that one too) because the development between the two main characters is so heart warming and sweet.
as an extra i just want to say that sometimes the amazon reviews here are really WRONG! and it pisses me off when people base their review on the 'tapes' of books. They complain about how the "voice of blah blah blah was all wrong" etc. I dont think, firstly that we should be reviewing tape recordings when the item is a BOOK (not a tape) and i also think that these people should actually just read the damn book if they hated the voices SO much, because it just seems lazy! there is NOTHING like reading a great book and finishing it with a smile (like something wonderful)
All in all i absolutetly loved this book and highly recommend it! |
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Middle portion needs to be as endearing as the beginning and ending, still four stars |
Something Wonderful almost gets a five star rating it was enchanting, extremely well written and very witty. The major drawback is the heroine seems to switch personalities mid stream in the book; this was jarring as I absolutely loved her character up to this point in the novel.
Jordan the Duke of Hawthorne is jaded world weary, resigned and has almost no trust in anyone except perhaps his grandmother. He is accosted by highwaymen and who should ride to his rescue but what looks like a knight in shining armor, or in this case rusty armor. I actually laughed visualizing this scene.
Alex is heading home from a birthday party that had a jousting tournament when she comes to the rescue of this man. He takes her to an inn believing she is hurt and discovers the lad is really a girl.
Alex is simply charming and unaffected, truly one of the most sweet and caring heroines Miss McNaught has ever written. She is guileless, so it is with a heavy heart that she is forced into marrying Jordan due to her mother's insistence about her reputation being ruined when the locals talk about her and Jordan at the inn.
Jordan goes along with this mostly because he feels he owes Alex for saving his life. Their time together during their first days of marriage is lovely because Alex shares her absolute love of life with Jordan. McNaught really shines here, the scenes are beautifully written with tender dialogue.
Unfortunately, during their first week of marriage, Jordan is kidnapped and finds himself imprisoned for over a year, but he just cannot forget his lovely wife and wants another chance with her.
Alex is heartbroken over Jordan, he is believed dead. She goes on with her life and when she discovers that her husband was a womanizer before they were married she becomes livid and changes from a heartbroken grieving widow into the darling of the ton. Here is where I had problems with the story. Why would this seemingly sweet noble woman hold Jordan accountable for things he did PRIOR to their meeting. It is patently unfair. Also, her character became more cynical and hardened.
When Jordan comes back to London he finds his wife wants nothing to do with him. I don't even think she asked about his imprisonment, she certainly shows no sympathy for this man who endured a year of terrible hardship. Again, this was not the same sweet girl in the beginning of this novel. She publicly humiliated Jordan, letting the ton know she was through with him by placing a wager she would not support him in a well attended race. Jordan overreacted to her antics which prompted Alex to become even more contrary.
Fortunately, both of these people come to their senses and rediscover why they liked each other so much. The ending of this novel is as sweet as the beginning, if only the middle portion were too.
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Something special |
I liked this book a lot. It was rich in detail, plotting and character development. This is my second favorite McNaught book(Kingdom of Dreams is number one for me).
This book was in my tbr pile for over a year. I was convinced that no book could live up to the hype or even the title. I was so wrong. Jordon and Alexandra were a great couple. I was fully invested in their love story and was so happy when they FINALLY got their HEA.
A few minor gripes which in no way detract from the overall quality of the book: 1) the HEA came rather abruptly 2) the book dragged at sometimes. A little bit too much detail 3)Jordon, like some other McNaught heroes-most notably Clayton in Whitney, My Love, jumped to conclusions about the heroine and, in his mind convicted her without giving her a chance to explain herself.
But for these little issues, the book could have been called Something Perfect, because it was darned close to it. |
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