Once and Always by Judith McNaught

Suddenly orphaned and alone, Victoria Seaton sails the vast ocean, eager to claim her heritage at Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin...the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Bewildered by his arrogance yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she senses the painful memories that smolder in his eyes when he gathers her at last into his arms, arousing a sweet, insistent hunger, they wed and are embraced by fierce, consuming joy--free from the past's cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of anguish, Victoria discovers the treachery at the heart of their love...a love she had dreamed would triumph not just once, but always.


The problem with going through old books to weed out the ones bound for the UBS is that you just can't go through them in one go because old favorites tend to catch your attention and the next thing you know you're well into another good reread session.

And probably the best reason why I love JM so much is that no matter how many times I reread her stuff to the point of memorizing the lines, she penned them in a way that it still feels like a brand-new read. Every time.

I chose OAA from the rest because if I started a Westmoreland book, I wouldn't be able to stop with just one. LOL! And so, let's get this fact out of the way first--this book isn't my most fave among JM's historicals but it still rates high enough to be a personal favorite. I love the entire thing except for one thing--that it contained not one but two scenes of our hero Jason Fielding and his mistress. And both times when he was already engaged to out heroine Victoria Seaton. Okay, the engagement wasn't his idea but still...But the rest of the story pretty well made up for it and so I lumped these scenes in into the complexity of Jason's character.

With that said, I can now declare that I positively love the story. First off, Victoria was a very strong character which was exactly the kind needed to break down the walls around Jason's heart. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind in his presence even knowing that he was practically one of the very few she had left in the world. And I think that the scene with the piglet was rather cute. I love piglets--those pink round bodies are hard to resist. (Sadly enough, that doesn't stop me from eating bacon.)

As for Jason, I think he was one of the few JM heroes without a strong familial bond when growing up. That's why I'm willing to forgive him for those mistress scenes. His displays of jealousy was quite enjoyable to read. Although I wanted to hit him in the head sometimes so that he'd wake up.

But boy, oh boy, did he wake up when he thought that Victoria died. My heart just broke for him. He didn't cry when he lost his beloved son from his first marriage. But the thought of losing his Tory broke him to the point of losing his mind.

Innocence can indeed help heal souls. If Victoria hadn't come to his life, no matter how he reluctant he was of the idea, Jason wouldn't have been able to mend his ways. And that's a sad thought.

Final verdict: 8/10. Great read, must-have.

Someone To Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught

Leigh Kendall reveled in her stellar Broadway acting career and in her marriage to Logan Manning, scion of an old New York family. When her husband finds the prefect mountain property for their dream house, he decides to surprise Leigh with her first view of the site. Driving upstate on a winter's night, Leigh is run off the road in the midst of a blinding blizzard. When she awakens in the local hospital, seriously injured, the police inform her that her husband has mysteriously disappeared, and Leigh, although obviously distraught, becomes the focus of their suspicions. The more she discovers about her husband and his business affairs, the less she realizes she knew about Logan Manning. Now Leigh is heading deeper and deeper into unknown territory...where friends and enemies are impossible to distinguish, and where the truth becomes the most terrifying weapon of all.


This books isn't Perfect but neither is it Tender Triumph. But while I was reading it,I couldn't help but feel that there was something missing. Maybe JM was trying to make a transition when she made this story. Because if I remember correctly, this was supposed to be a time-travel gig. Water's Edge, anyone? But then this thriller was what we got. Maybe JM herself was confused as well on what to come up with.

Nevertheless, JM's mediocre efforts are better than most and it showed here. Because even if it didn't have the usual cry-a-river plot line that her books usually have, I still managed to read it in one sitting. Admittedly, it took me a while to start reading it when I first got it. It started weakly but gathered enough momentum for me to finish the book in one go.

And JM still managed to create some very memorable characters,especially hero Michael Valente. Correct me if I'm wrong but unselfish men is such a turn-on. I weally, weally wike him, to say the least. Well, Leigh Kendall was kind a so-so heroine but she was such a victim that I have the automatic response of liking her. And her story, fictional as it was, was exactly the kind that turned me off from marriage. I have very serious trust issues and the thought of giving all my trust to someone and have that someone betray and blinside me does not present a pretty picture.

And I loved the sidestory (standard for her contemps?), too--Mitchell McCord and Sam Littleton made a cute couple. I think the "I made up my mind" scene was a great one. And it was nice to see O'Hara and Courtney Maitland again. (Do you think we'll have Courtney's story some time in the future?)

I advice though that STWOM not be the first JM book that anyone read. It might have fallen short of my expectations but it was still okay--once you get through the rough start.

Final verdict: 6.5/10. For passing the time.

Every Breath You Take by Judith McNaught

They met in paradise: Kate Donovan, the beautiful, self-made Chicago restaurateur, and Mitchell Wyatt, ruthless businessman, scion of the fabulously wealthy Wyatt family--and, as Kate soon learns, a man who won't take no for an answer. During their idyll on the tropical island of Anguilla, Kate and Mitchell lower their defenses and surrender all inhibitions--slowly at first, and then in a rush of emotion unlike anyhting they've ever known.

But their heaven crumbles when Mitchell is summoned home for questioning in the disappearance of his half brother. Amid a media firestorm, he retreats into his world of privilege and power, leaving Kate to question everything she knows about her darkly mysterious lover: Is he in fact the culprit in this high-profile case? What secrets lay buried in his past? What does his future hold--and what are his plans for her?

As Kate struggles to trust the fascinating man who may also be her most formidable foe, the web of intrigue grows ever more complicated--and the result is Judith McNaught's most spellbinding novel yet.


I beg to differ because for me, Perfect is still JM's most spellbinding novel to date. Nevertheless, Every Breath You Take does have JM's classic trademarks of deep characters, unexpected plot lines and unforgettable exchanges.

Mitchell Wyatt discovered that what he had been told about his life had been all a lie when his brother found him. Or rather, the secret that was Mitchell. And the next thing Mitchell knew he had been enfolded into the Wyatt family of Chicago, complete with a grandfather, a great-aunt, a brother, a sister-in-law, and a nephew. This after having been alone all his life and had to answer to questions of whether he was of the Chicago Wyatts. His life changed so much after only a matter of months, and especially because the brother he had just come to know had vanished, that he had to getaway for a while.To Anguilla, where he was building a house.

Where he met Kate Donovan. She was in Anguilla to rest after the death of her father and before she took over the running of his restaurant. At her bestfriend's suggestion, she decided to throw caution to the wind and have a fling in the islands. After all, she had already decided to end her relationship with the man she had been with for four years. She would always come in second to his work since he couldn't even join her in this vacation he payed for because of a high-profile case, a vacation that was even his idea in the first place.

But when her boyfriend found out who she was throwing him over for, Evan Bartlett then told her that Mitchell Wyatt was just using her for his revenge against the Bartletts for their role in what happened to him as a baby. When Kate wanted to talk to Mitchell about all these, she found out that he had already gone. She had no choice but to believe what Evan had told her. It was hard not to when faced with the facts that Mitchell could have very well been lying to her the entire time they had been together.

Mitchell had checked out of their hotel in St Maarten when news of his brother's body being found got to him. But he had waited for Kate to return to him after trusting her to go back to Anguilla to break things up with her lawyer boyfriend--who finally showed up. But she didn't come back and left him waiting in the wharf. The next time they saw each other, only a few days later, she was already engaged to Evan Bartlett. And after that unpleasant encounter, both thought that everything they had in the islands had ended for good.

But they were brought together two and a half years later as Danny, the son Mitchell knew nothing about, was kidnapped. Even though she had made a success out of running her father's restaurant, she still couldn't afford to pay the ransom money being asked for Danny's return. She had no choice but to ask help from Danny's father and risk letting him know about the boy's existence. What she didn't count on was Mitchell wanting to be a father, wanting to be a family, and wanting that family with her.

But I bet you can count on JM to give one heck of a emotional roller-coaster. Again. I read the book in one go so it was clear to see that I enjoyed it. Well, as much as I could enjoy it after I melted into a useless puddle when I read Mitchell say:

"Put your arms around me and wrap us up in magic. I can't do it without you."

I need a man fast and have some hot magic with him. No, give me Mitchell Wyatt any day and I'll have magic. The kidnapping part was reminiscent of one of my most fave and most reread quickie books, Gold Ring of Betrayal. But I love that after that sad episode, Kate and Wyatt were obviously getting back together with a minimum of fuss. After the explanations were said and done, it was evident that they could finally trust each other. It was like a long epilogue--love it!

And it's so nice "visiting" with friends again: the Farrells and the Benedicts were in the book, of course.

This books is, of course, a testament to what Ames said the reason why she doesn't like JM's books: the heroes don't use contraceptives. But thank God for that or we wouldn't have "Daddy Hot!" LOL!

Final verdict: 8.5/10. Must-read, must-have. Picture someone with two thumbs up and silly grin on the face. That's me after reading this book.

Double Standards by Judith McNaught

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 Laura Danner, and assumed that the proud beauty would soon be another easy conquest. But Laura's flashing wit and rare spirit dazzle him-and slowly, against his will, he was intrigued, challenged-and in love.

Yet Laura 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!


I was finally able to find someone who has a copy of the book and borrowed it from her. This was the first reread I've had of the book since more or less ten years ago. Back then I really thought this was a very good book. I dunno about now though. I guess it was still a good read and it had the trademark JM sob factor BUT it just didn't appeal to me that much anymore.

Lauren was too naive for my taste. I've read hundreds of naive heroines but Lauren just irritated me. I wanted to shout at her to wake up...I think, I did. And I wanted to clobber Nick when he refused to let Lauren explain even after she begged him on her knees. These flaws in the characters just annoyed the heck out of me.

As a hopeless romantic, the love story was okay. It's always interesting when a worldly playboy falls in love with a small-town girl. That plot always makes for interesting dynamics in the characters. But it just failed here.

But I did like one part--when Nick told Lauren that he wanted daughters with "wobbly blue eye" like hers. I somehow think that when someone says something like that, you come clean with whatever you are hiding that could potentially hurt that person. Unfortunately, Lauren didn't do anything of the sort. I dunno what she was waiting for not to tell him that she was hired by his stepfather to spy on Nick's company. Because all crap aside, she really would have been spying for Whitworth no matter how the old coot put it.

Nonetheless, it was a mediocre reading experience this time around. That's why I've decided never to review a book after just one reading. Nuh-uh.

Final verdict: 6.5/10. A try-to-read.