What do you think?
Rate this book
Paradise #4
Every Breath You Take
Unforgettable characters, sizzling romance, and riveting suspense: These are the trademarks of beloved author Judith McNaught. With millions of devoted fans and ten New York Times bestsellers to date, McNaught is a writer whose work just gets better with each new novel-and Every Breath You Take is the book readers have been waiting for. Returning to the lavish Chicago setting of her popular novel Paradise, and revisiting some of that book's characters as well, this story will captivate in inimitable Judith McNaught style.
High atop a snow-covered hill, the stately old Wyatt mansion is perched like a crown, its stone spires pointing upward, its stained glass windows glowing like colorful jewels. Such opulence means success and, surely, happiness. But on the eve of wealthy philanthropist Cecil Wyatt's eightieth birthday, all the money in the world won't bring back his missing grandson, William Wyatt. The only thing for certain: Foul play was involved.
The family, the police, the media-all have tried in vain to discover the young man's fate. Now suspicion has turned shockingly toward William's own half-brother, the rather distant and enigmatic Mitchell Wyatt.
Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would tag her as a suspect in a high-society murder case. But after Kate tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell Wyatt, she finds herself cast in a shadow of guilt and mistrust. As the Chicago police tighten their net, it will take all of Kate's ingenuity to clear her name. With her calm, cool wit, and the help of a man who may or may not be a dangerous catch, Kate vows to claim the life and love she desires.
High atop a snow-covered hill, the stately old Wyatt mansion is perched like a crown, its stone spires pointing upward, its stained glass windows glowing like colorful jewels. Such opulence means success and, surely, happiness. But on the eve of wealthy philanthropist Cecil Wyatt's eightieth birthday, all the money in the world won't bring back his missing grandson, William Wyatt. The only thing for certain: Foul play was involved.
The family, the police, the media-all have tried in vain to discover the young man's fate. Now suspicion has turned shockingly toward William's own half-brother, the rather distant and enigmatic Mitchell Wyatt.
Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would tag her as a suspect in a high-society murder case. But after Kate tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell Wyatt, she finds herself cast in a shadow of guilt and mistrust. As the Chicago police tighten their net, it will take all of Kate's ingenuity to clear her name. With her calm, cool wit, and the help of a man who may or may not be a dangerous catch, Kate vows to claim the life and love she desires.
496 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
836 people are currently reading
4239 people want to read
About the author
Judith McNaught
88 books7,781 followersYou can find Judith McNaught in facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjudith...
Judith McNaught is a #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, with more than forty million copies of her novels in print, in over eighty countries and more than thirty languages. She was also the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station. McNaught is credited with inventing the modern Regency Historical romance subgenre.
Judith McNaught is a #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, with more than forty million copies of her novels in print, in over eighty countries and more than thirty languages. She was also the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station. McNaught is credited with inventing the modern Regency Historical romance subgenre.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 615 reviews
May 8, 2011
This book was awful. What follows is a rant of epic proportions, it was just that bad. The first half of the book is like the two days Kate and Mitchell get to know each other, most of it is the first night even. And nothing even happened! They would make progress and then slide back. Kate is utterly useless. I think she actually surpasses the Bella Swan Stupid level. She was extremely blasé about cheating on her boyfriend of four years, which already started me off hating her. And her excuse was she was that thinking of breaking up with him anyway. Okay.
Then, when the epically stupid misunderstanding happens (fueled by way too many coincidences to be believed – even though we know they are), she's too stupid to figure out that this new impression of the guy she was 'OMG so in love' with after 26 hours wasn't wrong and just thinking about it clearly would have given her the right answer (and it was hilarious that she was so in love with him when she didn't know all that much about him because he kept evading most of her questions on anything personal). Then when everything implodes she still agrees to marry the boyfriend she doesn't even love! Cue the cliché´ and pedestrian plot twist (which isn't a surprise at all, two books I've read by McNaught and no one uses a condom to screw someone they just met). Then everything becomes Mitchell's fault for her. She feels bad about herself because of Mitchell. She's inept at running her father's restaurant because of Mitchell. She might not ever love her baby because it's Mitchell's. I usually don't skim, but I started skimming through any part that featured Kate and then started skimming hardcore by the end so I could just finish this mess.
I was hoping that Kate's best friend, Holly, would provide perspective. Usually, they're outside the situation and will say something like, "okay, he checked out of the hotel, you were supposed to be meeting at the wharf. Did you check there first?" Or, "after he was so very blunt with you about where this relationship could and could not go before changing his mind, what makes you think he'd be so cruel as to send you off to break off your four-year relationship and then disappear on you? Come on now." Or, "So, you were breaking your long-term boyfriend's heart and you just believed everything thing he told you about the guy you were leaving him for? You didn't think he could have been lying about any of it?" But, nope, she listened to the story and took it at face value and acts like a raving lunatic along side Kate. They were both entirely useless.
Kate is so wrapped up in herself that when she and Mitchell confronted each other at a fundraiser she didn't actually listen to any of the words he said. Everything he said indicated a guy who had been unceremoniously dumped. Not the "monster" (yes, she kept calling him that, because that's what a monster is . . . yep) she thought he was. And on top of all of that, no matter how gross of an elitist pig her fiancé was she still stayed with him. That is, until he dumped her for not aborting Mitchell's spawn.
Mitchell was the least stupid of the two. I could actually feel bad for him and take his side on most things. It was mostly just his slutty behavior and not doing something basic that could have helped avoid the whole misunderstanding plot line (though his failure there was far less egregious than Kate's). He simply didn't think to leave a note at the hotel for her because he had just found out his brother was dead, she has the depth and intelligence of a thimble. It's amazing how he kept being blamed in the end, even after what Kate did. These characters were horrendous.
What did Kate do? This next part is going to contain a lot of ranting, screaming and profanity. Yes, it got so much worse. I didn't think I could hate Kate more, but apparently the loathsome piece of dirt had more in store.
I wished that Kate would have run into the street like the moron she is and been run over by a bus and Mitchell lived happily ever after with his son. Of course not. Even though they knew each other for a grand total of three days, three years ago, thought the worst of each other, and then she does the unforgivable OF COURSE they get their HEA. There was barely a discussion about everything that went down between them, no resolution of the lies, or idiocy, or her betrayal, and they're in love again and getting married within two days!
This book was an absolute chore to read. It was slow, boring, and flat in the beginning as their "relationship" was established. Then when the story started moving the main characters were too stupid to deal with. Like I said, I don't usually skim books, but I had to in this case to get beyond Kate's drivel. And to try to finish this book as quickly as possible so I could move on to something that wasn't making me angry. I was reading this to relax during study breaks. Fail. Also, the synopsis of the book, at least on Goodreads, is absolutely wrong. They make it sound like the murder whodunit is the entire plot of the book, especially Mitchell and Kate being wrapped up in it. That's really not true. Literally the first 54 percent of the book is their first two days together. Mitchell was being followed by police, but that's about it. The crux of the whodunit really only lasts a chapter, because he's questioned on something stupid, and had an airtight alibi for the evidence against him that should have been investigated before he was even brought in. They asked Kate like five questions and nothing again because there was no case and it was easy as all get out to figure out who the real killer was. This is another book where the summary needs to be changed, badly.
If you want a good book by McNaught, go read Perfect. Even for all of it's problems in characters and plot, I still gave it four stars because it was extremely enjoyable for me to read and none of those characters reached even the minimum level of idiocy the characters in this book exhibited.
Then, when the epically stupid misunderstanding happens (fueled by way too many coincidences to be believed – even though we know they are), she's too stupid to figure out that this new impression of the guy she was 'OMG so in love' with after 26 hours wasn't wrong and just thinking about it clearly would have given her the right answer (and it was hilarious that she was so in love with him when she didn't know all that much about him because he kept evading most of her questions on anything personal). Then when everything implodes she still agrees to marry the boyfriend she doesn't even love! Cue the cliché´ and pedestrian plot twist (which isn't a surprise at all, two books I've read by McNaught and no one uses a condom to screw someone they just met). Then everything becomes Mitchell's fault for her. She feels bad about herself because of Mitchell. She's inept at running her father's restaurant because of Mitchell. She might not ever love her baby because it's Mitchell's. I usually don't skim, but I started skimming through any part that featured Kate and then started skimming hardcore by the end so I could just finish this mess.
I was hoping that Kate's best friend, Holly, would provide perspective. Usually, they're outside the situation and will say something like, "okay, he checked out of the hotel, you were supposed to be meeting at the wharf. Did you check there first?" Or, "after he was so very blunt with you about where this relationship could and could not go before changing his mind, what makes you think he'd be so cruel as to send you off to break off your four-year relationship and then disappear on you? Come on now." Or, "So, you were breaking your long-term boyfriend's heart and you just believed everything thing he told you about the guy you were leaving him for? You didn't think he could have been lying about any of it?" But, nope, she listened to the story and took it at face value and acts like a raving lunatic along side Kate. They were both entirely useless.
Kate is so wrapped up in herself that when she and Mitchell confronted each other at a fundraiser she didn't actually listen to any of the words he said. Everything he said indicated a guy who had been unceremoniously dumped. Not the "monster" (yes, she kept calling him that, because that's what a monster is . . . yep) she thought he was. And on top of all of that, no matter how gross of an elitist pig her fiancé was she still stayed with him. That is, until he dumped her for not aborting Mitchell's spawn.
Mitchell was the least stupid of the two. I could actually feel bad for him and take his side on most things. It was mostly just his slutty behavior and not doing something basic that could have helped avoid the whole misunderstanding plot line (though his failure there was far less egregious than Kate's). He simply didn't think to leave a note at the hotel for her because he had just found out his brother was dead, she has the depth and intelligence of a thimble. It's amazing how he kept being blamed in the end, even after what Kate did. These characters were horrendous.
What did Kate do? This next part is going to contain a lot of ranting, screaming and profanity. Yes, it got so much worse. I didn't think I could hate Kate more, but apparently the loathsome piece of dirt had more in store.
I wished that Kate would have run into the street like the moron she is and been run over by a bus and Mitchell lived happily ever after with his son. Of course not. Even though they knew each other for a grand total of three days, three years ago, thought the worst of each other, and then she does the unforgivable OF COURSE they get their HEA. There was barely a discussion about everything that went down between them, no resolution of the lies, or idiocy, or her betrayal, and they're in love again and getting married within two days!
This book was an absolute chore to read. It was slow, boring, and flat in the beginning as their "relationship" was established. Then when the story started moving the main characters were too stupid to deal with. Like I said, I don't usually skim books, but I had to in this case to get beyond Kate's drivel. And to try to finish this book as quickly as possible so I could move on to something that wasn't making me angry. I was reading this to relax during study breaks. Fail. Also, the synopsis of the book, at least on Goodreads, is absolutely wrong. They make it sound like the murder whodunit is the entire plot of the book, especially Mitchell and Kate being wrapped up in it. That's really not true. Literally the first 54 percent of the book is their first two days together. Mitchell was being followed by police, but that's about it. The crux of the whodunit really only lasts a chapter, because he's questioned on something stupid, and had an airtight alibi for the evidence against him that should have been investigated before he was even brought in. They asked Kate like five questions and nothing again because there was no case and it was easy as all get out to figure out who the real killer was. This is another book where the summary needs to be changed, badly.
If you want a good book by McNaught, go read Perfect. Even for all of it's problems in characters and plot, I still gave it four stars because it was extremely enjoyable for me to read and none of those characters reached even the minimum level of idiocy the characters in this book exhibited.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2010
I read it in one night. It's JM's usual story. Girl meets Uber-wealthy Alpha Male, falls in love, than something happens to make one or both think the other has betrayed them and they separate, only to come together in the end realizing how stupid and wrong about the other they were.
Yes, it was exactly like Perfect and Paradise by this author, in fact the heroes and heroines from those two novels make an appearance, and though I enjoyed EBYT, the fact that it was exactly like her others causes a sliver of trouble in my soul.
I started reading Mcnaught's books way back when, and I *think* I've read her entire backlist. She's an old favorite who I used to autobuy. I know so well her mcnaughtizing of a plot- after the get-together and prompt fall-out, I felt compelled to skim until they got back together. The problem is that left out a third of the book for me.
So, I have to say, the plot involving who actually murdered the heroes estranged family members (She thinks it was the hero. Silly girl), became lost on me. It was easy enough to spot the real killer when she dropped the first clue, however I have no idea why the killer finally confessed.
Deh, doesn't really matter because the part I enjoyed the most- the get together, I savored, and in the end, when they got back together, I sighed in relief. Mcnaught hadn't disappointed and even with the same ending as all her other books, I left the book glad I read it.
She may not have changed her style in twenty years, but then that's ok with me. Predictability is a good thing when you've been so disappointed of late with favorite authors who changed their styles.
I wish more of my old fav authors would do the same.
Yes, it was exactly like Perfect and Paradise by this author, in fact the heroes and heroines from those two novels make an appearance, and though I enjoyed EBYT, the fact that it was exactly like her others causes a sliver of trouble in my soul.
I started reading Mcnaught's books way back when, and I *think* I've read her entire backlist. She's an old favorite who I used to autobuy. I know so well her mcnaughtizing of a plot- after the get-together and prompt fall-out, I felt compelled to skim until they got back together. The problem is that left out a third of the book for me.
So, I have to say, the plot involving who actually murdered the heroes estranged family members (She thinks it was the hero. Silly girl), became lost on me. It was easy enough to spot the real killer when she dropped the first clue, however I have no idea why the killer finally confessed.
Deh, doesn't really matter because the part I enjoyed the most- the get together, I savored, and in the end, when they got back together, I sighed in relief. Mcnaught hadn't disappointed and even with the same ending as all her other books, I left the book glad I read it.
She may not have changed her style in twenty years, but then that's ok with me. Predictability is a good thing when you've been so disappointed of late with favorite authors who changed their styles.
I wish more of my old fav authors would do the same.
September 12, 2014
“With a feeling approaching amused disbelief, Mitchell realized that he was wildly attracted to a nice, redheaded, Irish Catholic girl from a solid, middle-class American family. How totally atypical for him.”
I really liked this one. When I finished book 3 in this series, I was hesitant to start this book as I really didn’t think it was as good as Books 1 and 2. But as I already had the book I said I would give it a try.
Mitchell and Kate were strong characters. There was an instant attraction when they met.
I know we have to suspend the disbelief a bit when reading books. They are fiction and things happen that would never happen in real life.
“How is it possible that two people who knew each other only a few days could end up being to agonizingly disappointed in each other that neither of them was able to forget about it ….”
We had the misunderstanding, a Judith McNaught would not be a JM book without one.
“MAGIC”
“CON OGNI RESPIRO CHE PRENDO”
August 14, 2020
Bu da pek güzeldi 😍
September 9, 2009
After reading Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught and really liking it, I thought I'd try another of her books that I happen to come across in the library.
First of all, I'm a bit embarrassed to add it to my shelf because of the chagrin-worthy cover. Could it be any more raunchy? LOL.
Secondly, I didn't really care for this book as the storyline was very disorganized, and I don't think the author could decide what she wanted the novel to be about, so she dumped in a hodge-podge of ingredients to make a messy and tasteless soup. First the story was about a missing person, then it progressed to a murder mystery, it later took another turn into an affair to remember, moving on to the story of a heartbroken woman soon to become a single mother, when that part was done it detoured to a kidnapping and ultimately ended up as a love story. What a journey for someone who just wanted a light read.
Lastly, I really didn't care for either main character Kate or Mitchell, and they were somewhat introduced late in the storyline. Kate was shallow and Mitchell took the alpha male role to an unattractive level. I really didn’t care if they ended up together or not. Towards the end, I just wanted the story to end and the little boy who was kidnapped to be found.
Not worth the time, I believe she has better picks to choose from.
First of all, I'm a bit embarrassed to add it to my shelf because of the chagrin-worthy cover. Could it be any more raunchy? LOL.
Secondly, I didn't really care for this book as the storyline was very disorganized, and I don't think the author could decide what she wanted the novel to be about, so she dumped in a hodge-podge of ingredients to make a messy and tasteless soup. First the story was about a missing person, then it progressed to a murder mystery, it later took another turn into an affair to remember, moving on to the story of a heartbroken woman soon to become a single mother, when that part was done it detoured to a kidnapping and ultimately ended up as a love story. What a journey for someone who just wanted a light read.
Lastly, I really didn't care for either main character Kate or Mitchell, and they were somewhat introduced late in the storyline. Kate was shallow and Mitchell took the alpha male role to an unattractive level. I really didn’t care if they ended up together or not. Towards the end, I just wanted the story to end and the little boy who was kidnapped to be found.
Not worth the time, I believe she has better picks to choose from.
March 11, 2019
2.5 stars
November 1, 2011
I read this last April, I think, and really enjoyed it. Judith McNaught was my favorite author for many years. I stopped reading her and didn't even know she had a new book out. Well, new compared to her classics that I read back in the day, almost 20 years ago. So I found this at a used bookstore and voila, the magic of McNaught caught me up.
This is a very different setting for her. Much of the book takes place at a tropical beach setting and some in Chicago. I loved the beach part - so beautiful and romantic, I felt like I was there. This is a great chick flick, beach read, summertime read. Not as well developed as some of her other books, but still, I read everything she writes.
Things I liked/loved about this book: The tropical setting. Nothing is more romantic, to me at least, than the beach. The music in the background. It was mentioned at different times throughout the book and it added a lot to the atmosphere. The way McNaught describes the child, Daniel, and how he interacts with his dad. It was so cute and I could really "see" it all unfold.
Things I wish were different: I really wish the ending was better developed. In fact, McNaught did rewrite the ending already. But it still needed more, I thought. There was the usual big misunderstanding, big separation, that could have very easily been resolved if everyone involved took the time to communicate properly. I can't believe that people could be such blockheads. The murder mystery plot and idiot ex-boyfriend/lawyer was a super jerk and I can't believe heroine believed a word he said. She's pretty gullible. Well, McNaught worked it out. It's not by any means my favorite story by her, but I still loved reading it and will probably even re-read again one summer in the future. It's always good to have comfortable summertime reading.
This is a very different setting for her. Much of the book takes place at a tropical beach setting and some in Chicago. I loved the beach part - so beautiful and romantic, I felt like I was there. This is a great chick flick, beach read, summertime read. Not as well developed as some of her other books, but still, I read everything she writes.
Things I liked/loved about this book: The tropical setting. Nothing is more romantic, to me at least, than the beach. The music in the background. It was mentioned at different times throughout the book and it added a lot to the atmosphere. The way McNaught describes the child, Daniel, and how he interacts with his dad. It was so cute and I could really "see" it all unfold.
Things I wish were different: I really wish the ending was better developed. In fact, McNaught did rewrite the ending already. But it still needed more, I thought. There was the usual big misunderstanding, big separation, that could have very easily been resolved if everyone involved took the time to communicate properly. I can't believe that people could be such blockheads. The murder mystery plot and idiot ex-boyfriend/lawyer was a super jerk and I can't believe heroine believed a word he said. She's pretty gullible. Well, McNaught worked it out. It's not by any means my favorite story by her, but I still loved reading it and will probably even re-read again one summer in the future. It's always good to have comfortable summertime reading.
November 17, 2010
Narrated by Laura Dean
A fabulously wealthy hero (self-made of course) and a humble yet gorgeous woman meet for the first time on a tropical island and share a romance unaware that they are connected in numerous ways back in Chicago. It’s typical McNaught (and I am a definite fan) which means there is a Big Misunderstanding – this one huge. In print, this misunderstanding lasts for a good portion of the book since there is a long separation of the characters. However in the abridged audio format, the producers had the opportunity to right this wrong and they did. Most of the misunderstanding is removed as well as the separation. I actually prefer this six hour abridgement to the print version as it tightens the story and concentrates more on the romance. The ending may be a little rushed but I consider this abridged audiobook a success. Laura Dean’s narration is above average and easy on the ears with voices that are clearly distinguishable. This is another definite re-listen for the future. I’ve considered finding this one in unabridged format as well (it’s harder to find) but no longer feel the desire to do so.
Abridged audiobook review written for 10/29/10 Speaking of Audiobooks column.
A fabulously wealthy hero (self-made of course) and a humble yet gorgeous woman meet for the first time on a tropical island and share a romance unaware that they are connected in numerous ways back in Chicago. It’s typical McNaught (and I am a definite fan) which means there is a Big Misunderstanding – this one huge. In print, this misunderstanding lasts for a good portion of the book since there is a long separation of the characters. However in the abridged audio format, the producers had the opportunity to right this wrong and they did. Most of the misunderstanding is removed as well as the separation. I actually prefer this six hour abridgement to the print version as it tightens the story and concentrates more on the romance. The ending may be a little rushed but I consider this abridged audiobook a success. Laura Dean’s narration is above average and easy on the ears with voices that are clearly distinguishable. This is another definite re-listen for the future. I’ve considered finding this one in unabridged format as well (it’s harder to find) but no longer feel the desire to do so.
Abridged audiobook review written for 10/29/10 Speaking of Audiobooks column.
September 4, 2016
To see review with gifs click here.
I really think McNaught was doomed with this book from the moment she titled it. She did realize the song is about stalking, right?
Honestly, she probably didn’t care. But just saying…the creepy element of the song though really doesn’t fit with the disappointing nature of the book.
If you haven’t read my other reviews about McNaught’s work all you should know is she’s one of the founding members of the modern historical and contemporary romance and when she’s on—she’s on. But when she’s not on, the reader feels like pulling out the various fictional characters’ hair, dunking their heads into a dirty toilet and then flushing it hoping that somehow the toilet will pull these pieces of shit down the drain.
Wow, after reading that line it sounds a lot more graphic than I mean it too—oh, well.
To be fair to McNaught, this isn’t the worst book I read for her. That would be Tender Triumph, a book you really never want me reading and reviewing because it would be a mega sized rant. However, Every Breath You Take is pretty bad and isn’t the sort of book you’d expect from a seasoned best selling author.
The general plot description of the book is promising, it looks like there will be some sort of mystery, a romance, and there’s glimpse of past favorites from Paradise and Perfect (though Julie Mathison’s head could spend some time in a stinky water closet too, come to think of it). However, the book fell flat. While there were some elements that made me nostalgic for McNaught’s 90’s contemporaries this book felt half bake. The mystery that I described really wasn’t investigated and the resolution was told to us with very little fanfare.
Worse than the mystery, are the characters. Kate and Mitchell are both stereotypes at best.
Kate is especially offensive. She is what you think of what an Irish American Catholic might’ve been back in the 1950’s—complete with the stereotypical name (Mary Kate), Maureen O’Hara red hair, an Irish temper, a Catholic priest uncle, a father named “Danny”, a rendition of “Oh Danny Boy”, and the cherry on top is the pub she owns.
Yeah, get out the Guinness and me Lucky Charms out for that one.
Mitchell isn’t much better since he’s deemed the international business man. Though to be fair, he has no national identity—not really—so his culture and beliefs can’t be trashed that much. Though, he does have a stereotypical Italian sidekick…so
Yeah.
In addition to the murder mystery, there is a secret baby and the fallout and resolution of that is ridiculously smooth. I just…yeah, I missed the god damn angst from the previous McNaught books. I know McNaught released a revise version with an extremely creepy (from the dead dad’s POV) epilogue a few years after the original book was released but quite honestly other than sneaking a peak at that epilogue in Barnes and Noble I have no desire to buy another copy of a bad book. Especially after seeing that creepy epilogue. Really, you think I want to read the Dead Dad’s POV that’s like watching Ghost Dad—no bueno. Though to be fair, that epilogue was slightly less creepy than that bad movie since it didn’t have Bill Cosby in it.
I know that McNaught hasn’t realeased a title since this book—and I think it’s been almost ten years—and while a part of me wanted that book which was supposed to feature a modern day Westmoreland hero, but if it’s going to be the same qualitiy as this book I frankly don’t want it.
Either McNaught really had a phenomenal editor in the earlier part of her career, or she was just using this book as a tax write off to go to Antigua. Either way, I feel slightly cheated.
I really think McNaught was doomed with this book from the moment she titled it. She did realize the song is about stalking, right?
Honestly, she probably didn’t care. But just saying…the creepy element of the song though really doesn’t fit with the disappointing nature of the book.
If you haven’t read my other reviews about McNaught’s work all you should know is she’s one of the founding members of the modern historical and contemporary romance and when she’s on—she’s on. But when she’s not on, the reader feels like pulling out the various fictional characters’ hair, dunking their heads into a dirty toilet and then flushing it hoping that somehow the toilet will pull these pieces of shit down the drain.
Wow, after reading that line it sounds a lot more graphic than I mean it too—oh, well.
To be fair to McNaught, this isn’t the worst book I read for her. That would be Tender Triumph, a book you really never want me reading and reviewing because it would be a mega sized rant. However, Every Breath You Take is pretty bad and isn’t the sort of book you’d expect from a seasoned best selling author.
The general plot description of the book is promising, it looks like there will be some sort of mystery, a romance, and there’s glimpse of past favorites from Paradise and Perfect (though Julie Mathison’s head could spend some time in a stinky water closet too, come to think of it). However, the book fell flat. While there were some elements that made me nostalgic for McNaught’s 90’s contemporaries this book felt half bake. The mystery that I described really wasn’t investigated and the resolution was told to us with very little fanfare.
Worse than the mystery, are the characters. Kate and Mitchell are both stereotypes at best.
Kate is especially offensive. She is what you think of what an Irish American Catholic might’ve been back in the 1950’s—complete with the stereotypical name (Mary Kate), Maureen O’Hara red hair, an Irish temper, a Catholic priest uncle, a father named “Danny”, a rendition of “Oh Danny Boy”, and the cherry on top is the pub she owns.
Yeah, get out the Guinness and me Lucky Charms out for that one.
Mitchell isn’t much better since he’s deemed the international business man. Though to be fair, he has no national identity—not really—so his culture and beliefs can’t be trashed that much. Though, he does have a stereotypical Italian sidekick…so
Yeah.
In addition to the murder mystery, there is a secret baby and the fallout and resolution of that is ridiculously smooth. I just…yeah, I missed the god damn angst from the previous McNaught books. I know McNaught released a revise version with an extremely creepy (from the dead dad’s POV) epilogue a few years after the original book was released but quite honestly other than sneaking a peak at that epilogue in Barnes and Noble I have no desire to buy another copy of a bad book. Especially after seeing that creepy epilogue. Really, you think I want to read the Dead Dad’s POV that’s like watching Ghost Dad—no bueno. Though to be fair, that epilogue was slightly less creepy than that bad movie since it didn’t have Bill Cosby in it.
I know that McNaught hasn’t realeased a title since this book—and I think it’s been almost ten years—and while a part of me wanted that book which was supposed to feature a modern day Westmoreland hero, but if it’s going to be the same qualitiy as this book I frankly don’t want it.
Either McNaught really had a phenomenal editor in the earlier part of her career, or she was just using this book as a tax write off to go to Antigua. Either way, I feel slightly cheated.
July 31, 2015
Every Breath You Take
Mitchell Wyatt and Katherine Kate Donovan
5/5 Stars
Every Breath You Take is the fifth and last book of Second Opportunities series by Judith McNaught.
Favorite Quotes
“Let’s get complicated, Kate.” -Mitchell
“Thank you for the offer, but it’s better to leave things just as they are.” -Kate
“Please stop this, or we won’t end up being friends, after all.” -Kate
“We’re already friends. We’re about to become lovers.” -Mitchell
“I am trying to concede. The truth is that I felt all the same things you did last night, and you know I did.” -Mitchell
“The second thing I want to tell you, is that you’re in for a bit of a shock.” -Kate
“Why is that?” -Mitchell
“Mitchell, this is your son, Daniel Mitchell Donovan. I think you’d recognize him even without an introduction." -Kate
“I cried my heart out on Evan’s shoulder. I cried so hard that I finally fell asleep, and when I woke up the engagement ring Evan had brought to St. Maarten was on my finger.” -Kate
“I told you exactly why that night, without meaning to. I felt like a jilted, heartbroken lover. I had no idea until a moment before you walked up to me that Evan Bartlett was your boyfriend. We lay in bed and watched the sun come up though we could hardly hold our eyes open, because neither of us wanted to miss out on a minute of being together... I missed you so much, for so long, I missed our magic.” -Mitchell
Mitchell Wyatt and Katherine Kate Donovan
5/5 Stars
Every Breath You Take is the fifth and last book of Second Opportunities series by Judith McNaught.
Favorite Quotes
“Let’s get complicated, Kate.” -Mitchell
“Thank you for the offer, but it’s better to leave things just as they are.” -Kate
“Please stop this, or we won’t end up being friends, after all.” -Kate
“We’re already friends. We’re about to become lovers.” -Mitchell
“I am trying to concede. The truth is that I felt all the same things you did last night, and you know I did.” -Mitchell
“The second thing I want to tell you, is that you’re in for a bit of a shock.” -Kate
“Why is that?” -Mitchell
“Mitchell, this is your son, Daniel Mitchell Donovan. I think you’d recognize him even without an introduction." -Kate
“I cried my heart out on Evan’s shoulder. I cried so hard that I finally fell asleep, and when I woke up the engagement ring Evan had brought to St. Maarten was on my finger.” -Kate
“I told you exactly why that night, without meaning to. I felt like a jilted, heartbroken lover. I had no idea until a moment before you walked up to me that Evan Bartlett was your boyfriend. We lay in bed and watched the sun come up though we could hardly hold our eyes open, because neither of us wanted to miss out on a minute of being together... I missed you so much, for so long, I missed our magic.” -Mitchell
Like there’s no way
to love him just a little bit.
He’s completely addictive.
If I could pull him over me like a blanket
and wrap myself up in him, I’d do it
and still want to be closer—body and soul.
And what makes it so hard is that
I think he feels the same way.-Kate
February 4, 2016
I was a big fan of Judith McNaught as a teenager. I have read almost all the books by her which were translated into Korean, my native language. I almost forgot about her and now in my 30s I came across this book. I didn't think I would love it because I'm not a little girl who dreams of unrealistic romance anymore, however I enjoyed it a lot and I love it! Certainly I had good reasons that I loved McNaught's novels. The story-line doesn't make sense from time to time but still it has attractive characters, intense lines and magical moments in it. Plus, you can meet the nostalgic couples such as Julie&Jack, Meredith&Mathew.
March 4, 2013
I must have read this back when it first came out and then forgot about it. That's why I'm on Goodreads! Still I liked it at this second reading. Plenty of angst. I don't really like books where there is a big misunderstanding that separates the characters but every once in a while it's okay if the rest of the book is well done. The writing is good here. The emotions are realistic and intense. The end could have been a bit longer. The mystery could have been stronger.
February 26, 2017
3.5 stars
June 22, 2017
Judith'e bir süre ara verip geri dönünce daha bir seviyorum orası kesin. Bu hikaye de gerçekten hoşuma gitti, ayrıca bol bol Zack ve Julie de vardı - Kusursuz benim bu yazardan en en sevdiğim hikaye onu belirteyim - Matt ve Meredith'i de gördük az biraz. Kate ve Mitchell ilişkisi de yazarın diğer bir kitabı Kalbim Sende Kaldı'yı hatırlattı bana. Aptal bir avukat yüzünden boşa giden iki koca yıl diyerek hayıflanıyorum şu an. Tabi sonunda Evan'ın başına gelen gayet rahatlatıcıydı ama yine de yazık oldu. Modern hikayeleri daha bir okunur geliyor bana her zaman, tarihi aşk hikayelerindeki drama beni çoğu zaman boğuyor. Okumadığım birkaç kitap kaldı sanırım onları da bir ara okumaya niyetliyim.
February 17, 2010
I have read this book twice. There is a scene from the book that shows the main character observing her son and his father in the bathroom, towel around the waist, shaving. Even though the little boy had never met his father until a few days ago, he has known him all of his life...because his mother never forgot or fell out of love with the one man who stole her heart...
May 24, 2020
Re-read. Loved the secret baby aspect but I could have done with all the excess detail and pointless conversations.
May 3, 2018
Digital audio read by Laura Dean
Excerpted from the book jacket: Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would involve her in a high-society murder case. But after she tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell [Wyatt], Kate finds herself a player in a lethal game of guilt and deception.
My reactions
Okay, I knew it was a romance novel going into it. Still the writing was just dreadful – full of stereotypical characters, romance tropes and clichés. I kept laughing out loud as I listened because it was so bad. However … it’s is markedly better than the publisher’s blurb on the book jacket (though that’s not saying much).
That being said, it was hugely entertaining. It was a fast read (or listen) and I enjoyed it. I can certainly see why McNaught is a best-selling author.
The audio book is read by Laura Dean, and she does a fine job. Too bad she doesn’t have better material to work with.
Excerpted from the book jacket: Kate Donovan never dreamed that a chance romantic encounter on a tropical island paradise would involve her in a high-society murder case. But after she tangles with the darkly charismatic Mitchell [Wyatt], Kate finds herself a player in a lethal game of guilt and deception.
My reactions
Okay, I knew it was a romance novel going into it. Still the writing was just dreadful – full of stereotypical characters, romance tropes and clichés. I kept laughing out loud as I listened because it was so bad. However … it’s is markedly better than the publisher’s blurb on the book jacket (though that’s not saying much).
That being said, it was hugely entertaining. It was a fast read (or listen) and I enjoyed it. I can certainly see why McNaught is a best-selling author.
The audio book is read by Laura Dean, and she does a fine job. Too bad she doesn’t have better material to work with.
July 18, 2025
Throw back writing style. Reminds me of the Sidney Sheldon novels of the 80’s. Wonderful story, gripping plot, sucks you right in.
December 13, 2015
İlk söylemek istediğim kapağı sizi kesinlikle yanıltmasın zira bu bir tarihi aşk değil günümüz aşk kitabı.
Ben kitaba çok fazla bahane bulmak istemiyorum çünkü aşk kitaplarını okumakta çok zorlanıyorum ama bu kitapta bir bütünlük göremediğimi de açıkça belirtmem lazım.
Kitap çok yavaş bir kere. Gereksiz detaylarla fazla boğulmuş geldi bana, ısınamadım. Ayrıca karakterleri de sevemedim. Kate o kadar iyi bir kadınsa neden böyle davransın ki yani. Bir de araya zorlama bir polisiyelik katılmış ki hiç sormayın. Merak uyandıracağı yerde, beni zorla buraya tıkıştırdılar ne işim var benim burada diye avaz avaz bağırıyor zavallı konu.
Tavsiye etmiyorum sevmedim.
Ben kitaba çok fazla bahane bulmak istemiyorum çünkü aşk kitaplarını okumakta çok zorlanıyorum ama bu kitapta bir bütünlük göremediğimi de açıkça belirtmem lazım.
Kitap çok yavaş bir kere. Gereksiz detaylarla fazla boğulmuş geldi bana, ısınamadım. Ayrıca karakterleri de sevemedim. Kate o kadar iyi bir kadınsa neden böyle davransın ki yani. Bir de araya zorlama bir polisiyelik katılmış ki hiç sormayın. Merak uyandıracağı yerde, beni zorla buraya tıkıştırdılar ne işim var benim burada diye avaz avaz bağırıyor zavallı konu.
Tavsiye etmiyorum sevmedim.
June 29, 2008
This book is beyond crap. And I don't mind good crap! This one, however, is so bloody identical to Perfect, it's almost as though she plagiarized her own work. I was literally predicting scenes and plot twists and was always right! She pretty much just took Perfect and changed the details such as names, settings and appearances. Otherwise, it's the exact same story with the exact same structure!
I guess when you come out with a book a year, it's bound to happen. Maybe an assistant wrote it for her or something???
I guess when you come out with a book a year, it's bound to happen. Maybe an assistant wrote it for her or something???
skip-next-please
January 28, 2017I REALLY WANTED TO READ THIS BOOK
but then I found out it's about a secret baby plot with both MC's being cheaters.
I can't even tell you how deeply disappointed I am with this!
I really...
Guess it's going to be a skip for me then.
but then I found out it's about a secret baby plot with both MC's being cheaters.
I can't even tell you how deeply disappointed I am with this!
I really...
Guess it's going to be a skip for me then.
January 26, 2015
This is one of my favorites that I read every year. It tugs at my heart and I have trouble putting it down.
July 10, 2022
Reread on July 9, 2022: This is compulsively readable but not one of JM’s best novels. It’s half the length of McNaught’s PERFECT and it shows. This is a secret baby premise where the pregnancy isn’t revealed until the 70% marker, and then we flash forward three years into a child kidnapping subplot. Also: the blurb is a total lie because this is barely a romantic suspense and the heroine does literally nothing to clear her name (because she is never a suspect!!! The blurb lies!!!).
I love all the messy turns, but I needed at least 50K more for the characters to breathe, fall in love, and forgive each other for past misunderstandings. It’s a shame because this could’ve been one of my favorites with a longer word count. As it is, I love it for the mess. 😭 Read via library.
I love all the messy turns, but I needed at least 50K more for the characters to breathe, fall in love, and forgive each other for past misunderstandings. It’s a shame because this could’ve been one of my favorites with a longer word count. As it is, I love it for the mess. 😭 Read via library.
December 30, 2019
Manā skolas laikā (2000. gadu sākumā) mūsu ciema bibliotēkā nebija liela romānu izvēle. Parasti tā bija vai nu Daniela Stīla ( phe ), Nora Robertsa ( nope ), vai arī Džūdita Maknota. Tā nu kļuvu uzticīga pēdējai no šīm rakstniecēm. Ar draudzeni pat rakstījāmies rindā, lai tiktu pie viņas jaunākajām grāmatām.
Un man joprojām patīk! Maknotai piemīt ļoti smalka humora izjūta, kas liek viņas varoņu dialogus lasīt nepacietībā pāršķirot lappuses.
Protams, formula paliek nemainīga. Viņš ir ļoti izskatīgs. Viņa ir neparasta. Abi satiekas, iemīlas. Tad seko pārpratums. Neviens no viņiem nepiedod, līdz beidzot pēc vairākiem gadiem liktenis atkal abus saved kopā, un gaisā atkal dzirksteļo.
Ne jau šī formula liek lasīt Maknotas grāmatas, bet gan tas, cik smalki rakstniece stāstā ievilina lasītāju, liekot smieties, pārdzīvot un priecāties kopā ar ar saviem varoņiem.
Šis darbs nebija izņēmums.
Un man joprojām patīk! Maknotai piemīt ļoti smalka humora izjūta, kas liek viņas varoņu dialogus lasīt nepacietībā pāršķirot lappuses.
Protams, formula paliek nemainīga. Viņš ir ļoti izskatīgs. Viņa ir neparasta. Abi satiekas, iemīlas. Tad seko pārpratums. Neviens no viņiem nepiedod, līdz beidzot pēc vairākiem gadiem liktenis atkal abus saved kopā, un gaisā atkal dzirksteļo.
Ne jau šī formula liek lasīt Maknotas grāmatas, bet gan tas, cik smalki rakstniece stāstā ievilina lasītāju, liekot smieties, pārdzīvot un priecāties kopā ar ar saviem varoņiem.
Šis darbs nebija izņēmums.
October 23, 2008
Decidely flat.
Mitchell Wyatt grew up as an orphan, a ‘charity case’. Sure, he had the best education money can buy, but he had no one to claim him as part of their family. He spent holidays with friends from school, but that never lasted once they found out he was a ‘charity case’. But when Stavros Konstantatos took Mitchell under his wing, he taught Mitchell everything he knew, and Mitchell learned well.
Now a self-made billionaire, Mitchell can afford the best of the best, and now that the Wyatt family is claiming him as family, Mitchell doesn’t want to feel anything for the man who made sure he’d disappear out of their lives as a newborn. But Mitchell’s half brother was different. William hadn’t known that Mitchell existed, and tried his very best to include Mitchell in his life. But then William disappears without a trace, and the DA swears it’s because of Mitchell and is trying to build a case to prove it. Meanwhile, Mitchell is on vacation aboard a friend’s yatch in Anguilla.
Kate Donovan recently lost her father in an apparent drive-by shooting. Her boyfriend, Evan, whisks her away to Anguilla to help her grieve, only to leave her there as he is summoned back in court. Then she meets Mitchell, and as much as neither wants to believe, they are drawn to each other.
But as luck would have it, they get one incredible night together, but that wouldn’t last. While Kate returns to her villa to pack her things, intending to break up with Evan, Mitchell is summoned back to the states, now a suspect in his brother’s murder now that his corpse has been found. When Kate explains to Evan that she’s leaving him for Mitchell, he tells her it was a set up on Mitchell’s part as he’s sure Mitchell knew Kate was his girlfriend. When Kate tries to find Mitchell, she believes that he’s left without her and believes that she could still be with Evan.
But those aren’t in the cards. Mitchell finds out who Kate is and believes she’d set him up, just as she him. They split ways, but when Kate finds out she’s pregnant with his child, Evan wants an abortion, something Kate refuses to do.
And now she’s alone. She’d managed to make a name for herself in the restaurant business and is raising a child on her own. But when her son is kidnapped with a ransom of 10 million, she knows she has no choice but to hunt down Mitchell. She hadn’t told him about their son, having remembered what he’d said about his previous wife wanting kids and he didn’t, which resulted in divorce. She didn’t want to burden him, but with the kidnapping, she has no choice to involve him for he is the only one she knows who would have that kind of money.
So, with that synopsis, I can honestly say: Read it, thought it was *shrug* okay. While it wasn’t a waste of a read, I don’t think I’d have picked this up if it wasn’t for a book of the month. I’m not one for a straight romance - to me, they all start the same and finish the same. I’ve read this scenario so many times that I just really couldn’t get into it. While I felt Kate was somewhat real, and there seemed to be sparks between them, I felt Mitchell really didn’t have anything to him. You read what he’s feeling and that for him it’s not normal, but it fell flat - deja vu.
I was hoping for more of a case with the murder of his brother, but it was sidelined. And the kidnapping… I expected it right when I find out she’s raising him on her own. And again, the main characters had no part in finding their son, just like they weren’t part of William’s investigation. While the book is almost 500 pages long, the ending was rather abrupt and I didn’t like it. I just need more ‘kick’, more ‘oomph’ in a story - something this book just didn’t give me.
But I won’t say is was a bad book. For me, straight romance just doesn’t cut it. But for those who like nothing but romance, you may enjoy it.
Mitchell Wyatt grew up as an orphan, a ‘charity case’. Sure, he had the best education money can buy, but he had no one to claim him as part of their family. He spent holidays with friends from school, but that never lasted once they found out he was a ‘charity case’. But when Stavros Konstantatos took Mitchell under his wing, he taught Mitchell everything he knew, and Mitchell learned well.
Now a self-made billionaire, Mitchell can afford the best of the best, and now that the Wyatt family is claiming him as family, Mitchell doesn’t want to feel anything for the man who made sure he’d disappear out of their lives as a newborn. But Mitchell’s half brother was different. William hadn’t known that Mitchell existed, and tried his very best to include Mitchell in his life. But then William disappears without a trace, and the DA swears it’s because of Mitchell and is trying to build a case to prove it. Meanwhile, Mitchell is on vacation aboard a friend’s yatch in Anguilla.
Kate Donovan recently lost her father in an apparent drive-by shooting. Her boyfriend, Evan, whisks her away to Anguilla to help her grieve, only to leave her there as he is summoned back in court. Then she meets Mitchell, and as much as neither wants to believe, they are drawn to each other.
But as luck would have it, they get one incredible night together, but that wouldn’t last. While Kate returns to her villa to pack her things, intending to break up with Evan, Mitchell is summoned back to the states, now a suspect in his brother’s murder now that his corpse has been found. When Kate explains to Evan that she’s leaving him for Mitchell, he tells her it was a set up on Mitchell’s part as he’s sure Mitchell knew Kate was his girlfriend. When Kate tries to find Mitchell, she believes that he’s left without her and believes that she could still be with Evan.
But those aren’t in the cards. Mitchell finds out who Kate is and believes she’d set him up, just as she him. They split ways, but when Kate finds out she’s pregnant with his child, Evan wants an abortion, something Kate refuses to do.
And now she’s alone. She’d managed to make a name for herself in the restaurant business and is raising a child on her own. But when her son is kidnapped with a ransom of 10 million, she knows she has no choice but to hunt down Mitchell. She hadn’t told him about their son, having remembered what he’d said about his previous wife wanting kids and he didn’t, which resulted in divorce. She didn’t want to burden him, but with the kidnapping, she has no choice to involve him for he is the only one she knows who would have that kind of money.
So, with that synopsis, I can honestly say: Read it, thought it was *shrug* okay. While it wasn’t a waste of a read, I don’t think I’d have picked this up if it wasn’t for a book of the month. I’m not one for a straight romance - to me, they all start the same and finish the same. I’ve read this scenario so many times that I just really couldn’t get into it. While I felt Kate was somewhat real, and there seemed to be sparks between them, I felt Mitchell really didn’t have anything to him. You read what he’s feeling and that for him it’s not normal, but it fell flat - deja vu.
I was hoping for more of a case with the murder of his brother, but it was sidelined. And the kidnapping… I expected it right when I find out she’s raising him on her own. And again, the main characters had no part in finding their son, just like they weren’t part of William’s investigation. While the book is almost 500 pages long, the ending was rather abrupt and I didn’t like it. I just need more ‘kick’, more ‘oomph’ in a story - something this book just didn’t give me.
But I won’t say is was a bad book. For me, straight romance just doesn’t cut it. But for those who like nothing but romance, you may enjoy it.
August 28, 2023
the whole thing with this series is second chances, so we know there’s a big miscommunication/betrayal that happens to destroy the first opportunity for love… the way this gets sorted out was very anticlimactic and it kinda ruined the high I was getting… but it’s still good
3.5 audiobook
3.5 audiobook
August 16, 2011
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE will NOT go down as one of my favorite Judith McNaught books and here's why:
1) The story was slow & boring to begin with.
2)I really liked Kate & Mitchell, yet for me, the chemistry was not what I was expecting. They just didn't "grab" me. Again, I liked both characters, but something was missing. I could never quite put my finger on it.
3) As much as I enjoy reading McNaught's books, I am so not a fan of "the big misunderstanding" plot device. I can handle it in small doses - meaning the misunderstanding only last a few chapters. But when it goes on, and on, and on. I just can't stand it! At least make the reading in between the breakup and the make-up super interesting. That wasn't the case with this book IMO.
4) The misunderstanding itself was just plain dumb! Why wouldn't Kate go to the pier to see if Mitchell actually showed up? That was so stupid.
Despite all that, I still liked the book because:
1) Kate getting pregnant made the story more interesting. I couldn't wait for Mitchell to find out about Danny! It was really sweet when Mitchell planned to offer the kidnappers $20 million for his son's safe return, instead of the $10 million they were asking for.
2) I loved getting tidbits about Matt & Meredith (whose father is still a jerk, apparently) as well as Zach & Julie.
3) I was afraid the storyline was going to be a repeat of PERFECT, with Mitchell having to go to trial for killing his brother. I was relieved when the authorities were able to prove Mitchell had nothing to do with Williams murder. Although, I was hoping William was not dead. He seemed like a cool guy.
In summation, I wish the book had been a little better, but if you've read PARADISE and PERFECT, you should read this one for sure.
1) The story was slow & boring to begin with.
2)I really liked Kate & Mitchell, yet for me, the chemistry was not what I was expecting. They just didn't "grab" me. Again, I liked both characters, but something was missing. I could never quite put my finger on it.
3) As much as I enjoy reading McNaught's books, I am so not a fan of "the big misunderstanding" plot device. I can handle it in small doses - meaning the misunderstanding only last a few chapters. But when it goes on, and on, and on. I just can't stand it! At least make the reading in between the breakup and the make-up super interesting. That wasn't the case with this book IMO.
4) The misunderstanding itself was just plain dumb! Why wouldn't Kate go to the pier to see if Mitchell actually showed up? That was so stupid.
Despite all that, I still liked the book because:
1) Kate getting pregnant made the story more interesting. I couldn't wait for Mitchell to find out about Danny! It was really sweet when Mitchell planned to offer the kidnappers $20 million for his son's safe return, instead of the $10 million they were asking for.
2) I loved getting tidbits about Matt & Meredith (whose father is still a jerk, apparently) as well as Zach & Julie.
3) I was afraid the storyline was going to be a repeat of PERFECT, with Mitchell having to go to trial for killing his brother. I was relieved when the authorities were able to prove Mitchell had nothing to do with Williams murder. Although, I was hoping William was not dead. He seemed like a cool guy.
In summation, I wish the book had been a little better, but if you've read PARADISE and PERFECT, you should read this one for sure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2010
Not the best JM novel. Many of the explanations of what is happening in the story comes from the undercover cops that are observing the main characters. I like knowing more of the main characters POV than feeling like an observer.
Some of the things I liked:
I fet his story was plausible and heartbreaking. I liked that her story came out as she told him things about her life.
I liked that she was not 'quick' to give in to him as in most romances.
However, after the 'big misunderstanding' there is very little dialogue between the two. It is as if the book was ended too quick.
I wasn't convinced that they had actually resolved their issues before they reconciled. These two had some things to talk about.
She explained why she did not tell him about his son in two sentences. He says "your right."
From there you see very little of their thoughts. He sees the child, she has a dinner with him where she explains her perspective of the 'big misunderstanding', he tells his. The next scene shows her trying on clothes with her friends for a date....is this the next day?
Many romance novels make the relationship mostly 'physical' but one of the reasons I like McNaught is the way she creates depth in her characters, at least there is a deeper basis for the relationship.
This one had some depth in the middle, but, after two years apart, the end was quick and lacked substance. Very disatisfying.
Some of the things I liked:
I fet his story was plausible and heartbreaking. I liked that her story came out as she told him things about her life.
I liked that she was not 'quick' to give in to him as in most romances.
However, after the 'big misunderstanding' there is very little dialogue between the two. It is as if the book was ended too quick.
I wasn't convinced that they had actually resolved their issues before they reconciled. These two had some things to talk about.
She explained why she did not tell him about his son in two sentences. He says "your right."
From there you see very little of their thoughts. He sees the child, she has a dinner with him where she explains her perspective of the 'big misunderstanding', he tells his. The next scene shows her trying on clothes with her friends for a date....is this the next day?
Many romance novels make the relationship mostly 'physical' but one of the reasons I like McNaught is the way she creates depth in her characters, at least there is a deeper basis for the relationship.
This one had some depth in the middle, but, after two years apart, the end was quick and lacked substance. Very disatisfying.
April 14, 2010
I love this book. This has been added to my list of most romantic love stories of all time...:) when I have reached the middle part, I was hesitant to continue reading it because I don't want to read the hard part.. I mean The part when Mitchell and Kate were bound to leave the island. That part is when everything becomes too complicated because of William's murder case. But I find the story refreshing and truly romantic. Until now, it gives me goosebumps when I recall the love Mitchell has for Kate. I also love Danny because he is so adorable like his father. I also love the idea of having the investigators participate in every cases that the couple were involved. I love it's consistency of characters. I love Mitchell's friends Matt, Meredith, Zack, and Julie. I am now currently reading Matt and Meredith's love story "Paradise". and I am planning to read Zack and Julie's Perfect right after I finish Paradise. I so love everything about this book. And I so love the ending especially when Mitchell was asked by the priest if he promise to love and cherish Kate. "Every breath I take" awww... Truly awesome. A Jewel that Judith McNaught should be proud of.^_^
September 7, 2010
There was suspense and frustration while reading the book but it was still a good story. The ending was happy.
I understand the author had to rush to make the publication deadline in the initial book. As a result, she did not provide enough details about Mitchell's feelings toward the end and Kate's, Danny's and Mitchell's new relationships together at the end. I understand that a Special Edition of this story was later published which added these kinds of details, but I did not read it.
CAUTION SPOILER: I was troubled by the cause of their separation on the island. All they had to do was speak to each other in person. But they each made erroneous assumptions which led to their being apart for the next two and a half years. Her actions were worse because she had an appointment to meet him at a certain location which she did not show up for or cancel.
Sexual content: mild. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Judith McNaught books, see my 5 star review of “Paradise” posted 3-25-07.
I understand the author had to rush to make the publication deadline in the initial book. As a result, she did not provide enough details about Mitchell's feelings toward the end and Kate's, Danny's and Mitchell's new relationships together at the end. I understand that a Special Edition of this story was later published which added these kinds of details, but I did not read it.
CAUTION SPOILER: I was troubled by the cause of their separation on the island. All they had to do was speak to each other in person. But they each made erroneous assumptions which led to their being apart for the next two and a half years. Her actions were worse because she had an appointment to meet him at a certain location which she did not show up for or cancel.
Sexual content: mild. Genre: contemporary romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Judith McNaught books, see my 5 star review of “Paradise” posted 3-25-07.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 615 reviews