สาปสวรรค์

Sequels #3

by Judith McNaught, จูดิธ แมคนอธ, ตวงทอง (Translator)

นวนิยายรักย้อนยุคเรื่องเยี่ยม เต็มเปี่ยมด้วยเสน่ห์อันดึงดูดใจ

เรื่องราวความรักของเลดี้เอลิซาเบท คาเมรอน แห่ง “ฮาร์เวนเฮิร์สต์” เธอต้องทำทุกอย่างเพื่อดิ้นรนรักษา “บ้าน” อันเป็นที่รักหลังนี้เอาไว้ เมื่อราวสองปีก่อน เลดี้เอลิซาเบทเคยเป็นที่ร่ำลือในสังคมชั้นสูงของลอนดอนในฐานะหญิงสาวที่สวยที่สุดและเพียบพร้อมที่สุด แต่ด้วยเล่ห์อุบายบางอย่าง เส้นทางชีวิตที่ดูเหมือนจะทอดด้วยกลีบกุหลาบของหญิงสาวกลับต้องสะดุดลง

เอียน ธอร์นตัน ชายหนุ่มผู้หยิ่งในศักดิ์ศรี เขาปฏิเสธยศถาบรรดาศักดิ์ที่ดยุคแห่งสแตนโฮป ผู้เป็นปู่ พยายามจะคืนให้กับเขาเพื่อเป็นการชดเชยให้กับบิดาผู้ล่วงลับที่ต้องถูกตัดออกจากความเป็นทายาทเพียงเพราะมาแต่งงานกับหญิงสาวธรรมดาๆ เอียนต่อสู้จนพรั่งพร้อมด้วยเงินทองทรัพย์สมบัติมากมาย ชีวิตของเขาต้องโคจรมาพบกับเลดี้เอลิซาเบท ผู้เพียบพร้อม ผู้หญิงที่เขาออกปากขอแต่งงาน แต่เรื่องราวกลับไม่เป็นอย่างที่คิด เลดี้สาวผู้นี้กลับกลายเป็นหญิงรักสนุกไร้สาระในสายตาของเขา

ราวกับโชคชะตาไม่ยอมให้ทั้งสองต้องแยกจากกัน เอียนและเลดี้เอลิซาเบทต้องมาใช้ชีวิตอยู่ด้วยกันอีกครั้งทั้งที่ทั้งสองเองก็ไม่ได้เต็มใจ ในกระท่อมหลังเล็กๆ ที่ตั้งอยู่กลางภูมิประเทศอันงดงามของสก็อตแลนด์ ทั้งสองได้ใช้เวลาร่วมกัน เรียนรู้เนื้อแท้ของกันและกันโดยไม่ต้องสวมหน้ากากเหมือนเวลาอยู่ในวงสังคม

ความรักก่อตัวขึ้นอีกครั้ง เอียนกับเลดี้เอลิซาเบทจะค้นหาเส้นทางของพวกเขาได้หรือไม่ ความอ่อนโยนของความรักจะช่วยทลายกำแพงแกร่งในจิตใจของทั้งสองได้อย่างไร คำตอบรออยู่ในหนังสือที่จะทำให้หัวใจคุณเต้นระรัวด้วยความสนุกสนานและเพลิดเพลินเล่มนี้

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction, Adult

617 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

You 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.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 MILLION STARS

One of my top favorite reads of all time, since the 1990's.

I felt like re-reading this last night for some reason....and loved it just as much the millionth time...LOVE classic McNaught. I've been reading her since I was 12 years old and will never stop.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE this book! This is what I posted at the RF (Amazon) when I read it for the 1st time, and I'm simply copying my post here on GR because I'm lazy and don't feel like writing a full review...

Well, I've just finished reading Almost Heaven and I'm glad to say that I'm in love with Ian, Elizabeth, and everyone and everything else in the book. :) I especially loved Ian for having no fear admitting to himself he was in love with Elizabeth without knowing if she felt the same, and I adored Elizabeth for standing her ground and not cowering when Ian tried to send her away.

I though the Big Misunderstanding issue would turn me off because I'm not a fan of this kind of plot device - and there were not only one, but two in this book -, but JM made it believable to me. Ian and Elizabeth were so much in love with each other that it rendered them defenseless, insecure and wary. The more you love someone, the more you're open to being hurt by them.

Quoting Elizabeth: "I've hurt you terribly, my love, and I'll hurt you again during the next fifty years. And you are going to hurt me, Ian - never, I hope, as much as you are hurting me now. But if that's the way it has to be, then I'll endure it, because the only alternative is to live without you, and that is no life at all." Oh my!

And I can't resist adding my favorite passage:

"If you would take one step forward, darling, you could cry in my arms. And while you do, I'll tell you how sorry I am for everything I've done -" Unable to wait, Ian caught her, pulling her tightly against him. "And when I'm finished," he whispered hoarsely as she wrapped her arms around him and wept brokenly, "you can help me find a way to forgive myself."

Tortured by her tears, he clasped her tighter and rubbed his jaw against her temple, his voice a ravaged whisper: "I'm sorry," he told her. He cupped her face between his palms, tipping it up and gazing into her eyes, his thumbs moving over her wet cheeks. "I'm sorry." Slowly, he bent his head, covering her mouth with his. "I'm so damned sorry."

OMG, I cried when I read that! And I'm not ashamed to say, my eyes are "suspiciously bright" right now, while I'm typing this...

I'll stop now. Otherwise, I'll just end up posting every single line of dialogue exchanged between Ian and Elizabeth. :)

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another re-read. Another hit. Seriously, Ms McNaught is the Queen of Historical fiction ... well in this series anyway. I do think she left the best 'til last, even though I did love the first two in the series also. Ian. Ian, Ian, Ian ... I think I loved Ian more than Jordon and Jason (although while I was reading about them, I was totally in love with them) - maybe it is because Ian is a Commoner ... and he is Scottish, well, half-Scottish. I do love Scotland. I have already reviewed the book on first reading it, so won't bore you anymore. It's such a pity that this author doesn't write Historicals anymore.


And that Epilogue. I have said it before and I'll say it again, "every book should have an epilogue".


ORIGINAL REVIEW IS BELOW
********************************************************

Five Heavenly Stars. If I could give it more stars, I would.

Elizabeth Cameron, with her angelic beauty, golden hair and shining green eyes, had taken London by storm.
She was not a rage She was the rage

I could not put this book down. I am not sure if any review can do it justice. I think it might have become one of my favourite books ever.

”Look, Elizabeth, isn’t he divine in a sort of mysterious, wicked way?”

Divine, divine you say. Ian, Ian, Ian, I loved you. Such a torturned hero. I felt for him.


I really don’t want to say much about the storyline as it is a wonderfully woven tale that is best discovered by yourselves.

”I think,” he said softly, “that you are magnificent.”

Their love story is not a straightforward tale. There are trials and tribulations, misunderstandings, lies, mistrusts. It had it all.


But it was worth it. I swear I could literally start the book from the beginning straight away. I loved it that much.

“Elizabeth’s entire body started to tremble as his lips began descending to hers. and she sought to forestall what her heart knew was inevitable by reasoning with him. “A gently bred Englishwoman,” she shakily quoted Lucinda’s lecture. “feels nothing stronger than affection. We do not fall in love.”

His warm lips covered hers. “I’m a Scot,” he murmured huskily. “We do.”

”Dance with me, Elizabeth.”

And for this of you who think there are NO sex scenes in Historicals... there are. And very nice they are too.

“Because,” he said quietly as she stood up, “until you walked into it, this was an ordinary garden.”

Puzzled, Elizabeth tipped her head. “What is it now?”

“Heaven.”

I loved meeting with Jordan and Alex from the previous book… and the Dowager!

I wish Ms McNaught would write more Historicals. I know she has written contemporaries also but I think she shines in the Historical genre.

The sight that Ian beheld when he looked up make his grin fade as tenderness and awe shook through him. Spread out before him in colorful splendor were the most magnificent flower gardens I an had ever beheld. The other heirs of Havenhurst night have added stone and mortar to the house, but Elizaebeth had given it breathtaking beauty.”

It was the longest three weeks of his life.
It was the shortest of hers

I feel I could wax lyrical about this book for ages and ages but I’d better not. As I have said before to those of you who do NOT read historicals, please give them a try. The three books in this series have been solid FIVE stars, if not more for me.



And I got my Epilogue. And what a wonderful Epilogue it was. It was Heaven.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 SOLID STARS ★★★★★


“Because,” he said quietly as she stood up,
“until you walked into it, this was an ordinary garden.”
Puzzled, Elizabeth tipped her head. “What is it now?”
“Heaven.”

And… once again, I am SPEECHLESS!!! Words just can not express the love I have for Judith McNaught and her incredible books. And with such appropriate titles. Every time I finish one, I want to flip back to the beginning and read it all over again. I am convinced that NO ONE can write a romantic character as well. …the arrogance, the depth of feeling …the intelligence, strength and wit are just astounding. Not to mention the battle of wills and the angst that always sets the characters against each other, bounding through fields of torment and longing, love and self-loathing …absolutely FUCKING BRILLIANT!!!



Lady Elizabeth Cameron, the Countess of Havenhurst, was a rare beauty. She had a face that could bring any man to his knees, but she also possessed immeasurable grace, wit and charm, innocence and pride. She was gentle, loyal, and incredibly courageous for someone so young. But surpassing all of these desirable qualities were the most captivating emerald eyes Ian Thornton had ever seen.

Losing both her parents by the time she was seventeen, Elizabeth had been left, along with her half-brother Robert Cameron to manage their family’s estate. But large gambling debts incurred by both her late father and her brother, had left Havenhurst stripped of it’s former splendor. Trying desperately to save her family’s legacy, Elizabeth is left to manage the estate on her own, and suffer the pursuit by numerous debtors.



Meanwhile, Robert Cameron, her half-brother, and her Uncle Julius, have decided that an advantageous marriage to a wealthy and titled suitor just might solve all of the families financial troubles. So she is to be presented in London's finest society functions, where the ton's most elibible bachelors will be gathering to select a wife.



Elizabeth is a smashing success, and receives an unprecedented number of offers for her hand. But while Robert is busy squaring up the betrothal agreement for Viscount Mondevale’s offer, Elizabeth is off wandering through the gardens at a society party and unknowingly catching the eye of yet another gentleman.



Ian Thornton is a notoriously wealthy, and dangerously handsome man. Rumored to be the bastard son of the Marquess of Kensington, he has earned a reputation as a high-stakes gambler, and a ruthless businessman as well as an unspeakable rake. He is not well respected as a gentleman, and is frequently the subject of malicious gossip amongst the ton. But he is also quite charming and often irresistible to the ladies. And Elizabeth is no exception.

Caught completely unaware of his questionable reputation, Elizabeth is pressured by her new found friends to coax him into dancing with her. Little did she know that her association with him was going to change her life forever.

“And as to needing to know who I am, that’s very simple to answer.” His hand lifted, grazing her pale cheek, then smoothing backward, cupping her head. Gently he explained, “I am the man you’re going to marry.”



“Your eyes are more lethal than dueling pistols, my sweet.” he said wryly. “They could make a saint forget his goal.”

And as it goes, seizing on their opportunity, Elizabeth’s jealous friends, maliciously set her up for a scandal that will tear her down, ruin her reputation, and destroy any chances she might have had at landing a husband.



When he finally dragged his mouth from hers Ian kept his arms around her,
and Elizabeth laid her cheek against his crisp white shirt,
feeling his lips brush the hair atop her head.
“That was an even bigger mistake than I feared it would be,” he said, and then he added almost absently,
“God help us both.”

And the results are catastrophic! Not only are her offers withdrawn, but duels are waged, blood is spilled, and reputations are ruined. Elizabeth’s brother is so enraged by the turn of events and the advances of this notorious blackguard, that he goes on a murderous rampage to defend her honor, and then just disappears leaving Elizabeth alone to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. With mounting debts and little left of her reputation, Elizabeth must find a way to survive on her own, and find some way of keeping her family's estate from the auctioners block.

“Dying over an argument isn’t honor, it’s a waste of a man’s life.”

AND that is just the introduction… I loved every minute of this story! Good and bad. So much scandal and passion, so many regrets. And Ian… sweet baby Jesus, Ian Thornton …so in love with the girl he can barely control his wits, yet so incredibly prideful that he won’t EVER be made of fool of. He leaves her to her fate.

Oh, there will be a HEA.. but it will tear your heart out first, chew it up and spit it out. And you will beg for more.

His gaze held hers, and his voice was tender and rough. “Love me, Elizabeth.”

What a story! I could go on and on, but I’ve already said too much. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! Watching like a hungry voyeur. I can say no more. I am choked up with joyous exultation. Ok… maybe that was laying it on a bit thick. But you get my meaning.



“If you would take one step forward, darling, you could cry in my arms. And while you do, I’ll tell you how sorry I am for everything I’ve done.”

I highly recommend all of these incredible books to anyone who has a love of love, unforgettable dialogue and great writing. This is ROMANCE PORN in it’s most explicit 19th century form.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

There are four steps separating us and a year and a half of wanting drawing us together,” he said. Elizabeth swallowed. “Couldn’t you meet me halfway?”

All.
Of.
The.
Swoons.

This. THIS is exactly why I love historical romances. And it's also why I'm currently kicking myself for only discovering this incredible author now. There's only one thing I love more than a good bastard in a romance, and that's a redeemable bastard that's not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve when he finally sees the error of his ways. Even if that particular feet takes him the majority of the book to do.

Almost Heaven is the story of a young beauty just entering London society in search for a husband that will save her beloved estate, and a man that's always been the source of most gossip within it. Ian is known as a scoundrel, a gambler, anything but the titled husband Elizabeth needs. He's also a beautifully dangerous enigma that draws her like a moth to a flame. Until she gets too close and they both get burned.

This was a delicious tale of secrets and betrayal, of mistakes and forgiveness, but ultimately of a love that prevails against all odds. It was WONDERFULLY swoony.

At first I was a little concerned because Elizabeth and Ian get together so quickly. I'm not usually a fan of quick coupling. I was yearning for angst and emotion. I shouldn't have been concerned, because their initial meeting was only the calm before the storm. And what a storm it was! Ian is a downright bastard to Elizabeth when they meet again two years after the fateful first time. GOD BUT I LOVED IT! But it's no secret that I love the bastards. Elizabeth was an incredible heroine. She's young and sheltered, but she's clever and smart and so endearing. I loved her strength and her sharp wit. She's not afraid to stand up for herself, but she also knows that sometimes the biggest fight requires a sacrifice. She was the perfect match to the broody and enigmatic Ian.

The story was phenomenal and kept me glued to the pages long into the night. I NEEDED to see how it all unveils and I couldn't be more satisfied. This is going down as one of my favorite historical romances. And that epilogue?! SWOON!!!!

Find me on:

[Ivy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every lover of romance novels has got that one special story that's #1 in her eyes; it's the novel that always tops all others with MC's who are a head and shoulders above all the other favourites. Well, Judith McNaught is my favourite romance novelist of all time and this novel is my special #1. I've read this about 4 or 5 times ( perhaps even more ) ever since I first borrowed a copy from my aunt almost a decade or so ago. It was perfect and heart wrenchingly romantic. It's as much a timeless classic as this wonderful old song, whose lyrics are perhaps most suitable for the tale that McNaught unfolds in this novel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnUMz...

Each time I re-read this novel, I am captivated by the absolute romantic splendor that's filled with angst, comedy, tragedy, drama that befits a soap opera and most of all: a second chance tale of love lost and found again. And, each time I read this again, I'm always in a rush to finish whatever chores I'm doing, just so that I can get back to the tale of Ian and Elizabeth:



Ian Thornton, the H, is my #1 H of all time. In my mind, he's the H to top all others:



Ian's the grandson of the Duke of Stanhope but he has relinquished his claim to that legacy because his grandfather had disowned Ian's family after the H's father chose to marry an ordinary Scottish girl. Ian doesn't need his grandfather's money or title, though, because he's a genius who has far more wealth than most of the Ton can begin to imagine. The H met the heroine Elizabeth at a country house party years ago during her debutante season and he was filled with insta-love for the beautiful young noblewoman:



Elizabeth is the belle of her Season and she received many marriage proposals from her adoring admirers, but there was only one whom her mercenary brother favoured: Viscount Moundevale. But, there was a viper in residence at the house party and that creature went by the name of Valerie. Valerie was also a plain debutante who pretended to be the heroine's friend and was jealous of all the attention that Viscount Moundevale gave to Elizabeth. This led the jealous young woman to engineer a scheme that would ensure Elizabeth's fall from grace. It was one of the saddest part of the story because it involved a pair of forged notes that led the MC's to meet each other at a cosy cottage out in the back of the estate, bordering the woods by the lake. It all blows up in their faces, Elizabeth is ruined, Ian offers to marry her because he's in love but her nasty brother challenges him to a duel. The story begins a few years after all this drama went down and the heroine's brother has "disappeared". Her guardian is now her miserly, wicked uncle who's determined to marry her off to the highest bidder. One of the men on her uncle's list is an obese, old pervert called Sir Francis Belhaven and this horrid old man has got his ugly sights set on the heroine. His intentions are nefarious, scary and gross. Elizabeth is horrified !



I loved how the MC's are brought together again in a simple cottage way up in the highlands of Scotland. The H is a perfect cad who thinks Elizabeth is a flirty gold digger, so he is mean and nasty. I don't know why I still love Ian above all other H's. I think if I'd read this novel for the first time as an adult, my perceptions might be slightly different. Perhaps it's sentimentality that makes me warm to him so much even though he behaves like an ass to the heroine while they're in the secluded cottage in Scotland. I think it's all due to the magic of McNaught's writing. She has a special way with words and is the queen of heart wrenching and wrecky drama. She also manages to infuse lots of humour into situations that should be depressing. I admired the spunky heroine for the way she persevered and fought to hold on her beloved home, Havenhurst. Elizabeth was a proud, compassionate and strong character but she did have her TSTL moments too. Ian's proud and filled the need for revenge because he thinks that Elizabeth had spurned his offer of marriage all those years ago. When they meet again in Scotland, Ian's on the verge of proposing a marriage of convenience to some boring daughter of an Earl.

McNaught is one of the few authors who also manages to create some wonderfully unforgettable minor characters who are crafted with such care that one can help but love them. Two of these are: Lucinda Throckmorton-Jones ( Elizabeth's eccentric, grouchy, sourpuss but loving chaperone ) and Ian's uncle Duncan ( a priest who plays the central role in reconciling the MC's ). The MC's attraction for each other is as strong as it ever was but each is still filled with bitterness based on the lies and misconceptions from the past. It's only after Elizabeth leaves Scotland that Ian's uncle Duncan tells him the truth. Lucinda Throckmorton-Jones had been injured and in her laudanum filled state she managed to reveal everything about Elizabeth's past and current problems. Ian was shocked and desperate to make it up to the woman he loved. That's the part of the novel that I loved the most. Ian's grovelling was epic !



Ian does what many other H's never have to do: he lowers his pride for her sake and sacrifices his integrity by reconciling with the grandfather he hates. He does this this because he has to save Elizabeth from a forced marriage to the nasty Sir Francis Belhaven and because the heroine's uncle would only give her to the man with the highest title. Ian therefore resigns himself to accepting his legacy as the marquess heir of the Duke of Stanhope:

“That title is within your power, Ian. I realize how deep your hatred for your grandfather goes, but it no longer signifies. Either you let Elizabeth wed this despicable man Belhaven, or you reconcile with the Duke of Stanhope. It’s one or the other, and you know it.”

Ian tensed, his mind locked in furious combat against the idea of reconciling with his grandfather. Duncan watched him, knowing the battle raging inside him, and he waited in an agony of suspense for Ian to make his decision. He saw Ian bend his dark head, saw him clench his hands into fists. When at last he spoke, his infuriated curse was aimed at his grandfather:

“That miserable son of a bitch!” he bit out between clenched teeth. “After eleven years he’s going to have it his way. And all because I couldn’t keep my hands off her.”

Judith McNaught. Almost Heaven (Kindle Locations 4315-4321). Pocket Books. Kindle Edition.

The hero bent over backwards to ensure that all the wrongs done to Elizabeth in the past had been righted. He even ensured that the jealous junior hagwitch Valerie got her comeuppance when he gave her the social cut at a ball by telling her that she'd misspelled the word "greenhouse" in the notes she'd sent to him and Elizabeth all those years ago. I also laughed at Valerie because after all these years, and all her conniving, she's still single and salivating after Viscount Mondevale who doesn't seem interested in her. Ian also proves his love for Elizabeth by protecting her from her horrible uncle Julius:


“Certainly,” Julius said, his face reddening with anger. “I have it, but you’re not changing one word, and I’m not giving back one shilling.” Rounding on Elizabeth, he continued, “He paid a fortune for you, you conceited little slut –”

Ian’s savage voice cracked like a whiplash.
“Get out!”

“Get out?” Julius repeated furiously, “I own this house. You didn’t buy it when you bought her.”

Without looking at Elizabeth, Ian snapped a question at her, “Do you want it?” Although Julius didn’t yet recognize the depth of Ian’s fury, Elizabeth saw the taut rage emanating from every line of his powerful frame, and fear raced up her spine.

“Do I-I want what?”

“The house!”

Elizabeth didn’t know what he wanted her to say, and in the mood he was in, she was actually terrified of saying the wrong thing. Lucinda’s voice turned every head but Ian’s as she eyed him with cool challenge.

“Yes,” she said. “She does.” Ian accepted that as if the woman spoke for Elizabeth, his gaze still boring through Julius.

“See my banker in the morning,” he clipped murderously. “Now get out!” Belatedly, Julius seemed to realize that his life was in genuine jeopardy, and he picked up his hat and started for the door.

Judith McNaught. Almost Heaven (Kindle Locations 5626-5638). Pocket Books. Kindle Edition.

I do admit that there was one part of the novel that was filled with some unwelcome drama. The MC's got married and were finally happy when the old specter of her evil brother Robert returned to destroy things for them. I disliked Elizabeth in this part of the story because her idiocy and inability to trust the man she loved almost ruined her marriage. There was some OTT drama where she faked her death, Ian was the suspect in her "murder", she returned to clear his name, he punished her by ignoring her for a few weeks etc. I felt that part was a bit too much and ordinarily it would have made me reduce my rating for the novel. However, McNaught managed to get back into my good books by the very beautiful reconciliation scene that she wrote. In this scene, it was the heroine's turn to grovel and I loved seeing how turnabout was great fair play. I think that's what made the novel so splendid for me: in the space of one story, I got to see instances where each MC had to bend over backwards to prove how much he/she loved the other. That's what's stood out for me in this story because true love is one in which both partners are willing to do whatever it takes to make amends and right the wrongs that have been committed. The reconciliation scene occurs in the Scottish cottage once again and the author's ability to craft pure romance out of mere words is once again obvious:

Stroking her hair, he swallowed and spoke, but his voice was shattered. “I love you,” he said, telling her what she had told him that terrible day in his study. “I never stopped loving you.” She raised her face to his, and her answer made his chest ache. “I know.”

“How did you know, sweetheart?” he asked, trying to smile.

“Because,” she said, “I wanted it so badly to be true, and you’ve always given me everything I wanted. I couldn’t believe you wouldn’t do it, just one more time. Just once more.” She moved slightly and Ian checked her, tightening his arms.

“Stay still, darling.” he whispered tenderly, and seeing her confusion, he told her, “because our child is being conceived."

Her eyes searched his. “Why do you think so?”

“Because,” he said, slowly smoothing her hair off her cheek, “I want it so badly to be true, and you’ve always given me everything I wanted.” A lump of emotion swelled in Ian’s chest as she pressed closer against him, cradled in his arms, not moving. She was willing it to be true; he knew it as surely as he knew that, somehow, it was.

Judith McNaught. Almost Heaven (Kindle Locations 8179-8189). Pocket Books. Kindle Edition.

That scene and those words might be a bit cheesy but it's cheesy wonderful ! It appeals to the my romantic side and makes me sigh with wonder whenever I read this novel. McNaught also added a grand cast of characters like the MC's ( and their relatives ) from her other great love story Something Wonderful, who made cameo appearances. It was splendid to see Jordan, Alexandra, the sour dowager duchess and cousin Tony again. This novel also has one of the best epilogues that I've ever come across in a romance novel. In this novel, the author creates her magic by highlighting why the title of her novel is so significant to the story. Ian is having a conversation with his 6 yr old genius son Jonathan about the definition of heaven:


Crouching down, he put his arm around the little boy’s shoulders and gestured toward the garden. As if Elizabeth and Caroline sensed that they were being observed, they both looked up at the terrace, and then they smiled and waved – two green-eyed girls with gilded hair and love shining in their eyes. “In my opinion,” Ian solemnly confided to his son, “that is heaven, right there.”

“There are no angels,” Jon noted.

“I see two of them,” his father quietly replied, then he glanced at his son and amended with a grin, “three of them.” The little boy nodded slowly, a smile of comprehension drifting across his face. Turning to look up at the tall man beside him, he said,

“You think heaven will have whatever a person most wants it to have, is that it?” 

“I think it’s very possible.”

“So do I,” Jon agreed after another moment’s thought. He started to turn, saw his tutor and his relatives looking expectantly in his direction, then he turned back to his father and said with a helpless smile,

“They’re going to ask what you said. And if I tell Mr. Twindell you said heaven will be like this, he’ll be very disappointed. He’s counting, you know, on gold streets and angels and horses with wings.”

“I see where that could be a problem,” Ian agreed, and he tenderly laid his hand against his son’s cheek. “In that case, you can tell him I said this is almost heaven.”

Judith McNaught. Almost Heaven (Kindle Locations 8384-8392). Pocket Books. Kindle Edition.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread. Sweet, funny and emotional. Trademark of JM.



Absolutely one of the most emotionally satisfying endings and epilogue in a historical romance (for me anyway).

I wish there where more books/authors that gave as much detail, closure, emotion to the ending of a love story's like JM.

Loved Ian and Elizabeth and their love story, so touching, moving, sad, affecting and poignant!!!!

[Dora Koutsoukou · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 😔😔⭐️s

Too lengthy!!! I struggled to finish it.
We were told the heroine was smart but her actions were showing just the opposite.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

If you account for the fact that this book was written in 1989, I rather enjoyed it.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Going back to the other books I’ve read by this author, I realize I’m still holding grudges against Clayton, Jason, and Jordan. Their actions toward their partners were horrible. I found them far too ruthless, but their stories were compelling enough to enthrall me all the way to the end.

Almost Heaven is a long book—475 pages—and yet I stopped reading at page 370. The writing, as always with McNaught, was brilliant. And although I found Elizabeth’s character shallow and predictable compared with some of McNaught’s more interesting heroines, the story itself was engaging enough to keep me reading.

Sadly, one immensely stupid decision by the main character made me dislike her so intensely that my annoyance with her idiocy eventually outweighed my interest in the story. And that’s saying something, considering how much time I had already invested in the book.

Bah!!!!

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was yet another enjoyable historical romance by Ms. McNaught! I liked the characters, their banter, and their connection. I also enjoyed the glimpses of the other mcs since they were side characters in this one. My biggest gripe is that it seemed very familiar. The storyline seemed to follow the same general path that the other two I read of hers recently did. Not to say they were exactly alike, but there were definitely major similarities. I guess I wanted a little more variety and that ending wasn’t my favorite either. Overall, it was enjoyable but not one of my favorites.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Elizabeth and Ian’s story. They meet when Elizabeth is being presented to society at a ball. Elizabeth is a Countess and her brother is in debt and in desperate need for her to find a wealthy suitor, and Ian isn’t all that interested in those with titles since he is often snubbed by them for how he has attained his wealth. Neither of them can deny the connection they instantly feel towards one another, but their encounter ends with a duel and a ruined reputation. Years later, they meet in an unexpected way and the sparks fly again. There is some family drama, some misunderstandings, and a few sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.

Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on mainly Elizabeth and Ian in 3rd person narrative.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. It was another long one at 517 pages in my kindle app, but it didn’t really feel that way. I thought it flowed well and I never skimmed.

Instalove: Kind of. They are instantly drawn to one another and they claim that it was love instantly (later).

H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Ian. I liked him. I liked how he didn’t hesitate to tell the h how he felt.

h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Elizabeth. I liked her. I appreciated her strength and how she handled all the blows she got.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away and also pursue the relationship at times.

Heat level: Mild. They have some mild tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Mild jealousies See cheating spoiler below

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not IMOThere was mention of him snubbing the h with escorting an OW out of a party, but it is never really addressed or fully explained again (this happens after they’ve been married). The H is betrothed to OW when they meet for the second time and he decides he wants to marry the h, but that betrothal was more of a business arrangement and he doesn’t have feelings for her.

Separation: Yes They are separated a few times shortly (up to 3 months in one case), but there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes The H is ~10 years (?) older than the h, the h is a virgin, and an abusive family member (off page)

Closure: This had alright closure with what I would call a HEA ending they’re married with children. I didn’t like, however, how the conflict was resolved so quickly and then we went instantly into their epilogue....but that’s just a pet peeve of mine — I’m sure others would be fine with this ending.

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating (see above)
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does have a few separations between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse by mcs
- Does have a HEA ending

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story immediately sucked me in. It was intriguing and interesting and it got me curious about her and about him, and why her uncle was sending out letters to all 15 men who had offered for her. That part was well told and hooked me, and 1st pages rarely interest me as much. Then we get to the men themselves, and 1 is aging and has nvr ben married but is with his whore, and details like that just go hand in hand with Judith McNaught. This is why I didn’t want to read her novels, bcuz of the slutty, classless details. Wen he 1st read the letter and immediately turned it away, I was very curious to learn about their history.

The scene in the past just kept going on and on, and I wondered when we’d be back at the present time. It seemed like it was going to go on and on. I didn’t like how she blamed the entire thing on him, saying he was the monster that had ruined her life, and thrust all of the blame on him, when she was certainly not blameless. I didn’t like her so much.

Because Thornton thinks she’s conceited and spoiled, she’s actually nice to her servants, pinches pennies, rides her horse in plain, outdated clothes, and buys food at the market. Of course. Of course she would be the exact opposite. It just makes me roll my eyes because it’s so contrived. I want to naturally like a character, not feel like the author is forcing me to. And this whole theme of being penniless, in debt, and having to do away with servants is getting really old. You can’t do the same theme in every book. The charming, quirky characters that serve her and choose to stay on and they’re loyal to her when they’re not to her parents or uncle or something is getting old. You can only do that so much without people getting tired of it.

The comment about if Elizabeth hadn’t been so alarmed by his proposal to meet her she would have stopped to wonder how and when Ian had become so familiar with Charise’s property and all its secluded haunts really rubbed me the wrong way. I really love how Judith McNaught always has the past mistresses meet up with the woman he gets with. It’s so romantic. This is why I don’t read McNaught’s books. She always hammers in that the man has slept with plenty of women and just thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t stand it. I don’t know why you would want to just fawn over his sex life like it’s something to be happy about. It’s really twisted. Like who wants to know your husband had sex with countless women before you, and talk about it. I don’t wanna read about that crap. Just like Brenda Joyce, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and countless others, she’s just fascinated with his sex life, like it’s a hobby of his she can admire. It’s absolutely disgusting.

I don’t know what is up with McNaught and the italicization but I couldn’t go a page without something being italicized, and usually inappropriately so. That is way too much emphasis.
“She did not know this man at all.”
“I wish society felt that way.”
“You cannot imagine awful it is to mouth platitudes to people when you’re longing to ask them about things they’ve seen and things they know.”
Why are those italicized? Not 1 of those needed to be. It’s annoying and I’m getting exhausted from it all.

When they go to the cabin, which is the 2nd day they’ve seen each other, he’s saying they’re half in love with each other and says she’s going to marry him. What is the rush? It just ruined everything that she rushed the love in that soon.

As always, Judith McNaught knows just how to add humor to historical novels, which is what you rarely find. She comes up with historically accurate and hilarious, charming scenarios that you would never think to have happen. It was so funny when she’s deliberately turning the guys away by being the exact opposite of them.

She always has a significant age difference, and I really don’t like that. She’s 17 when she meets him, and he’s 27. That is way too old. Also, in here I feel like Lord Marchman was better suited for her. They both liked fishing, hunting and country life, and he was so sweet and endearing. It was cute how he stuttered and blushed when he talked to her, and said he wasn’t comfortable around women in courtship situations. That type of character is never created, and it would be nice to see them as a main character, but McNaught can only add them in as side characters, because her men always have to be man whores. I’ve also encountered this in another 1 of her books, where I thought another man was better suited for her, and I liked the side character more than the guy she actually gets with. That should not happen.

“Can’t say as I ever noticed you took the petticoat set in aversion,” he remarked, thinking of the women who’d warmed Ian’s bed in the last two years—some with titles of their own.”
WTF? This is why I don’t read her shit. She’s always gotta throw out comments like this and it raises my blood pressure to a dangerous level. I get so pissed off when women throw out comments about his past like this. And McNaught has no reservations whatsoever with the man sleeping with multiple women after he’s met her, and claimed he’s “half in love with her,” and she has no reservations with the man, who is married to her, going out and meeting his mistress for a little liaison. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen in here. Thanks for small favors. But WTF must you be thinking to have him sleep with God only knows how many women after he’s met her. That makes everything he said, did, or thought about her when they were together mean NOTHING. Way to freakin go. Now I hate him, I don’t like her, and I don’t even want them together. This is prime writing here, really romantic, sweet stuff. What a bunch of freakin shit.
Then Lucinda Throckmorton-Jones listens to the conversation between Jake and Ian, obviously hearing the part about Ian’s bed being warmed by women, which is plural, but not even commenting on it, choosing instead to focus on the part that Ian was tempted by Elizabeth. Also, she’s lured in by the knowledge that Ian is rightfully a marquees, so she wants Elizabeth to be with him because of that title. And the strict, prim and proper duenna endeavors to get them alone together for a few hours so Elizabeth will tempt him. Wow. Just wow. What kind of person overlooks the fact that the man has been with many women outside of marriage, is a rake and obviously has indulged in many liaisons with women after he claims to have wanted to marry someone. That’s really shitty. What kind of guardian wants their charge with a titled man so badly that she overlooks the fact that he’s slutting it up with women? God, what kind of crap is this? And another thing that gets on my nerves is the illegitimacy questions surrounding his birth. That has happened in every single one of her books that I’ve read. Would it kill u to come up with some different material? In here he’s not illegitimate, but he is a rightful heir to a dukedom. How nice. I guess that shows that the only good men are dukes, and anyone below that status is just scum.

Their moods ran hot and cold the entire time she was at his home in Scotland, and it was really setting me on edge. My nerves couldn’t take it the way they went from passionate and happy to mad and sarcastic. One second they would be laughing and getting on, the next he would get mad and walk off. She would either go after him or talk to him later as if nothing had happened, being nice to him after he’d treated her like crap.

“He was about to wed a beautiful, sensual woman who wanted him and who suited him perfectly.”
“He was technically betrothed, and to a beautiful woman who deserved better from him than this stupid preoccupation with Elizabeth Cameron.”
Wtf. WtF. WTF?! This is just rich. Not only did he sleep with women after her, he went and asked 1 to marry him, and he probably slept with her, hence the term sensual. God, I want to string together every cuss word I’ve ever heard of and yell it out.

I also hated the comment from Ian’s uncle about consoling “weeping young ladies who’d cast out lures in hopes Ian would come up to scratch.” Because I can just imagine what he did with all of them. And Elizabeth, like the idiot that she is, just laughs about it, like the idea of him with other women isn’t painful in the slightest. She just accepts the dalliances and flirtations he’s so skilled at and chalks it up to his age. She even tries to emulate his casual attitude about it all.

“Women found Ian almost irresistibly attractive, and as the vicar well knew, Ian had never felt morally compelled to decline what was freely and fragrantly offered to him. In the past, however, Ian had always treated the women who fell into his arms with a combination of amused tolerance and relaxed indulgence. To his credit, even after he lost interest in the female, he continued to treat her with unfailing charm and courtesy, regardless of whether she was a village maid or an earl’s daughter.”
Aw, well isn’t that just sweet. The poor guy gets hounded by women throwing themselves at him for his irresistible good looks but takes it all in stride. He uses them and he’s not discriminate; he sleeps with everyone and anyone and never says no, and once he’s done he’s still nice to them. Gosh, that is just so sweet! You’re right; that is to his credit. Wtf.

I hate how all the men in her books have these sad-sack pasts that are designed to make us pity him. His parents die and he bottles up his emotions and sends his dog cruelly away, which is another black mark against him for how he treated that poor thing. Like aw, he had a sad past but found solace and companionship with hoards of women who liked his handsome looks.

I’m sure it was supposed to be sweet when he said the weekend in England had never been forgotten, and that he remembered her all this time, but it wasn’t, not in any stretch of the imagination. You don’t have someone meet someone “special and rare,” someone they claim they’re half in love with, someone they propose marriage to, then have them sleep with God only knows how many women, then have him propose to someone else, and then have him say a dumb line like that, because it means absolutely nothing. Sorry, but you ruined your own story. It’s not sweet; it’s a freakin tragedy.

Another overused theme of hers is that the woman is forgiving to a fault, accepting and pretty much a mercenary. I’m so sick of that. She forgives him everything he does, chalks it up to being his fault, and overlooks his barbs and insults and just takes it. Her women are like doormats, letting the man step on her and walk all over her and just say down for more.

Another thing that is a common theme of hers is to have the man be verbally abusive. She puts her down purposely, insults her, mocks her, and shoots her down, and the woman just puts up with it, not even standing up for herself, or barely at all, instead acting like forgiving angels whose solemn duty is to forgive people of all sins. Also, the women are always disagreeable to the marriage. There’s always a problem that happens to make the woman not want to marry him, yet she does anyway, like she has no backbone whatsoever.

McNaught just loves the naïve, stupid virgin, and I can’t stand it. In here Elizabeth thinks she knows how to make children, that the husband kisses the wife in bed and it hurts the first time. So she’s saying Ian kisses were bruising at times. And when he suggests they retire to their rooms for the wedding night she thinks he’s sleepy and suggests he go up without her. Funny? No. Not even close. Naiveté is never a good quality. It’s just stupid, and I can’t take a stupid character. It’s not funny; it’s not cute; it’s annoying.

I don’t know if McNaught was off her game or what, but the romance was completely lacking. Their wedding night was over in a few seconds, and there were barely any details at all. It was a rushed job in my opinion. Then every time after that it was brushed over, like “he made love to her all throughout the night,” or “over the next week he showed her how much he loved her” or something like that. In a romance book I do not want the actual romance to be bypassed.

McNaught seems to have to prove something in every one of her characters. She has her women be forgiving, “witty,” intelligent, rare, whatever that means, and her men are smart, rich, and good at reading and calculating, like they have to be this way in order to be acceptable. And how cool. They have this totally inane scene where Elizabeth learns that Ian can read really fast and he can add long figures in his head. How, what was the word Ian used about Elizabeth? Thrifty. Why is that even in here? Just because he can add large sums in his head and read quickly doesn’t make me like him.

In the end there’s always something to break the characters apart, some fight, some deception and lie and betrayal, and the man turns cold and angry and turns to drinking, thing she left him. And in here, just like the other books, McNaught switches things around to where instead of her being hurt and betrayed, he is. Even though he shipped her brother off to another country and didn’t tell her, it’s him that feels betrayed. So then she’s the one that has to apologize and beg for forgiveness. Okayy. So everything he did is suddenly forgiven and forgotten just because she ran away from a liar? That’s messed up. And Elizabeth is just distraught thinking he believes she cheated on him. HELLO, he’s in the wrong here!
Ian seems to have forgotten all about him fearing she would learn the truth about what he’d done to her brother. He’s acting the angry husband, thinking his wife cheated on him. And I got really annoyed with the cold, angry looks he kept giving her. Did he forget that there was a possibility she learned the truth? God, that was so irritating. Her men always turn cold and angry and turn to drinking. Come up with something new.

At the council to determine Ian’s fate for the “murder” of her and her brother, Elizabeth pretends to be the vain, materialistic wife, and while funny, it was just ridiculous. She tried this stupid act to help Ian once before when he was accused of cheating. It was ridiculous then and it’s even more ridiculous now. Do you expect me to believe that an entire roomful of educated men are falling for her insipid act? That’s unrealistic and stupid. You can’t fall back on the “witty and amusing” act every time.

Elizabeth is a freaking idiot. She’s stammering and pleading, saying she’ll do anything to atone for it and he tells her to shut up. There goes that verbal abuse I was talking about. He threatens her by saying he’ll claim adultery, and she says she hasn’t done that, and he says “maybe not, but you’ll have a hell of a time proving you haven’t done something. I’ve had some experience in that area.” Yeah, remind me of his past sex lie, cuz that’s just making me hate him more. Idk what she’s trying to do with injecting those sordid comments; it’s like she wants her audience to dislike him.

The book was so long and dragged out I just wanted to be rid of it by the last hundred pages or so. The epilogue was fast-forwarded about 6 years, and I hate when authors have too much time pass. This book just sucked, and that’s all I can really say about it. It would have been a good, sweet story had all the bullcrap been left out, but sadly Judith McNaught has to slam his sexual past in there to where I just hate the guy and don’t think he’s good for her. And I don’t know why she would choose to have Ian engaged to someone else, and have Elizabeth not find out about it. She never learned that he had asked sum1 else to marry him, and she never knew she had kissed him and everything when he was engaged to that person. That’s so wrong it isn’t even funny. I will never read another one of her novels.

There were quite a few phrases that were historically inaccurate, such as warning bells were going off in her head.
“Oh my god.”
“ax-murderer.” Really? You think the reference to an ax murderer was out in the 1800s?
Cold-blooded murderer.
Namby-pamby
Hoity-toity
heaping more fuel on the situation—rewording “adding more fuel to the fire” doesn’t make it suitable for the time
calling the horse a piece of living glue
gaze boring holes in her back
water under the bridge
made a mental note
falling head over heels
slip of a girl
reading between the lines
freak
loose screw (as in crazy person)
the grapevine (being a method of talking among the servants)

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very typical Judith McNaught, still very different from the rest of her books. Ian for instance isn't English, but 'brutal Scot' and just because he's Scot seemed like McNaught saved all of her best words and emotions for this man. But like in most of her books, her dialogues are so beautifully written that are you pulled into her world, with this book even more because English ton doesn't approve showing public emotions, Ian approves them very much. Dialogues between him and Elisabeth who is a true gem as well left me in awe, because there is this special connection that I feel most of the time when I read McNaught's books and I don't know how she does it. She is so mature and effortless writer.

Ian is definitely the proudest man I have encountered in this genre, but he as well had something that I hadn't seen before: a happy and normal upbringing. Writing it like this black on white, it doesn't sound like something special, but in this genre where all men are dangerous alphas, he is alpha with irresistible signature. It's his awareness, bluntness, softness, emotional intelligence and how properly smart this man really is. His perceptions are flawless, he gets under your skin after a few pages because you don't expect some of the things that he does, but again that's why he's so different: his roots alienate him from the previous McNaught stories. I mean most of rouges in this genre are brain gifted, but I guess I liked him more than the rest was because he was so believable. His maturity was touching and this guy was normal, considering the setting.

And his pace with Elisabeth was incredible.

I love the floatness of this story and how simple and understandable everything was. And it's actually the only book that I read so far that wrote against the British ton: that it's not as perfect as this genre wants us to see it, it gave me blacker vision of that society. It seemed very accurate, with its unbelievably cruel rules if you are not playing for the same team.

Yeah, definitely almost heaven experience.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

⊹ reread, may 2023.
⊹ read, february 2022.

With a raw ache in his voice he said, ❛If you would take one step forward, darling, you could cry in my arms. And while you do, I’ll tell you how sorry I am for everything I’ve done—❜ Unable to wait, Ian caught her, pulling her tightly against him. ❛And when I’m finished,❜ he whispered hoarsely as she wrapped her arms around him and wept brokenly, ❛you can help me find a way to forgive myself.❜

this was such a beautiful book. It managed to evoke so many deep emotions in me. I am in awe. I seriously don't know how to describe how I felt, and I started writing a review while I was only 35% in the book. I just knew I was going to love it. I could feel it in my gut.



“A gently bred Englishwoman,” she shakily quoted Lucinda’s lecture, “feels nothing stronger than affection. We do nor fall in love.”
His warm lips covered hers. “I’m a Scot,” he murmured huskily. “We do.”

❛ 𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐍 ❜
he is one of the most charming characters I have ever read. I fell in love with him when elizabeth saw him in the garden for the first time and got caught staring and lurking in the shadows. I don't know why but the way she described him standing all alone while he lit his cigar made me swoon and/or when he opened his arms and asked her to dance with him while no one was around—double swoon.

I swear I swoon over the smallest and the littlest things when I read historical romance books and it seems like Ian Thornton has ruined all other fictional men for me. he truly has because none of them will ever compare to this fictional man.

⊹ song: minefields by faouzia and john legend.

“There now,” she said to the flowers in an encouraging tone, “you have food and air. You’ll be very happy and pretty in no time.”
“Are you talking to the flowers?” Ian asked from behind her.
Elizabeth started and turned around on an embarrassed laugh. “They like it when I talk to them.”

❛ 𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐍 ❜
she is one of the most endearing characters I have ever read, and I adore her to death. the number of times she has made me laugh, smile, and cry my eyes out—gah, I would absolutely die for her! and I love how she didn't take any shit from anyone, not even from Ian!



❛I love you,❜ he whispered, rubbing his jaw against her temple. ❛And you love me. I can feel it when you’re in my arms.❜

❛ 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐍-𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 ❜
✦ the stolen glances in the card room. <3
✦ miss judith wrote, hands down, best kissing scenes! I kept rereading it, and my heart was fluttering way too many damn times!✨
✦ after not seeing each other for two years, the first thing elizabeth does when she sees him is point a gun at his chest.
✦ I love it when 'sweetheart,' 'darling,' and 'my love' are used as a term of endearment in romance books. 🩷
✦ the sneaking in the cottage to meet each other in secret and they did a little more than talk. that scene is forever tattooed on my mind.
✦ or when they sat beside each other, reading their books while holding hands. I want this.
✦ forehead kisses make me melt, and there were quite a few forehead kisses in this book.
✦ when Ian was the first to say 'I love you'.
✦ when she defended him because a group of men accused him of cheating while playing cards.

If this review doesn't scream how much I love this book, the characters, and the historical romance genre, I don't know what does.

[Angela Hates Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM A WEEPING MESS OF ROMANCE WARM FEELINGS 😩😭😭😭

Oh. My. Lord.

That third act.

That epilogue.

MY FREAKING HEART 😭😭😭

Good. God. Was this the most beautiful thing I’ve ever read? I’m a WEEPING MESS OF INCOHERENT MUMBLINGS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE 😭😭😭

Omg Ian. Omg Elizabeth. OMG THAT ENDING 😭

It should be said that I don’t cry over romance books. I really don’t and I like it that way. I don’t read much of other genres because I don’t like crying over fiction and I don’t like sad endings. Out of the hundreds of romance books I’ve read I can only remember openly weeping over the happy ending TWICE.

Omg and this one absolutely wrecked me.

Almost Heaven is a little daunting when you pick it up. 500 pages. Little tiny font. Judith McNaught. I mean, it’s scary. I expected some absolute crazy angst with JM and 500 pages is a wide spread of time to get breakups and miscommunications and some downright nastiness. Which can still be a great ride, ahem Whitney, My Love, but I was a little scared but still set aside a week to read this book. Except completely unexpectedly, I DEVOURED this behemoth book within two days.

Also unexpectedly, the content of this book isn’t Judith McNaught crazy angst. Oh no. I was shocked to find the absolute tenderness and wonderfully bewitching and innocent and sweet romance that blossoms in this book. I know JM can write some angst and some alpha asshole heroes, but I didn’t know she could write someone as tender and precious and perfect as Ian Thurston. I’m convinced that he’s the best self made hero of all time. He makes Tom Severin look like Ted Bundy. Was Cam Rohan my favorite hero of all time before I read this? Cause I don’t even remember who that man is anymore. I only have fictional heart eyes for Ian Thurston and his emotional detachment self preservation tactics, his genius mind, and GOOD LORD, his sweet machinations and the ways he falls for Elizabeth.

“Elizabeth,” he said in a tone of tender finality, “you’re here because we’re already half in love with each other.”

Omg. There’s so many things I loved about this book. So many scenes that I want to highlight and remember forever. So many little insights into these two character’s vulnerability that perfectly aligns the two of them together. I love love loved watching Elizabeth and Ian put down their guard around each other and allow themselves to trust each other. Judith McNaught’s writing had me ACHING from the tenderness in their interactions and openly and unrepentantly weeping when they breach all boundaries to be together in the end.

Ian and Elizabeth are perfect for each other. From the very beginning, I could see how well matched they were and how they made each other better in each interaction. The miscommunication is there but omg, the groveling on all sides is PERFECTION!

ITS A PERFECT BOOK AND I AM UNWELL.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars. An early Regency romance, (1992), and probably highly influential for many authors writing these kinds of books today. It's much longer than today's books though, and I did struggle with this aspect. After a while I began to wonder what other complications could possibly happen to Ian and Elizabeth before they got their HEA. I was tempted to start skimming, but stuck it out till the lovely epilogue and very sweet final lines.

I did read this book several times a number of years ago, and it used to be an absolute fav. I would have given it 5 stars then, no question. It's now so long since I read it, I'd mostly forgotten the twists and turns of the story. But as I read this time, some of it started to come back to me. I remembered how much I LOVED the early scene when Ian and Elizabeth have just met at a house party, and they share some stolen hours talking (and kissing) in a little cottage in the woods on a rainy afternoon when everyone else has gone off to the village. For me, that scene was once one of the ultimate romantic swoony scenes. Now I've read so many HRs since those days (some of which also had the romantic scene in the cottage in the woods LOL), and sadly, the original has lost a little of its magic for me. I kinda felt nostalgic. How long since I've read a book that really touched me so much as this one (used to do)? A while. *sigh*

This is a well-written book with a sweet, beautiful, young, naive but loyal, canny and intelligent heroine. She is a countess in her own right. The hero is a very masculine and sexy alpha who is incredibly intelligent, and quite ruthless in his business dealings. A self-made man who is also secretly the heir to a dukedom. Their characters and behaviours have been the model for so many other writers, I'm sure. They are both likeable and they carry you along on their adventures. There are angst and drama and misunderstandings along the way, but you know Ian and Elizabeth are meant for each other, and finally the HEA happens.

There are some very funny scenes and characters in this book. I'd forgotten that until this reread. But it's an enjoyable aspect of the book. There is a little bit of what we would call today 'purple prose' in some of the romance/sex scenes, but it's not too much and is simply a sign of the period when the book was written.

I have an old paperback copy, with a completely inappropriate cover image LOL. For one, the woman is wearing Georgian/eighteenth century clothes, not Regency-style when it's set. Also she is depicted in a saucy pose which is nothing at all like any way that sweet innocent Elizabeth would behave. Ah well. I suppose it was the same then as now - the cover is all about selling the book, not reflecting the contents.

[A Romance Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread February 2, 2021

Still one of my favorite HR ever! I love Ian so so much!


Original review:

I am hopelessly in love with Ian! Elizabeth was amazing too, although what she did was horrible. To put my poor Ian through all that! Anyway you could feel their love, and they did make a great couple.

I liked seeing Alexandra, Jordan and the Dowager again too. It was nice knowing how they were fairing.

Seriously these HR's are so good! I want to read all of them now lol. Any suggestions which one I should read next?

[Zeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed an escape read/ go-to the other week, so I went straight to Dame McNaught. I’m sad that she doesn’t write any more, but her oldies still do it for me. (although rumor has it… 2017?)

It’s been awhile since I read Ian and Elizabeth’s story, but the first sentence reeled me back in. There is something to be said about that.

Elizabeth, The Countess of Havenhurst, is practically destitute, despite her title. But she’s okay with that. She loves managing the estate, which she’s had to do since her half brother disappeared several years ago, even with a diminished staff and no money. She bargains like the shrewdest market trader, keeps the books and a budget, and loves her flower garden. She has no family left-just the staff who stayed behind. No family, but one- her uncle. And he wants her married and out of his hair.

So he does the unthinkable- he sends letters to any gentleman that previously offered their hand in marriage to Lady Cameron...even though they were summarily rejected. Because Elizabeth is quite the beauty, that number is pretty significant. One problem? The scandal that ruined all her prospects.

Now she must endure the shame of having her uncle practically selling her off to the lowest bidder. But this is why I love Elizabeth- she doesn’t let such things settle on her. Nope, she figures out a way to outsmart him- well him and the three gentleman who actually agreed to the ludicrous request.

Now she must spend time with each and make her choice. And she's determined to be her very worst with each except one. Mr. Ian Thornton. The source of the scandal. Why this man agreed to the arrangement she’ll never know, but she’s about to find out.

Ian has no idea what prankster got it in their head to play such a cruel joke on him in the guise of a marriage offer to the empty headed beautiful young woman who nearly derailed him 3 years ago. But he wants none of it. Thinking he dismissed the offer with a resounding no, imagine his surprise at having her show up at his family homestead in Scotland.

Due to a miscommunication on his part however, he’s unable to get rid of her and they settle in for the pre-requisite time. But it’s just enough time to fall in love once again.

Despite the fact they seemed to be destined for each other, lies and secrets lie between them and with two equally willful people, it’s bound to tear them apart.

I love these two. Ian because he’s uber intelligent and broody and very like the Mr. Thornton of Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South. ::dreamy sigh:: Elizabeth because she’s clever and so well read and mostly because she can hold her own with Ian while still remaining sweet and likeable. I want to be her friend.

There is more than one misunderstanding in this book. I know, I know- everyone hates the big misunderstanding plot twist, including me right about now, but McNaught is the reason everyone uses it- because when it’s done right, like she always manages... it just works. There’s many painful and beautiful moments in the this story, but for some reason, the one that remained with me through all these years since I first read Almost Heaven, was the epilogue. Ian Thorntan with his son. That little interaction never left me and I’m not sure why.

So 5 stars because… Judith McNaught.

[*CJ* · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Almost Heaven" is the story of Elizabeth and Ian.

I LOVE Judith McNaught. "Something Wonderful" introduced me to romance, and since then I have never looked back, rereading the book a 1000x easily, falling more in love with Alexandra and Jordan every single time. "Once and Always" that preceded it was my next novel, and I can still remember laughing and crying with Victoria and Jason on every reread. For some reason, I put off reading the final book in the trilogy until now..and here it is, stealing my heart once again.

Our heroine is Elizabeth Cameron, The Countess of Havenhurst, ethereal beauty, equally courageous, smart and witty. Two years ago, a chance meeting leads her to Ian Thornton, a notorious gambler, illegitimate grandson of the Duke of Stanhope and a social outcast. Their eyes meet, attraction sparks, further inflamed by each other's intellect and charm. However, a jealous acquaintance causes a series of events that leads to a public scandal, an infamous duel, and their inevitable social downfall as they are discovered in each other's arms.

Now Elizabeth is the impoverished countess, with impeccable bargaining skills, fighting hard to keep Havenhurst and her beloved staff afloat. With her brother missing for two years, she is now being blackmailed by her uncle to marry one of the three suitors..one of whom turns out to be the very man responsible for her shunning..Ian!

Confusions leads to a tumultuous confrontation, that is inflamed by passion, desire and love. Soon Ian discovers his past wrongdoings, and offers for Elizabeth's hand. Initially reluctant, she accepts when encouraged by her best friend Alexandra and reassured by her husband Jordan. As Ian and Elizabeth marry, they fall madly and passionately in love, finding all the happiness they had ever craved and wanted with each other. But when a ghost from the past returns and leads to a public scandal, will they learn to forgive each other, making love finally triumph all?

Absolutely WONDERFUL book with lovable characters- both main and secondary, intriguing plot, loads of angst, drama, romance, scintillating lovemaking, heartbreak, grovel and a beautiful epilogue. Ms McNaught never, ever fails to make me cry with happiness, while rooting for her characters- and once again, we saw the alpha hero giving in to the heroine, and yet winning on every single page. The hero and heroine were both fabulous, multidimensional characters, and it was my pleasure to spend the last day with them.

Safe for me
100/5

[Millie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book exists. Such perfection. The amount of emotional pain I went through for this book! Despite the HEA, It felt like I was going through a heartbreak.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
“Elizabeth,” he said in a tone of tender finality, “you’re here because we’re already half in love with each other.”

“Whaaat?” she gasped.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Plot

Elizabeth Cameron is beautiful, titled, and charismatic; but her name is tainted because of a certain gossip. When her uncle can’t wait to marry her off, he contacted every bachelor who once asked for her hand before she was shunned. Out of the tens of men, only three agreed. One of them is the very man who tainted her name, Ian Thornton. Before the whole debacle with the gossip, however, they were falling in love like normal people. And when she came to his doorstep—when a second chance for their romance to rekindle finally presented itself, the electricity and magnetic chemistry brings them closer together and they fall in love all over again.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
“What is it you want?”
“You.”
Ian’s breath froze in his chest, and he stared down at her lustrous hair. “What did you just say?”
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

I have postponed this review for days because quite honestly I need some alone time to process what happened. I felt a range of emotions: sad, frustrated, happy, ecstatic, angry, depressed, furious, livid, euphoria, and everything in between. Ian Thornton is now my favourite hero and Elizabeth Cameron is one of my favourite heroines.



Their character was so well crafted, that it made me— a human being with actual flesh and brains— feel underdeveloped.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
They had wanted each other from that first night in the garden. They had wanted each other every time they’d been together since then. She was innocence and courage; passion and shyness; fury and forgiveness. She was serene and regal in a ballroom; jaunty and skillful with a pistol in her hands; passionate and sweet in his arms. She was all of that, and much more.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Ian doesn’t have a title, and Elizabeth needs to marry someone rich and titled. They both have a stubborn pride which leads to conflicts. But everything seems inconsequential because of how much they love each other. Ian sacrificed his beliefs just to get to her, because he was so besotted with her. You just feel the longing and love through the pages. They’re magic.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
she tried to ask him why this was happening to her. “Why?” she whispered against his chest.

Ian heard the shattered sound in her voice, and he understood her question; it was the same one he’d been asking himself. Why did this explosion of passion happen every time he touched her; why could this one English girl make him lose his mind? “I don’t know,” he said.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Okay, enough of me literally fawning over a book. Now let’s get down to business. Plot, drama, and romance are well crafted. Elizabeth and Ian has an incredible chemistry that the pages literally danced with happiness. The tension, too many though it seems, never stayed longer than needed. The only problem I have with this book, which made me deduct half a star is the last conflict. In my opinion, their happily ever after happened after they married. The conflict after that was unnecessary and it broke my heart too much that I pretend it doesn’t exist. I mean, I literally sobbed. It was not fun. Worse than a breakup, honestly. The only way Mcnaught could fix that was to give me 100 extra pages of happy life after that heartbreaking conflict, but no. We just get 1 chapter, the epilogue. It is NOT enough. I was emotionally scarred. The audacity of McNaught to put that drama in after we had a happy life, unforgivable and unnecessary. Without that conflict, the book would’ve been perfect. Delete.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
suddenly she hated all the restrictions of the stupid social system that was trying to enslave her.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Do you know how good a book has to be for me to go through heartbreak and still give it a 4.5 star? It needs to be real good, folks. This book is in NO way shape or form, a comfort read. It does bring major anxiety for me, but in a whole, It is an experience. I am emotionally exhausted and need a cuddle.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
Do you have any other extraordinary skills I ought to know about, my lord?” she whispered, holding him as tightly as he was holding her.
The laughter in his voice was replaced by tender solemnity. “I’m rather good,” he whispered, “at loving you.”
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

This is the first Judith Mcnaught that I finished and I will say this: This is a must read for HR lovers . Trust me. I was nervous at first, but at the end I loved it way too much to feel any regret. Thank you to my reading buddy, Laura who suggests we read this, I'm eternally grateful and emotionally not ok.

[Lidia's Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the Stars in the Heavens! <3

"Have I ever told you that you are magnificent?"


Buddy Read May 2020
I really thought after a reread I'd be able to finally give this one a proper review, but once again all I can do is gush, rave, and squeeee. This book is sheer perfection. JM did a fantastic job bringing her characters to life. Ian & Elizabeth are vivid, multifaceted, captivating and completely swoon-worthy characters. Yes, Elizabeth made me swoon, too. That glorious moment in the cottage when she picked up a pistol and aimed it at Ian, I knew she was a girl after my own heart. And Ian...fuck. See, writing a proper review is impossible. I could write paragraphs describing all the reasons I love them, but why, when you can just read the damn book! If you don't fall in love with it, then I'm sorry but we can't be friends. Lol I'm kidding. (Am I, though?)

Check out my highlights for more insight into Ian & Elizabeth.

Thanks, Chanel, for another great #BuddyRead! It's fun swooning with you.

*****Original Review*****
Almost Heaven, is the book. The one I would take with me to a desert island and read obsessively. I can finally answer that question! I was already a fan of Judith McNaught’s historical romance. Now, I idolize the woman. I’m floored, I’m reeling, I’m struggling to get a hold of my feelings. There are so many incredibly poignant scenes still running through my mind and I’m not ready to let go! *weeps* If I could, I swear I would compose sonnets and songs about the beauty of JM’s writing and the treasure that is this book.

IAN THORNTON:
Ian, where have you been all my life? I love you forfuckingever!
I'm so emotional over this character right now. I can't even... *clutches heart*

“What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?” Dragging his gaze from the beauty of the gardens, Ian looked down at the beauty beside him. “Any place,” he said huskily, “where you are.”

*sigh*

ELIZABETH CAMERON:
“She was innocence and courage; passion and shyness; fury and forgiveness. She was serene and regal in a ballroom; jaunty and skillful with a pistol in her hands; passionate and sweet in his arms. She was all of that, and much more.”

These characters will forever hold a special place in my heart<3

[Tenley (is back!!!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE ROMANCE PACKED STARS!!!

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. The romance in this book is second to none. McNaught hit alllllll the romance notes when writing Almost Heaven. I read and then reread (and even triple read) so many sections because I just wanted to savor the romance. There were so many beautiful moments.

This story is about Ian Thornton and Elizabeth Cameron. It’s full of instant attraction, and pretty much instant love and because it is McNaught’s novel, it’s also full of instant drama. The couple were brought together by chance, separated by drama and reunited by both. There is so much love between Ian and Elizabeth and I truly loved watching them fall in love. There are many wonderful side characters and while the book is long, I truly enjoyed reading every chapter (except the big conflict: see below).

The biggest conflict in the book did feel contrived….. and it made me SO upset because it was so unnecessary and heart wrenching. Ian and Elizabeth belong together, not separated over some serious BS. Because of that, I would take away a star but because I’m so in love with the characters in this book, I’m just going to overlook it.

Bonus points, McNaught gave readers several moments with Jordan and Alexandra from Something Wonderful. I LOVED that book and getting to see them happily in the future in this book made me so happy.

I will definitely be rereading this book again and again.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 4.5 stars ****

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is my first and for sure not my last book from this author!I loved Almost Heaven, so many things happening in this story that you'll never get bored!What I liked most about it, is that we get the whole story about the characters and how they fall in love and what happened between them.




Both Elizabeth and Ian are very likeable characters.They are well developed and I enjoyed their romance.They have some really intense and sweet moments between them.Ian intrigued me a lot and I was excited to learn more about him!He is smart and sweet with Elizabeth.

Overall it was a great historical romance.I can't wait to read more books from this series.

  

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off the new year with a reread of one of my favorite books by Judith McNaught.

[Azet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Almost Heaven" is a book i read for the first time when i was 14 years old and had just discovered and fallen in love with Judith McNaught`s romantic novels.This book is very dear to me,and many moments from this book came to my mind over the years.I have never forgotten the magnificent tale of love in it and the sweet angst of heartbreak it delivered.Lady Elizabeth Cameron and her hero, the notorious Ian Thornton are two remarkable and amazing characters that won my heart,and their moments of humor,love and torment are ones i will cherish forever.It only gets better when the main-characters from "Something Wonderful" also appears and supports their love.I both cried,laughed and swooned reading Almost Heaven and finished it with a big smile on my face.That`s the power Judith McNaught always have on me and that makes her among one of my top 10 favourite authors of all time.

[Chantal ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best historical romance book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Elizabeth was perfect, she could do it all. Ian was amazing and that scene in the cottage! I loved the scene in the tree house and when she is at the ball for the first time and he comes to save her!!! Omg so many scenes when they are in court and he is accused of murdering her!!! Intense! What can I say he was an awesome hero who was confused and hurt and she was a darling who thought she deserved to be treated with badly by society for kissing Ian and the way she was in the cottage. I loved it. The end was awesome. It was just great. Read this. You will not regret it.

[Donna the Slacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting story. It begins with FMC Elizabeth Cameron’s Uncle Julius sending out 15 messages to men who had offered for his niece’s hand 18 months prior but were rejected by her half-brother, Robert. At that time, Robert was Elizabeth’s guardian and deeply in debt. He thought her outstanding beauty would bring forth the richest betrothals. Following a country house party held a year and a half prior, Robert has not been seen or heard from. Therefore, Uncle Julius has taken over as guardian and is committed to marrying Elizabeth off. Out of the 15 recipients, only three agree to spend some time with Elizabeth and one of those is in error. The author then takes the reader back in time to when Elizabeth is preparing for her debut.

Elizabeth is 17 when she’s in her first season in London. She is a stunning beauty but doesn’t believe it. Nor does she act conceited. Since the age of 11, all her friends have been the servants at Havenhurst where she’s resided since losing her parents. Elizabeth is kind and wants to see only good in other people. It’s her naivety that gets her in trouble at a weekend house party.

Also a guest at the same party is handsome and virile MMC Ian Thornton. Ian is a man who with few exceptions, detests the aristocracy. Gossipers claim he is the illegitimate grandson of the Duke of Stanhope. (Ian’s legitimacy/illegitimacy is later confirmed in the book.) He first meets Elizabeth when her “friends” convince her to approach Mr. Thornton and inquire if he would dance with her when that stage of the party begins. Readers figure out quickly what Elizabeth’s jealous peers are up to, but Elizabeth doesn’t. Before the weekend is over, her reputation is in tatters and the betrothal her brother worked hard to establish with Viscount Mondevale is rescinded.

Over the next 18 months, Elizabeth sells every item of value at Havenhurst to settle Robert’s debts even though he’s nowhere to be found. She’s left with the house and the few servants who remain loyal to her for only room and board. When she learns what her uncle has done, she’s livid and seeks out the advice of her good friend Alexandra Townsende (from Something Wonderful.) All Elizabeth wants is to be independent and to keep Havenhurst. She and Alex come up with a plan whereby Elizabeth can thwart any advances made by the three men who have accepted to host her and her chaperone for a few days. Things go well until she reaches Ian Thornton’s Scottland cottage as he is the last on the list of her visits. And he wants nothing to do with her after what happened between them almost two years ago. His acceptance was originally sent in error by his new secretary. An important thing to remember about Ian Thornton is how well he can carry a grudge. It’s strongly evident in his relationships with his grandfather and Elizabeth. It’s important to note that while Elizabeth was scrounging and bartering for food and supplies during the prior 18 months, Ian had no knowledge of how he had destroyed her reputation.

I almost didn’t finish this book because some scenes felt unnecessary. But after Ian learns why Elizabeth is being forced to marry from his uncle Duncan, the story becomes much more exciting. Readers learn about how Ian is a genius. How every transaction he takes on is like a chess move where he constantly knows what his opponent's next step will be. This strategy comes in handy when Elizabeth's lying half brother Robert reappears and things change for Elizabeth in the worst possible way. Elizabeth adopts Ian's strategy following the aftermath of the trial.

"My husband was not tried before his peers. He was merely tried before the Lords of the British Realm. Ian Thornton has no peers."

It’s a great story and my favorite part of the book is what Elizabeth does toward the end. It was worth five stars alone and was a risky gamble. I was so proud of what she did that it deserved a fist pump in the air.

“Have you ever wanted something very badly – something that was within your grasp – and yet you were afraid to reach out for it?”

4.5 stars rounded up to five.

[&#x1f41d; Shaz &#x1f41d; · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a long read. But worth reading. Lot of humour, deception, scandals , sadness, happiness and love in this story. Enough to keep you reading and enjoy, Ian and Elizabeth story. Loved the epilogue

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book so many years ago that I don't remember why I rated it 5 stars but after rereading it again with one of my girls I'd rate it 10 stars if I could. A Kingdom of Dreams brought me into romance but Almost Heaven devoured my hopeless romantic heart.

"He had realized within minutes of meeting her that she was rare; he had known within hours that she was everything he wanted."

With a sentence like that how can you not fall?!?!

Elizabeth is 17 years old forced to endure a Season because her brother needs money. He doesn't tell her that's the reason but that she needs to find a suitable match; one she thinks she can love and he'll approve. At one of the balls, her friends dare her to ask Ian Thornton to dance. He declines but she later comes to his rescue at the gambling table saving him having to duel and he becomes taken with her quick critical thinking skills. One thing leads to another and next thing you know she's part of the biggest scandal leaving her mostly broke, financially and emotionally, and living in seclusion.

Fast forward 2 years and her uncle is trying to pawn her off to whoever will take her hand and is reasonably rich. Elizabeth reluctantly goes along with the plan because she is desperate to save Havenhurst. This brings her face to face with Ian yet again and they both end up revisiting the past with each other as well as rekindling a passion that leads to their inevitable future together.

This story had me all up in my feelings. It was like watching a flame trying to survive on a candle and sometimes it wavers and dims so low but then it sparks back brighter and hotter again. The writing was so vivid and completely believable. Ian was so romantic without even trying and all it took was a look here or a few words there that just painted a picture of complete and utter devotion. And Elizabeth was so compassionate and understanding even when she was the one that unintentionally screwed up. They both were also so very, very loyal. As you can imagine, their fiery passion for one another was explosive in the intimate scenes (which were surprisingly few but my goodness gracious!! Rain --- pours).

I was all in for these two; their champion from the comfort of my tablet screen. I felt all their emotions and if you want to read historical romance worded in the best possible, dangerously sweet way, this is the book you MUST read.