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Westmoreland Saga #3.5
Miracles
Now available for the first time ever as an e-novella, New York Times bestselling author Judith McNaught’s short historical romance Miracles—which ties up ends left open in the Westmoreland Dynasty Saga—is available for the first time ever as a standalone e-novella.
In Regency London, world-weary lord Nicki du Ville receives an outrageous proposal from Julianna Skeffington, who is Sheridan Bromleigh’s charge from Until You.
In Regency London, world-weary lord Nicki du Ville receives an outrageous proposal from Julianna Skeffington, who is Sheridan Bromleigh’s charge from Until You.
74 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
961 people are currently reading
2016 people want to read
About the author
Judith McNaught
89 books7,794 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
August 22, 2024
This story is a brush off of Nickolas DeVille character. I've been waiting in the last two books for his turn to find his HEA and that's what I got? 74 pages and I had reached the middle and they haven't even met yet!
Nicki is one of my most favorite characters in the series and he deserves a full story.
Nicki is one of my most favorite characters in the series and he deserves a full story.
December 13, 2016
5 FALLEN ANGEL STARS
For those of you that have followed Judith McNaught's Westmoreland saga, this is Nicholas DuVille's story.
Yes, Nicki finally gets his own story.
We are introduced to this character in JM book entitled Whitney, My Love. As he was a possible suitor for the elusive Whitney. He is a Frenchman and a very respected member of the French gentry.
He is too handsome by far and too accustomed to getting his own way.
To him, women are a game and he just loves playing with them. Toying with their affection and leaving them wanting more.
Until, one day he is inadvertently caught in his own trap, as he sets out to seduce a young innocent called Julianna Skeffington. (Whom you may remember from Until you. She was Sherry's charge)
When they are caught in a compromising position, hero is forced to do the right thing and marry this sweet angel.
Now the plot develops from there, as these two would be lover attempt to save their pride and try guarding their hearts from possible pain.
Their story is one that will have you going
Personally, I was so happy when I saw that Nicki got his own story but I was a little disappointed that it was only a novella. He really would have made a fantastic novel.
Also, I really miss JM books and most specifically her historical romances.
I really wish she would write another.
Perhaps one day.
A lady can dream, Non?
For those of you that have followed Judith McNaught's Westmoreland saga, this is Nicholas DuVille's story.
Yes, Nicki finally gets his own story.
We are introduced to this character in JM book entitled Whitney, My Love. As he was a possible suitor for the elusive Whitney. He is a Frenchman and a very respected member of the French gentry.
He is too handsome by far and too accustomed to getting his own way.
To him, women are a game and he just loves playing with them. Toying with their affection and leaving them wanting more.
Until, one day he is inadvertently caught in his own trap, as he sets out to seduce a young innocent called Julianna Skeffington. (Whom you may remember from Until you. She was Sherry's charge)
When they are caught in a compromising position, hero is forced to do the right thing and marry this sweet angel.
Now the plot develops from there, as these two would be lover attempt to save their pride and try guarding their hearts from possible pain.
Their story is one that will have you going
Personally, I was so happy when I saw that Nicki got his own story but I was a little disappointed that it was only a novella. He really would have made a fantastic novel.
Also, I really miss JM books and most specifically her historical romances.
I really wish she would write another.
Perhaps one day.
A lady can dream, Non?
August 13, 2023
Not even Nicki was safe from the curse of being a raging idiot hellbent on misunderstanding every situation and calling his wife a slut while flaunting a mistress. This one suffered from the fact that it was about 300 pages short. The 82 pages it was were absolutely not enough to do anything besides anger me. They never even had a real conversation when she wasn’t inebriated???? He never even apologized???? At this point it feels like Judith recycles her plots like she’s a spokesperson for Waste Management. Always with the misunderstanding and Olympic level conclusion jumping. I really thought we’d be safe this time since it was only EIGHTY TWO GODDAMN PAGES. It made sense why he did misunderstand but good god the tempers!! Since it is a plot where a misunderstanding DOES actually make sense, it really just needed more space to develop.
November 20, 2016
The primary reason why I hate novellas--they are too short! There's no time to get to know the character or for any kind of in depth plot development to take place. Fortunately, if you've read any of the Westmoreland saga books, you've met Nicki and probably love him as I do! Unfortunately, he does not get the story he deserves, just a few paltry lines that take only about twenty minutes to read through. Julianna, too! Introduced in Until You, she is such a sweetheart! I'm actually pretty upset by this whole thing. I needed them both to get a hefty 500 page story like the Westmorelands did. They were the most likeable characters in the entire series. I mean, it's nice they got a happy ending, but their journey to that point would have been so fabulous, I feel, given some more time!
May 27, 2018
Nicki was one of my favourite characters in the previous books therefore I expected a lot from this one. Unfortunately, he was transformed into a typical historical-romance-male-protagonist. I thought Julianna was very brave at the beginning but, just like Nicki, she was turned into this stupid woman I didn't really care for.
July 11, 2025
This feels like it was written grudgingly. I have this picture in my mind of Ms. McNaught chained to a writing desk with her publisher cracking a whip over her head, fans of Nicki DuVille standing outside the windows with flaming torches in their hands threatening to burn the place down if they don’t get their Nicki DuVille HEA. Then Ms. McNaught shoves the finished product toward the publisher and fans snarling, “There! Ya satisfied now?”
No, I’m not satisfied at all. This was silly, superficial, abbreviated, and disrespectful.
No, I’m not satisfied at all. This was silly, superficial, abbreviated, and disrespectful.
February 2, 2017
This was too short and rushed.
March 2, 2019
3 ❤️🌟s
Nikki found his HEA with Julianna but he was also deserved a full story and not this novella of 74 pages!!!!!
Nikki had a lot more appearances in the two previous books than in this one, which is of his own story!!!
January 16, 2025
I read this because I devoured books #2 & #3 of this series. This was well written, but McNaught totally short-changed Nicki big time by not providing his love story the full-length novel he most certainly deserved.
I loved the heroine and hero, but their story needed to be so much longer and drawn out. Since it wasn't, I will have to settle for the happy ending, which I did enjoy.
I loved the heroine and hero, but their story needed to be so much longer and drawn out. Since it wasn't, I will have to settle for the happy ending, which I did enjoy.
December 19, 2021
2.5⭐
Un relato que ni fu ni fa, con una protagonista sosa y una historia para Nicholas decepcionante
Un relato que ni fu ni fa, con una protagonista sosa y una historia para Nicholas decepcionante
November 24, 2016
So even though I love the Westmorelands, and have read the first three books n number of times since I first met them around 12 years ago in "A Kingdom of Dreams", I somehow missed this book! Well, never too late.
I have adored Nicki in the past two books, and Julianna was such a sweet one in "Until you", so when I realized it was their book, my heart gave a small squee! Sadly, it was a tiny novella, but it still made me happy.
Julianna is a wallflower who loves spending time reading, between pages of books.
Nicholas is a rake, bored with his recent conquests.
When Julianna's mama sets her sights on Nicholas to further her daughter in the society, two unlikely people are thrown in each other's paths and sparks fly.
Sooooo many feels in such few pages, oh how I wish it was longer! It would have been a blast to read a full length novella with these two lovely characters.
And OMG the epilogue *happy tears*
SWE
5/5
I have adored Nicki in the past two books, and Julianna was such a sweet one in "Until you", so when I realized it was their book, my heart gave a small squee! Sadly, it was a tiny novella, but it still made me happy.
Julianna is a wallflower who loves spending time reading, between pages of books.
Nicholas is a rake, bored with his recent conquests.
When Julianna's mama sets her sights on Nicholas to further her daughter in the society, two unlikely people are thrown in each other's paths and sparks fly.
Sooooo many feels in such few pages, oh how I wish it was longer! It would have been a blast to read a full length novella with these two lovely characters.
And OMG the epilogue *happy tears*
SWE
5/5
February 27, 2017
Miracles is a novella that was first published in the anthology A Holiday of Love in 1994. It is not a new work, but it is a timeless one. It is the story of Julianna Skeffington, the charge of Sheridan Bromleigh from Until You. This is also the story of Nicholas du Ville friend and confidant of the Westmorland ladies and the bane of their husbands existence. Nicki was "the other man", but only as a close and dear friend. My only wish is that this could have been a full length novel. It is a true testament to the strength and power of Judith McNaught that these books are as good today as the day they were published.
World-weary lord Nicki du Ville is tired of the games played by the "ladies" of society. He comes across a slightly inebriated Julianna Skeffington and receives an outrageous proposal. Julianna doesn't quite get what she had in mind and the outcome was definitely not what she envisioned.
World-weary lord Nicki du Ville is tired of the games played by the "ladies" of society. He comes across a slightly inebriated Julianna Skeffington and receives an outrageous proposal. Julianna doesn't quite get what she had in mind and the outcome was definitely not what she envisioned.
January 2, 2021
Nikki's book!!!.
Don't get too excited.
This is such an underdeveloped story.
It is so badly paced.
We have quite a bit of detail at the start but then it seems to jump and then skip to the epilogue.
Nikki was a well loved character in the previous books and deserved his story.
The book gives him a complete change of character when he's so awful to her at one point, it might have worked if there had been more depth and it had been a whole novel.
HEA.
Don't get too excited.
This is such an underdeveloped story.
It is so badly paced.
We have quite a bit of detail at the start but then it seems to jump and then skip to the epilogue.
Nikki was a well loved character in the previous books and deserved his story.
The book gives him a complete change of character when he's so awful to her at one point, it might have worked if there had been more depth and it had been a whole novel.
HEA.
July 13, 2025
Miracles is a novella part of the Westmoreland series and it is Nicki DuVille’s story (finally). Nicki is a character that featured heavily in the previous two books in the series, in Whitney, My Love and Until You. I still think his character was so much better in both of those books and wish he would have gotten a full length story but it is what it is with this novella.
Julianna Skeffington is a young debutante, she’s 18 and her mother is determined to find her a good match (heavy on the determined part). If you’ve read Until You then you saw the Skeffington family in that one, Sheridan (the heroine of Until You) was even the companion for Julianna towards the end of that book. This book starts off at a masquerade ball, Julianna is determined to get out of a situation her mother is aiming for and she runs into Nicki asking for his help in ruining her. As with McNaught books, there is a miscommunication/he thinks she’s something/someone she’s not, and it eventually leads to them needing a marriage to save her reputation from ruin. He’s angry for feeling duped into it (the miscommunication bit again), leaves he in a cottage directly following their wedding and doesn’t see her for months, that is until his ailing mother wants to see them happily together, and it goes from there.
For what this short story is, it’s fine, just nothing spectacular. Which is sad because Nicki’s character was so fantastic in WML and UY. This novella was first published in A Holiday of Love, a historical romance anthology, and then later re-pub’d on its own separately. I think McNaught’s writing does better in full length stories and Nicki and Julianna’s relationship would have been better with more page count (this novella is less than 80 pages).
Julianna Skeffington is a young debutante, she’s 18 and her mother is determined to find her a good match (heavy on the determined part). If you’ve read Until You then you saw the Skeffington family in that one, Sheridan (the heroine of Until You) was even the companion for Julianna towards the end of that book. This book starts off at a masquerade ball, Julianna is determined to get out of a situation her mother is aiming for and she runs into Nicki asking for his help in ruining her. As with McNaught books, there is a miscommunication/he thinks she’s something/someone she’s not, and it eventually leads to them needing a marriage to save her reputation from ruin. He’s angry for feeling duped into it (the miscommunication bit again), leaves he in a cottage directly following their wedding and doesn’t see her for months, that is until his ailing mother wants to see them happily together, and it goes from there.
For what this short story is, it’s fine, just nothing spectacular. Which is sad because Nicki’s character was so fantastic in WML and UY. This novella was first published in A Holiday of Love, a historical romance anthology, and then later re-pub’d on its own separately. I think McNaught’s writing does better in full length stories and Nicki and Julianna’s relationship would have been better with more page count (this novella is less than 80 pages).
June 22, 2017
Judith novella yazınca bi garip oluyormuş. Kadın novellada bile üç ay ayrı bıraktı karakterleri, bu huyundan vazgeçemiyor anladım 😄
April 19, 2021
For what it was, I think this book did it. What else can you expect from a less than 100 pages novella?
December 27, 2016
Julianna Skeffington está harta de la presión de su madre por que se comprometa en matrimonio, la joven lo que desea es vivir en soledad y dedicarse a su pasión, la escritura y para conseguirlo se propone su propia ruina.
Un relato corto perteneciente a la saga Westmoreland con los personajes que hemos conocido en anteriores libros: Julianna y el famoso liante Nicholas Du Ville. La verdad es que me ha decepcionado por muchos aspectos, creo que se merecía mayor extensión porque en esas poco más de cien páginas no da para desarrollar bien una historia, la autora no lo logra. Otra decepción son los personajes, Julianna se escapa porque tiene más protagonismo pero Nicholas continúa pareciéndome poco agradable igual que en anteriores libros.
En definitiva, Miracles no le hace justicia a los libros que llevo leídos de la autora, creo que se merecía más protagonismo y mejor desarrollo de la historia.
Un relato corto perteneciente a la saga Westmoreland con los personajes que hemos conocido en anteriores libros: Julianna y el famoso liante Nicholas Du Ville. La verdad es que me ha decepcionado por muchos aspectos, creo que se merecía mayor extensión porque en esas poco más de cien páginas no da para desarrollar bien una historia, la autora no lo logra. Otra decepción son los personajes, Julianna se escapa porque tiene más protagonismo pero Nicholas continúa pareciéndome poco agradable igual que en anteriores libros.
En definitiva, Miracles no le hace justicia a los libros que llevo leídos de la autora, creo que se merecía más protagonismo y mejor desarrollo de la historia.
December 31, 2020
Too short
Nobody writes like Judith McNaught. Her stories always put a smile to my face and, at the same time, they tug at my heartstrings. I liked Julianna and Nicki’s story. I liked them both. I loved Grandma Sarah. I just wish this is longer.
Nobody writes like Judith McNaught. Her stories always put a smile to my face and, at the same time, they tug at my heartstrings. I liked Julianna and Nicki’s story. I liked them both. I loved Grandma Sarah. I just wish this is longer.
November 1, 2019
Bu kadın her kitapta bir yanlış anlaşılmayla karşıma çıkıyor ya çıldırıyorum. karakterleri döve döve bir araya getiresim geliyor inanın!
November 4, 2016
Some spoilers ahead so beware...Oh Nikki.
Okay, first, Hurray all her books on on Amazon in e format!
But alas, this was the one book she could of written that I didn't want to be a novella or so short and it did indeed feel rushed. So lets get to it, Julianna was the ward that Stevens wife was coming for. That didn't happen obviously if you read that story. So Julianna is this writer and independent thinker because of her grandmother. He grandmother passes away but our h has lived on in the simple life ideals of her.
Unfortunately for her, her mother is atrocious. Downright awful. Forcing a marriage, forcing her way into the ton, etc. Everyone hates the mom and Julianna couldn't give two cows, she wants to write, live small off her inheritance in London. Her mother uses Julianna to buy a season. I felt bad for her here she really thought she was going to escape. Alas, her Mother does everything she can with the connection Julianna has to the Westmorelands to trudge her way into the ton. It doesn't work, they HATE the mother. Honestly with good reason.
At the last week of the season, Valerie (Nikki our H's on again off again widow mistress) hosts a masquerade and Julianna attends and comes up with the idea of getting herself ruined. She meets Nikki in a maze, etc, he accepts, and it all falls apart. She changes her mind, runs out, right into her Mother and an audience. Well of course Nikkis the most wanted man in England so her Mothers thrilled.
So you can imagine....this is early England above all. Not only will Julianna be ruined, so will Nikki be called into question over being a gentleman. So....he marries her. Its awful, hes awful. Shes heartbroken. Its a disaster.
Heres where this short book disappoints. JM puts a lot of time into one chapter telling us what comes next, how awful Nikki treats her, he basically dumps her off at his estate and doesn't even consummate the wedding. Hes just horrid. I know right? Our Nikki from the other books? No way, this just couldn't be what I was reading, it didn't feel right for his character.
Fast Forward three months of being deserted, its Christmas, his mothers in ill health, they spend a week together pretending to be a happy couple for her sake, although we don't get to hear much of it, because again this is a fast book, and then his intention as soon as the parents leave is to desert her AGAIN. Good god.
So she gives him as a gift some letters, like a diary, that she had continued writing to her grandmother, and alas youll have to read them and see what happens, but its all over quite quickly. I wont leave the ending.
But I will say this, THAT was where the book SHOULD of started. In fact after getting thru all of that I could of read at least another 100 pages to find out exactly how that epilogue actually got to that point! All right mini rant over. JM is one of my all time favorite authors, Almost Heaven and Kingdom of Dreams are books I go back and read again and again. I wasn't crazy about Stephon and Clayton Westmoreland, but I was all about Nikki in those books so you can imagine my vast and utter disappointment for his story and my longing for how much better it could of been. He deserved a full length novel. So I would tell you going into this book, its not. 4 stars obviously because of the writing and the period history is spot on. But oh, Ive never had a book read where I just wanted so much more!
Okay, first, Hurray all her books on on Amazon in e format!
But alas, this was the one book she could of written that I didn't want to be a novella or so short and it did indeed feel rushed. So lets get to it, Julianna was the ward that Stevens wife was coming for. That didn't happen obviously if you read that story. So Julianna is this writer and independent thinker because of her grandmother. He grandmother passes away but our h has lived on in the simple life ideals of her.
Unfortunately for her, her mother is atrocious. Downright awful. Forcing a marriage, forcing her way into the ton, etc. Everyone hates the mom and Julianna couldn't give two cows, she wants to write, live small off her inheritance in London. Her mother uses Julianna to buy a season. I felt bad for her here she really thought she was going to escape. Alas, her Mother does everything she can with the connection Julianna has to the Westmorelands to trudge her way into the ton. It doesn't work, they HATE the mother. Honestly with good reason.
At the last week of the season, Valerie (Nikki our H's on again off again widow mistress) hosts a masquerade and Julianna attends and comes up with the idea of getting herself ruined. She meets Nikki in a maze, etc, he accepts, and it all falls apart. She changes her mind, runs out, right into her Mother and an audience. Well of course Nikkis the most wanted man in England so her Mothers thrilled.
So you can imagine....this is early England above all. Not only will Julianna be ruined, so will Nikki be called into question over being a gentleman. So....he marries her. Its awful, hes awful. Shes heartbroken. Its a disaster.
Heres where this short book disappoints. JM puts a lot of time into one chapter telling us what comes next, how awful Nikki treats her, he basically dumps her off at his estate and doesn't even consummate the wedding. Hes just horrid. I know right? Our Nikki from the other books? No way, this just couldn't be what I was reading, it didn't feel right for his character.
Fast Forward three months of being deserted, its Christmas, his mothers in ill health, they spend a week together pretending to be a happy couple for her sake, although we don't get to hear much of it, because again this is a fast book, and then his intention as soon as the parents leave is to desert her AGAIN. Good god.
So she gives him as a gift some letters, like a diary, that she had continued writing to her grandmother, and alas youll have to read them and see what happens, but its all over quite quickly. I wont leave the ending.
But I will say this, THAT was where the book SHOULD of started. In fact after getting thru all of that I could of read at least another 100 pages to find out exactly how that epilogue actually got to that point! All right mini rant over. JM is one of my all time favorite authors, Almost Heaven and Kingdom of Dreams are books I go back and read again and again. I wasn't crazy about Stephon and Clayton Westmoreland, but I was all about Nikki in those books so you can imagine my vast and utter disappointment for his story and my longing for how much better it could of been. He deserved a full length novel. So I would tell you going into this book, its not. 4 stars obviously because of the writing and the period history is spot on. But oh, Ive never had a book read where I just wanted so much more!
July 14, 2022
I read reviews and knew this was gonna be a bummer but I had no clue how much of a bummer this little novella was going to be.
Nicholas DuVille deserved the best love story of all, IMO. After pining after Whitney for so long I really want him to fall crazy head over heels in love. I wanted that for Nicki SO. MUCH. Instead…we get this rushed little book where I feel like rather than falling in love, Nicholas resolves himself to marriage to Julianna and decides to make the best of it. Wamp wamp.
This book really felt like Judith McNaught was like, “It’s just not realistic for everyone to have a love match.” I’m not trying to read about ton marriages where people are forced to marry and live their lives with mild affection for their spouses!
Sadness. This book is sadness.
Nicholas DuVille deserved the best love story of all, IMO. After pining after Whitney for so long I really want him to fall crazy head over heels in love. I wanted that for Nicki SO. MUCH. Instead…we get this rushed little book where I feel like rather than falling in love, Nicholas resolves himself to marriage to Julianna and decides to make the best of it. Wamp wamp.
This book really felt like Judith McNaught was like, “It’s just not realistic for everyone to have a love match.” I’m not trying to read about ton marriages where people are forced to marry and live their lives with mild affection for their spouses!
Sadness. This book is sadness.
June 7, 2017
Unfortunately, I felt like I got ripped off with this one. This could've been a great book. Started out strong, then it's like the author got tired of writing and rushed the book from halfway through the story straight to the end. That was not a great way to tie up loose ends from du ville's previous parts in the last two books. I feel bad he didn't get enough attention focused on his happily ever after.
October 9, 2017
Believe me, I do not enjoy giving this book 2 stars. I love the Westmoreland Saga, but this finale was almost not worth it. Nikki deserved his own story, and it was hinted in Until You that Julianna and Nikki would be linked, but this did not do him justice...not.at all. It started out slow, then a quick hostile arrangement, months of no contact where a relationship would naturally form, and all of a sudden...love. Judith McNaught, I adore your work, but I feel this one would have done better to be left out. A full novel would have worked great for this storyline.
November 10, 2022
Reread on November 9, 2022: This novella is so irritating because there is so much unfulfilled potential. Beloved characters from previous books! Enough conflict and angst setup to last 400 pages! And what do we get: barely 50 pages strung together with nonsensical development. A waste. 😭
November 22, 2020
Good book
The book was good but coming behind such extraordinary love stories as the first 3 it was a little lacking, but definitely worth reading.
The book was good but coming behind such extraordinary love stories as the first 3 it was a little lacking, but definitely worth reading.
December 14, 2019
This hero deserved his own full length book! Disappointing.
December 13, 2020
Σε αυτή την ολιγοσέλιδη νουβέλα, ξεδιπλώνεται -με μια ανάσα- η ιστορία του Νικολά Ντι Βιλ και της Τζουλιάνα Σκέφινγκτον.
Η πρώτη τους γνωριμία σε έναν χορό μεταμφιεσμένων και η αναπάντεχη κατάληξή της οδήγησε σε έναν βιαστικό γάμο, με τον Νικολά να νομίζει πως όλα ήταν ένα σχέδιο της Τζουλιάνα και της μητέρας της για να τον τυλίξουν. Για να την τιμωρήσει, λοιπόν, αμέσως μετά τον γάμο τους την εγκαθιστά σε ένα από τα σπίτια του στην επαρχία, ενώ εκείνος επιστρέφει στο Λονδίνο για να συνεχίσει να ζει τη ζωή του όπως πριν. Μόνη και αποτραβηγμένη από όλους, στο απομονωμένο σπίτι της η Τζουλιάνα θα βρει την ησυχία που αναζητούσε και την έμπνευση για να γράψει το βιβλίο που τόσο επιθυμεί, όμως ταυτόχρονα η καρδιά της δεν μπορεί να μη θλίβεται στη σκέψη του Νικολά, αναλογιζόμενη τη γνώμη του για αυτήν και τη σκληρή συμπεριφορά του.
Τα Χριστούγεννα, όμως, θα φέρουν ξανά κοντά της τον Νικολά. Παρά τον θυμό του, εκείνος δεν μπορεί να μείνει εντελώς ανεπηρέαστος απέναντι στην Τζουλιάνα και να μη σκέφτεται πόσο διαφορετικά θα μπορούσαν να είναι τα πράγματα ανάμεσά τους, αν δεν ήταν όλα προσχεδιασμένα σαν μια καλοσχεδιασμένη παγίδα. Θα καταφέρει η Τζουλιάνα να τον πείσει για την αθωότητά της και για το ότι επρόκειτο για μια ατυχέστατη σύμπτωση και όχι ένα πανούργο σχέδιο; Θα κατορθώσει η μαγεία των Χριστουγέννων να δώσει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία στην αγάπη να ανθίσει μεταξύ τους;
Τον Νικολά Ντι Βιλ τον είχαμε συναντήσει στο δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς, το Με αντάλλαγμα την αγάπη, ως καλό φίλο και υποψήφιο μνηστήρα της Γουίτνεϊ Στόουν, αλλά και στο τρίτο βιβλίο Όσα θυμάται ο έρωτας, όπου συναντούμε επίσης και την Τζουλιάνα Σκέφινγκτον. Η αλήθεια είναι πως και οι δυο τους είναι πολύ συμπαθητικοί ήρωες και όσοι διαβάσαμε τα βιβλία και τους συμπαθήσαμε πολύ θα θέλαμε να μάθουμε περισσότερα για εκείνους. Και φυσικά θα ευχόμασταν να ζήσουν το πολυπόθητο happy end.
Έτσι λοιπόν έρχεται αυτή η μίνι-νουβέλα για να τους το δώσει. Το θέμα είναι, όμως, πως παραείναι "μίνι". Πολύ λίγη για τους συγκεκριμένους χαρακτήρες, ειδικά για τον πληθωρικό Νικολά Ντι Βιλ. Θεωρώ πως τους άξιζαν περισσότερες σελίδες, περισσότερες κοινές σκηνές αυτών των δύο. Υπήρχαν τόσα παραπάνω πράγματα να γίνουν και να ειπωθούν, που τελικά δεν έγιναν και δεν ειπώθηκαν ποτέ.
Ουσιαστικά, μιλάμε για τέσσερις διαφορετικές περιόδους: την αρχή της γνωριμίας τους και τον βιαστικό τους γάμο (τσακ-μπαμ κατάσταση, μέσα σε λιγότερο από ένα εικοσιτετράωρο!), την εγκατάσταση της Τζουλιάνα στην εξοχική έπαυλη, την περίοδο των Χριστουγέννων και έναν υποτυπώδη επίλογο. Μέχρι να εγκληματιστούμε με την κάθε σκηνή και να αρχίσει να αποκτά το πράγμα ενδιαφέρον, αυτή τελείωνε και ερχόταν η επόμενη. Σαν να έγιναν όλα πολύ βιαστικά, σαν να ήταν εξαιρετικά αυστηρά τα πλαίσια της συγγραφέως, σαν να μην επιθυμούσε να δώσει το κάτι παραπάνω. Κι όμως, αυτοί οι δυο ήρωες το άξιζαν. Και είναι πολύ κρίμα που δεν τους απολαύσαμε μαζί για λίγες περισσότερες σελίδες. Θεωρώ ότι θα μπορούσε να γίνει ακόμα και ένα ολοκληρωμένο βιβλίο αυτή η ιστορία. Κι αν τελικά δεν έγινε έτσι και έπρεπε να παραμείνει νουβέλα, ας γινόταν έστω λίγο μεγαλύτερη από μόλις είκοσι σελίδες (τόσες μου βγήκαν εμένα όταν έκανα copy-paste το κείμενο στο word, τουλάχιστον)!
3 αστεράκια, λοιπόν, επειδή είχαμε έστω την ευκαιρία να μάθουμε τι απέγιναν αυτοί οι δύο ήρωες και γιατί η αγάπη βρήκε τελικά τον τρόπο να τους ενώσει. Και 2 χαμένα γιατί κράτησε τόσο, μα τόσο λίγο!
Η πρώτη τους γνωριμία σε έναν χορό μεταμφιεσμένων και η αναπάντεχη κατάληξή της οδήγησε σε έναν βιαστικό γάμο, με τον Νικολά να νομίζει πως όλα ήταν ένα σχέδιο της Τζουλιάνα και της μητέρας της για να τον τυλίξουν. Για να την τιμωρήσει, λοιπόν, αμέσως μετά τον γάμο τους την εγκαθιστά σε ένα από τα σπίτια του στην επαρχία, ενώ εκείνος επιστρέφει στο Λονδίνο για να συνεχίσει να ζει τη ζωή του όπως πριν. Μόνη και αποτραβηγμένη από όλους, στο απομονωμένο σπίτι της η Τζουλιάνα θα βρει την ησυχία που αναζητούσε και την έμπνευση για να γράψει το βιβλίο που τόσο επιθυμεί, όμως ταυτόχρονα η καρδιά της δεν μπορεί να μη θλίβεται στη σκέψη του Νικολά, αναλογιζόμενη τη γνώμη του για αυτήν και τη σκληρή συμπεριφορά του.
Τα Χριστούγεννα, όμως, θα φέρουν ξανά κοντά της τον Νικολά. Παρά τον θυμό του, εκείνος δεν μπορεί να μείνει εντελώς ανεπηρέαστος απέναντι στην Τζουλιάνα και να μη σκέφτεται πόσο διαφορετικά θα μπορούσαν να είναι τα πράγματα ανάμεσά τους, αν δεν ήταν όλα προσχεδιασμένα σαν μια καλοσχεδιασμένη παγίδα. Θα καταφέρει η Τζουλιάνα να τον πείσει για την αθωότητά της και για το ότι επρόκειτο για μια ατυχέστατη σύμπτωση και όχι ένα πανούργο σχέδιο; Θα κατορθώσει η μαγεία των Χριστουγέννων να δώσει μια δεύτερη ευκαιρία στην αγάπη να ανθίσει μεταξύ τους;
Τον Νικολά Ντι Βιλ τον είχαμε συναντήσει στο δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς, το Με αντάλλαγμα την αγάπη, ως καλό φίλο και υποψήφιο μνηστήρα της Γουίτνεϊ Στόουν, αλλά και στο τρίτο βιβλίο Όσα θυμάται ο έρωτας, όπου συναντούμε επίσης και την Τζουλιάνα Σκέφινγκτον. Η αλήθεια είναι πως και οι δυο τους είναι πολύ συμπαθητικοί ήρωες και όσοι διαβάσαμε τα βιβλία και τους συμπαθήσαμε πολύ θα θέλαμε να μάθουμε περισσότερα για εκείνους. Και φυσικά θα ευχόμασταν να ζήσουν το πολυπόθητο happy end.
Έτσι λοιπόν έρχεται αυτή η μίνι-νουβέλα για να τους το δώσει. Το θέμα είναι, όμως, πως παραείναι "μίνι". Πολύ λίγη για τους συγκεκριμένους χαρακτήρες, ειδικά για τον πληθωρικό Νικολά Ντι Βιλ. Θεωρώ πως τους άξιζαν περισσότερες σελίδες, περισσότερες κοινές σκηνές αυτών των δύο. Υπήρχαν τόσα παραπάνω πράγματα να γίνουν και να ειπωθούν, που τελικά δεν έγιναν και δεν ειπώθηκαν ποτέ.
Ουσιαστικά, μιλάμε για τέσσερις διαφορετικές περιόδους: την αρχή της γνωριμίας τους και τον βιαστικό τους γάμο (τσακ-μπαμ κατάσταση, μέσα σε λιγότερο από ένα εικοσιτετράωρο!), την εγκατάσταση της Τζουλιάνα στην εξοχική έπαυλη, την περίοδο των Χριστουγέννων και έναν υποτυπώδη επίλογο. Μέχρι να εγκληματιστούμε με την κάθε σκηνή και να αρχίσει να αποκτά το πράγμα ενδιαφέρον, αυτή τελείωνε και ερχόταν η επόμενη. Σαν να έγιναν όλα πολύ βιαστικά, σαν να ήταν εξαιρετικά αυστηρά τα πλαίσια της συγγραφέως, σαν να μην επιθυμούσε να δώσει το κάτι παραπάνω. Κι όμως, αυτοί οι δυο ήρωες το άξιζαν. Και είναι πολύ κρίμα που δεν τους απολαύσαμε μαζί για λίγες περισσότερες σελίδες. Θεωρώ ότι θα μπορούσε να γίνει ακόμα και ένα ολοκληρωμένο βιβλίο αυτή η ιστορία. Κι αν τελικά δεν έγινε έτσι και έπρεπε να παραμείνει νουβέλα, ας γινόταν έστω λίγο μεγαλύτερη από μόλις είκοσι σελίδες (τόσες μου βγήκαν εμένα όταν έκανα copy-paste το κείμενο στο word, τουλάχιστον)!
3 αστεράκια, λοιπόν, επειδή είχαμε έστω την ευκαιρία να μάθουμε τι απέγιναν αυτοί οι δύο ήρωες και γιατί η αγάπη βρήκε τελικά τον τρόπο να τους ενώσει. Και 2 χαμένα γιατί κράτησε τόσο, μα τόσο λίγο!
March 26, 2018
I was so frustrated with this novella because why the HECK would she give Nicki only 70 pages? He so deserved 400 pages like everyone else. I know he's not a Westmoreland but come ON! This really could have been a great full length novel. I liked what I read but it was so rushed and not nearly detailed enough.
April 26, 2019
Όχι, όχι! Απλά, ΟΧΙ! Καταλαβαίνω πως κάποιες φορές οι συγγραφείς θέλουν να ικανοποιήσουν τους fans τους, αλλά πρέπει να καταλάβουν πως δεν είναι όλες οι περιπτώσεις ίδιες και πως σε ορισμένους ήρωες πρέπει να δείχνουμε σεβασμό, όχι να τους ξεπετάμε με μια ιστορία που δεν έχει τίποτα να προσφέρει, που τους αλλοιώνει, τους κάνει να αναλώνονται σε βλακείες και που απλά μας απογοητεύει.
![Profile Image for ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1572968006i%2F3840999._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 31, 2017
Read it as a part of an anthology in 2010 or 2011. Wasn't quite impressed.
Full review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
However, spoiler alert!!!
Full review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
However, spoiler alert!!!
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