A Holiday of Love By Judith McNaught
KUMSKI BOOK CLUB READING CHALLENGE 2017 - 14
(a collection of short stories)
Pročitala sam samo prve dvije priče (Miracles od Judith McNaught i Change of Heart od Jude Deveraux) jer ove druge dvije nisam mogla nigdje pronaći. A i iskreno, sasvim mi je dovoljno bilo pročitati ove dvije.
Znači, priče su tako blesave i besmislene. Recimo da su kraće verzije nekih knjiga koje sam već pročitala od McNaughtice i Deveraux.
Prva, Miracles je smještena u viktorijansku Englesku, a druga u suvremenu Ameriku i obje su izgleda dio nekog serijala, čiji su glavni likovi braća/najbolji prijatelji.
Što se tiče likova, svi su tipični kao i iz ostalih knjiga, muškarci tvrdoglavi, ne da im se reći, utuvit će si u glavu nešto što je naravno potpuno netočno, a žene su ponosne, ali naravno totalno padnju na takve muškarce. Zaplet isti kao i u svim drugim sličnim ljubićima.
Imala sam dojam kao da čitam bajke, posebno s ovom drugom, prezgodni princ na velikom crnom konju koji dolazi spasiti svoju ljubljenu. Sve kliše do klišea.
Ništa ne bih propustila ni da ih nisam pročitala. 384 I've reread Change of Heart by Jude Devereaux today. I just finished it. I wish the story was longer and more develope. It's not to say that Jude didn't do a good job with this story. It was a little rushed, but a quick fun read.
The story starts off with us finding out that a 12 year old boy named Eli is offered a scholarship to go to Princeton. The boy has a best friend named Chelsea - she's six months older than he is. She's smart, but not as smart as him and she's rich. The two of them talk about him being accepted to go to Princeton, but Eli doesn't want to go. He's worried about his mother. She's a divorcee and although, she's a nurse, she doesn't make much money. His father makes more money than his mother, but he doesn't like paying child support and every chance, he gets, he tries to get out of paying child support and Randy - Eli's mother lets him get away with it. But, Eli wouldn't let his father get away with it. His father wasn't around to be a father to him, but he was going to give what was rightfully his and his mother's. It only took one phone call from Eli to his father, to put his daddy in line.
When Eli was ten years old, he met a man by the name of Franklin (Frank)Taggert. He has gone with his class to a business field trip. He's only reason for going on this trip, was because he wanted to steal some of the company's letter head paper. Him and Chelsea would steal letter head paper from companies, to help people. Their help, even have helped a lady get $400.00 dollars back from a telephone company and a boy from their school, teeth fix. The boy's daddy wasn't no good, but Eli and Chelsea hit his love and that's gambling. They sent him a fake dentist lottery, the catch was he had to pay to get his son and his sibling's mouth fix. In a way their help, worked and backfired. It caused Eli and Chelsea to reveal to the boy, who they were. They have found their own Robin Hood.
Randy loved reading romance books. Eli didn't want to see his mother being alone and that is what she would be, if he left, so he and Chelsea decided to find her a rich man. It's was Eli's idea to hook his mother up with his billionaire friend. Frank Taggert. They meet up with Mike Taggert (My baby from Sweet Liar) and his wife and talked to them about their plan. Afterwards, Randy received a letter about a job taking care of a man, who has been injured, who is staying in at his private cabin.
At first Randy didn't like Frank. He actually thought that she was a call girl. He didn't believe that she was his nurse. After clearing up that misunderstanding he offers her a job to be his cook-housekeeper. Between their cook-housekeeper discussion, they had a little misunderstanding. Randy hit Frank through the stomach. She knew that he couldn't stand eating TV dinners and that he loved her food. The little that he has tasted and they agreed that he was going to pay for her second's college eduction, up until Ph.D status. At bedtime, he asked her to marry him and she told him no.
Randy and Frank connect, he leaves, because he was scared. They haven't seen each other in two months. She's pregnant. He finds out that Eli is her son and the live happily ever after.
This story is short and cute. Some funny lines in here as well.
384 miracles
klasicna prica gdje su ciljevi majki bili dobro udati kceri za bogatog mladica, dobru priliku, raskosni balovi I neobicno ustogljeni maniri drustva. za razliku od romana koji obiluju raskosima prostora, prici nedostaju detalji koji bi citatelja uveli u doba I prostor radnje. sama ljubavna prica je jednako nevjerojatna I predvidiva kao I njen rasplet.
2/5
change of heart
zali boze tinte I papira na kojem je tiskana. nekako mi I lici na ljubavne romane koje I sama junakinja Randy cita. toliko me ova prica umorila I nazivcirala koliko je glupa da to nije za vjerovati. Randy se predstavlja kao neuhvatljiva zena a zapravo zudi za bilo kime jer se maltene baca u zagrljaj svakom muskarcu koji joj da malo paznje. toliko je jadna ta prica oko udaje, razlozi, nemam rijeci vise.... cisti promasaj
0/5 384 Picked this up the other night because I needed something short- so far have only read Jude D.'s entry, Change of Heart, but I of course loved it. (I actually cant remember if I've ever read it before, which is odd because I thought i read all her earlier work!)
This is Frank Taggert's story, the older brother to Michael Taggert from Sweet Liar. He's hardnosed, self sufficient and fiercely independent enough to not really want a family and kids... until he meets a smarter than average young man by happenstance.
The young man has decided that Frank is perfect for his overly romantic and easily taken advantaged of mother- because she desperately needs someone as ferociously protective as Frank Taggert- so he sets up a scenario to get them alone so they can fall in love- which they do quite nicely.
Although brief this story reminded my why I used to love Deveraux- (whom btw went over the deep end there for awhile in RL O_O)- quirky characters who always find that love conquers all and get their HEA, no matter how bizarre the path and ending!
I have yet to read the rest in the antho, but I will add my thoughts on those as I read them! :D
4 out of 5 for Deveraux's entry.
**edited 10/18/11**
Ok- I've read McNaught's entry now: Miracles. Typical Judith Mcnaught. The heroine decides it's time to rid herself of the inconvenience of her virginity, as her mother is using it to try and better her position in society. Enter Nicki Duville, rake and rogue extraordinaire. He comprises her a bit, they get caught, and thinking the heroine is on her mother's side- heads straight for the-big-misunderstanding-plot-device waters.
Of course he does what society dictates- ie marries her- but then he promptly ditches her to run willy nilly all over London, having affairs left and right to rub it in her face. Of course when he actually is forced to spend time with her he sees the error of his ways and all is forgiven and they all live happily ever after. yep, that was about it. (See? Now you dont have to read it.)
Ok, I generally enjoy McNaught's emotional tour-de-forces, even if she uses the same formula over and over. Why? BECAUSE IT WORKS! But this one was far far too brief so there was no chance to build a rapport with the characters. So-2 stars. Why 2 and not 1? Because it was McNaught and I still found it unputtdownable. ::shrug::
**edited 1/21/12**
Daniel and the Angel by Jill Barnett
Sweet, Sweet story. Lillian is an angel who can never do anything right- after busting up the Pearly Gates she's sent to earth- wingless- and falls right in front of the carriage of D L Stewart, one of the wealthiest men in America in the 1800's.
Self-made man, Daniel Lincoln Stewart, is intrigued by the beautiful, ethereal woman whom he's taken responsibility for, but wary of her do-gooder innocent heart. Lillian is just as wary of the man who is the antithesis of everything she holds dear and is sure she needs to get away from him-immediately. How can she stay with someone who thinks he can buy everything? But something about his lonely existence tugs at her sensitive heart.
Of course, the struggle truly begins when Lillian learns she has a way to get her wings, as well as her entrance into heaven, back.... teach Daniel to give something away- from the heart.
However impossible the task- she sets about to do so, unknowingly risking her own heart in the process.
Great little romance with empathetic characters and a good lesson to boot- 4.5 stars!
384 I originally bought this book for Judith McNaught's short story about Nicholas DuVille. It's actually one of my least favorites, but I don't mind because it led me to two of the most delightful stories I've ever read.
The first story is Jude Deveraux's story, Change of Heart. It's was my first Jude Deveraux book, and my introduction to the Taggert family. It's just a beautiful, heartwarming story. I'll agree with other reviewers that it wasn't long enough. This could have been a great book, but I'll settle for what we got. Within the confines of a short story, Jude Deveraux was able to create warm, rich characters that I love to revisit time and time again. She was even able to portray likable preteens, a rare feat since teenagers are usually portrayed as adorable, helpless children, or sullen, emotional headcases. Everyone has such great attitudes in this story, well, except for the broody, tortured hero (lol) but he gets over it fairly quickly and sees the light with his heroine, Randy. I don't know if it's because this was released during the holidays, but it was so nice to read. Jude Deveraux is kind of hit and miss with me but this one was a winner.
Second story is Judith McNaught's book, Miracles. I bought this anthology for this book alone and well, I was disappointed. This didn't seem like the Nicholas DuVille I knew from previous books. Judith McNaught does the same flip with Nicki's character as she had done with Stephen Westmoreland's character in Until You. Completely changed his personality. I didn't care for that. I liked the meddling, charismatic frenchman and unfortunately, in his own book, Nicki came across as a cruel boar. It uses one of my most hated plot contrivances. The hero, who knows better, seduces the lady he knows despite how she dresses, is really an innocent, virginal young girl that he should be a million miles away from. He just can't help himself and when he gets caught, he blames the girl for tricking him. Well, keep it in your pants next time, you dumba**. He's forced to marry her, dumps her in one of his countryhouses, then proceeds to ignore her and get on with his life. For a moment I thought Julianna would succeed with her plan to leave him and become an authoress but unfortunately Nicki comes to his senses and returns Julianna's love. Pity.
The third story is Jill Barnett's, Daniel and the Angel. *sigh* My favorite of the short stories and one of my favorite stories all around. This is just a beautiful, rich story, that makes you cry and laugh and smile. Even after all these years, the story of Daniel and his angel can still make me cry. The actual outline of the story doesn't matter. It only matters that the emotion that comes off the pages will blow you away. This story is better then chicken soup when your feelings are down. I would have loved for Jill to have made this into a full length book but that would have been just a scoop of ice cream next to an already perfect slice of cake. This short story really is perfection just the way it is.
The fourth story is Arnette Lamb's Hark! The Herald. Can't review this one as I've never really finished it or else I just can't remember it. This short story never grabbed me. Also the whole chastity belt thing squicked me out. I'll try it again some day since it's gotten good reviews.
Overall, this was the best anthology I've ever picked up. I've never liked another one since. I rate them opposite A Holiday of Love and so far nothing has come close. Sure I like a story here and there from various anthologies but nothing as magical as Daniel and the Angel and Change of Heart. Get this for Jill Barnett's short story alone and then see how you feel about the other three. You won't be disappointed!! 384
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book.
This review is solely based on Judith McNaught's novella Miracles, the story of Nicki DuVille from Whitney, My Love and Julianna Skeffington from Until You. Nicki was also featured in UY. I have to mention that I don't always enjoy novellas due to some reasons such as the story, most of the times, ends even before I take some breath, sit back and relax. But, even though novellas are short, the satisfaction level mostly depends on the authors and the plotting/narration of the story in question. Miracles has 12 small chapters and an epilogue.
Miracles, Judith McNaught
After my 2nd reading of the book...
From my rating you can already see I didn't find this one quite satisfactory. Mostly because, I thought it could've been made a wonderful full-length novel. Nicki did deserve his own book after the parts he played in both WML and UY. Though I hated him for the most part in this novella, I liked Julianna a lot and would've loved to see more of the character explorations. The story, honestly felt like, a b c d then straight to y and z. Finished! Hope you understand my meaning.
We already know from UY that Julianna's parents aren't very rich. Her father is a mere baron and a man who's always drenched in Madeira. Her mother is really awful, a very pushy and ambitious woman. It's her plan to marry Julianna, who is very lovely to look upon, off to anyone with a title and money. But, Lady Skeffington can't help but targeting the biggest catches of the marriage mart. And this year, it's Nicki DuVille. He's part French, part Scot and is going to be the next Earl of Glenmore soon enough. But, Julianna doesn't wanna get married. She has her hopes and dreams, aspirations of becoming a writer, something that was inspired by her deceased grandmama Sarah. Julianna's dreams are only scoffed and then berated at by her mother but she hangs on. Nicki, on the other hand, is a dissolute man, a notorious womanizer but his life is boring and he craves something to pull him out of this.
When they first met at a park, Nicki and Julianna parted ways after a little word exchange. It was funny but also annoying the way Julianna's mom 'initiated' the introduction. Nicki didn't remember her of course. Then at a masquerade ball, after a failed rendezvous with the hostess, one of the high society hussies and his lover, Nicki sees Julianna in the garden. He'd just refused a tryst with that woman and was about to go to his room to get some sleep. Julianna, who was hiding from her mother and a bit drunk at that point, was praying to God and talking to her grandmama's spirit [note: there are scenes with her grandmama that leads to this, I won't mention those]. When Nicki finds her crying and offers her a handkerchief, Julianna thought he was God. Ermm, yah ... I know, sounds absurd. Then of course she recognises Nicki (he didn't) and asks him to ruin her. It wasn't the usual way of ruining but a bit more dancing than usual, which was her thought. But Nicki, being the rake and seeing her in 'a bit too revealed' dress, confuses her as a courtesan. He thought she's pouting because her protector might've left her or something and he gladly offers his services in her 'ruining'. He took the word for an innuendo and goes as far as to think if she's any good, he'll offer to make her his mistress! *exasperated sigh*
As they move into his room, Nicki soon realized that she's not a courtesan from her shyness. After a few word exchanges, he snaps at her, asking if she's got any brains. Julianna, a bit offended, starts talking about the philosophies she'd learned from her grand mama and the philosophers she'd read. Nicki is impressed and then they kiss. Julianna gets scared and tries running away ... but, disaster disaster ... The hostess of the ball and Julianna's mother was at the hallway to Nicki's door, looking for her. They see her coming out of his room and you can guess what happens next. Julianna's getting a hasty marriage the very next day with all the loathing and contempt from Nicki's side and her mom's getting what she wanted all along. Poor girl. She didn't deserve what she gets next, which is where the story ends too hastily, in about 3 more chapters. I was pretty annoyed. Nicki dumps her at one of his smallest, not-so-very important estates and proceeds to forget about her just the way all the other JM heroes does (except for Royce and Ian); by screwing around, hither and yon! I WAS MAD!!!!!! :@
I mean, really Nicki? You choose to f*ck all these shallow, lose women but you punish/humiliate this girl, whom you yourself deemed as very intelligent and bright ... for what? Just because your overheated, narrow brain thought she duped you into marrying her? You heard her talking about furs and stuffs with her mom and you think she's a 'scheming little slut'? Oh of course, you'd know about those kinds since those are the types you always prefer. So, what was wrong with this little slut? Got you scared, didn't she? I take it back when I called you a gentleman in my review of Until You because you aren't one. You don't deserve a girl like Julianna, you hypocritical, cheating SOB! You never gave her a chance to explain herself while she tried and tried, in all the ways she could.
Finally, Nicki comes back to take her to his home for Christmas because his mother was very ill. Julianna already sold her first manuscript to a publisher and was planning her freedom. His coming back makes her hopes soar but is soon deflated by Nicki's announcement. And, even after everything, Julianna tries to do her best to make his family happy and wins his parents' affections. Then, when it was all coming to an end, Julianna knew Nicki would leave her again, so she does one thing that could explain her standing in this disaster. Julianna told her grand mama that she'd write her letters telling her things about her life even after she passed away. And, Julianna's been doing that for the last 3 yrs. She gives all the letters to Nicki; even though she knew she'd be exposed, vulnerable and there's every chance that he'd reject her efforts. And, Nicki was almost doing that when he starts reading one of the letters and ended up reading them all. These letters clarify things to him, makes him see Julianna in a new light. Then they make up and goes to make heirs, as the epilogue will tell you. El fin!
I really couldn't believe that after the abominable way he treated her, a few letters solved all of Nicky's problems, doubts regarding Julianna. Just like that? I 'yuked' at the details of his liaisons, those were just too much for me. Not so much by descriptions but by mentioning a few things. I absolutely hated it. And, I don't care for a hypocritical, mean, cheating hero much, which Nicki was from the beginning til the end. Also, if it was a full novel, I think I would've enjoyed the ups and downs of their relationship after the marriage and then their making up. There was no love scene in the book. I read somewhere quite sometimes ago that JM was planning to make a full novel out of this one but not sure if the info was correct. It's been a long time since this novella came out so I don't think there would be any full novel in the future. But if there is, I'd be willing to give it a try.
A very reluctant 2.5 stars. 384 I have started a new tag since I bought this book. 'Anthologies that are worth purchasing for one story.' I have not read the other stories but Daniel and the Angel.
This historical romance was a little gem. At slightly under 100 pages it was one of those stories that was both uplifting and heartwarming.
Daniel had money. Lots of money. He thought he was happy until he ran into Lillian. Literally. One minute she was not there, the next she was and he thought she was hurt.
Regarding his money:
Lilli: Did you ever hear the expression 'You can't take it with you'?
Daniel: Of course.
Lilli: Where I come from, wealth doesn't matter.
Daniel: Then it's probably a place I'd rather not visit.
Lilli: I don't think that will be a problem.
On where she lives:
Lilli: ...I don't know where I live.
Daniel: How convenient.
Lilli: You don't believe me?
Daniel: No. I don't believe you.
Lilli: I'm sorry.
Daniel: I don't want apologies, just answers.
Lilli: I wasn't apologizing. I'm sorry for you.
~~~~~
Read this story if you are feeling low and want a gentle romance. Read it for the dark brooding hero. Or buy it for their quirky conversations. Suffice-to-say, Lilli showed Daniel the true meaning of happiness. 384 For Mcnaught's story only. I can't begin to express my disappointment at what a cope out Nicholas's story was. It not even a novella. It felt like Judith wrote it the night before her submission deadline. What a waste of true potential for Nick and Julianna who also deserved a better book than this. 384 My rating and review refer only to Judith McNaught’s novella Miracles.
Nicholas DuVille is an important character in the Westmoreland Series and I was curious to read his story.
For a novella, the characters were well developed and the story was interesting with the right dose of angst.
After loosing Whitney to the Duke of Claymore and kind of loosing Sheridan to Stephen Westmoreland, our hero Nicholas is “living la vida loca” until he confuses a drunk young lady for a courtesan and ends up in a forced marriage.
Nothing very original, but well written and a pleasure to read. 384
This review is based solely on Judith McNaught's story, Miracles, in this anthology.
I have to say, I'm rather disappointed. I really think Nicki deserved a much better story than this. It was short, of course, but I've read short stories with excellent storyline and character relationships. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of them.
He played such an important role in Whitney, My Love and Until You that what he was given in Miracles just seemed... insulting. He deserved a full length novel with a true happily ever after worthy of Ms. McNaught's characters and it broke my heart that he didn't get it.
384
Free read A Holiday of Love
When the weather outside is frightful, what better way to warm up than with four magnificent new tales of love and adventure from your favorite romance authors? Slip into a bubble bath or curl up in front of a roaring fire—and let Jude Deveraux. Judith McNaught, Arnette Lamb & Jill Barnett whisk you away... to New York in the late 1800s, where a beautiful but clumsy angel turns a lonely man's life around... to medieval Scotland, where intrigues surrounding a Christmas Mass imperil two Highland lovers... to Regency London, where a world-weary lord receives an outrageous proposal... to modern-day Colorado, where a daring and clever twelve-year-old plays matchmaker for his bighearted, impractical mother... to a world where love always reigns supreme! A Holiday of Love