Mo's Reviews > Paradise
Paradise (Paradise, #1)
by
by
As good, if not better the second (or maybe it is the third) time around. #Ilovemattfarrell.
Yes, this book had it all. It was epic. Won’t say too much about it and won’t give too many quotes as it just needs to be read and felt…. This is my first contemporary by Ms McNaught. I have read her Historicals and they have been solid, five stars for me. This book was written nearly 25 years ago. Does it seem dated? A little bit, the fact that there are no mobile phones, some of the descriptions of the dresses etc. But it does not take away from the fantastic writing and characters in the book.
Loved the two main characters, Matt and Meredith.
Matthew Farrell, the farmboy, from Indiana, with his Irish roots …
Meredith Bancroft, the Princess, living in the mansion, attending the Country Club…
They meet, the attraction is instant. But theirs is not a straightforward Happily Ever After.
It is set in Chicago, actually the last few books I have read have been set in Chicago, is this an omen that I must return to visit this wonderful city!
This is their story, it spans about 12 years, from when she is 18 until she turns 30. It is a long book but well worth it. I would highly recommend it.
EXQUISITE
TORMENTING
MAGIC
Yes, this book had it all. It was epic. Won’t say too much about it and won’t give too many quotes as it just needs to be read and felt…. This is my first contemporary by Ms McNaught. I have read her Historicals and they have been solid, five stars for me. This book was written nearly 25 years ago. Does it seem dated? A little bit, the fact that there are no mobile phones, some of the descriptions of the dresses etc. But it does not take away from the fantastic writing and characters in the book.
Loved the two main characters, Matt and Meredith.
Matthew Farrell, the farmboy, from Indiana, with his Irish roots …
Meredith Bancroft, the Princess, living in the mansion, attending the Country Club…
They meet, the attraction is instant. But theirs is not a straightforward Happily Ever After.
It is set in Chicago, actually the last few books I have read have been set in Chicago, is this an omen that I must return to visit this wonderful city!
This is their story, it spans about 12 years, from when she is 18 until she turns 30. It is a long book but well worth it. I would highly recommend it.
I have the strangest – the uneasiest – feeling,” she admitted, lifting her head and looking at him with unguarded candor, “that something is happening, or going to happen, and it’s terrible. Whatever it is, it’s terrible.”
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Quotes Mo Liked
“If you'll kiss me back," he whispered huskily, brushing his lips along the curve of her jaw, "I'll make it six
million. If you'll go to bed with me tonight," he continued, losing himself in the scent of her perfume and the softness of her skin, "I'll give you the world. But if you'll move in with me," he continued, dragging his mouth across her cheek to the corner of her lips, "I'll do much better than that."
Unable to turn her face farther because his arm was in the way, and unable to turn her body because his body was in the way, Meredith tried to infuse disdain in her voice and simultaneously ignore the arousing touch of his tongue against her ear. "Six million dollars and the whole world!" she said in a slightly shaky voice. "What else could you possibly give me if I move in with you?" "Paradise." Lifting his head, Matt took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced her to meet
his gaze. In an aching, solemn voice he said, "I'll give you paradise on a gold platter. Anything you want— everything you want. I come with it, of course. It's a package deal." Meredith wallowed audibly, mesmerized by the melting look in his silver eyes and the rich timbre of his deep voice. "We'll be a family," he continued, describing the paradise he was offering while he bent his head to her again. "We'll have children ... I'd like six," he teased, his lips against her temple. "But I'll settle for one. You don't have to decide now." She drew in a ragged breath and Matt decided he'd pushed matters as far as he dared for one night. Straightening abruptly, he chucked her under her chin. "Think about it," he suggested with a grin.”
― Paradise
million. If you'll go to bed with me tonight," he continued, losing himself in the scent of her perfume and the softness of her skin, "I'll give you the world. But if you'll move in with me," he continued, dragging his mouth across her cheek to the corner of her lips, "I'll do much better than that."
Unable to turn her face farther because his arm was in the way, and unable to turn her body because his body was in the way, Meredith tried to infuse disdain in her voice and simultaneously ignore the arousing touch of his tongue against her ear. "Six million dollars and the whole world!" she said in a slightly shaky voice. "What else could you possibly give me if I move in with you?" "Paradise." Lifting his head, Matt took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced her to meet
his gaze. In an aching, solemn voice he said, "I'll give you paradise on a gold platter. Anything you want— everything you want. I come with it, of course. It's a package deal." Meredith wallowed audibly, mesmerized by the melting look in his silver eyes and the rich timbre of his deep voice. "We'll be a family," he continued, describing the paradise he was offering while he bent his head to her again. "We'll have children ... I'd like six," he teased, his lips against her temple. "But I'll settle for one. You don't have to decide now." She drew in a ragged breath and Matt decided he'd pushed matters as far as he dared for one night. Straightening abruptly, he chucked her under her chin. "Think about it," he suggested with a grin.”
― Paradise
“Don't do this to us." He warned, his voice hoarse with angry desperation as he realize he was losing her. "You're letting eleven years of mistrust color everything you've discovered I've done".”
― Paradise
― Paradise
“I'm thinking that it will be autumn soon," she said, lifting her gaze to his. "Autumn is my absolute favorite season. Spring is overrated. It's soggy and the trees are still bare from winter. Winter drags on and on, and summer is nice, but it's all the same. Autumn is different. I mean, is there any perfume in the world that can compare with the smell of burning leaves?" she asked with an engaging smile. Matt thought she smelled a hell of a lot better than burning leaves, but he let her continue. "Autumn —is thexincgitsinagre
changing. It's like dusk." "Dusk?"
"Dusk is my favorite time of day, for the same reason. When I was young, I used to walk down our driveway at dusk in the summer and stand at the fence, watching all the cars going by with their headlights on. Everyone had a place to go, something to do. The night was just beginning ..." She trailed off in embarrassment. "That must sound incredibly silly."
"It sounds incredibly lonely.”
― Paradise
changing. It's like dusk." "Dusk?"
"Dusk is my favorite time of day, for the same reason. When I was young, I used to walk down our driveway at dusk in the summer and stand at the fence, watching all the cars going by with their headlights on. Everyone had a place to go, something to do. The night was just beginning ..." She trailed off in embarrassment. "That must sound incredibly silly."
"It sounds incredibly lonely.”
― Paradise
“You can't live your life to suit other people. The harder you try, the more restrictions they'll put on you just for the fun of seeing you jump through their hoops.”
― Paradise
― Paradise
“Some people feel love in their hearts, Julie. Some of us feel it all way into our souls. We're the ones who can't forget.”
― Paradise
― Paradise
Reading Progress
July 19, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
July 19, 2013
– Shelved
January 9, 2014
–
Started Reading
January 11, 2014
–
0.0%
"Sometimes the older books just hit the mark where some of the new authors leave me cold .... no sex, I don't care, no tying up, I don't care, no whipping, I don't care.... just a good solid storyline!
"
"
January 11, 2014
–
0.0%
"Someone is going to have a lot to answer for when this stuff comes out of the woodwork ....
"
"
January 11, 2014
–
0.0%
"In the reflected light from the snow covered fields and the moon overhead, the barren trees in the yard were eerie, distorted versions of what they had been that long ago summer ... and Meredith felt a shiver of foreboding ....
"
"
January 11, 2014
–
0.0%
"“Miss Stern?”
Teasingly, Matt asked, “Do you have a first name?”
“Certainly,” she replied, her eyes narrowing.
“May I use it?”
“Of course. Although, I don’t think Eleanor suits you quite as well as Matthew.”
Teasingly, Matt asked, “Do you have a first name?”
“Certainly,” she replied, her eyes narrowing.
“May I use it?”
“Of course. Although, I don’t think Eleanor suits you quite as well as Matthew.”
LOVE IT"
January 12, 2014
–
Finished Reading
February 7, 2020
– Shelved as:
favourite-ever
Comments Showing 1-50 of 106 (106 new)
Soraya Naomi wrote: "This one is filled with angst?? I love angst.
Great review, M"
Yeah, there was angst, maybe not enough to satisfy you......
Thanks.
Great review, M"
Yeah, there was angst, maybe not enough to satisfy you......
Thanks.
Great review, Mo!! And yes, I would say that is a definite sign that you need to come to Chicago, preferably in May!! LOL!
Crystal~just another BIG book addict~ wrote: "Great review, Mo!! And yes, I would say that is a definite sign that you need to come to Chicago, preferably in May!! LOL!"
Thanks Crystal!!! May would be good, not TOO hot!!
Thanks Crystal!!! May would be good, not TOO hot!!
Mo wrote: "Crystal~just another BIG book addict~ wrote: "Great review, Mo!! And yes, I would say that is a definite sign that you need to come to Chicago, preferably in May!! LOL!"
Thanks Crystal!!! May wou..."
I'm sure we could find plenty to do to occupy our time!!
Thanks Crystal!!! May wou..."
I'm sure we could find plenty to do to occupy our time!!
Wendy'sThoughts wrote: "Woman.....u read so fast.....700 pages just like that...wow. ..real review"
4 days, Wendy..... not that fast!!
4 days, Wendy..... not that fast!!
great review Mo!
I'm thinking of going through my attic to dig out all my Judith McNaught books LOL!!
I'm thinking of going through my attic to dig out all my Judith McNaught books LOL!!
Gloria wrote: "great review Mo!
I'm thinking of going through my attic to dig out all my Judith McNaught books LOL!!"
... or maybe not!! If you loved it back in the day, it might seem a bit old fashioned now. Thanks.
I'm thinking of going through my attic to dig out all my Judith McNaught books LOL!!"
... or maybe not!! If you loved it back in the day, it might seem a bit old fashioned now. Thanks.
Awesome review Mo I haven't read Judith McNaught in quite a while, but she's always been a hit for me. Just added to my tbr.
Allison *Will never conquer her TBR shelf* wrote: "Great review Mo. Give up on Raw?"
Thanks Allison. I read another few pages again earlier and I just don't think it is going to work for me. I might finish it at some stage but if I am NOT loving a book I don't want to waste time on it especially as there are loads of other books out there that I will enjoy more....
Thanks Allison. I read another few pages again earlier and I just don't think it is going to work for me. I might finish it at some stage but if I am NOT loving a book I don't want to waste time on it especially as there are loads of other books out there that I will enjoy more....
Angie **loves angst** wrote: "Awesome review Mo I haven't read Judith McNaught in quite a while, but she's always been a hit for me. Just added to my tbr."
Thanks Angie, have loved some of her Historicals so this was a nice change.
Thanks Angie, have loved some of her Historicals so this was a nice change.
Debra wrote: "Wonderful review, Mo! :-)"
Thanks Debra. You were hardly born when this one was released I would say!!
Thanks Debra. You were hardly born when this one was released I would say!!
Fab review Mo!! I need to read more McNaught. I've only read the Westmoreland series but two went right to my all time faves shelf!!
Duchess Nicole wrote: "Fab review Mo!! I need to read more McNaught. I've only read the Westmoreland series but two went right to my all time faves shelf!!"
Thanks Nicole, yeah, it seemed a bit dated but still I enjoyed it very much.... Westmoreland series, sigh!!
Thanks Nicole, yeah, it seemed a bit dated but still I enjoyed it very much.... Westmoreland series, sigh!!
Great review, Mo. I always feel weird when I read books like this, contemporary romance but written over two decades ago. We are always rushing to read that book that should be published next year and we forget that there are a lot of really good older novels.
Glass wrote: "Great review, Mo. I always feel weird when I read books like this, contemporary romance but written over two decades ago. We are always rushing to read that book that should be published next year ..."
I could not agree with you more, Glass. Some of the best books I have read recently have been books published over 20 years ago....Linda Howard comes to mind.
I could not agree with you more, Glass. Some of the best books I have read recently have been books published over 20 years ago....Linda Howard comes to mind.
Myrna wrote: "i'm so happy u enjoyed paradise. all has been and will be my favorite:-)"
Thanks Myrna.
Thanks Myrna.
Lkay ❇✾The one-click buy button addict❇✾ wrote: "Great review, Mo. Don't think I've read anything by this author yet. Need to look her up"
Thank You Lkay!!
Thank You Lkay!!
Great review, Mo! One day I will go to Chicago too, hopefully!! Is that Chad up there?? He looks very lovely!! xxx
Jxxx ♥ Pink Lady ♥ wrote: "Great review, Mo! One day I will go to Chicago too, hopefully!! Is that Chad up there?? He looks very lovely!! xxx"
Yes, that is YOUR Chad. He does look lovely, thanks.
Yes, that is YOUR Chad. He does look lovely, thanks.
Mo wrote: "Jxxx ♥ Pink Lady ♥ wrote: "Great review, Mo! One day I will go to Chicago too, hopefully!! Is that Chad up there?? He looks very lovely!! xxx"
Yes, that is YOUR Chad. He does look lovely, thanks."
Very, very lovely!!! x
Yes, that is YOUR Chad. He does look lovely, thanks."
Very, very lovely!!! x
Well, this was a first time for me but I understand what you mean!! Thanks.