Paradise (The Paradise Series Book 1)

"Either give me your hand," he said, "or end it now, and put us both out of our misery."FINAL DECISION: Fabulous story with characters that I have remembered for almost three decades with a story that covers over a decade heartbreak, betrayal and transformative love.THE STORY: Matthew Farrell is seen as a playboy corporate raider. A self-made man, Matt built his fortune always remembering the rich, spoiled girl he was briefly married to before they were torn apart. Now eleven years after their brief marriage, Matt and Meredith Bancroft are again in the same place. Meredith is no longer the eighteen year old girl Matt knew and she is on the precipice of finally heading her family's department store empire. Eleven years hasn't diminished the intense feelings between Matt and Meredith. Betrayal, heartbreak, fury, passion still swirl around the couple. Both have moved on in their lives but neither can forget all that was between them when they are face to face.OPINION: This book reminds me of how there are only a few books that really are memorable. I might enjoy a book for a while, but this book I remember after years. I don't think I've read this book 25 years, but I remember how much I loved these characters and their story. This book is my second favorite Judith McNaught book (surpassed only by PERFECT, the second book in this series).Matt and Meredith's story has a familiar story line. Two young people marry and then forces tear them apart. They meet again and all those second chance feelings: love, passion, fear, anger threaten any chance of a reconciliation. This is an epic book, it follows the two for fifteen years. The book takes a while to develop these characters, their situation, and their passion for one another, but by the time it ends, I was completely and utterly invested in their story.Despite some dated references (especially to the cost of items), the relationship feels modern and fresh. Indeed, Meredith's desire to run her family business and Matt's unwavering support of her feels more relevant than ever.Filled with regrets and mistakes and an intense desire to finally get things right touched my heart more now than when I was a young 20 year old reading this book for the first time.WORTH MENTIONING: Two things in this book really transported me back to the first time I read it in the early 1990s. First, no cell phones so there are lots of plot points about not being able to contact people. Second, lots of mentions of how much things cost which is so late 1980s.CONNECTED BOOKS: PARADISE is the first book in the loosely connected Second Opportunities series.STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

This is a five star romance from beginning to end--no weak places anywhere. I prefer historicals but after reading some of McNaughts and loving them I decided to try this contemporary. I did not think I'd like the modern setting but I did. This is the story of a young wealthy heiress to a department store chain based in Chicago and the son of a poor family who has brains and a willingness to fight hard for the ultimate success he wants so badly. On one July 4th, they meet and find passion and young love unexpectedly. Though neither is really ready for it, they are forced to marry only to be separated by circumstances and deep hurt that keeps them apart for 11 years. By that time, he is at the head of a corporate empire and she is the interim President of her family's flagship store. And both are wounded souls that have nothing but disdain for each other, believing each has betrayed the other. Ah, but true love will conquer all--and in a tale well told, it does. I loved Matt Farrell, a hero to die for. He is handsome and rugged and never waivers in either his love for Meredith or his willingness to fight for what he wants--including her. I liked Meredith's courage and her willingness to "go on" despite what life has thrown at her to make something of her life. And I loved her softer side that added compassion to a successful businesswoman's strength. The fact that she looked like a "young Grace Kelly" didn't hurt either.This story has great depth, wonderful characters, meaningful scenes and natural intriguing action. It made me both laugh and cry. I have read and reviewed many of Judith McNaught's books (see my other reviews) and this one is well deserving of the 5 star rating I'm giving it. It is definitely a keeper, one to be re-read and enjoyed again and again--a truly excellent romance. I did not want it to end. You will not be disappointed! Judith McNaught, this is superb writing!Here's the whole Paradise Series--the rest are excellent, too: 1. Paradise (1991) 2. Perfect (1993) 3. Night Whispers (1998) 4. Someone to Watch Over Me (2003) 5. Every Breath You Take (2005) 6. Someone Like You (formerly entitled: Can't Take My Eyes Off of You) (coming in 2014)

O livro é bom. Gosto muito da autora.Porém chegou bem avariado, como todas minhas últimas compras internacionais de livros pela amazon. Os usados estão chegando em melhor estado.

As an introduction to this series, I loved this book. However, I have to say that PERFECT is my favorite. Have read it multiple times.

As always a well written enjoyable story by this author.

One of my favorite titles. I had read this book long back ,borrowed from someone. Felt like re reading it so ordered it. The only issue i have is why mc naught books are not available on Kindle. All her books are amazing. To me its like revisting an okd friend. Ended up ordering and rereading most of the titles which i had read in my teens again.

What a keeper and an unforgettable epic story, a book to remember! I got this as a present, wouldn't have chosen it for myself I think, plus I had never read this author before-well.... I'm so glad I was given this and I went ahead and dove in it, how surprisingly pleasant this read was!!!The plot was surprisingly captivating, the build-up crafted majestically and it kept me on edge. This book has humor, steam, mystery, angst..... My emotions were all over the place. I believe that Judith McNaught needs recognition cause she really worked hard in weaving an interesting and detailed storyline with complex characters. She really went deep into their backgrounds in a way that makes you really feel like you know them. This book has been around for a while so I'll spare the synopsis. I truly enjoyed every second of the interactions between Matthew and Meredith.  Their love story was gripping and I was totally invested all along its 700 pages, as a matter of fact, and I couldn't stop reading and my head filled with anticipation whenever I had no option but to stop reading cause life happens :). Now that I finished this masterpiece, I have a book hangover. I adore Matt. I loved him from the start. Matt, the super hot, confident, strong-willed, self-made, hard-working, fierce, and loyal man that knows exactly what he wants and gets it.  The way this man LOVES this woman... His LOYALTY and DEVOTION to her.  He's really the best, he took my breath away. Meredith was strong, kind, resolute, sometimes she got on my nerves with her capacity to forgive the unforgivable- read father- but it was truly wonderful seeing how she and Matt kept loving each other through time. All his formidable plan to get her back was super exciting, I enjoyed each one of their encounters and I loved seeing how Matt wouldn't give up and Meredith started surrendering. The story was so emotional, charming, dramatic, and suspenseful too. Some parts were hilarious, their barter made me snort quite a few times. The characters were so well fleshed out, I felt every painful nuance and every emotion like it was coming off the pages. I loved Matt and Meredith together and finally, finally, finally, could watch them get their HEA... Gosh, it was epic.I must confess though that I felt the end was a little cut short compared to the rest of the book. And it completely INFURIATED me the father-daughter relationship and that everything the main characters endured was the result of a misunderstanding, miscommunication, and manipulation. I didn't care that much for all that business talk- and there's quite a bit, let's be honest too intricate, too expensive and kind of tedious- but oh well, the rest was so magnificent that it didn't take away from me loving this book and giving it 5 stars.