Almost Heaven [Paperback]

Judith McNaught (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1990

This is a story of intrigue, scandal and a tempestuous romance, set in the elegant salons of London and the wild beauty of the Scottish highlands. Other work by the author includes "Whitney, My Love" and "Something Wonderful".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Well-developed main characters with a compelling mutual attraction give strength and charm to this romance set in 19th-century Great Britain. When orphaned Lady Elizabeth Cameron is discovered in the arms of Ian Thornton, said to be a gambler and blackguard, her reputation is destroyed. Elizabeth's half-brother shoots Ian in a duel and disappears, while she becomes an outcast. Finally her uncle decides to marry her off, dangling a generous dowry to entice former suitors to reinstate their offers. A bungling secretary erroneously accepts on behalf of scornful Ian, so, baggage and duenna in tow, Elizabeth lands at the door of Ian's hunting lodge. They eye each other warily, irritation and sheer bafflement vying with passion. McNaught is at her best with these two willful lovers; and fans should welcome the reappearance of Jordan and Alexandra Townsende (from bestseller Something Wonderful ) . Fastidious readers may be irked when McNaught's prose plummets into "the stormy splendor of the pagan kiss" or by an occasional anachronism.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Judith McNaught is the New York Times bestselling author who first soared to stardom with her stunning bestseller Whitney, My Love, and went on to win the hearts of millions of readers with Once and Always, Something Wonderful, A Kingdom of Dreams, Almost Heaven, Paradise, Perfect, Until You, Remember When, the #1 bestseller Night Whispers, Someone to Watch Over Me, and other novels. There are more than thirty million copies of her books in print. Judith McNaught lives in Houston.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 517 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671679155
• ISBN-13: 978-0671679156
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (226 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,716 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Judith McNaught is the New York Times bestselling author who first soared to stardom with her stunning bestseller Whitney, My Love, and went on to win the hearts of millions of readers with Once and Always, Something Wonderful, A Kingdom of Dreams, Almost Heaven, Paradise, Perfect, Until You, Remember When, the #1 bestseller Night Whispers, Someone to Watch Over Me, and other novels. There are more than thirty million copies of her books in print. Judith McNaught lives in Houston.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars awestruck!!, April 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Almost Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

At the age of 18, I have only read about 30 romance novels, most of which were only "so-so". From the moment I read "Once and Always" by JM, I was in complete and utter awe at her talent; I couldn't seem to get enough of her work! "Almost Heaven", however, is without a doubt my favorite one of them all. The characters are so lovable and seem so REAL, making it almost impossible to put the book down. (even at 2 in the morning on a work day :) Elizabeth is wonderfully witty and intelligent; who knew that this sweet, charming girl possessed such an uncanny knack for bargaining? Ian is definitely the man of my dreams. Yes, he was stubborn and extremely exasperating at times, but he said things to Elizabeth that made ME swoon! This book captivates you from the first page to the last; I love it so much, I'm in the process of reading it for the seventh time as we speak...so you can probably guess how highly I recommend it!!

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still my favorite romance of all time......, October 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Almost Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

It was years ago when I first read ALMOST HEAVEN, up until today no other book can rival it, with the exception of OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. Everytime I read AH, I always find something new, something that makes me understand the characters more and why they do the things they do. At one glance, ALMOST HEAVEN seems to be a Cinderella-typed of story. But, in fact, it's not. There is NO weak or wimpy heroine/hero here.(You must excuse my English)

Elizabeth Cameron, Countess of Havenhurst, makes her debut when she's 17, and meets Ian Thornton, an older and enigmatic man, a man of mysterious lineage, who has a black reputation. Durind a time period, where marriage is according to family wishes, where the important things are title and wealth and bloodline, and where the 'Ton' prefers to feed on gossips and scandals over the most sumptuos meals, our remarkable hero and heroine here fall in love with each other during a weekend party. Ian, not knowing she's a countess, asks her to marry him. But, Robert, Elizabeth's brother, barges in on them, calling Ian with foul names, saying that he's not fit to touch her. When Robert also tells him that Elizabeth is already engaged, Ian feels betrayed and thinks that she's only playing games with him or only to find someone else more exciting than her fiancee to warm her bed. Elizabeth also feels betrayed, thinking him to be fortune-hunter. Her reputation is also ruined when she's seen alone with him by the 'ton'.

They meet again 2 years later, and the attraction is still there between these two proud people. Then Ian finally knows the truth about Elizabeth, and he concocts a plan to force the society to accept her again. BUT, after all this, the two of them don't just just live happily ever after. There is more. They have to fight other obstacles, and these obstacles are not just something to spice up the story, unlike in other books. There is something hidden behind all that obstacles. Read the story and try to find it ^_^.

Ian and Elizabeth are two characters so admirable and 3-dimensional, and they both leap out of the pages of the book. So real are they, that I can't help but want to know more about them, their childhoods, their lives before they meet each other and more. Ian Thornton is not your traditional hero, he's strong, dynamic, challenging, compassionate, complex etc. While Elizabeth Cameron is definitely Ian's match. I love her integrity and compassion etc. She's both serene and spunky, and she's never the annoying, bratty (is that a correct word?), ultra-fiesty or fiesty-at-the-wrong-time type of heroine, who frequents many romance novels (I think), which I sometimes find very boring and unreal.

ALMOST HEAVEN is McNaught at her absolute best, and it just doesn't get any better than this (or Ian Thornton...'G'). Oh, I really wish JM will get back to writing historicals.

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Heaven..., March 14, 2002

By 

Beatrice "Bea Bea" (Hollywood, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Heaven (Mass Market Paperback)

This romance novel is well-written and solid. The story has a nice pace and the plot draws you in. Moreover, the characters are so loveable. Elizabeth is enchanting, strong, intelligent and beautiful, and Ian is the perfect man for her. He is practically a genius, charming, gorgeous, and protective.

The ending of a novel is the most vital part of a book and "Almost Heaven" doesn't leave any questions unanswered. The ending is so strong and leaves you with a sweet closure that makes the characters stay with you and makes you want to revisit them often.

If the author ever reads this review I would like to say thank you for an amazing story and breathtaking characters that came to life and seemed so very real. You have a wonderful talent and I look forward to reading more of your work.