Customer Reviews

Perfect

5 star:		(185)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've just finished this book, and I can't wait to share with all of you how GREAT this book is. If you haven't read Paradise yet, I think you better do before you start on this Perfect, so that you can know about the loving relationship between Zachary Benedict's best friend, Matt and his wife, Meredith. They were in the story too.

This story is perfectly easily to get into. Julie Mathison was an adopted child with a very unhappy childhood but after she was adopted into the Mathison's family, she blossomed under their love and care. Zach was borned with a silver spoon, or you can say a diamond spoon, in his mouth. But when he was 18 years old, he got thrown out of his house. Determined, he made himself a name in the show business. But when he was wrongly accused of murdering his wife, his success crumpled around him. He was locked away. Five years later, Zach planned an escape from the prison with some help from an inmate's connections. Zach's nicely plotted plan went all wrong until he met Julie. He thought up a scheme to make her offer him a ride. The ever-kind Julie believed in him. That was the start of what would be the one of the most overwhelming romance stories...

You will certainly be touched by Julie's undying devotion to Zach and Zach's love for Julie later. It's really touching, and funny too, in some parts.

I really love this book and I feel that this story is easier to get into than Paradise. But both books are really excellent beyond words can describe. A must-read for all romance readers!

I also feel that the parts on the "Literary. Pass It On." program in America is very meaningful. It has made me, and I'm sure other readers too, see the importance of literacy and how illiteracy has been a major problem in the lives of many illiterate people all over the world, not only illiterate women in America. I really admire how Judith McNaught make her readers aware of this. You really make a difference, Ms McNaught!

"Perfect" has to be one of the best books I've ever read, and I know this because I've read it so many times. It's the kind of book that you never tire of reading and re-reading. The characters are like old friends. It's a love story that survives out of the most stressful and dangerous of situations, but Julie and Zack still manage to capture our hearts.From childhoods that could'nt be more different - except for their shared unhappiness, Julie Matthews and Zachary Benedict have worked to create the 'perfect' lives for themselves, and we get lucky enought to tag along for the ride. And as an added bonus we get to catch up with Meredith and Matt from "Paradise". It's a testament to Ms. Mc Naught's ability to resume the lives of these two great characters and not manage to beat the story to death. They are still as fresh and interesting as they were in the first novel. Future readers beware! Be sure to read "Paradise" and then continue on with "Perfect". I promise you will not be sorry you did.They are both great summer-time "beach books" but don't wait to spread your towel on the sand . Grab them now and enjoy them. And then enjoy them again on your vacation!

I have read and enjoyed *all* of Judith McNaught's historical romances (my true passion), so I decided to try one of her contemporary romances for a change. "Perfect" is a great story--a real page-turner with a complex, dark and sexy hero.

Zachary Benedict, a gorgeous self-made man with a mysterious past, is a phenomenally successful Hollywood movie star and director until his adulterous actress wife is murdered on the set of the film he is directing and he is convicted of her murder and sent to prison for 43 years. He escapes from prison 5 years later (with the help of some *amazingly* lax prison security) and in his flight takes Julie Matheson, an innocent schoolteacher, as his hostage to a mountain hideaway in Colorado. Although Zach initially plots cynically to seduce Julie to bind her to him, he finds himself genuinely drawn to her warmth and spirit. Julie is appalled to find herself attracted to her captor and desperately tries to escape (well, at least initially...)

Zach is a great hero--strong but damaged by his past, sexy and gorgeous but remote, cynical but with the heart of a romantic. He is the engine that keeps the story running, in my opinion.

Julie is a pretty good heroine, but (in my opinion) the "goody-two-shoes" stuff is a bit overdone. Abandoned by her mother at birth, she is a rebellious and unwanted foster child prior to being adopted by the Mathesons when she was 11 years old. Overwhelmed by their love and trust, she vows to be worthy of it by being "perfect". And, boy oh boy!, is she ever *perfect*! A minister's daughter and teacher who works with handicapped kids, an adult literacy volunteer and activist, a 26 year old virgin who has actively avoided dating sexy men, Julie is *beloved* in her small Texas town. Unfortunately, all this perfection is a little bit cloying. I liked more the fact that she was genuinely a *kind* person--she gives Zach a ride initially because she feels sorry for him. As his captive, Julie intially tries to escape, then to gull Zach into complacency. There is a little too much adorable woman-child behavior by Julie for my taste, but Zach eats it right up. He is a *little* bit suspicious when she wants to build a snowman in subzero weather, but (gosh, darn it!) isn't she cute! Of course, three days with Zach and Julie's 26 years of virginity are down the drain (talk about the Stockholm syndrome!)

The plot is interesting and moves along well, although there is the "trademark" Judith McNaught *major hiccup* in trust between the main characters that is later brushed off and forgiven. Although this plot event introduces all sorts of tension and turmoil into the story--I have to say that I thought that it was out of character, had potentially disasterous results and was almost *unforgivable*. My other major complaint with the story was with all the Hollywood name-dropping. I found it annoying and out of character for Julie and especially Zach to be so star-struck.

This is a longish book (over 600 pages) but I finished it in one day. The story is entertaining and Zach is the kind of dark, driven, sexy and complex hero that I adore. I love to see the strong, cynical type brought to his knees by his love for a good woman!

Recommended!

I've read this book more than a few times already... but every time I read it, I am moved and fall in love all over again. I love Zack Benedict more and more and my heart goes out to Julie Mathison. These two are a perfect match. They may not be the most perfect characters but they are perfect for each other. Zack is an Academy Award winning actor and director who gets imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. When his escaped attempt goes wrong, he has no choice but to take a hostage to secure his escape. Little did Zack know that his beautiful hostage has a heart the size of Texas and change his life forever. Julie Mathison may seem like the ideal daughter and the perfect small town teacher but she has had to over come many obstacles... and has tried so hard to keep her perfect life just the way it is. It isn't until she meets her kidnapper, she finds what true love really is.

This is such a beautiful story. Perfect is full of wonderful writing and beautiful characters with lots of soul. And the intriguing secondary characters add much pizzazz to the story. The romantic scenes in the Colorado cabin are sizzling and the letter that Zack writes to Julie when he was in Latin America is just... indescribable. This books takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions... which I enjoy going on over and over again.

This is one of Judith's best works!

I passed over this book SOOO many times in the book store. I am so mad at myself because by now I could have re-read it a few times.

You would think that a person would be wacko to fall in love with her kidnapper right? Wrong. This book is so well written (big suprise huh?)that I was wishing I could be kidnapped by someone like him. The thing with JM's novels is that they are so deadgum believable! This book is no exception! The scene where the heroine leads the police to Zack is a 3 (kleenex) boxer. Do not pass this one up!

This has got to be one of the very best books I have ever read. I turly enjoy reading books by Judith McNaught. I had lumps in my throat througout the book. The misunderstandings nearly killed me but in the end all worked out. I especially enjoyed the last chapters. Most couples don't come together until the very end. The bickering ends and the story is over... I really enjoyed that this one had a few chapters of happiness, for them and me.

I must say, I enjoyed Perfect very, very, very, VERY much for the first, oh - third of it. When I started it I never wanted to put it down, but I did have to sleep at night and go to work the next day. HOWEVER - I agree with one other reviewer who loses interest in romance books the minute the hero & heroine "get together" and/or profess their love for one another early on, which happened by the first third of Perfect. Under the circumstances of this story's particular plotline, it was believeable, but I was just a little disappointed. I like for the characters to truly know one another before anything really romantic happens. Now, that issue aside, I also agree with more than one reviewer who commented about a few missing characters near the end of this novel - Dominic Sandini for one, and Paul Richardson for another. I have to admit, I didn't really miss either one, because I was so caught up with the dramatics in the last 100 or so pages, but yes, now that they remind me, they both should have been mentioned again. A resolution to Paul's character was sorely lacking (it's like no one cared that he was the one who actually played the biggest part in bringing Julie and Zack together in the end). Dominic needed to be mentioned simply because he was so important to Zack in prison. I mean, the man was his best friend for five long years, and helped him escape for crying out loud! But the one character whom none of these reviews have mentioned (since 2/2002 at least) is Julie's original boyfriend, Greg. Or was is Glen, or Doug? Heck, I can't even remember his name and I finished reading the book 45 minutes ago! Now, don't you find something a little strange about a storyline that doesn't even mention the man Julie was thinking about MARRYING when she was kidnapped by Zack? Come on, not a mention of this man after she returned home to the great relief of her entire family - the entire TOWN, actually! Even though he lived in another state at the time - not a phone call, not a breath of word from this boyfriend Greg (I had to consult the book for his actual name). Don't you assume he at least wondered how she was after being held hostage by a deranged killer for a couple of weeks? Hmmmm.... I am so shocked that none of the editors caught that nor any of the reviews I read mentioned him. One other thing I found a little disturbing: Julie was so ready to drop her entire life (the wonderful, fulfilling life her adoptive family had selflessy given her when she was 11 and which she had vowed to never take for granted) and flee off to be with Zack in some far-away, unknown location, knowing there was a good chance she would never see any of her friends or family ever again, after only THREE weeks of separation from Zack? I would have really believed it more if the timeline had been stretched out A LOT more, like say, 6 months or a year. Three weeks is just too soon, and in my opinion, Julie would have had to think about it a great deal more before deciding to just disappear from the face of the earth for this man! If it weren't for the glaring character omissions mentioned before, and the fact that yes, I too agree that Julie was a LITTLE bit over-the-top of a goody-two-shoes, this book would have been a lot closer to being "perfect"!

Judith McNaught released several of the most beautiful Regency romances I have ever read. Now that I've read them all (with the exception of her short story about French cutie Nicholas DuVille), I wondered if she could write good contemporary novels as well. I decided to give Perfect a whirl because I noticed all of the five-star reviews here. Even though McNaught is better at writing regencies, she nevertheless wrote a beautiful, unforgettable novel with Perfect. Oscar-winning actor and director Zachary Benedict has had a difficult life. His grandmother disowned him when he was eighteen, had to start from scratch in Los Angeles thereafter, becoming a famous actor-turned-director in the process, and his fellow movie-star wife cheats on him with one of their co-stars. When his wife is murdered on the set of his latest film, Zachary is convicted and sent to prison. Five years later, he escapes the Texas penitentiary and kidnaps Julie Mathison and has no choice but to turn her into his hostage, taking her to a secluded cabin in the Colorado mountains. This is something unprecedented for Julie. Once an illiterate, street-wise Annie-like orphan, she has done whatever possible to do the right thing and seem perfect in the eyes of the family who adopted her. However, the feelings that the temperamental, albeit sensual escaped convict bring in her could very well destroy everything she has worked hard for all her life. There are various twists throughout the novel.

This novel made me feel a lot of things. It was almost as emotionally driven as Something Wonderful, A Kingdom of Dreams, Once and Always and Whitney, My Love. I couldn't put this one down. Zachary is one attractive, compelling hero! He is just as hotheaded-bordering-on-being-a-total-jerk as all McNaught's heroes, but this time his attitude is justified. The development of his feelings for Julie is wonderful. The part in which he tries to prove to Julie that she means nothing to him is heartbreaking and made me hate him until I read about his remorse. Julie is a great heroine. She is spirited, loving and naïve if a bit annoying at times. She is too much of a goody-goody for my taste. You'd think she'd be proud of her past and all of the things that she accomplished after that, like overcoming her illiteracy and then teaching illiterate women how to read. I don't know why she is so adamant about being perfect all the time, especially when her family lets her know repeatedly that they love her unconditionally. The secondary characters are great, especially Ted, Katherine and Paul Richardson (I hope McNaught decides to make him a hero in his own novel). Matthew and Meredith also seem great and I look forward to reading Paradise, which came before this one. Julie's parents are annoying -- too perfect and sanctimonious for me. They read like parents in family sitcoms from the seventies and eighties. The story is wonderful though. As usual, McNaught does excellent story development and thorough characterization so that we know the protagonists and their childhood quite well. The writing style here is interesting. I guess the tycoons and celebrities in McNaught's contemporaries are the equivalent of a duke in one of her regencies. Sometimes the language of the novel sounds a little too outdated for a contemporary romance and that is why I feel that historicals are more of McNaught's forte. The one big thing that left me puzzled in the story was the fact that Julie's sort-of fiancé was never mentioned again after about halfway through the book. I know they were taking a break to see if they had feelings for each other, but there was never any closure between them. This has always bugged me about McNaught novels. She did the same thing with the Regency books. The heroes had mistresses and then all of a sudden said mistresses aren't mentioned again and you're left to assume that the hero had broken up with her. Ugh. Anyway, aside from those very small flaws and the fact that the ending is a little too sappy for me, Perfect is, well, perfect! It is a beautiful, emotionally moving novel -- a signature McNaught classic in the making. I cannot wait to read her other novels. I recommend you give this one and her Regency romances a whirl.

I do NOT like romance novels, I am NOT a movie fan, and I think Zack, Julie et al. have a few problems too many, and Ms MacNaught a few plot twists and name-droppings too much.

In fact, the whole thing reminds me of those reader's digests editions I see around whenever I go to the doctor's office.

I can logically see all its faults, I can logically see it's no great literature, BUT I like reading it and rereading it. Perhaps because it is a sweet (yes), warm book that leaves me with a happy feeling. I like reading about Julie (isn't there a bit of Cinderella in all of us), I like her little town, I like her wonderful family, and I like her sense of values.

And while I have a hard time forgiving Zack for the little "oh yes you want me" scene (if you've read it, you know what I mean), a girl could forget a lot for that freezing yourself to death stunt he pulled. Their love story is truly lovely.

It's a book that you can curl up and be comfortable with. And in the end, that's what counts.

I've never read anything by Judith McNaught before but this book was highly recommended so I decided to check it out of the library. The story grabbed me from the first chapter and I found myself staying up until the wee hours of the morning desperate to see what the characters would do next and yet dreading the end of the story.

Zack is a former movie star and convicted criminal who kidnaps small-town teacher Julie when his escape from prison goes awry. The two seemingly have nothing in common but you know it's just a matter of time before passion gets the best of them. They get together about a quarter of the way into the book and I wondered what could possibly be of interest to fill up the remaining three quarters. Boy, was I wrong! McNaught takes her time in unfolding the story, indulging the reader with fulfilling dialogue and detailed character exploration. This book has some of the most touching, romantic, heart wrenching scenes I've ever read. Zack and Julie are unforgettable characters that are sure to linger in my memory for a long time.

By the way, after finishing the book I promptly purchased my own copy (a first edition hard copy - it's THAT good!) so that I can read it again and again!