Remember When [Hardcover]

Judith McNaught (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996

Both deciding they must marry for business reasons, Cole Harrison, a Texas billionaire, and Diana Foster, owner of "Beautiful Living" magazine, find unexpected passion.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Perhaps McNaught (Perfect, Pocket Bks., 1993) will provide a new spin on one of the romance genre's oldest and most tired plot devices: two identical twin sisters who use wit and guile to find love.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Perhaps one of the most widely recognized names in popular fiction, Judith McNaught is a treasure among her loyal romance audience. As always, this extraordinary author delivers with Remember When, a well-written, tender novel celebrating the power of love in gallant style reminiscent of days when chivalrous knights defended their kingdom and won the hearts of ladies fair. Set in present day Texas, this book features an irresistible plotline with sympathetic characters that quickly work their way straight to your heart. Though completely forbidden, Diana Foster has had a mad crush on Cole Harrison for as long as she can remember. Dashing and ruggedly handsome, Cole was, at one time, the lowly stablekeep for one of Diana's high society schoolmates while he paid his way through college. They'd spent hours talking and revealing their dreams for the future and Diana never had a doubt that Cole would one day accomplish everything he'd set out to do. Years later, Diana is CEO of her family's business which includes a popular home living magazine. She's poured every ounce of energy into the business and it has prospered beyond her wildest expectations. The only contact she's had with the object of her girlhood fantasies is an article she reads about him in Newsweek, naming him one of the richest, most eligible bachelors of the year. Cole Harrison has brilliantly spearheaded his nationally recognized electronics corporation into a billion dollar enterprise. On what she believes to be the worst night of her life, Diana has just learned of her fiancé's impromptu marriage in the Italian Riviera to a much younger woman by reading about it in a cheap drugstore tabloid. That evening, she is scheduled to model an expensive piece of jewelry at the social event of the year and doesn't dare cancel as it would only fan the flames of gossip that are already roaring out of control. In a graceful entrance, masquerading courage she doesn't feel, Diana feels the heat of curious stares and the sting of vicious innuendo that quickly circulates the ballroom. Seeking a brief escape from the inanity, she steps out onto a shadowed balcony to gather her nerve. In the next instant, she realizes that someone has followed her. As he draws closer, she recognizes Cole and feelings she'd thought long forgotten flood over her. Before she knows what is happening, he pulls her to himself for a tender kiss which she later discovers is for the benefit of a spying photographer. Cole has come to offer himself as her escort in order to help her save what little dignity she has left and Diana is most grateful of the gesture. Before evening's end, Cole submits an unconventional proposal that sounds more like a business arrangement than an offer of marriage. Yet, after too much champagne and the giddiness of being with him again, Diana agrees and leaves tomorrow in the hands of fate. She stands to lose everything to the tall, handsome man that has haunted her dreams - including her heart.Note - The critics weren't kind to her on this one, but I honestly don't see why. It was beautifully written with really likable characters. No loose ends, no predictable dialog, it was just an excellent read.Remember When is a fantastic read. Romantic fiction at its best! Cole Harrison will have you lovestruck: a truly spectacular leading man! An enchanting novel from the versatile pen of one of romance's favorite authors!Lori Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Atria; 1st edition (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671525700
• ISBN-13: 978-0671525705
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #812,407 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

35 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romance Novel with Depth condemned!, January 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Remember When (Mass Market Paperback)

Huh? Did I and the other reviewers read the same book? Did I miss an earlier edition that's really awful!

Because 'Remember When' is anything but.

The writing itself is, again, superb. Her prose and easy flow is what leads me back to Ms McNaught's name on the shelves again and again. But this novel is more than a simple pulp romance. It is so much more.

The long prologue detailing Cole & Diana's history is wonderful. Finally we get to see character exploration without sexual pressure. I applaud Ms McNaught's courage in devoting so much room to it - the publisher must've hated this bit! ;-) Ditto the dining room conversation that so many readers seem to find boring, ditto the pages devoted to Cal & Cole's touching relationship (previous reader who wanted more pages devoted to the hero... did you skip this bit?).

Some previous readers commented that 'Remember When' didn't have enough passion... ... no, it isn't passionate, but it is tender; ... it isn't passionate, but it is sweet; ... it isn't passionate, but it is subtle.

Some previous readers want to know when did the hero and the heroine started to fall in love - try not to skip the 1st 100 pages when she was 16 and he was the stable boy. That is when. Remember?

This novel is not the average romance. It has depth, it has subtlety, it has so much more.

PS/ and I definitely don't understand why people would prefer this novel to some perverse woman begging to be raped repeatedly in 'Whitney, My Love'.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Story of love lost and found again...41/2 stars!, November 10, 2001

By 

Tracy Talley "Book Addict" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remember When (Mass Market Paperback)

I love Judith McNaught and my favorite from her has to be "Kingdom of Dreams". "Remember When" is wonderful and full of life. A very reaistic look into the rich and somewhat famous world of business and corruption. Cole and Diana were very real and of course, McNaught makes her men breathtaking...

Diana Foster is a young teenager when she meets and falls in love with the stableboy named Cole Harrison, an older boy in college. He is everything she dreams of, handsome, sweet and smart. But one problem, he is not rich like her and he is definately not meek like her other male friends by any means.

Cole can't help but fall in love with the young woman, but realizes he is too old for her and keeps his distance. They share a friendship that spans years until a horrible lie forces him to leave with the clothes on his back.

Years go by and they never see each other, both are older and much wiser. Cole has become a multi-millionaire businessman and is known for his cold tactics on getting what he wants until he once again sees her...Diana. She has beome a beautiful, but strong businesswoman with her own comapany that she has built after losing everything years before. A scandal has erupted throwing the two lost loves together again; forcing them to make a bargain that they both think is wise at the time, but turns out heartwrenching.

Love cannot be bought and sold like shares in the stock market like Cole had thought. It is all consuming and hurtful. He learns this when he realizes his "deal" with her becomes more than just a business proposition. More scandal, more damaging then any other before erupts and he must make a choice, save Diana or save himself...can true love remember when???

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Lovin', January 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Remember When (Mass Market Paperback)

Remember When, compared to Judith McNaught's other novels, is not as exciting (it moves considerably more slowly in terms of the romance and passion), but neverthless it is a good read. (Aren't all of Ms. McNaught's novels?) The business talk is a bit tedious, and it is not as much of an emotional rollercoaster ride as her other novels. Remember When is simply a nice, sweet, tender, romantic story. Although Cole had a hard childhood, he is not as "disturbed" and "twisted" as Ms. McNaught's other heroes. Diana is a little too perfect to be believable, but she is an admirable and loveable heroine nonetheless. Remember When is a recommendable choice for someone who has been emotionally ripped to pieces by Whitney, My Love or Once and Always and is good if you just want some sweet lovin'.