Customer Reviews

Untitled '1'

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(45)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(21)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

I've been a big fan of Judith McNaught since her first book, Whitney, My Love, and impatiently look forward to reading anything she writes. This book was worth the wait. While there may be a few minor stretches when it comes to the plot, this is a very well-written and suspenseful book.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**
Personally, I don't find it that extraordinary, as some reviewers do, that a widow who had incontrovertible proof that her deceased husband was a louse would immediately fall for someone who had adored her for years and was everything she thought the louse was but wasn't. However much Leigh may have loved Logan, she knew he had betrayed her in the past, and while she may have chosen to stay with him, relationships are never quite the same after a partner strays. And the reader was given further clues about their lack of intimacy and how Leigh was the person doing all of the maintenance in the relationship. So all of the sudden, Leigh realizes that the person she was in love with didn't exist, and while she may grieve for her lost ideal, it wasn't real. Faced with that realization, love can vanish in an instant.

So enter Michael Valente, one of McNaught's best heroes to date. In fact, while there are a great many things to like about McNaught's writing, I find her compelling male characters to be her best strength. She has the ability to capture what most women want in a man -- strong without being a bully, tender without being a wimp, and reliable without being a bore. In short, a real, fascinating man who is capable of completely loving and appreciating a strong, successful woman without trying to control her. Sigh.

Add to this the excellent, vibrant, and well-developed secondary characters (the romance between the detectives was also quite good, and even the least-mentioned characters come alive) and the frequently humorous interplay between them, and you have a fine book. Yes, it takes a while to develop, and you don't know exactly where it's going in the beginning, but that's part of the enjoyment.

In short, great read, and highly recommended!

This book was (for me) nothing short of superb. I loved the characters and felt they were marvelously developed and incredibly believable. The secondary characters (highly important in my opinion) were terrific and added so much to this book. We were also treated to some secondary characters from previous books which is a considerable bonus to me.

The mystery kept me on the edge of my seat and I literally screamed out loud more than once. One friend I spoke with said she was "standing up pacing the floor as she read" because she was so extremely anxious. Any novel that can evoke that kind of response is to be venerated.

I laughed and cried, sometimes almost simultaneously, and was happily and on occasion frantically carried through the web of intrigue, cliffhangers, uncertainty, intoxication and rapture that I am sure this author wished for her readers.

The plot was an intricate weaving of captivating suspense and electrifying relationships combined to keep you on a roller-coaster ride until the last fulfilling, climactic moment.

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Although it is a slight departure from her previous work, I think Judith McNaught hit it "out of the park" with Someone To Watch Over Me. You will not be disappointed.

Run, do not walk, to buy this book!!

Judith McNaught is a classic romance writer. When I first started reading romance years ago, I read almost every one of her books. She wrote both contemporary and historical novels in the 80's and 90's and I have many favourites: Perfect, Kingdom of Dreams and Almost Heaven.. But her latest books like Night Whispers and Remember When have seemed stilted, awkward and unexciting. Well, I'm happy to report that Judith's "got her groove back" in Someone to Watch over Me. This book is an excellent page turner, full of warm, complex, wonderful characters and we get not just ONE love story but TWO! The plot has been explained by other reviewers so I won't repeat it. Just let it be said that I disagree with many of their opinions regarding the characters. First of all, I rate this book as highly as Perfect and Paradise, older McNaught novels where characterization was everything and romance permeated every page. One reviewer feels the heroine Leigh is "lacking in emotional maturity" - I found her to be warm, fragile and very sweet. Michael, her Knight in Shining Armour, is every romance reader's dream: a protective, helpful Bad Boy - cold on the outside but unbelievably caring towards his true love. The Sam and Mach story was very nicely done. Sam was amazing: smart as a whip, gorgeous but still vulnerable whereas Lieutenant Mitchell McCord was scarred, rugged and ever so capable. Both heroes and heroines have all the traits we expect as romance readers. McNaught's book did NOT disappoint. Bravo, Judith, we await more high quality books such as this one with great anticipation!

I am a huge Judith McNaught fan. I have loved her romance novels ever since I found one in a box in my grandmother's bedroom. Now that you know that I am not biased against the author, here is my review:

Judith McNaught seems to be confused about what kind of book she wanted to write. At the beginning, it was pretty much a straight forward mystery/suspense novel. Then it seemed like she got sick of writing that and went back to her romance novel roots. Even during the beginning of the novel, I felt like I was just waiting for the romantic hero to come in and save the day.

Also, there is the question of exactly who's story this is. The smart money is on Leigh Kendall since it is her name that appears on the back cover and Michael Valente. But it could just as easily be Samantha Littleton and Mitchell McCord (the policemen on the case) considering how much of the novel is devoted to their love story.

Now, I have read a ton of romance novels. I know that the type of language that is used to describe the sexual act can get a little, well, silly at times, but this line:

"Her body was his violin; he played her steadily until her moans became his song."

really takes the cake. I actually laughed out loud when I read that.

Here's a couple of things about the story that bothered me. (Now, please understand that when I am not enthralled with a book I have a tendency to skim so it may be that I just missed the answers to these two things.)

1. Throughout the book there are multiple references and even flashbacks about Leigh having a stalker. It was built up to the point that I thought the stalker would have something to do with her husband's murder. Then, nothing.

2. Leigh's husband owned a gun that Leigh had no previous knowledge of. It also appeared that the answer to why he had that gun would play a major role in why he was killed. We never find out why he had a gun.

For a mystery suspense novel, even one with a romantic bent to it, the ending played out less like an episode of "Law and Order" and more like an episode of "As The World Turns."

Fans of Judith McNaught waited a long time for this one! In the tradition of Sandra Brown, Julie Garwood and Catherine Coulter, McNaught, a best-selling romance author, is now also writing clear suspense. This is not her strongest book, though there is much here to enjoy. McNaught's talent for strong characters holds this one together during the opening pages when the plot is slow-turning.

Broadway actress Leigh Kendall planned on meeting her husband, Logan Manning, in a mountain cabin. However she gets lost, is hit by another car and is rescued near death. Her severe injuries do not keep her from trying to find her husband, though, as it soon becomes apparent that he is missing.

Logan has some secrets, but Leigh does too. A childhood acquaintance steps in to help her when she can trust no one else and an interesting relationship develops. Sadly, this friend is an Italian with a prison record and is rumored to have ties to the mob. While McNaught is possibly trying to show how unfair this stereotyping can be, it detracts from his characterization. Another character laboring under stereotypes is the gay Broadway director.

The minor characters are almost more likable than the major ones. McNaught fans will recognize Joe O'Hara, chauffeur/bodyguard to Matt and Meredith Farrell, running characters in her books. A sister of another favorite character also makes an appearance. Introduced here are Samantha Littleton and Mitchell McCord, detectives in the Manning case. Their interaction and sparring provide some of the most exciting moments in the book. Hopefully, they will return to solve new cases in McNaught's books.

The villain can be spotted by the middle of the book, which is where the action really takes off. A second tragedy is a surprise that helps keep the pages turning toward the conclusion, which provides satisfying endings for characters that the reader will grow to care about.

One note: the publication delays on this book were probably not spent on editing. A tighter plot with earlier sparks among characters will make future McNaught thrillers even more enjoyable.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

For any other romance writer this would have been a wonderful book, but for Judith McNaught it came up short for me. For the most part when I read McNaughts books I feel the emotional rollercoasters her character ride as the discover love and hope. Regardless of what else is going on in the story the love of two people is the heart of the book, and everything else is second to it. In Someone to Watch Over Me the focus was on the mystery, not emotional journey of the couple. I did not feel there what the characters were experiencing cognitively and emotional was coveyed well. Also, McNaught tried a new style of explaining a scene that had just occurred in a flashback fashion which did not work for me. I felt like I had missed out on the details and was given a biased point of view rather than being allowed to create my own reaction. Typically I feel very emotionally invested while reading her books, yet with this one I felt very distant. I especially felt cheated on having insight into Michael for most of the book. Like I said previously, for any other romance writer the book would have been great, but for McNaught it just did not live up to my expectations nor the long wait for the release.

Someone to Watch Over Me is undoubtedly one of the best among Judith's novels - and a highlight for me as a fan of more than 12 years.. Leigh Kendall is a heroine who will remind you of other "innately good" female JM characters - think Elizabeth Cameron and Meredith Bancroft. It's much more of a traditional mystery than some other novels by JM we've read, which really surprised me... but she *is* Judith McNaught after all and she does NOT skimp on the romance. In fact, there are not one but two men in this book who you will definitely want to curl up with during this snowy winter we're having...
I have to say it was worth every day of the long wait - For those who have been a little disappointed in more recent JM efforts, such as Night Whispers and Remember When, because they were much shorter than some of her earlier works, don't worry - this one is a nice, long well-rounded yarn you won't want to put down. Enjoy it.

Judith McNaught is my all time favorite author. Maybe, because I love historical romance, that I feel the way I do about this book. No one and I mean no one can write a better historical romance then Judith McNaught. If this is the first book you have read by her, please, please, read her historicals (Whitney, Kingdom, Wonderful, all of them) When you read one of her books, you feel the intense emotion. You find yourself inside the skin of each character. You cry in sorrow, and joy. You laugh. There is always suspense but mostly you feel, really feel, what she is writing. She writes wonderful dialogue. You are taken away from your everyday to another place. In this book, you do not connect with the characters. The plot is the main focus, the characters are second. I love Judith McNaught. I crave a new historical novel by her. I thought this was to be a part historical when it was to be titled Water's Edge. I waited for this to be published. There are a few moments when you feel the characters emotions but not enough. I have read all of her books, both historical and contemporary. After reading all of her novels, I have been searching for another author, craving for her depth, emotion, humor, intrique. Please read all of her historicals, even if you're not into them. This is a different world now. I can see cop shows, movies, etc. any night of the week. I want to sit down, get away from the news/tv, go to another place. Her other books do exactly that. I wish I could have given her 5 stars. I love her books. Maybe it's just me. Not crazy about contemporary. And pains me "not" to be crazy about this book.

Judith McNaught is one of my favorite authors in the Romance genre and I waited a long time for this book to be published. I am disappointed. "Someone To Watch Over Me" is not a bad novel, but I am used to so much more from Ms. McNaught. Her principal characters are flat. She does not develop them well, and I had difficulty relating to them. The one character I did care about, Detective Samantha Littleton, plays a minor role here. McNaught's prose seems forced and the narrative doesn't flow as her work usually does.

Leigh Kendall is a talented Broadway star, married to Logan Manning, a renowned architect from an old, established New York family. They had married at a very young age and built their individual careers during their marriage. The two planned to construct a dream house, Logan's design, in the mountains near New York City. Late one snowy Sunday night, after a performance, Leigh drives upstate to meet Logan at their newly acquired property. She is forced off the road and fortunately escapes the accident with her life. When she regains consciousness in the hospital, she finds two NYC detectives ready to question her about the accident...and about her husband who has gone missing. And he remains missing. Leigh begins to discover many things she has never known about Logan's life, even though she believes that they had a very close and loving relationship. She senses that the police suspect she knows something about her husband's disappearance, when in reality her world has turned upside down. She feels frightened, alone and isolated. The people she has trusted for years become like strangers, as she uncovers more information about Logan's business and personal life. And a stranger is slowly becoming much more than a friend.

I will certainly not give-up on Judith McNaught because of one disappointing read. She has written numerous novels that I consider real keepers. I am a fan. I will just have to wait for her next effort. Try this one, if you can't resist. It does measure up to most of the romantic suspense novels out there. But you may be disappointed.
JANA

There was a long wait after Night Whispers for a new McNaught novel, but after reading this book, I find that it was worth waiting for. The main characters are so vividly written that they seem like people you know. This book will not be easy to put down, you get caught up in the story right away - a perfect blend of mystery, suspense and romance. My favorite character was Michael Valente, who isthe ultimate fairy tale prince charming.
It was great to finally have a romance book where there wasn't an overblown misunderstanding between the hero and heroine that tears them apart, so that the heroine has to swallow her pride and beg for forgivness.
It was also fabulous to revisit characters from previous novels... Courtney Maitland and Joe O'Hare.

Judith McNaught is one of the few authors who excels at writing both historical and modern day romances. Read this book, you'll really enjoy it.