McNaughty but nice

For someone who has been promising to write this post for ages now and going on about the author like I have, I thought this would be easy to write. I was wrong. In my head, I had all these grand plans and fabulous things to say but I can't seem to get them out. Bear with me here and I will try my best to make a semblance of sense.

I think one of my problems was wondering where and how to start but then I realised, before anything, I needed to mention something that remains an all-encompassing part of my life: for the last two years I have been unwell. Very unwell. Bad enough to be limited by what I can and can't do and not be able to leave the house much and only then, for short bursts to the library across the road. I feel lucky to say that I will get better but it's a very slow process and all I am left with for now is time. I feel incredibly lucky as well that my mother has looked after and supported her twenty-something daughter through it all.

Apologies for already going on too long, I'll get to the point:

It all began back in late 2013 when I was in the early stages of my illness and remarked to one of my very close friends (let's call her C) that a particular character was very attractive in a book. She said something along the lines of 'You think HE is attractive, have you ever heard of Judith McNaught?'

'No,' I told her.

The copies of Whitney My Love and Almost Heaven that
 my friend sent me. Before reading them, I judged
 both books by their covers.

She then went on to explain that Judith McNaught was a romance novelist and instantly, I told myself that this author wouldn't be my cup of tea (I thought I wasn't a romance novel person due to the fact I had never read one - faulty logic at it's best).  I said to C I would look into her books and forgot about the conversation we had for a while ... and then I got post. C sent me beaten up copies of two of McNaught's historical romances, Whitney My Love and Almost Heaven. Again, I took one look at the covers and decided they were not for me. As far as covers go, they are pretty uninspiring and everything I imagined romance novels to look like so I left reading them for a while until one Sunday night, with nothing to do, I decided to pick up Whitney My Love, just out of curiosity, and only read a few pages...

I can honestly say I have never been sucked into a book so fast, ever.

I loved it instantly. I carried the book around with me, turning the pages faster than I could read them, desperate to know what would happen next. From start to finish it was perfect. After that, and left with an almighty book hangover, I swiftly moved onto the other book my friend had sent me, Almost Heaven thinking This CAN'T be as good as Whitney ... I was mistaken. I adored it. Both books had two of the most compelling stories (love or otherwise) I had ever read. Epic romances with engaging, strong and witty characters.

How sweet is my friend?
A package she sent me containing
CHOCOLATE
AND
Until You and Once and Always

After finishing both books, I went borderline insane down the phone to C and a few months later, she surprised me with another package containing two more of Judith McNaught's historical romances, Something Wonderful and A Kingdom of Dreams (shock horror, I loved them too).  Last Easter, C sent me Judith's last two historical romances, Until You and Once and Always and after devouring and (surprise surprise) loving them, I quickly moved onto her modern romances.

Yes, I loved them too.

My Judith McNaught collection (yes, I do
 have 2 copies of Whitney My Love)

Judith McNaught has the ability to create such immersive stories that have somehow got me through two of the hardest years of my life both emotionally and physically - taking me to another place, allowing me to escape when I was in pain. Her characters feel real, you root for the leads and fall in love with the others too (my favourite character of all-time from any book is called Lucinda Throckmorton-Jones from Almost Heaven; with her umbrella in hand, her occasional appearances made me laugh more than I ever have). The settings are rich in detail, the books are smart and funny and the love stories aren't sickly or corny. I am not very familiar with the romance genre as a whole (only reading a few C has recommended) but just talking about Judith McNaught, it's a shame that a lot of people who think they don't like romance novels will miss out on her work just because she is labelled in that category.

I have so many favourites of her books that it would be silly for me to list them but I would suggest to anyone who has never read her work to start with maybe Paradise (if you are more into modern tales) or Almost Heaven (for a regency/historical setting).

If by some crazy fluke Judith McNaught is reading this post I would like to say thank you, because you have helped a girl get though one of the hardest times of her life.

Until next time.

*Psst!  This weekend my short story CIRCLE is FREE on Amazon.  Click here (UK Link) or here (US Link) or visit any other Amazons around the world to download it NOW!