Once and Always Book

LOVED IT AGAIN, THE SECOND TIME AROUND




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ORIGINAL REVIEW, on first reading ...

"Loving someone who doesn't love you is hell! Don't ever let anyone convince you that you can be happy with someone who doesn't love you"
Words of wisdom from Papa!



Quick question before I do my review - Why, oh, why do a lot of you NOT read Historical Romance? You are missing out on such a great genre. I know some of you like your dark, gritty reads but you can do both. I like, SUSPENSE, M/M, ROMANTIC COMEDY - PLEASE, to those of you who have not tried Historicals, give it at least a shot. Blame me if you don't like them.

Whether he was riding a horse or dancing at a ball, Jason Fielding stood out among his fellow men like a magnificent jungle cat surrounded by harmless, domesticated kittens



This is the third Judith McNaught book I have read. Why, have I not read more? Well one of the reasons is that a lot of her older books are not available as e-books so I have to go to the bother of ordering the paperbacks…. Did I say "go to the bother"? It is no bother at all, it is well worth it.


… she caught sight of the dark, foreboding figure striding toward the table with the silent sureness of a dangerous savage, his buckskin breeches molding his muscular legs and thighs ….

Victoria and her sister, Dorothy must leave America go to England after their parents die. They have relatives In England but had never been in contact with them. Dorothy goes to stay with her Grandmother but because of a family falling out, Grandmama does not want Victoria to stay with her so she must stay with another cousin.


I must say, I loved Victoria. She was strong, independent, beautiful, nice, courageous.

THE GREATER A MAN'S SOUL, THE DEEPER HE LOVES

Jason Fielding has had a tough childhood but he turned the tables and is now a wealthy man, the envy of many. But he is not a happy man. He does not suffer fool's gladly.


"Besides playing the piano, I can carry a tune, waltz without falling and embroider a fine stitch. In addition I can read French and execute a throne-room curtsy with great aplomb. It seems to me," she observed with an impertinent smile, "that in England it is quite desirable for a female to be utterly useless."


I won't go into much detail about the plot as I don't want to give anything away. Yes, Jason was an alpha, overbearing ass but yes, I do love those types of guys.

" … love is an emotion that is used to manipulate fools. I neither expect nor want your love, Victoria."

I see a few reviews have mentioned the back story with Andrew and how it was not really resolved. Totally agree.

In fact, she was beginning to wonder if England was filled with intriguing, ill-mannered, blunt people whose eccentricities were either encouraged or overlooked because of their titles and excessive wealth



I loved the interaction with the Ton, the secondary characters, the Butler, Uncle Charles, O'Malley, the Duchess of Claremont - I felt I was watching a scene from Downton Abbey.

Her mind told her to run, but her heart begged her not to be a coward

And to those of you have have not already …. YOU ….


"He needs you to heal wounds that are deep, to teach him how to let himself love and be loved in return."

Tortured Heroes - Cannot get enough of them!