Judith McNaught is the master of emotional peaks. I have noticed that her plots are very soapy, but they work because of realistic emotional reactions by the characters. the plots hinge on the fact that these books are coming of age stories where teenagers are trying to navigate relationships with more experienced adults. They are misunderstandings that snowball into each other because while a nineteen year old may seem older than her years, she only has the experience of a nineteen year old girl. The thing about nineteen year old girls is that they are really good at knowing when they are in love, but usually don't know that there is more to a relationship. The problem for the main character is that she loves her husband, but she is unable to trust him because of past actions. Her husband's problem is that he is older, a genius, but is also kind of bad at relationships by making snap judgements and being kind of unforgiving. His main problem is that he forgets that he is married to someone who is much younger than him and hasn't figured out the things he has, so he treats her like they are on equal footing even though they are not. There is knowledge he has that she doesn't simply doesn't because she is sheltered and inexperience and she gains experience throughout the story. It's kind of like how the plot of Romeo and Juliet doesn't make any goddamn sense until you realize that Romeo and Juliet are overwrought thirteen year olds trying to be adults. This is the same thing. The plot seems to be a bit out of control with all the big things that are happening, but you have to remember that things are spiraling out of control because the main character is nineteen. Normally a large age gap is something I ignore in romances because it is extremely uncomfortable but this story simply doesn't work without it. ( )

if i had to list my favorite 5 romance novels of all time, this one would still be number one. you cant help but like elizabeth who handles everything with a sunny disposition and a head held high. i couldn't help but love ian. the men inn my life have had a lot to live up to because of ian. ( )

While I readily admit that J.McN. is a gifted and talented writer, I must agree with a former reviewer that the frustration is unbearable. The female protagonist behaves like such a complete fool, so much of the time, that you do want to throw your book/nook/kindle/iPad against a wall. She really frustrated the hell out of me and I began to wonder why the male protagonist even bothered. ( )

I love books where the heroine is so beautiful that people stare and the hero is dark and handsome. This book was like that. ( )

But it seems I still can't get it out of my mind that I AM READING it again!

Now that I think of it, I just love Judith Mcnaught's novels. I love the plot, I love the romance. And, I love the Cinderella with twists and turns. I love the fact that I can read what's going on the guy's mind, the romance and the drama.

I can't help it. At times I just cry because there are scenes that are so heartbreaking. I love the reunion.

With Almost Heaven, I love the plot. There's no loopholes. It never leaves you questioning for more. I just love the epilogue. I love the fact that Heaven was described the way it should be - whatever a person most wants it to have (and when they do), it's almost heaven.

It's almost heaven to see your family happy and smiling because you're all together. It's almost heaven to lick the ice cream that you've been wanting to eat ever since. It's almost heaven to lounge and relax. ( )