Whitney, My Love

I swear that "Whitney, My Love" could be taught in college about gas lighting, physical and verbal abuse. I know this book is considered a romance favorite in romance land, but it wasn't until I was in my 20s and coming out of a terrible relationship, that I went back and re-read this book and realized why even though I loved it in my teens, I still felt like something was off with this.

"Whitney, My Love" is about the romance (I saw with a sigh) between Whitney Stone and Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore. Clayton decides he wants Whitney, and goes about obtaining her. Whitney, rightfully so, pushes back against her father and Clayton trying to decide her future for her.

The walls come tumbling down when Clayton does something show more vicious to Whitney. And Whitney, who should hate Clayton for the rest of her days decides he did what he did cause he loved her. She goes about making him want her again and in a painful scene that I still hate to this day, makes her go/beg him to take her back. You would think things would be great, well you would be wrong. Because Clayton finds a note, refuses to speak to Whitney about it, judges and punishes her and she rightfully runs away from his terrible ass. Clayton of course suffers and figures out where she is and somehow Whitney apologizes to him again! I can't with this book.

We have Clayton beating Whitney, raping her at one point, and just being terrible to her anytime he thinks she did wrong. Whitney I liked at first since she fights back against Clayton, but then she totally changes when she "gets" him and they get married. I missed the fiery Whitney we were shown in the first part of the book.

I have two versions of "Whitney, My Love". The older version without the softening of the pivotal scene between Clayton and Whitney and original ending. The second version has the changed scenes between them as well as a new ending which has Whitney giving birth to her and Clayton's son and reading a letter from Jennifer Westmoreland, the first Duke of Claymore's wife.

At the time when I read this (in my teens) I think I was all starry eyed over this book. Reading it in my 20s made me go hmm and now in my 30s I am just straight up appalled. I love romance books, but this one right here makes me want to scream. I ended up re-reading one of my favorite Julie Garwood books after this one to wipe the taste out of my mouth. I think the reason why I always loved Garwood's historical romances, she didn't have rape happening between the hero and heroines in her books. Or not the ones I read at least. The women were fierce and could fight just as well as the men and often saved themselves "The Lion's Lady" "Gentle Warrior" "Guardian Angel", "The Gift", and "Castles" to just name a few of them. show less

Perhaps very minor spoilers, I don't mention anything specific, but if you're sensitive to even vague references then skip to be safe.

I knew going in that this was sort of a 'love it or hate it' book and I felt that even though I don't particularly like heroes to always be grabbing a woman and things, I could still go in with a pretty open mind. People like different sorts of things, and this makes a lot of Favorites lists so I was curious about it. Like a third of the way in it was feeling very Gone with the Wind, similar levels of 'headstrong female/man used to getting his own way/butting heads' (the two stories have quite a bit in common besides that as well) but I was still feeling pretty forgiving. Unfortunately though, the hero's show more behavior got worse, like, a lot! And then, in case my memory of the first atrocity had started to fade or something- he got downright vicious *again* quite late in the story! One thing he plots in his head, (though he never gets far enough along to go through with), made my mouth fall open and I actually whispered to myself *out loud*, "he's a monster". lol. There just was no coming back from his level of intentional cruelty at that point. More significant spoiler-
He's already being just absolutely horrid to his wife, *who is pregnant*, because he assumed something that hurt his feelings basically, and on top of all that already- he actually plots that he'll take away her child, just to inflict pain on her. But that he won't do it right away, he'll let her become even more attached to it for a couple years and *then* rip it away... Purely as punishment- (for an entirely imagined betrayal btw!). Think about that though. You would need to be positive that she massacred your family or something to even think about doing that to someone you've ever even had a kind thought about. It's terrible. And his complaint is an eon short of justifying his revenge. And I'll say this, even if things went down as he thought- it still wouldn't have justified his reaction. And if he didn't learn a lesson after the first time(!), I don't see any reason to feel confident that it'll never happen again. And there's only very tiny slivers of groveling to try to compensate for his wrongs. There were some sweet parts sprinkled in, but overall I just can't qualify their relationship as anything beyond dysfunctional or toxic (which relationships often *also* have some sweet parts sprinkled in as it happens). I didn't like the heroine very much either, and the schemes and the awful advice given from other characters, there was a lot that I disliked. I think it should have been shorter as well, but it was otherwise written in a pretty engaging way once it got going, so I won't give it just a single star. The hero's level of unchecked wrath did tempt me to though.


I kept thinking about this so I decided to just write it out, and then added it here since it was already written anyway. There is some repeat of the arguments above. You can read it or ignore it. =)

I feel like, how someone treats you when they're displeased with you is more telling of their true character than what they do when you happen to be in their favor. And this hero really became unhinged (twice!) on the mere *assumption* that he'd been wronged.

They tried to spin it as proof of his love, but honestly the pattern of overreacting in anger only to claim it was out of love and apologize profusely and promise never to do it again and shower the person with affection- just to repeat the whole process, is *the classic* abuse cycle.

AND physical violence almost always escalates given enough time. The fact that he's already giving her bruises pretty much any time he's angry, is a very troubling red flag!

And that he would repeat pretty much the exact same horrible mistake only a few months after the first utter disaster, despite their practically ideal relationship in the interim, really makes me skeptical that this will be the last time he doubts her and jumps straight to retaliating for it. They're not even out of the honeymoon phase yet! Life can get a whole lot more challenging from there.

And it's not just that he raped her, I'm not okay with any rape, but I feel like there are levels of evilness to it or something, (This is not at all to belittle someone's pain if their partner wasn't checking in with them, or had been drinking and got careless, or didn't realize their partner had been drinking and couldn't give consent, or got carried away in the moment or anything else. I'm sure each can be thoroughly devastating in its own right!)- raping with the purposeful intention of humiliating and degrading and punishing the person though, has got to be especially near the bottom of human decency. I'm not sure there was any recovering for him with me after that, even if he hadn't repeated his same terrible mistake in judgement, (only with new and creative forms of punishment), later on.

And I hold a grudge against him for the things he planned to do even if he didn't actually get around to enacting them. (Plotting to take away someone's child at any point is horrible, but planning especially to let them keep their baby for a couple years so that they become even more attached to it only to *then* snatch it away, **purely for the purpose of inflicting maximum suffering** is a special level of atrocity). That's still a reflection of his character even if he never made it past the planning phase. show less

I kept thinking we had come to the end only to have essentially the same plot repeat on itself. It was good, but much too long.

*SPOILERS*
Honestly, the 'love' story in this book hasn't aged very well. Yes it is passionate but it actually reads more like an abusive relationship than anything else. They routinely punish each other for every imagined transgression and I was honestly disgusted by the way the strong 'heroine' has to give him some indication that she's forgiven what was essentially rape. The context, his reasons, they don't matter the brutality he showed in that moment ruined him for me and I do not understand how it didn't ruin him for Whitney.

One of those rare romance novels I read during my misspent youth that I remember liking, published in 1986. I wish I could say it holds up on a reread. I rather get why I may have once liked this book: I find Whitney herself appealing and sympathetic from the start; she has a difficult relationship with her father, a painful unrequited love, and is the kind of girl that--in Regency England--wears breeches to try riding stunts on horses. I still rather love her, at least in the beginning pre-doormat; her dialogue is often witty, and there are endearing secondary characters as well, thus the two and a half stars.

The problem is the "hero," Clayton--he makes me rather appalled I ever liked this book. If there's some aspect of an abusive show more relationship not illustrated by his character--including rape--I don't know what it would be. And mind you, what I read is the revised edition; I understand that in the original, the rape scene was more brutal--even softened, it still comes across as rape to me though. I wouldn't even say the rape is the most disturbing aspect of the abuse Clayton hands out to Whitney--emotionally the way he treats her again and again is out and out cruel. And she loves him. It makes it all the more pathetic as a drama about abuse, but I can't say it works as a love story for me--but that's what it's written as--romance. I read one review that suggests what might be appealing is the idea of having someone who treated you badly come asking you to take them back. On the other side, I imagine someone who is currently undergoing abuse might want to believe that forgiving time upon time might lead to that happily ever after.

When I read it decades ago, I might have liked the idea of redemption and forgiveness. But on reread I just can't see a character arc with Clayton that makes him forgivable or redeemable. And given how he acted, the author really needs to pull out all the stops--apology, demonstrations he trusts Whitney, etc. I don't think that Clayton ever gets-a-clue he did damage beyond a moment of remorseful tenderness, or takes steps to show real change. show less

OBVIOUSLY this is a 5 star read and it is so infuriating and i have never been so ANGRY and IRATE in my LIFE.

i'm so mad it took me years!! to read this. i adore kingdom of dreams so much, i'm pretty certain it's the first historical i've read, and it's still one of the best; i'm ashamed!! judith mcnaught is an excellent writer, and so masterful at crafting these maddening and wonderful characters.

and now i will NEVER EVER E V E R read another book with even a hint of miscommunication ever again or i will pull my hair out.

Whitney Stone is an unruly, spontaneous, frustratingly strong-willed child. Her restless pursuit of Paul, the object of her romantic obsessions, earns her ridicule from her peers and disapproval from her father. At the age of 15, she is sent to Paris to be with her beloved aunt and uncle. Whitney's life changes greatly during the 4 years she spends in France. She has been taught the social graces and is now a grown woman with impeccable taste and graceful manners who has taken the ton by storm. When her father summons her home to England, she willingly leaves her ardent admirers, set on convincing Paul to wed her.

When Whitney returns home, she is now the belle of the ball. However, she is getting more attention from her neighbor, show more Clayton, than Paul. Whitney decides to encourage Clayton's attentions to further Paul's interest in her, but her father reveals a terrible truth: he has accepted a betrothal arrangement on her behalf from Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore. This begins a game of cat-and-mouse. At this point, I actually liked Clayton. Although he has no reason to try to "win" her (due to her father's acceptance of his money and the arrangement), he sets out to woo her. He doesn't want to force her; he's hoping Whitney will develop a tendre for him. However, Whitney is still obsessed with getting Paul to marry her, and when she succeeds in getting him to make a declaration, things only get worse for her. Whitney realizes she does not love Paul and wants to marry Clayton willingly. Just when it seems Clayton and Whitney are in love and will find a happily-ever-after ending, things take a turn for the worse in two chilling instances.

At the risk of posting spoilers, I will only say this: just when you are ready to consider forgiving Clayton for his first misunderstanding (and cruel punishment of Whitney), he makes the same mistake again. At the end, we are left to believe that he has learned his lesson and they will live happily for the rest of their days. However, it is unsatisfying to end with a hero that behaves with such little control and who so readily turns his anger toward his wife. Judith McNaught is a fantastic, talented storyteller. I could not tear myself away from this 708-page story, staying up late into the night to finish it. The twists and turns, the suspense, and the entertaining secondary characters make this a fascinating read. And don't get me wrong, there is plenty of romance to appease most fans of historical romance. But be forewarned: Clayton has his share of faults, and rooting for him is sometimes a very great challenge indeed. show less

This book was four stars right until Whitney discovered Clayton's identity. McNaught had a good thing going. Clayton was everything charming and sexy and the banter between him and Whitney was neither cheesy, spiteful, nor stilted. The sexual tension was built high enough to hang. I was genuinely enjoying learning about their developing relationship. With his patience and good humor (and firm hand, let's not forget) and her honest, down-to-earth nature (no TSTL moments), the hero and heroine actually seemed meant for each other, as many grand romances purport, especially as the hero seemed the one person who could understand Whitney. McNaught has a unique, entrancing way of conveying emotion that is all in the details. For example, one show more of the characters describes her happiness on her wedding day, "She bent her head and tried to pray. But all her prayers began with 'Thank you' instead of 'Please.'" As many clichés as I've read in romance, I don't find myself touched very often. McNaught can certainly write humility. I just wish it wasn't required so very often of her poor heroine later. Because then Whitney discovers the truth, and the book swiftly becomes a melodramatic soap opera that rehashes again and again the same hangup of the hero: his delusion that Whitney is a deceiving bitch (his favorite choice of words). His explosive, violent reaction to this seems entirely out of character for the very sane, very levelheaded man we meet in the first half of the book. If we're not convinced of his motivation, however, we at least have a complete grasp of the emotions that move Clayton, thanks to McNaught's talent with emotion.My main gripe with the book is that this same conflict is repeated, if not verbatim then close enough, twice more before the book ends. As I had trouble crediting this device once, I really began to take issue when I saw it not once but twice more. At this point, one would expect some explanation for Clayton's continued, nearly pathological obsession with Whitney's imagined betrayals. Certainly there must be some incident in his past to explain his bizarre fixation, but there seems to be none in his otherwise normal family and normal life. These eruptions arrive with painful predictability when McNaught takes too much exaggerated care to paint the couple in happily wedded bliss, transparently setting them up for a fall.The dynamics between the couple are wildly unbalanced and never truly even, as one would expect. The hero spends the first half of the book pursuing the heroine, while he seems to spend the second half of the book making Whitney grovel (almost literally) and pay in every conceivable way for everything, including the crimes she is wrongfully accused of. This is the other extreme of the scale. Rather than the man apologizing endlessly for his existence, it is the woman. I don't particularly care for either scenario. So, while I was fully ready to revise my opinion of McNaught to a hearty recommendation in the first half of the book, the rest of the book unfortunately wearied me. show less