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Let New York Times bestselling author Judith McNaught who "is in a class by herself" (USA TODAY) sweep you off your feet and into another time with her sensual, passionate, and spellbinding historical romance classics, featuring her "unique magic" (RT Book Reviews).In this unforgettable romantic adventure, a teacher of wealthy young ladies finds her life changed forever when she travels from the wilds of America to elegant London. Sheridan Bromleigh is hired to accompany one of her show more students, heiress Charise Lancaster, to England to meet her fiancé. But when her charge elopes with a stranger, Sheridan wonders how she will ever explain it to Charise's intended, Lord Burleton.
Standing on the pier, Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford, assumes the young woman coming toward him is Charise Lancaster and reluctantly informs her of his inadvertent role in a fatal accident involving Lord Burleton the night before. And just as the young woman is about to speak, she steps into the path of a cargo net loaded with crates. Sheridan awakens in Westmoreland's mansion with no memory of who she is; the only hint of her past is the puzzling fact that everyone calls her Miss Lancaster. All she truly knows is that she is falling in love with a handsome English earl, and that the life unfolding before her seems full of wondrous possibilities. show less
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My first [a:Judith McNaught|9885|Judith McNaught|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1246151270p2/9885.jpg] book, chosen because a Goodreads review of another novel rated [b:Until You|129618|Until You (Westmoreland, #3)|Judith McNaught|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171988350s/129618.jpg|726849] as one of the best amnesia-theme romances around.
In a word: disappointing. Some elements of the story were strong, some were not. The biggest problem was the structure of the narrative. The idea of a feisty red-headed American governess being struck on the head by cargo being unloaded from a ship, losing her memory, and being mistaken for her runaway charge, was original.
Just as the story was getting under way, Ms McNaught decided to insert a show more very long and tedious (and mostly irrelevant) flashback to the amnesiac heroine's past life in America. A firm editor would have slashed most of this section, or at least suggested splitting it into shorter pieces and interleaving it with the main story.
The reason for the cast of thousands isn't clear -- until you discover from external sources that they're all carry-overs from previous novels. Characterisation is patchy; two-dimensional at best. Perhaps these transient characters receive more detailed attention in other novels.
The timing of the sudden appearance of the runaway charge, for whom the heroine has been mistaken, was a clumsy blunder, a wide rift in the fabric of the story. Noting that the novel still had dozens of pages to go, I gave up at this point and resigned the book to my Did Not Finish shelf. Curiosity brought me back and perseverance pushed me to the end, but didn't change my opinion of the book as a whole. show less
In a word: disappointing. Some elements of the story were strong, some were not. The biggest problem was the structure of the narrative. The idea of a feisty red-headed American governess being struck on the head by cargo being unloaded from a ship, losing her memory, and being mistaken for her runaway charge, was original.
Just as the story was getting under way, Ms McNaught decided to insert a show more very long and tedious (and mostly irrelevant) flashback to the amnesiac heroine's past life in America. A firm editor would have slashed most of this section, or at least suggested splitting it into shorter pieces and interleaving it with the main story.
The reason for the cast of thousands isn't clear -- until you discover from external sources that they're all carry-overs from previous novels. Characterisation is patchy; two-dimensional at best. Perhaps these transient characters receive more detailed attention in other novels.
The timing of the sudden appearance of the runaway charge, for whom the heroine has been mistaken, was a clumsy blunder, a wide rift in the fabric of the story. Noting that the novel still had dozens of pages to go, I gave up at this point and resigned the book to my Did Not Finish shelf. Curiosity brought me back and perseverance pushed me to the end, but didn't change my opinion of the book as a whole. show less
I always thought Judith McNaught could do no wrong. Until I read this book. And I wanted to LOVE Stephen Westmoreland's story, especially since he is so charming in 'Whitney, My Love'. The vibe in 'Until You' is completely different, and the poignant scenes that is so McNaught's signature seems entirely forced. I did, however, enjoy reading about Whitney and Clayton with their son Noel - the book's saving grace, at least to me.
"Until you, I never knew what true love was...."
"Until you, my life was never complete."
"I was nothing, until you."
Every true romantic has dreamed of having these words whispered to them in the throes of mad passion or tender love making. And so has Sheridan Bromleigh in Judith McNaught's novel ''Until You".
After the death of her english-born mother and younger brother, Sheridan spent her childhood roaming the American countryside with her father and the many strangers that they met along the way. Life was fun, exciting and unpredictable. That is, until her father decided to pay a visit to his spinster sister-in law in Richmond, Virginia. When aunt Cornelia took one look at Sheridan, she was flabbergasted and outraged. Her neice had show more grown up to be a tomboy who could swear in two languages and roamed the countryside dressed in pants and boots in the company of an Indian and a Spanish vagabond. She didn't look like a female or act like one. So it came to be that Sheridan was left in the care of her aunt, where she learned to dress, speak and act like a proper lady.
With the help of her aunt, Sheridan becomes a teacher in a school for wealthy young ladies. She is then hired to escort one of her students to England to meet her fiance. But the young heiress, a spoiled Charise Lancaster, escapes off the ship and elopes with a young stranger. Sheridan is then left to figure out how she will explain events to Charise's fiance. Meanwhile, Charise's intended, a not-so-wealthy Lord Burleton, has been killed in an accident by Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford. Feeling responsible, Stephen makes his way to the docks to explain the dire news to the fiance of the man he killed. But another accident ensues, and Sheridan is hit by a cargo net loaded with crates. She awakens in Stephen Westmoreland's mansion with no memory. She doesn't know her name, what she looks like, or where she's from. All she does know is that this beautiful man keeps calling her Miss Lancaster.....
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sheridan is a fiesty, brave, red-headed beauty who is a romantic at heart. She realizes that she is falling in love with Stephen and that she wants that fairy tale ending....she wants her lover and husband to need her, want her, enrapture her with deep kisses and deeper words. Stephen is bitter about love in the beginning, believing that women only want him for his wealth and stature in society. Having been burned once, he is reluctant to open himself up to the notion of true love. But I so wanted to see Sheridan catch this gorgeous Earl. Although he tries to fight it at first, Stephen can't help but be attracted to Sheridan and her innocence, natural beauty and strong spirit. Sheridan and Stephen's steamy encounters leave not only the characters breathless, but the reader as well. This story left me with my heart all a-flutter and a feeling of hope.....hope that true love will always triumph, even for we tell-it-like-it-is, fiesty gals! show less
"Until you, my life was never complete."
"I was nothing, until you."
Every true romantic has dreamed of having these words whispered to them in the throes of mad passion or tender love making. And so has Sheridan Bromleigh in Judith McNaught's novel ''Until You".
After the death of her english-born mother and younger brother, Sheridan spent her childhood roaming the American countryside with her father and the many strangers that they met along the way. Life was fun, exciting and unpredictable. That is, until her father decided to pay a visit to his spinster sister-in law in Richmond, Virginia. When aunt Cornelia took one look at Sheridan, she was flabbergasted and outraged. Her neice had show more grown up to be a tomboy who could swear in two languages and roamed the countryside dressed in pants and boots in the company of an Indian and a Spanish vagabond. She didn't look like a female or act like one. So it came to be that Sheridan was left in the care of her aunt, where she learned to dress, speak and act like a proper lady.
With the help of her aunt, Sheridan becomes a teacher in a school for wealthy young ladies. She is then hired to escort one of her students to England to meet her fiance. But the young heiress, a spoiled Charise Lancaster, escapes off the ship and elopes with a young stranger. Sheridan is then left to figure out how she will explain events to Charise's fiance. Meanwhile, Charise's intended, a not-so-wealthy Lord Burleton, has been killed in an accident by Stephen Westmoreland, the Earl of Langford. Feeling responsible, Stephen makes his way to the docks to explain the dire news to the fiance of the man he killed. But another accident ensues, and Sheridan is hit by a cargo net loaded with crates. She awakens in Stephen Westmoreland's mansion with no memory. She doesn't know her name, what she looks like, or where she's from. All she does know is that this beautiful man keeps calling her Miss Lancaster.....
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sheridan is a fiesty, brave, red-headed beauty who is a romantic at heart. She realizes that she is falling in love with Stephen and that she wants that fairy tale ending....she wants her lover and husband to need her, want her, enrapture her with deep kisses and deeper words. Stephen is bitter about love in the beginning, believing that women only want him for his wealth and stature in society. Having been burned once, he is reluctant to open himself up to the notion of true love. But I so wanted to see Sheridan catch this gorgeous Earl. Although he tries to fight it at first, Stephen can't help but be attracted to Sheridan and her innocence, natural beauty and strong spirit. Sheridan and Stephen's steamy encounters leave not only the characters breathless, but the reader as well. This story left me with my heart all a-flutter and a feeling of hope.....hope that true love will always triumph, even for we tell-it-like-it-is, fiesty gals! show less
Sheridan Bromleigh had spent her youth in America being unconventional until her aunt took her in hand and sent her to school. She couldn't resist the opportunity to visit England as a companion to Charise Lancaster, who is on her way to meet her finance. However before they could arrive in london Charise elopes with someone she meets on the ship, Sheridan has to break it to Lord Burleton that she had misplaced his bride. She was shocked to find that he had been killed in an accident. However things get more complicated when she's knocked out in an accident and loses her memory.
I enjoyed this story, great fun, the setup was well organised and believable and the resolution, while a little strained was interesting.
I enjoyed this story, great fun, the setup was well organised and believable and the resolution, while a little strained was interesting.
I liked this book a lot, but not as much as the first two books in the series. Why do all of the Westmoreland men always jump to such nasty conclusions?
Until You is the story of Stephen Westmoreland, first introduced in Whitney, My Love. I highly recommend reading Whitney... before Until You. Clayton (Duke of Claymore) and his wife Whitney are major characters in this book, and it will be much more enjoyable if you've read their story first.
Due to an unfortunate accident, Stephen Westmoreland feels responsible for the death of a young bridegroom. When he hears that the bride is arriving soon on a ship from America, Stephen goes to the dock to intercept her and break the news to her. When he gets there, a beautiful red-haired woman is waiting for him. After he tells her the news, she is struck by a cargo net and falls unconscious. He takes her to his home, and when she wakes up she has show more amnesia. What she doesn't know is that her name is Sheridan, and she is not the intended bride. Instead, she was the bride's paid companion and was dreading having to meet with the bridegroom to tell him that his bride eloped with a sailor.
Obviously, this leads to confusion for all parties. Stephen assumes she is the fiancee, and Sheridan is so confused that she accepts this identity. To make matters worse, the doctor advises Stephen to pretend to be her intended so she will feel secure in a stranger's home. It's not hard to imagine what happens. As Stephen pretends to be her fiancee, he finds himself falling in love with her. Sheridan likewise cannot resist her handsome, charming fiancee. The only thing that seems to be missing from her life is the memories of her past.
The events described take up almost half of the book. In fact, it took a full 100 pages just to reach the point described on the book's back cover. This created a very slow beginning. Knowing about the mistaken identity, I was ready to get into the story. However, there were endless tales of Sheridan's childhood that, while entertaining, did not add much to the overall story's plot. After trudging through the first 200 pages, suddenly the action picks up when, while she is preparing for her wedding to Stephen, the "real" fiancee shows up and accuses Sheridan of being a fraud. Suddenly, Sheridan's memories return, and she realizes an earl will not want to marry a paid servant. Moreover, she realizes Stephen has lied all along about being her fiancee, and she feels duped by the entire Westmoreland family. Sheridan immediately leaves Stephen at the altar. While Sheridan feels betrayed and hurt, and Stephen's feelings for Sheridan turn to hate, his mother, sister-in-law, and a forgetful friend come together to help the lovers see the truth and make the match of the Season! show less
Due to an unfortunate accident, Stephen Westmoreland feels responsible for the death of a young bridegroom. When he hears that the bride is arriving soon on a ship from America, Stephen goes to the dock to intercept her and break the news to her. When he gets there, a beautiful red-haired woman is waiting for him. After he tells her the news, she is struck by a cargo net and falls unconscious. He takes her to his home, and when she wakes up she has show more amnesia. What she doesn't know is that her name is Sheridan, and she is not the intended bride. Instead, she was the bride's paid companion and was dreading having to meet with the bridegroom to tell him that his bride eloped with a sailor.
Obviously, this leads to confusion for all parties. Stephen assumes she is the fiancee, and Sheridan is so confused that she accepts this identity. To make matters worse, the doctor advises Stephen to pretend to be her intended so she will feel secure in a stranger's home. It's not hard to imagine what happens. As Stephen pretends to be her fiancee, he finds himself falling in love with her. Sheridan likewise cannot resist her handsome, charming fiancee. The only thing that seems to be missing from her life is the memories of her past.
The events described take up almost half of the book. In fact, it took a full 100 pages just to reach the point described on the book's back cover. This created a very slow beginning. Knowing about the mistaken identity, I was ready to get into the story. However, there were endless tales of Sheridan's childhood that, while entertaining, did not add much to the overall story's plot. After trudging through the first 200 pages, suddenly the action picks up when, while she is preparing for her wedding to Stephen, the "real" fiancee shows up and accuses Sheridan of being a fraud. Suddenly, Sheridan's memories return, and she realizes an earl will not want to marry a paid servant. Moreover, she realizes Stephen has lied all along about being her fiancee, and she feels duped by the entire Westmoreland family. Sheridan immediately leaves Stephen at the altar. While Sheridan feels betrayed and hurt, and Stephen's feelings for Sheridan turn to hate, his mother, sister-in-law, and a forgetful friend come together to help the lovers see the truth and make the match of the Season! show less
Loved it. I was really hard to put down. I loved Sherry's upbringing and how easy the ending closed up all the loose ends.
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Judith McNaught is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including "Night Whispers", "Remember When", & "Until You". She lives in Kemah, Texas. (Publisher Provided) Judith McNaught was born in San Luis Obispo, California on May 10, 1944. She graduated from Northwestern University in 1966 with a degree in business. Her first novel, show more Tender Triumph, won the Critics Choice Award in 1983. She won it again in 1988 for Something Wonderful. She received Best Historical Novelist honors for Whitney, My Love in 1985 and for Once and Always in 1987. She received the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. She was also the first female executive producer at a CBS radio station. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Until You
- Original publication date
- 1994
- People/Characters
- Sheridan Bromleigh; Stephen Westmoreland, Earl of Langford; Charise Lancaster; Whitney Stone; Clayton Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore; Nicholas DuVille
- Important places
- England, UK
- Dedication
- I write novels above very special, fictional people—men and women of courage and loyalty, of humor and integrity, people who care very much about other people.
I am honored to dedicate this novel to two real-life people... (show all) who are the equal to any of those fictional characters, two people who I am privileged to call my friends...
To Pauli Marr, with equal parts of gratitude and admiration for all the things you are, and for all the things you've shared with me—including some of the most hilarious, and difficult, moments of my life. Occasionally, at one and the same time....
and
To Keith Spalding. I always imagined a knight-in-shining-armor would ride to the rescue on a destrier and carry a lance. Who would have guessed he'd ride in a BMW and carry a briefcase! But regardless of the mode of transportation or the method of defense, no knight of old could surpass you for integrity, loyalty, kindness, and humor. My life is so much the better for having known you.
I couldn't end this dedication without mentioning four other wonderful people for reasons they will know and understand:
To Brooke Barhorst, Christopher Fehlig and Tracy Barhorst—with all my love...
and
To Megan Ferguson, who is one very special young lady—with all my gratitude. - First words
- Propped upon a mountain of satin pillows amid rumpled bed linens, Helene Devernay surveyed his bronzed, muscular torso with an appreciative smile as Stephen David Elliot Westmoreland, Earl of Langford, Baron of Ellingwood, Fi... (show all)fth Viscount Hargrove, Viscount Ashbourne, shrugged into the frilled shirt he'd tossed over the foot of the bed last night.
- Original language
- English
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