Books › Something wonderful
Something wonderful
First published 1988 · 568 pages
A sweeping, tempestuous journey of innocence colliding with arrogance, fueled by intense misunderstandings and undeniable passion.
What it feels like
This sweeping historical romance delivers the quintessential emotional rollercoaster, plunging readers into a world of opulent ballrooms and tempestuous marital strife. The narrative moves at a brisk, page-turning pace, driven by the intense, often agonizing friction between a fiercely spirited innocent and a deeply cynical, arrogant duke. McNaught crafts a mood that is both swoony and heavily angsty, wrapping the reader in a thick atmosphere of unspoken desires, bitter misunderstandings, and high-stakes social maneuvering. The prose is lush and unapologetically dramatic, perfectly suited to the grand scale of the characters' emotional arcs. It is a deeply satisfying read for anyone who loves a hard-won, passionately fought battle of wills where pride eventually surrenders to overwhelming, all-consuming love.
- Mood
- angsty
- swoony
- opulent
- tempestuous
- Tone
- dramatic
- earnest
- passionate
- sweeping
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- marriage of convenience · loss of innocence · overcoming pride · transformative power of love · high society maneuvering
- The writing
- Lush, emotionally charged, and descriptive, leaning into the grand theatricality of classic historical romance.
- The arc
- Moves from innocent infatuation and sudden tragedy through bitter misunderstandings to a fiercely fought, passionate reconciliation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave high-stakes, emotionally devastating historical romances with arrogant dukes, spirited heroines, and epic, hard-won love.
Content notes
- grief
- presumed death
- emotional manipulation
- period-typical sexism
About the book
Sequels #2 The tempestuous marriage of Alexandra Lawrence, an innocent country girl, and Jordan Townsende, the rich and powerful Duke of Hawthorne, is about to face its ultimate test of tender loyalty. Swept into the endlessly fascinating world of London society, free-spirited Alexandra becomes ensnared in a tangled web of jealousy and revenge, stormy pride and overwhelming passion. But behind her husband's cold, arrogant mask, there lives a tender, vital, sensual man...the man Alexandra married. Now, she will fight for his very life...and the rapturous bond they alone can share.
Sequels Series: Once and Always (Sequels, #1) Something Wonderful (Sequels, #2) Almost Heaven (Sequels, #3)
Description from Open Library.
Books like Something wonderful
See why they match
Almost HeavenJudith McNaughtA sweeping, high-angst waltz of ruined reputations, fierce pride, and an all-consuming, star-crossed passion.
Once and AlwaysJudith McNaughtA sweeping, high-angst battle of wills where fiery passion collides with deep-seated trauma in opulent 19th-century England.
Duke most wantedCeleste BradleyA sparkling, banter-filled romp where comfortable friendship ignites into unexpected, high-stakes passion.
To bed a beautyNicole JordanA delightfully scandalous romp where a spirited heroine's quest for seduction lessons from a notorious rake inevitably sparks a fiery, unexpected romance.
To seduce a brideNicole JordanA delightfully scandalous game of cat-and-mouse where a fiercely independent heroine meets her match in a charmingly relentless rogue.
Somewhere I'll Find YouLisa KleypasA swoony, theatrical battle of wills where hidden identities and a secret marriage ignite an undeniable, glamorous romance.