Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Once and Always
Once and Always
Once and Always
Ebook492 pages7 hours

Once and Always

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Read preview

About this ebook

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).

Across the vast ocean sailed Victoria Seaton, a free-spirited American beauty left suddenly orphaned and alone. Eager to claim her long-lost heritage, she was amazed at the formal elegance of Wakefield, the sumptuous English estate of her distant cousin...the notorious Lord Jason Fielding. Sought after at plays, operas, and balls by London's most fashionable ladies, Jason remained a mystery to Victoria. Bewildered by his arrogant demeanor, yet drawn to his panther-like grace, she came to sense the searingly painful memories that smoldered in the depths of his jade-green eyes.

Unable to resist her spitfire charm, Jason gathered her at last into his powerful arms, ravishing her lips with his kisses, arousing in her a sweet, insistent hunger. Wed in desire, they were enfolded in a fierce, consuming joy, free at last from the past's cruel grasp. Then, in a moment of blinding anguish, Victoria discovered the shocking treachery that lay at the heart of their love...a love she had dreamed would triumph.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherPocket Books
Release dateNov 1, 2016
ISBN9781501145520
Once and Always
Author

Judith McNaught

Judith McNaught is the #1 New York Times bestselling author who first soared to stardom with her stunning bestseller Whitney, My Love, and went on to win the hearts of millions of readers with Once and Always, Something Wonderful, A Kingdom of Dreams, Almost Heaven, Paradise, Perfect, Until You, Remember When, Someone to Watch Over Me, the #1 New York Times bestseller Night Whispers, and many other novels. There are more than thirty million copies of her books in print. She lives in Texas. 

Read more from Judith Mc Naught

Related to Once and Always

Titles in the series (3)

View More

Related ebooks

Romance For You

View More

Related articles

Related categories

Reviews for Once and Always

Rating: 4.0721392537313434 out of 5 stars
4/5

402 ratings19 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good book! I have tead several books by this author and the male characters seems similar. They are headsome jerks. I liked the story but I wished he had apologized for his mean behavior.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed very much this book.Interesting characters, trying to cope into a normal loving couple with an atypical past, dramatic childhood.He is emotionally disfunction and shows his love for her in the only way he knows, she doesn't know how to act as a loving wife but eventually they both learn how to show and live their love.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Marital rape of an ignorant virgin. And the wife is told afterwards that she shouldn’t have “withheld” herself from her husband, and if she would just “go home and seduce” him, he would be happy with her. She decides she’ll “endure anything” and “submit”, because she loves him and he’s a “complicated man”, so it’s ignored. Maybe that was acceptable in that time, but to write it like this in a contemporary book ruined the book, IMO.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved 99% of this book. The author is so talented! But the male lead...
    Spoiler alert....
    He does two things that are unforgivable in my mind! He basically rapes her on her wedding night and then leaves to go sleep with his mistress! AND the author does not address them later as terrible acts in need of recriminations! That he never apologized for these two things really ruined an EXCELLENT book!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I really like this author but it was like it wasn’t even written by the same person. I never write reviews, but I had to because this book irritated me so much. It was like reading about disfunctional paper dolls- Meaning the characters had no substance. I hated all the characters, even the supposed heroine. Ok, I’ll stop now. Just had to get that out of my system.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Hero is verbally abusive the entire time with rare moments of redeeming behavior. He constantly gaslights her and it seems a very unhealthy relationship. It’s almost like she has Stockholm syndrome. I kept waiting for her to end it with the hero and be reunited with her first/true love, who was great.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    The storyline had promise the characters were flawed and memorable. However it did not come together well at all. The Characters did not grow nor did Jason the lead show us that he truly loved her. It was painful to see that he is capable of rape and forcing himself on Victoria that kind of "mistake" is not something you do to the woman you supposedly love. I felt horrible for truly there was Andrew a man who did really love her no matter the distance and time a part with true blind faith in her and really did appreciate her and all that she has to offer. She was borderline Stockholm syndrome on this it did not feel like a choice nor did it feel like true. I usually like her stories but this one unfortunately had lots of potential but was just scattered and very disturbing with the stripping of power abuse of a young lady.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Overly dramatic. Rape is not cool. The story line dragged on forever.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I want absolutely NOTHING to do with a book like this. Forcing someone (whether you are married or not) to have sex with you is rape. There is no excuse or reason that would ever dismiss this type of action. I don’t care if it was a common thing in the 1700s or 1800s. To romanticize it and make this man is he “hero” of the book is disgusting and quite frankly makes me want to not read ANY of this authors books. I’m appalled
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Could not put it down! The hero is a difficult character. And am not happy about his unfaithfulness. But the heroine is likewise difficult to understand since she reacts with violent and incomprehensible antics that result in catastrophes.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m at a loss for words to convey how much I loved this book. If you have some great stories like this one, you can publish it on Novel Star, just submit your story to hardy@novelstar.top or joye@novelstar.top
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great Read. Another great love story from Judith McNaught. Loved it.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I found this story of an American coming back to England to claim her heritage and her mother's past, quite a lot of fun. Some of the angst was a little overwrought but overall it engaged me and kept me reading.However, it didn't really have a good anchor in the past, it could be anytime, but still Victoria entertained me with her attempts to be both herself and to fit into English society.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    jst loved it ..! judith mcnaught creats magic with her words again !!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Marital rape, abuse, cheating...this is a terrible book. The hero constantly calls her a child (she’s barely 18 and he’s 30, ew was this written by a guy?!) but then rapes her on their wedding night. Then he never really apologizes for it. This book should get no stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Victoria lives in America with her sister and parents until her parents are killed in an accident. Her dreams of wedding her childhood sweetheart are put on hold as he is touring Europe and won't be back for six months. She must leave America for England to join the elderly cousin who will be her guardian. Her guardian has plans of his own. He wants her wed to his illegitimate son, Jason. Jason has had an awful first marriage to a woman who wanted him only for his money and his title. The first wife has her own affairs that he is willing to put up with as long as he has his son. The first wife leaves him and takes their son on a ship's voyage to America but never make it because the ship is lost during a storm.Jason will never willingly wed again or trust a female for that matter. He slowly melts and falls for Victoria. Throughout their relationship there are many misunderstandings that are heartbreaking for the reader. They are much more "off" then "on." A very tumultuous relationship that overcomes all obstacles.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    this is everything Judith Mnaught is and more.A lovely romantic book about love in the olden days.This book makes you stay up all night. and you love how she puts the books title in the book.Takes your breath away.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Once and Always is an earlier release for Judith McNaught and though I know I've read it before it's been so long, I had forgotten all about it. Because of this, I felt like I was coming to a brand new McNaught novel. Reading Once and Always was such a pleasure because it still holds up- after all these years- and it packs a powerful emotional punch. (Although I must admit not so much now as it would have back in the day because so many authors have copied her style.)Jason Fielding, embittered by a marriage gone horribly wrong, is not interested in marrying ever again. His father has other ideas. Charles Fielding wants an heir and he wants Victoria Seaton, the daughter of the woman he loved and lost years ago, to give his son that heir.When Victoria, orphaned and alone, shows up at Jason's Esatate he's sure she's yet another empty-headed, gold digger. But her free-spirited charm, kindness and sharp mind begin to weaken his resolve from the first moment he meets her.Victoria has sworn to never marry for anything but love and the arrogant Jason Fielding is the last man she would ever consider marrying, especially since she's already met the love of her life back home in America.Circumstances change though when she gets word that Andrew, the man she thought she'd spend the rest of her life with, marries someone else and the ailing Charles Fielding makes her promise to marry Jason while on his deathbed. Feeling betrayed by Andrew and strangely attracted to the man who would be her fiancé, she agrees.Misunderstandings ensue when Jason, for self-preservation reasons- pulls away from her soon after their marriage. On top of that, Andrew suddenly appears, unmarried and desirous of a re-connection with Victoria. When Victoria discovers that Charles and Jason tricked her into marriage- she abandons the Estate on a wild ride, disappointed beyond belief- the tremulous dream of everlasting love dashed once again by the betrayal of men.Though Jason is the type of man to love once and always ... will their love be enough to conquer the circumstances aligned against them?Okay, this is old school romance. The guy is alpha, brooding and difficult to like. But Mcnaught won me over with Victoria- she charmed the mean Jason Fielding out of his arrogance and me right along with him. People who read romance novels now won't like him- heck he keeps a mistress even after he's met the heroine- SHOCKING!- but I fell for him all over again ... even if it all felt a bit contrived.Sadly, they just don't write these emotional tour-de force romance novels anymore and I miss them.Realizing this book is a first in many ways, I'm giving it 4.5 out of 5. Can't wait to re-read some of McNaught's other oldies!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was suggested to me by my aunt after hearing that I have read one of McNaughts books. I have to say, this one was pretty good.I loved the characters, time period and main story. This book helped me understand a little bit more about the time period and what it was like to live in the 19th century.I was a little disappointed with the end. They never said what happened to them. I want to know if they had a son or not! Uhg!

Book preview

Once and Always - Judith McNaught

D\ebook_preview_excerpt.html}ےF@z1[KVϬٚMD$JlCc$*¥~s=dgA"Y /Ǐ{|u__5NC_=] ??_Woߞ?_7Û?~yϯwտz?u5b5ؿ84Ħ0Oj \ͧy܇_X zJRowiP}~x3qL¾w1g^k%Q>ԶjGya](ϩju#^W#y#\i=#xY>kV1ƱC MI&wGyW81.tH,o8_X̫/jr┇I4@WӬ '%s Id}f))4Mlv7Ay#8}?DhD GR]ctbynDic{˕~x& 2hq =g ֥jXjBQ^U=a>aVd9c0L:h^ ק2ԝ#n?"܇)ם +Q w@HS0VN5`:̭| lq3$yI UedF|#mG|QEidjӛxLc[9A c"Xe5FR Mguk39Yih=y$Еs~nRC!Q/r(ZJ4\GQT6A ı;b*сPhi'rtv]QM+Gh~{Q4yM'fA:?Cnqd˃s  H&=]%&U6t`ETO$)~mN*σxVŬ iΧ/OЖc7$ynb!`9XY<̥*0ƞǟ{V܈x%υUU ,Q~E4謨ĪI1$5 Y8շAL]V,iϻU /ќMO1P,)< I/?-ڣXe+Q쌜kPwP.Qhq^ tƺ"ps{M}Ұ]qdsp aژ_=l8GzP-#rZG_ Y_e`1#}f \ n,އGqEͨBLԠ%$NO{WFƆ> Hd~%l7gFjn^a39`56Zn].3<4:?TML@ YNc@sx:(H4DIx-Z&0x9 *]˛hXٲEP]Dtc2A%6mQEWRM:sI\zV*`lCdVſXSx$ 2gb5p!&D $hu6,ƙ'B_ XǨc?cwJ]\&3YP%Z_ez9 ~ I#tQ!eIl;}ְ.K'zEFnԧa1kYsR`ev5(}+5J-iw3lK*p4FQmzk0ʇԉdH30d F.ߋeS%oX#ȥsaJ Mw|R$os1Wl5/bŧ.3'e0NY`YӻuX|W[p_#Qt#ղ)T%,B3*og{Bxf|=.B&*b0 \B7'ȝQ A#y5%!AP@9Z?7 vqM^YWXf(܏Lw_ѫؿNIK,% ^h g&s)Y6|pn9j 4'ϐl,=_a66` t~Qh6\=\"VoX`VSr&BKg3EH8ZǦ[@4Tm⎈ZHח1$>JM;G*z6qLv}\ush>|y>Z^]A@C^©)$WJY"0Y 䫱#Ci$_  A5w9设ͻOA s0T5ǣꦇ fQrꇋ>}Q7w@{P/jecrzCX|׊eU!7?S}S0Y\g$td{J,"g fЍt^uJƒb JG[nIH_8ck'@f' vM wAY#ڻ %['C*nE a]wxAY}$9HA삹.A_=YoyLV>ž nlqcED,KZJ ny< z0r (3RÐW$he)׹9fYMK 93 @p?~ҠB=tfN4Ot) $c`0T;a߯Ud--hH(RН(yA~9Ok*Y=UALˇ 6K# Z[³Er>jVFZ"+;#"|x,K Mxn=bh*ZfSJ%4]zgn Q'[ٶqs\ jteV41ŕuGS$(yW;:z0Gm08@յb^ n'"ͯs/zek]TԟkYU (w ,ckLv/J|h3}P=h{@EÉWZ11@&9]c`h{:YGJoj2g.(\{ATL ] s: %G%L+ >~LW:Pt }x` r7NtT( ~Qnĺ ٌd оg+pEF"y0#t[拘޿ƈGf1Rkƃ;6eɓ^M1:vONm{9*!)cWZ&c!wbM}П{z* ?vv/#Fz#[[lꁞFP*?)290$M%9'0|)Wu= .@P!U9Ʋ8QɄz"c\9(DyA,"4QzhgDxڼS0 +F[6>$ň(8kEߘ׃gپ!5d*f*Co O.#Gh{$aD* O.'< ot $ͅ{SXi#s@jCIʯCzY30Q9ѰN2,>, S TsR O6-ڡo> .=HP՝t9:Q; B_ .x+~AޜS~|fyy/u7.}abɞ9{O1}*?<V0R\v2WkՔ8|@bXTǡ/k# {!0Cŀ/]l3G_%Ɔ_;$o 48اs5J&=E{DhΚdm;0=ijTii_#EYƘVZ-@3uqI Ș~҅ m91s΋|$#[T?3j4sCQ|K_rc*B@7u*1iPr`V[^yr+z.C$K^ yP8al<id"n- mv XB+Fd;&D3;*]H^@]k-J˰uؑ"$2顴phTT~k(J#rrP?eo];Y[+3Fv wF` `:LƒjC.WgTb)' U*7[ըe.ȕ"%cykk:,@,rqmpƿKE>V g,@ϴnj 29v@4^wtU%șf9Ʉ0cyP'94x ͕#|ÑI߃5HNՠPP\Cf ᝘2rܐ+B7se)w{2{%2j""w[CMVrL1ݬ[o>ur @W.%1R /ubsԺ 6/T.ѽ_]*x`sIeQ d4ˌHE5!䪵 쁝$^h4$2MA5'6MEbűgp.d1*}CknO !F"GN;8u=2:u`ȍix"!s7G3vT MN(g+$pz87[bC]#eq:p1r!wnPBNjz| .*N2;Ѕ#iHR5Rzwk!YhB{mfC82 rlW-d_ $%r(2?H,8Os2&^nkΪq- 0B{ §+φ*UPʹHnK 0xC=oi\#P: b;Փ/)iXP3>jb׻xtK0Lќ=4 %1;[qp;icYAIOSv-<] Ƀ]:0hpЏ1vLC`X N&2}Qy6]ŕeH)codKpߴAp{bm5;u*=L'z|,tTof E1g`E6SסyF{nvJ۷Bt_Ex Q cw!&tR- nx'`Fo5oB51\- 6(WDZ.&OYҵ晘"PK]{8lf|0˃^?- 64W9:)ܙJAlm)3i-8uA1d@iH`hvBq0[IBNla22L`fAR )9Kf 9 m' yԪ>H%eIcb8XGWJhbEZOqu\&UGoJ"3 5ONW=f^a8Oome+~Da *%޼_dqJKOcN eE cLKJM[Y(Zr@n6*42 xq&ӵQ%022 ګʋA긴Ygw5-]lӡXs=E1 \53v[_nguBQ$@C!AcRζ&> Yօ79WH#!_1U'5 >-Of~UK4.Xw!:'EvAa*q ob`O7tPӅIfl3:tQ7ae;b18iO"4aZi iX'J{nVF#%fRֱH68 ||ј.7lT&SGqQ1l"TqW}?"lz)o8Ԛ-jXCz(Lm#/[2-Ѻ֥?@Y0#=+Q0`fE`5+cMKwyvFni6hh`Ũl~DSZRhwTXI1.ߏzq\-$΁GQ*IqEfX!)SR&hY'#K:U`$zCVolxm G;1!J}ʒI[6{LfR[BZF\bTòBzc,(o,<=2m,尟٭16  ;^]m 3]?\g)o?m}7^ݿT7gNV ?e9%i} E{,'`Xw.:6LH&Vn[}o8z&iڶط=v[O`7;&vŒ/=%)sHXcfB?{+ؕ:aXtbH_T+B'͹XiSџ?9Nh Ga% {0O4 :! 2W&8%zg1 & %E:nxޯ4t-rE5[]vT{7i-71Dh X1& {^QC7 zf5]lBQ2[ cm_ <,V.02 #eIx67(zG <4Z:vX^('B# t\8 {G|vWk-"{6X"Y g!5UYJ=}Ռ~:7VkOK}X mPfVN0 :*ZQ<Ys 3oqM6z*GMƨӴyht T:6=OX@)ygZȢm:&PL.gV'j\`XznUAAe "ѩMO9yGbU!g``4vgMτ* #w.-}tVY 6jGSjnSFA+$jAJlG16)C!aNWЯQY֚FkXWk&? 0h#%{1{Z2ٶbW;5;F\ēK7(__۹7&٨j36 '[pAc*ѿh euCXsHžxʕ]veգ|hͬS5mk= >R6=[L{Y# ~jn4N=,ϋ뭨gƧ'>%0ȑ3&i!nY{Y ǎ΋ vdա#\c }aBc?d0ZV@Ŧ75J ӲoLdY/xaRNT!c>%g.yv)X^v@pN7zvzf42[[Q+7( k&vU2xiiS\0GզփQ)U$.:4Ix%Phord6@j#܋kYhV!FA/kuT"5nK1Y2 E9˖[aA NUI;^4e"D|߫MmVcC.pWqE >^D'cyrNCdcw`Ԑ*i\5s7 h7QVK/#^4!/R7mYL yL2?g~w^XDK~ڴu^=x5>:a.ιUjuVepW7z=!`Ti8Wśy[z/QUmj|4rdJj]|`ˎjG'J훁E2e)e^PNJyj(cFĊE_2aҗVX^3nb>o3;&-HsV:X^h?\52_5zQȻ=/$eU٫D|v䍘 EQ{n:|YӾ0K"L:u-tǥ`+PMm^ey L7Lfc^QqRwME9ż.oՌga=h/\1^݂1d Vne\>%l爷3wa22 jvX@h7lXMbar *T^n hշ95bZ3Clb߰Lٜ"l|u g^_iWռl;w,D.-ҭEJ˫Dތ!Zi~ѕ]g퓟48IkA0No}+i+E^Xwi[gKY+L s| hE*_2gM"ӿ?uR2 H6ryh~ dYQ$fc"2z(PXF4vwiK:4_[X~U8uqePScPSjg5TOFTG1G密Չ2nWZpi9j~CЃMS+?ͷ9<*=m?8Gi\[}{P6(Ϛi(%˶h\jjO\_/%: K@,Typ+W[{Dv7^,7r@*c) ̭6b5:,rz>b xrVCCȲmC[$)|fԔ3:w]NXR5HVnST; ݼ8.)Ssfh*UdwҐu,*ڽ}-Ib2UM].[!J!VjAW|i O= M:A,iZIO;]UJc]}ndۮj @0Ɵ6;x?N$m[k Wo*OZ]Qzoj=\x őyv `|WDXѿ))qAMe[} mdUXq]2>CmOp],lp hQ-pS>v}p47a"eFs%fFPl&|4#Ϧ+qYlQ6aл=SJ= Wd,ȊA-F8dSglPήQ]U>/#_r4ZY!}r"]Wec(wܚ;=k^{Իa5|_,)[KLO/DQg¬ܹɻb Mۆkki| 8If\xW]uu $䱴abUr_ۦ~Qh6*X]N;?Uj RDϹe[K frRxnU ssm!XGl1anFśyQ]ZAcYIT]ځE /=ٶ `F;瀷\8>a%U,[Kd:IGE=˖Z~~5DBkxtKs,׽ɘaTlhа0ypKz&Xo=/%*tey횇e &-  Ui륃𰵽AbMUhJyqdE cmvPrl܇U6+F= IG`4q>ؔ_ S BKrG"We71h^alrhH;sf;6 ˰ [a1n7)~.^ƽrH-c\fnyb$@7<1hK򐎩)mk3W2꧂7(jXnqy]V}#SƉfy5=Xm 7B].˦
Enjoying the preview?
Page 1 of 1