China’s Zhang Yin has become the richest woman of the world exceeding the enormous amounts of wealth of the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. She is the founder of Nine Dragons Paper, which buys scrap paper from the US for use in China. 49 years old and still striving forward, Nine Dragons’ shares have almost tripled in value since they were listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Zhang Yin managed to top the list with a whopping accumulated wealth of $3.4bn (£1.8bn).
Judith McNaught’s romance novels are to die for. It portrays worlds of elegance, passion, intrigue and love like no other author can. Almost all romance book readers are avid fans of her books. Judith McNaught started out with the book Whiteney My Love, a historical romance book and went on to write contemporary stories of which her latest novel has been Every Breathe You Take which was released late last year.
I have read all of her books except for the book Water’s Edge which has a shroud of mystery surrounding it since many books portray its advertisements but I have never come across the book in any bookstore nor in any e-stores such as Amazon.com which sells almost everything. I read from somewhere that the Water’s Edge never was published but the original story line for Water’s Edge was modified and finally was released as Someone to Watch Over Me which was released prior to her latest novel.
Below I outline some of my most favorite books by Judith McNaught:
1. Whitney My Love: The adventures that Judith MacNaught takes us on through in this book makes it an enjoyable read. Whitney as a child feels as she should make up for the fact that her father doesn’t have a son and engages is all such activities to make her father proud which has the reverse effect in fact. She falls for a guy named Paul and goes out of her way to impress him and fails miserably. Her aunt and her husband, summoned by Whitney’s father comes to take Whitney away to Paris where she grows into a beautiful woman courted by all eligible men of the ton. The story starts when the Duke of Claymore purchases Whitney as his bride without her knowing about it. Sparks begin to fly but the undeniable passion that flares between Whitney and the Duke becomes Whitney’s undoing..
2. Until You: Featuring Whitney’s husband, The Duke of Claymore’s younger brother Stephen Westmoreland, this is an enjoyable read packed with romance, passion and intrigue. There are times when you are so happy you tend to smile and cry with frustration and sorrow at what they both go through to come out victorious in the end.
3. Something Wonderful: 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.
3. Double Standards: One of Judith McNaught’s forays into contemporary novels, makes for quite an exciting read. The ruggedly handsome president of Global Industries handled his business the way he handled his women-with charm, daring, and ruthless self-control. A man used to the very best, Nick hired Laura Danner, and assumed that the proud beauty would soon be another easy conquest. But Laura’s flashing wit and rare spirit dazzle him-and slowly, against his will, he was intrigued, challenged-and in love. Yet Laura was living a lie, a charade that became more dangerous with every passing moment. Trapped in a web of deceit, she fought her growing love for Nick. Her secret could destroy his fragile trust-and the promise of life with the most compelling man she had ever met!
4. Paradise: One of the most enjoyable novels by Judith McNaught, contemporary style. I nearly cried at the pain, betrayal and injustice and finally the love the hero and heroine find together. Meredith Bancroft is blonde, beautiful, successful – and alone. She remains mysteriously aloof from the Chicago society in which she circulates. Her secret lies with dynamic tycoon, Matthew Farrell.
5. Perfect: This story is just Perfect. A must read for all romance readers.. Julie Mathison has constructed a perfect life for herself. Nothing and nobody can destroy her happiness – until she meets the man of her dreams. Zack Benedict is on the run, accused of murder. Desperate to prove his innocence, he uses Julie as a pawn in a dangerous game.
6. Someone to Watch Over Me: Leigh Kendall reveled in her Broadway acting career, and her marriage to Logan Manning, scion of an old New York Family. When her husband finds an old country cabin, he decides to build their dream house and surprise Leigh with her first view of the mountain property. Following a Sunday night performance, Leigh heads north to join him, but is run off the road fighting the elements of a blinding blizzard. When she awakes in the local hospital, seriously injured, she asks for her husband. The police arrive to inform her that he has mysteriously disappeared, and Leigh, although obviously distraught, becomes the focus of their suspicions. Leigh plunges into a desperate search to find him…and into a menacing web of secrets, deception, and danger. The more she uncovers about her husband and his business affairs, the less she realizes she knew about Logan Manning. Now, with no one to help her, she is heading deeper and deeper into unknown territory…where friends and enemies are impossible to distinguish, and where the truth becomes the most terrifying weapon of all.
Last night saw the crash of another aeroplane into a New York Building.
Could this be the work of American government to bolster its much waning support for its so-called “war on terror” which in reality is a war carried out on Muslims so that Bush could go up on the podium, open his big mouth and say “What we have been given is another ‘Wake Up Call’ that the threat of terrorists remain a viable one, bla bla bla, so the war must go on, bla bla, its for the SAFETY of our countrymen”
Yay!! and he wins over every one of the fools who prefer to be led around on this fool’s errand of his.
Being the book hungry worm that I am, (no regrets at all whatsoever about the fact), I am kind of looking forward to some novels by authors whose books that I love dearly. Some are to come out next month.. and some later than that.
1. Shadow Dance by Julie Garwood: This book which is to come out in December of 2006 is a much awaited novel of her fans. the story centers around the handsome and dashing Noah Clayborne who has featured in many of Julie Garwood’s contemporary novels featuring the Buchanan Family, such as Heartbreaker and Mercy. The heroine is none other than Jordan Buchanan, the sister of Theo (my favorite Julie Garwood hero of all time) and Nick Buchanan from Mercy and Heartbreaker respectively. I can’t wait to get my hands on this book and read the fascinating journey that they make separately to find each other, at long last. (I sure love the cover of this book. Has got this mysterious aura thing going on.)
2. Reluctant Mistress, Blackmailed Wife by Lynne Graham: This will supposedly hit the e-book stands next month. I love books by Lynne Graham because she portrays a world which is so foreign to most women and something that only we can dream about most of our life. Dashing heroes clashing with their match in every way, losing patience and regretting the burst of emotion from men who try to put out the image of being cold and heartless. Am certain this story would make a wonderful read as any of her books.
(rubbing hands together) cant wait!!!! 
3. Stay Through The Night by Anne Mather: Since I read Anne Mather’s His Virgin Mistress a few years back by chance, I have loved her style of writing although I don’t get the opportunity to read a lot of her books. Although the paperback version of the book has already being released this book hits the e-book stands in November as well.
Work of Art 