Abducted from her convent school, headstrong Scottish beauty Jennifer Merrick does not easily surrender to Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore. Known as "The Wolf," his very name strikes terror in the hearts of his enemies. But proud Jennifer will have nothing to do with the fierce English warrior who holds her captive, this handsome rogue who taunts her with his blazing arrogance. Boldly she challenges his will...until the night he takes her in his powerful embrace, awakening in her an irresistible hunger. And suddenly Jennifer finds herself ensnared in a bewildering web...a seductive, dangerous trap of pride, passion, loyalty, and overwhelming love.

Jennifer Merrick is delightful in every way, even in her fierce misguided loyalty. Royce Westmoreland is the Wolf - Big, ugly, fierce and Jennifer's sworn enemy... she also happens to be his unwilling captive. Of course, she fights him all the way and in every way she knows, but at the same time, she finds herself more and more drawn to him. Not too long after her abduction, Jennifer finds herself wedded to the hateful Wolf and life for the wedded-couple is a series of shocking lows and some highs..

This is one of the all-time Best Historical Novels you are ever likely to read. Buy this book and make sure you clear a special place on your bookshelf for it. This one is for keeps!


My favorite of all... as of 11/7/2000   November 10, 2000
 66 out of 84 found this review helpful

This is my first book of Judith McNaught & surely not thelast! AKOD is simply the best historical romance (or any romancebook) I have ever read so far. I have never read a book like this...It brought different whirling emotions out of me while reading eachpage. I cried, squirmed, laughed, even jump out of my chair inresponse to many scenes & story twist. I simply cannot put itdown. I almost called in sick from work as I stayed up till dawnreading this darn book! I agree with one of the reviewer here inAmazon, I was like a zombie at work too! hehe... I must say thoughthat the effort was pleasingly worth it. I cannot even understand whythe avg rating here is only 4 1/2. I say, it deserves more than justa 5... A 10 would be perfect!

Jennifer & Royce... both heartwarming couple! Different yet perfect for one another. Theirconfusions of love & hate made their love story riveting. Trapbetween love & loyalty for country also made this story moreexciting. Just when you begin to feel they start loving &trusting each other, situations/circumstances forces them to makechoices, which often times, lead them back to where they've started -hate & mistrust. Really exhilarating.... Of course, love wins inthe end ... love set them both free!

I totally disagree with somereviews in regards to Jennifer being so "stupid" for notseeing his family & kin's faults. For me, it is understandable& her loyalty for them actually makes me admire her more. Itwould turn me off if she was easily swayed to give up her family &people without even trying... I say this book is more realistic! Yes,she's blind not to see the true color of her father... but regardlessof his mistakes, they are still her family. She loves her father justlike any daughter would. She also longed to be accepted & lovedby her people ever since she can remember & when they finally gaveher attention and recognition (which was his father's plan just tomanipulate her), it was difficult for Jennifer not to feel otherwise.Her choices, especially during the tournament made me squirm (i won'ttell what she did, don't want to ruin it for others...) Oh, but Icouldn't believe she did that! I wasn't disgusted though, I feltsorry for her. I can tell it was a hard decision for her to make,however wrong it might be. But this is where Judith McNaught reallyproved how she can touch her reader's soul by over turning this badchoice that Jennifer made. J.M. wrote a wonderful come back at theend of this tournament (again, i won't tell...), which proved thatlove is far greater than pride and even life... It is simply amazing!

Each page of this book contains many exciting scenes. Amusingscenes: like the "THIS IS FORTY..." scene, her escaping fromcaptivity, the wedding & etc.... Heart warming scenes: WhenJennifer decided the fate of the boy who threw mudcake at her, WhenRoyce acknowledge her to his people, etc.... I can point outnumerous, numerous gestures in this book that really made my hearttwirl such as Jennifer kissing Royce's battle scars, standing in thebalcony together - sharing minds & dreams. There's more, lots more.... but I think it is best for the reader to find it out themselves.I can assure you, this book is really one of a kind. The one youwouldn't want to miss. If you are a romance book reader, YOU GATTAHAVE THIS ONE.


Breathless   October 27, 1997
 24 out of 25 found this review helpful

Two years ago, my son's babysitter brought a book to my home to read while my son slept. Yes, it had one of "those" kinds of covers and I asked "how could you read this stuff (romance)?" She picked out a section for me to read and I was hooked! I realized you truly cannot judge a book by its cover. In the past two years I have devoured romances and have found that historicals are by far my favorite. Judith McNaught's writing is magical and this book left me breathless. When Jennifer does the ultimate act of love for her husband by swearing fealty to him in front of thousands and losing her father's "love" in the process, I cried. One of the most beautifully romantic moments I have ever read. I am a very discriminating reader and there are many authors in all genres I will not read. Judith McNaught is the first author I recommend to people to thumb their noses at romance (like yours truly used to) and she and I have made several converts! This book and Whitney, My Love are the first two I recommend. Ms. McNaught is magical and romantic and poignant without being sappy and overly emotional. When you want to close a book with a sigh and a good, warm feeling, read any of her books!


Beautiful Medieval romance -- another great one from Ms. McNaught!   October 17, 2005
 23 out of 27 found this review helpful

Judith McNaught has once again spellbound me with another one of her wonderful stories. A Kingdom of Dreams is one of the best Medieval romances I have ever read. There is something about castles, brazen maidens and, more important, gorgeous knights in shining armor disguised as fierce barbarians that make these books irresistible. A Kingdom of Dreams is as good as it gets. Scottish redhead Jennifer Merrick has settled for a life in a convent after she lets her father down in numerous occasions, several of which are of no fault of her own. But her luck changes when she and her sister are kidnaped by English warriors. They keep them captive in an attempt to avoid a battle with the Merricks and make a somewhat peaceful negotiation with them. Jennifer realizes that she is the captive of the notorious Royce Westmoreland, Duke of Claymore, better known as "The Wolf." He has the reputation of being a beast -- a brutal murderer, torturer and rapist. But beneath his tough exterior lies a tender, compassionate man who forgives Jennifer's constant attempts to escape and often humiliates Royce in front of his peers and underlings. The Wolf may have met his match with the proud, brazen beauty, qualities that endear her to him all the more. What follows is a riveting, touching story of love, loyalty and betrayal, especially when Jennifer has to choose between her compatriots and the man she loves. There are many twists throughout the novel.

I read Something Wonderful a few days ago and fell in love with that novel. Now McNaught has endeared me to these wonderful protagonists and this beautiful love story. I loved Royce. He is sensual, heroic, funny and loyal in more ways than one. He is also the proverbial alpha male. He starts out being selfish and temperamental though. His main focus in the beginning is to get inside Jennifer's skirts, regardless of her religious beliefs and the dreams of losing her virginity to a proper husband. That is one aspect of Royce that made him challenging to me. Jennifer is a great heroine. She is feisty, courageous and takes abuse from no one. She is no ninny, that's for sure! And that is what I liked about her the most. The things she puts Royce through in the beginning are hilarious! (Well, except for the horse thing.) But the things she puts him through during the second half of the novel frustrated me. Her lack of faith in him is gruesome at times. I couldn't believe she was so disloyal to the English at times when they treated her better than her father and her compatriots had ever treated her. Her behavior during the jousting tournament is appalling. I realized just how kind and forgiving Royce was then and there. I understand her feelings after the incident with her stepbrother, but still. Anyway, as you can see, this novel made me feel many different things from beginning to the end. The story is magnificent, the setting is quite precise and the characters are incredibly nuance. I loved Royce's knights, especially the taciturn Arik and the obliviously tactless Gawin. Jennifer's talkative Aunt Elinor is also fun. As said earlier, A Kingdom of Dreams is one of the best Medieval romances I've ever read. I read Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's The Wolf and the Dove before I read this one and McNaught achieved the very things that Woodiwiss failed to achieve with her offering: creating a fast-paced story with a much more balanced and developed hero. Ms. McNaught is a must-read romance author. I have purchased Whitney, My Love and Once and Always and I look forward to giving them a whirl.


A story you will fall in love with...   January 5, 2000
 19 out of 22 found this review helpful

When I read this book, I knew I had found something special. Since reading Judith McNaught's "Kingdom of Dreams", I have become and avid reader and devoted fan of JM and all of her miraculous works of literature.

Echoing the accurate words of the book description, this truly is McNaught's most tender love story. You will be swept away into a magical story that will have you laughing, crying, and rediscovering love all over again.

If you are not hooked by the third chapter, I will be *highly* surprised. Jenny is a delight as the book's heroine: a sweet, incorrigible girl who never surrenders and loves with a passion. Royce is equally perfect as the hero: a dynamic warrior whose gruff exterior is not the mask of a cruel man but rather one that hides the tender heart and love he has repressed until Jenny comes along and melts all his reservations away.

Still, Judith McNaught understands that love stories aren't all blissful tales of love and happiness. She adds motivations, obstacles to overcome, hilariously witty dialogue, and irascible secondary characters who are a delight to read.

You truly connect to the characters of the book and are swept away in their story.

"Forty is *this* many!" Classic! (Read it and see what I mean)

And when you have finished this story and have fallen in love with Judith McNaught books as I have, read the (sortof) sequel "Whitney, My Love" and "Until You" and then go from there.

Also, if you are interested in more contemporary novels, try JM's "Paradise". That and "Kingdom of Dreams" are my favorites.

Ciao Bella!