John Thornton, Look Back at Me

I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written. The characterization of John and Margaret was very believable. They are portrayed as two very passionate people that have faced and overcome very difficult circumstances and found their way to love. I'm glad that there is fan fiction being written for North and South as it is such a tremendous story. The 2004 BBC television series was excellent and I view this book as a natural spinoff from that show. I am looking forward to seeing more books, i.e., sequels, variations, what ifs, about this and other fine pieces of literature.

I do like the premise of the story and the writing shows promise BUT, it (along with the editing) definitely needs some work.

The only other review I have done on Amazon has been for a cat product that is really fantastic. I am taking the time now because I have really enjoyed Wynyard's books. IF I had reviewed this book after first reading, I would have given it 5 stars. Problem is, she keeps writing and the plots just get better. I LOVE the storyline!! Most unexpected. This book is based on N&S, but of course it is fan fiction, NOT N&S. (That was written by Gaskell you know). There is sex in the book, as stated. So,if you think of John and Margaret as still sitting in the drawing room, or riding a train into eternity, you will not like this book. However, if you want a story about JT and MH that comes alive--this does. Their love is eternal, Margaret gets several new ways to show her independence, Higgins gets a bigger role (a winner for me), Mrs. Thornton is developed nicely and Dillon still gets to help. I LOVE the Christmas day celebration, and the ending. I read the book as soon as I found it, then again a year later--still worth reading. I have read all the books by this author so far, and all are quite different, with very remarkable plots and engaging scenes. The new Wynyard book presenting MT as a mill owner is nicely detailed and I think my favorite....so far. I buy the Kindles and the paper backs. One of the books has Margaret going overboard! I was so shocked I had to reread the paragraph to be sure I got it right. As for prior comments regarding proofing and sentence structure....I did not notice anything that detracted from the story. If you feel the need to proofread and diagram the sentences, recommend the hardcopy book. Circle the errors if any, then go back and read the story with benefit of corrections. I cannot offer any negatives. I think most will enjoy the read regardless of the steamy diversions. There is something for everyone here.

In this sequel, John and Margaret are completely different people. They say and do things the characters in the original North and South would never say or do. **SPOILER ALERT** Does the author really think the John Thornton of the original would take Margaret's hand and put it on the bulge in his lap to prove she was desirable? I kept reading hoping this was just one mistaken scene. I gave up after the strip tease. And that was after the skipping over a lot of the long speeches, not just between Margaret and John but Higgins also. The grammar errors in the text (such as quote marks in the wrong place) were annoying but could have been overlooked if the content was better written. I'm sorry for the bad review, but this was extremely disappointing.

I thought this story was a really good idea. The writing was adept and the sensual scenes were amazing. Other reviewers have written that this is not for young people - but why is that a bad thing? I think it is perfectly appropriate to have an adult version. So often these novels feel incomplete and to describe such intimate scenes so well is a real gift. Thank you for writing this and sharing intimate thoughts which only wisdom can appreciate, write about and understand.

CONTAINS SPOILERS Firstly, I applaud anyone with the gumption to self publish, however the glaring anachronisms ( in 1850's England no one was wished Happy Holidays and John Thornton never "dated" anyone), under development of some good plot points, an over reliance on language and long sections of dialogue that just wouldn't have occurred in the time (the character that is the essentially Mr Bell, seemed to be a very useful combination of Karl Marx and Freud). I was hopeful that the plot twists and differences, that had great potential would re imagine a story I love in a new way would match the obvious connection the author feels to North and South, it doesn't. I guess it's hard to review fan fiction by comparing it to the original, as the point of it is to re shape and re imagine, however in this case it does not work, bizarrely if the analysis Margaret is given by this story and John and Margaret need an honest conversation about pregnancy risks (of she which was extraordinarily aware of in comparison to everything else in her life) this plot would sit much better in a modern setting.

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent !! Could feel his torment & agony& the extreme suffering of his passionate love for Margaret , I would love to find a " John Thornton " in my life. I just loved this book!!.

A touching and romantic journey... About this edition: A couple of times, whole paragraphs were repeated; and A reader's comments on a section were accidently published within, leading me to believe this was once published on a website. Again, Loyal Wynyard's John Thornton and Margaret Hale are definitely not Elizabeth Gaskell's John Thornton and Margaret Hale, but her version of this wonderful couple is sweet and entertaining. ( Read in August of 2012 )

Fate continues to keep the star crossed lovers apart, although their hearts belong together! This story focuses a lot on the thoughts, heartbreak and struggles of John Thornton, as he realizes how deeply he loves Margaret, and how she will be the only woman ever permitted into his heart. I loved how familiar characters were brought back, each finding their own happy ending, and new characters were introduced that added to the story. I loved the steamy love scenes, as John teaches Margaret how to love and trust again, and to discover her own worth and needs as a woman. I highly recommend this to all readers who want to know more about John and Margaret, and their journey to each other, and true love. But be warned, this book veers from the original; from the time that Margaret leaves in the carriage with her Aunt Shaw, when John longingly says; "look back! Look back at me!", the author has given us a different story line. I enjoyed it!

The thing that annoyed me most about this book, apart from the poor editing and grammar, was the complete lack of regard for who the original characters actually are. Margaret was nothing like Margaret. She was a wishy washy airhead. And Mr Thornton had none of the reserve that truly defines his character. Completely unbelievable and made no attempt to write in a way that was faithful to the story and the characters.

I have read a few sequels to N & S and this was better than I expected. I bought it based on the reviews and I wasn't disappointed. I enjoyed it and even re-read it. This is set after Margaret's return to London and Mr Bell's death. Instead of John & Margaret meeting in London on John losing his business, they never meet and John successfully re-builds his business on his own. John writes to Margaret four times in two years without reply and John intends to find out why... The love scenes were, in my opinion, slightly graphic for this setting of such a story but fit in well with this particular telling of it and how it was written as a whole. Overall, a good read.

I love the movie north and south with (Daniela Denny-Ashe especially the handsome Richard Armitage) , i have read many books of the contusion of the movie but this one is very stemming love it

I don't think it is true to the original story. Some of the characters would not have acted in the ways described in the book. It was a reasonable story but I wouldn't be rushing to read it again. There are better sequels.