Helpful Score: 3
I've read other Ranney books, but no other has left me filled with such a deep sense of longing: I couldn't wait to see how it ended and then was sad that there was no more. I found the story to be intriguing. Both of the characters are tortured and their sparring relationship forces down the walls each has built.
One review states that the initial sexual encounter was just thrown in to move a floundering story along, but I disagree completely. When it occurred, I was enjoying the way the story unfolded. In fact, I think the surprise I felt at the sudden realization of their feelings was shared by the two characters. It did not feel like a gimmick to me--I loved it and this book.
If you liked the dark, haunting romance of "The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie," you will love this one also.
Rating: 4.75 stars
One review states that the initial sexual encounter was just thrown in to move a floundering story along, but I disagree completely. When it occurred, I was enjoying the way the story unfolded. In fact, I think the surprise I felt at the sudden realization of their feelings was shared by the two characters. It did not feel like a gimmick to me--I loved it and this book.
If you liked the dark, haunting romance of "The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie," you will love this one also.
Rating: 4.75 stars
WOW! This was a strange depressing *extremely* wonderful story!! Think along the vein of "Wuthering Heights." The journey is a long sad one; hard to stick with sometimes but the end of the journey was so beautiful and poignantly written! I cried and though I actually felt my heart sigh along with them.
I did have a couple thoughts along the way but by the time I reached the end I didn't care about them. And this is the *first* PB I will keep a copy of. Enjoy! =)
Cheers!
I did have a couple thoughts along the way but by the time I reached the end I didn't care about them. And this is the *first* PB I will keep a copy of. Enjoy! =)
Cheers!
Helpful Score: 2
Very good story line of how you can find love again & how vengence will not soothe the soul.
Helpful Score: 2
A good book that really could have been so much better. I think it suffered from inadequate tension building between the H&H. They don't appear to like each other much for most of the first half, in spite of their mutually growing - AND mutually annoying - curiosity about each other. The first love scene, when it finally shows up at about the halfway point, almost comes as a surprise. I was of the impression that Ranney just sort of threw it in there when she realized that the story was starting to lag. The hero was lovely and as tortured as you could possibly wish, and the heroine, while original, was never fully developed enough to completely sympathize with. I also noticed that with this book, much like her previous book - The Devil Wears Tartan - Ranney showed an annoying tendency to sort of shortcut some of the drama she spent much of the earlier portions of the book building up to - apparently in favor of a somewhat rushed and glossed over ending. This, probably more than any other little flaw, really annoys me, because I know that she's capable of so much more. As the writer of at least two of my all-time favorite romance novels, she can, and has, done much better with so much less. I wondered a couple of times if she "accidentally" slapped a little extra padding on the summary and published it instead of the real story:P
However, I still recommend it, mainly because it's Karen Ranney! - and for all of its shortcomings, it's still a pretty decent book and worth a read.
Grade: B+
Sensuality Rating - PG-13
However, I still recommend it, mainly because it's Karen Ranney! - and for all of its shortcomings, it's still a pretty decent book and worth a read.
Grade: B+
Sensuality Rating - PG-13
Helpful Score: 2
I found this book very boring because the story goes VERY slow. Also, the author goes way over board with detail of the surrounding (like village, house, etc..) and the H/H feeling about everything. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone unless you want fall asleep.
Helpful Score: 2
A very compelling read with strong characters. I couldn't put it down.
This book was okay, but not a favorite. The relationship between the two is just odd. The reader learned more about the characters, but the chemistry between the two wasn't really there for me. It begins with the hero pining after his first wife. Typically, I like to know the hero loves the current heroine more, but at the end, I wasn't really sure that was the case.
That being said, I would tell someone to go ahead and read it if they typically like Ranney, but i definately wouldn't move it to the top of the "to be read" pile.
That being said, I would tell someone to go ahead and read it if they typically like Ranney, but i definately wouldn't move it to the top of the "to be read" pile.
