The Rana Look

Rating:
Summary: Classic Sandra Brown
Review: "The Rana Look" by Sandra Brown is one of the author's earlier Loveswept works and one her best. In 211 pages, Ms. Brown gives the reader a story that beauty is not always everything. It's a great read, but it could cost a little less.

Rating:
Summary: Not necessarily worth it
Review: Definately not Ms. Brown's best. The book reads like a diluted version of her best work. The characters, Rana and Trent, lack depth, and the ending is very stereotypical and predictive.

Rating:
Summary: Look beyond The Rana Look
Review: Even glossed up and repackaged with the frills, Sandra Brown's reprint of her Loveswept classic remains a timeless simple romance of how runaway model Rana Ramsey has decided to abandon her career and seeks reclusion in a boarding house in Gavleston owned by the affectionate Ms. Ruby. Her nephew - a football quarterback - Trent Gamblin comes to retreat for a period of convalescence before embarking on a summer camp. Trent is intrigued by the prim and proper Ms. Ramsey and wonders why she is hiding behind unflattering apparel. When love strikes, he wonders whether Ms. Ramsey is really the simple girl she proclaims....

Within a laconic 200 pages, Sandra Brown weaves a textured romance with sensual sparks and wispy humour that sizzles with chemistry from Trent and Rana. Yet what makes The Rana Look exceptional is its underlying theme on beauty and inner character which makes it relevant in the times of superficial consumerism. Trent finds himself comfortable with a woman without frills; Rana learns to live for herself rather than being manipulated by her shallow mother. It is ultimately about choices and acceptance of one self.

Detractors may say it is not deeply insightful but be reminded that this is but romance. There are enlightening valuable lessons that are subtly broached in this first-rate romance which is entertaining if you skim on top of the surface; deeply moving if you discern it as more than a romance and look beyond The Rana Look.

Rating:
Summary: Good but ....
Review: First let me say that I did enjoy this book. I debated between three and four stars for while, probably more of a three and half but it's got so many five star review, I figured another three wouldn't hurt. It was a fun enjoyable light read. It didn't make you put on your thinking cap, the characters were likable. It a great afternoon of fluff.

But it left me feeling... odd. Maybe it was the overflow of beautiful, famous people, or the 2 dimensional secondary characters. But I think what really got me was the classic Clark Kent/Superman switch-e-roo. Just because this apparently drop dead gorgeous woman puts on a pair of glasses and some frumpy clothes, she's suddenly this hideous beast. She loses all of her feminine appeal. I mean I can understand that it was fairly essential to the story but it just didn't seem believable to me. It just kept making me want to laugh. I mean sure supermodels spend hours working themselves up but the basic building blocks have to be there. You can't hide that kind of thing behind glasses and suddenly be totally upappealing to the opposite sex.

It just reminded me too much of good ol' Clark running in right after Superman left, wearing the "ultimate disguse," a pair of hornrim glasses, and no one putting together the logical conclusion.

Anyway, again enjoyable book but...

Rating:
Summary: Great weekend read!
Review: Great book! A quick read with a great love story! Perfect if you are looking for a book to read over a weekend. I enjoyed it a lot.

Rating:
Summary: Great weekend read!
Review: Great book! A quick read with a great love story! Perfect if you are looking for a book to read over a weekend. I enjoyed it a lot.

Rating:
Summary: "Her books keep getting better and better!"
Review: I am a HUGE fan of this writer's. And all I can say is that Sandra Brown's writing keeps getting better and better! Love her characters..they are always easy to connect with and I love her plots...they are always interesting, different, and well-developed.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good!!!
Review: I don't think that Sandra Brown has ever written a bad book. It is a quick easy read. Always with a good love story and happy ending.

Rating:
Summary: A Romance writer above the others.......
Review: I have always enjoy Sandra Brown's romance books and this one is no different. I feel like her books are believable though they are labeled romance. I enjoy the characters Trent and Rana(Ana)tremendously. The book subject was about Rana getting tired with her life as a supermodel and how she goes into seclusion for six months and rents a room far away from New York City. As usual the heroine(Ana aka Rana) fights off the attraction of Trent (the alpha male) but eventually succumbed to liking him to loving him. I like that the book teaches you that beauty is not whats only on the outside but what a man and woman character and personality is all about.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad.
Review: I picked this up at the airport recently and read it during a long flight and layover. I didn't know it was a reprint of an older book, though I should have known from the quality!

The story was just "ok." I felt it could have been a lot more interesting. I have a hard time believing that frumpy clothes and sunglasses could hide "the world's most famous supermodel", especially considering how easily recognized most celebrities are in People magazine, even with sunglasses and baseball caps on!

Trent and Rana were interesting characters though, and the story flowed well and was easy to read. The basic idea is that Rana gave up her supermodel career because she was sick of her overbearing mother constantly pushing her in to things she didn't want. She put on the sunglasses and frumpy clothes and became the prudish "Ana" who rented a room from an elderly lady named Ruby. Ruby's nephew Trent came to stay for a few weeks, to heal up his shoulder before returning to his job as a pro football quarterback.

Trent shows interest in Ana, which surprises her since she is supposedly so hideous in her frumpy clothes. They end up falling in love, but having a predictable fallout before making up and living happily ever after.

Overall, I have a hard time giving this book more than 3 stars. I did read it and somewhat enjoy it, but I found the plot and characters a little cliche and unbelieveable. It's a good airplane read though, as it's quick and easy! There are much better romance novels out there, so I only recommend this one in a pinch.