Rating: 
Summary: Tapestry
Review: If you enjoy high drama with extreme emotions, you'll thoroughly enjoy Tapestry!When I first glanced at the cover and read the back, something akin to the old TV series of Dark Shadows came to mind, but it is nothing like it. Despite the odd mask aspect, it's a moving love story and is definitely worth your time to read it!
Rating: 
Summary: Ranney¿s 1st published book, what an entry!.
Review: Karen Ranney's "Tapestry" stole my heart. This is romance at its finest, a beautifully written love story. Ranney delivers a coup by dividing this dazzling story into two books. Book one is the rekindling of youthful love, the acceptance, the joy, the discovery. Book two is a heart wrenching journey through the seven stages of grief. The reader walks with the heroine into the pit of despair. But in the end, the story becomes a phoenix and rises from the ashes of grief. In the opening pages, the author inscribes, "Laughter can follow tears." Amen. Laura Blake was a lonely intelligent child, and in love with her neighbor, Dixon Alexander Weston. Ten years older, Alex was Laura's knight in shining armor. Her friend, her confident, and her fantasy. Alex went away to war, to serve England - his duty, his honor, his courage. Years pass and he returns to his childhood home - a disfigured, lonely man. His desire is to remain in seclusion. Laura interferes and skillfully draws her hero away from his misery and loneliness. Together they share one year in paradise, but England calls again -- his duty, his honor, his courage. A mesmerizing romance filled with emotion, torment, and triumph. Memories will linger with the reader long after they turn the final page. This was Karen Ranney's first-published book, and what an entry into the field of romance. "Tapestry" is a very special love story, a book that will never leave my keeper shelf. Out of print, very hard to find, but what a story. Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: Ranney's 1st published book, What a Debut!.
Review: Karen Ranney's TAPESTRY stole my heart. This is romance at its finest -- a beautifully written love story.
Ranney divides her dazzling story into two sections. Section one is the rekindling of youthful love -- the acceptance, the joy, the discovery. Section two is the heart wrenching journey through the seven stages of grief. In the end, the story is a phoenix and rises from the ashes -- of grief. At the opening, the author writes, "Laughter can follow tears". AMEN!
Laura Blake was a lonely intelligent child, and in love with her neighbor, Dixon Alexander Weston. Ten years older, Alex was Laura's knight in shining armor -- her friend, her confident, and her fantasy. Alex went away to war, to serve England - his duty, his honor, his courage. Years pass and he returns to his childhood home - a disfigured, lonely man. His desire is to remain in seclusion. Laura interferes and skillfully draws him away from his misery and loneliness. Together they share one year - a year in paradise. Regrettably, England calls again -- his duty, his honor, his courage.
A mesmerizing romance filled with emotion, torment, and triumph. Memories will linger with the reader long after they turn the final page. This was Karen Ranney's first-published book, and what an entry into the field of romance! TAPESTRY is a very special love story, a book that will never leave my keeper shelf.
Unfortunately, this book is out of print and very hard to find, but what a story!
Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating:
Summary: A sensuous, well-written story
Review: Most of these reviews nail this book quite well. The first half is delightful, the second half is heart-breaking, the ending is uplifting. There is nothing cookie-cutter about this book. The description of the stages of grief in this story is so masterfully written, so well articulated I would recommend it to anyone who has lost a loved one and can't bear the thought of living alone. This was a wonderful story, beautifully written. All of her books are really well crafted tales. Read them all.
Rating:
Summary: A Keeper!
Review: This book is what historical romance is all about. Passion, love, redemption as well as the pain of war are all included in this book. Reading this book can bring tears to your eyes and laughter as well. Hard to believe this is a first book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent writing.
Review: This was an extremely well written book. The hero & heroine were well fleshed-out & both were extremely likeable characters. The love scenes between them are hot & the first half of the book is a really enjoyable read. Most of the second half, as mentioned by another reader, is almost unbearable to read. It is heartwrenching; one particular scene (which I cannot reveal) was especially upsetting and I thought just too depressing for words. The ending, thank goodness, does lighten up again. I do not enjoy books with excessive sadness, particularly fictional romances, and this one had more than enough of it filled w/sorrow. If the story was not so maudlin I would have given it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent writing.
Review: This was an extremely well written book. The hero & heroine were well fleshed-out & both were extremely likeable characters. The love scenes between them are hot & the first half of the book is a really enjoyable read. Most of the second half, as mentioned by another reader, is almost unbearable to read. It is heartwrenching; one particular scene (which I cannot reveal) was especially upsetting and I thought just too depressing for words. The ending, thank goodness, does lighten up again. I do not enjoy books with excessive sadness, particularly fictional romances, and this one had more than enough of it filled w/sorrow. If the story was not so maudlin I would have given it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: EMOTION-CHURNING 'BEAUTY & THE BEAST' LOVEFEST.............!
Review: When I read the title & synopsis, I knew this novel'll be a 1st-rate weeper. But I was positively astonished by how highly-charged it turned out to be. Even the cover says it all, a dark-haired hero wearing a mask & a glove gazing somberly at the angelic heroine. What a pair ! The 1st half of the book is amusing & delightful. Infatuated since childhood, Laura dressed up as a grubby maid to win Alex's shielded heart and - thanks to her adoring uncles - managed to enrage & charm Alex with her constant & indiscriminate devotion. The 2nd half is almost too painful to read (don't get me wrong, I consumed the book in 1 sitting), as Alex was called to war again & tragedy struck in the hardest way imaginable. The ending is too wonderful - not the usual 'all is well' - to describe, tears & laughters included & wrapped up in a 380-page package. I was so impressed by this incredibly moving keeper that I went on a mission to collect all of her titles from the Auctions & so far 6 Ranney PBs have proudly graced my shelf. What the heck, go buy yourself a xmas gift & share it with your friends afterwards !
|
