Above All Others

Rating:
Summary: Passionately Sensual
Review: I had to think about how to rate this book. The writing is quite beautiful, passionately sensual and seductive, dialogs are witty and intelligent. The story is unusual and fast paced. Now the characters, they are very strong and complex and I think that is where the difference in the previous two reviews come, especially as one gets caught up in the story.

In the beginning, Freddie, the Earl of Moncrief is portrayed as what he is, arrogant, proud, stubborn, yet - rather than forgetting about his illegitimate daughter as would generally happen to the nobility - he does recognize her and takes the responsibility to have her raised on one of his estates. You have to admire him for that.

Katherine Sanderson, newly arrived from the country, is discovered coming to the aid of an accident victim by the Dowager Countess Miriam(Freddie's mom). Miriam recognizes the care and compassion in Katherine and hires her on the spot as governess to her infant grandaughter.

When Freddie, finally gets out to the estate to check on the Governess and his daughter, there is an instaneous attraction from both Katherine and Freddie. Eventually, an accord is reached (rather businesslike) whereby Katherine agrees to sleep with Freddie for a pre-arranged length of time with the provision that she be allowed to remain Julie's governess for as long as Julie needs one. For the next few weeks the passion is HOT and heavy and the reader gets wrapped up in the enjoyment of this couple. Katherine is more than a match for this rake in the bedroom department. Of course, it does not last - Freddie discovers a slight handicap with regard to his daughter and turns into a pompous [person] thinking that he has been deceived - Katherine gets on her high horse when she cannot reason with him and before you know it - they are avoiding each other during the day but still coming together in their passion for each other!

When, Katherine finds out Freddie's plans to send his daughter away, she retaliates. It is a battle of wills - an emotional war that no one wins. Throughout the second half of the book you want to scream at Katherine for her pig-headedness and convince her of her folly! Which by the way is exactly the way the book is written - perhaps so one can learn the lessons presented here.

I don't want to give any more of the plot away, I strongly urge you, to use all means to find a copy of this extremely passionate, sensual, and moving book. It is a keeper and I definitely see myself re-reading this in the future!

Rating:
Summary: Passionately Sensual
Review: I had to think about how to rate this book. The writing is quite beautiful, passionately sensual and seductive, dialogs are witty and intelligent. The story is unusual and fast paced. Now the characters, they are very strong and complex and I think that is where the difference in the previous two reviews come, especially as one gets caught up in the story.

In the beginning, Freddie, the Earl of Moncrief is portrayed as what he is, arrogant, proud, stubborn, yet - rather than forgetting about his illegitimate daughter as would generally happen to the nobility - he does recognize her and takes the responsibility to have her raised on one of his estates. You have to admire him for that.

Katherine Sanderson, newly arrived from the country, is discovered coming to the aid of an accident victim by the Dowager Countess Miriam(Freddie's mom). Miriam recognizes the care and compassion in Katherine and hires her on the spot as governess to her infant grandaughter.

When Freddie, finally gets out to the estate to check on the Governess and his daughter, there is an instaneous attraction from both Katherine and Freddie. Eventually, an accord is reached (rather businesslike) whereby Katherine agrees to sleep with Freddie for a pre-arranged length of time with the provision that she be allowed to remain Julie's governess for as long as Julie needs one. For the next few weeks the passion is HOT and heavy and the reader gets wrapped up in the enjoyment of this couple. Katherine is more than a match for this rake in the bedroom department. Of course, it does not last - Freddie discovers a slight handicap with regard to his daughter and turns into a pompous [person] thinking that he has been deceived - Katherine gets on her high horse when she cannot reason with him and before you know it - they are avoiding each other during the day but still coming together in their passion for each other!

When, Katherine finds out Freddie's plans to send his daughter away, she retaliates. It is a battle of wills - an emotional war that no one wins. Throughout the second half of the book you want to scream at Katherine for her pig-headedness and convince her of her folly! Which by the way is exactly the way the book is written - perhaps so one can learn the lessons presented here.

I don't want to give any more of the plot away, I strongly urge you, to use all means to find a copy of this extremely passionate, sensual, and moving book. It is a keeper and I definitely see myself re-reading this in the future!

Rating:
Summary: An effort to finsh reading this book.
Review: I never enjoy giving a book a bad rating. I love reading & most books give me great pleasure, but this story just didn't do it for me. I have read 2 other Karen Ranney books & it seems she has the annoying habit of bringing her lovers together almost immediately in the very beginning of the book & them separating them for the remainder (reuniting them in the last 20pgs or so). KR does write very well & her other 2 books were better done. Above All Others has 2 of the most unlikeable lead characters I've ever read about. Both the hero & heroine are stubborn to a fault, prideful & unreasonable. The heroine is so spiteful & filled w/self-righteousness that I didn't care whether they got back together or not & had to skip pgs just to finish this book (an effort in itself). It seemed amazing that the heroine "hated" the hero & made every effort to keep away from him yet could not resist him sexually & found her self fallling in love w/him (huh?). This book is out of print; do yourself a favor & don't bother trying to get a copy.

Rating:
Summary: An effort to finsh reading this book.
Review: I never enjoy giving a book a bad rating. I love reading & most books give me great pleasure, but this story just didn't do it for me. I have read 2 other Karen Ranney books & it seems she has the annoying habit of bringing her lovers together almost immediately in the very beginning of the book & them separating them for the remainder (reuniting them in the last 20pgs or so). KR does write very well & her other 2 books were better done. Above All Others has 2 of the most unlikeable lead characters I've ever read about. Both the hero & heroine are stubborn to a fault, prideful & unreasonable. The heroine is so spiteful & filled w/self-righteousness that I didn't care whether they got back together or not & had to skip pgs just to finish this book (an effort in itself). It seemed amazing that the heroine "hated" the hero & made every effort to keep away from him yet could not resist him sexually & found her self fallling in love w/him (huh?). This book is out of print; do yourself a favor & don't bother trying to get a copy.

Rating:
Summary: TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Review: If you're looking for a good read, look no further. If you're looking for sexuality, you can find it here. If you're looking for a story that probes human nature, you can find it here. If you're looking for characters with soul, you can find them here. Then, just when you feel things are finally working out, Ranney throws in a twist and a turn, and you're begging for an ending. Ranney's characters are flawed, human, needy, and in control of themselves...most of the time...readers should take nothing for granted...just read on!

Rating:
Summary: TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Review: If you're looking for a good read, look no further. If you're looking for sexuality, you can find it here. If you're looking for a story that probes human nature, you can find it here. If you're looking for characters with soul, you can find them here. Then, just when you feel things are finally working out, Ranney throws in a twist and a turn, and you're begging for an ending. Ranney's characters are flawed, human, needy, and in control of themselves...most of the time...readers should take nothing for granted...just read on!

Rating:
Summary: For the Sophisticated Reader
Review: The signature style of Karen Ranney is her realism. A lot of romantic fiction writers use similar prose with wimpy women and sterling men but not Karen.

In this story an impoverished daughter of a baron is found in the street by the mother of an Earl. The mother is looking for a governess for her granddaugher that was born out of wedlock.

The daughter of the baron, Katherine, is young but shaped by her experiences. She is sophisticated in the ways of the world which makes her very different than a typical romantic heroine.

The earl, Freddie, is self serving, arrogant and handsome. Unashamed of the choices he has made and unwilling to compromise for a child or for Katherine.

When the two meet the attraction is immediate.
But remember the earl is self-serving and Katherine is no fool.

The story develops from there to be a very real story about love and forgiveness.