Kaye DacusResenhas
Autor(a) de Ransome's Honor (The Ransome Trilogy)
Resenhas
Full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-kaye-dacus-ransomes-honor/
Dylan has come back to Nashville to live with his grandparents, after a teaching assignment goes wrong and he gets fired over living with a professor (who was a control freak and was ruining Dylan's life). Although his grandparents love him regardless, his parents are a whole lot different and very unloving, thinking only of their careers. Dylan's brothers though help him out a lot in this story.
Caylor is 34 and single and leads a very busy and fulfilling life as a professor in the English department. She keeps busy doing many things and living with and helping out her grandmother, Sassy. When Dylan seeks employment at the same college as her and when both their grandmothers think they would be a good match, there is no stopping the spark of attraction these two will begin to share. But both of them have secrets they aren't sharing about their past and when those secrets are revealed, they will realize how much they do have in common. Truthfulness and courage (with some help from friends and loved ones) will help these two find the true 'art of romance'.
Flannery McNeill is an independent headstrong woman, who doesn't want to marry and have to give up her "independence". But when the right guy comes along, it is amazing how ones ideas about marriage and what you have to give up changes to what you gain. Flannery's grandfather and Jamie's grandmother (Jamie is the handsome dude Flannery will fall for) do there best to play matchmaker in this story, while Jamie and Flannery are doing the same to their grandparents. It is a very sweet story. But Jamie isn't what Flannery thought he was, which was an arrogant man who was way to sure of himself. Jamie realizes how much changing he needs to do with his life when he unexpectedly loses his job.
There was a lot of changing and figuring out what people really wanted in this story and I loved all the characters. You are never to old to fall in love! Another great story in this series. Unfortunately, I read this series out of order, so now I need to go back and read book two, "The Art of Romance."
Zarah Mitchell has not had an easy life. Her mother passed away when she was younger, her father kicked her out of the house when she was 18, her boyfriend (Bobby Patterson), has left her for the military (or so she was told) and she ends up finding her mother’s parents and moving in with them while she finishes up her college education and becomes an employee for the Historic Preservation Commission for Tennessee. She is now living in Nashville, has a pretty good job, friends who are always there for her and a ministry at her local church.
So when Bobby Patterson walks back into her life by moving to Nashville for a new job and starts attending her church, both Zarah and Bobby must deal with their past and come to terms with the lies each of them were told by Zarah’s father. Plus, Bobby finds out that his first new assignment with the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit is to see who is involved in a real estate fraud where Zarah works. Life can get pretty complicated.
I thought the author did a good job of keeping the story interesting, and the close friends that Zarah had were really special and fun to be around. I look forward to reading more in this series.
This story was about the oldest son, lawyer Forbes Guidry, who seems to have it all - a good job at a prestigious law firm, voted as Bonneterre's most eligible bachelor, with the looks to go with it, and a family who seems to have it all together and where they all get along and enjoy being around one another.
Enter Alaine Delacroix, one of Bonneterre's most eligible bachelorettes, who has an image of having it all together on her news-magazine program. These two will meet and both share an instant attraction to each other, BUT when Alaine finds out her parents' home and small business it threatened by the biggest corporation in town (which has the Guidry name attached to it), things get a little heated.
Alaine must learn to trust and hires Forbes to go to court for her family, and Forbes takes on this pro bono case and will learn he can't control everything as taking this case will alienate him from his family and perhaps cost him his job.
I liked the way these two main characters interacted with each other. It was fun to watch. I also enjoyed both of their families and the close bond they all seemed to share. It was well written and although there was obvious tension at times in the story, for the most part it was a delightful story, watching two people fall in love amidst a lot of controversy.
However, it's pretty obvious that the two are going to get together in the end.
During a time when women of wealth were groomed only to marry money, a life of service for Katharine was out of the question. I must admit, living in the day and age in which we do, I find it repulsive that women and daughters were treated as possessions. Things to be bartered with by undisciplined and selfish fathers and brothers. This created a wave of sympathy and empathy for Katharine's plight. Although her brother wasn't totally unfeeling, he could find a way to be self-supportive and marry whom he chose. Yet, even that would leave the burden of their family's financial issues on Katharine.
Parents who make mistakes are normal, as I myself can attest to. But parents that make the mistakes and then expect their children to clean up the mess? Unfathomable and disturbing. I honestly did not see a way out for Katharine in this book. Her heart had found the man it could love. But poor and obscure Andrew wasn't the answer to her family's financial woes.
Ms. Dacus is a seasoned author and it shows. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Follow the Heart and will be reading more from her in the future. Scenic settings, great plot structure, and imperfect heroes and heroines? Yes please! I love how her characters were flawed. Self-sacrificing, yet flawed in such a way that made the reader care for them and wish they had a fighting chance.
Highly recommend.
Neal is the local doctor and meets Caddy when he brings her mother to the shop after a fainting spell. He finds Caddy very attractive and though he had told himself he wouldn't get involved with anyone here he is drawn to her. Caddy's mother sees Neal as a perfect husband for her daughter and plots to help them see their need for each other.
A wonderfully written novel with amazing characters and very interesting twists. There's another story in the book that's just as fun. Edith Buchanan is an upstanding woman looking for a husband of wealth and importance. Edith must get the man her sister is interested in to fall in love with herself because she and Oliver had agreed if neither are married by the end of the Great Exhibition they will marry each other and Edith (nor Oliver) want that. An entertaining story that left me wanting to read more of this author's books.
I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The underlying story in the book is a group of Grandmothers who are trying to get their grandchildren married so that they have great-grandchildren running around soon. I found the Grandmothers had the right intentions, although I probably wouldn't like my Grandma meddling in my love life.
The other big story in this book is Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson. They have a history, which is unclear exactly what that is when you start the book. Bobby just moved back home and is trying to get adjusted to a new job and social group along with rejoining his church from his youth. Zarah moved to town after a falling out with her father, her Grandparents live in town. It is set in Nashville, and even though I've never been there the descriptions are so good that I was able to picture how things were. The characters while having a strong faith have their faults and are by no means perfect, which is nice cause it's hard to read a story about someone who is almost too good to be true. I was surprised to find that there was a good mystery element to this story. It was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the two getting back together without all the drama, they seemed very grown up about it.. wanting to clear the air and get everything straight. I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more from this author.
This book gives us two stories, actually, of brother and sister, Christopher and Katharine Dearing. Both are sent to England with the admonition to marry wealth to support their family after their father's disastrous investment back in Philadelphia.
Both Christopher and Kate fall in love with the wrong people, neither of which will be able to help their family back home financially. They must sacrifice their happiness to help family. But is this what God wants for them? Doesn't God want His children to be happy?
Christopher and Kate learn many valuable lessons in this novel, how to follow your heart and also how to trust God to bring happiness to your life and not the decisions you make.
If you miss this book, you miss a wonderful read.
When I started reading this book, I was unaware it was Christian Fiction. It was rather light weight – the preaching, that is – and I was enjoying it. At first.
The writing is good and the plot line is pretty basic. What made this story turn from (as my husband likes to say) “the shit” to “some shit” is a lack of common sense and characters doing things out of their character.
That sounded strange, let me explain:
The book is about a young noble lady (Julia) who was in love with a sailor (William Randsome). He also loved her and her father approved…but he was prideful and did not want to marry her because he was poor. So he gets her hopes up and then dashes them before taking off to parts unknown. She sees hide nor hair of him for 12 years.
During those 12 years Julia moved to Jamaica to live with her mother. She became known for her common sense and ability to run the large plantation that her family owned. Julia moved to live with her father once her mother died. She is 29. At age 30 she will have complete control of her own personal finances ($30,000) and ownership (after her father dies) of the sugar plantation she currently runs.
Julia's father - an Admiral in the Navy - needs to go off for a short tour of duty and in order for Julia to have a female companion – even though she has friends – her father invites her aunt Augusta Pembroke (mother’s side by marriage) to live there. The aunt is grasping, greedy, scheming and a liar. You know, typical romance villain. The aunt has a son, Lord Drake Pembroke, who is a wastrel, a bad gambler, a womanizer, a cheat and he has managed to completely run the family fortune into debt. Which is due now. You know, typical romance villain. Of course, the aunt and son plan to force a marriage between Lord Drake and Julia before she can turn 30 so they can use all her money to have fun, buy crap, womanize, and gamble. You know, typical romance villains.
Julia and her father both realize that the Pembrokes are completely broke, that they have sold off the (Pembroke) family business and that they have nothing but contempt for the Navy. Julia's father is an Admiral in the Navy. Why would Julia's father leave him with Lady Augusta? It makes no sense.
Immediately Lady Augusta isolates a 29 year old Julia to keep her from associating with Navy wives. Ransome is brought in to help take care of Julia and possibly protect her from Lady Augusta. Ooookay.
Time and again the reader is treated to a litany of Julia telling herself how she has to respect her aunt's wishes because her aunt is her elder. Even as she finds out that Lady Augusta and her son are are looking to find a way to force Julia to marry Lord Drake so that he can take over her money. Even as she finds out that the Pembrokes are plotting to try to compromise her. It got really old really fast. You would think that Julia was 12 and not 29.
Throughout this somehow Julia and Ransome fall in love again.
More to come.
When I started reading this book, I was unaware it was Christian Fiction. It was rather light weight – the preaching, that is – and I was enjoying it. At first.
The writing is good and the plot line is pretty basic. What made this story turn from (as my husband likes to say) “the shit” to “some shit” is a lack of common sense and characters doing things out of their character.
That sounded strange, let me explain:
The book is about a young noble lady (Julia) who was in love with a sailor (William Randsome). He also loved her and her father approved…but he was prideful and did not want to marry her because he was poor. So he gets her hopes up and then dashes them before taking off to parts unknown. She sees hide nor hair of him for 12 years.
During those 12 years Julia moved to Jamaica to live with her mother. She became known for her common sense and ability to run the large plantation that her family owned. Julia moved to live with her father once her mother died. She is 29. At age 30 she will have complete control of her own personal finances ($30,000) and ownership (after her father dies) of the sugar plantation she currently runs.
Julia's father - an Admiral in the Navy - needs to go off for a short tour of duty and in order for Julia to have a female companion – even though she has friends – her father invites her aunt Augusta Pembroke (mother’s side by marriage) to live there. The aunt is grasping, greedy, scheming and a liar. You know, typical romance villain. The aunt has a son, Lord Drake Pembroke, who is a wastrel, a bad gambler, a womanizer, a cheat and he has managed to completely run the family fortune into debt. Which is due now. You know, typical romance villain. Of course, the aunt and son plan to force a marriage between Lord Drake and Julia before she can turn 30 so they can use all her money to have fun, buy crap, womanize, and gamble. You know, typical romance villains.
Julia and her father both realize that the Pembrokes are completely broke, that they have sold off the (Pembroke) family business and that they have nothing but contempt for the Navy. Julia's father is an Admiral in the Navy. Why would Julia's father leave him with Lady Augusta? It makes no sense.
Immediately Lady Augusta isolates a 29 year old Julia to keep her from associating with Navy wives. Ransome is brought in to help take care of Julia and possibly protect her from Lady Augusta. Ooookay.
Time and again the reader is treated to a litany of Julia telling herself how she has to respect her aunt's wishes because her aunt is her elder. Even as she finds out that Lady Augusta and her son are are looking to find a way to force Julia to marry Lord Drake so that he can take over her money. Even as she finds out that the Pembrokes are plotting to try to compromise her. It got really old really fast. You would think that Julia was 12 and not 29.
Throughout this somehow Julia and Ransome fall in love again.
More to come.
Kaye Dacus
Two zany grannies scheme to unite their artistic grandchildren. When twenty-eight year old Dylan Bradley, a former steamy romance illustrator, meets Caylor Evans, he’s trying to build up a new professional reputation while recovering from a bad breakup with an older woman. Meanwhile, thirty-four year old Caylor, having once written titillating romances under a pseudonym, now pens inspirational novels. When they form a professional alliance and Caylor’s manuscript is paired with Dylan’s proposed sketches for its book cover, suspicions arise. Can Dylan and Caylor discover the true art of romance while hiding secrets from their past?
I enjoy a good book. This was one that delivers on a good laugh and an enjoyable story line. The author does a good job with story line and eenjoyable characters that are likeable. I always like a mystery of any kind. It is always true that we hide our sins from the world, although they are always on display in front of our Lord.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Barbour Publishing, Inc. for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
3.5 stars
When I picked up this book, I did not realize that it was the third book in a series called The Matchmaker. I enjoyed this book as a stand alone but would really love to read the others to get a broader sense of the backstory.
For those wondering, here are the other books listed as part of this series according to Goodreads.
Book 1- Love Remains
Book 2- The Art of Romance
Book 3- Turnabout's Fair Play
In this sweet story we find four main characters; Grandma Maureen O'Connor and her grandson, Jamie, and Grandpa Kirby McNeill and his granddaughter, Flannery. (called Flan) While Maureen and Kirby work to set their grandchildren up in a relationship together, Jamie and Flan conspire to do the same for their aging grandparents. At first, neither party is fond of the idea but it doesn't take long before the paradigm starts to shift.
The main story is about Jamie and Flan and the obstacles they must overcome to build a relationship. From past heartaches to questions about the future, the story is fully developed and believable. These characters definitely have their flaws (don't we all?), but Dacus brings them to life in a realistic way without an over-abundance of emotional drama.
Turnabout's Fair Play is an easy read with plenty of humor. There is a fair amount fo religious references throughout the story that served to add to the overall goodness of the plot. This was my first time reading this author and I really like her style of writing. I am looking forward to reading the other two novels.
Recommended.
It started slowly for me than I got to the point that I did not want to put it down. I believe this is the first book I have read from Kaye Dacus. I hope to read more from Kaye in the future.
Flannery is moping because her best friend is getting married and her other one is engaged to be married. She is afraid they will leave her behind like what happened to her when her sister's got married.
Their grandmothers were all moaning that none of their grandchildren were married so they stepped in with a goal of getting at least one grandchild of each of them married. Only Maureen had just one grandchild and Jamie was not interested at the time.
Flannery thought Jamie was stuck up and did not like him. Jamie was interested in her but tended to be a dork around her. Flannery grandfather Kirby
was comming to visit her each weekend so his church would except his retirement. Because he tried to retire two years ago and church asked him to keep working till they found someone. So he decided to be out of town on weekends.
Maureen met Kirby when he came to church with his granddaughter Flannery and they thought to set up Flannery and Jamie. Jamie noticed how they were interested in each other so tried to arrange them to get together.
Jamie thought he was getting promoted instead their company was sold and his whole department was let go. Jamie was thinking of making some changes and going back to school. Got back with friend who he lost touch with 5 years ago. Jamie asked if Kirby wanted to stay with him on weekends because he had extra bedroom. So they double dated some.
It is a charming story. Its has no sex scenes, talks about church and prayer. Lots of different friendships and how important they are.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest reviews.
Ransome's Quest is the third book in the Ransome Trilogy by Kaye Dacus. Set in the Regency era and featuring pirates, Royal Navy officers, and wealthy plantation owners, Ransome's Quest has a unique setting with lots of adventure. The book was more fiction than romance, but that was somewhat expected from the synopsis. I think it would have been easier for me to get into the book if I had read the first two books (Ransome's Honor and Ransome's Crossing) prior to reading Ransome's Quest. I don't recommend reading it as a stand-alone novel. There was some backstory given, but not until later in the book and I always had the feeling that I was missing something. Thankfully, once I got about halfway into the book, the plot really caught me and carried through until the end.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher as part of First Wild Card Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Forbes Guidry, perpetual bachelor, is a successful lawyer (partner in the firm). He sees his cousin Anne and his sister Meredith are happily married and at his age (near 40) decides that he needs to start seriously thinking about finding a wife.
Aliana Delacroix hosts a daytime news magazine at the local TV station. They've met a few times but when they are thrown together at a new dance studio the sparks begin to fly.
Aliana in the meantime is looking for a lawyer to help her parents and their neighbors defend their homes from a major development takeover. Forbes offers his services pro bono before he realizes that this will pit him against his family and the law firm he is part of.
Having read the first two in the series, I can honestly say that it saddens me that there is only a trilogy with these characters. The series was uplifting both spiritually and emotionally, the characters were people that I would like to meet and the town sounds like a winner... IMO the series definitely is!
Este site usa cookies para fornecer nossos serviços, melhorar o desempenho, para análises e (se não estiver conectado) para publicidade. Ao usar o LibraryThing, você reconhece que leu e entendeu nossos Termos de Serviço e Política de Privacidade . Seu uso do site e dos serviços está sujeito a essas políticas e termos.
I liked the hero Andrew who was a landscape architect and the fact that Kate loved gardens. She had a noble obligation to do what was best for her family but her heart had other ideas. Likewise, her brother Christopher, found love in an unexpected circumstance. They both sought God to resolve their problems and learned that they had to listen to God and not go off on their own way.
I l8ke to learn about historical events and this was a good peek into the exhibition instigated by Prince Albert in 1851.
* I purchased a copy of this book from a library sale. All opinions are my own.*