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lifeand100books's review against another edition
3.0
At times this story dragged and had me just pulling my hair wishing it wasn't so overly drawn out. I stuck with it though because there was something about Glynis and Lennox that just made me want to finish their story.
kaydombrowski's review against another edition
1.0
It felt choppy and very repetitive, kept reading the same feelings over and over again.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
4.0
Good second chance story with a bit of mystery and a different background than most historical romances. I really enjoyed the setting of Glasgow and the merchant classes as a break from London and the nobility. I also learned some things about the American Civil War that I didn't know before. I love it when an author does the research to ensure that their stories are accurate.
Glynis and Lennox had grown up together as neighbors, with Lennox being her brother Duncan's best friend. When she was eighteen, she gathered her courage and told him how she felt and kissed him, only to have him stare at her in shock. To make matters worse, she heard that he was going to marry someone else. She fled to London, where she accepted the proposal of a British diplomat, then going with him to America. Seven years later, she returns to Glasgow as a widow, happy to be back home with her family.
But things have changed. Her family has fallen on hard times thanks to the war. Their cotton mills have been hit hard by their inability to get shipments from the South. Her father died right after she married, and her brother is trying to keep the business going. On the other hand, Lennox and his family have done well with their shipbuilding business. His crafts are in high demand by Confederate blockade runners. She is surprised to find out that he has never married.
The first time that Lennox and Glynis see each other after her return, there are sparks. But Lennox notices changes in her, ones that seem to have beaten down the spirit he remembers. He's missed her and thought of her often over the years. He's intrigued by and attracted to the woman she is now, and is determined to get to know her again.
She is still just as attracted to him, but she can't give in to it. There is too much that she has seen and done that keeps her from believing that she could ever deserve having him back in her life. Her life with her husband hadn't been a happy one. The man she thought he was turned out to be very different. The more I learned about him, the less I liked him. Everything she went through made her a stronger person, even though she didn't always see it. She hopes that being back home will enable her to move on with her life, until someone from her past shows up with plans of his own.
I really enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Lennox and Glynis. She had never doubted her love for him, but because of her past she is determined to stay away from him now. The problem is that Lennox isn't cooperating, and the effect he has on her makes it hard for her to stick with her intentions. Lennox hadn't realized his feelings for her until it was too late, and now that she's back he's determined to get his way. I enjoyed their interactions; thanks to the long history they have together they are frequently very amusing.
There's one scene between them that gets witnessed by a rather nasty woman, who then proceeds to attempt to destroy Glynis and Lennox's reputations, which only forces them together. But both of them let their pride get in the way of sharing their feelings, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of trust. Lennox is also protective of Glynis, if only he could find out just what he's protecting her from.
Both Glynis and Lennox were dealing with the effects of the American Civil War. Lennox and his shipbuilding business have been very successful at building ships that are capable of running the Union blockade of the South. Though Great Britain was technically neutral in the war, there were quite a few businesses that ignored the government's position. There is someone who seems very determined that Lennox not be able to fulfill his latest order. When his purchaser is murdered right there in the shipyard, he's determined to find out who is responsible. Glynis has someone from her past who is blackmailing her, trying to get her to spy on Lennox and his business. She's ashamed of some of the things in her past, and is afraid of what could happen when Lennox finds out. I loved seeing how she found the courage to do what she had to do, and how she went about doing it. There was an interesting twist to the identity of the murderer and it wasn't who I expected it to be.
Glynis and Lennox had grown up together as neighbors, with Lennox being her brother Duncan's best friend. When she was eighteen, she gathered her courage and told him how she felt and kissed him, only to have him stare at her in shock. To make matters worse, she heard that he was going to marry someone else. She fled to London, where she accepted the proposal of a British diplomat, then going with him to America. Seven years later, she returns to Glasgow as a widow, happy to be back home with her family.
But things have changed. Her family has fallen on hard times thanks to the war. Their cotton mills have been hit hard by their inability to get shipments from the South. Her father died right after she married, and her brother is trying to keep the business going. On the other hand, Lennox and his family have done well with their shipbuilding business. His crafts are in high demand by Confederate blockade runners. She is surprised to find out that he has never married.
The first time that Lennox and Glynis see each other after her return, there are sparks. But Lennox notices changes in her, ones that seem to have beaten down the spirit he remembers. He's missed her and thought of her often over the years. He's intrigued by and attracted to the woman she is now, and is determined to get to know her again.
She is still just as attracted to him, but she can't give in to it. There is too much that she has seen and done that keeps her from believing that she could ever deserve having him back in her life. Her life with her husband hadn't been a happy one. The man she thought he was turned out to be very different. The more I learned about him, the less I liked him. Everything she went through made her a stronger person, even though she didn't always see it. She hopes that being back home will enable her to move on with her life, until someone from her past shows up with plans of his own.
I really enjoyed seeing the rekindling of the relationship between Lennox and Glynis. She had never doubted her love for him, but because of her past she is determined to stay away from him now. The problem is that Lennox isn't cooperating, and the effect he has on her makes it hard for her to stick with her intentions. Lennox hadn't realized his feelings for her until it was too late, and now that she's back he's determined to get his way. I enjoyed their interactions; thanks to the long history they have together they are frequently very amusing.
There's one scene between them that gets witnessed by a rather nasty woman, who then proceeds to attempt to destroy Glynis and Lennox's reputations, which only forces them together. But both of them let their pride get in the way of sharing their feelings, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of trust. Lennox is also protective of Glynis, if only he could find out just what he's protecting her from.
Both Glynis and Lennox were dealing with the effects of the American Civil War. Lennox and his shipbuilding business have been very successful at building ships that are capable of running the Union blockade of the South. Though Great Britain was technically neutral in the war, there were quite a few businesses that ignored the government's position. There is someone who seems very determined that Lennox not be able to fulfill his latest order. When his purchaser is murdered right there in the shipyard, he's determined to find out who is responsible. Glynis has someone from her past who is blackmailing her, trying to get her to spy on Lennox and his business. She's ashamed of some of the things in her past, and is afraid of what could happen when Lennox finds out. I loved seeing how she found the courage to do what she had to do, and how she went about doing it. There was an interesting twist to the identity of the murderer and it wasn't who I expected it to be.
waclements7's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Good story, interesting characters--read out of order, and I actually liked the second book better, but still enjoyed this one.
mellymel35's review against another edition
3.0
Story as fairly good. Audiobook reader was horrid!!! Being a frequent audiobook listener, this is important. This guy...I won’t get another by him, no matter the author
theybedax's review against another edition
3.0
Just needed some Scottish accents in my life so I listened to this audiobook. I had a hard time at first with this story since the "good guys" in this story were definitely fighting for the Confederates in Americans Civil War. It turns out that the Scots were well known for building ships and helping the wrong side of history. The story was entertaining but it was so hard to read this tale.
loverofromance's review against another edition
4.0
Glynis Maclain once loved Lennox Cameron, but when he didn’t return her love, she married
someone else and left her home, and went to America, and her life changed forever. She is now a widow, and has finally returned to her home, to her family, but she is determined to not let Lennox break her heart again. Lennox is a shipbuilder, and very successful, but has never married, because there has only been one woman who has held his heart…Glynis. Now that she has returned, a widow, he is bound to show her what they can be together, but only if Glynis will let go of past hurts and betrayals and open herself up for love again…
What I loved most? Everything…hehe I know I know…but I truly loved this one, and what a great beginning to a new series. I really can’t tell you the exact name of the series yet, since that has yet to be revealed, so I have just guessed that it is about “Scottish Dreams” and the second book comes out this spring, which I am very excited about. Karen Ranney is such a wonderful author, and her talent in creating romances is beyond superb. As I am sure you know, Ranney writes her books centered on a Highlander theme, and this book is more in the Regency era. We also see aspects of the civil war, and I loved having that aspect. Its not a major element to the plot, but the certain qualities of it add a certain depth to the story you don’t expect to see. And the supposed villain, kinda turns out to be not what you really expect, and I loved seeing the varying aspects that combine this one into a winning romance that won my attention from beginning to end.
The characters in this story are truly unique and I found their personalities to compliment the plot really well and in ways that surprised me. Lennox Cameron, is quite successful and goes after what he wants. He is a fabulous hero, but I felt like the story focused more on Glynis than it did on Lennox. We see more inside depth on her character, and of her past a bit, and how her previous marriage changed her, but what I also liked is how this story really implements the self discovery of herself even more than you expect, and I liked seeing her inner strength show more, and we see how she is a great match for Lennox. Even though we don’t see as much of his character as we do of Glynis, we do see his struggles a bit, and how their personalities really mesh together in a way that is just wonderful.
This love story is quite a winner for me, I had so much fun with these two, and boy do they know how to add conflict to their relationsip, and they don’t make it easy on themselves and just admit their feelings to each other…oh no they have to do this long mating ritual, but the final outcome is definitely worth the wait. Overall I enjoyed how the different elements of the story come together in the end, for a full satisfying read that will captivate you. A STELLAR ROMANCE!!
someone else and left her home, and went to America, and her life changed forever. She is now a widow, and has finally returned to her home, to her family, but she is determined to not let Lennox break her heart again. Lennox is a shipbuilder, and very successful, but has never married, because there has only been one woman who has held his heart…Glynis. Now that she has returned, a widow, he is bound to show her what they can be together, but only if Glynis will let go of past hurts and betrayals and open herself up for love again…
What I loved most? Everything…hehe I know I know…but I truly loved this one, and what a great beginning to a new series. I really can’t tell you the exact name of the series yet, since that has yet to be revealed, so I have just guessed that it is about “Scottish Dreams” and the second book comes out this spring, which I am very excited about. Karen Ranney is such a wonderful author, and her talent in creating romances is beyond superb. As I am sure you know, Ranney writes her books centered on a Highlander theme, and this book is more in the Regency era. We also see aspects of the civil war, and I loved having that aspect. Its not a major element to the plot, but the certain qualities of it add a certain depth to the story you don’t expect to see. And the supposed villain, kinda turns out to be not what you really expect, and I loved seeing the varying aspects that combine this one into a winning romance that won my attention from beginning to end.
The characters in this story are truly unique and I found their personalities to compliment the plot really well and in ways that surprised me. Lennox Cameron, is quite successful and goes after what he wants. He is a fabulous hero, but I felt like the story focused more on Glynis than it did on Lennox. We see more inside depth on her character, and of her past a bit, and how her previous marriage changed her, but what I also liked is how this story really implements the self discovery of herself even more than you expect, and I liked seeing her inner strength show more, and we see how she is a great match for Lennox. Even though we don’t see as much of his character as we do of Glynis, we do see his struggles a bit, and how their personalities really mesh together in a way that is just wonderful.
This love story is quite a winner for me, I had so much fun with these two, and boy do they know how to add conflict to their relationsip, and they don’t make it easy on themselves and just admit their feelings to each other…oh no they have to do this long mating ritual, but the final outcome is definitely worth the wait. Overall I enjoyed how the different elements of the story come together in the end, for a full satisfying read that will captivate you. A STELLAR ROMANCE!!
shinysue's review
I just couldn't get into this. Maybe I didn't jive with the narrator? Or the unexpected inclusion of different countries? I dunno. Not sure why I'm not interested, I'm just not.
melwasul's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5/5* L'intégralité de ma chronique ici: http://lune-et-plume.fr/retour-a-glasgow-de-karen-ranney/
[...] Mais j’ai quand même passé un très bon moment de lecture. C’est un roman qui se lit tout seul, très rapidement, l’intrigue comme je le disais plus haut est vraiment intéressante que ce soit du côté de la Guerre de Sécession, de l’économie de l’Ecosse à cette époque-là où des aventures de notre héroïne qui sont liées aux éléments précédents. L’écriture est toute douce même si peut-être un petit peu lente par moment, c’est reposant. L’auteure prend le temps de travailler ses personnages qu’ils soient principaux ou secondaires, de les façonner, à tel point que nous avons vraiment envie d’en savoir plus sur certains. Je me doute bien que nous allons en retrouver par la suite en tant que héros, mais il y en a un, j’ai vraiment des doutes et c’est dommage, parce que j’ai vraiment envie d’en savoir plus, de savoir ce qu’il va devenir. Croisons les doigts.
Pour conclure, une lecture agréable, pas la meilleure de la collection pour le moment mais assez chouette pour que je lise le prochain roman de l’auteure qui sera publié en France en septembre. [...]
[...] Mais j’ai quand même passé un très bon moment de lecture. C’est un roman qui se lit tout seul, très rapidement, l’intrigue comme je le disais plus haut est vraiment intéressante que ce soit du côté de la Guerre de Sécession, de l’économie de l’Ecosse à cette époque-là où des aventures de notre héroïne qui sont liées aux éléments précédents. L’écriture est toute douce même si peut-être un petit peu lente par moment, c’est reposant. L’auteure prend le temps de travailler ses personnages qu’ils soient principaux ou secondaires, de les façonner, à tel point que nous avons vraiment envie d’en savoir plus sur certains. Je me doute bien que nous allons en retrouver par la suite en tant que héros, mais il y en a un, j’ai vraiment des doutes et c’est dommage, parce que j’ai vraiment envie d’en savoir plus, de savoir ce qu’il va devenir. Croisons les doigts.
Pour conclure, une lecture agréable, pas la meilleure de la collection pour le moment mais assez chouette pour que je lise le prochain roman de l’auteure qui sera publié en France en septembre. [...]
ameve2's review
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75