Customer Reviews

Keegan's Lady

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In Keegan's Lady, Catherine Anderson creates powerful story of love's ultimate triumph in a marriage of convenience. With the backstory of rape and revenge driving two very individual lovers, she creates an emotionally charged and poignant book in a 19th century historical setting. Her characters are quite human, with the imperfections that make the story and characters all the more believable.

Ace Keegan, an archetype alpha male, is fearless, dominating, and protective. His quick temper and impatience damages the reputation of his enemy's daughter when she interrupts his attempt to avenge his stepfather's murder. His strong sense of honor makes amends by marrying the flame-haired Caitlin O'Shannessy.

Ace quickly finds that Caitlin is fearful of all men except her younger brother because of her father's abuse and a brutal rape. Tension between the two lovers builds as Ace patiently nurtures Caitlin through her debilitating fears. Finally, the proud spirit burning within the damaged heart of Caitlin is able to conquer those phobias and learn to love.

As always, Catherine Anderson laces together a story of secrets and mystery, with tender romance and justice in an unfair world. Keegan's Lady written in 1996 remains an irresistible love story and a must read for any romance fan!

When I first started reading this book, I didn't think I'd finish it. The first chapter started out interestingly enough but I was unable to get into the story after that. But having made a promise to myself to finish every book I start, regardless of how horrible it is, I proceeded to read "Keegan's Lady" and Boy! Am I glad I did!

"Keegan's Lady" quickly became an enchanting love story between Ace Keegan, a dark gunslinger bent on revenge after the wrongful death of his stepfather at the hands of Caitlin's father, and Caitlin O'Shannessey, a tortured young woman who, at the abuse she's suffered at the hands of her father, has developed a mistrust and deep fear of all men.

Admittedly, I first found myself becoming slightly annoyed at Caitlin's jumpiness around her husband and his brothers and then my annoyance was replaced with sympathy and understanding as pieces of her abusive past were revealed. Admiring the way he gently dealt with his new bride, I quickly fell in love with Ace - a gunslinger with a heart of gold. What a hero!

I really liked the character of Ace's younger brother, Joseph, and am hoping that there is another book featuring his story. Being that this is the first book by Catherine Anderson that I've read - I plan on doing some searching for more books pertaining to the Keegan-OShannessey storyline.

There are plenty of laugh out loud moments in this book, as well as a few moments that make you hug the book to your chest and take a deep heartfelt sigh. I really enjoyed reading "Keegan's Lady" and agreed with another reviewer who felt like an epilogue was much needed. All in all, this is a highly recommended read.

Keegan's Lady wasn't the first of Catherine Anderson's books that I'd read, but it was most certainly my favorite. Ace Keegan, his brothers, and Caitlin's cat amused me to no end. It was great fun to read a book that actually made me laugh aloud - even if it did draw strange looks from my co-workers! I hope that someday Ms. Anderson will revisit these characters and tell us more hilarious love stories about the brothers! I read this book again every few months and I still love it.

I've read and re-read it and it never stops thrilling me. And there is a modern day connection; the Keegan's and the Paxton's are the ancestors to the Coulter's!("Baby Love" all the way thru to "My Sunshine")
I love the way her characters are all flawed, usually one more than the other, and together, through love, healing happens. The Catherine Anderson reading experience is a satisfying one. I heartily recommend just about every one of her books!
Great news, a sequel to Keegan's Lady: "Summer Breezes" will be available in January of 2006. December of 2005 there will be a book of short stories, one of which is written by Miss Anderson called "Beautiful Gifts", in a book called "The True Love Wedding Dress". Both are sequels to Keegan's Lady. I know what MY holiday gifts to myself will be!

I have been reading romance novels for more than 10 years. I read Keegan's Lady about 4 months ago. I can honestly say this is the first time I have read a book where I really respected the hero and would want to meet him. I thought the way Keegan stood by her through everything was wonderful. I did not want the book to end. I wish Ms. Anderson would write a book about the other brothers, just so I could get more of Keegan. I have read alot of books I liked, but I believe this is the best.

Ms. Anderson's writing would make any story easy and enjoyable to read but with a fun plot like this one - there is no way to lose! Our heroine has lived a horrible childhood and is unable to trust anyone but her brother. Which does not put her in good stead when Ace's plot for revenge puts her in a compromising position and they must marry.

But, she learns to trust him and find her place among his family.

(For all you musical fans - with all the brothers around the house and a woman's touch softening their rough edges this book definately had the feel of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.)

I liked the book so much I couldn't put it down. Now I have to go buy all her others!

I loved these brothers. The whole story line of this book was wonderful. Characters I will never forget. I never wanted this book to end. I wish there was a second book to continue the story. Every woman would like to meet Ace Keegan. I know I would.

The heroine in this book was too much of a victim for me. Every dimension of her being harkened back to the abuse suffered at the hands of her dastardly father.

The main problem with this book is that it lacked shades of grey and romance. The heroine was goodness and womanhood personified. Yeah, she could be a bit of a pain, but it was not her fault. Look at her father.

The hero was the perfect man. So handsome. So rich. So unbelievably kind and understanding. So ahead of his time in terms of being non-judgemental and understanding the psychological impact of rape. This guy knew and understood everying(except apparently not to read a woman's diary and not to peep while someone is changing clothes). One wonders how he stayed single for so long.

This book lacked story and character development. The hero's beloved step-father was killed after the family moved west for a better life. The family had no money, but the family somehow made it to San Francisco and florished. How did they get to California? What did they do when they got there? How and where did they live?

The heroine was raised by an abusive single father. Was he always like that? What kind of relationship did her parent's have before the mother's death? Did the father love the mother? Was it a forced marriage? What was the mother's background? Was she a lady who had fallen on hard times?

Also, it seemed unrealistic to me that the father would commit the ultimate betrayal only once. The heroine told the hero that it was not repeated because things got better for the family, but the heroine's home and farm was depicted as being quite shabby. The facts don't mesh. Further, once a line in the sand has been crossed, it is hard to believe that the behavior would be off limits again. Did the father have regrets? It would seem so, but the writer leaves that angle unexplored, much to the detriment of realism and depth of story telling.

The relationship between the Ace and Caitlin was not at all romantic to me. It was more "doctor/patient" than "husband/wife". Ace's focus from almost the very beginning was helping her overcome her trauma. Great for a psychological study, but not romantic.

The focus of the book seemed to be "when are they going to do it"? "How will she handle it"? Again, this is not romantic.

Immediately after the marriage, Ace discovered that Caitlin liked cultural things. I anticipated a scene where he would take her to San Francisco where she could at last experience all the things she had yearned for. Never happened. Instead, she settled into a life of keeping house for the hero and his brothers. Not much different from the life she left behind, except no beatings. Not romantic.

The beginning was good and dramatic...until it got to the part where Ace realized Caitlin could pass as his half-sister's twin, the similarities so great...and he was attracted to her...sexually. Um, yuck?! I wanted to stop reading, but was curious how the family would react when they saw her so I persevered just to finish the book. But throughout the story, I couldn't get the picture out of my mind that Ace could be making love to a woman who resembled the sister he raised. Couldn't the author show similarities without making them practically identical twins? I'm sorry, I just couldn't help but cringe the entire time, eeew!

I didn't get why Caitlin had to mess up the entire house because she was afraid she was starting to care for Ace & his brothers. Um, I thought she was afraid of being hit & beaten, so she pulled that crap thinking if they took a hand on her, it would make her hate them again?

And the ending was cringe-worthy to me as well. The lynching scene reminded me of a similar scene in The Savage by Nicole Jordan; I felt the scene was better written in the latter book.

Bottomline, I thought Ace was a well-charactered man & I really liked him, but I didn't feel that Caitlin had done enough to deserve him. Still can't get the sister's similarities out of my head & I was looking forward to the mother & sister's reaction when they finally meet Caitlin, but that never happened in the book. I'm sure they would have been creeped out like me was well. But then again, the brother's didn't feel grossed out when they saw Caitlin & 1 brother even said he would have gone for her if Ace didn't get her first (or something to that line). Again, eeew!

I have never written a review before and I have read literally thousands of romance novels. I tend to read one book by a given author and if I like her writting style I read EVERY book she has ever written. I have done this with countless authors Sandra Brown, Linda L. Miller, Jodi Thomas, Nora Roberts, Just to name a few and usually I can count on the books being a good read . Obviously some are better than others but all in all I am glad I read the book. In the case of Catherine Anderson I have to say I have LOVED each and every one of her books . To date I have read every book she has written except for the ones that are so out of date that the price is outrageous. I have 4 kids in college and can't afford that luxury. All of the books are full of love, happy endings and some even great humor and although set in a different time and place the events are timeless and often I would laugh at how close it has touch my life. If you love romance as I do and you want to read a book with everything a romance novel should be , I urge you not to miss any of Ms. Andersons books each is a treasure to be opened and enjoyed , hope this review will help anyone who is in search of a good romance author whose books you haven't yet read . I wnat to add I don't know Ms. Anderson and I wrote this becasue anyone who loves to read should have the opportunity to read her books. Let me know how you enjoyed them Happy Reading !!! P.S. In Keegans Lady the bedroom scene with the cat had me laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face, I even read it out loud for my husband Enjoy!!