Still in My Heart (Ryland Brothers) [Kindle Edition]

Kathryn Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Brahm Ryland is a man used to getting everything he desires...

Another London season has just wound down and Brahm Ryland, Viscount Creed, is thankful for it. Since a horrible mistake ruined his betrothal to the beautiful Lady Eleanor Durbane, his life as a scandalous bachelor has grown tedious; every day without Eleanor seems longer than the last. But then a break in the monotony appears: an invitation to a shooting party at the home of Lord Burrough, Eleanor's father, and he knows his chance to make amends has come at last.

Yet Brahm soon finds that Eleanor will need more than a simple apology to atone for his betrayal -- and after so many years of hurt it will take time and care to make her learn to trust again. When all her sisters warn her against him, she knows she would be a fool to give their passion another chance. But what Eleanor doesn't know is that London's boldest viscount will do anything -- anything -- it takes for a second chance at his one true love ...

About the Author

My husband says I have the best job in the world. The only thing that could top being paid to do what I love is if Avon Books decided that all their authors had to be hand-fed chocolate by Hugh Jackman, Gerard Butler, or John Cusack. But my husband probably wouldn't think so much of my job then, so instead I'll let him feed me chocolate and go on being forever thankful that I have the best job—and husband—in the world.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 265 KB
• Print Length: 385 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0060740744
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books; Reprint edition (October 13, 2009)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000OI0EGS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,335 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

I grew up in rural Nova Scotia -- a beautiful piece of the earth, but there wasn't much going on. My mother used to tell me stories and encouraged me to write my own when I was very young.

My first book was 372 hand-written pages about a rock band that sounded (and looked) suspiciously like Duran Duran. I know, I'm dating myself! At that point I was already stealing my sister's romance novels and had fallen in love with the historical genre. Anyway, it was many years later, during a return to university, that I would attempt to write a romance novel. My boyfriend (who I later had the good sense to marry) urged me to return to school and 'write that book', so I did. That book, Elusive Passion, sold to Avon Romance in the summer of 1999. It was published in 2001, and I'm proud to say that since then I've written more than 20 books, many of which have made national best seller lists (including the USA Today list) and have been translated into more than half a dozen languages. My goal is to write until I'm dead. Preferably leaving this world draped over a keyboard. :-)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intense Look at Alcoholism, February 3, 2007

By 

msbooklady "msbooklady" (Biloxi, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Still in My Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

Brahm Ryland was bethrothed to Lady Eleanor Durbane years ago but she cancelled their engagement after she caught him in bed with her sister Lydia. Lydia had crawled into his bed while he was drunk and since it was dark and he was drunk, Brahm thought it was Eleanor. Brahm was a notorious alcoholic who always did outrageous things when he was drunk...several years go by and Brahm, who has been sober for three years, is invited to a month long hunting party by Eleanor's father. Brahm is elated because he will finally have the chance to make amends with Eleanor whom he still carries feelings for after all these years. When it seems clear that Eleanor is not as happy to see him as he is to see her, Brahm vows to make her see that he is a changed man before the month is up and if possible to win her hand again. Eleanor's sisters know Brahm broke her heart but not the details and it becomes clear that Lydia is still jealous of Brahm after all these years. Eleanor had to help raise her younger sisters after their mother died and she is too blinded by love to see Lydia for what she is, however she finds herself forgiving Brahm the more she gets to know him and the more she researches alcoholism. The attraction between Brahm and Eleanor grows and they start falling in love, but Lydia will do anything to keep them apart. Brahm struggles to maintain his sobriety while dealing with the past.

This book did an excellent job of describing what alcoholism can do to a person. Brahm is a wonderful hero, vulnerable with his heart and body but sexy to a fault. I had problems with Eleanor though, even after it long became clear that Lydia had been the pursuer in the one night stand, Eleanor doesn't blame her and overlooks everything she does. She does keep throwing the past up in Brahm's face but holds the guiltier party guilt free....by the time she comes to her senses, I kind of think she would have deserved being dumped by Brahm.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still In My Heart, April 18, 2006

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Still in My Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

Brahm has decided to accept the invitation to Lord Burrough's party as it will give him the opportunity to apologize to Eleanor, his former betrothed and Lord Burrough's daughter. Brahm has a drinking problem and many years ago he was very drunk and found himself in bed with Eleanor's sister Lydia. The result, any hope that he had for a future with Eleanor was destroyed. Brahm is determined to apologize and in the process, he hopes that Eleanor's forgiveness will allow him to finally move on with his life.

When Brahm sees Eleanor at her home, he notices first that she is even more beautiful than he remembered and second she is definitely still angry with him. He takes the first opportunity he can get to explain what happened that fateful night. Eleanor has never fully recovered from Brahm's betrayal. She is surprised at Brahm's confession and without admitting it to him that she is relieved and optimistic and she may actually be able to forgive him. Eleanor begrudgingly admits to herself that she likes the man that Brahm has become.

As Brahm and Eleanor begin to rebuild their relationship, Lydia has other plans; in her jealousy and unhappiness, she creates many problems for them. Along with Lydia's attempts to keep them apart, Braham's alcoholism is still an issue. Will the love between Brahm and Eleanor be strong enough to see them through these hurtles so they can finally be together?

Brahm is good man and Eleanor is kind and beautiful. Their love is endearing and their passion is hot! Lydia is a snake and I so wished she had gotten what she deserved. Although the storyline in Still In My Heart easily captivated me, poor Eleanor was betrayed repeatedly and eventually I just needed to see her find happiness. The constant feelings of angst and sadness I felt for Eleanor and Brahm made it hard for me to fully enjoy this book. However, I did enjoy the emotion of their long lost love and I found myself cheering for them throughout the story. Brahm and Eleanor's desire for each other stands the test of time and separation, but in the end does their love does triumph?

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisitely sensual and poignant love story., March 9, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Still in My Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read the previous books in this series, I waited patiently to read Brahm Ryland, Viscount Creed's story. Portrayed as complex, yet deeply loving of his brothers, I always knew that discovering the reason for his deep sadness was going to make one heck of a story. I was not wrong!

Brahm was a drunk - plain and simple, but for the last few years he'd fought the battle and had remained sober. Slowly, he was building bridges and being accepted back into the society that had labeled him bad ton! Receiving an invitation from Lord Burroughs, father of the woman whose betrothal he'd ruined ten years before, offered him a chance to finally make amends to the one person he'd never wanted to hurt.

Eleanor Durbane, had many years to get over the ache left in her heart after Brahm's betrayal, but to have him show up unexpectedly at her father's invitation was just about more than she could bear. With her sisters warning Eleanor against him, Brahm knew he walked a tightrope in convincing her to trust him again. If nothing else, Brahm was determined to do anything he could to tell his side of the story, to apologize, and if the God's were kind give him one more chance to woo the one lady who after all these years still held his heart captive.

*** Completely stand-alone, Smith does a marvelous job in this wonderful character study exposing the pain of betrayal, and the agony faced while trying to win back the trust of the one true love Brahm had hurt so badly. Neither did she sugar coat Brahm's struggles of taking `one day at a time' in his battle with alcohol addiction, weaving this into a compelling and poignant storyline. I found this to be an exquisitely sensual, romantically poignant and emotionally powerful read that I highly recommend.