Customer Reviews

Tapestry

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'd give this 10 stars if I could - this book is sooooooo good! It is absolutely amazing that this is the author's first work! You start off with a young lady, the Lady Laura Blake, to be exact who is bound and determined to get to see the man she has loved her whole life since the age of 10.

Alex, the Earl of Cardiff, has come home from the war, after an absence of four years - horribly disfigured from a terrible accident. So disfigured that even with a mask covering most of his face, even his servants dare not look him in his one good eye. Posing as a country bred gal, she is hired as a kitchen worker in Heddon Hall - not that she knows anything of what goes on in a kitchen - but she eventually gets to serve him his meal and little by little she worms her way into becoming his reader, while a permanent secretary is sought. He does not recognize the hero worshipping neighbor, who was 12 years old when he left for war. It has some humourous parts as she proves to Alex that she does not pity but loves him completely and he does come to believe it with his whole heart.

The betrayals and the anguish of the reality of life is what the second part of the book is all about, and this is what, in my opinion make this book so great. The characters are written with such human feeling, they are multi-dimensional. Laura,shows the strength when her whole world seems to fall apart and disintegrate in her face, between betrayals and loss. You best have some hankies near by to gather in both fists, because you'd have to be made of stone not to cry.

Fabulous book - a gem of a 'classic' and one to re-read over and over! Find a copy at all costs!

When I read the title & synopsis, I knew this novel'll be a 1st-rate weeper. But I was positively astonished by how highly-charged it turned out to be. Even the cover says it all, a dark-haired hero wearing a mask & a glove gazing somberly at the angelic heroine. What a pair ! The 1st half of the book is amusing & delightful. Infatuated since childhood, Laura dressed up as a grubby maid to win Alex's shielded heart and - thanks to her adoring uncles - managed to enrage & charm Alex with her constant & indiscriminate devotion. The 2nd half is almost too painful to read (don't get me wrong, I consumed the book in 1 sitting), as Alex was called to war again & tragedy struck in the hardest way imaginable. The ending is too wonderful - not the usual 'all is well' - to describe, tears & laughters included & wrapped up in a 380-page package. I was so impressed by this incredibly moving keeper that I went on a mission to collect all of her titles from the Auctions & so far 6 Ranney PBs have proudly graced my shelf. What the heck, go buy yourself a xmas gift & share it with your friends afterwards !

I admit being moved to tears several times throughout this book. Karen Ranney has a talent for transforming a simple romance into an endearing love story.

I've read several romances that lay claim to a "scarred" hero but the extent of the scars may be nothing more than a limp or a single scar running along the side of the hero's face. I must admit that when I first read the full extent of Alex's scarring - I was shocked to the point of almost not reading the rest of the book. In my shallowness, I couldn't fathom how the heroine could possibly look past his numerous disfigurements to see the man beneath the "monster". That's when I discovered that "Tapestry" is more than a romance - it is a story about love - pure love. By the end of the book, I had fallen in love with Alex myself.

Why didn't I give it a 5 star rating? I tend to save this rating for books I would read again and again. Although this was a beautiful story illustrating the power and endurance of love - there were times when it was heartwrenching in its sorrow evoking very strong feelings of grief and loss that I care not visit again any time soon.

Romance, laughter, pain and loss - still love abounds in this masterpiece!!!

As a new Karen Ranney fan, I resolved to read all her books, which meant purchasing four used books (yuck!), TAPESTRY being one of them since it is out of print. I am not sorry. If you can put your hands on a copy of this book, grab it, read it, love it.

TAPESTRY takes the reader from humor to tenderness to sensuality to sexuality to despair to anger to poignancy to everything in between to everything beyond. It is an emotional roller coaster, and I shed a few tears on the ride.

This is a wonderful story of love, devotion, introspection, self-discovery, and renewal. Alex and Laura teach us about love that sees beneath the surface -- one can only dream of a love that reaches such depth.

I read this book last night and just had to write a review. Even though I know that anything I write would not do this book justice. This book had so much depth and emotion. The characters feelings so well described. Sensuality and heartache both off the scales. You felt as if you were feeling what they were feeling. I have never read a love scene written like the one Ms. Ranney wrote when these two characters first come together.

This is romance at its finest! TAPESTRY stole my heart. In her opening, Karen Ranney writes, "Laughter can follow tears." AMEN to that!

Divided into two sections, Ranney first gives her reader the wonder, the acceptance, the joy of youthful love! And then she thrusts her believing reader into the dark depths of emotional grief. What a phenomenal strategy.

Mini Synopsis:
Laura Blake is an intelligent, lonely child, and she is in love with her neighbor, Dixon Alexander Weston, the Earl of Cardiff. He is her friend, her confident, her knight in shining armor, but most of all Dixon Alexander Weston is Laura Blake's fantasy. When England calls, Alex goes off to war. After all, England is his honor, his duty, his conviction.

Sorrowfully, upon his return, Alex is a changed man. He wants nothing and seeks solitary seclusion. But shrewdly Laura interferes and draws him away from all his self-appointed misery, after all life does go on. One lovely year is all Alex and Laura have together . . . one angelical year spent exploring their youthful, naive love. One year . . . until England calls again . . . calling out to Alex's duty, honor, and undivided courage! And again, Alex offers his service. Once again Dixon Alexander Weston goes off to war!

Reviewer's Comments:
This is romance at its finest, a beautifully written love story. I must confess Karen Ranney's "Tapestry" genuinely stole my heart. Strategically the author delivers a coup d'etat by dividing her story into two books. Book one is the kindling of youthful love -- all the acceptance, the joy, the discovery. Book two is the heart wrenching journey through the seven stages of grief. Plainly, the reader walks with the heroine into the pit of desperation. But in the end, Ranney takes her story and her reader and like the phoenix she rises them from these ashes of despair.

TAPESTRY was Karen Ranney's debut book and what an entry into the romance field! Simply put, TAPESTRY is a mesmerizing read. It flows with strong emotion, torment, and glorious triumph. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print and yes it is very hard to find. But do look for it! Karen Ranney wrote a very special love story; a book written around lasting memories; a book that will never leave my keeper shelf!

Rating: A+ (they don't come much better).
Sensuality: Beautiful smoldering passion.
Status: Keeper shelf

MaryGrace Meloche.

Absolutely wonderful story, reminicent of "The Phantom of the Opera" with the exception that in this book, the horribly disfigured hero, Dixon Alexander "Alex" Weston, wins the heart of the young heroine before he becomes disfigured due to a cannon explosion. Upon his return home after his injury, he secludes himself and refuses her letters...even sending them returned to her, unopened. Lady Laura Blake then masquerades as a servant to gain entrance to his home. Through an intricate plot to "compromise" him, she gives herself to him unknowing that he has already signed a betrothal contract with her uncles for her hand in marriage. The revelation upon their wedding night that she was the one and the same servant that he'd searched for for months is riveting. Their subsequent happiness is wonderful, yet that is only Part 1 of the book. Part 2 is more realistic and deals with the heartbreaking news that Alex is once again called to further serve his country, yet leaves with nothing more than a note to Laura. Very cowardly in my opinion. He is once again a naval captain and he is captured by King Frederick of Prussia and held hostage after his ship sinks. From there the story gets really intense and the angst of the novel is almost unbearable. When told of his supposed "death" Laura falls down the staircase and, as a result, loses their unborn son. When Alex reappears after more than 2 years, Laura is unable to face him as she is afraid of loving him and losing him all over again. She is also concerned that he will blame her for their sons death, and be disappointed that she cannot have any other children. The most wonderful scene in this book is when this proud, courageous, man who guarded his privacy, and wore his mask in his own home, becomes a groom in Laura's stables to be close to her. When she first sees him without his mask or glove, knowing how he has exposed himself to the ridicule and mockery of her other servants, and knows that he humbled himself to reach out to her, she realizes that she cannot ignore a love so profound and enduring. The Epilogue is very moving as well. It's one of the best books I've read by Ms. Ranney. I didn't really think there could be a better book than "One Man's Love," the first in her Scottish Lords series. I was wrong. Tapestry an amazing novel the delves deep into the human psyche.

This is without a doubt one of the best beauty and the beast historical romance books I've ever read. Ranney's Tapestry had me riveted from beginning to end. I laughed out loud, cried, and loved along with her superb characters. My only regret is that the book had to end.

Dixon Alexander Weston, Earl of Cardiff, is a typical regency *beast* hero. He was a charming and handsome man before he went off to war. But Alex returned changed, physically (extremely scarred) and mentally. No longer was he part of the outside world. The new brooding and pessimistic Alex now secludes himself at Heddon Hall, accepting no visitors nor correspondences. Lady Laura Blake on the other hand is a vibrant young woman. A woman who has loved her neighbor Alex for years. And when he returns from the war and refuses contact -Laura takes matters into her own hands.

Get this book! You won't be sorry you read Tapestry. Just magical historical romance thats highly unpredictable. Its that unpredictable part that had me at first uncomfortable with certain parts of the book (very sad). But I know that ultimately I wouldn't have loved the book as much if Alex and Laura hadn't gone through those trails (Don't worry they're not ridiculous misunderstandings). Just made their love all the more sweeter in the end. *sigh* ~dreamy expression~ Another shelf keeper to add to my collection.

Other excellent Beauty and the Beast type historical romance books I've read-
Christmas Revels -The Black Beast of Belleterre is my all time favorite
Simply Love

This is without question...(and I'm not exaggerating) the most emotionally charged book I have EVER read. It even buries some of the greatest tear-jerkers ever..."Cry No More", "To the Ends of the Earth", and "Perfect". If you are a reader who likes to "stay dry" please do not read this book. If you are a reader who enjoys three dimensional, deep, unforgettable characters and a good cry...this is THE book for you.

Here is the premise. Girl falls in love with boy at young age. Boy goes off to war and girl is devastated and never stops loving him. Boy gets horribly disfigured during the war. Boy comes back and totally isolates himself. Girl quite literally "goes and gets him" from the brink of suicide. They fall in love..blah,blah,blah.

But oh, how much deeper this story is. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS STORY IS ONLY 380 PAGES. The amount of depth and time this novel take you through makes you feel like it should be twice the length that it is. Karen Ranney takes you through an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you exhausted, but completely satisfied. I really don't know what else to say. It is very important that you beware of reviews of this novel. Reading spoilers could be catastophic to the impact that this novel has on the unsuspecting audience. It is a page turner and took very little time to finish. Pay the price, whatever it is, and get your hands on this book. You may only be able to read it once, but it is an experience you will soon not forget!

I had only read a few pages when I told my Husband that I will need a new box of tissues.

The love story was wonderful. Laura, the heroine, was so natural in her love for Alex, the hero, since she was 10 and he was much older. However, I could not believe Alex's behavior to Laura after their wedding ceremony. And, his lack of backbone when he left her pregnant, to return to service to England, just leaving a note for her.

I don't think there was need of the machinations of Elaine, Alex's evil, young stepmother. She was not that big a part of the story but could have been smaller part of the story.

This is the first book I have read by Ms. Ranney and have since ordered and started reading the Highland Lords series.

I highly recommend reading this book if you like love stories with beautiful, sensual scenes but be warned, get your hankies out.