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Americana #23
Giant of Mesabi
Alanna Powell is torn between her love for Kurt Matthews and her passionate attraction to his egotistical brother, Rolt
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
68 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Janet Dailey
400 books1,863 followersJanet Anne Haradon Dailey was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
Born in 1944 in Storm Lake, Iowa, she attended secretarial school in Omaha, Nebraska before meeting her husband, Bill. Bill and Janet worked together in construction and land development until they "retired" to travel throughout the United States, inspiring Janet to write the Americana series of romances, where she set a novel in every state of the Union. In 1974, Janet Dailey was the first American author to write for Harlequin. Her first novel was NO QUARTER ASKED.
She had since gone on to write approximately 90 novels, 21 of which have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. She won many awards and accolades for her work, appearing widely on Radio and Television. Today, there are over three hundred million Janet Dailey books in print in 19 different languages, making her one of the most popular novelists in the world.
Janet Dailey passed away peacefully in her home in Branson on Saturday, December 14, 2013. She was 69.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 12, 2020
"Giant of Mesabi" is the story of Alanna and Rolt.
Well this was unpleasant.
Our h is an attractive young woman who grew up around the H and his brother (OM). h has always like OM, and he has recently started reciprocating the feelings. The H likes the h, and has watched her from afar. When the h returns from her college to visit her family, the OM starts courting her at the same time the H starts stalking and kissing her. When OM proposes, the h accepts, only for the H to swoop in and blackmail the h to marry him instead otherwise her father would not be saved from financial ruin. She unwillingly accepts. The rest is predictable.
I am not a huge fan of two brother, one coot plot- it's very icky- unless it's done very well and one dies or something. The H's obsession for the h was raw and violent, and I cringed every time he had a temper tantrum and kissed the h. The h fought him back and seemed genuinely smitten with his brother, but at a random moment suddenly realizes her "love" for the H and the book ends on a confession.
I don't want to say their relationship would be rocky in the HEA-land, but it's very likely unless these two got counseling and mandatory therapy.
SWE
2.5/5
Well this was unpleasant.
Our h is an attractive young woman who grew up around the H and his brother (OM). h has always like OM, and he has recently started reciprocating the feelings. The H likes the h, and has watched her from afar. When the h returns from her college to visit her family, the OM starts courting her at the same time the H starts stalking and kissing her. When OM proposes, the h accepts, only for the H to swoop in and blackmail the h to marry him instead otherwise her father would not be saved from financial ruin. She unwillingly accepts. The rest is predictable.
I am not a huge fan of two brother, one coot plot- it's very icky- unless it's done very well and one dies or something. The H's obsession for the h was raw and violent, and I cringed every time he had a temper tantrum and kissed the h. The h fought him back and seemed genuinely smitten with his brother, but at a random moment suddenly realizes her "love" for the H and the book ends on a confession.
I don't want to say their relationship would be rocky in the HEA-land, but it's very likely unless these two got counseling and mandatory therapy.
SWE
2.5/5
October 18, 2019
Wheeeeeeeew-weeeeeee! That was some CRAYZEE shiite...
July 2, 2015
I picked this up as a free book outside a store in Port Townsend, Washington. It was an amusing flashback to romantic literature in the 1970s, where borderline sexual assault and blackmail meant that a man really loved you. Happy days eh? I'm giving this one star because the author had a wonderful description of the heroine's thighs showing the imprint of the pattern of his slacks, such was his passion for her. It's an image that won't leave in a hurry. Unlike this book, which I have already passed on.
May 2, 2022
Hooooooo boy, this was a mess.
There is absolutely no chemistry between these two, no matter how much the narrative talks about how attractive Alanna finds Rolt. (Also, what kind of a name is Rolt?) In fact, most of their interactions consist of Rolt forcing himself on her and then being a smug prick about it. Look, unpopular opinion, but in the right circumstances, I don’t always mind if the hero forces a kiss on the heroine. (Again, context matters.) But not here. There’s nothing exciting about this, it’s not like Alanna is being stubborn and you want her to wake up and realize her feelings for Rolt; no, there is absolutely no reason for her to like this man. From start to finish, he’s an asshole.
Furthermore, everything is so, so rushed. This book wants to have a love triangle and a forced marriage, but it doesn’t want to give the time to expand either. I know it’s a short book, but if this was the end result, something should have been cut.
There is absolutely no chemistry between these two, no matter how much the narrative talks about how attractive Alanna finds Rolt. (Also, what kind of a name is Rolt?) In fact, most of their interactions consist of Rolt forcing himself on her and then being a smug prick about it. Look, unpopular opinion, but in the right circumstances, I don’t always mind if the hero forces a kiss on the heroine. (Again, context matters.) But not here. There’s nothing exciting about this, it’s not like Alanna is being stubborn and you want her to wake up and realize her feelings for Rolt; no, there is absolutely no reason for her to like this man. From start to finish, he’s an asshole.
Furthermore, everything is so, so rushed. This book wants to have a love triangle and a forced marriage, but it doesn’t want to give the time to expand either. I know it’s a short book, but if this was the end result, something should have been cut.
April 13, 2019
Tension grew between them, angering Alanna
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . . (less)
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . . (less)
July 12, 2022
Gross, and terrible writing. I literally threw this book across the room when I finished. Sexual assault and blackmail is not sexy, people. A weak woman with small-dog syndrome is infuriating. Plot threads are thrown out just as quickly as they’re brought up.
I don’t understand the logic of “I’m not in love with you, that must mean I’m in love with someone else.” You could be in love with no one, hon, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. And because of that logic, the heroine suddenly loves the villain hero dude and worries about his safety, with no change from him whatsoever.
Ending is stupid. “I love you” are the magic words to make someone think you’re not lying. Otherwise they’ll never believe you no matter how wrong they are or lack of evidence.
0 stars if I could
I don’t understand the logic of “I’m not in love with you, that must mean I’m in love with someone else.” You could be in love with no one, hon, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. And because of that logic, the heroine suddenly loves the villain hero dude and worries about his safety, with no change from him whatsoever.
Ending is stupid. “I love you” are the magic words to make someone think you’re not lying. Otherwise they’ll never believe you no matter how wrong they are or lack of evidence.
0 stars if I could
May 15, 2017
It was an enjoyable book, but the discrepancies between the book and the actual location annoyed me beyond belief! I grew up on the Mesabi Iron Range. Even from the ground, the area does not -look- mountainous, and the 'Sleeping Giant,' if I remember correctly, is technically in Canada. The mines and smelter are not and were not owned by local wealthy families, but by big business. All these errors combined are just too much for me to ignore, too much to simply think of as artistic license.
September 3, 2018
not terribly romantic. weird ending
January 25, 2023
ok story
April 27, 2024
I generally enjoy reading Janet Dailey’s books but this one so predictable from the first page with no apparent plot. Could not get past first 20 pages.
Read
March 26, 2026I read this in 1979, so I don't remember much of it. I will have to read it again before completing this review. I just wanted to mark it "read" so that I won't lose it again.
March 19, 2018
Vyšla v roce 1978, takže je trochu „Já Tarzan, ty Jane“. A starostliví rodiče, kteří by rádi jednadvacetiletou dceru co nejdříve provdali, protože staropanenství již stojí ve dveřích…
Hrdina vydíráním přinutí hrdinku ke svatbě a ona se rozhodne udělat mu ze života peklo. Nicméně jí přišlo „divné“, že se ji nepokusil dostat do postele. Bylo pro ni velkým zklamáním, když se tak hezky zabarikádovala v ložnici a připravila se na znásilnění… a hrdina šel do své ložnice. Jak si to mohl dovolit? Tohle je přece jejich svatební noc! Padla na postel a s bezmocným vztekem kousala do polštáře. (s. 108). A po dvou hodinách se smířila s tím, že Rolt šel opravdu spát.
s. 4 Kurt byl pravým opakem (…) kdy se před pěti lety poprvé setkali. Tehdy jim oběma bylo patnáct
Tedy when she had been fifteen
s. 5 Kurtovi bylo devětadvacet a jí jednadvacet.
s. 96 s klidným výrazem přijímala nekonečné gratulace
No, nekonečné. „Chtěli bychom jednoduchý obřad jen pro rodinné příslušníky.“ Takže jich bylo asi 5 (včetně novomanželů).
s. 12 dědičství
s. 80 pomaly sundal
s. 107 Nervózně se přecházela
s. 129 kanceláře?“.
ji/jí – s. 51
Hrdina vydíráním přinutí hrdinku ke svatbě a ona se rozhodne udělat mu ze života peklo. Nicméně jí přišlo „divné“, že se ji nepokusil dostat do postele. Bylo pro ni velkým zklamáním, když se tak hezky zabarikádovala v ložnici a připravila se na znásilnění… a hrdina šel do své ložnice. Jak si to mohl dovolit? Tohle je přece jejich svatební noc! Padla na postel a s bezmocným vztekem kousala do polštáře. (s. 108). A po dvou hodinách se smířila s tím, že Rolt šel opravdu spát.
s. 4 Kurt byl pravým opakem (…) kdy se před pěti lety poprvé setkali. Tehdy jim oběma bylo patnáct
Tedy when she had been fifteen
s. 5 Kurtovi bylo devětadvacet a jí jednadvacet.
s. 96 s klidným výrazem přijímala nekonečné gratulace
No, nekonečné. „Chtěli bychom jednoduchý obřad jen pro rodinné příslušníky.“ Takže jich bylo asi 5 (včetně novomanželů).
s. 12 dědičství
s. 80 pomaly sundal
s. 107 Nervózně se přecházela
s. 129 kanceláře?“.
ji/jí – s. 51
December 8, 2015
description
Tension grew between them, angering Alanna
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . .
Tension grew between them, angering Alanna
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . .
April 28, 2016
Throughout this book I only kept giggling and laughing. Because being an asshole and blackmail a girl into marrying you is just the perfect way to fall in love. Don't forget the sexual assault! All in all in modern days this would be seen as really creepy. I do like bit of an aggressive male lead but I see no real romance in this story at all outside of suddenly being 'oh my! You blackmail me and now we are married I'm suddenly in love?!!'
At least it got one star.
At least it got one star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2016
Another great book....the Ins and outs offi
Another great books...written so captivating, the Ins and out of finding a great love. I so enjoy all her books
Another great books...written so captivating, the Ins and out of finding a great love. I so enjoy all her books
June 7, 2016
About what you would expect from an older romance. Though, I think the progression of the romance happened very suddenly and with little reason even for this type of book
June 28, 2018
Tension grew between them, angering Alanna
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . .
"Hate me if you want." The grooves near Rolt's mouth deepened sardonically. "But you will be mine--in every way!"
Alanna gasped with surprise. Rot's boldness was unbelievable. He knew that she was in love with Kurt. How could he have the audacity to claim his brother's girl?
Well, this was one time the arrogant, egotistical Rolt Matthews wouldn't get what he wanted, Alanna thought defiantly. She just wouldn't cooperate. No matter what he said, Rolt couldn't make her marry him against her will . . . .
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews