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Song of the Waves
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0373707096.
To her fellow passengers on the luxury cruise, Wendy Brown appeared to have everything going for her. She was young, beautiful, wealthy and fun-loving.
They'd have been shocked if they'd known Wendy's secret. But she had vowed to tell no one what had changed her life.
Yet, loving Garth Rivers, knowing that he loved her, how could she let him go on believing they had a future together? For Wendy, there was no future at all!
To her fellow passengers on the luxury cruise, Wendy Brown appeared to have everything going for her. She was young, beautiful, wealthy and fun-loving.
They'd have been shocked if they'd known Wendy's secret. But she had vowed to tell no one what had changed her life.
Yet, loving Garth Rivers, knowing that he loved her, how could she let him go on believing they had a future together? For Wendy, there was no future at all!
188 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 1977
15 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hampson
174 books151 followersAnne Hampson was born on 28 November 1928 in England. At age six she had two ambitions: to teach and to write. Poverty after WWI deprived her of an education and at 14 she was making Marks & Spencer's blouses at one shilling (5p) each.
She retired when she married. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two.
In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. Many of "Presents" have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as "rare" books.
She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her.
She was retired, but in 2005 she wrote two romance and crime novels, both of which were published by Severn House.
She passed away on 25 September 2014. She has been written her autobiography, entitled Fate Was My Friend.
She retired when she married. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two.
In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. Many of "Presents" have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as "rare" books.
She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her.
She was retired, but in 2005 she wrote two romance and crime novels, both of which were published by Severn House.
She passed away on 25 September 2014. She has been written her autobiography, entitled Fate Was My Friend.
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May 22, 2024
SPOILERS
Twenty year old Wendy, an orphan, had just received her medical diagnosis. There was no hope.
She had only about four months to live.
What a condemned person do the last few months of her life?
She decided to sell her parents house and take a three month world cruise, even though she knew that she might die at sea.
Once aboard the ship, a feeling of aloneness consumed her along with the headache she've being suffering from, for a long time.
She met a handsome, mysterious, aristocratic man in his mid-thirties, Garth.
For weeks the two were mere acquaintances.
He would also spend a lot of time with another girl, Nicole.
One night Garth had kissed Wendy. She decided then and there that as he was far too unemotional and too intend on retaining his bachelor state, that when the time comes for her departure he would scarcely do more than a sigh of regret that she died so young and he would find another girl to keep him company until the end of the cruise.
So, she decided to use him for company right up until the end.
She was in love with him and she knew her passing would not affect him in the least.
The next few weeks with Garth were happy and enjoyable, and Wendy wondered if he would be with her when it happens and thought that she wouldn't be afraid any more if he was with her.
A few more weeks went by.
Garth confessed his love for her one day. Wendy could not believe how blind she had been.
She was angry at herself that she had done the very thing that she had desperately wanted not to do.
She had let him fall in love with her.
She decided she only had one option available. To destroy his love for her.
It would hurt him temporarily but he would be spared a lasting hurt.
She knew now that she must not die while she was on that ship.
She should leave it in a few days time when they get to California.
When Garth asked her to marry him, Wendy cruelly rejected him and let him know that to her he was just a fleeting flirtation.
He was obviously hurt by her response and had walked away.
For the next few days Garth had resumed his flirtation with Nicole.
Wendy knew that she had several more days to live.
Her symptoms had intensify and she generally took a turn for the worst.
She was quite ready to go at this point, for life had no meaning now that she and Garth had parted.
The next day, Wendy had collapsed and brought in the ship's Hospital.
Garth was at her side. Even with the pain searing into her brain she gave him a smile and told him that she wanted him near her when it happened.
"It’s the end, there's no hope...but l'm not afraid, not if you stay with me, Garth. I was told there was nothing anyone could do...l love you Garth."
"My darling don't leave. Hold on just for another few hours."
As it turned out Garth was sir James Rivers, the famous neurosurgeon who was on this cruise incognito.
As Wendy was sinking rapidly into oblivion, her last thought was that she hadn't saved Garth after all.
He was going to grieve for her at the end.
She'd gained consciousness as the ship docked. The pressure on Wendy's brain was sear agony and more than she could bear.
Garth told her that as soon as they reached the Hospital he would operate on her.
Apparently there was a slim chance for her to make it.
When she had woken up again the operation had already taken place but the state which had followed upon the operation, once again put her life in the balance, but Wendy had managed to pull through and six months later the two were married.
These vintage Harlequins have so much charm even though things in real life do not happen this way.
Twenty year old Wendy, an orphan, had just received her medical diagnosis. There was no hope.
She had only about four months to live.
What a condemned person do the last few months of her life?
She decided to sell her parents house and take a three month world cruise, even though she knew that she might die at sea.
Once aboard the ship, a feeling of aloneness consumed her along with the headache she've being suffering from, for a long time.
She met a handsome, mysterious, aristocratic man in his mid-thirties, Garth.
For weeks the two were mere acquaintances.
He would also spend a lot of time with another girl, Nicole.
One night Garth had kissed Wendy. She decided then and there that as he was far too unemotional and too intend on retaining his bachelor state, that when the time comes for her departure he would scarcely do more than a sigh of regret that she died so young and he would find another girl to keep him company until the end of the cruise.
So, she decided to use him for company right up until the end.
She was in love with him and she knew her passing would not affect him in the least.
The next few weeks with Garth were happy and enjoyable, and Wendy wondered if he would be with her when it happens and thought that she wouldn't be afraid any more if he was with her.
A few more weeks went by.
Garth confessed his love for her one day. Wendy could not believe how blind she had been.
She was angry at herself that she had done the very thing that she had desperately wanted not to do.
She had let him fall in love with her.
She decided she only had one option available. To destroy his love for her.
It would hurt him temporarily but he would be spared a lasting hurt.
She knew now that she must not die while she was on that ship.
She should leave it in a few days time when they get to California.
When Garth asked her to marry him, Wendy cruelly rejected him and let him know that to her he was just a fleeting flirtation.
He was obviously hurt by her response and had walked away.
For the next few days Garth had resumed his flirtation with Nicole.
Wendy knew that she had several more days to live.
Her symptoms had intensify and she generally took a turn for the worst.
She was quite ready to go at this point, for life had no meaning now that she and Garth had parted.
The next day, Wendy had collapsed and brought in the ship's Hospital.
Garth was at her side. Even with the pain searing into her brain she gave him a smile and told him that she wanted him near her when it happened.
"It’s the end, there's no hope...but l'm not afraid, not if you stay with me, Garth. I was told there was nothing anyone could do...l love you Garth."
"My darling don't leave. Hold on just for another few hours."
As it turned out Garth was sir James Rivers, the famous neurosurgeon who was on this cruise incognito.
As Wendy was sinking rapidly into oblivion, her last thought was that she hadn't saved Garth after all.
He was going to grieve for her at the end.
She'd gained consciousness as the ship docked. The pressure on Wendy's brain was sear agony and more than she could bear.
Garth told her that as soon as they reached the Hospital he would operate on her.
Apparently there was a slim chance for her to make it.
When she had woken up again the operation had already taken place but the state which had followed upon the operation, once again put her life in the balance, but Wendy had managed to pull through and six months later the two were married.
These vintage Harlequins have so much charm even though things in real life do not happen this way.
July 26, 2011
Wendy is told by her doctor that she has a brain tumor and only a few months to live. Not looking forward to going to a nursing home Wendy decides to take a three month long world cruise. There she meets an assortment of people she becomes friends with and the mysterious hero. I liked the way the heroine tried to find enjoyment and fun in her last days (even though she was scared) instead of dwelling on what was to come. I also enjoyed the many different exotic locations they visited on the cruise. This was a really good older Harlequin Presesnts (from 1977).
November 16, 2016
I sobbed through 4 Kleenexes when I noticed I wasn't even half-way through the book. I know it's super-cheesy but I'm a sucker for these secretly-terminally-ill stories, it completely overwhelms my common sense, my face took a week to recover after watching A Walk To Remember. This book was no less brutal with my sappy emotions, and I loved every tear-logged moment of it.
Wendy's given 4 months to live by her doctor so she sells her house and books an expensive 3-month world cruise to try and make her last days fulfilling. Garth is a mysterious hot guy on the same cruise who believes her to be a certain amoral actress pretending to be a wide-eyed innocent.
That's the basic plot, but the way this story ripped my heart into pieces is the way Wendy knew her time was limited and how she just wanted to feel alive. She has no connections, no family, no close friends. There's a part where she regrets coming on the cruise because, even amongst all those pleasure-seeking people and sunshine and games, she has no one to talk to and thinks, Why did I come here? What's the point of spending my last days on earth being lonely? I mean that's what we're all afraid of right, loneliness and dying with no one to care. It broke my heart how grateful and happy she was when her days were brightened by casual invitations of company and just being with another person. Every time she refused an expensive gift because she knew it'd be a waste of money, I bawled. She didn't want anyone to pity her, and she also didn't want to hurt anyone, so she kept her secret and just tried to be happy and love the world.
Near the end it got perhaps a little too pat and miraculously coincidental so it lost a little of the magic, but ya know what, screw it I enjoyed the ride too much to let a little thing like credibility bother me. Loved this book. ♥
Wendy's given 4 months to live by her doctor so she sells her house and books an expensive 3-month world cruise to try and make her last days fulfilling. Garth is a mysterious hot guy on the same cruise who believes her to be a certain amoral actress pretending to be a wide-eyed innocent.
That's the basic plot, but the way this story ripped my heart into pieces is the way Wendy knew her time was limited and how she just wanted to feel alive. She has no connections, no family, no close friends. There's a part where she regrets coming on the cruise because, even amongst all those pleasure-seeking people and sunshine and games, she has no one to talk to and thinks, Why did I come here? What's the point of spending my last days on earth being lonely? I mean that's what we're all afraid of right, loneliness and dying with no one to care. It broke my heart how grateful and happy she was when her days were brightened by casual invitations of company and just being with another person. Every time she refused an expensive gift because she knew it'd be a waste of money, I bawled. She didn't want anyone to pity her, and she also didn't want to hurt anyone, so she kept her secret and just tried to be happy and love the world.
Near the end it got perhaps a little too pat and miraculously coincidental so it lost a little of the magic, but ya know what, screw it I enjoyed the ride too much to let a little thing like credibility bother me. Loved this book. ♥
February 5, 2016
ANGSTY!!!!!
Sweet though. Heroine is a martyr but not a whiner.
Sweet though. Heroine is a martyr but not a whiner.
May 31, 2021
5 Stars! ~ Wendy has recently lost her mother and with the exception of co-workers and her family doctor, she's pretty much alone in the world. When the headaches had started, she had put them down to eyestrain, but then the odd feeling of lethargy prompted her to see the doctor. Her family doctor had brought her into the world, and now he was given the hard task of telling her that the specialist ruled that her tumour was inoperable. There will be no more summers or autumns, and she'll never see her 21st birthday. "What does a doomed person do for four months?" she asks in despair. And so her friend and doctor suggests she take the maiden world cruise of the S.S. Fallon, and to raise the funds she's to sell the home her mother left her. Taking her tea in the Queen's Room of the Fallon, Wendy overhears two men discussing a movie starlet who seems to be aboard incognito. The starlet, reknown for her love affairs, loves to disguise herself as a little Miss Innocent. Later, Wendy finds herself seated with the two men at dinner and senses their odd scrutiny. In fact, the handsome one, Garth, disapproves of her and he seems to play hot and cold. Wendy overlooks his behaviour as she dreads being alone. While she realizes that she's fallen in love with Garth, she's comforted to know that he couldn't possibly love her in return. It comes out that the incognito actress had never been aboard the ship, and Garth is horrified at how he had misjudged Wendy. And now too late, Wendy learns that Garth too has fallen in love, a love that she has to kill as there is no future.
I read this one when I was a teenager in the 70's and the story then left a tremendous impression on me. I was thrilled to find it again, and in the reading today, it packs just as much of an emotional punch as it had when I first read it. Wendy is an amazing heroine. Ms. Hampson breathes a life into her that rings true. And while I kind of disliked Garth for jumping to conclusions about Wendy's identity, I admired the way he tried to make amends when he learned the truth. I felt Wendy's heart break when she had to destroy his love. Now that I have been reunited with their story, I'm sure I shall be reaching for it again and again.
I read this one when I was a teenager in the 70's and the story then left a tremendous impression on me. I was thrilled to find it again, and in the reading today, it packs just as much of an emotional punch as it had when I first read it. Wendy is an amazing heroine. Ms. Hampson breathes a life into her that rings true. And while I kind of disliked Garth for jumping to conclusions about Wendy's identity, I admired the way he tried to make amends when he learned the truth. I felt Wendy's heart break when she had to destroy his love. Now that I have been reunited with their story, I'm sure I shall be reaching for it again and again.
September 18, 2012
Classic tearjearker from Anne Hampson about a beautiful 20 year old who discovers she only has a few months to live.She is advised by her doctor to live it up before her time comes.She sells her home and goes on a world cruise knowing whether or not she will be alive at the cruise's end.On the cruise she meets a man,falls in love ,then has to break up with him as she does not want him to suffer her passing.Beautifully written ,old school classic harlequin that I enjoyed despite the darkness of the subject.Very moving moments in this book,tissues at the ready.It reminded me of some of the old movies of the 40's which I loved.
September 6, 2010
This tear-jerker is considered a classic from the Harlequin line. A beautiful 20-year-old is dying from a terminal illness, has 4 months to live, and goes on a world cruise where she meets and falls in love with a famous neurosurgeon. We all know how this goes and how it ends and we either embrace (to quote a certain movie) the Susan Hayward of it all or we don't.
I have to admit that I may not be the ideal reader for this type of story; I don't even like to watch those "Dying Young" movies. This category romance was published in 1976 but it feels like it was written in the 1930s because the prose is extra stodgy, staid, antiquated. I probably would have enjoyed this more if the writing was either more dramatic to fit with the theme or more spare as counterpoint to the emotions felt by the characters. Instead, I was viewing everything through a veil of meh.
Grade: B
Content warning: None. Kisses only.
I have to admit that I may not be the ideal reader for this type of story; I don't even like to watch those "Dying Young" movies. This category romance was published in 1976 but it feels like it was written in the 1930s because the prose is extra stodgy, staid, antiquated. I probably would have enjoyed this more if the writing was either more dramatic to fit with the theme or more spare as counterpoint to the emotions felt by the characters. Instead, I was viewing everything through a veil of meh.
Grade: B
Content warning: None. Kisses only.
January 19, 2019
"Song of the Waves" is the story of Wendy and Garth.
What a beautiful and angsty read.. Loved it!
Without going into details or spoilers, this has a strong and sacrificing heroine, an obsessed brooding hero, a heartbreaking secret, loads of yearning, rocky ships and a dramatic ending.
I really loved Wendy and Garth's interactions. The secondary characters did their work in contributing to the plot. I liked Wendy's inner monologues, and the pain she went through was heartbreaking. I'm glad a tragic ending was avoided, and instead we got a sweet M&Bish HEA.
Keep your logic away, and experience the anguish in this one.
Safe
4/5
What a beautiful and angsty read.. Loved it!
Without going into details or spoilers, this has a strong and sacrificing heroine, an obsessed brooding hero, a heartbreaking secret, loads of yearning, rocky ships and a dramatic ending.
I really loved Wendy and Garth's interactions. The secondary characters did their work in contributing to the plot. I liked Wendy's inner monologues, and the pain she went through was heartbreaking. I'm glad a tragic ending was avoided, and instead we got a sweet M&Bish HEA.
Keep your logic away, and experience the anguish in this one.
Safe
4/5
May 30, 2011
I've always loved this book. The heroine discovers she has an brain tumor and is going to die. She goes on a cruise and has an affair with a man who she assumes is just interested in sex and won't be hurt when she dies. It is a very poignant story if you like tear jerkers which I do. An oldy but a goody.
April 30, 2020
What a soothing Love-Story that could have ended up as a tragedy.
With the potency of "A Man to be Feared" and the passion of "Pagan Lover",Anne Hampson deliver a unique well-written tale about living life as it gives you. Wendy Brown who always has seen herself as a loner gets stricken when she got to know that she has four months left to live. Having a illness with no cure she gets the recommendation of having a cruise trip. Getting to experience the beauty of Bali, Hong Kong.. and other destinations she falls in love with the cynical and mysterious Garth Rivers but soon has to break the heart of the only man she has ever loved.
Oh how beautiful this story is! I love the main-characters and the supporting characters. For Wendy to have found love when she least expects it and never expecting it in return from Garth, how stupid she was for not seeing how hard he have fallen for her! Both of them are described as beautiful human beings, and with their golden personalities they suited so fine together. I want MORE stories like this one, i cried a bunch in the end! A very fine Keeper by Anne Hampson, damn how i adore this book!
With the potency of "A Man to be Feared" and the passion of "Pagan Lover",Anne Hampson deliver a unique well-written tale about living life as it gives you. Wendy Brown who always has seen herself as a loner gets stricken when she got to know that she has four months left to live. Having a illness with no cure she gets the recommendation of having a cruise trip. Getting to experience the beauty of Bali, Hong Kong.. and other destinations she falls in love with the cynical and mysterious Garth Rivers but soon has to break the heart of the only man she has ever loved.
Oh how beautiful this story is! I love the main-characters and the supporting characters. For Wendy to have found love when she least expects it and never expecting it in return from Garth, how stupid she was for not seeing how hard he have fallen for her! Both of them are described as beautiful human beings, and with their golden personalities they suited so fine together. I want MORE stories like this one, i cried a bunch in the end! A very fine Keeper by Anne Hampson, damn how i adore this book!
November 27, 2021
Wendy Brown is a not-yet-21-year-old Englishwoman who’s been given the worst news imaginable. She has an inoperable brain tumor and will die in a few months. Rather than spend her last days wallowing in despair, Wendy decides to make the best of her lot. Alone in the world, she sells her family home. She buys a ticket for the maiden voyage of a glamorous cruise ship that’s set to sail the world.
Thus begins Anne Hampson’s Song of the Waves, a vintage Harlequin Presents written in 1976, a year before I was born.
Even for a book so ancient (ha-ha), this romance comes off old-fashioned. It never delves deeper than a few kisses and severely-restrained passion. Anne Hampson’s books might have been among the first published for the Harlequin Presents line, but that sort of antiquated mindset would later cause the publishers to break ties with her in favor of more “modern” minded authors, such as Charlotte Lamb.
Introduced into this “love boat” romance is a vast field of characters, couples and individuals, who will get to know Wendy as she charms her way aboard the ship. Rumors abound that a man-eater movie star is onboard traveling incognito as an innocent naif. One shipmate who believes the gossip is Garth Rivers, the book’s hero.
Unfortunately, Garth puts 1 and 1 together and gets 11, as he thinks our Wendy darling is said actress. So Garth treats her with contempt at first. As he gets more familiar with Wendy, Garth realizes that her sweet demeanor is genuine, and he has trouble synthesizing his preconceptions with reality.
Wendy, for her part, quickly realizes her heart belongs to Garth. However, she hides the truth from him, as she would rather he think her a sophisticated woman of mystery, instead of a girl with a fatal disease.
Wendy faces her last days with aplomb, not letting her impending doom stop her from enjoying life. She makes the best of her situation, making friends, flirting lightly with would-be suitors, and taking awe of her new surroundings whenever the ship enters port.
Despite the misunderstandings due to lack of communication, our main characters do fall in love. But can love be enough to stop the Grim Reaper’s arrival?
Of course!
Not only is Garth the only man Wendy’s ever loved, but he’s also the only person who can save her. For Garth–serendipitously enough–is a brain surgeon. Only he can perform the complicated, live-sustaining operation on the woman with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life.
Song of the Waves is a cozy romance that’s bound to tug at your heartstrings. Wendy is a delightful heroine. While the plot is set up as a tearjerker love story, fortunately, this is a romance novel. Any tears of sadness are guaranteed to turn into tears of joy with the uplifting conclusion.
4 stars
Thus begins Anne Hampson’s Song of the Waves, a vintage Harlequin Presents written in 1976, a year before I was born.
Even for a book so ancient (ha-ha), this romance comes off old-fashioned. It never delves deeper than a few kisses and severely-restrained passion. Anne Hampson’s books might have been among the first published for the Harlequin Presents line, but that sort of antiquated mindset would later cause the publishers to break ties with her in favor of more “modern” minded authors, such as Charlotte Lamb.
Introduced into this “love boat” romance is a vast field of characters, couples and individuals, who will get to know Wendy as she charms her way aboard the ship. Rumors abound that a man-eater movie star is onboard traveling incognito as an innocent naif. One shipmate who believes the gossip is Garth Rivers, the book’s hero.
Unfortunately, Garth puts 1 and 1 together and gets 11, as he thinks our Wendy darling is said actress. So Garth treats her with contempt at first. As he gets more familiar with Wendy, Garth realizes that her sweet demeanor is genuine, and he has trouble synthesizing his preconceptions with reality.
Wendy, for her part, quickly realizes her heart belongs to Garth. However, she hides the truth from him, as she would rather he think her a sophisticated woman of mystery, instead of a girl with a fatal disease.
Wendy faces her last days with aplomb, not letting her impending doom stop her from enjoying life. She makes the best of her situation, making friends, flirting lightly with would-be suitors, and taking awe of her new surroundings whenever the ship enters port.
Despite the misunderstandings due to lack of communication, our main characters do fall in love. But can love be enough to stop the Grim Reaper’s arrival?
Of course!
Not only is Garth the only man Wendy’s ever loved, but he’s also the only person who can save her. For Garth–serendipitously enough–is a brain surgeon. Only he can perform the complicated, live-sustaining operation on the woman with whom he wants to spend the rest of his life.
Song of the Waves is a cozy romance that’s bound to tug at your heartstrings. Wendy is a delightful heroine. While the plot is set up as a tearjerker love story, fortunately, this is a romance novel. Any tears of sadness are guaranteed to turn into tears of joy with the uplifting conclusion.
4 stars
June 26, 2018
You cannot read this book without loving it. Twenty year old Wendy has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given 4 months to live. She has no family and no close friends. On the advice of her family doctor, she sells her family home and uses the money on a cruise around the world.
She has made the decision to live every moment of life that she has and to not get to attached to anyone so she can spare them the pain of her death. However, things don’t always go as planned and she soon makes friends on the ship.
Margie, an American widow with a wonderful personality befriends her and takes Wendy under her wing. She also meets a very perplexing man names Garth. No one knows anything about him, but his friend Frazier mentioned that he was on the cruise under doctor’s orders. Apparently he was working too much.
Wendy and Garth soon struck up a tentative friendship that, for her, grew into love. She knew that Garth was a lifelong bachelor so she wasn’t worried about him becoming too involved with her. She assumed that she could use him to enjoy her last days and then return home to die. What Wendy doesn’t realize is that Garth is so much more than she ever expected.
This book is a beautiful tearjerker! Wendy’s bravery and gentleness had me teary eyed all through the book. But the end had me ugly crying!! Just snot nosed bawling. It was beautifully sad and a wonderful book.
This is my first Anne Hampson book and I am eager to read more of her works! I loved her writing and the emotion and dignity she gave to Wendy. Her courage made this book special.
She has made the decision to live every moment of life that she has and to not get to attached to anyone so she can spare them the pain of her death. However, things don’t always go as planned and she soon makes friends on the ship.
Margie, an American widow with a wonderful personality befriends her and takes Wendy under her wing. She also meets a very perplexing man names Garth. No one knows anything about him, but his friend Frazier mentioned that he was on the cruise under doctor’s orders. Apparently he was working too much.
Wendy and Garth soon struck up a tentative friendship that, for her, grew into love. She knew that Garth was a lifelong bachelor so she wasn’t worried about him becoming too involved with her. She assumed that she could use him to enjoy her last days and then return home to die. What Wendy doesn’t realize is that Garth is so much more than she ever expected.
This book is a beautiful tearjerker! Wendy’s bravery and gentleness had me teary eyed all through the book. But the end had me ugly crying!! Just snot nosed bawling. It was beautifully sad and a wonderful book.
This is my first Anne Hampson book and I am eager to read more of her works! I loved her writing and the emotion and dignity she gave to Wendy. Her courage made this book special.
November 30, 2014
Wow what a heartwarming tearjerker story! This is the kind of book that is best enjoyed accompanied by ample quantities of both tissues and chocolate. It will leave you teary but feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
June 23, 2012
Very sweet older traditional HP. It kept me turning the pages....
November 20, 2014
One of the best Harlequins I've ever read! Seriously!
Great plot and great characters.
I totally guessed what the hero's secret profession was, though.
Very dramatic, but at the same time sweet.
Great plot and great characters.
I totally guessed what the hero's secret profession was, though.
Very dramatic, but at the same time sweet.
August 14, 2013
I cried my eyes out few times while reading this book. It is an emotional read and it is done perfectly.
May 23, 2024
some disjointed thoughts on this insane novel
- This is a story about a girl who thinks she has three months to live, so she sells her house and goes on a luxury cruise and emotionally attaches herself to the absolute worst man alive because she's going through an incredibly isolating and traumatic experience. He saves her life at the end of the book but 100% she wakes up in a year and files for divorce.
Every time she described him, she was like, "He was so sarcastic and judgmental and passive aggressive and elitist, and he didn't really like me all that much... literally the man of my dreams" would love to live with this level of delusion seems nice
- Anne Hampson is obviously incredibly anti- gambling. Every couple pages some gambler that had no importance to the story would be mentioned so all the characters could talk shit about them. It took up so much page time. I don't really have a point here; I just find this extremely hilarious.
- Margie Stromberg is one of the most annoying side characters in history and she's never passed the Bechdel test a day in her life. I think I saw more of her in this story than seriously anyone else. Even when everyone thought the heroine was on her deathbed, Margie still had time to let the mmc know she was going to pull him aside and tell him all the information she'd discovered about our dying protagonist. Get some help omg now is not the time u are too invested in the both of them dear God
- the mmc Garth spends half the book hating the heroine because someone told him she looked like a promiscuous film star and without any evidence whatsoever he just... believes them??? for some reason??? Then he discovers that the actress died in a fiery plane wreck and he's like, "I guess now that I know you're not an evil slut we can start our lives together. Sorry I misogynistically harassed you for weeks. Thought you were someone else, baby. Now that I know you're a virgin, I'm definitely going to treat you like a human being." and the heroine is like, "No worries! I'm dying and you're the one thing keeping my fear of my impending demise away! I love you forever!"
- Garth makes a domestic violence joke literally seconds after Wendy wakes up from her surgery. Harlequin men are just so... there's no words.
- Margie Stromberg gets brought up again in a long conversation while Wendy is recovering in the hospital and again makes an appearance at their wedding. At this point I'm wondering if she's a self-insert because why is she getting so much freaking page time please go away
- Why was Garth hiding his identity the whole book like you're a doctor buddy you're not Taylor Swift pretty sure nobody cares what you do lmao
It's a very commendable profession but he legitimately acted like if he revealed that he was a neurosurgeon he'd be swarmed by paparazzi or something
- Just realized at the end of this book that I've read another Anne Hampson novel before and wrote a rant review for that book too. I can't keep letting this happen hahaha
Despite all my complaining, I did enjoy myself a bit. I love a crazy harlequin, but this wasn't even a dark romance it was just... whatever it was. I don't even know.
1.5 stars
TW: misogyny
- This is a story about a girl who thinks she has three months to live, so she sells her house and goes on a luxury cruise and emotionally attaches herself to the absolute worst man alive because she's going through an incredibly isolating and traumatic experience. He saves her life at the end of the book but 100% she wakes up in a year and files for divorce.
Every time she described him, she was like, "He was so sarcastic and judgmental and passive aggressive and elitist, and he didn't really like me all that much... literally the man of my dreams" would love to live with this level of delusion seems nice
- Anne Hampson is obviously incredibly anti- gambling. Every couple pages some gambler that had no importance to the story would be mentioned so all the characters could talk shit about them. It took up so much page time. I don't really have a point here; I just find this extremely hilarious.
- Margie Stromberg is one of the most annoying side characters in history and she's never passed the Bechdel test a day in her life. I think I saw more of her in this story than seriously anyone else. Even when everyone thought the heroine was on her deathbed, Margie still had time to let the mmc know she was going to pull him aside and tell him all the information she'd discovered about our dying protagonist. Get some help omg now is not the time u are too invested in the both of them dear God
- the mmc Garth spends half the book hating the heroine because someone told him she looked like a promiscuous film star and without any evidence whatsoever he just... believes them??? for some reason??? Then he discovers that the actress died in a fiery plane wreck and he's like, "I guess now that I know you're not an evil slut we can start our lives together. Sorry I misogynistically harassed you for weeks. Thought you were someone else, baby. Now that I know you're a virgin, I'm definitely going to treat you like a human being." and the heroine is like, "No worries! I'm dying and you're the one thing keeping my fear of my impending demise away! I love you forever!"
- Garth makes a domestic violence joke literally seconds after Wendy wakes up from her surgery. Harlequin men are just so... there's no words.
- Margie Stromberg gets brought up again in a long conversation while Wendy is recovering in the hospital and again makes an appearance at their wedding. At this point I'm wondering if she's a self-insert because why is she getting so much freaking page time please go away
- Why was Garth hiding his identity the whole book like you're a doctor buddy you're not Taylor Swift pretty sure nobody cares what you do lmao
It's a very commendable profession but he legitimately acted like if he revealed that he was a neurosurgeon he'd be swarmed by paparazzi or something
- Just realized at the end of this book that I've read another Anne Hampson novel before and wrote a rant review for that book too. I can't keep letting this happen hahaha
Despite all my complaining, I did enjoy myself a bit. I love a crazy harlequin, but this wasn't even a dark romance it was just... whatever it was. I don't even know.
1.5 stars
TW: misogyny
May 8, 2021
The story premise was lovely, touching. If only the author had injected a little more emotion and pathos into it. It would have been a memorable saga of enduring love :)
The girl is a sweet little 20 year old innocent. Recently orphaned, lives alone in the house left behind by mummy.
She has just been informed by her doctor that she is dying. A brain tumor. She has about 4 months to live. Utterly devastated, no clue what to do next, she asks the doctor for advice. He suggests taking a world cruise to forget her misery and live the remaining months in style! What a pragmatic doctor !
The hero is on the cruise of course, the smartest guy on board. A sort of a mystery man, nobody knows what's his real profession. But the ladies on board the ship are already drooling over him, right on Day 1 !!!
Our poor little miss notices him too, fancies him too. But senses that the fellow is kind of aloof towards her. She wonders why.
Turns out the hero mistakes her for a small time actress in disguise, who is hiding out on the ship after a scandal. In spite of that, he is drawn towards our simpleton sweetie. Whether dying or not, no hot blooded woman can resist the heroes of HP land you see ;)))))))) So our girl loves the attention he starts paying her, albeit reluctantly. He soon confesses to being stupid about the mistaken identity.
All is well between them, or so he thinks. He kisses, flirts, takes her on tours of various tourist landmarks every time the ship makes a stop over. So there is lot of touristy information about these places. She is loving it, but also heart broken that this bliss wont last beyond a few more weeks.
Suddenly, the fellow becomes serious, proposes marriage. The girl is bewildered, doesn't know how to react. She wants to save him from lasting agony. So pretends to be interested only in a frivolous affair, not in anything serious.
He is upset, but not devastated, as I would have expected him to be. In fact, he quite immediately starts moving around with another girl. More out of pique may be, but that didn't gel with the poignant declaration of his love.
Its almost time to finish the voyage. Our girl is seeing increased symptoms of failing health. So she decides to leave the ship without informing anybody. That's when her health collapses and she slumps into unconsciousness in front of the baffled hero.
But this is HP land folks, so Ta da !!! The author pulls out the magic rabbit from her hat. The hero is a celebrated neuro surgeon you see. He simply gets the girl admitted to the nearest hospital, breaks open her skull and fixes the damn thing in her head ! Just like that, no medical terms, no serious surgery scenes, nothing. Just a "Darling, I've patched it all up, and you are going to live long!"
Another shy smile, another sweet kiss, another confession of love. Should have been deeply emotional, "returned from the depths of despair" sort of scene. But it was lightweight.
6 moths of courtship, shaved head grows into short curls, bride in white, church wedding, ecstatic family looking on . HEA.
The girl is a sweet little 20 year old innocent. Recently orphaned, lives alone in the house left behind by mummy.
She has just been informed by her doctor that she is dying. A brain tumor. She has about 4 months to live. Utterly devastated, no clue what to do next, she asks the doctor for advice. He suggests taking a world cruise to forget her misery and live the remaining months in style! What a pragmatic doctor !
The hero is on the cruise of course, the smartest guy on board. A sort of a mystery man, nobody knows what's his real profession. But the ladies on board the ship are already drooling over him, right on Day 1 !!!
Our poor little miss notices him too, fancies him too. But senses that the fellow is kind of aloof towards her. She wonders why.
Turns out the hero mistakes her for a small time actress in disguise, who is hiding out on the ship after a scandal. In spite of that, he is drawn towards our simpleton sweetie. Whether dying or not, no hot blooded woman can resist the heroes of HP land you see ;)))))))) So our girl loves the attention he starts paying her, albeit reluctantly. He soon confesses to being stupid about the mistaken identity.
All is well between them, or so he thinks. He kisses, flirts, takes her on tours of various tourist landmarks every time the ship makes a stop over. So there is lot of touristy information about these places. She is loving it, but also heart broken that this bliss wont last beyond a few more weeks.
Suddenly, the fellow becomes serious, proposes marriage. The girl is bewildered, doesn't know how to react. She wants to save him from lasting agony. So pretends to be interested only in a frivolous affair, not in anything serious.
He is upset, but not devastated, as I would have expected him to be. In fact, he quite immediately starts moving around with another girl. More out of pique may be, but that didn't gel with the poignant declaration of his love.
Its almost time to finish the voyage. Our girl is seeing increased symptoms of failing health. So she decides to leave the ship without informing anybody. That's when her health collapses and she slumps into unconsciousness in front of the baffled hero.
But this is HP land folks, so Ta da !!! The author pulls out the magic rabbit from her hat. The hero is a celebrated neuro surgeon you see. He simply gets the girl admitted to the nearest hospital, breaks open her skull and fixes the damn thing in her head ! Just like that, no medical terms, no serious surgery scenes, nothing. Just a "Darling, I've patched it all up, and you are going to live long!"
Another shy smile, another sweet kiss, another confession of love. Should have been deeply emotional, "returned from the depths of despair" sort of scene. But it was lightweight.
6 moths of courtship, shaved head grows into short curls, bride in white, church wedding, ecstatic family looking on . HEA.
September 13, 2013
at last i've read the book. i've heard so much abt it n i was not disappointed. it brilliantly satisfied my expectations. what a mind-blowing awesome read especially near the end when wendy lost consciousness n was on the point of dying. i actually had tears falling when garth insisted dat she hold on. the book was a definite 5 star. how come i rated it 4 star. bcoz i thought wendy had 2 die. the book was brilliantly poignantly written n the ending had 2 be her death bcoz i did not want happy endings just 4 the sake of happy endings. i wanted it as it shud be. i was so impressed i did not want fantasy. i mean the logic conclusion was 4 her 2 die bcoz she had such a serious n very grave illness. neway a 4.5 star from me
May 30, 2020
Quarantine Read
The story is beautiful and sad at the same time. I see the story in heroine's (Wendy)eyes - a dying twenty year old woman who sold her house and went to a cruise. She met people and she went to places and she fell in love. And with all those experiences, she saw the world in a haunting way. I love it, really love it. Frankly, I would want this story to end as her being dead. The story would have been a punch on a gut if it's that type of ending - - but oh well... we need some happy endings sometimes.
The story is beautiful and sad at the same time. I see the story in heroine's (Wendy)eyes - a dying twenty year old woman who sold her house and went to a cruise. She met people and she went to places and she fell in love. And with all those experiences, she saw the world in a haunting way. I love it, really love it. Frankly, I would want this story to end as her being dead. The story would have been a punch on a gut if it's that type of ending - - but oh well... we need some happy endings sometimes.
September 13, 2011
I think this is the first one I've read by this particular author. I enjoyed it, I absolutely love these older Harlequins. In this story, our heroine, Wendy, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and no surgeon will operate as the risks are too great. So on her doctor's advice she sells her home and embarks on a four month around the world cruise, where of course, despite her intentions, she falls in love. At times it was laughably melodramatic (especially when she thought the end had come and she was dying that very minute), but Wendy was a sweet, likeable young girl, and despite her illness we, the reader, are never really in any doubt as to whether she will survive.
August 22, 2017
Very slow and, randomly, part travel guide which added to the meandering pace. Would have preferred it if the heroine died at the end from her brain tumour. Sadly, she survived because the hero was an amazing neurosurgeon. Alas.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
4 Stars
I read this book many years ago and I can't remember much about it except that I cried like a whining baby when the hero knew the truth, I used to have a soft spot for those characters who are going to die in books.
I read this book many years ago and I can't remember much about it except that I cried like a whining baby when the hero knew the truth, I used to have a soft spot for those characters who are going to die in books.
February 24, 2017
This book was so good. I loved it.
June 29, 2021
She’s beautiful, so beautiful. And she’s sweet and kind, and have I mentioned that she’s so very beautiful? Well, isn’t he a shallow lad? Oh well. A lovely vintage romance, violet eyes including. I do love a good case of mixed-up identity.
October 23, 2014
The heroine Wendy Brown discovers she has an inoperable brain tumor. On her Doctor's advice she sells her house and books a four-month long cruise. She falls in love with Garth Rivers, a man so cynical, that she believes that he won't mourn her loss. She learns that he loves her and wants to marry her. Wendy breaks up with him and plans to leave the ship at the next port. Unfortunately, her condition takes a turn for the worse, and she collapses in front of him. The ship races for Los Angeles with Wendy barely clinging to life. There's a touching deathbed scene where Wendy explains herself to Garth. He reveals that he's a neurosurgeon and orders her to hold on. He operates on Wendy saving her life. Six months later they marry.
Published in 1976, this a sweet and innocent love story while also being a real tear-jerker. I read it whenever I feel the need for a good solid weep.
Published in 1976, this a sweet and innocent love story while also being a real tear-jerker. I read it whenever I feel the need for a good solid weep.
April 18, 2018
This book seems like an experiment for Anne Hampson, and it's not a genre she has a great deal of skill with. However, it's a plot that clearly readers at the time loved -- it's possibly her most popular book. The h is self-sacrificing and tragic, the H is a dreamboat and completely out of the loop about what is going on with the h. The drama and angst are endless, and the resolution of the situation is almost laughable, it's so expedient.
Despite the success of this book, I think it's telling that Hampson never wandered into this territory again. There was far too little brutal shaking or deliberate cruelty for her literary tastes.
Despite the success of this book, I think it's telling that Hampson never wandered into this territory again. There was far too little brutal shaking or deliberate cruelty for her literary tastes.
October 29, 2020
BEAUTIFUL.
SO far it was the best book of Anne Hampson. I'm in LOVE with this book. Very well written, the characters so beautifully drawn and developed, the story line was so lovable. I give it all stars in the universe to this beautiful book and recommend it to all.
SO far it was the best book of Anne Hampson. I'm in LOVE with this book. Very well written, the characters so beautifully drawn and developed, the story line was so lovable. I give it all stars in the universe to this beautiful book and recommend it to all.
June 9, 2013
The story is quite good although I found it a little bit unrealistic that the heroine seemed very calm in the beginning when she knew that her life will be ended in a few months time. But towards the end when she was unwell enough to think she is not going to make it, it felt very real as she is scared and she would like someone she loved to be with her till the end. I even shed a few tears reading that part because I believed anyone would be a bit scared no matter how prepared they are when facing death.
August 9, 2012
Sweet, traditional HP written in the 70s. When Wendy learns she only has a few months to live, she decides to sell her house and go on a world cruise. I enjoyed the unique setting, side characters, and likable heroine. The story was predictable but still engaging. It's fascinating to trace the evolution of category romances over the decades.
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