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Homeplace
HOMEPLACE... is the story of Ana, a stranger on a lonesome Iowa farm, a young woman struggling to raise her late stepdaughter's child in a farmhouse filled with danger. There is Esther, the child's crazed aunt, and dark secrets and memories lurking in every corner. And there is Owen, the child's father, the master of the house--and the man awakening new passions in Ana... as well as a daring new dream.
428 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1991
45 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Dorothy Garlock
86 books382 followersDorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
Pen names include:
Johanna Phillips
Dorothy Phillips
Dorothy Glenn
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 3, 2016
This story was a twisted story about a twisted family... Edith was the heroes sister and a nasty woman, hateful and appears to be losing her mind. The backstory of this woman is horrific, but her behavior is as well..... This storyline is the reason that a lot of things occur in this book... why he puts up with things NO ONE would.
Ana is the stepmother of Harriet... she married her father a much older man who left her a virgin... he wanted a maid and a mother for his child and he got one..... Harriet was a bit spoiled and wild and she ups and runs away with a man and leaves Ana all alone. Several months later Ana gets a letter from her daughter begging her to come...t hat she is having a baby that the people are horrid and she thinks she will die.
Ana rushes to her daughter and manages to make it in time to help her deliver a beautiful baby boy (in deplorable conditions due to the horrid Edith), and she does die.
Owen is her husband and he is rather cold and appears weak in dealing with his sisters horrid behavior, giving ana the idea that he is whipped and weak... he is not... but he is overwhelmed with the secrets in his family a big secret he is keeping from Ana herself.... Harriet made Ana promise that Edith would not be raising her child... and he promised Harriet he would do whatever it took.... so he proposes to Ana to give her a home and Harry a mother and himself a family.
The secrets in this house are horrid and heartbreaking, you feel so sorry for everyone
Ana is the stepmother of Harriet... she married her father a much older man who left her a virgin... he wanted a maid and a mother for his child and he got one..... Harriet was a bit spoiled and wild and she ups and runs away with a man and leaves Ana all alone. Several months later Ana gets a letter from her daughter begging her to come...t hat she is having a baby that the people are horrid and she thinks she will die.
Ana rushes to her daughter and manages to make it in time to help her deliver a beautiful baby boy (in deplorable conditions due to the horrid Edith), and she does die.
Owen is her husband and he is rather cold and appears weak in dealing with his sisters horrid behavior, giving ana the idea that he is whipped and weak... he is not... but he is overwhelmed with the secrets in his family a big secret he is keeping from Ana herself.... Harriet made Ana promise that Edith would not be raising her child... and he promised Harriet he would do whatever it took.... so he proposes to Ana to give her a home and Harry a mother and himself a family.
The secrets in this house are horrid and heartbreaking, you feel so sorry for everyone
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2022
I may have read this years ago
I've been reading Dorothy Garlock for years. I love her description of old timey farm life. Her characters are believable. The stories portray women has strong and capable yet feminine. The story of incest is as old as time. Homeplace told of the damage it can cause to those subjected to its evil. It was a sweet love story of two lonely people learning to trust the power of unconditional love.
I've been reading Dorothy Garlock for years. I love her description of old timey farm life. Her characters are believable. The stories portray women has strong and capable yet feminine. The story of incest is as old as time. Homeplace told of the damage it can cause to those subjected to its evil. It was a sweet love story of two lonely people learning to trust the power of unconditional love.
August 22, 2021
Everyone needs a home......
As everyone has some kind of dysfunctional situations in their lives that they don't want to admit, or just run away from if you can. I finished this in one day, just couldn't put it down, the characters are so real I could feel the pain and anguish of every single character, excellent emotional connection for the reader in my opinion! The ending was nice, wouldn't mind a follow up in a sequel.
As everyone has some kind of dysfunctional situations in their lives that they don't want to admit, or just run away from if you can. I finished this in one day, just couldn't put it down, the characters are so real I could feel the pain and anguish of every single character, excellent emotional connection for the reader in my opinion! The ending was nice, wouldn't mind a follow up in a sequel.
November 20, 2025
I simply loved this book. I found everything believable. But I especially loved Owen. It's heartbreaking how much he suffered his whole life and he just deserves to be happy. It was also nice to see the attraction and love between the two. I adored all the secondary characters; I wanted a story for each one. In the epilogue, I only felt the lack of a happy ending for the other characters. The book definitely warms the heart.
June 17, 2018
2.5 stars
This was an enjoyable historical romance.
The characters were appealing. I liked the secondary romance story as well. It was subtle yet kept my interest.
Even though the plot twist was predictable, I was involved in the story.
This was an enjoyable historical romance.
The characters were appealing. I liked the secondary romance story as well. It was subtle yet kept my interest.
Even though the plot twist was predictable, I was involved in the story.
July 8, 2020
her stepdaughter got pregnant and when she went to help her on the farm , the stepdaughter died. she married the girls husband (so she could care for the baby), who turned out to be the uncle of the child. they fell in love and she was going to have his baby too. takes place in 1885
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
Wonderful character development.
This story pulls you in and you hate to put it down. Suspense, tears and joy all blend together in this time and place for all who appreciate going back to a different more basic way of life.
This story pulls you in and you hate to put it down. Suspense, tears and joy all blend together in this time and place for all who appreciate going back to a different more basic way of life.
September 25, 2022
Quite a compelling read, I found myself very invested in the story and the lives of the main characters.
For some reason, based on the blurb, I thought the heroine would be a downtrodden, meek woman. I was totally wrong. She is strong, competent and beautiful!
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
For some reason, based on the blurb, I thought the heroine would be a downtrodden, meek woman. I was totally wrong. She is strong, competent and beautiful!
Thoroughly enjoyed this!
December 30, 2024
loved this book ❤️
this is a very good book. I loved the characters and the story kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next! I cried and laughed while reading this book!
this is a very good book. I loved the characters and the story kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next! I cried and laughed while reading this book!
May 21, 2018
This is one of those tender, sweet love stories that makes you feel good after you read it. It is a great beach read and goes fast. Love this author and her tender love stories
April 26, 2020
I bought the book for $.25 at a garage sale. I never read Dorothy Garlock before. Now I want to read her other books. I had a hard time putting the book when I picked it up to read.
June 2, 2021
I have enjoyed DG's books for years now. This is one of her best.
November 24, 2022
Great story
The story had many twists and turns, the love story between Owen and Ana was so sweet. As always Ms Garlocks heroine beauty and strength was amazing!
The story had many twists and turns, the love story between Owen and Ana was so sweet. As always Ms Garlocks heroine beauty and strength was amazing!
July 26, 2023
O.k., but nothing to write home about.
October 10, 2025
Really nice and well-written.
June 16, 2019
This is a most unusual story -- in a good way. Harriet, step-daughter to Ana (now widowed), sends a letter to Ana asking that she come in time for the birth of her child. They had parted with hard feelings because Harriet decided to run away to find the father of her baby.
Ana gets there in time but Harriet is dying; she begs Ana to raise her son, Harry. (It is important to understand that Ana is only 11 years older than her step-daughter.) By agreeing to Harriet's request, Ana is bound to Owen Jamison and his family; Owen, as Harriet's husband, will not let Ana leave. She quickly comes to understand that this is a house of secrets and undercurrents.
Owen's sister, Esther raged against Harriet and now she does the same to Ana. Slowly, the reader learns Esther's history and can understand the guilt and anger that has brought these people to their present state.
This is a very strong story that brings unique subjects to the fore -- not usually a part of a romance. Ms. Garlock's authoritative voice brings the time (19th century) and place (farm life) to life. This is one book that will stay with me for a very long time.
Ana gets there in time but Harriet is dying; she begs Ana to raise her son, Harry. (It is important to understand that Ana is only 11 years older than her step-daughter.) By agreeing to Harriet's request, Ana is bound to Owen Jamison and his family; Owen, as Harriet's husband, will not let Ana leave. She quickly comes to understand that this is a house of secrets and undercurrents.
Owen's sister, Esther raged against Harriet and now she does the same to Ana. Slowly, the reader learns Esther's history and can understand the guilt and anger that has brought these people to their present state.
This is a very strong story that brings unique subjects to the fore -- not usually a part of a romance. Ms. Garlock's authoritative voice brings the time (19th century) and place (farm life) to life. This is one book that will stay with me for a very long time.
February 19, 2015
I am hesitant to write reviews of books I really like but in this case I have to say so far every Garlock story I have read I have liked Immensely! This one is one I have read twice and could not put it down even the second time around, The tension gripped me and would not let me go, as the dreams of our main characters are revealed though they not particularly unusual, you are drawn in and rooting for them through it all, the story brings you right into their frustrations, fears and resolves them leaving you with such good feelings. That is all I can hope for in any book to whisk me away into their hopes, dreams and life's never ending difficulties yet bring it full circle (usually with a happy ending) I do so love a story that has the additional epilogue, this story did not require one as you knew the people well enough by stories end, to glean all would be well.
March 15, 2015
I was really into this story at first but then it sort of lost me. Soren and Lily were the only characters keeping me going in the end.
(Spoiler alert) I didn't like the way the author solved every problem in the end. I felt like she just couldn't bother to think of something and decided to kill them instead.
What I did like was the tension between the characetrs (though it ended too soon) and how Owen opened up to Ana and fell in love with her.
(Spoiler alert) I didn't like the way the author solved every problem in the end. I felt like she just couldn't bother to think of something and decided to kill them instead.
What I did like was the tension between the characetrs (though it ended too soon) and how Owen opened up to Ana and fell in love with her.
July 2, 2011
Set in 1880's Iowa a widow is summoned to her step-daughter's bedside as she lay dying from childbirth. A deathbed promise is made and the woman takes the responsibilty of raising child. The family of baby is mean and the father of baby ran away. The romance happens between Uncle of baby and the widow. I loved it!
April 15, 2016
Finally my faith in Dorothy Garlock has been restored!! From start to finish Homeplace had my complete attention. I fell in love with Ana, Owen, Hattie, Lilly, Uncle Gus, and Soren. This was a classic Dorothy Garlock novel and it does not disappoint. I would have no problem reading this book again. It's a MUST READ!!
July 5, 2009
book resonated with me - however it is rare that i don't find a book, or part of, that does resonate ...
March 5, 2011
What a good story! Nice makebelieve, cause everything works out to the good!
January 28, 2013
This book was interesting enough for me to finish, but was lighter than the type that I usually read. I like a book to have more depth.
April 2, 2013
Great book with a lot of imagination!
August 22, 2014
at times i thought the writing was a little more amateurish than her other books i've read. i enjoy this theme though so i read it to the end.
February 27, 2015
Good story of family relationships, marriages of convenience and evil.
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May 8, 2012Very Good !!!
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February 26, 2013Frontier romance.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews