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A Man to Call My Own
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey comes a love story as passionate, tumultuous, and colorful as the old American West.
In 1870s Texas, an unforgettable drama unfolds in the lives of rival twin sisters and the cowboy they both want to call their own.
Amanda and Marian Laton are identical twins but they are as different as night and day. Amanda is beautiful but nasty, and Marian is nice but plain -- purposely so to avoid provoking her spiteful twin's jealousy. When their wealthy father suddenly dies, the two gently reared New England heiresses are sent to live with their aunt on a sprawling Texas ranch. There the twins meet Chad Kinkaid, the cowboy son of a neighboring rancher. Marian is fascinated by Chad's rugged good looks and his sheer masculinity, but she knows that like every other man she and her twin have met, he will pursue Amanda, not her. Chad is indeed beguiled by Amanda's beauty, but soon he begins to see beyond Marian's carefully constructed dowdy façade. Unlike the tame gentlemen back East, after witnessing Marian's taste for adventure, her sense of humor and bravery in the face of danger, Chad finds himself wanting her. But how can he, a man who's just a cowboy without fancy airs or urbane charm, convince her she's the only woman for him? In a story that surprises and delights, Johanna Lindsey skillfully charts the intoxicating course of first love, and all of love's attendant twists and turns, that ends with a spunky woman's coming into her own and finding a man she can call her own. With powerful emotions and sensuality, incomparable humor, and great insight into the ways of the human heart, Lindsey delivers one of her most compelling novels, which readers won't want to put down until the final page is turned.
In 1870s Texas, an unforgettable drama unfolds in the lives of rival twin sisters and the cowboy they both want to call their own.
Amanda and Marian Laton are identical twins but they are as different as night and day. Amanda is beautiful but nasty, and Marian is nice but plain -- purposely so to avoid provoking her spiteful twin's jealousy. When their wealthy father suddenly dies, the two gently reared New England heiresses are sent to live with their aunt on a sprawling Texas ranch. There the twins meet Chad Kinkaid, the cowboy son of a neighboring rancher. Marian is fascinated by Chad's rugged good looks and his sheer masculinity, but she knows that like every other man she and her twin have met, he will pursue Amanda, not her. Chad is indeed beguiled by Amanda's beauty, but soon he begins to see beyond Marian's carefully constructed dowdy façade. Unlike the tame gentlemen back East, after witnessing Marian's taste for adventure, her sense of humor and bravery in the face of danger, Chad finds himself wanting her. But how can he, a man who's just a cowboy without fancy airs or urbane charm, convince her she's the only woman for him? In a story that surprises and delights, Johanna Lindsey skillfully charts the intoxicating course of first love, and all of love's attendant twists and turns, that ends with a spunky woman's coming into her own and finding a man she can call her own. With powerful emotions and sensuality, incomparable humor, and great insight into the ways of the human heart, Lindsey delivers one of her most compelling novels, which readers won't want to put down until the final page is turned.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
265 people are currently reading
2101 people want to read
About the author
Johanna Lindsey
147 books7,219 followersJohanna Helen Howard was born on March 10, 1952 in Germany, where her father, Edwin Dennis Howard, a soldier in the U.S. Army was stationed. The family moved about a great deal when she was young. Her father always dreamed of retiring to Hawaii, and after he passed away in 1964 Johanna and her mother settled there to honor him.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
January 18, 2021
3 TEPID STARS
Identical twin sisters who couldn't be more different find themselves having to move to Texas to be with their aunt when their father dies. Amanda adored and spoilt by their father is determined to do all she can to leave Texas with her inheritance tightly grasped. Marian always ignored by their father and forced to hide in order to prevent the spite that spews from her sister is looking forward to the day she no longer has to wear a disguise. But when Marian falls for a cowboy she's petrified Amanda will sink her claws into him if she realises Marian cares for him, and then their is the cowboy himself who seems ensnared by Amanda's beauty despite her sharp tongue and selfish words.
A lot of communication lacking between MCs which irked me a tad.
This needed way more oomph to it. The mystery component of this was disappointing.
99p on amazon.
Identical twin sisters who couldn't be more different find themselves having to move to Texas to be with their aunt when their father dies. Amanda adored and spoilt by their father is determined to do all she can to leave Texas with her inheritance tightly grasped. Marian always ignored by their father and forced to hide in order to prevent the spite that spews from her sister is looking forward to the day she no longer has to wear a disguise. But when Marian falls for a cowboy she's petrified Amanda will sink her claws into him if she realises Marian cares for him, and then their is the cowboy himself who seems ensnared by Amanda's beauty despite her sharp tongue and selfish words.
A lot of communication lacking between MCs which irked me a tad.
This needed way more oomph to it. The mystery component of this was disappointing.
99p on amazon.
April 23, 2015
It was a formula book done over okay, but... there were problems, too.
First this is the story of twins - the good/sweet one, and the hellion one. Because all twins are extremes. (?!) The good one wears frumpy clothing, no make-up, severe hair, and glasses she can't see through to make herself look ugly, because her sister is cruel and jealous and will hurt any man who pays attention to her sister.
But that isn't enough for the author. She takes it further, and makes the good one pretend to be bitchy, too... to help chase away anyone who might be interested beyond the looks thing. Except now we have TWO bitchy sisters, and the real bitchy one looks nice and... it got weird in a wrong way. Especially when the good one was only bitchy for something like two days of the book, and... ((O_o))
I don't know. I just had trouble. And then it went into the whole 'which twin am I with' thing, which led to an almost shotgun wedding (and an actual shotgun wedding) and... yeesh. It got very over-the-top.
Also, Miss I-can't-see-thru-these-glasses is supposed to be so clumsy and accident-prone, but then at the same time she's this incredible painter who can do miniatures that look EXACTLY like the people that she can't... see...?
More, the author's writing was so badly done that it took quite a few pages for me to figure out what era this was even written in. From the vernacular used, it felt like 1970-ish, but then we were traveling by stagecoach, and I realized that something was off. :/
I wasn't fond of this.
First this is the story of twins - the good/sweet one, and the hellion one. Because all twins are extremes. (?!) The good one wears frumpy clothing, no make-up, severe hair, and glasses she can't see through to make herself look ugly, because her sister is cruel and jealous and will hurt any man who pays attention to her sister.
But that isn't enough for the author. She takes it further, and makes the good one pretend to be bitchy, too... to help chase away anyone who might be interested beyond the looks thing. Except now we have TWO bitchy sisters, and the real bitchy one looks nice and... it got weird in a wrong way. Especially when the good one was only bitchy for something like two days of the book, and... ((O_o))
I don't know. I just had trouble. And then it went into the whole 'which twin am I with' thing, which led to an almost shotgun wedding (and an actual shotgun wedding) and... yeesh. It got very over-the-top.
Also, Miss I-can't-see-thru-these-glasses is supposed to be so clumsy and accident-prone, but then at the same time she's this incredible painter who can do miniatures that look EXACTLY like the people that she can't... see...?
More, the author's writing was so badly done that it took quite a few pages for me to figure out what era this was even written in. From the vernacular used, it felt like 1970-ish, but then we were traveling by stagecoach, and I realized that something was off. :/
I wasn't fond of this.
June 30, 2015
4 stars
I really,really enjoyed this book. It was very good.
I really,really enjoyed this book. It was very good.
May 26, 2011
First Line: "Mortimer Laton was buried that morning in Haverhill, Massachusetts, the town where he had been born and lived his whole life."
Although the copyright information says 2003, this is a seriously Old Skool romance, and not in a good way. I couldn't stand the heroine and the hero was annoyingly obtuse. The only character I found at all interesting was the spoiled, bratty sister, who was at least funny sometimes. I surprised myself by reading the whole thing, but I would not suggest anyone else doing the same. If you want a good book by Johanna Lindsey (still Old Skool but in a good way) try Gentle Rouge or any of the Mallory family series.
Although the copyright information says 2003, this is a seriously Old Skool romance, and not in a good way. I couldn't stand the heroine and the hero was annoyingly obtuse. The only character I found at all interesting was the spoiled, bratty sister, who was at least funny sometimes. I surprised myself by reading the whole thing, but I would not suggest anyone else doing the same. If you want a good book by Johanna Lindsey (still Old Skool but in a good way) try Gentle Rouge or any of the Mallory family series.
February 17, 2017
A very basic and formulaic offering from Lindsey here. I was looking for some light reading am I usually able to suspend my disbelief and quieten my inner cynic to enjoy them like any good rom-com but this was so far outside of reality and was just poorly written. I truly couldn't begin to tell you the character's actions and motivations were - the fact that Lindsey made them so totally unwilling to communicate with each other for the sake of drawing out the plot was very frustrating and the twist at the end just made no sense. There are thousands of romance novels out there that offer so much more than this lukewarm mess. Do not recommend.
February 10, 2017
This story features a set of twins - one evil, one good. The evil one is the one that is spoiled and the good one lives in such fear of incurring the jealous rage of her sister that she makes herself as unappealing as possible. She is just hoping and praying for her sister to get married and torment someone else. She's a klutz with glasses - and then they get sent to the wild west because of their father's death leaving them destitute or something (I forget the contrived premise). I love that the synopsis describes the girls as one plain and the other beautiful -- when they're identical twins. They're both stunning women, one just tones down her looks while the other enhances and flaunts it as much as humanly possible. So this book centers (sort of) around the relationship between Amanda and Marian Laton, an interesting one, might I add. Amanda and Marian Laton are raised by their narcissistic father that ignores Marian and dotes on Amanda. But all things change quickly when the father suddenly dies from a tragic accident.
I really,really enjoyed this book. It was very good. An entertaining novel featuring twin females. Some parts were tedious, as the one sister had more than one instance of fighting with the man she loved. Neither were prepared to let the other one know. Other parts of the book were entertaining. A generous four. It was entertaining enough but it depended a lot on misunderstandings. There are a lot of times where the book depends on the reader buying the book's logic. This was best illustrated by Marian's reasoning as to why she dons her glasses and acts like a shrew. But, I'm hooked!
I really,really enjoyed this book. It was very good. An entertaining novel featuring twin females. Some parts were tedious, as the one sister had more than one instance of fighting with the man she loved. Neither were prepared to let the other one know. Other parts of the book were entertaining. A generous four. It was entertaining enough but it depended a lot on misunderstandings. There are a lot of times where the book depends on the reader buying the book's logic. This was best illustrated by Marian's reasoning as to why she dons her glasses and acts like a shrew. But, I'm hooked!
December 27, 2014
It's been a while since I have properly read a new book, cause first I had my exams then I had an intense urge to re-read a series I love, and what a great book! of course it's expected from Johanna Lindsey.
I loved all characters the good and bad:
- The Main Couple: Chad and Marian were cute and stupid, really really stupid I just wanted to shake them to their senses, they had moments were they kept on being adorable and companionable and just plain cute, but more often than not plain stupid, how they developed the misunderstanding and kept at it for a looooooooooooong while I started to lose hope. There were times I expected the misunderstanding to be resolved earlier but oh no they had to stay misunderstood.
- The bitch twin sister Amanda and her husband Spencer, they were supposed to be the nemesis of both the main characters, and at the beginning they were especially Amanda, where she orchestrated and initiated the stupid misunderstanding, but at the end I started to like her actually, and they fit perfectly together.
- The Aunt and the Dad were a cute pair
- I really detested the the twin's father, he was a selfish asshole
- The moment I really hated in the book was when they first made love and at one moment he mistook her for her sister Amanda, I really wanted to punch him for that.
Overall, *thumps up*
I loved all characters the good and bad:
- The Main Couple: Chad and Marian were cute and stupid, really really stupid I just wanted to shake them to their senses, they had moments were they kept on being adorable and companionable and just plain cute, but more often than not plain stupid, how they developed the misunderstanding and kept at it for a looooooooooooong while I started to lose hope. There were times I expected the misunderstanding to be resolved earlier but oh no they had to stay misunderstood.
- The bitch twin sister Amanda and her husband Spencer, they were supposed to be the nemesis of both the main characters, and at the beginning they were especially Amanda, where she orchestrated and initiated the stupid misunderstanding, but at the end I started to like her actually, and they fit perfectly together.
- The Aunt and the Dad were a cute pair
- I really detested the the twin's father, he was a selfish asshole
- The moment I really hated in the book was when they first made love and at one moment he mistook her for her sister Amanda, I really wanted to punch him for that.
Overall, *thumps up*
January 27, 2015
Una historia ambientada en el oeste, una novela histórica y romántica que me ha sorprendido bastante porque no esperaba que esta autora me gustara tanto. He leído varios libros de Johanna Lindsey y aunque la mayoría me han gustado, no la tengo presente por ser una de mis autora favoritas. Cuando empecé esta historia no esperaba que me gustase tanto y que me crease tantas expectativas a medida que avanzaba. Visto de forma objetiva, no es la mejor historia romántica sobre este género del oeste, pero merece la pena y me parecen muy curiosos los personajes que se retratan.
La vida allí es muy interesante, ciertamente, de eso no vemos mucho. Se centra sobre todo en los personajes, que la verdad, merecen la pena. Dos gemelas que se llevan mal, opuestas, una egoísta y arrogante, la hija mimada de un hombre acaudalado y la otra ha crecido sabiendo que su padre solo quería a su hermana. Para evitar los ataque de esa aprende a anularse vistiéndose de forma poco atractiva y ocultando su rostro con unas gafas que no necesita. Cuando se van a casa de su tía y conoce a Chad, la protagonista se siente traída por él. Ahí comenzarán una serie de hechos divertidos, de enredo, pero que a la vez nos muestran los problemas de la mujer protagonista, su evolución como persona y algunas escenas cómicas con su difícil hermana.
El final es del todo inesperado (en un aspecto) y me ha gustado porque nos lleva a la reflexión de las extrañas personalidades y afectos que puede tener una persona. La verdad es que es una historia que si el género gusta, merece la pena y que recomiendo.
La vida allí es muy interesante, ciertamente, de eso no vemos mucho. Se centra sobre todo en los personajes, que la verdad, merecen la pena. Dos gemelas que se llevan mal, opuestas, una egoísta y arrogante, la hija mimada de un hombre acaudalado y la otra ha crecido sabiendo que su padre solo quería a su hermana. Para evitar los ataque de esa aprende a anularse vistiéndose de forma poco atractiva y ocultando su rostro con unas gafas que no necesita. Cuando se van a casa de su tía y conoce a Chad, la protagonista se siente traída por él. Ahí comenzarán una serie de hechos divertidos, de enredo, pero que a la vez nos muestran los problemas de la mujer protagonista, su evolución como persona y algunas escenas cómicas con su difícil hermana.
El final es del todo inesperado (en un aspecto) y me ha gustado porque nos lleva a la reflexión de las extrañas personalidades y afectos que puede tener una persona. La verdad es que es una historia que si el género gusta, merece la pena y que recomiendo.
January 26, 2016
Es un libro típico y predecible, lleno de clichés y machismo, bastante entretenido hasta la mitad, cuando aparece el sexo. luego se vuelve estúpido, con peleas sin sentido y malentendidos bastante tontos, por no hablar del sexo por accidente que ya es la gota que colma el vaso... Aún así como ya digo hasta la mitad el libro es bastante entretenido, no lo recomiendo pero tampoco es tan malo. Le doy un 6.
July 30, 2015
Trois étoiles parce que j'ai eu ben ben du fun à lire ça. L'histoire est COMPLÈTEMENT RIDICULE, mais on s'en fiche pas mal. Un cowboy sexy! Des galipettes dans une étable! Des revirements innatendus! Alouette!
July 3, 2011
not at all what i thought. this is the first book i have read that did not include vampires or mythical creatures. and i loved it. it was written very well and it was very romantic.
March 3, 2020
DNF @50% for me. Twins, mistaken which twin is which and wasn't even sure what time period it was at first. I couldn't.
March 23, 2017
2.5 en realidad. No consigo dar con un libro de esta autora que me convenza, pero no tiro la toalla.
May 4, 2014
I had actually started reading this book several times over the past few months, but the beginning was so simplistic I would just get annoyed and put it down. Now that I've put my mind to it and finished, I was surprised to see this book first came out in 2003. The language, descriptions, and story were so simplistic (borderline idiot) I thought it had to have been written in the early 80's.
The jacket cover gives the general description of a Western theme, a story of two sisters, Marian, the nice one hiding her beauty, and Amanda, the bitchy and gorgeous one. Naturally, Marian one falls for Chad, the gorgeous heir to a cattle kingdom, and Amanda would only be interested if she knew of Chad's wealth. The girls have traveled to Texas from "the East" after their father's death to meet their estranged aunt who has the power to approve their husband choices so they can claim the bulk of their inheritance.
From the beginning, the narration is primarily from Marian's head as she witnesses events but has the tendency to drift into omnipotence by knowing EVERYTHING about Amanda down to the thoughts in Amanda's head. Maybe that's why the language is so simplistic ... it's not actually Johanna Lindsey but Marian who says things like: "But probably owing to the overabundance of spoiling and coddling, both of which fostered her self-centeredness, Amanda was, quite simply, not a nice person[,]" and "The two times she'd shown any interest in a man, she'd learned her lesson well. She wasn't going to be responsible again for seeing them cut to the quick by Amanda's tongue because they'd dared to ignore Amanda in favor of her." Throughout the book, men are so simplistic they are only capable of looking at Amanda and drooling and ignoring most of her nag-ish ways while completely ignoring Marian because she hides behind thick glasses (apparently women need to stop wearing glasses and wear their hair down more often to catch a man's attention). Even the hero, Chad, is unable to tell the girls apart until Marian takes off her glasses.
The reader gets a few peeks inside Chad's mind, as well as a few other characters, but primarily you get a first hand look at Marian's insecurity which reveals a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas wherever Amanda is concerned. There are a few exciting moments that follow the "Western" formula of robbers, guns, and traveling by stagecoach, but otherwise, this book should take you about five hours tops.
Heads up, don't get too excited about the mystery that emerges because it's as dumb as most of the characters. But because it got me focused on finishing to the end, I bumped this review up to 2 stars.
I was planning on selling my copy but then my bunny destroyed the cover ... I think he shares my feelings.
Happy Reading!
The jacket cover gives the general description of a Western theme, a story of two sisters, Marian, the nice one hiding her beauty, and Amanda, the bitchy and gorgeous one. Naturally, Marian one falls for Chad, the gorgeous heir to a cattle kingdom, and Amanda would only be interested if she knew of Chad's wealth. The girls have traveled to Texas from "the East" after their father's death to meet their estranged aunt who has the power to approve their husband choices so they can claim the bulk of their inheritance.
From the beginning, the narration is primarily from Marian's head as she witnesses events but has the tendency to drift into omnipotence by knowing EVERYTHING about Amanda down to the thoughts in Amanda's head. Maybe that's why the language is so simplistic ... it's not actually Johanna Lindsey but Marian who says things like: "But probably owing to the overabundance of spoiling and coddling, both of which fostered her self-centeredness, Amanda was, quite simply, not a nice person[,]" and "The two times she'd shown any interest in a man, she'd learned her lesson well. She wasn't going to be responsible again for seeing them cut to the quick by Amanda's tongue because they'd dared to ignore Amanda in favor of her." Throughout the book, men are so simplistic they are only capable of looking at Amanda and drooling and ignoring most of her nag-ish ways while completely ignoring Marian because she hides behind thick glasses (apparently women need to stop wearing glasses and wear their hair down more often to catch a man's attention). Even the hero, Chad, is unable to tell the girls apart until Marian takes off her glasses.
The reader gets a few peeks inside Chad's mind, as well as a few other characters, but primarily you get a first hand look at Marian's insecurity which reveals a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas wherever Amanda is concerned. There are a few exciting moments that follow the "Western" formula of robbers, guns, and traveling by stagecoach, but otherwise, this book should take you about five hours tops.
Heads up, don't get too excited about the mystery that emerges because it's as dumb as most of the characters. But because it got me focused on finishing to the end, I bumped this review up to 2 stars.
I was planning on selling my copy but then my bunny destroyed the cover ... I think he shares my feelings.
Happy Reading!
May 15, 2010
Look, I gave it five stars! Am I too easy? Not sure, but this is a book I kept wanting to get back to and read a little more and find out what happened next! So I guess that makes it worthy of five stars.
It's Texas in the olden days, where the hero is not only gorgeous and wealthy, but a good horseman, an excellent rider, honest, brave, trustworthy, loyal, helpful,...or am I thinking of something else? Anyway, this was a case of the confusion that can come when you have twins to deal with. True love was frustrated, but toward the end there were surprises and more surprises, and finally, love conquers all!
It's Texas in the olden days, where the hero is not only gorgeous and wealthy, but a good horseman, an excellent rider, honest, brave, trustworthy, loyal, helpful,...or am I thinking of something else? Anyway, this was a case of the confusion that can come when you have twins to deal with. True love was frustrated, but toward the end there were surprises and more surprises, and finally, love conquers all!
August 31, 2022
Descubrir que tengo algún libro sin leer a estas alturas, resulta sorprendente y si son los ambientados en el Oeste, entonces no me sorprende, porque salvo Tempestad Salvaje no leí más y de esa lectura han pasado muchos pero muchos años.
Lindsey sigue teniendo su chispa y es una lectura rápida, entretenida y divertida, la historia gira en torno a dos gemelas y su viaje al Oeste tras la muerte de su padre donde la tía de ellas debe aceptar a futuros pretendientes para que puedan recibir la herencia. Dos gemelas tan distintas como el día y la noche.
Destacar el giro final de la novela.
Seguiré viajando al Oeste de la mano de Lindsey que me quedan.
Lindsey sigue teniendo su chispa y es una lectura rápida, entretenida y divertida, la historia gira en torno a dos gemelas y su viaje al Oeste tras la muerte de su padre donde la tía de ellas debe aceptar a futuros pretendientes para que puedan recibir la herencia. Dos gemelas tan distintas como el día y la noche.
Destacar el giro final de la novela.
Seguiré viajando al Oeste de la mano de Lindsey que me quedan.
July 16, 2023
Imagine having sex with the woman you love and then you also think you're actually having sex with her bitchy twin sister so you call her by her name. What the fuck?
I love me some twin angst shit but ugh
I love me some twin angst shit but ugh
November 8, 2016
Nada del otro mundo, predecible un poco aburrida.
September 4, 2021
This was a fun romance.... I became far too invested in what happened to Marian.
October 18, 2021
Selama ini saya menghindar membaca buku ini krn rumornya buku ini buruk alias the worst of Johanna Lindsey's books. Tapi stl baca, saya malah heran dimana sisi jelek buku ini ya 🤔 Saya justru enjoy baca buku ini walau agak geregetan jg dgn sifat pasif dan stubborn dari Marian.
Jadi ada sepasang kembar identik heroine buku ini yg memiliki sifat bertolak belakang. Amanda yg egois krn selama ini dia adalah kesayangan ayahnya. Marian memilih memiliki karakter dan penampilan 180° berbeda drpd saudara kembarannya dgn memakai kacamata mengerikan dan pakaian yg bertolak belakang dgn Amanda yg modis.
Krn ayah mrk meninggal dan ada wasiat aneh bhw mrk berdua hrs menikah dgn persetujuan bibi mrk (yg notabene tidak mrk kenal) maka mrk terpaksa tinggal bersama bibi mrk di Texas yg msh liar. Tidak butuh waktu lama bagi Amanda utk mengacaukan dan mencari suami. Sebaliknya Marian terpaku dan terpesona pd Chad Kinkaid yg diyakininya menyukai Amanda ketimbang dirinya. Dan ciri khas buku author adalah kesalahpahaman yg nyaris gak berujung hingga bukunya nyaris kelar.
Jangan mengharapkan dongeng spt Bawang Merah & Bawang Putih, atau spt Cinderella melawan ibu tiri dan saudara² tirinya. Saya justru lebih suka buku author ini krn sejahat-jahatnya Amanda yg manipulatif ada sisi baiknya. Sepasif-pasifnya Marian ada sisi impulsifnya juga. Interaksi dan romance lumayan ada progressnya. Yg kocak dan sarkas justru relasi Chad dgn Stuart, mantan teman sekaligus musuh bebuyutannya yg menikahi Amanda. Klimaks cerita juga sangat mengejutkan dan gak terpikir ada orangtua yg sangat egois dan tega spt Mortimer ini. Buat saya buku ini lumayan walau bukan favorit.
Jadi ada sepasang kembar identik heroine buku ini yg memiliki sifat bertolak belakang. Amanda yg egois krn selama ini dia adalah kesayangan ayahnya. Marian memilih memiliki karakter dan penampilan 180° berbeda drpd saudara kembarannya dgn memakai kacamata mengerikan dan pakaian yg bertolak belakang dgn Amanda yg modis.
Krn ayah mrk meninggal dan ada wasiat aneh bhw mrk berdua hrs menikah dgn persetujuan bibi mrk (yg notabene tidak mrk kenal) maka mrk terpaksa tinggal bersama bibi mrk di Texas yg msh liar. Tidak butuh waktu lama bagi Amanda utk mengacaukan dan mencari suami. Sebaliknya Marian terpaku dan terpesona pd Chad Kinkaid yg diyakininya menyukai Amanda ketimbang dirinya. Dan ciri khas buku author adalah kesalahpahaman yg nyaris gak berujung hingga bukunya nyaris kelar.
Jangan mengharapkan dongeng spt Bawang Merah & Bawang Putih, atau spt Cinderella melawan ibu tiri dan saudara² tirinya. Saya justru lebih suka buku author ini krn sejahat-jahatnya Amanda yg manipulatif ada sisi baiknya. Sepasif-pasifnya Marian ada sisi impulsifnya juga. Interaksi dan romance lumayan ada progressnya. Yg kocak dan sarkas justru relasi Chad dgn Stuart, mantan teman sekaligus musuh bebuyutannya yg menikahi Amanda. Klimaks cerita juga sangat mengejutkan dan gak terpikir ada orangtua yg sangat egois dan tega spt Mortimer ini. Buat saya buku ini lumayan walau bukan favorit.
June 15, 2023
Vacation read. I forgot my book at home and borrowed this one from my travel friend.
Johanna Lindsey is like any writer of the genre. You know what you are going to get, the formula just works.
This book was no exception. I probably wouldn't have ever picked it up if I had remembered a book of my own. However this was perfect for the beach days in Florida while I was enjoying the drinks and the sand.
Really not much to review here though.
Twins, one beautiful and awful, one who makes herself look homely.
Enter man who is infatuated with the beauty, but can't stop thinking of the other.
Enter conflict
Enter resolution
Enter awful sister turning nice
Enter happy ending.
Formula worked, book was completed without complaint!
Johanna Lindsey is like any writer of the genre. You know what you are going to get, the formula just works.
This book was no exception. I probably wouldn't have ever picked it up if I had remembered a book of my own. However this was perfect for the beach days in Florida while I was enjoying the drinks and the sand.
Really not much to review here though.
Twins, one beautiful and awful, one who makes herself look homely.
Enter man who is infatuated with the beauty, but can't stop thinking of the other.
Enter conflict
Enter resolution
Enter awful sister turning nice
Enter happy ending.
Formula worked, book was completed without complaint!
October 20, 2021
4.24 star
]Agak keliru nak bagi bintang brapa utk novel nenek JL yang satu ini..
Btw ,Saya suka tema kali ini...
Pentingnya ibubapa mengasuh anak2 dgn cara yang betul dan jangan ada istilah anak emas atau anak kesayangan..
Utk scene sbenarnya lagi ummph kalau Nenek JL panjangkan sikit babak Amanda 'mainkan'perasaan Chad dan Marian.😁
]Agak keliru nak bagi bintang brapa utk novel nenek JL yang satu ini..
Btw ,Saya suka tema kali ini...
Pentingnya ibubapa mengasuh anak2 dgn cara yang betul dan jangan ada istilah anak emas atau anak kesayangan..
Utk scene sbenarnya lagi ummph kalau Nenek JL panjangkan sikit babak Amanda 'mainkan'perasaan Chad dan Marian.😁
August 7, 2017
3.5 stars.
This was enjoyable until their last conflict which is based on miscommunication/assumptions (which I truly hate). The author almost made up for it with her last twist (which was totally unexpected!).
Not a bad book but could have done without that annoying conflict.
This was enjoyable until their last conflict which is based on miscommunication/assumptions (which I truly hate). The author almost made up for it with her last twist (which was totally unexpected!).
Not a bad book but could have done without that annoying conflict.
February 6, 2023
Uno de los mejores.
April 1, 2020
I read this years ago, and still love it!! There are characters to love, characters to hate, and characters to just plain laugh at. :D
February 24, 2011
1870-s - start in Massachusetts & ends in Texas...Amanda and Marian / twins, beautiful, opposite personalities, Amanda favored by father & Marian favored by mother - who had passed 8 years earlier...
Father Mortimer, rich, indulged Amanda, selfcentered, dead... and his will puts them under his sister's guardianship, who had left for Texas to get away from her brother when the twins were young...
Amanda was self centered and jealous... so Marian had learned to disguise her own beauty with clothes, pulled back hair, and bottle glasses - to keep men disinterested - those men who had shown interest in her, Amanda would 'steal' and then dump... so Marian hid herself to protect others...
Mortimer's sister, Aunt Red was just getting a handle on running the ranch following her husband's death... and in large part due to Chad, her neighbor's son - and her neighbor had a very large ranch... Chad had left home when his father brought home a bride (not of his choosing) for him, and elected to help Red as her foreman until she got back on her feet. And Chad is sent to pick up the twins from the stagecoach...
And the women have had quite an adventure - a train robbery, an almost stage coach robbery, a lost stagecoach... and Chad tracks them down... Marian is attracted to him, but goes out of her way to be rude to him to ensure his disinterest, and no competition with Amanda... Amanda is her own complaining, unhappy self... Chad sees that Amanda is very pretty, but takes a wait and see attitude, wanting to see if she settled down once the strenuous trip was over... but the night before they make it to Red's ranch, a crusty bounty hunter comes into the camp to take Chad to his father... and Marian (without her glasses/disguise) helps him... and they kiss, but he thinks he is kissing Amanda...
Once on the ranch, Chad & his father (who is interested in Red) make up... Chad decides he wants nothing to do with Amanda, and thinks that Marian was the one who helped him... they kiss again, and he's sure... and then the next day, as Chad is starting to give Marian a horseback riding lesson, he is overcome with passion as Marian cannot keep her eyes off of him, and so obviously is thinking about him... and he makes love to her in the barn on straw...
Amanda, who wants to stir up trouble & get sent back to Massachusetts, comes into dinner and says she was in the barn with Chad - and Chad is uncertain, and Marian is too shocked to say anything, and Red believes her & insists Chad marry her...
In town, while getting drunk, Chad confides in his arch enemy Spencer / saloon owner & Spencer offers to take Amanda off his hands... Chad readily agrees..
And after more misunderstandings, Spencer & Amanda marry (shotgun wedding) - and spencer doesn't spoil her/give in to her, except in the bedroom : ) ... and Marian tries to keep her distance from Chad, not wanting to love a man who at one time wanted her sister ... and it takes 4 trips and pushing by Amanda for Chad to get to the truth with Marian - to know the truth, that he had slept with her & not Amanda, and for Amanda to acknowledge that she loved him (and vice a versa)...
And the final twist... when they get a letter from the lawyer that their father had mismanaged his money and no inheritance was left, with Amanda's logic they come to believe that the lawyer had stolen from them... so they all go to Massachusetts, and find that their father did not die, that he married his mistress (his lawyers sister) and now has a son, whom he wants to inherit everything...
And Amanda had Spencer, so it's okay... and Red has Chad's father, so it's okay... and Marian has Chad... they take a ship back to Texas, where the captain marries them & Chad is romantic, arranging for flowers etc, and the keep practice making love until they get it right. : )
Father Mortimer, rich, indulged Amanda, selfcentered, dead... and his will puts them under his sister's guardianship, who had left for Texas to get away from her brother when the twins were young...
Amanda was self centered and jealous... so Marian had learned to disguise her own beauty with clothes, pulled back hair, and bottle glasses - to keep men disinterested - those men who had shown interest in her, Amanda would 'steal' and then dump... so Marian hid herself to protect others...
Mortimer's sister, Aunt Red was just getting a handle on running the ranch following her husband's death... and in large part due to Chad, her neighbor's son - and her neighbor had a very large ranch... Chad had left home when his father brought home a bride (not of his choosing) for him, and elected to help Red as her foreman until she got back on her feet. And Chad is sent to pick up the twins from the stagecoach...
And the women have had quite an adventure - a train robbery, an almost stage coach robbery, a lost stagecoach... and Chad tracks them down... Marian is attracted to him, but goes out of her way to be rude to him to ensure his disinterest, and no competition with Amanda... Amanda is her own complaining, unhappy self... Chad sees that Amanda is very pretty, but takes a wait and see attitude, wanting to see if she settled down once the strenuous trip was over... but the night before they make it to Red's ranch, a crusty bounty hunter comes into the camp to take Chad to his father... and Marian (without her glasses/disguise) helps him... and they kiss, but he thinks he is kissing Amanda...
Once on the ranch, Chad & his father (who is interested in Red) make up... Chad decides he wants nothing to do with Amanda, and thinks that Marian was the one who helped him... they kiss again, and he's sure... and then the next day, as Chad is starting to give Marian a horseback riding lesson, he is overcome with passion as Marian cannot keep her eyes off of him, and so obviously is thinking about him... and he makes love to her in the barn on straw...
Amanda, who wants to stir up trouble & get sent back to Massachusetts, comes into dinner and says she was in the barn with Chad - and Chad is uncertain, and Marian is too shocked to say anything, and Red believes her & insists Chad marry her...
In town, while getting drunk, Chad confides in his arch enemy Spencer / saloon owner & Spencer offers to take Amanda off his hands... Chad readily agrees..
And after more misunderstandings, Spencer & Amanda marry (shotgun wedding) - and spencer doesn't spoil her/give in to her, except in the bedroom : ) ... and Marian tries to keep her distance from Chad, not wanting to love a man who at one time wanted her sister ... and it takes 4 trips and pushing by Amanda for Chad to get to the truth with Marian - to know the truth, that he had slept with her & not Amanda, and for Amanda to acknowledge that she loved him (and vice a versa)...
And the final twist... when they get a letter from the lawyer that their father had mismanaged his money and no inheritance was left, with Amanda's logic they come to believe that the lawyer had stolen from them... so they all go to Massachusetts, and find that their father did not die, that he married his mistress (his lawyers sister) and now has a son, whom he wants to inherit everything...
And Amanda had Spencer, so it's okay... and Red has Chad's father, so it's okay... and Marian has Chad... they take a ship back to Texas, where the captain marries them & Chad is romantic, arranging for flowers etc, and the keep practice making love until they get it right. : )
November 13, 2014
Reviewed on Alexa Loves Books
There's nothing quite like a good love story, especially when you're in the mood for one. A MAN TO CALL MY OWN was a quick read for me, but I enjoyed the romance, the setting and the characters as well. Fans of romance novels might find the story slightly predictable, but it's an entertaining addition to the genre.
The Characters
Chad Kinkaid is not necessarily my favorite romance novel hero, but he's certainly different from most of the heroes I'm familiar with. His rough and tough persona reminds me of the men who are part of the Roses, a family from a series by Julie Garwood. He certainly sounds handsome though, as well as being intelligent, caring and a gentleman.
Marian Laton, on the other hand, is a character I absolutely adored and mostly because I thought she was relatable. She's the meek mouse, the girl who always stays out of the limelight and tries not to draw attention to herself. But she's also a revelation in that she's strong, she's passionate, she's smart and she's definitely unique. I enjoyed reading about her eventual realization that it's okay to be herself - and joining her as she transformed.
The Story
As I mentioned previously, the story is slightly predictable, though there were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. The build-up of the romance, especially the moments that Chad and Marian shared, was really a lot of fun for me to read. The setting was also fascinating to me, as I rarely read books set in this kind of location. These things made the book intriguing to me and led to me truly enjoying the novel.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of the romance novel genre, then A MAN TO CALL MY OWN by JOHANNA LINDSEY is worth a read. However, if you're just starting to read romances, I can give you recommendations for other books to try.
There's nothing quite like a good love story, especially when you're in the mood for one. A MAN TO CALL MY OWN was a quick read for me, but I enjoyed the romance, the setting and the characters as well. Fans of romance novels might find the story slightly predictable, but it's an entertaining addition to the genre.
The Characters
Chad Kinkaid is not necessarily my favorite romance novel hero, but he's certainly different from most of the heroes I'm familiar with. His rough and tough persona reminds me of the men who are part of the Roses, a family from a series by Julie Garwood. He certainly sounds handsome though, as well as being intelligent, caring and a gentleman.
Marian Laton, on the other hand, is a character I absolutely adored and mostly because I thought she was relatable. She's the meek mouse, the girl who always stays out of the limelight and tries not to draw attention to herself. But she's also a revelation in that she's strong, she's passionate, she's smart and she's definitely unique. I enjoyed reading about her eventual realization that it's okay to be herself - and joining her as she transformed.
The Story
As I mentioned previously, the story is slightly predictable, though there were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming. The build-up of the romance, especially the moments that Chad and Marian shared, was really a lot of fun for me to read. The setting was also fascinating to me, as I rarely read books set in this kind of location. These things made the book intriguing to me and led to me truly enjoying the novel.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of the romance novel genre, then A MAN TO CALL MY OWN by JOHANNA LINDSEY is worth a read. However, if you're just starting to read romances, I can give you recommendations for other books to try.
September 5, 2015
Before I start, let me explain that I usually enjoy Johanna Lindsey. But this book caused me a LOT of frustration!
Amanda and Marian are twins, identical physically but complete opposites as far as personality. Amanda is a conniving bitch (...that's a weird sentence to type) and Marian is shy and sweet. During the beginning of the book, I'm loving it. Chad and Marian are fairly adorable, and they have a little tryst in the hay. I'll admit that part was a bit shocking, because it was really early in the book, but still... I'm all for it. I like a bit of a surprise!
And then everything starts going downhill. While they are getting it on, right in the middle of this passionate taking if Marian's virginity, Chad looks up at her and asks, "Amanda?" ...Really?! You're in the middle of making love to a woman and during the most romantic and vulnerable part you decide you'd better double-check who it is? I don't care if he WAS confused! A confirmation of identity isn't something you do right after taking somebody's virginity.
After that, for obvious reasons, Marian is crushed and rushes away. Then that night, the twin Amanda sets the plot up for one of the most emotionally-frustrating conflicts imaginable. Apparently she heard them both in the barn and decides to tell Chad that it really WAS her he had slept with.
To add to the irritation, Marian says nothing. Despite the fact that she is IN the room while Amanda says this, she stays quiet. Meanwhile I'm foaming at the mouth, screaming "say something you idiot!!!" to a book.
And that's the plot. 150 more pages of continued misunderstandings and poor communication, until the very end when Amanda's hastily-constructed third layer wobbles into view and she confesses to lying. Suffice to say... I did not enjoy this book.
Amanda and Marian are twins, identical physically but complete opposites as far as personality. Amanda is a conniving bitch (...that's a weird sentence to type) and Marian is shy and sweet. During the beginning of the book, I'm loving it. Chad and Marian are fairly adorable, and they have a little tryst in the hay. I'll admit that part was a bit shocking, because it was really early in the book, but still... I'm all for it. I like a bit of a surprise!
And then everything starts going downhill. While they are getting it on, right in the middle of this passionate taking if Marian's virginity, Chad looks up at her and asks, "Amanda?" ...Really?! You're in the middle of making love to a woman and during the most romantic and vulnerable part you decide you'd better double-check who it is? I don't care if he WAS confused! A confirmation of identity isn't something you do right after taking somebody's virginity.
After that, for obvious reasons, Marian is crushed and rushes away. Then that night, the twin Amanda sets the plot up for one of the most emotionally-frustrating conflicts imaginable. Apparently she heard them both in the barn and decides to tell Chad that it really WAS her he had slept with.
To add to the irritation, Marian says nothing. Despite the fact that she is IN the room while Amanda says this, she stays quiet. Meanwhile I'm foaming at the mouth, screaming "say something you idiot!!!" to a book.
And that's the plot. 150 more pages of continued misunderstandings and poor communication, until the very end when Amanda's hastily-constructed third layer wobbles into view and she confesses to lying. Suffice to say... I did not enjoy this book.
April 22, 2014
A Man To Call My Own… 5 big stars!
I am starting to realize that I really like historical fiction, this book make me open my eyes, and I am very happy about it. Well… let’s start with the plot:
so we have a girl, Marian, she has a beautiful golden, long hair, a pair of stunning blue eyes, all of her is pretty, even beautiful, but she doesn't show it, she is always on the background, hiding herself behind ugly closet, a grandma bun and a pair of big old glasses, because of her identical (maybe TO identical) twin sister, Amanda, who is the total opposite of her (on the way of being) she is always the center of attention everywhere she goes, and is not afraid of show her beauty, so when their father dies on a train accident and are left with a testament, telling them to go all the way to Texas to live with their long-time-no-see aunt and she sends to the sexy cowboy Chad Kinkaid to pick them up, THAT’S when the adventure begins, and as usual Amanda's beauty catches Chad's eye, but then Chad realizes that Amanda isn’t the best girl to being around, and Marian is and now Chad is determined to convince Marian that she's the only woman for him….
BOM! With that storyline who needs more?!
Let’s list all the elements:
*AWESOME plot
*Really peculiar and fantastic characters…
*Beautifully written
*Sexy COWBOY hero here!!!
*PERFECT character development
*WHO NEEDS MORE?!
SO… this was my justification to the 5 stars and maybe the time of reading it also was influential on the rating (I really wanted to read a beautiful historical fiction book)
I am starting to realize that I really like historical fiction, this book make me open my eyes, and I am very happy about it. Well… let’s start with the plot:
so we have a girl, Marian, she has a beautiful golden, long hair, a pair of stunning blue eyes, all of her is pretty, even beautiful, but she doesn't show it, she is always on the background, hiding herself behind ugly closet, a grandma bun and a pair of big old glasses, because of her identical (maybe TO identical) twin sister, Amanda, who is the total opposite of her (on the way of being) she is always the center of attention everywhere she goes, and is not afraid of show her beauty, so when their father dies on a train accident and are left with a testament, telling them to go all the way to Texas to live with their long-time-no-see aunt and she sends to the sexy cowboy Chad Kinkaid to pick them up, THAT’S when the adventure begins, and as usual Amanda's beauty catches Chad's eye, but then Chad realizes that Amanda isn’t the best girl to being around, and Marian is and now Chad is determined to convince Marian that she's the only woman for him….
BOM! With that storyline who needs more?!
Let’s list all the elements:
*AWESOME plot
*Really peculiar and fantastic characters…
*Beautifully written
*Sexy COWBOY hero here!!!
*PERFECT character development
*WHO NEEDS MORE?!
SO… this was my justification to the 5 stars and maybe the time of reading it also was influential on the rating (I really wanted to read a beautiful historical fiction book)
December 11, 2009
This story features a set of twins - one evil, one good. The evil one is the one that is spoiled and the good one lives in such fear of incurring the jealous rage of her sister that she makes herself as unappealing as possible. She is just hoping and praying for her sister to get married and torment someone else. She's a klutz with glasses - and then they get sent to the wild west because of their father's death leaving them destitute or something (I forget the contrived premise).
This is basically Ugly Betty with twins, I'd say - which by the way I discovered the original airing in the Boston area when I was home this past summer and it was GREAT. The problem with American television is we tone everything down WAY too much. And we canceled Passions, the only soap opera with a monkey. Absurdity is less absurd when you take it over the top.
Back to the review - on the ranch there is a cowboy who catches the awkward sister when she is NOT in her ugly disguise and seduces her - but then he seems to think he has seduced the twin. Heartbroken, good-ugly-twin watches as the story comes out and evil-pretty-twin is (of course) made to marry the love of her life.
But stuff happens and - surprise - happy ending.
For whatever reason I just love this one, have re-read it several times.
This is basically Ugly Betty with twins, I'd say - which by the way I discovered the original airing in the Boston area when I was home this past summer and it was GREAT. The problem with American television is we tone everything down WAY too much. And we canceled Passions, the only soap opera with a monkey. Absurdity is less absurd when you take it over the top.
Back to the review - on the ranch there is a cowboy who catches the awkward sister when she is NOT in her ugly disguise and seduces her - but then he seems to think he has seduced the twin. Heartbroken, good-ugly-twin watches as the story comes out and evil-pretty-twin is (of course) made to marry the love of her life.
But stuff happens and - surprise - happy ending.
For whatever reason I just love this one, have re-read it several times.
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