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Hamilton Family #1
More Than You Know
MORE THAN HE KNEW
Rand Hamilton vows to rebuild his Charleston plantation with the only means left to him: a long-lost treasure that has lured and cursed two families for centuries. But to finance his expedition, he must agree to the terms of his wealthy London benefactor and allow his goddaughter to accompany him. Although wary, Rand agrees to take the woman with him, unaware that she is the one who holds the key to a haunting riddle that will lead him to a glorious treasure—and to a passion he has never known...
MORE THAN SHE DREAMED
London heiress Claire Bancroft is desperate to seek hidden meaning to the terrible fate that has shattered her life. Determined to find her missing brother and unlock the haunting secrets of her past, she must place her trust in Rand, only to discover that she is becoming completely enraptured by him...and the promise of a shining future together.
Rand Hamilton vows to rebuild his Charleston plantation with the only means left to him: a long-lost treasure that has lured and cursed two families for centuries. But to finance his expedition, he must agree to the terms of his wealthy London benefactor and allow his goddaughter to accompany him. Although wary, Rand agrees to take the woman with him, unaware that she is the one who holds the key to a haunting riddle that will lead him to a glorious treasure—and to a passion he has never known...
MORE THAN SHE DREAMED
London heiress Claire Bancroft is desperate to seek hidden meaning to the terrible fate that has shattered her life. Determined to find her missing brother and unlock the haunting secrets of her past, she must place her trust in Rand, only to discover that she is becoming completely enraptured by him...and the promise of a shining future together.
396 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2000
About the author
Jo Goodman
66 books483 followersTo find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 27, 2016
What can I say, I love Jo Goodman's style, how mature her characters are, and how she can weave a mystery with a love story.
I am usually very impatient with the suspense and mystery in a romance novel. If I am reading a romance, I expect the romance to be the focal point. Once the mystery threatens to overtake the book, I abandon ship as quickly as I can.
Jo Goodman's romance novels are never without a mystery plot. She places almost equal importance to the mystery as she does the love story. If it was any other writer, I would have found it extremely annoying. But when Jo Goodman does it, I cannot help it but read on. In this book, the treasure hunt plot is developed with great details. Rand and Claire's relationship was an established fact at about 60%. I should have lost interest then, only that I didn't. I read on knowing that I'd just be reading about how Rand and Claire discovered the treasure. And I read on because I wanted to know.
This book has a Southerner from the US, Captain Rand Hamilton as a hero and a young woman named Claire Bancroft from London, daughter of a scholar, goddaughter of a duke as a heroine. Claire was blind for 95% of the book. She went to the south Pacific with her scholar father and contracted an "island disease" which made her lose her sight. Rand Hamilton, explorer, scholar and a Southerner, visited Claire's godfather for his sponsorship. The book took us to London, then Charleston, then Rand's ancestral home nearby, then to the south Pacific and its many islands. It almost reads choppy at times. Like almost always, Jo Goodman worked with a lot of material. A blind woman on a mission to find her father, her brother and her sigh with a guilt-ridden man on a mission to restore his family legacy. London, the South and the tropical islands. Rand and Claire were the beacon of sanity in this book. They are typical Jo Goodman characters. Calm, cool and collected, understanding, acceptance and dignity, passion, tenderness and love. Their relationship developed in that order too.
This book will not appeal to a large group of readers. I am giving it 4 stars because I simply love Goodman's characters. They are just people who I can relate to. They are without farce. Steady and never dramatic. They have pains and work through them. More importantly, they work through them together. They grow as a couple and as individual characters. I appreciate the depth of her characters. They are people I would love to be friends with and their traits my aspiration.
This is not to say that this book is perfect. This book was confusing to me, but I experience this often when I read Jo Goodman. She writes a complicated story. I need twice as much time to finish one book from her than I usually do with other full-length novels. I didn't quite understand why we had to visit Rand's home in the US other than to introduce his sister Bria in the series. I also could not quite grasp Rand as a character. Sometimes he seemed formidable. Sometimes he seemed weak. But maybe that is why I love her characters. They are somehow real, with their strengths and weaknesses. They suffer and rejoice. No unrealistic alpha hero, but just as protective with a touch of vulnerability. No wimpering fragile heroine, but just as feminine with a will of steel.
I cannot summarize the plot because other than the treasure hunt, everything else can only be seen as one follows their journey. You cannot describe this book because the story is told between the lines. What I can say is that they spent a lot of time on Rand's ship, so this book has a strong "piratey feeling" to it even though Rand was not a pirate at all. He was a scientist, his ship a research vassal. His background, coming form the American south, was not featured prominently in the book either except for the beginning of the book where they spent a week or two near Charleston. The best part of the relationship was that Claire was so unassuming about it. She considered what it meant for her to accept Rand's attentions and decided to enter the relationship without expectations or conditions. She remained the level-headed heroine that is Jo Goodman's trademark. It was Rand who had to make her see their relationship as what it was, which was not an assignation or an affair. And Rand oh Rand, I love Jo Goodman's heroes, too. They are such rocks, not in the sense that they are so alpha and no one will harm their women but in the sense that they are as steady as can be. Never wavering from their goal and never aggressively male. They are just a steady presence, a warm chest and a set of sheltering, not overbearing, arms. Dream materials I say, dream materials.
I truly love Jo Goodman's style and I can understand why she only publishes one book a year. Her books require such planning and research. They are always full of details and written in a manner that I must apply myself to see the world she creates clearly. This is no fluffy read. Just solid story-telling and character building. But remember the mystery part, you have been warned.
I am usually very impatient with the suspense and mystery in a romance novel. If I am reading a romance, I expect the romance to be the focal point. Once the mystery threatens to overtake the book, I abandon ship as quickly as I can.
Jo Goodman's romance novels are never without a mystery plot. She places almost equal importance to the mystery as she does the love story. If it was any other writer, I would have found it extremely annoying. But when Jo Goodman does it, I cannot help it but read on. In this book, the treasure hunt plot is developed with great details. Rand and Claire's relationship was an established fact at about 60%. I should have lost interest then, only that I didn't. I read on knowing that I'd just be reading about how Rand and Claire discovered the treasure. And I read on because I wanted to know.
This book has a Southerner from the US, Captain Rand Hamilton as a hero and a young woman named Claire Bancroft from London, daughter of a scholar, goddaughter of a duke as a heroine. Claire was blind for 95% of the book. She went to the south Pacific with her scholar father and contracted an "island disease" which made her lose her sight. Rand Hamilton, explorer, scholar and a Southerner, visited Claire's godfather for his sponsorship. The book took us to London, then Charleston, then Rand's ancestral home nearby, then to the south Pacific and its many islands. It almost reads choppy at times. Like almost always, Jo Goodman worked with a lot of material. A blind woman on a mission to find her father, her brother and her sigh with a guilt-ridden man on a mission to restore his family legacy. London, the South and the tropical islands. Rand and Claire were the beacon of sanity in this book. They are typical Jo Goodman characters. Calm, cool and collected, understanding, acceptance and dignity, passion, tenderness and love. Their relationship developed in that order too.
This book will not appeal to a large group of readers. I am giving it 4 stars because I simply love Goodman's characters. They are just people who I can relate to. They are without farce. Steady and never dramatic. They have pains and work through them. More importantly, they work through them together. They grow as a couple and as individual characters. I appreciate the depth of her characters. They are people I would love to be friends with and their traits my aspiration.
This is not to say that this book is perfect. This book was confusing to me, but I experience this often when I read Jo Goodman. She writes a complicated story. I need twice as much time to finish one book from her than I usually do with other full-length novels. I didn't quite understand why we had to visit Rand's home in the US other than to introduce his sister Bria in the series. I also could not quite grasp Rand as a character. Sometimes he seemed formidable. Sometimes he seemed weak. But maybe that is why I love her characters. They are somehow real, with their strengths and weaknesses. They suffer and rejoice. No unrealistic alpha hero, but just as protective with a touch of vulnerability. No wimpering fragile heroine, but just as feminine with a will of steel.
I cannot summarize the plot because other than the treasure hunt, everything else can only be seen as one follows their journey. You cannot describe this book because the story is told between the lines. What I can say is that they spent a lot of time on Rand's ship, so this book has a strong "piratey feeling" to it even though Rand was not a pirate at all. He was a scientist, his ship a research vassal. His background, coming form the American south, was not featured prominently in the book either except for the beginning of the book where they spent a week or two near Charleston. The best part of the relationship was that Claire was so unassuming about it. She considered what it meant for her to accept Rand's attentions and decided to enter the relationship without expectations or conditions. She remained the level-headed heroine that is Jo Goodman's trademark. It was Rand who had to make her see their relationship as what it was, which was not an assignation or an affair. And Rand oh Rand, I love Jo Goodman's heroes, too. They are such rocks, not in the sense that they are so alpha and no one will harm their women but in the sense that they are as steady as can be. Never wavering from their goal and never aggressively male. They are just a steady presence, a warm chest and a set of sheltering, not overbearing, arms. Dream materials I say, dream materials.
I truly love Jo Goodman's style and I can understand why she only publishes one book a year. Her books require such planning and research. They are always full of details and written in a manner that I must apply myself to see the world she creates clearly. This is no fluffy read. Just solid story-telling and character building. But remember the mystery part, you have been warned.
May 21, 2017
3.75/5. Great prose and characters as expected from Ms Goodman and there is an interesting Indiana Jones like plot line where they are chasing an old treasure. There is probably not enough romantic tension between the leads, even though they had a fiery start. There were a few questions left unanswered towards the end and some unrealistic scenes.
February 3, 2019
3.5
After the Civil War and the destruction it wreaked on his family and home, Rand Hamilton went off in search of the Hamilton-Waterstone Treasure. He's got a chance at funding from the Duke of Strickland, but the Duke's stipulation, that he transport his blind goddaughter, Claire Bancroft, to find her father and brother in the same island. Claire's knowledge of the islands is the deciding factor and Rand finally accepts. He does not expect to fall in love with the feisty, independent woman, nor does she expect a man like Rand to find her anything but a burden. But they do fall in love. And they'll need to stick together to unravel the mysteries and battle the dangers in tracking down the legendary treasure.
The more I read of Jo Goodman, the more I recognize her formula. This is a long and steady story and manages a decent pacing. IIRC, there was only about 10% of the book, once they arrive on the islands, that felt like it was slower paced, but everything else went along quite nicely paced. I wasn't bored or constantly checking my progress. The romance was pretty good. It's not overly angsty or dramatic, but it's also not fluffy and without conflict, as Rand and Claire try to navigate their feelings, their insecurities and mistrust (mostly hers) and as Rand struggles to make Claire understand that he's absolutely serious about her. Goodman usually has the romance part of the plot all wrapped up and lovey by the 60-70% mark, so then the in love pair can tackle whatever secondary plot they're dealing with. That's also the case here. I honestly don't mind and even like this, because it really gives the characters a chance to demonstrate how well they work together as a couple.
I also really enjoyed the secondary suspense plot as they hunt down the treasure, try to solve the mystery of its location with the riddles and try to figure out who the villain is. It was really well written and pretty gripping. I will say that it's this plot that had me questioning Claire's actual intelligence...since she had the riddle memorized all this time and figured it was a Mother Goose rhyme. This wasn't so bad as her inability to recognize the rhyme as "the riddle" even after repeating it twice. Also her not realizing that one of the characters was not what he seemed...it was glaringly obvious to everyone but her, and I'm not sure I buy her blindness as a good excuse for that. Though I guess her inability to see duplicity is probably where this is...
This ended up being a pretty long, but very enjoyable story. I kinda wish that the epilogue had actually been the last chapter and that a different epilogue had contained the wrapped up story of what happened with Stuart and the Duke. It kinda sucked that with all the Duke's manipulations and deviousness, even if he isn't all evil, seeing (or even knowing) that Claire had put it to him for his actions, would have been really nice. It's too bad we don't find out what happened.
After the Civil War and the destruction it wreaked on his family and home, Rand Hamilton went off in search of the Hamilton-Waterstone Treasure. He's got a chance at funding from the Duke of Strickland, but the Duke's stipulation, that he transport his blind goddaughter, Claire Bancroft, to find her father and brother in the same island. Claire's knowledge of the islands is the deciding factor and Rand finally accepts. He does not expect to fall in love with the feisty, independent woman, nor does she expect a man like Rand to find her anything but a burden. But they do fall in love. And they'll need to stick together to unravel the mysteries and battle the dangers in tracking down the legendary treasure.
The more I read of Jo Goodman, the more I recognize her formula. This is a long and steady story and manages a decent pacing. IIRC, there was only about 10% of the book, once they arrive on the islands, that felt like it was slower paced, but everything else went along quite nicely paced. I wasn't bored or constantly checking my progress. The romance was pretty good. It's not overly angsty or dramatic, but it's also not fluffy and without conflict, as Rand and Claire try to navigate their feelings, their insecurities and mistrust (mostly hers) and as Rand struggles to make Claire understand that he's absolutely serious about her. Goodman usually has the romance part of the plot all wrapped up and lovey by the 60-70% mark, so then the in love pair can tackle whatever secondary plot they're dealing with. That's also the case here. I honestly don't mind and even like this, because it really gives the characters a chance to demonstrate how well they work together as a couple.
I also really enjoyed the secondary suspense plot as they hunt down the treasure, try to solve the mystery of its location with the riddles and try to figure out who the villain is. It was really well written and pretty gripping. I will say that it's this plot that had me questioning Claire's actual intelligence...since she had the riddle memorized all this time and figured it was a Mother Goose rhyme. This wasn't so bad as her inability to recognize the rhyme as "the riddle" even after repeating it twice. Also her not realizing that one of the characters was not what he seemed...it was glaringly obvious to everyone but her, and I'm not sure I buy her blindness as a good excuse for that. Though I guess her inability to see duplicity is probably where this is...
This ended up being a pretty long, but very enjoyable story. I kinda wish that the epilogue had actually been the last chapter and that a different epilogue had contained the wrapped up story of what happened with Stuart and the Duke. It kinda sucked that with all the Duke's manipulations and deviousness, even if he isn't all evil, seeing (or even knowing) that Claire had put it to him for his actions, would have been really nice. It's too bad we don't find out what happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
Rand Hamilton wants to rebuild his Charleston plantation for his mother and sister after the Civil War. To raise money, he's trying to find the 300 year old Hamilton-Waterstone fortune hidden somewhere. Each family has a riddle and only together can they find it. Rand takes a newly blind Claire Bancroft back to the Solonesian Islands to try to find her father and brother and to maybe find the treasure. She and Rand fall in love and marry and begin to work together to find the treasure. The natives aren't thrilled. Gradually Claire remembers what happened when she left the islands, but it isn't until the fortune has been found in a cave and their lives are threatened that her sight is restored and all of the riddles are solved.
October 2, 2013
Ah I don't know what to really say. A book this length I can finish In a day or two. For some reason it was difficult finishing this one it seemed to last forever. I love the romance between Claire and rand and how much he really loves her even though she is blind. I wasn't sure how I would feel about her being blind all thru the book until the end but it worked and I loved it. The first 140 pages were so confusing perhaps I needed a history lesson, I'm not sure. I wish there was an epilogue I'd like to know what happened to the doctor and the conversation with stickle or even rands family. Part of it was a little unreal like all the sex they were having lol like seriously not once she didn't get pregnant. I guess that wasn't the point either but it would of been a great addition in an epilogue seeing rand moving on with a family. I couldn't decide between three or four stars so I put three just because of the confusion. By the way to the previous post it wasn't hard to figure out Claire lifted the curse with the yellow gem. Although it did state perhaps it was placing the gems into the crown that lifted the curse. I have read one other book by this author a western one and it's by far one of my favorite books and I honestly can not think of the name lol forever in my heart I believe. This one was a miss for me but I'll continue to buy her books.
July 28, 2014
Livro sem muitas surpresas um homem desejando reconstruir o que lhe foi tomado e destruído, uma mulher desejando saber que mistério envolve a maldição que acompanha sua família. Duas famílias interligadas com seus segredos e pelas artimanhas do destino.
May 24, 2017
I found this book long and a bit tedious. It started off well and then the mystery took over. There was a lot of gratuitous sex every few pages which interrupted the story. I couldn't quite understand the characters of both the hero and the heroine. I preferred many of her other books.
November 27, 2024
I really loved Jo Goodman's writing style. She wrote realistic and witty dialogue, brought scenes to life with her vivid descriptions and obviously did her historical research. She weaved a compelling story that captured my attention from the very first word to the very last.
I can't fault much with this book, the reason for taking off a star is more an issue with me than the author. I just found some of the treasure hunting a bit tedious at times; I wasn't fully invested in it from all angles, only parts of it interested me. This was through no fault of the author, her story-telling was on point; I was just more interested in Rand and Claire and not necessarily the Islands/treasure side of things. But I was still captured by every word, just not as excited about some parts of the book than others. Some things were also left unanswered or a bit up in the air in the end, but nothing that fully changed my opinion on the overall book.
At times I wanted to know more about Rand; as a male lead, he's now one of my favourites, but I still found myself wanting to know more about him. I felt I knew more about Claire than I did about Rand. Regardless of that though, I loved these unforgettable two characters.
Overall, More Than You Know was a brilliant book. If you love in-depth characters who have personalities, are intelligent, communicative and show emotion through both words and actions - I'd recommend this book. Rand and Claire are adults who acted like adults and knew how to communicate. Also, Rand was not ashamed to show raw emotions and I loved that about him. If you like a bit of treasure hunting, I would also recommend this book - Jo Goodman will take you on an entertaining, intriguing and intricate journey.
I can't fault much with this book, the reason for taking off a star is more an issue with me than the author. I just found some of the treasure hunting a bit tedious at times; I wasn't fully invested in it from all angles, only parts of it interested me. This was through no fault of the author, her story-telling was on point; I was just more interested in Rand and Claire and not necessarily the Islands/treasure side of things. But I was still captured by every word, just not as excited about some parts of the book than others. Some things were also left unanswered or a bit up in the air in the end, but nothing that fully changed my opinion on the overall book.
At times I wanted to know more about Rand; as a male lead, he's now one of my favourites, but I still found myself wanting to know more about him. I felt I knew more about Claire than I did about Rand. Regardless of that though, I loved these unforgettable two characters.
Overall, More Than You Know was a brilliant book. If you love in-depth characters who have personalities, are intelligent, communicative and show emotion through both words and actions - I'd recommend this book. Rand and Claire are adults who acted like adults and knew how to communicate. Also, Rand was not ashamed to show raw emotions and I loved that about him. If you like a bit of treasure hunting, I would also recommend this book - Jo Goodman will take you on an entertaining, intriguing and intricate journey.
September 8, 2023
***domestic violence off-screen***
England & tropical locale 1875. I skimmed parts of
this-which had too many tropes. This had sex scenes
(for those who want this info) & I gave it 2.5 stars.
Rand Hamilton served as ship's captain. He traveled
for botanical research & experiments. People financed
his travels. He'd been a Confederate Lt. in the war &
had spent time as a POW.
Claire's godfather the duke, funded Rand's newest
trip. On the condition that Claire could go along. She
wanted to find her botanist sire & half-brother in the
So. Pacific. Claire needed/ obtained a companion for
the trip as she was blinded 18 months prior.
Grumpy Rand mostly wanted to be left alone on this
voyage. His crew thought he hung the moon. I liked 7
foot tall Cutch the best. I thought Rand came on too
strong in the sex dept w/ Claire (the 1st time): why?
Too many tropes. Blindness, grief, family dysfunction,
misread women, curses, the proud Southern man (who
can't be in 2 places at once) & his losses. And to find a
treasure by first solving a riddle.
England & tropical locale 1875. I skimmed parts of
this-which had too many tropes. This had sex scenes
(for those who want this info) & I gave it 2.5 stars.
Rand Hamilton served as ship's captain. He traveled
for botanical research & experiments. People financed
his travels. He'd been a Confederate Lt. in the war &
had spent time as a POW.
Claire's godfather the duke, funded Rand's newest
trip. On the condition that Claire could go along. She
wanted to find her botanist sire & half-brother in the
So. Pacific. Claire needed/ obtained a companion for
the trip as she was blinded 18 months prior.
Grumpy Rand mostly wanted to be left alone on this
voyage. His crew thought he hung the moon. I liked 7
foot tall Cutch the best. I thought Rand came on too
strong in the sex dept w/ Claire (the 1st time): why?
Too many tropes. Blindness, grief, family dysfunction,
misread women, curses, the proud Southern man (who
can't be in 2 places at once) & his losses. And to find a
treasure by first solving a riddle.
December 12, 2016
Full of action and adventure, this is a good historical romance well written with imagery that flows off the pages. An unexplained loss of sight leaves our heroine, Claire clinging to the only hope she has-- revisiting the tropical islands she fled in a canoe. Only one of all the doctors she visits believes her condition could be psychological. Her Godfather hires an American captain to take her to tropics to face her past. Heat flies between Claire and Rand as they embark on the voyage to cure Claire and uncover Rand's family's treasure. Uncovered secrets, riddles, and suspense keep the story flowing smoothly to a sweet HEA. I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for a voluntary honest review.
March 28, 2025
This book was neat- it had tropical sea adventures, treasure hunting action, quality characters and a healthy romance. If you love a romantic pirate adventure then you may enjoy this book except be warned - it’s a real slow burn (in adventure and romance).
Claire is an easy character to understand and root for. Rand is an incredibly intense man- it takes some time to warm up to him. The relationship between Rand and Claire is sweet and healthy. Goodman once again was able to create realistic, in-depth characters. Her grasp on the human brain and the way people hurt/ heal always makes for a full story that has the perfect emotional weight.
Overall I enjoyed this book but I felt like it was a little too drawn out. For this reason I’m giving it at 3/5
Claire is an easy character to understand and root for. Rand is an incredibly intense man- it takes some time to warm up to him. The relationship between Rand and Claire is sweet and healthy. Goodman once again was able to create realistic, in-depth characters. Her grasp on the human brain and the way people hurt/ heal always makes for a full story that has the perfect emotional weight.
Overall I enjoyed this book but I felt like it was a little too drawn out. For this reason I’m giving it at 3/5
May 6, 2017
An adventure on the high seas, lost treasure, a blind, prickly and intelligent heroine – this was a lot of fun. I had reservations about the hero Rand – as he seemed at first to come from alpha hole ville (e.g. kissing the heroine when he first meets her to test whether she is really blind) but he did grow on me. The islander characters could have been better fleshed out, but I do really enjoy Jo Goodman’s writing. Looking forward to the second one in the services.
June 24, 2018
I generally love Jo Goodman's books but I barely made it through this one. I found the story plodding but with good moments here and there. There was a lot of sex that felt like filler. The ending was not tied up to my satisfaction.
Aside from Claire's unexplained tantrum when first kissed by Rand, I really liked Claire's independence and spirit. I liked Rand as well. I think perhaps if the book was shortened and a little fuller at the end it would have been much better.
Aside from Claire's unexplained tantrum when first kissed by Rand, I really liked Claire's independence and spirit. I liked Rand as well. I think perhaps if the book was shortened and a little fuller at the end it would have been much better.
July 22, 2018
3.5 stars
February 11, 2017
Brilliant
March 5, 2017
Very sensual
This is a hard one nook to review. I want to give five stars for the sensuality on those areas and two for the plot. The plot was rather stilted in places....didn't read smoothly at all. There were times in the reading of it that I wasn't sure why it was happening or what was actually happening. I found it rather hard to follow at times. The intimacy between Claire and Rand was very effectively written, though. I'd recommend to readers of historical romance fiction and mystery readers.
This is a hard one nook to review. I want to give five stars for the sensuality on those areas and two for the plot. The plot was rather stilted in places....didn't read smoothly at all. There were times in the reading of it that I wasn't sure why it was happening or what was actually happening. I found it rather hard to follow at times. The intimacy between Claire and Rand was very effectively written, though. I'd recommend to readers of historical romance fiction and mystery readers.
September 20, 2016
3.5 Stars
Claire Bancroft is desperate to find her brother and father. They were lost to her in the Pacific Islands on a research expedition a year and a half ago and she cannot remember exactly what happened. That is where Rand Hamilton comes in. His is desperate in his own right, desperate to find the lost family treasure to put his plantation in order. Embarking on the dangerous mission, both of them have their own agendas.
I liked how Goodman made Claire's personality so independent, especially with her limitations. I liked Rand's character, he was strong and well-respected. He had a lot going against him but pursued through all of it. He blames himself for a lot that wasn't his fault and I liked how Goodman was able to show him as vulnerable too. Once again I felt that part of the story was not entirely needed, it dragged on a bit.
Claire Bancroft is desperate to find her brother and father. They were lost to her in the Pacific Islands on a research expedition a year and a half ago and she cannot remember exactly what happened. That is where Rand Hamilton comes in. His is desperate in his own right, desperate to find the lost family treasure to put his plantation in order. Embarking on the dangerous mission, both of them have their own agendas.
I liked how Goodman made Claire's personality so independent, especially with her limitations. I liked Rand's character, he was strong and well-respected. He had a lot going against him but pursued through all of it. He blames himself for a lot that wasn't his fault and I liked how Goodman was able to show him as vulnerable too. Once again I felt that part of the story was not entirely needed, it dragged on a bit.
June 7, 2019
Looking for a high seas mystery taking place after the Civil War? Jo Goodman has served up a book that lets the reader travel to 3 major locations: London; Charleston, South Carolina and some South Sea Islands.
The two leads, Rand Hamilton and Claire Bancroft, are two charming characters. Their repartee is amusing and pleasing. Rand is looking for a way to recover his family's home place; it was sold for taxes during Reconstruction. To recover his losses, he is looking for sponsors to support his next adventure to the South Seas.
Claire is an heiress who lost her sight 18 months before. She wants to return to the South Sea Islands to find her father and her brother. She also cannot remember how she lost her sight and hopes that returning to the islands will stir her memory.
One of the many doctors she's seen has told her that her eyesight might return; there's no physical reason for her blindness. Fearing a life without sight, Claire wants to face the unknown problems that might have affected her sight.
As with most of Jo Goodman's books, the characters and storyline are impressive. However, this book just didn't grab me. I had a hard time finishing it; I simply wasn't interested. Perhaps it was the mood I was in - I felt the book's flaws were minor.
Sometimes, no matter how great a book may be, the reader may not be in a place to get the most benefit from it. In the past, I've enjoyed each of Goodman's books. 4 stars
The two leads, Rand Hamilton and Claire Bancroft, are two charming characters. Their repartee is amusing and pleasing. Rand is looking for a way to recover his family's home place; it was sold for taxes during Reconstruction. To recover his losses, he is looking for sponsors to support his next adventure to the South Seas.
Claire is an heiress who lost her sight 18 months before. She wants to return to the South Sea Islands to find her father and her brother. She also cannot remember how she lost her sight and hopes that returning to the islands will stir her memory.
One of the many doctors she's seen has told her that her eyesight might return; there's no physical reason for her blindness. Fearing a life without sight, Claire wants to face the unknown problems that might have affected her sight.
As with most of Jo Goodman's books, the characters and storyline are impressive. However, this book just didn't grab me. I had a hard time finishing it; I simply wasn't interested. Perhaps it was the mood I was in - I felt the book's flaws were minor.
Sometimes, no matter how great a book may be, the reader may not be in a place to get the most benefit from it. In the past, I've enjoyed each of Goodman's books. 4 stars
December 15, 2011
This book has the elements of romance and adventure in all its pages. I wasn't disappointed at all. It's a romantic treasure hunt!
It was cute in its own way. And the ingenious way of how they would solve both riddles was exciting. I believe the lead characters didn't fall in love instantly when they met each other and that for me is a good thing. And I kind of like it when Claire didn't expect anything more from Rand. She was pretty much content just to be with him and it has to be Rand who made her see that it's not just an "affair". That's she's worthy of love. And I like how much Rand pays attention to her; how he takes care of her in a way that she doesn't feel useless. I like the parts where they're both figuring out the riddles. I also like the part at the ending where it was all dark and Claire was the one who figured out the way out of the cave and at the end she wore all the treasures on her.
There are two things that bothered me. First, how did Claire got her eye sight back. Second, what happened after they went back to Charleston and what happened to the Duke? well I guess that's three things then. I hope there was an epilogue to the first epilogue because there's all this situations that needs to be sort out to get the whole picture.
Aside from those problems I've mentioned the story was great. It really felt like both Claire and Rand were meant to be together. Add the adventure they both had and this book is almost almost perfect! ♥
It was cute in its own way. And the ingenious way of how they would solve both riddles was exciting. I believe the lead characters didn't fall in love instantly when they met each other and that for me is a good thing. And I kind of like it when Claire didn't expect anything more from Rand. She was pretty much content just to be with him and it has to be Rand who made her see that it's not just an "affair". That's she's worthy of love. And I like how much Rand pays attention to her; how he takes care of her in a way that she doesn't feel useless. I like the parts where they're both figuring out the riddles. I also like the part at the ending where it was all dark and Claire was the one who figured out the way out of the cave and at the end she wore all the treasures on her.
There are two things that bothered me. First, how did Claire got her eye sight back. Second, what happened after they went back to Charleston and what happened to the Duke? well I guess that's three things then. I hope there was an epilogue to the first epilogue because there's all this situations that needs to be sort out to get the whole picture.
Aside from those problems I've mentioned the story was great. It really felt like both Claire and Rand were meant to be together. Add the adventure they both had and this book is almost almost perfect! ♥
December 19, 2016
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
From the very first page, Ms Goodman draws the reader into this Victorian romance with lashings of high adventure and a mystery to be solved. I thoroughly enjoyed More Than You Know and found it difficult to put the book down. Rand Hamilton is a man with a heavy burden on his shoulders and he is putting every effort into redressing the offences of the the War of the States committed against his family. Claire Bancroft has unfinished business in the Polynesian islands, and she is dependent on Rand to help her find the answers. The initial interaction between them is far from encouraging, as Claire puts little effort into making herself attractive. She is also living with a legacy of having been sidelined by those who were most dear to her. However, as Rand gets to know and understand Claire, he finds a highly intelligent woman who grows on him daily. I loved the dry wit and gentle teasing between these two characters, and the love scenes were like poetry. The secondary characters in the book are also enjoyable and Cutch in particular wins a place in the reader's heart.
The descriptions of life on three continents as well as life aboard a clipper, are most entertaining, making this a well written book. This one is a keeper.
From the very first page, Ms Goodman draws the reader into this Victorian romance with lashings of high adventure and a mystery to be solved. I thoroughly enjoyed More Than You Know and found it difficult to put the book down. Rand Hamilton is a man with a heavy burden on his shoulders and he is putting every effort into redressing the offences of the the War of the States committed against his family. Claire Bancroft has unfinished business in the Polynesian islands, and she is dependent on Rand to help her find the answers. The initial interaction between them is far from encouraging, as Claire puts little effort into making herself attractive. She is also living with a legacy of having been sidelined by those who were most dear to her. However, as Rand gets to know and understand Claire, he finds a highly intelligent woman who grows on him daily. I loved the dry wit and gentle teasing between these two characters, and the love scenes were like poetry. The secondary characters in the book are also enjoyable and Cutch in particular wins a place in the reader's heart.
The descriptions of life on three continents as well as life aboard a clipper, are most entertaining, making this a well written book. This one is a keeper.
February 6, 2017
More Than You Know brings adventure, mystery and a hint of danger to what is also a richly romantic tale. The cadence varies, but at times it feels leisurely, which perfectly matches the south Pacific, where much of the story is set. Rand and Claire are both well developed protagonists, Claire with her feisty independence and Rand with his ability to command respect. There is a nice cast of support characters too, which makes for easy interactions as the story progresses. This book has been a pleasure to read and I look forward to more from this author.
I received a copy of this book from e-Book Discovery. This is my freely given review.
I received a copy of this book from e-Book Discovery. This is my freely given review.
January 21, 2017
I tend to like Jo Goodman, but early in this book I got distracted by a major plot issue and I couldn't get past it.
I cannot - for the life of me - figure out how this woman got dressed every day on board a ship of all men. Her dresses all had tiny buttons up the back. She had corsets to manage. How on earth is she buttoning all those buttons on her own every day? Her "companion" for the trip was male and he was MIA for the first couple weeks because reasons.
How. Did. She. Get. Dressed????????
I cannot - for the life of me - figure out how this woman got dressed every day on board a ship of all men. Her dresses all had tiny buttons up the back. She had corsets to manage. How on earth is she buttoning all those buttons on her own every day? Her "companion" for the trip was male and he was MIA for the first couple weeks because reasons.
How. Did. She. Get. Dressed????????
Want to Read
August 25, 2017I received a free copy of this book from ebookdiscovery. This has well written and intriguing storyline. It's full of adventure, drama, mystery, suspense, love and betrayal. The characters and interesting and captivating. Rand is laid back and charming with a good sense of humor. Claire is confident and entertaining. The two make a powerful team, they complement each other and together become complete. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to the next book in this series.
April 14, 2012
I found the heroine's story intriguing making me continue reading but the plot wasn't all that exciting and the hero was just so-so. An incident that stands out is when the heroine comments on what she was invited to touch. Rand is looking for someone to fund his voyage and his benefactor requires he takes godchild Claire.
January 11, 2013
forgettable fun. you won't feel stupid for reading this, you'll mostly enjoy it, and you will probably never read it a second time.
i couldn't help but unfavorably compare some of this tonally to laura kinsale's The Hidden Heart. lo does it better.
i couldn't help but unfavorably compare some of this tonally to laura kinsale's The Hidden Heart. lo does it better.
January 14, 2017
Very good read
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were interesting and at times fun. The author wrote a thoroughly fleshed out story and kept your interest. I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this story. The characters were interesting and at times fun. The author wrote a thoroughly fleshed out story and kept your interest. I highly recommend this book.
Read
January 15, 2017Struggling to rate this book. On one hand, I finished it. On the other hand, there was a whole lot that confused me. I felt the author had to do too much work to set up the series and the plot of this book was lost during the family trip to the plantation
December 3, 2011
Quite a good read, above average. Will look out for more of her book
October 28, 2012
This book was given by mu auntie ages ago --- I cannot compare with Jo's other works as this is my first! Quite a very one!
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