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Blake's Reach
Tavern-bred English girl seeks to restore shabby manor house with the profits from smuggling along the Kentish coast, during the French Revolution.
Born illegitimately, Jane Howard inherits nothing but the fiery hair and indomitable spirit of her mother's family, the Blakes. When Anne Blake dies, it is Jane who disposes of the debt-ridden London household. Then Charles Blake returns, fleeing the French Revolution, to claim his inheritance.
Born illegitimately, Jane Howard inherits nothing but the fiery hair and indomitable spirit of her mother's family, the Blakes. When Anne Blake dies, it is Jane who disposes of the debt-ridden London household. Then Charles Blake returns, fleeing the French Revolution, to claim his inheritance.
317 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1958
53 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gaskin
94 books71 followersCatherine Gaskin (2 April 1929 – 6 September 2009) historical fiction and romantic suspense.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 2, 2022
I have read this book before and love it. Every time I read it I pick up something else. The protagonist’s character is really well-written. There’s great moments of tension, and it takes you into a different time. Love it!
September 13, 2017
An old romantic story. Long, but beautifully described.
October 13, 2018
One of my favourite all time books.
October 17, 2022
excellent read
I couldn’t put it down.
Great adventure
Thanks
I will read some more of his. Books
Thanks
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T
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I couldn’t put it down.
Great adventure
Thanks
I will read some more of his. Books
Thanks
T
T
T
August 27, 2024
Old English steamy romance novel - now out of print
March 12, 2017
In one sense its "just" a historical romance, and I don't read a lot of romances, but this is such a good one it deserves to be separated com the rest of the herd. Its not improbably silly, or externally histrionic and exhibitionist, its just a good solid story about two people with different goals In life who meet, fall in love, and need to work out a way to communicate and compromise.
May 3, 2014
A Regency historical novel about a young woman who sets out to restore her family’s crumbling coastal estate, and in the process must throw her lot in with smugglers. 1958.
Full review (and other recommendations!) at Another look book
I enjoyed it, but not as much as I loved Sara Dane, which was quite frankly EPIC. (Certain scenes from Sara Dane are still vividly in my mind, almost line-by-line...How often can you say that about a book you didn't just finish?) The most interesting parts of Blake's Reach were the parts about smuggling, which came as a bit of a surprise to me. Gaskin also used the same characterizations I really enjoyed in Sara Dane: there are some characters who come and go; others who stay; but all of them have a certain realism, like they could actually be real people. It's also difficult to ever be sure which direction the plot will go next. You know, kind of like it's hard to know which direction life will go! Now that's something I like in my historical fiction.
Full review (and other recommendations!) at Another look book
I enjoyed it, but not as much as I loved Sara Dane, which was quite frankly EPIC. (Certain scenes from Sara Dane are still vividly in my mind, almost line-by-line...How often can you say that about a book you didn't just finish?) The most interesting parts of Blake's Reach were the parts about smuggling, which came as a bit of a surprise to me. Gaskin also used the same characterizations I really enjoyed in Sara Dane: there are some characters who come and go; others who stay; but all of them have a certain realism, like they could actually be real people. It's also difficult to ever be sure which direction the plot will go next. You know, kind of like it's hard to know which direction life will go! Now that's something I like in my historical fiction.
March 6, 2024
Finished it in one sitting, very fast paced- interesting read.
August 31, 2010
Historical Romance.
did-not-finish
February 14, 2014I didn't get very far into this one. Its too coarse for my liking. (a rather sordid rape attempt and coarse descriptions of her mother /lifestyle.) Glad I didn't buy it...
Read
October 12, 2014total rubbish
August 16, 2012
Marvelous
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews