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Another Man's Son
Another Man's Son by Katherine Stone released on Nov 24, 2004 is available now for purchase.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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142 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Stone
71 books114 followersKatherine Stone is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including her new Christmas novel, SLEIGH BELLS RING.
Katherine's books have been translated into twenty languages and are sold worldwide. A physician who now writes full-time, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, physician and novelist Jack Chase (Fatal Analysis, Mortality Rate, The Magruder Transplant.
Katherine's website is www.katherinestone.com.
Jack's website is www.medicalthriller.com.
Katherine's books have been translated into twenty languages and are sold worldwide. A physician who now writes full-time, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, physician and novelist Jack Chase (Fatal Analysis, Mortality Rate, The Magruder Transplant.
Katherine's website is www.katherinestone.com.
Jack's website is www.medicalthriller.com.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 22, 2010
Another Man's Son by Katherine Stone is an emotional, compelling journey into the delicate nature of the human condition. The characters are very much human, imperfect, damaged, and it is with delicate approach that they each discover love.
The story is wrought with feelings of loss, grief and pain but with the promise of happiness. For Kathleen Cahill, Ian Collier and Sam Collier, love is an emotion foreign to them, both in reception and possession. From personal experience Kathleen hides her turmoil in a controlled mask, not allowing herself to feel for fear she will shatter if she does. Ian Collier allowed himself to love once but faced a loss so great it dictated the rest of his life. For matters of the heart, he no longer take risks but instead finds them on the ski slopes. Sam Collier is a wanderer, who is always searching to belong but he cannot claim belonging to any person or place. Only memories of a painful and confused childhood remain a constant companion.
Relationships are formed and endured through many facades interconnecting those paternal, maternal, sisterly, brotherly, platonic and spiritual ones. Within each one we see decisions arise, often ones that will make an impression and impact on those relationships. What come with those decisions is not finality or permanence but a continuance of life, either setting off on a new course or being set aright again.
While the characters face their own pain, find small victories and discover how to accept and give love, we grow with them. Each moment expressed, every feeling evoked within the characters serve as a transition from being alive to living. In doing so we can fully relate and connect to the characters.
The story is wrought with feelings of loss, grief and pain but with the promise of happiness. For Kathleen Cahill, Ian Collier and Sam Collier, love is an emotion foreign to them, both in reception and possession. From personal experience Kathleen hides her turmoil in a controlled mask, not allowing herself to feel for fear she will shatter if she does. Ian Collier allowed himself to love once but faced a loss so great it dictated the rest of his life. For matters of the heart, he no longer take risks but instead finds them on the ski slopes. Sam Collier is a wanderer, who is always searching to belong but he cannot claim belonging to any person or place. Only memories of a painful and confused childhood remain a constant companion.
Relationships are formed and endured through many facades interconnecting those paternal, maternal, sisterly, brotherly, platonic and spiritual ones. Within each one we see decisions arise, often ones that will make an impression and impact on those relationships. What come with those decisions is not finality or permanence but a continuance of life, either setting off on a new course or being set aright again.
While the characters face their own pain, find small victories and discover how to accept and give love, we grow with them. Each moment expressed, every feeling evoked within the characters serve as a transition from being alive to living. In doing so we can fully relate and connect to the characters.
May 2, 2013
As a romance, this might be more like a 2.5, and as a "general read" it might go as high as 4, given the fact that it certainly did hold my interest... But I admit I'm having difficulty placing it, rating-wise. I've decided to average them out, and go for three stars. I did enjoy it for itself, and it kept my attention.
But, there were a number of issues I had with the book.
The "romance" described on the back of the book is basically non-existent; this book is about 75% back story, which in itself is not bad, but the romance covers about a dozen pages, and never feels like it takes full flight. The two meet, fall into bed for some reason (mutual grief and a need to reaffirm life, I guess, and/or a shared love of puppies, or something?), and then, somehow, reckon they are the loves of each other's lives... Not exactly sure how any of that occurs, but it gives us the expected HEA, so I suppose it was mandatory.
However, while I am not a prude, I honestly couldn't get over the hero and heroine falling into bed the day the heroine's fiance, and the hero's father, was taken to the morgue. I understand the heroine and the father were in a platonic love (at least on her side), but it still feels very awkward to me - and troublesome, given the emotional trauma the characters were facing. Also problematic was their apparent lack of guilt/struggle over all of this.
I kept thinking, "How considerate Ian was to croak when he did so these two could get it on!" Not a comfortable feeling after you've spent 200 or pages getting to know Ian and Kathleen as a pair. Slightly depressing, actually.
It's also problematic that the asexuality the heroine seems to express throughout the entire book was "cured" seemingly over night by the hero. This didn't ring true to me, and could have been a whole book unto itself. (However, given the extent to which asexuality is presented in media as being abnormal and pathological, and how often delegitimatizing tropes of "you just haven't had the right person rev your engines" are reiterated, I would suggest people lay off the topic altogether. However, if the author feels the need, it should be more complex than one night with the Magic Hero Bullet.) I suspect the heroine was presented without sex drive to make sure the reader understood she and Ian never had sex, which should comfort some of the people disturbed by her romance with his son the same week of his death.
And a side note: The back cover description makes this book sound like a part of the "pregnant heroine" subgenre, but it is not. I generally enjoy those, which was a draw for me, but this is not one of those.
There is a second couple, unmentioned on the back cover, who actually do have a romance throughout the book, so there is some romance covered. That couple were more present in the book, and their relationship was explored with more depth.
Similarly, the "mystery" element was as cursory as it was unexpected, since there was no mention of a murder mystery subplot on the back cover copy. I'm okay with a bit of suspense; I just find it odd that the book focused only on one of the romance plots, and ignored the mystery element. Perhaps because the mystery element was tacked on and there was no mystery to solve. (It's also pretty incredible how many coincidences happen for these people!)
The book, while generally well written, does suffer from some over-writing, in my opinion. The novel's a bit on the long side, and some snips here and there might have made it feel faster in pacing. An example (from memory):
"Ian really liked him."
"Who? James."
"Yes, James."
"The feeling was mutual."
It seems to me that "Ian really liked James" and "The feeling was mutual" would have sufficed, and saved a couple lines. There are numerous such points in the book, along with over-ample descriptions, unnecessary exposition, and explanations of irrelevant things, which is a weakness when we don't get to the "main plot" until page 200-some.
Other than that, the writing is proficient. There just seems to be too much of it at times.
Yet, the book did offer an interesting and somewhat absorbing "slice of life" read. If you are the impatient sort, you might be frustrated by the feeling of being half way through the book and still getting back story, but I found that refreshing. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, even though none of them left very strong impressions on me, and I liked the overlapping structure. The main characters were all generally nice, pleasant people, and I felt sad for them when I was supposed to, and felt happy for them when they got things back on track (with the exception of Sam and Kathleen getting the hots over Ian's fresh grave).
In terms of a character study, however, it made for a nice, clean, relaxing read.
But, there were a number of issues I had with the book.
The "romance" described on the back of the book is basically non-existent; this book is about 75% back story, which in itself is not bad, but the romance covers about a dozen pages, and never feels like it takes full flight. The two meet, fall into bed for some reason (mutual grief and a need to reaffirm life, I guess, and/or a shared love of puppies, or something?), and then, somehow, reckon they are the loves of each other's lives... Not exactly sure how any of that occurs, but it gives us the expected HEA, so I suppose it was mandatory.
However, while I am not a prude, I honestly couldn't get over the hero and heroine falling into bed the day the heroine's fiance, and the hero's father, was taken to the morgue. I understand the heroine and the father were in a platonic love (at least on her side), but it still feels very awkward to me - and troublesome, given the emotional trauma the characters were facing. Also problematic was their apparent lack of guilt/struggle over all of this.
I kept thinking, "How considerate Ian was to croak when he did so these two could get it on!" Not a comfortable feeling after you've spent 200 or pages getting to know Ian and Kathleen as a pair. Slightly depressing, actually.
It's also problematic that the asexuality the heroine seems to express throughout the entire book was "cured" seemingly over night by the hero. This didn't ring true to me, and could have been a whole book unto itself. (However, given the extent to which asexuality is presented in media as being abnormal and pathological, and how often delegitimatizing tropes of "you just haven't had the right person rev your engines" are reiterated, I would suggest people lay off the topic altogether. However, if the author feels the need, it should be more complex than one night with the Magic Hero Bullet.) I suspect the heroine was presented without sex drive to make sure the reader understood she and Ian never had sex, which should comfort some of the people disturbed by her romance with his son the same week of his death.
And a side note: The back cover description makes this book sound like a part of the "pregnant heroine" subgenre, but it is not. I generally enjoy those, which was a draw for me, but this is not one of those.
There is a second couple, unmentioned on the back cover, who actually do have a romance throughout the book, so there is some romance covered. That couple were more present in the book, and their relationship was explored with more depth.
Similarly, the "mystery" element was as cursory as it was unexpected, since there was no mention of a murder mystery subplot on the back cover copy. I'm okay with a bit of suspense; I just find it odd that the book focused only on one of the romance plots, and ignored the mystery element. Perhaps because the mystery element was tacked on and there was no mystery to solve. (It's also pretty incredible how many coincidences happen for these people!)
The book, while generally well written, does suffer from some over-writing, in my opinion. The novel's a bit on the long side, and some snips here and there might have made it feel faster in pacing. An example (from memory):
"Ian really liked him."
"Who? James."
"Yes, James."
"The feeling was mutual."
It seems to me that "Ian really liked James" and "The feeling was mutual" would have sufficed, and saved a couple lines. There are numerous such points in the book, along with over-ample descriptions, unnecessary exposition, and explanations of irrelevant things, which is a weakness when we don't get to the "main plot" until page 200-some.
Other than that, the writing is proficient. There just seems to be too much of it at times.
Yet, the book did offer an interesting and somewhat absorbing "slice of life" read. If you are the impatient sort, you might be frustrated by the feeling of being half way through the book and still getting back story, but I found that refreshing. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, even though none of them left very strong impressions on me, and I liked the overlapping structure. The main characters were all generally nice, pleasant people, and I felt sad for them when I was supposed to, and felt happy for them when they got things back on track (with the exception of Sam and Kathleen getting the hots over Ian's fresh grave).
In terms of a character study, however, it made for a nice, clean, relaxing read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2016
I hadn't expected to enjoy this book, as much as I did. The story, opens with Ian Collier, who although he knows he isn't Sam's biological father, loves the child. Ian returns home one day to find the cottage empty, and that Sam's mother has left with Sam.Vanessa leads Ian to believe that in Sam's best interest is to bow out of Sam's life, and reminding him, that she is well aware that Sam is not Ian's son.
Ian works hard to get out of poverty and is now a rich man. He gives out scholarships to put students through college, one such scholarship goes to Kathleen Cahill. She confides in Ian, the reason that she doesn't want the scholarship is because her mother has been missing. Ian asks around, and learns that Kathleen's mother was murdered. They maintain a friendship through the years, where both decide to marry, but although, they love each other, the marriage will not be a conventional one. Days before the wedding, Ian is skiing, and is involved in a terrible accident. Despite the odds, Ian survives and seems to be bouncing back. The evening, that Kathleen and Ian are to be married, Ian suddenly dies of a heart attack, and Kathleen is told about a terrible secret that Ian was unaware of.
Left wondering what to make of her life now, Kathleen heads back to what would've been Ian and her home; only to find Sam. Sam has been lead to believe a mountain of lies because his mother is hiding a secret. Kathleen and Sam fall in love with each other. But, as the memorial for Ian gets underway...things are about to get ugly, there is a foe among them all, who has been pretending to be a friend.
Ian works hard to get out of poverty and is now a rich man. He gives out scholarships to put students through college, one such scholarship goes to Kathleen Cahill. She confides in Ian, the reason that she doesn't want the scholarship is because her mother has been missing. Ian asks around, and learns that Kathleen's mother was murdered. They maintain a friendship through the years, where both decide to marry, but although, they love each other, the marriage will not be a conventional one. Days before the wedding, Ian is skiing, and is involved in a terrible accident. Despite the odds, Ian survives and seems to be bouncing back. The evening, that Kathleen and Ian are to be married, Ian suddenly dies of a heart attack, and Kathleen is told about a terrible secret that Ian was unaware of.
Left wondering what to make of her life now, Kathleen heads back to what would've been Ian and her home; only to find Sam. Sam has been lead to believe a mountain of lies because his mother is hiding a secret. Kathleen and Sam fall in love with each other. But, as the memorial for Ian gets underway...things are about to get ugly, there is a foe among them all, who has been pretending to be a friend.
October 25, 2015
This was a beautiful story! I loved how the author interwove the stories of Ian, Sam, Kathleen, James and Natalie. It was well done and kept me wondering how everything would play out in the story. I was very pleased with the way that it ended.
Read
August 19, 2019Great read!
May 27, 2019
Sam Collier has believed all of his life that his father abandoned him and he has roamed around the country with a chip on his shoulder but now has finallky settled in a small town in Oregon where he purchased an apple orchard. Sam keeps very much to himself but is well liked in the town as he has revived the apple industry but he now decides he wants a puppy. Meanwhile Ian Collier owns a company called Rain Mountain and has done very well for himself. Over the years Ian has pined for his son but has immersed himself in his business and has funded scholarships for very bright students who would not be able to afford to go to college. Kathleen Cahill is one of these young women and she is exceptionally bright and goes on to become a Dr. Kathleen's mother was murdered when Kathleen was a teenager and the murderer never brought to justice. Ian and Kathleen become very close and Kathleen decides she would like to have a baby and the Ian and Kathleen decide to marry. Sometimes things do not turn out as expected when Ian tells Kathleen the sad story about Sam and how he was deceived by Sam's mother. Before the wedding Ian is involved in a serious ski accident but seems to be on the road to recovery when he crashes and dies.
Ian's heir is Sam and he arrives in the picture.
Ian's close friend James is an attorney and he in turn has another friend who is not what he seems things happen that put Kathleen in danger and maybe at last her mother's murderer will be found.
Ian's heir is Sam and he arrives in the picture.
Ian's close friend James is an attorney and he in turn has another friend who is not what he seems things happen that put Kathleen in danger and maybe at last her mother's murderer will be found.
July 30, 2017
I confess that I’m not normally keen on American novels, but this one surprised me, pleasantly I should add. On the face of things, Ian Collier is a successful business man but he is haunted by having to give up his four-year-old many years before. In an attempt to forget, he indulges in his passion for ski-ing and for supporting deserving scholars through college. One of these is Kathleen Cahill, whose own adulthood has been marred by the unsolved murder of her mother. Many years later, Sam Collier learns of the sudden death of the father he believes abandoned him and resolves to find out why he was abandoned. Only Kathleen knows the truth and is able to enlighten him, enabling him to put the past behind him. Interwoven with this is the mystery of the unsolved murder of Kathleen’s mother. I shall be Interested to find more of this author’s work.
May 19, 2018
It was an enjoyable read, although I have to say the ending rather quickly wrapped up a bunch of subplots. I think I would have enjoyed it more, if these subplots developed more in the middle than all at the end. I probably would read another of this authors books, just to see if it was her writing pattern.
December 10, 2018
It took me a while to get into the book. As a matter of fact, I almost gave up. After 75+ pages the story had my attention. Ian has to deal with so many circumstances that this book became a good read. There's grief, pain, and deep feelings of loss.
Read
July 7, 2020Excellent, story!
May 1, 2022
It felt like 3 novels mashed into one.
I'd have loved to read Natalie - James, Sam - Kathleen, Sam - Ian in their own books.
And still, a good read.
I'd have loved to read Natalie - James, Sam - Kathleen, Sam - Ian in their own books.
And still, a good read.
March 2, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed. Finished it in 2 days. Very easy to read.
December 26, 2008
Summary of Characters: Ian is separated from his baby boy (Sam) when Sam is a very young age. He throws himself into professional skiing and when he is injured he starts up a skiing gear company and makes a ton of money. He starts giving scholarships to high schoolers for full rides to college. One of the high schoolers he sponsors is Kathleen. Ian and Kathleen have a very long platonic relationship which ends in them attempting marriage. Meanwhile, Ian has been investigating Kathleen's mother's murder on the side for her and has made friends with the prosecutor James. James is engaged to Christine, and they ask Natalie (a realtor) to find them a house. James is best friends with a man named Grant. (I can't mention anything else for fear of ruining the book!)
Praise: I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional journey throughout the book and it spanned several pairs of characters, making it very interesting and engaging. I enjoyed all the pairs of characters. I also enjoyed that the romance was not smutty, and instead the author focused on the feelings of the characters.
Criticisms: I didn't enjoy how the summary on the back of the book gave away nearly all the secrets, and made it seem as if the meat of the story would be one thing, and yet in truth the meat of the story involved actions long before that moment, and only briefly related to the moment described on the book cover. I also didn't enjoy the mystery aspect of the book as much as I would like, and the romance was awful quick.
All in all, it was pleasant and enjoyable and I would recommend picking it up at a garage sale.
Scale:
5 - Buy this, and buy it now. - I love this book.
4 - Find this at a garage sale or half-price bookstore. - I really like this book.
3 - Coerce a friend into buying it for you. - I like this book.
2 - Ennnh, maybe. - Okay.
1 - Don't bother reading this. - I didn't like it.
Praise: I really enjoyed this book. It was an emotional journey throughout the book and it spanned several pairs of characters, making it very interesting and engaging. I enjoyed all the pairs of characters. I also enjoyed that the romance was not smutty, and instead the author focused on the feelings of the characters.
Criticisms: I didn't enjoy how the summary on the back of the book gave away nearly all the secrets, and made it seem as if the meat of the story would be one thing, and yet in truth the meat of the story involved actions long before that moment, and only briefly related to the moment described on the book cover. I also didn't enjoy the mystery aspect of the book as much as I would like, and the romance was awful quick.
All in all, it was pleasant and enjoyable and I would recommend picking it up at a garage sale.
Scale:
5 - Buy this, and buy it now. - I love this book.
4 - Find this at a garage sale or half-price bookstore. - I really like this book.
3 - Coerce a friend into buying it for you. - I like this book.
2 - Ennnh, maybe. - Okay.
1 - Don't bother reading this. - I didn't like it.
January 20, 2010
The only thing keeping this a four-star book was the rushed love affair of Kathleen and Sam. The build-up of the story and characters was wonderful. The drama was sweeping and intense. I felt so much for each of them that when Kathleen and Sam "fell in love" I questioned how I missed that. It happened WAY too fast and it didn't make much sense. I would have liked to have experienced more of Kathleen's awakening sexuality when she discovered a different kind of love with Sam. Too much was missing in the pages. The end was great in spite of that.
This is the first book I have read by Katherine Stone and will be reading more. I truly liked her story telling.
This is the first book I have read by Katherine Stone and will be reading more. I truly liked her story telling.
July 1, 2014
This was a very interesting book with several subplots. I liked the characters and writing style, and the book kept my interest with no dull moments. There were also some surprises that increased the interest factor of the book. The summary on the book 's cover was not very accurate, however. I had read more than 200 pages before Ian died, and it was later on when Sam came and even before Kathleen moved into the house. Sam and Kathleen's falling into bed together the night they met and the day that Ian died was a little jarring to say the least. The murder mystery was downplayed in the book and not mentioned at all on the cover but figured significantly in the plot.
June 27, 2019
This was my first book by Katherine Stone, and I just could not finish it, by page 115 I was way over trying to keep up with all the couple's and drama. I counted 7 yes seven different couples and their problems !
I read a lot and have never stopped a book not even half-way thru. This was so much back and forth and so many
character's to keep track of it their was nothing enjoyable about reading it. Part I really disliked the most is from one chapter to the next you never knew which couple you would be reading about.
This book had some great reviews, I don't know why. Not a romance, bad story line, was a waste of my money
I read a lot and have never stopped a book not even half-way thru. This was so much back and forth and so many
character's to keep track of it their was nothing enjoyable about reading it. Part I really disliked the most is from one chapter to the next you never knew which couple you would be reading about.
This book had some great reviews, I don't know why. Not a romance, bad story line, was a waste of my money
September 1, 2011
I wanted to like the book but couldn't. The story was too wierd and too soap operaish. Sam hops into bed with Kathleen, falls madly in love with her after knowing her for about a week (the whole time, she was his "father"'s fiancee.
August 28, 2007
This is a new author I have discovered and her books are excellent. I look forward to finding more of them at my local library!!!
September 11, 2007
This is a new author I have discovered and her books are excellent. I look forward to finding more of them at my local library!!!
August 13, 2008
A good romance about trust.
August 17, 2008
This book had so many subplots that it was a little hard to follow, but, well worth the trip.
July 22, 2012
After reading promises, dis 1 was so disappointing..
August 17, 2012
sad story that ends on high when the killer is found and killed saving people
July 11, 2013
Well written. Emotional. 6 different POV's blending in perfectly.
February 25, 2014
A very good book,little hard to follow in places, but good book overall.
August 16, 2014
Well, this story kept my interest for the first half, and I got thru till the last chapter, then it was obvious what the ending would be.
Not the best I ever read.
Not the best I ever read.
Read
February 10, 2010Interesting but not compelling
March 30, 2017
The synopsis on the back cover is misleading and made me stall. For a long time over reading this book. Whether or not Kathleen is pregnant with Ian's or Sam's baby is NOT the main issue of the story. Ns's review from 2010 tells it like it is. For me this was a worthwhile read.
April 27, 2017
All the way through this book I kept thinking I'd read it before but parts of it were unfamiliar, guess not. I ended well, only left a thread hanging (Sam's brother). Good plot but obviously had been used before.
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