Tapestry

by Karen Ranney

Book Overview

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Ranney tells a beauty and the beast story of true love. Alex Weston returned from the Seven Years War knowing that he was the beast. His next door... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0821754858
• ISBN13: 9780821754856
• Release Date: August 1996
• Publisher: Zebra Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

*TISSUE ALERT! Do Not Read Without A Box of Puffs or Kleenex Tissues at Hand!

Absolutely wonderful story, reminicent of "The Phantom of the Opera" with the exception that in this book, the horribly disfigured hero, Dixon Alexander "Alex" Weston, wins the heart of the young heroine before he becomes disfigured due to a cannon explosion. Upon his return home after his injury, he secludes himself and refuses her letters...even sending them returned to her, unopened. Lady Laura Blake then masquerades as a servant to gain entrance to his home. Through an intricate plot to "compromise" him, she gives herself to him unknowing that he has already signed a betrothal contract with her uncles for her hand in marriage. The revelation upon their wedding night that she was the one and the same servant that he'd searched for for months is riveting. Their subsequent happiness is wonderful, yet that is only Part 1 of the book. Part 2 is more realistic and deals with the heartbreaking news that Alex is once again called to further serve his country, yet leaves with nothing more than a note to Laura. Very cowardly in my opinion. He is once again a naval captain and he is captured by King Frederick of Prussia and held hostage after his ship sinks. From there the story gets really intense and the angst of the novel is almost unbearable. When told of his supposed "death" Laura falls down the staircase and, as a result, loses their unborn son. When Alex reappears after more than 2 years, Laura is unable to face him as she is afraid of loving him and losing him all over again. She is also concerned that he will blame her for their sons death, and be disappointed that she cannot have any other children. The most wonderful scene in this book is when this proud, courageous, man who guarded his privacy, and wore his mask in his own home, becomes a groom in Laura's stables to be close to her. When she first sees him without his mask or glove, knowing how he has exposed himself to the ridicule and mockery of her other servants, and knows that he humbled himself to reach out to her, she realizes that she cannot ignore a love so profound and enduring. The Epilogue is very moving as well. It's one of the best books I've read by Ms. Ranney. I didn't really think there could be a better book than "One Man's Love," the first in her Scottish Lords series. I was wrong. Tapestry an amazing novel the delves deep into the human psyche.

EMOTIONAL

As a new Karen Ranney fan, I resolved to read all her books, which meant purchasing four used books (yuck!), TAPESTRY being one of them since it is out of print. I am not sorry. If you can put your hands on a copy of this book, grab it, read it, love it.TAPESTRY takes the reader from humor to tenderness to sensuality to sexuality to despair to anger to poignancy to everything in between to everything beyond. It is an emotional roller coaster, and I shed a few tears on the ride. This is a wonderful story of love, devotion, introspection, self-discovery, and renewal. Alex and Laura teach us about love that sees beneath the surface -- one can only dream of a love that reaches such depth.

This book is incomparable.

I read this book last night and just had to write a review. Even though I know that anything I write would not do this book justice. This book had so much depth and emotion. The characters feelings so well described. Sensuality and heartache both off the scales. You felt as if you were feeling what they were feeling. I have never read a love scene written like the one Ms. Ranney wrote when these two characters first come together.

Nothing Less than a FIVE Star will do!

I'd give this 10 stars if I could - this book is sooooooo good! It is absolutely amazing that this is the author's first work! You start off with a young lady, the Lady Laura Blake, to be exact who is bound and determined to get to see the man she has loved her whole life since the age of 10. Alex, the Earl of Cardiff, has come home from the war, after an absence of four years - horribly disfigured from a terrible accident. So disfigured that even with a mask covering most of his face, even his servants dare not look him in his one good eye. Posing as a country bred gal, she is hired as a kitchen worker in Heddon Hall - not that she knows anything of what goes on in a kitchen - but she eventually gets to serve him his meal and little by little she worms her way into becoming his reader, while a permanent secretary is sought. He does not recognize the hero worshipping neighbor, who was 12 years old when he left for war. It has some humourous parts as she proves to Alex that she does not pity but loves him completely and he does come to believe it with his whole heart.The betrayals and the anguish of the reality of life is what the second part of the book is all about, and this is what, in my opinion make this book so great. The characters are written with such human feeling, they are multi-dimensional. Laura,shows the strength when her whole world seems to fall apart and disintegrate in her face, between betrayals and loss. You best have some hankies near by to gather in both fists, because you'd have to be made of stone not to cry. Fabulous book - a gem of a 'classic' and one to re-read over and over! Find a copy at all costs!

EMOTION-CHURNING 'BEAUTY & THE BEAST' LOVEFEST.............!

When I read the title & synopsis, I knew this novel'll be a 1st-rate weeper. But I was positively astonished by how highly-charged it turned out to be. Even the cover says it all, a dark-haired hero wearing a mask & a glove gazing somberly at the angelic heroine. What a pair ! The 1st half of the book is amusing & delightful. Infatuated since childhood, Laura dressed up as a grubby maid to win Alex's shielded heart and - thanks to her adoring uncles - managed to enrage & charm Alex with her constant & indiscriminate devotion. The 2nd half is almost too painful to read (don't get me wrong, I consumed the book in 1 sitting), as Alex was called to war again & tragedy struck in the hardest way imaginable. The ending is too wonderful - not the usual 'all is well' - to describe, tears & laughters included & wrapped up in a 380-page package. I was so impressed by this incredibly moving keeper that I went on a mission to collect all of her titles from the Auctions & so far 6 Ranney PBs have proudly graced my shelf. What the heck, go buy yourself a xmas gift & share it with your friends afterwards !