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Ryan's Return
by
Barbara Freethy (Goodreads Author)
Famous photojournalist Ryan Hunter has come back to a family torn apart by mistrust and resentment -- to the father who disowned him, to the brother who betrayed him, to the little boy who shares his features. Ryan, the charismatic "bad boy" son, has returned -- stirring up past conflicts like a whirlwind...and throwing Kara Delaney's fragile, passionate heart into turmoil...more
Kindle Edition, 388 pages
Published
March 15th 2011
by Barbara Freethy
(first published October 1st 1996)
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Beautiful... Absolutely beautiful.
The topics covered in the story reminds you the true meaning of life and family. Every one makes mistakes and change comes for better or worse.
"Everything changes, but in a lot of ways it stays the same."
".... Do you believe in ghosts?...I believe in love, and I think it lives on forever"
I couldn't put this book down. The characters where brought to life as the pages turned. Ryan, oh Ryan.. What he went through along with his brother, Andrew, his father Jonas...more
The topics covered in the story reminds you the true meaning of life and family. Every one makes mistakes and change comes for better or worse.
"Everything changes, but in a lot of ways it stays the same."
".... Do you believe in ghosts?...I believe in love, and I think it lives on forever"
I couldn't put this book down. The characters where brought to life as the pages turned. Ryan, oh Ryan.. What he went through along with his brother, Andrew, his father Jonas...more
I really love the description and personification of the river in this book:
‘She’s just like a woman… She gives life, brings peace, and nurtures the land. And when she is angry, all hell breaks loose.’
‘I haven’t seen her this fast in years. She’s roaring with passion.’
Every character in this story has been affected by the river in some way; consequently, some love it, some loathe it. Either way, the river holds the key to the many mysteries of the people, past and present, in this small town.
Thi...more
‘She’s just like a woman… She gives life, brings peace, and nurtures the land. And when she is angry, all hell breaks loose.’
‘I haven’t seen her this fast in years. She’s roaring with passion.’
Every character in this story has been affected by the river in some way; consequently, some love it, some loathe it. Either way, the river holds the key to the many mysteries of the people, past and present, in this small town.
Thi...more
Ryan's Return is about a young, famous, photographer that left his simple, rural town to persue his dreams depsite it costing him his family. Ryan's mother had left him and his father and brother when he was young. Ever since, Ryan and his father have been at odds. Once Ryan left for his career, his father and brother told him he was never welcome to return.
Now that Ryan is famous and his hometown is coming upon the Centennial Celebration, the head of the town council invites Ryan back as the g...more
Now that Ryan is famous and his hometown is coming upon the Centennial Celebration, the head of the town council invites Ryan back as the g...more
Barbara Freethy's writing style is beautifully smooth and accomplished with no jarring turns of phrase or amateurish wording. This made reading Ryan's Return so much easier. The book itself was an enjoyable read with fully-developed characters and multiple love stories going on all at once, and surprisingly I cared about each and every one of them, which shows how Freethy paid as much attention to the secondary characters as to the primary ones. The actual story of the black sheep of the family...more
I Got this for free on Amazon (kindle)!!! :o
And I loved it!
Plenty heated romance, naughty scandal,secrets,and tragedy even a ghost. Yep I said Ghost... Former small town bad boy turned world famous photographer Ryan Hunter has been invited back to the last place he ever thought he'd return to. Home.
Still he is curious to see if his family still hate him, if his town is still the same and possibly if he can stir up a little trouble. But his real intent he isn't even aware of. He really wants hi...more
And I loved it!
Plenty heated romance, naughty scandal,secrets,and tragedy even a ghost. Yep I said Ghost... Former small town bad boy turned world famous photographer Ryan Hunter has been invited back to the last place he ever thought he'd return to. Home.
Still he is curious to see if his family still hate him, if his town is still the same and possibly if he can stir up a little trouble. But his real intent he isn't even aware of. He really wants hi...more
This book was light and easy to read. It is essentially a romance with a focus on challenging family dynamics and overcoming tragedy.
There is a great deal of sentiment throughout the novel and it has a largely predictable plot. It also has a mystical element. I was reminded of NIcholas Sparks novel Safe Haven.
The characters are well developed and the romance is sweet and steamy. It's good to read a story in which the main female character is intelligent, determine, capable and not a maiden in d...more
There is a great deal of sentiment throughout the novel and it has a largely predictable plot. It also has a mystical element. I was reminded of NIcholas Sparks novel Safe Haven.
The characters are well developed and the romance is sweet and steamy. It's good to read a story in which the main female character is intelligent, determine, capable and not a maiden in d...more
Ryan Hunter, an accomplished and famous photojournalist,returns to his small home town in CA at the invitation of Kara Delaney, president of the Chamber of Commerce. She and her daughter Angel have recently come back after Kara's divorce. She has redecorated her aunt's home by the river and made it into an inn. In an effort to generate some business for the small community, she has invited Hunter to speak and be honored at the town's centennial celebration.
However, there are many in Serenity Spr...more
However, there are many in Serenity Spr...more
A kindle free book. Really enjoyed reading it. About a small town with secrets, and everyone trying not to be like their parents before them. But some secrets aren't what they seem,
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I downloaded this book for free on my Kindle and was a little reluctant because I have been so disappointed with my last few free books,but I ended up really pleased with it. I loved the characters, not just the main characters, but also the secondary characters. They all grew so much, and came into themselves. The discovery of themselves and of small town secrets, made the characters so real. I have to say though, that I was thoroughly disappointed when at seventy percent through the book two e...more
I really enjoyed this story, although the beginning was a little slow. It took me a while to get into it, because it sounded so familiar to begin with: a young man leaves his small town, goes to the big city and finds success (but not true happiness), then reluctantly returns home and finds everything he ever wanted was right there. However, Barbara Freethy has taken a common beginning and added her own twist to the story. Yes, the ending is quite predictable, but there are a lot of unexpected e...more
A very light and easy read. I was pleasantly surprised since it was a free e book and the other free ebooks I have read have not been great and in great need of an editor!
I was a little annoyed with Ryan and jonas's relationship, father and son. They had the same argument every time they talked and Ryan just couldn't keep his mouth shut! However, after i have worked in family therapy, the author captured a dysfunctional family perfectly. Both talked but neither listened, very typical. I do wish...more
I was a little annoyed with Ryan and jonas's relationship, father and son. They had the same argument every time they talked and Ryan just couldn't keep his mouth shut! However, after i have worked in family therapy, the author captured a dysfunctional family perfectly. Both talked but neither listened, very typical. I do wish...more
I really enjoy Barbara Freethy's books. They have just the right touch of range and suspense. This one was no different.
I also think that the character interactions are more realistic than most books. In her books it takes a few meetings to fall in love, or change old fashioned thinking, or forgive past wrong doings. I like that they aren't just neat and tidy.
The river descriptions were so realistic to me. We recently had a hundred year flood in my area as well, and the damage it left in it's...more
I also think that the character interactions are more realistic than most books. In her books it takes a few meetings to fall in love, or change old fashioned thinking, or forgive past wrong doings. I like that they aren't just neat and tidy.
The river descriptions were so realistic to me. We recently had a hundred year flood in my area as well, and the damage it left in it's...more
I wouldn't say it was a bad story per say, but it wasn't that great. The POV kept changing mid paragraph, like the author really couldn't decide who she wanted telling the story.
It's kinda weird how the brothers have fought over females over the years... maybe it's just me, but I don't think I could go brother hopping.
The whole ghost lady aspect was just odd; I did know right away who it was.
The end of the book seemed a tad rushed. I don't think I ever really felt much for any of the characte...more
It's kinda weird how the brothers have fought over females over the years... maybe it's just me, but I don't think I could go brother hopping.
The whole ghost lady aspect was just odd; I did know right away who it was.
The end of the book seemed a tad rushed. I don't think I ever really felt much for any of the characte...more
I'm sorry but I am not used to books that don't keep me interested. If I wasn't so much into suspense right now this would have been a good love story. It took me forever to read it because I wasn't interested in this type of book. Don't get me wrong, I like love stories but I guess it's just not my cup of tea today (the last few months). If you are interested in a love story this would be a good book but don't put it down like i did for over a month. I got back into it easy enough which is a go...more
This is usually the kind of book I like to avoid as it gets into the super mushy, what I call over emotional stuff that gives me a headache. I really didn't know it was going to go there when I first started reading it...and since it did keep my interest, I decided to wade thru and finish.
I was very pleasantly surprised. It did have more of a story to it over the emotional soak and it was actually entertaining. I am glad I finished it. I will take the time to read a few more of hers and hope the...more
I was very pleasantly surprised. It did have more of a story to it over the emotional soak and it was actually entertaining. I am glad I finished it. I will take the time to read a few more of hers and hope the...more
I thought this was an enjoyable read, although not an impressive one. The eponymous Ryan returns to his home town as guest celebrity at its centennial celebrations, but the animosities which made him leave home originally are still simmering. The story was jogging along quite nicely until a ghost was introduced, which made it lose its credibility somewhat. It had a nice 'happy ever after' (although predictable) ending. I found it an easy read - not challenging or demanding - a good holiday read...more
I got this Kindle book when it was offered for free for a period of time. I thought that it was a quick, cute read. There was nothing really new about it. The "black-sheep" son returns a successful photographer to the home town he abandoned after twelve years. To find the animosity his family felt when he left is still brewing.
This book was a little irritating in the fact that it was never really stated why everyone was so angry at Ryan for leaving. At least I didn't read it. Maybe I skipped ov...more
This book was a little irritating in the fact that it was never really stated why everyone was so angry at Ryan for leaving. At least I didn't read it. Maybe I skipped ov...more
Like any small town, Serenity Springs is shall we say, on the brink of progress or stagnation and it could go either way depending on its residents. Of course, one group embraces progress in order to rebuild their town and to boost local businesses. And there are those who firmly believe that keeping the town as small as it is would help save the town from becoming a ghost town in the near future. Kara Delaney believes that the two opposing groups can compromise if only they would let go of what...more
This was my first read by Barbara Freethy, as I tend to tread cautiously in the romance genre. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, although I found it to be somewhat of a slow read, which is unusual for me. The characters were well developed, but in terms of the romance itself, I never found it to be that overwhelming "oh, I hope they get together!" sort of book. I would be willing to read another book by the author, but not necessarily for the romance factor. Ms. Freethy is a talented story crafte...more
I really enjoyed this book, it was the first book evr to make me cry and I think the way the book is written captures the emotion of Ryan and his family during his affair in the town and the loss of his father to the stream. I felt as if Ryan was hated for a reason, but really the characters just misunderstood his intentions. I felt sorry for Ryan and by the end I was crying and felt so much empathy for the character that I hated at the start! The chractrs grew on me, as did the book. I would re...more
Though the story is predictable it is beautifully written. I felt a connection with all the characters, especially Angel. At times the story was heart-wrenching and you felt genuine frustration with some characters, all you wanted was the best for them.
Ryan's return is a wonderful depiction of small town life- the good and the bad bits.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a hopeless romantic and/or anyone who wants to get lost in a world that is so real but isn't theirs.
Ryan's return is a wonderful depiction of small town life- the good and the bad bits.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who is a hopeless romantic and/or anyone who wants to get lost in a world that is so real but isn't theirs.
Having been recently burned by a couple of horrendous chick lit novels I was cautious about this one. However, I need not have worried. This was a romance novel with good characters and an interesting theme revolving around families, homes and what keeps it all together. A cliche ending where everyone ended up happy. But that was just what I needed to combat the depression brought on by the never ending rain we've been experiencing lately. An enjoyable read.
This book was fast to read. I didn't want to put it down. I love the characters and the plot.Heartwarming story with a little humor here and there. I was afraid that it would be much like the other "bad boy returns" books but it was not. There was a lot going on to make this very enjoyable. If you like soaps like As the world turns you'll love this book because family matter's are the center of the story. A great contemporary romance.
It’s a little difficult to criticise this book because the main reasons for such a low rating are that I simply do not enjoy this style of novel in either the writing or the plot. It was a Christmas episode of a soap: small town, gossip and drama, soft core sex scenes, perfect resolution to everyone’s issues plus a little bit of unbelievable supernatural activity. I was honestly expecting Pat Butcher to turn up in the last chapter.
Ryan's home coming unlocks many unanswered family secrets. When the truth finally comes out, this ends many years of bickering and hatred. Contrary to what others may say, the ghost spirit and the river (heart of Serenity Springs) played an essential role in uncovering the disappearance of Ryan's mom.
I enjoyed this book because of its light reading which had a mix of romance and mystery. I did not expect the book to climax as it did towards the end, though predictable at some point there was tha...more
I enjoyed this book because of its light reading which had a mix of romance and mystery. I did not expect the book to climax as it did towards the end, though predictable at some point there was tha...more
I keep reading Barbara Freethy hoping to find a story as good as her Summer Secrets, but I've yet to find one that comes close. Ryan's Return had a great beginning, but then got twisted up in an inane ghost story. The whole family conflict was overblown, so when you find out what it was all about, you just think, "huh, that was it?" Some of the dialogue wasn't up to her usual standard either. I was disappointed.
I am giving all of Freethy's books four stars because they kept me intrigued enough to keep reading. She is very formulaic...the woman all have red hair, for example, the man always has some silly reason why he is never going to love again (no way, no how) but she is also a good story teller and manages to draw you in despite the fact you know EXACTLY what is going to happen, in a happily ever after kind of way!
I'm beginning to enjoy this author. It's the second book I've read of her's and her writing style keeps the reader intrigued. This book is about mending fences and finding love, however unintentional both were. There were 25 years of misconception for Ryan's family, then another 12 years of additional misconception of why Ryan left his hometown.
I would definitely read more of this author's other books.
I would definitely read more of this author's other books.
This was my second Barbara Freethy book, and I didn't like it as much as the first. I also grabbed it when it was a free ebook, and I must say I was really surprised by all the "head hopping" that occurred as the author is a very polished and talented writer.
At times in the middle of a scene the point of view changed from the heroine to the hero. Most readers might not even notice this so-called head hopping but for me it was jarring.
As one other reviewer mentioned, I loved the fact that the r...more
At times in the middle of a scene the point of view changed from the heroine to the hero. Most readers might not even notice this so-called head hopping but for me it was jarring.
As one other reviewer mentioned, I loved the fact that the r...more
You know, while I was reading this it didn't seem to be to be particularly unique. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong; but it wasn't like I was thinking "wow, this is the best book I've ever read!" However, since finishing it, I keep looking back on it fondly and finding myself wishing I could "check in" with the characters. So, I'd recommend it.
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Barbara's love of writing developed out of a love of reading. Growing up in an all-boy neighborhood, she spent quite a bit of time reading through her mother's large library, many of which were romantic novels. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she went into Public Relations, but soon discovered that writing was her true passion.
Barbara has since published 34 nov...more
More about Barbara Freethy...
Barbara has since published 34 nov...more
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