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Ravenna Evans #1
The Last Killiney
The Last Killiney, the first book in The Ravenna Evans Series.On holiday in England, Ravenna Evans begins to recall her past life as an eighteenth-century Irish viscount's lover. When she is swept back in time to relive this affair (along with Lord Killiney's very unwilling modern counterpart), she learns that living in the past isn't all fun and games, and that history can't always be changed to one's liking.This is a full-length novel (well over 400 pages), and although it's the first in a series, The Last Killiney can be read as a stand-alone book.Other books in this series include The Wager and The Bayman's Bride.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 15, 2018
Save Your Time
This is the most depressing, drawn out story I have ever read. I had to read 3 other books in between just to TRY to finish this one. The pace is snail slow with little action. Characters , in my opinion, are weak and I found nothing likeable about the female lead nor her love interest. I always try to finish a book but had to give up on this one.
This is the most depressing, drawn out story I have ever read. I had to read 3 other books in between just to TRY to finish this one. The pace is snail slow with little action. Characters , in my opinion, are weak and I found nothing likeable about the female lead nor her love interest. I always try to finish a book but had to give up on this one.
January 15, 2020
[.... sigh ....] This book has SOME potential, but unfortunately, it is just so weighed down by this HUGE meandering plot. None of the characters were compelling, and several were downright irritating, especially the heroine, Ravenna. I could hardly bear to finish this book, much less read MORE books in the Ravenna Evans series.
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April 14, 2013
I don't usually read historical books but this time travel story pulled me into the story solidly before it flung me into the past. Likeable characters, history, sailing ships and forbidden love, a dead lover and more make this an entertaining read.
January 31, 2013
really enjoyed this a bit different but a good read
October 5, 2022
Ravenna has lost everything she holds dear back in the US so she goes to Ireland to find the boy she fell for when she was twelve. She finds him but unbeknownst to them they become part of the past. Their counterparts of their past lives have taken something in the past and has forced them to switch lives. This puts both Ravenna and Paul at the mercy of eighteenth century machinations and the lives of Elizabeth and Lord Killiney. In other words they will now live out the lives of their past and hope for the best. They will try to change the past events of Elizabeth and Killiney’s life and hope for the best. This book is interesting in it traveling information on explorers of the West and of interpretation of past lives. I quite liked it and can’t wait to read the next two books in the series.
October 25, 2015
This is a time travel romance that starts out with a woman who met an Irish boy at Disneyland some 16 years earlier when she was 12 and has been obsessing about him ever since. Interesting twist in life lands her in England on the way to randomly looking for this guy in Ireland (truly she has no plan, nor clue, just driven by premonitions or visions of a sort).
A visit to an art museum in London and seeing a particular portrait leads her on yet another random leg of her travels, landing her at a country house inn, where she meets the titled inn keeper, learns some family history about the house and the painting, and through more serendipity winds up meeting the boy she remembers from Disneyland.
From here it starts to get different. The inn keeper, the woman, and the boy-now-grown up are entangled in a karmic love triangle. Their three counterparts of the past and several of the players past and present end up swapping their places in time. None of this is spoiler material - the real plot is in the playing out of the karmic love triangle. That does play out in the rest of the book, but only from the points of view of the modern time-slippers.
Overall it was an enjoyable book, well (enough) written that I don't have complaints, though I felt there were some inconsistencies in the 'facts' presented earlier and the 'facts' re-described through the plot, but I wasn't willing to work hard enough to line those up and just read on.
The characters had dimensionality to them, the woman was not as "unbelievable" as some reviews elsewhere would make her out to be, but she was lacking some maturity as was the leading man. Both were stunted in the emotional and psychological development, but to the author's credit that was part of their character and it was consistent throughout.
This was not a hero's journey tale where an unformed psyche endures trial by fire and emerges with a core of strength and wisdom in the aftermath. It was just a fantasy and romance in a historical milieu with some aspects of reincarnation vs. one-life-to-live, free will vs. fate.
Requisite happy ending, though as it is first of a trilogy and reading the blurbs for the next book it may not be happy-ever-after.
It's not perfect, but I did like it. I would have liked to also have known what was going on in the modern time, and I would have liked there to be more than underdeveloped adolescent angst in the leading characters' character, but that's not the book the author wrote, so this one is fine the way it is.
It was my kind of book, as I do like time travel and reincarnation theory, and romance with more interpersonal than physical focus. I enjoyed reading it, I liked it, but I am not rushing to get the sequel and maybe never will. 3 stars "I liked it" is my honest rating.
A visit to an art museum in London and seeing a particular portrait leads her on yet another random leg of her travels, landing her at a country house inn, where she meets the titled inn keeper, learns some family history about the house and the painting, and through more serendipity winds up meeting the boy she remembers from Disneyland.
From here it starts to get different. The inn keeper, the woman, and the boy-now-grown up are entangled in a karmic love triangle. Their three counterparts of the past and several of the players past and present end up swapping their places in time. None of this is spoiler material - the real plot is in the playing out of the karmic love triangle. That does play out in the rest of the book, but only from the points of view of the modern time-slippers.
Overall it was an enjoyable book, well (enough) written that I don't have complaints, though I felt there were some inconsistencies in the 'facts' presented earlier and the 'facts' re-described through the plot, but I wasn't willing to work hard enough to line those up and just read on.
The characters had dimensionality to them, the woman was not as "unbelievable" as some reviews elsewhere would make her out to be, but she was lacking some maturity as was the leading man. Both were stunted in the emotional and psychological development, but to the author's credit that was part of their character and it was consistent throughout.
This was not a hero's journey tale where an unformed psyche endures trial by fire and emerges with a core of strength and wisdom in the aftermath. It was just a fantasy and romance in a historical milieu with some aspects of reincarnation vs. one-life-to-live, free will vs. fate.
Requisite happy ending, though as it is first of a trilogy and reading the blurbs for the next book it may not be happy-ever-after.
It's not perfect, but I did like it. I would have liked to also have known what was going on in the modern time, and I would have liked there to be more than underdeveloped adolescent angst in the leading characters' character, but that's not the book the author wrote, so this one is fine the way it is.
It was my kind of book, as I do like time travel and reincarnation theory, and romance with more interpersonal than physical focus. I enjoyed reading it, I liked it, but I am not rushing to get the sequel and maybe never will. 3 stars "I liked it" is my honest rating.
March 6, 2012
It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a book as much as this one. I am not a fan of time-travel books since there are usually things that don't make sense to me, and if I work too hard trying to make sense of them I get a headache. So I make it a point to not try to think about the time-travel thing and just get swept along with the adventure and romance. This wasn't a perfect book and there were spots where things seemed to drag out just a little too long, but since I was so engrossed, I really didn't mind when things slowed down a bit. I found it interesting that the previous incarnations of the protagonists had such different personalities and attitudes than their modern counterparts. Although I couldn't care a fig for 18th century Elizabeth and Paul, they were drips, I found myself liking 20th century Ravenna and Paul very much. They both seemed to be such hurt, lost, and confused people who seemed to deserve better than what life had thus far handed them, so I was left hoping their futures would be so much better than their pasts and presents.
April 14, 2014
What was up with the Disneyland arc? How did that fit in?
It could've started with the expensive phone call with the cousin.
Other than that, I like story, granted I skipped a few pages, the exposition was quite dragging sometimes a tad bit self explanatory.
I describe it as having 4 parts, Paul and Ravenna. Ravenna and Paul WTF happened. Vancouver and post Vancouver. The part when they were figuring things out when they find themselves in 'pants not their own' I really just pushed myself past it and when there was the shore leave, that's when things got me flipping through pages.
The mystery of that last vial is messing me up though with how the whole time space continuum worked.
Still, good read. I had to trudge through the first few chapters but it got so much better near the ending. Characters are great.
James, Paul and Ravenna make for a great team. That was the highlight if the book that made me turn the next page.
Have to admit, a little too prude for me. I found myself uttering "yeah right" a few times.
Lastly, free book!
It could've started with the expensive phone call with the cousin.
Other than that, I like story, granted I skipped a few pages, the exposition was quite dragging sometimes a tad bit self explanatory.
I describe it as having 4 parts, Paul and Ravenna. Ravenna and Paul WTF happened. Vancouver and post Vancouver. The part when they were figuring things out when they find themselves in 'pants not their own' I really just pushed myself past it and when there was the shore leave, that's when things got me flipping through pages.
The mystery of that last vial is messing me up though with how the whole time space continuum worked.
Still, good read. I had to trudge through the first few chapters but it got so much better near the ending. Characters are great.
James, Paul and Ravenna make for a great team. That was the highlight if the book that made me turn the next page.
Have to admit, a little too prude for me. I found myself uttering "yeah right" a few times.
Lastly, free book!
May 7, 2014
This book read a lot like "outlander" by Diana Gabaldon to me. I loved that book, and I enjoyed this one too. I thought that the Disneyland arc at the beginning was unnecessary, though, besides the fact that it just set up a connection? It could have started out with them as adults, with the flashback, and I feel it would have fit into the story a little better. Overall, though, I did enjoy the premise of the novel. I have dabbled in writing this genre of novel, but it is difficult to keep timelines straight, and I commend the author for doing that. The resistance put up by Killiney seemed genuine, and the characters themselves had quite a bit of depth of character. The story was rich, the characters believable, and the entire thing was enjoyable.
November 21, 2011
An interesting treatise about how fate, time-travel, reincarnation, and love can make for a really challenging storyline.
I had a few issues with Ravenna. She was pushy in some ways - even forceful at times - but when it came to trying to convince her love to take things to the next level, she was positively Victorian in her approach. I also found it difficult to believe that Ravenna so easily succumbed to Christian's threats and married him. She had too many resources at her disposal that would have ensured Christian was never heard from again.
I did enjoy the love story between Paul and Ravenna though, as unbelievably prudish as it sometimes was. It was a sweet story.
I had a few issues with Ravenna. She was pushy in some ways - even forceful at times - but when it came to trying to convince her love to take things to the next level, she was positively Victorian in her approach. I also found it difficult to believe that Ravenna so easily succumbed to Christian's threats and married him. She had too many resources at her disposal that would have ensured Christian was never heard from again.
I did enjoy the love story between Paul and Ravenna though, as unbelievably prudish as it sometimes was. It was a sweet story.
January 1, 2012
It has been awhile since I read an epic romance. I generally avoid them purely because of their length but this one had such rave reviews that I decided to break the rules. After a rocky start the book eventually hit its stride. It reminded me of the other two good time travel series, Outlander and Reflections in the Nile. Like those books this one is only the first in the series. I have yet to decide if I want to devote time to rest of the books in this series because I gave up no the other two book series and they were much better books.
May 3, 2012
So this book involves time travel and the switching of places... it is very detailed and makes the reader feel emotion.
I was entranced at the start because it felt so realistic but as the book moved on there was less and less character interaction and it lost me sometimes.
This book is good although the ending confused me a little because it just dropped off there was no conclusion or denument but overall it was a very interesting read filled with discovery and societies expectations of people and what they should do.
I was entranced at the start because it felt so realistic but as the book moved on there was less and less character interaction and it lost me sometimes.
This book is good although the ending confused me a little because it just dropped off there was no conclusion or denument but overall it was a very interesting read filled with discovery and societies expectations of people and what they should do.
December 7, 2011
I really liked the idea behind this book but it just didn't follow through for me, I found the beginning hard to get into and hard to connect to the main characters. A little more than 1/4 of the way in I saw some promise and was anxious to finish reading it, then it just lost me. I'm not sure why and can't really pin point what happened but I realized I really didn't care about what was happening. I did finish the story, and unfortunately have to say the story was just an OK read.
April 23, 2012
I enjoyed the book well enough but I don't feel all the themes were explored as well as I would have liked. Admittedly, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon is my favorite book series and it's impossible to prevent comparisons. Unfortunately for this story, DG is a superior writer and my opinion of The Last Killiney suffers as a result. I see there are two more books in this series, but after reading the descriptions, I'm not sure I want to read them.
May 22, 2013
"The Last Killiney is one of the greatest stories I have ever read. The book starts a little slow due to introducing the characters and setting up the plot.
Once this is completed there is no putting the book down. You will "boo" the bad guys, be heartbroken for Raveena, and your heart will melt over Paul.
This story has become one of my favorites and I can't wait to start the next book of this series.
Once this is completed there is no putting the book down. You will "boo" the bad guys, be heartbroken for Raveena, and your heart will melt over Paul.
This story has become one of my favorites and I can't wait to start the next book of this series.
January 4, 2012
Oy. I'm not quite sure why I continued to read this book. It was akwardly written, and the main characters became more and more annoying, with the exception of James and Sarah.
I feel like I should write a more in depth review as to the faults with this book, but I can't see expending anymore energy into it. Waste of time... at least it was free.
I feel like I should write a more in depth review as to the faults with this book, but I can't see expending anymore energy into it. Waste of time... at least it was free.
March 31, 2012
It is nice fluff to read when my brain is scattered. The story idea is interesting, but it is pretty clumsy in the telling. The character dialog isn't very believable and doesn't match the actions. It can get a little slow. However, for a free book, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be and I will read it from cover to cover.
October 28, 2013
This was a free Kobo ebook which I'd had on my e-reader for two years. I started reading it when I'd run out of everything else to read. It was surprisingly good, I loved the star-crossed lovers, time-travel aspect for pure escapism. If you'd like a bit of history, fantasy and heaving-bosom, firm manhood type of romance, this is for you :-)
April 15, 2016
Great story telling
Sometimes I wonder how people can think of enough stuff to fill a book and keep the plots straight. I believe these are very gifted people. Jay lamp there is so much good about this book it would be easier to list the bad. Which is it kept me up all night finishing if. I am going straight to buy the next book in line
Sometimes I wonder how people can think of enough stuff to fill a book and keep the plots straight. I believe these are very gifted people. Jay lamp there is so much good about this book it would be easier to list the bad. Which is it kept me up all night finishing if. I am going straight to buy the next book in line
June 26, 2011
A romantic romp through history and geography. Well written and scholarly, this highly original story tells the tale of 'star-crossed lovers' for whom time itself is yet another challenge. Unusal and touching, this should be a required addition to every Kindle!
January 11, 2012
Enjoyed it. Was a little confusing to follow, but eventually made sense. Had some "aha" moments, but they came before the actual reveal of the big "aha". Not sure if that makes it predictable, but I really did enjoy the story.
May 22, 2012
So far the book has kept me wanting more. I can't seem to put it down. The characters are very well described as well all that's going on. The writing makes you feel like you are actually there. I love this book and can't wait to read the next one.
December 12, 2012
Not a fan, and it was free on Kobo. If you find Gabaldon to be too cerebral or heavy on historical detail, this may be for you. The plot might seem more plausible after a box of wine, and that may be what I was missing.
May 30, 2014
This deserves four stars for sheer creativity!
A time travel historical romance with both the hero and heroine being from the future. I enjoyed it and it was a new take on a very popular romance theme.
Kudos to the author and job well done.
A time travel historical romance with both the hero and heroine being from the future. I enjoyed it and it was a new take on a very popular romance theme.
Kudos to the author and job well done.
September 6, 2014
You will like this book if you like sappy, unrealistic Harlequin Romance type novels. More of a read for the teen set, not for those who enjoy Historical Fiction as this is lacking in historical detail of any type.
January 11, 2012
I loved this book from beginning to end .Ravenna and Pauls story is one not to be missed
From start to finish I was captivated .
From start to finish I was captivated .
January 14, 2012
Just could not get into this, but I did at least finish it..
February 7, 2012
This was pretty good - unfortunately, I definitely didn't agree with the actions of most of the characters. Ah, well. At least it was entertaining.
March 6, 2012
Not sure how or why I continued with this book. It was choppy and the characters not especially endearing.
April 4, 2012
This book was refreshing. It was an interesting concept and was executed well.
I did not continue with the series, after reading the summaries, they seemed too far out there.
I did not continue with the series, after reading the summaries, they seemed too far out there.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews