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North Moon Bay #1
The Black Sheep
While house-sitting at a waterfront estate, sweet, straight-laced Harley is stunned by the arrival of her employer's supposedly dead son, an Alaskan bush pilot with a bad boy rep who's been wounded in an airplane crash. Coming home after years of estrangement--and a stint in prison--to make amends with the old man is difficult for Tucker, but not half as difficult as keeping his distance from the super-sexy but virginal Harley while they share the house, awaiting his father's return.
Having given up on the idea that he'll ever fully heal from his ravaged leg, Tucker balks when Harley urges him to swim as physical therapy--until she adds a unique incentive: "Catch me and you can have me." Her certainty that he'll never be able to swim that fast evaporates when he embarks on a rigorous training regimen, determined to claim her as his prize. But when she unearths the dark secret in his past, will she still be willing to pay up when the time comes?
Witty and passionate, (originally published as Hale’s Point) was honored with Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award.
Having given up on the idea that he'll ever fully heal from his ravaged leg, Tucker balks when Harley urges him to swim as physical therapy--until she adds a unique incentive: "Catch me and you can have me." Her certainty that he'll never be able to swim that fast evaporates when he embarks on a rigorous training regimen, determined to claim her as his prize. But when she unearths the dark secret in his past, will she still be willing to pay up when the time comes?
Witty and passionate, (originally published as Hale’s Point) was honored with Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1995
345 people are currently reading
1210 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Ryan
61 books184 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Patricia Burford Ryan (born August 9, 1954 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States) is an American writer of romance novels as Patricia Ryan, mystery novels as P.B. Ryan and erotica novels as Louisa Burton. She is the twin sister of the romance writer Pamela Burford.
She won a Golden Heart award in 1994 in the category "short contemporary series" and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book Silken Threads also won a RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers of America, for "Best Long Historical Romance" of 2000.
Patricia Burford Ryan (born August 9, 1954 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States) is an American writer of romance novels as Patricia Ryan, mystery novels as P.B. Ryan and erotica novels as Louisa Burton. She is the twin sister of the romance writer Pamela Burford.
She won a Golden Heart award in 1994 in the category "short contemporary series" and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award. Her book Silken Threads also won a RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers of America, for "Best Long Historical Romance" of 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
March 28, 2014
Enjoyable and good, except for the big misunderstanding.
This is my second Patricia Ryan novel. I want more. I liked the characters’ issues, how they interacted, their relationship. It was a good story. It was on the short side. I would have liked more development at the end plus an epilogue. He’s 37. She’s 23.
I did not like the way Harley (the heroine) acted which caused the big misunderstanding/separation. She learned something, was mad, did not tell him, so he’s stewing and not understanding why she is acting different. Too many romance authors use the big misunderstanding and I wish they wouldn’t. It weakened the story. I would not have minded it if Harley told him right away let him respond. But no, she dragged it out.
Minor problem, author put the hymen in the wrong place. It’s the door to the hall, not something down the hall.
Some typos: tling should be thing, dung should be clung, dosed should be closed.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 3,677 (188 pages). Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: current day Long Island, NY. Copyright: 1995. Genre: contemporary romance, older man younger woman.
This is my second Patricia Ryan novel. I want more. I liked the characters’ issues, how they interacted, their relationship. It was a good story. It was on the short side. I would have liked more development at the end plus an epilogue. He’s 37. She’s 23.
I did not like the way Harley (the heroine) acted which caused the big misunderstanding/separation. She learned something, was mad, did not tell him, so he’s stewing and not understanding why she is acting different. Too many romance authors use the big misunderstanding and I wish they wouldn’t. It weakened the story. I would not have minded it if Harley told him right away let him respond. But no, she dragged it out.
Minor problem, author put the hymen in the wrong place. It’s the door to the hall, not something down the hall.
Some typos: tling should be thing, dung should be clung, dosed should be closed.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Kindle count length: 3,677 (188 pages). Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: current day Long Island, NY. Copyright: 1995. Genre: contemporary romance, older man younger woman.
October 28, 2012
I enjoyed this book. I liked the story The only complaint I have, and with many romance books, is that for some reason authors believe the man in the story must be at least a decade or more older than the female. It's been overdone, and is irritating to me.
October 30, 2016
A good read about the prodigal son returning after 21 years to his wealthy father/home after running away at 16. H's wealthy father is away and H meets 23 year old house sitter. H injured after crashing his plane into the side of a mountain and after introspection during recuperation and physical therapy decides to see his home and father again after so many years. h is driven, practical, and obsessive about succeeding in life because of her poor background. 3 stars.
August 27, 2019
I love books like this one's story line. I loved both of the MC's, Harley and Tucker. Tucker "comes back from the dead" to try reconciling with his father only to find Harley house-sitting for his dad. I love how they develop their relationship and the way that Harley manipulates him to do physical therapy via swimming. He got pretty mangled up and has gone through the routine/typical therapy but gave up on it; she, however, found a way to get to him and I loved it.
This is one of those books that I love to love. I love when a relationship is mutually respectful and they don't have sex the minute they first lay eyes on each other. It's a more realistic love/romantic buildup. They both have other issues that they eventually are able to help each other with, so that makes for a stronger emotional bond as well.
I'll definitely be reading book 2.
This is one of those books that I love to love. I love when a relationship is mutually respectful and they don't have sex the minute they first lay eyes on each other. It's a more realistic love/romantic buildup. They both have other issues that they eventually are able to help each other with, so that makes for a stronger emotional bond as well.
I'll definitely be reading book 2.
March 28, 2013
Story was divine one, but 4 stars because for me it was to short and ending was beautiful, but somehow rushed.
The relationship between the lead characters was adorable.
All in all, it was a very good read. :D
The relationship between the lead characters was adorable.
All in all, it was a very good read. :D
September 26, 2016
I really enjoyed this story! Harley and Tucker are great characters and we really get to know them. Tucker is back for some R & R and to maybe try and fix his relationship with his father. Harley is house sitting Tucker's father's house. Harley is a little rigid in her routines and plan for life but after the way she grew up it is understandable. I loved the way that Harley and Tucker end up building their relationship. Harley entices him into swimming in order to have her and it works. He starts swimming and rehabbing his injury and getting better as he gets faster and faster. During this time they really get to know each other and they build a relationship. Both have been closed off for a long time and so they have some secrets that they have to figure out in order for them to work. I loved getting to know them and seeing both of them heal. This is very well written and had more than enough to keep my attention the entire time. This is not an action packed book though there is plenty to keep you entertained. I thought it was paced really well and I really enjoyed everything. The sex is explicit but not very frequent as Tucker has to earn it first. I loved the character's in this story.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2012
For some reason - perhaps the cover - this book intrigued me enough to buy it, despite promising myself not to add to the 1010 books I have on my kindle. This proves either that I am a kindle tragic or that this book looked irrestible. I suspect a little of both, but I was not disappointed when I finished this story.
Harley is an engaging heroine for whom life circumstances have set on a straight and narrow path. Tucker, wounded and disillusioned with life returns to make up with his father. Imagine his surprise when he is walloped in the shin by a young woman wielding a baseball bat.
I liked that the story was fairly slow-paced without dragging. Patricia Ryan cleverly escalates sexual tension without allowing her heroine to step out of her comfort zone to the point where her actions are unbelievable for her character. This strategy had the effect of enabling the reader to believe in the premise whilst anticipating an ending which did not disappoint and was satisfying.
A darned good read!
Harley is an engaging heroine for whom life circumstances have set on a straight and narrow path. Tucker, wounded and disillusioned with life returns to make up with his father. Imagine his surprise when he is walloped in the shin by a young woman wielding a baseball bat.
I liked that the story was fairly slow-paced without dragging. Patricia Ryan cleverly escalates sexual tension without allowing her heroine to step out of her comfort zone to the point where her actions are unbelievable for her character. This strategy had the effect of enabling the reader to believe in the premise whilst anticipating an ending which did not disappoint and was satisfying.
A darned good read!
October 23, 2012
Wow! Patricia Ryan has written a sensual and entertaining delight with Hale's Point. It's an amazing contemporary romance.
I absolutely loved the characters! It was a little weird for me to have Tucker as the name of Harley's love interest because I have a 4 year old son named Tucker. Once I got over that, I was totally enamored with Hale's Point. I couldn't wait to turn the page; the story was very engrossing.
I'm looking forward to checking out more of Patricia Ryan's work. She's obviously very talented.
I highly recommend this book!
I absolutely loved the characters! It was a little weird for me to have Tucker as the name of Harley's love interest because I have a 4 year old son named Tucker. Once I got over that, I was totally enamored with Hale's Point. I couldn't wait to turn the page; the story was very engrossing.
I'm looking forward to checking out more of Patricia Ryan's work. She's obviously very talented.
I highly recommend this book!
December 12, 2012
I liked it.
This is a nice story of two people very different people who live in the same house for 6 weeks. She has been hired to house sit for the summer and he is the long lost son returning home unexpectedly after being injured in a plane accident. She is straight lace, he is a loose cannon. The expected conflicts develop as these two likable people learn to like and then love each other.
There are two explicit sex interludes toward the end of the book which are well written and appropriate to the story line. If you are not into erotica, these scenes are easy to skip, the book is well worth reading.
I liked this and am looking for others by the same author.
This is a nice story of two people very different people who live in the same house for 6 weeks. She has been hired to house sit for the summer and he is the long lost son returning home unexpectedly after being injured in a plane accident. She is straight lace, he is a loose cannon. The expected conflicts develop as these two likable people learn to like and then love each other.
There are two explicit sex interludes toward the end of the book which are well written and appropriate to the story line. If you are not into erotica, these scenes are easy to skip, the book is well worth reading.
I liked this and am looking for others by the same author.
March 3, 2020
With the generic, anodyne cover, this was a total surprise. Yes, it is still very obviously a romance, of which there are a dozen a penny in my kindle, but it turned to have tremendous psychological depth and insight, and terrific inter-generational conflict. It was not just a filler in the race to finish the challenge before the end of the year, but thoroughly enjoyable in an otherwise lazy Saturday.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2018 #11. A book with your favourite colour (in this case for clothes) in the title.
Popsugar Reading Challenge 2018 #11. A book with your favourite colour (in this case for clothes) in the title.
February 15, 2013
I'm a HUGE fan of Patricia Ryan's writing, and Hale's Point (originally published as Return of the Blacksheep) is one of my favorites. How can you miss with a handsome hero who needs to heal and a heroine who offers to help him in his recovery ... but just who is hurting the most? It's no wonder it won the coveted Golden Heart award, and what fun to revisit such wonderful characters as Tucker and Harley.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
January 2, 2013
For a semi short few hour read, this was great. Sweet.
A house-sitting student is awakened in the middle of the night by someone breaking in. It is the owners long lost pilot son, coming home after surviving a plane crash. His intention is to reconcile with his father, but his whole life has been spent running away... So if he can stick it out during the summer, maybe he can get his life back.
A house-sitting student is awakened in the middle of the night by someone breaking in. It is the owners long lost pilot son, coming home after surviving a plane crash. His intention is to reconcile with his father, but his whole life has been spent running away... So if he can stick it out during the summer, maybe he can get his life back.
Want to read
October 29, 2012Free 10/29/12 at Amazon
August 27, 2019
Mmmm...meh. I liked the historical mysteries by this author ("Still Life with Murder" had me coming back to buy more in the series) but this romance felt more shallow and contrived, like the characters fell for each other because that's what they were supposed to do in a book of this genre, not because they necessarily would do that without authorial intent. Also, the mismatches between a story written decades ago and re-relased/updated are what stuck with me as I kept coming over the plot in my memory to figure out what anachronism kept snagging my attention. I'll be reading more P.B. Ryan mysteries, but not the Patricia Ryan romances.
November 9, 2016
Cute. Only caveat: The age difference between the main characters also accentuated the power imbalance which made me an uncomfortable reader. (Maybe that's probably just me being picky?)
She didn't seem to feel coerced at all, but that could well have been different for a less "secure" young female employee caught in the same situation. Since this was never acknowledged or discussed in the story, I remained uncomfortable with this factor
P.S. If you have thought re this, feel free to comment..
She didn't seem to feel coerced at all, but that could well have been different for a less "secure" young female employee caught in the same situation. Since this was never acknowledged or discussed in the story, I remained uncomfortable with this factor
P.S. If you have thought re this, feel free to comment..
July 1, 2018
Tucker shows up out of the blue and scares Harley. She is house sitting for his father and thought he was dead. His body has been ravaged by a nasty plane accident. He doesn’t want to stay but she compels him to not only stay but also to quit smoking and work on getting back into shape. Because Harley told him he could have her if he can catch her in a swimming race. He is determined to win and make her his. Good story!
November 13, 2017
The protagonists were not very likable for a large part of the first half of the book. Both were kind of judgemental and they were like chalk and cheese together. By the time they got together, I no longer really cared.
June 18, 2018
Inspiration
He's independent, a risk taker. She's a schedule maker and rule follower. After his terrible accident, she inspires him to work to get the good parts of himself back and become even better.
He's independent, a risk taker. She's a schedule maker and rule follower. After his terrible accident, she inspires him to work to get the good parts of himself back and become even better.
July 2, 2018
The Black Sheep...
The 1st book in the North Moon Bay series. A delightful read. Relatable characters. It's funny and angst filled. But it's also predictable at times. Sweet ending. A new author for me but still delightful.
The 1st book in the North Moon Bay series. A delightful read. Relatable characters. It's funny and angst filled. But it's also predictable at times. Sweet ending. A new author for me but still delightful.
October 2, 2022
Love in the beach
I wonder if books should be rated like movies. This one could be an R rated book. Still it was a powerful love story that could be enjoyable even without the sex scenes.
I wonder if books should be rated like movies. This one could be an R rated book. Still it was a powerful love story that could be enjoyable even without the sex scenes.
November 2, 2016
Great read
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance. Keeps your interest right from page one until the end
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good romance. Keeps your interest right from page one until the end
July 6, 2017
Loved this book. Funny, sweet, happy, easy read.
August 7, 2017
Good love story
I love happy endings! I read a lot of suspense and to be able read of a meeting turning into a relationship into the real love! Always gives me the best feeling
I love happy endings! I read a lot of suspense and to be able read of a meeting turning into a relationship into the real love! Always gives me the best feeling
February 23, 2018
Just could not get into this book!! I read about 10 pages and then went onto the next kindle read.
August 7, 2019
Great read!
Would love to read more about these 2 characters. Thank you for the beautiful romance. Keep up the great writing!
Would love to read more about these 2 characters. Thank you for the beautiful romance. Keep up the great writing!
September 17, 2019
Good pacing with humor and emotion
March 8, 2020
Quick read lusty love story about older man and younger lady. Not bad not great something to read .
March 10, 2020
Very Good Story
I really enjoyed the wonderful story between two tortured souls. I highly recommend this book. It’s a good short read.
I really enjoyed the wonderful story between two tortured souls. I highly recommend this book. It’s a good short read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews