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I Take This Man
Penelope Sherrold marries Don Garth while thinking she is still in love with wastrel Dick Wentworth, in order to provide for her sick mother. Don, head of the Garth Airplane works (fabulously wealthy and important to the nation’s defense) vows to keep away from Penny (that is – separate rooms!) until he can win her love. Though Penny realizes quite quickly that Dick is a cad and that she is madly in love with Don, it takes many misunderstandings, jealousies, and international intrigue before the two can declare their love for each other and get their marriage underway.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
70 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Emilie Loring
64 books130 followersAKA Emilie Baker Loring
Emilie Baker was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1864 to George M. Baker and Emily Frances (Boles) Baker. Her father was a playwright and publisher and her mother was a homemaker. Loring married Victor J. Loring, who was a lawyer. She began writing in 1914, published her first novel in 1922 at the age of 56, and continued writing until her death after a long illness in 1951. She was a prolific American romance novelist of the 20th century, known for her "wholesome love" romances and independent, spirited heroines. Beyond romance, her books also explore a selection of topics including, but not limited to marriage, love, American patriotism, freedom, and optimism. She died in Wellesley, Massachusetts on March 13, 1951. At the time of her death, she had sold more than a million copies of her first thirty books.
After her death, her estate was managed by her sons, Selden M. and Robert M. Loring, who, based on a wealth of unfinished material they discovered, published twenty more books under her name until 1972. These books were ghost-written by Elinore Denniston. taken largely from wiki, made some corrections (dates didn't add up) per her biographer
Emilie Loring Wiki Page
Emilie Baker was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1864 to George M. Baker and Emily Frances (Boles) Baker. Her father was a playwright and publisher and her mother was a homemaker. Loring married Victor J. Loring, who was a lawyer. She began writing in 1914, published her first novel in 1922 at the age of 56, and continued writing until her death after a long illness in 1951. She was a prolific American romance novelist of the 20th century, known for her "wholesome love" romances and independent, spirited heroines. Beyond romance, her books also explore a selection of topics including, but not limited to marriage, love, American patriotism, freedom, and optimism. She died in Wellesley, Massachusetts on March 13, 1951. At the time of her death, she had sold more than a million copies of her first thirty books.
After her death, her estate was managed by her sons, Selden M. and Robert M. Loring, who, based on a wealth of unfinished material they discovered, published twenty more books under her name until 1972. These books were ghost-written by Elinore Denniston. taken largely from wiki, made some corrections (dates didn't add up) per her biographer
Emilie Loring Wiki Page
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews
November 16, 2009
Maybe this review is based on sheer sentimentality...but "I Take This Man" is one of the Emilie Loring books that I could read over and over again. I liked how Penny was a bit flawed, and she knew it. She wasn't like a lot of other Loring heroines. I also enjoyed how there wasn't an annoying kid in this book. Finally, this was the first Emilie Loring I ever read, so it gets 5 stars just for that. :)
October 31, 2023
wow…just wow!
Emilie Loring was one talented author! I think this was one of the best books I have read in a while.
I loved the characters, the intrigue, the chemistry between the characters. The twists and turns were such that I did not figure out all the plot before the climax.
The HEA was sweet.
Emilie Loring was one talented author! I think this was one of the best books I have read in a while.
I loved the characters, the intrigue, the chemistry between the characters. The twists and turns were such that I did not figure out all the plot before the climax.
The HEA was sweet.
December 26, 2020
Not sure how this ended up on my Kindle but it was short! Very pulpy patriotic rah rah WW2-era thriller romance. Had low expectations and they were met just fine
January 16, 2012
I wasn't sure of this books as it started with Penny devoting her love for another and then just as quickly denying that love. But has the rather short tale unwind-ed I found I could not put the book down and truly enjoyed the reading of danger, mystery and friendship.
July 1, 2014
This was a fun book. Lots of intrigue as well as the secret relationship of the bride and her husband. Neither wanted the other to know they cared. Penelope had baggage when she married Garth and it took awhile to build trust in each other. Lots of fluff....
March 17, 2020
Aside from the old-fashioned style of writing, this was a good book. The characters were developed, and the plot was interesting. There were lots of suspects for the crime and lots of red herrings to make figuring out who the criminals were more difficult.
January 18, 2008
I enjoyed this one. Maybe not my all-time favorite of hers, but up at the top.
November 11, 2009
One of my favorite books of all time--suspense, romance, and patriotic. Definitely one of Emilie Loring's better novels.
November 4, 2010
Fun light read.
March 8, 2015
One of my favorite Emilie loring books!
December 5, 2015
Love! One of my favorite Emilie Loring books. A really nice story of winning a persons love.
October 4, 2024
Read in my early teens 50+ years ago. Still enjoyed it. Romance, mystery and intrigue. Perfect story to escape from reality. quick read.
February 15, 2021
Another uneven mash-up of an original Emilie Loring short story (Garth the Gunmaker according to Patti Bender) and ghost-written filler to make it a full-length novel. The results are uneven at best. The Loring story is of much higher quality, and some of the filler is borderline silly. There are also some fairly obvious inconsistencies, such as page 131 where the heroine sets out on a dangerous quest: I'm afraid, she admitted to herself then two paragraphs later: She was so preoccupied with the coming meeting that she was not in the least afraid. Or the opening scene when the bridegroom seizes the bride's arms so fiercely that it leaves bruises (a later plot point), but nowhere in the text do we see this happen. We go from His hands were clenched in an effort at control, until they showed white at the knuckles to She was acutely conscious of his hands that held her arms so ruthlessly with no mention of his grabbing her. Seems an important point. Perhaps the best inconsistency though, is one of more recent vintage. The recently published Kindle edition lists the original copyright as 1945. In fact, it's 1954. Missed it by that much.
Overall, this book just made me want to read the original short story. I'm sure it's much better than this posthumous hybrid.
Overall, this book just made me want to read the original short story. I'm sure it's much better than this posthumous hybrid.
October 2, 2021
This book is an enjoyable clean read with mystery ,suspense, and romance. Emilie Loring's books were a grand discovery during high school some 50 years ago. The paperbacks I bought then ( for 50¢ or 60¢) are still on my keeper shelf along with the First Edition hardbacks with bookjackets purchased for $25, $50 or $100+!
I loved them then and still do each time I reread.
Emilie Loring wrote 30 "originals" before her death in 1951. The other 20 titles published from 1952 to 1972 were written by a ghost writer.
Emilie Loring's sons made the decision to have previous short stories and incomplete book stories turned into these ghost books.
This "ghost written " book I Take This Man is one previously a serial short story titled Garth the Gunmaker from a 1918 Woman's Weekly Magazine.
To learn more about Emilie Loring her books and life follow the blog The Emilie Loring Collection by Patti Bender. Patti Bender is writing a soon to be published biography about Emilie Loring.
I loved them then and still do each time I reread.
Emilie Loring wrote 30 "originals" before her death in 1951. The other 20 titles published from 1952 to 1972 were written by a ghost writer.
Emilie Loring's sons made the decision to have previous short stories and incomplete book stories turned into these ghost books.
This "ghost written " book I Take This Man is one previously a serial short story titled Garth the Gunmaker from a 1918 Woman's Weekly Magazine.
To learn more about Emilie Loring her books and life follow the blog The Emilie Loring Collection by Patti Bender. Patti Bender is writing a soon to be published biography about Emilie Loring.
October 31, 2024
I didn't expect to like this book at all. I expected to slog through it just to say I read it. But man, I do like when I'm surprised!
Penny was a flawed heroine, but she had a lot of great qualities like loyalty and honor and courage. She was someone you would want to be friends with - yes she made mistakes, but she tried very hard to rectify them and to fix the problems she caused. I may not have really appreciated this in my younger years, but today, I admire that so much!
The plot was exciting and very fast paced - but I should have expected that from such a short book. I probably read the whole thing in a couple of hours at most.
Overall, if you're looking for a good Loring book to read, this one is definitely worth your while. While you may start pulling your hair out due to all the miscommunication between the love interests, never fear, the book is short and the torment won't last long haha
Penny was a flawed heroine, but she had a lot of great qualities like loyalty and honor and courage. She was someone you would want to be friends with - yes she made mistakes, but she tried very hard to rectify them and to fix the problems she caused. I may not have really appreciated this in my younger years, but today, I admire that so much!
The plot was exciting and very fast paced - but I should have expected that from such a short book. I probably read the whole thing in a couple of hours at most.
Overall, if you're looking for a good Loring book to read, this one is definitely worth your while. While you may start pulling your hair out due to all the miscommunication between the love interests, never fear, the book is short and the torment won't last long haha
April 1, 2020
This turned out to be rather an exciting read.
Penny and Don both had issues that needed dealt with. I could sympathize with them both at times, and understood the business that kept them from talking like they should have, but I still wanted to shake them both once or twice, or at least give them a piece of my mind.
I was suspicious of one bad guy from the start, but I was wrong about others, which made the ending rather a surprise. Many mystery books I’ve read would have included more drama, but this one, to my delight, didn’t overdo it.
There were one or two swear words in this story, and a man wanting a married woman to be unfaithful to her husband, but she refused.
This is not a Christian book.
Penny and Don both had issues that needed dealt with. I could sympathize with them both at times, and understood the business that kept them from talking like they should have, but I still wanted to shake them both once or twice, or at least give them a piece of my mind.
I was suspicious of one bad guy from the start, but I was wrong about others, which made the ending rather a surprise. Many mystery books I’ve read would have included more drama, but this one, to my delight, didn’t overdo it.
There were one or two swear words in this story, and a man wanting a married woman to be unfaithful to her husband, but she refused.
This is not a Christian book.
January 21, 2026
it enjoyed it. I didn’t expect the villian to be dick. I just thought he was a dick. But he was actually evil. Also didn’t expect Macy, but mostly because none of this book is focused on her. I liked Penny. I actually thought the villain would be Kitty, but i guess that would have been too obvious. The romance is not too good, but it’s barely featured so it didn’t bother me at all. I liked when she realized that her love for Dick was not true though I wish it wouldn’t have went 360 into “omg I love Don”. I think it would have been cuter if they were just a married couple who trusted eachother and then fell in love. It kinda skipped that part and turned straight into love. But still enjoyable and short which wins bonus points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2018
I started reading Emile Loring books when I picked up a paperback from a rack in a hotel lobby (for 50 cents) while on my sister's & my yearly vacation to visit my father. Hooked! I went on to purchase and read every Emilie Loring romance written and available in paperback, not knowing, until Goodreads, that she had died before I was even born. I loved these books, but read them all when I was between about 13-14 and perhaps 18 years old - so keep that in mind! :-)
August 26, 2018
I can't help it, I'm a sap.
I love these books that remind me of a simpler time. Especially Emily Loring. They are suspenseful romantic and sappy. Takes me back in time and what a memorable trip. Love it.
I love these books that remind me of a simpler time. Especially Emily Loring. They are suspenseful romantic and sappy. Takes me back in time and what a memorable trip. Love it.
July 3, 2019
A favorite
This has always been one of my favorites. There was more to the story than many of her others that depends on the drop dead gorgeous heroines playing three guys against each other.
This has always been one of my favorites. There was more to the story than many of her others that depends on the drop dead gorgeous heroines playing three guys against each other.
June 12, 2023
great romance with patriotic messages
Emilie Loring’s books are available for your pleasure and I am thrilled to be rereading them after 60 years. They stand the test of time and they are inspirational to me still!
Emilie Loring’s books are available for your pleasure and I am thrilled to be rereading them after 60 years. They stand the test of time and they are inspirational to me still!
July 27, 2018
Suspense and Deception
A different read from the romance novels of today. I enjoyed the change. I would probably read other books by Ms Loring.
A different read from the romance novels of today. I enjoyed the change. I would probably read other books by Ms Loring.
March 12, 2019
Adventure awaits in this book.
If you like mystery, intrigue, and romance. You'll love this book and learn a little history too. Buy this book. You'll read it over and over.
If you like mystery, intrigue, and romance. You'll love this book and learn a little history too. Buy this book. You'll read it over and over.
November 9, 2020
Not my favorite Emilie Loring but that may simply be because I hate that the main character married someone only for their money,even if she needed it for her mother.
July 17, 2022
Loved it!!!
This one was a little different in that they were already married. I really enjoy Emily Loring books and this one is is as good as expected!
This one was a little different in that they were already married. I really enjoy Emily Loring books and this one is is as good as expected!
May 5, 2023
Vintage Romance
A good mystery, the plot is good, the romance is tame, yet so endearing. These are short novels, almost novellas, but I enjoy them.
A good mystery, the plot is good, the romance is tame, yet so endearing. These are short novels, almost novellas, but I enjoy them.
February 24, 2024
*Adding books from a recently-unearthed reading journal, in which I recorded some of the titles I read between 1993 and 2005*
March 9, 2024
Just a fun read. Read this book many years ago when I was checking out some books my mom had kept. It’s just a lite mystery and slight romance novel. Written in the 50’s.
June 29, 2024
Found a bunch of her books at a thrift store. Chose this one to read during my trip. Absolutely fell in love with her style of writing and storyline.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews