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Sarah's Child

(Spencer-Nyle Co #1)

3.75  ·  Rating details ·  5,619 ratings  ·  322 reviews
A tragic accident took everything that mattered to Rome Matthews -- his wife, Diane, and their two little boys. And it robbed Sarah Harper of her best friend. In the two years since the tragedy, Sarah has wanted to reach out to Rome, but she knew she needed to stay away, guarding the secret she had kept from him and Diane all those years -- that she was in love with her be ...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published July 25th 2006 by HQN (first published January 1st 1985)
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Kiady They are not all dimwits, in all honesty Sarah's passiveness enrages me to no avail. It doesn't matter how much she craved for his love or how scared…moreThey are not all dimwits, in all honesty Sarah's passiveness enrages me to no avail. It doesn't matter how much she craved for his love or how scared she was to live the rest of her life alone and childless, even in spite of all the pain Rome had gone through. One thing is being patient and another is being a doormat. Nothing justifies his emotional abuse of her and she needn't take it for a single second. The story sends a message that "as long as you're patient and bear the bullying you will be happy" I've seen this kind of topic before and never liked it nor do I like people promoting it like it's common sense. Enduring is not the same as being brave. BUT, and this is a big but, I know Howard's MC females aren't all dimwit virgins with no backbone I can give you a couple of examples: Grace Saint John (Son of the Morning), scholar speaks French, Latin, old English and some others that escape me. She is not a virgin to begin with and she develops into a really strong character, also neither her first husband nor Nial are jerks. Mary Elizabeth Potter (Mackenzie's mountain), she is a school teacher with a strong character who does not retreat at the sight of an argument or fight, and although she is 30 and virgin, she's pretty sharp. Wolf, her partner is no jerk either. He's got a temper but he treated her kindly both emotionally and physically. I also have to mention Blue bird winter because even though Kathleen Fields doesn't develop much character her partner is Derek Talifarro and he is as gentle and reassuring as he was in Sarah's child. These are the only ones from the 80s I can mention off the top of my head, of course if we move from the 80s and into more recent works then I'd have to mention Jaclyn Wild from Veil of night, although in truth Eric Wilder was a bit of a jerk at times I wouldn't say he was overbearingly so. Open season, Daisy Manor, strong MC female character, and Dare Callahan, not a jerk. There are many more but I'd write forever. In my opinion the age is more like something the writer identified with herself as she was in her thirties during the 80s, as a writer it's easier for you to write about things you are already familiar with and know whereas it'd be difficult to use the perspective of a 50 year old let's say. Also her readers were probably around that age too.(less)

Community Reviews

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3.75  · 
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 ·  5,619 ratings  ·  322 reviews


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Blacky *Romance Addict*
Jun 27, 2013 rated it really liked it
Recommended to Blacky *Romance Addict* by: Glamdring

This is a book you'll either love or hate.
It's about a man who lost his wife and children and found love in the arms of his wife's best friend.

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This is a tough one to review because it deals with grief and mourning, which is very personal and different for every individual.




-STORY-


The loss we're talking about here is of a wife and two little boys, which destroyed Rome's life completely. He hasn't been the same man since.
Sarah is his wife's best friend, who's been secretly in love with Rome for yea
...more
Mo
Oct 04, 2012 rated it it was amazing  ·  review of another edition
This book was written in 1985 but I am just discovering it now due to it being released on the Kindle. What a great author this lady is, especially if she can have so many one star reviewers up in arms, giving out about the book. It is fiction - no real people here. Great story. Yes, Rome is an ass .... but I love mean old badass heros anyway, especially when they come up trumps in the end. Had tears in my eyes at the end of it - happy tears. Have read some other books by Linda and hopefully her ...more
Shawna
3 stars – Contemporary Romance

I knew going into this that readers tend to have a love or hate reaction to this book and that many consider Rome to be a jackass. I didn’t really love or hate it, and yes, Rome definitely acted like a Grade A asshat for most of the book. What especially turned me off about his character was that he admitted (view spoiler)
...more
Dinjolina
There is not much I can say about this book except that I highly recommend it.

On the other hand that does not stop me from hating the hero.
It was one of those 'yes the heroine got a HEA but with the wrong dude for sure' books.
Sarah,our leading lady was forever in love with the hero.
I usually hate the romances where the heroine is in love with a guy that is living his life...it always turns kind of stalkerish on me.
Well,not in this book.
Sarah liked Rom from the first day they met.And she wished s
...more
*TANYA*
Aug 03, 2017 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Written in 1985??! I wanted Sarah to grow a backbone, my heart went out to her. And Rome?? I'm not sure how to feel about him. A few times I wanted to slap him though.
Naksed
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Becky ♡The Bookworm♡
I picked this up because Linda Howard is one of my favorite authors. Midnight Rainbow, Duncan's Bride, and Son of the Morning were stand-out books. Witty, sexy, entertaining, with strong characters that I grew to love. In other words, those books are everything Sarah's Child is not. Either this is very early work, or the author was having a really bad day. That's just a few explanations I could come up with to explain this truly awful book.

Never before have I been so thoroughly tempted to curse
...more
Paige  Bookdragon
Sarah's Child is the type of story that if other authors wrote this one, I would have DNF it faster than you can say "fuck this book".

description

But Linda Howard wrote it and I do not DNF a classic Linda Howard book. I wouldn't dare.

Sarah's Child is something that most people would hate because of the plot. I can practically see them sprouting outrage and feeding the author some things about feminism blah-blah-blah and usually I would join them.

But not this time.

I remember reading a review about a book wh
...more
Esther
Reread!!!

Oh, my did I forget the angst in this one!!!!!😭

I again loved this as much as the 1st, 2nd, etc.... time I've read this. Truly, a gut wrenching love story.

I know some might have issues with the 1st wife and all the interconnected issues with the hero and heroine. Bothered me some, but the angst and love and love story covered all those issues.

Again, wonderful reread.

Now I'm off to start my Julie Garwood kick. Yep, going to start reading all her books now. 😂 The oldies but goodies, somet
...more
boogenhagen
Sooo, stalker h's just don't appeal to me, they were both creeeeepy

I wasn't feelin the lurve, but in terms of general creepyness, they went well together. Plus that whole unrequited love for you BFF's hubby is just soooo EWWW!!!
Didi
4.5 STARS

Linda Howard has a way with quiet, but strong heroines, and the alpha males that love them. I loved this book. There was a situation that bothered me concerning Rome and Sarah, though. Without giving anything away, logistically, the solution early on for an unexpected development was ludicrous. That's where my half star was taken off. I understood Rome's position, but it was still a pretty stupid solution. I'm being vague, but anyone's who read this will know. Mind you it all changed an
...more
Karla

4 Stars! Old school Linda Howard. Different, very emotional, but I enjoyed it!

It's not going to be for everyone, the hero, Rome, has some real issues, however they are warranted. He's having a hard time moving on, everyone grieves differently, so I didn't really judge him too harshly, especially since there were children involved. I wish Sarah would have pushed back a little more, but she was also dealing with the same loss as Rome. I agree with other reviewers, it needed an epilogue.

Thanks to
...more
Jonetta
May 20, 2011 rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition
Recommended to Jonetta by: Dusty
Both Sarah and Rome are damaged people, she by the cold upbringing dispensed by her parents and he by the tragedy of his wife and son's deaths. While Sarah found a way to compensate for the absence of love, Rome turned his grief into an intense self focus that influenced every personal choice he made.

While I understood Rome's reactions, I found him to be utterly selfish and narcissistic. I'm not sure who Sarah fell in love with as Rome has so few redeeming qualities. Sarah doesn't demand respec
...more
Lu Bielefeld *read.laugh.love*
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Saly
You either LOVE this one or HATE it.
Cheesecake
Linda Howard is one of my Favourite authors, but all I can say about this book is... OUCH.
Mind you, this kind of story is my least liked, and I wouldn't have read it if it had been written by anyone else.
Also should mention that it wasn't just his wife that died but his two little boys as well. They really should mention that in the blurb!
Super Hi-octane angst fest (view spoiler)
...more
Jane Stewart
Sep 16, 2010 rated it liked it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Dee
This was absolutely heartbreaking and had me bawling like a baby even before I had finished the first chapter. This is my first LH book and all I can keep thinking is wow and why have I waited so long to read her books despite the fact I have had a few of them lined up for quite some time. It seems so strange for me to say that such a very sad story is outstanding, but it is, the emotion just rolls off the page and cannot do anything other than engage the reader and make them feel the pain that ...more
Nikki ღ Navareus

***Three Stars***

This story was a love/hate relationship for me. I hated that Sarah was the ultimate doormat and took so much shit from Rome, and the sex between the two was not hot at all. (view spoiler)

But then again, I'm a total sucker for asshole heroes and mega angst, and this story had both in spades and kept me invest
...more
Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile"
Could not resist a re-read when this kindle version popped up for $0.99. I'm probably in the minority on this one, but I like it. I have an old paperback version that I've re-read a couple of times over the years and had to snap up the e-version at such a low price. I do have a love-hate relationship with the H (as many other reviewers have noted as well.) I understand H's grief - especially under such an unexpected tragedy. I do like how the h tries to grab the happiness she can with the hope a ...more
❤️ Dorsey aka Wrath Lover Reviews ❤️
This was an emotional read, the tragic circumstance that shut down Rome emotionally is certainly understandable and I can never ever imagine being in that position. But his coldness and unemotional relationship first with Sarah (which he pursued) and than during Sarah's unexpected pregnancy with their child made me want to whack him upside the head with and iron skillet!!!

Sarah has loved Rome for years is willing to do whatever it takes to keep him...to a certain degree. I admired Sarah's stren
...more
Leona
Aug 14, 2012 rated it it was ok  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: romance
I read this along time ago, but it still always stays with me. Mostly because of the story...and my inability to really connect with Rome and Sarah.

There were too many unpc parts for me to get invested in either protagonist. Rome is typical Asshat and Sarah is way to self sacrificing for my taste.

I know this is a favorite for many, but this is my least favorite of Linda Howards.
Anita
Feb 06, 2013 rated it it was ok
Shelves: kindle-own, romance
Written in 1985, this is an older Linda Howard work. It has not been well reviewed by my Goodreads Friends, but since I am a Linda Howard Fan, I've learned to take the bad with the good and am ready to give this one a fair shot. Well, my Goodreads Friends are correct, this book is nothing short of an angstfest. I must say that Linda Howards evolution as a writer is nothing short of amazing. Her later works, especially Open Season and Mr. Perfect are just amazing books.

Every doormat needs a big,
...more
Meredith
Feb 19, 2012 rated it did not like it
Basic Premise: When her best friend dies in a terrible accident, a woman finds herself attracted to the grieving husband--and her feelings are reciprocated.

Don't get me wrong. I like Linda Howard--some of her books are fantastic. (She's on this five star list multiple times.) But look at that publication date. 1985. If you want to know what I mean by "throwback" romance, this would be it. The only cliche missing is a middle eastern prince.

Let's recap the "throwback" cliches that many of these
...more
Booklover
KNOCKED OUT!this is what i feel after completing this book,such an intense emotional read,my heart went out to Sarah,she loved Rome but he fell for Diane,way she had to see them together but still she blocked out her love and was there with Diane and boys

Then tragedy strikes and all 3 die,which changes Sarah-Rome's life forever,Rome he was so lost without them and then Sarah came into his love,healed him and taught again to love but then when Sarah got Rome's love it was snatched away again,eve
...more
Shari Kay
Apr 04, 2016 marked it as not-for-me
and strike two for this author.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Alex
The Deal: When a bad accident kills his wife and 2 kids, Rome Matthews changed, becoming a cold and distant person, knowing he will never love anyone like he loved Diane and his sons. Sarah Harper was Diane's best friend, and in the two years since her death, Sarah has wanted to reach out to Rome but her secret love for him kept her away.

Until Rome needs her and Sarah agrees to marry him, even though she knows he doesn't love her and probably never will. Still, they eventually tumble into bed an
...more
Jacqueline J
This is a guilty favorite of mine. I feel like I'm not supposed to like it but I do. I enjoyed the fact that the hero never decides he didn't love his first wife as so often happens in romances where a widower remarries. I liked all the angst. Even though the heroine seems to be doormatish I think really she's just so determined to have him that she lets nothing stand in her way which is not quite the same thing. I just enjoy stories where a hero has been so wounded that they don't seem to reall ...more
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5,312 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance
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Spencer-Nyle Co (2 books)
  • Almost Forever (Spencer-Nyle Co, #2)
“She’d wanted love, a husband and children, a home filled with laughter and security, the things she’d never had as a child. She’d stopped even dreaming about them, she realized, and that was the saddest thing of all. But then she’d never really had a chance; she’d fallen in love with the one man she couldn't have, and it appeared that she was one of those women who loved on once in their lifetime” 2 likes
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