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Ambrosia
After the fires of the war love was the final surrender
How she hated the Yankee invaders. They had destroyed everything she'd known and loved. For Ambrosia Lanford, the war would never be over. But is the Major Drayton Rambert, commander of Yankee different?
How she hated the Yankee invaders. They had destroyed everything she'd known and loved. For Ambrosia Lanford, the war would never be over. But is the Major Drayton Rambert, commander of Yankee different?
554 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1985
About the author
Rosanne Kohake
3 books2 followersRosanne Frances Lipps was born on July 20, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. She married David F. Kohake, and had three children: Beth, David Jr., and Claire. They lived in the western part of Hamilton County, they have rebuilt the two-story house on thirty acres that they bought because the price was good. She had been writing since her childhood, and as homemaker and mother of three, she found time to write romance novels on her typewriter at home.
As Rosanne Kohake published three historical romances from 1984 to 1985 by Avon Books. Her novels were placed in different moments of the United States of America's history. Her first novel, For Honor's Lady, was set in the American Revolution; her second novel, Chastity Morrow, in the American West, and her last novel, Ambrosia, in the Civil War. Her novels have been translated into other languages, and her debut novel, For Honor's Lady, was selected as one of the All-Time Favorites & Classics by the Romantic Times Magazine.
Rosie passed away on March 7, 2012 in her native Cincinnati.
As Rosanne Kohake published three historical romances from 1984 to 1985 by Avon Books. Her novels were placed in different moments of the United States of America's history. Her first novel, For Honor's Lady, was set in the American Revolution; her second novel, Chastity Morrow, in the American West, and her last novel, Ambrosia, in the Civil War. Her novels have been translated into other languages, and her debut novel, For Honor's Lady, was selected as one of the All-Time Favorites & Classics by the Romantic Times Magazine.
Rosie passed away on March 7, 2012 in her native Cincinnati.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 19, 2018
Im so happyyyyyy give a Drayton Rambert in my life
November 11, 2017
This is a very old novel (1985) and it's interesting to compare it to contemporary ones of the same genre.
LIke a good many of the early so-called "Bodice Rippers," this one relies heavily on physical or mental cruelty in its narration. In fact, this one could almost be called a "hate" story rather than a love story. It's the usual plot, conquered Southern bell marries Yankee and after many ups and downs involving their opposed beliefs and lifestyles, find true love. Of course the minute they find that love, the story ends. I mean...who wants to read about two people achieving happiness. Right?
Drayton (the Yankee) is a doctor who loses his wife and unborn child when his half-brother, a pyromaniac, burns down his house. This makes him abandon his career, becoming cold and withdrawn and refusing to speak of his wife or the tragedy. Fortunately, the War intervenes and he becomes a Union officer.
Ambrosia is the second daughter in her family, unloved by her mother because she's less attractive than her sister but given an education by her father because he sees something of himself in this daughter. She loves Ledger who, of course, marries her sister, and after the war when his wife abandons him because he's now crippled and disfigured, he realizes his love for Ambrosia but rejects her because of his marriage. Ambrosia turns to Drayton who saved her from marauding Yankees during the War but afterward allowed them to burn her home to the ground. She's alternately grateful and angry at him, and now that he's part of the occupying forces of Charleston, she allows her hate to become foremost. After a single night with him in which she becomes pregnant, Ambrosia and Drayton are married. Drayton loves Ambrosia and is happy there's a child, but because of his previous loss, he hides this, telling her he's "merely doing his duty" by marrying her. Mistake #1. The statement that he never thought she might get pregnant is preposterous. The man's an adult, and a doctor. He's delivered babies. He had another child though it died with his wife, and he doesn't think having unprotected sex with a virgin might result in a pregnancy? Come on. (Yes, they had condoms back then.)
After that everything goes downhill. Mistake #2. Drayton takes Ambrosia to gatherings of his Yankee friends where she's forced to sit and listen to them vilify the South, and her entire way of life and not say a word. Such a thoughtful husband. When she finally defends it, he's on their side and can't seem to see her viewpoint at all. After all, didn't he save her from a horsewhipping, though he let her home be burned and not allow her to take a single item from it beforehand? He takes her to New York to live. She tries to run away. He brings her back, locks her in her room and Mistake #3, tells her he'll have her committed and she'll never see her baby if she doesn't behave....yet all the while, he loves her but just can't bring himself to say the words out loud.
After this and further mental threats and cruelties from her beloved husband, Ambrosia goes into a deep almost catatonic depression, and who can blame her? Only Drayton's aunt's kindness keeps her from going insane.
If this is love, I hesitate to see hate.
There's plenty more...temptation from an old flame, trying to get his father's business from bankruptcy, threats from the half-brother...and enough vacillation between the two to make the reader want to toss the book across the room in frustration, but instead continue reading looking for that hoped-for HEA. Keep reading. It's there. I will say one thing for this so-called hero, he doesn't commit adultery with his would-be seductress but his excuse is that he doesn't want to hurt his child by the scandal...not his wife.
Honestly, occasionally I felt someone should've simply grabbed each and shaken them until their teeth rattled. What these two people needed were 1) grief counseling, and 2) marriage counseling, not necessarily in that order.
The writing is good, though in places a few anachronisitic phrases slip in, when a suitable and more in time with the setting word could've been used, as well as some amusing ones, such as when a person stands with his back facing someone. Neat trick.
Read it. Enjoy it. Hope real romance isn't this fraught with angst.
This novel is owned by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
LIke a good many of the early so-called "Bodice Rippers," this one relies heavily on physical or mental cruelty in its narration. In fact, this one could almost be called a "hate" story rather than a love story. It's the usual plot, conquered Southern bell marries Yankee and after many ups and downs involving their opposed beliefs and lifestyles, find true love. Of course the minute they find that love, the story ends. I mean...who wants to read about two people achieving happiness. Right?
Drayton (the Yankee) is a doctor who loses his wife and unborn child when his half-brother, a pyromaniac, burns down his house. This makes him abandon his career, becoming cold and withdrawn and refusing to speak of his wife or the tragedy. Fortunately, the War intervenes and he becomes a Union officer.
Ambrosia is the second daughter in her family, unloved by her mother because she's less attractive than her sister but given an education by her father because he sees something of himself in this daughter. She loves Ledger who, of course, marries her sister, and after the war when his wife abandons him because he's now crippled and disfigured, he realizes his love for Ambrosia but rejects her because of his marriage. Ambrosia turns to Drayton who saved her from marauding Yankees during the War but afterward allowed them to burn her home to the ground. She's alternately grateful and angry at him, and now that he's part of the occupying forces of Charleston, she allows her hate to become foremost. After a single night with him in which she becomes pregnant, Ambrosia and Drayton are married. Drayton loves Ambrosia and is happy there's a child, but because of his previous loss, he hides this, telling her he's "merely doing his duty" by marrying her. Mistake #1. The statement that he never thought she might get pregnant is preposterous. The man's an adult, and a doctor. He's delivered babies. He had another child though it died with his wife, and he doesn't think having unprotected sex with a virgin might result in a pregnancy? Come on. (Yes, they had condoms back then.)
After that everything goes downhill. Mistake #2. Drayton takes Ambrosia to gatherings of his Yankee friends where she's forced to sit and listen to them vilify the South, and her entire way of life and not say a word. Such a thoughtful husband. When she finally defends it, he's on their side and can't seem to see her viewpoint at all. After all, didn't he save her from a horsewhipping, though he let her home be burned and not allow her to take a single item from it beforehand? He takes her to New York to live. She tries to run away. He brings her back, locks her in her room and Mistake #3, tells her he'll have her committed and she'll never see her baby if she doesn't behave....yet all the while, he loves her but just can't bring himself to say the words out loud.
After this and further mental threats and cruelties from her beloved husband, Ambrosia goes into a deep almost catatonic depression, and who can blame her? Only Drayton's aunt's kindness keeps her from going insane.
If this is love, I hesitate to see hate.
There's plenty more...temptation from an old flame, trying to get his father's business from bankruptcy, threats from the half-brother...and enough vacillation between the two to make the reader want to toss the book across the room in frustration, but instead continue reading looking for that hoped-for HEA. Keep reading. It's there. I will say one thing for this so-called hero, he doesn't commit adultery with his would-be seductress but his excuse is that he doesn't want to hurt his child by the scandal...not his wife.
Honestly, occasionally I felt someone should've simply grabbed each and shaken them until their teeth rattled. What these two people needed were 1) grief counseling, and 2) marriage counseling, not necessarily in that order.
The writing is good, though in places a few anachronisitic phrases slip in, when a suitable and more in time with the setting word could've been used, as well as some amusing ones, such as when a person stands with his back facing someone. Neat trick.
Read it. Enjoy it. Hope real romance isn't this fraught with angst.
This novel is owned by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
September 25, 2018
I have been avoiding this author for years, because she is also my beloved aunt and Godmother. I am a brutally honest book critic, and I feared that if I didn't find her writing to be of high quality, I wouldn't be able to sugar-coat a review. Good news, though! She is a really, really strong writer. And what's more, I can't believe she wrote this book on a TYPEWRITER, with KIDS at her feet. What an amazing woman.
As far as the book itself goes, I liked the plot and the characters. It's a bit long-winded with somewhat of an implausible ending. But the quality of writing is strong, especially for this genre. I'll be reading her other books for sure! Bravo, Aunt Rosie!
As far as the book itself goes, I liked the plot and the characters. It's a bit long-winded with somewhat of an implausible ending. But the quality of writing is strong, especially for this genre. I'll be reading her other books for sure! Bravo, Aunt Rosie!
July 10, 2013
Story about letting the past go, in order to live and love again.... Unable to let go of book!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews