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Home to Morning Star
The girl had become a woman.
Miranda was shocked to suddenly learn that she was penniless-and that her distant cousin, Blake Seymour, had been supporting her.
Blake, her self-appointed guardian, had always treated her as a foolish child. It was embarrassing, humiliating...and now he insisted he return to the family ranch.
Miranda had once idolized Blake, one of the cattle barons of Australia. Now the very thought of him both frightened and thrilled her...
Miranda was shocked to suddenly learn that she was penniless-and that her distant cousin, Blake Seymour, had been supporting her.
Blake, her self-appointed guardian, had always treated her as a foolish child. It was embarrassing, humiliating...and now he insisted he return to the family ranch.
Miranda had once idolized Blake, one of the cattle barons of Australia. Now the very thought of him both frightened and thrilled her...
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 11, 1981
4 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Way
613 books162 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 31, 2019
Quintessential Margaret Way. She reused so many of these elements in later stories, but they’re all here:
The Mary Sue heroine:
Golden-haired, orphaned heroine who unknowingly is being “kept” in the city by her guardian after her silly mother spent heroine’s father entire fortune on “gigolos” and traveling. Heroine has a university degree in psychology, has never worked, and has had two fiances. She is 20 years old and talks like a movie coquette from the 1940’s. She may or may not stomp her foot when angry, but she pouts beautifully.
The Lord of all he surveys hero
He’s 34. He runs the family spread in the Outback. Women chase him. Men want to be him. He used to dote on the heroine, but now is overly critical.
Other Women
MW loves her homicidal OWs – there are two in this story.
1)Girl next door who is the same age as the hero and has turned down marriage proposals in hopes H will marry her. She can fly planes, ride horses and run her father’s estate as well as a man. Her homicidal gesture is to leave the heroine stranded in the Outback without a horse. Heroine is next to an Oasis and shade, so she’s fine. Poor hero trembled when he found her. OW drops from the page after that incident.
2) Long-time bachelor uncle’s young wife is OW number two. She has a four year-old daughter (and heroine’s project until the hero comes up to snuff) everyone thinks is “retarded.” OW hates her daughter and her favorite nanny to date locks the little girl in her big, scary room whenever she’s “bad.” OW #2 is part of the resolution to the romance when she throws herself at the hero and the hero explains he’s engaged to the heroine. Heroine thinks this is ploy to get rid of the crazy lady, but hero is serious.
Dingo Attack
This is the second time I’ve seen a dingo attack with a Blue Heeler Australian sheep dog jumping into the fray and being injured before the dingo is shot.
Outback lore/racism
MW has her characters witness a Corroboree. Defined by the internet as:
A Corroboree is a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aboriginals, where people interact with the Dreamtime through music, costume, and dance. It is sacred to them and people from outside the community are not permitted to partake or observe the event.
While the description of the ceremony is thorough and probably accurate, MW’s characters do not pay it the proper respect. Even the heroine uses that time to snuggle up with hero, so both OWs are seething.
OW #2 doesn’t want an ignorant “black” girl watching her daughter. Matriarch grandma "pushes back" (we educate our blacks here) and yeah. . . sigh.
Art therapy/ child geniuses/heroine as child whisperer
Heroine gives the four year-old paper and paint and the little darling opens right up. Heroine can interpret the girl’s emotions by looking at her drawings. After this disclosure, no one is surprised when a four year-old can spell and understand when adults are spelling words in her presence.
Outback mansion
Pioneers built a gracious English manor home, complete with stained glass door and a dining table that seats forty.
Virginity/Frigidity/Attempted rape
Heroine is a virgin who thinks she’s frigid until the hero gallantly arouses her to disprove such a notion.
Hero arrives just in time when the heroine’s second fiancé is trying to rape her. Hero accuses her of asking for it because she opened the door wearing a silk robe.
Imprinted hero
Hero has waited for heroine to grow up. He spent all kinds of time with her until she matured. Kept her away from Morning Star until she was old enough to marry. What was different about this hero is that he didn’t play up to the OWs to make the heroine jealous and he was very obvious about his intentions toward the heroine.
And that, my friends, is the world MW. Where mothers are terrible, the best people are dead, and crazy OWs are as dangerous as dingoes and heatstroke.
The Mary Sue heroine:
Golden-haired, orphaned heroine who unknowingly is being “kept” in the city by her guardian after her silly mother spent heroine’s father entire fortune on “gigolos” and traveling. Heroine has a university degree in psychology, has never worked, and has had two fiances. She is 20 years old and talks like a movie coquette from the 1940’s. She may or may not stomp her foot when angry, but she pouts beautifully.
The Lord of all he surveys hero
He’s 34. He runs the family spread in the Outback. Women chase him. Men want to be him. He used to dote on the heroine, but now is overly critical.
Other Women
MW loves her homicidal OWs – there are two in this story.
1)Girl next door who is the same age as the hero and has turned down marriage proposals in hopes H will marry her. She can fly planes, ride horses and run her father’s estate as well as a man. Her homicidal gesture is to leave the heroine stranded in the Outback without a horse. Heroine is next to an Oasis and shade, so she’s fine. Poor hero trembled when he found her. OW drops from the page after that incident.
2) Long-time bachelor uncle’s young wife is OW number two. She has a four year-old daughter (and heroine’s project until the hero comes up to snuff) everyone thinks is “retarded.” OW hates her daughter and her favorite nanny to date locks the little girl in her big, scary room whenever she’s “bad.” OW #2 is part of the resolution to the romance when she throws herself at the hero and the hero explains he’s engaged to the heroine. Heroine thinks this is ploy to get rid of the crazy lady, but hero is serious.
Dingo Attack
This is the second time I’ve seen a dingo attack with a Blue Heeler Australian sheep dog jumping into the fray and being injured before the dingo is shot.
Outback lore/racism
MW has her characters witness a Corroboree. Defined by the internet as:
A Corroboree is a ceremonial meeting of Australian Aboriginals, where people interact with the Dreamtime through music, costume, and dance. It is sacred to them and people from outside the community are not permitted to partake or observe the event.
While the description of the ceremony is thorough and probably accurate, MW’s characters do not pay it the proper respect. Even the heroine uses that time to snuggle up with hero, so both OWs are seething.
OW #2 doesn’t want an ignorant “black” girl watching her daughter. Matriarch grandma "pushes back" (we educate our blacks here) and yeah. . . sigh.
Art therapy/ child geniuses/heroine as child whisperer
Heroine gives the four year-old paper and paint and the little darling opens right up. Heroine can interpret the girl’s emotions by looking at her drawings. After this disclosure, no one is surprised when a four year-old can spell and understand when adults are spelling words in her presence.
Outback mansion
Pioneers built a gracious English manor home, complete with stained glass door and a dining table that seats forty.
Virginity/Frigidity/Attempted rape
Heroine is a virgin who thinks she’s frigid until the hero gallantly arouses her to disprove such a notion.
Hero arrives just in time when the heroine’s second fiancé is trying to rape her. Hero accuses her of asking for it because she opened the door wearing a silk robe.
Imprinted hero
Hero has waited for heroine to grow up. He spent all kinds of time with her until she matured. Kept her away from Morning Star until she was old enough to marry. What was different about this hero is that he didn’t play up to the OWs to make the heroine jealous and he was very obvious about his intentions toward the heroine.
And that, my friends, is the world MW. Where mothers are terrible, the best people are dead, and crazy OWs are as dangerous as dingoes and heatstroke.
January 22, 2024
This is a book from my teen years when my love of reading was already planted and flourishing. Back then this type of story in the Harlequin family was my favourite.
Nostalgia can be wonderful and this book was that. The arrogant alpha male madly in love but so much older. The wet behind the ears girl madly in love but not understanding her feelings. The delusional other women who fancy themselves the next Mrs.
The cast of characters that make the story so compelling all ending in a HEA that leaves us tingling!
Nostalgia can be wonderful and this book was that. The arrogant alpha male madly in love but so much older. The wet behind the ears girl madly in love but not understanding her feelings. The delusional other women who fancy themselves the next Mrs.
The cast of characters that make the story so compelling all ending in a HEA that leaves us tingling!
January 9, 2026
I had to check the page count because I was almost halfway through and everything was still sweet and shiny: a besotted hero, master of all his domain; a sunflower child, Mary Sue heroine; a couple of inconsequential OW who didn’t really cause any trouble. So, we’re nearly halfway in and I’m thinking: when is the nastiness going to start? And then it dawned on me, I’d made a mistake. This isn’t Margaret Pargeter at all, it’s a Margaret Way novel 🤦♀️ and it all made sense…
It was a very sweet romance, if you can overlook some rather uncomfortable elements, such as the hero and heroine being almost related, and the fact that he’s known her all her life and was essentially waiting for her to grow up… you get the drift.
There were also other troubling aspects, particularly the way a four year old child was treated and described, which I found quite disturbing. However, because this is a make believe romance, our Cinderella heroine steps in and with the same magical touch she has with men and horses, manages to bring poor little Andrea out of her shell. It’s worth remembering this was published in 1981, with all the baggage that comes with that era.
On the plus side, Hero was rather dreamy, besotted, unfailingly kind and very attentive to the heroine.
It was a very sweet romance, if you can overlook some rather uncomfortable elements, such as the hero and heroine being almost related, and the fact that he’s known her all her life and was essentially waiting for her to grow up… you get the drift.
There were also other troubling aspects, particularly the way a four year old child was treated and described, which I found quite disturbing. However, because this is a make believe romance, our Cinderella heroine steps in and with the same magical touch she has with men and horses, manages to bring poor little Andrea out of her shell. It’s worth remembering this was published in 1981, with all the baggage that comes with that era.
On the plus side, Hero was rather dreamy, besotted, unfailingly kind and very attentive to the heroine.
September 7, 2021
This was like a Dallas episode! There was very little romance, but the storyline with the emotionally abused little girl was very interesting. I hope the evil mother gets some severe punishment in the future. I was not happy with the history that the h had with the H. I don't like the "I've been waiting for you to grow up, I've been in love with you for years". That is very ick, only redeeming aspect is that nothing ever happened between them until she was 20. But still all I could wonder about was at what point did he start lusting over her.
October 26, 2024
Damn, they talk a lot! Goodness gracious! Some books are heavily filled monologues or travelogues but this is was all dialogues. Everyone yaps, talk, and bicker like no tomorrow. I strongly needed some peace and quiet here. It started to get painful like a headache. I don’t think the story direction was bad but because of all the witty back and forth and constant discussion and collaboration it was hard to get into the story, and MW has her own ways of storytelling, too, making this overly tiring than enjoyable for me. DNF.
pback-to-read
April 2, 2023The girl had become a woman.
Miranda was shocked to suddenly learn that she was penniless-and that her distant cousin, Blake Seymour, had been supporting her.
Blake, her self-appointed guardian, had always treated her as a foolish child. It was embarrassing, humiliating...and now he insisted he return to the family ranch.
Miranda had once idolized Blake, one of the cattle barons of Australia. Now the very thought of him both frightened and thrilled her...
Miranda was shocked to suddenly learn that she was penniless-and that her distant cousin, Blake Seymour, had been supporting her.
Blake, her self-appointed guardian, had always treated her as a foolish child. It was embarrassing, humiliating...and now he insisted he return to the family ranch.
Miranda had once idolized Blake, one of the cattle barons of Australia. Now the very thought of him both frightened and thrilled her...
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June 29, 2013عصفورة الصدى:
ايف الفتاة الشقية الحلوة كبرت، ولكن هل كبرت إلى حد أن تجيد الإختيار؟ للأسف لا، فعندما علم خطيبها الأخير أنها لن ترث شيئاً تركها مثقلة بالخيبة والديون لغارث ماسترز الذي كان يسدد نفقاتها منذ زمن بعيد، دون أن تعلم حمل غارث على عاتقه مسؤوليتها واصطحبها إلى مزرعته مقرراً أن تظل قربه لئلا تخطئ مرة أخرى
وهناك في أرض الطفولة والأحلام، أخذ كل ما حولها يهمس لها: اتبعي قلبك ! وأقلقها هذا حتى قررت أن تكسر القوانين
ايف الفتاة الشقية الحلوة كبرت، ولكن هل كبرت إلى حد أن تجيد الإختيار؟ للأسف لا، فعندما علم خطيبها الأخير أنها لن ترث شيئاً تركها مثقلة بالخيبة والديون لغارث ماسترز الذي كان يسدد نفقاتها منذ زمن بعيد، دون أن تعلم حمل غارث على عاتقه مسؤوليتها واصطحبها إلى مزرعته مقرراً أن تظل قربه لئلا تخطئ مرة أخرى
وهناك في أرض الطفولة والأحلام، أخذ كل ما حولها يهمس لها: اتبعي قلبك ! وأقلقها هذا حتى قررت أن تكسر القوانين
November 29, 2016
Another typical Harlequin romance.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews