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The Last Chance Ranch
A WOUNDED SOUL
For years Tanya had dreamed of the day she'd be free, and able to be with the young son for whom she'd sacrificed everything. Antonio was her baby, her entire reason for living...
A PASSIONATE HEART
Ramon had known that someday, some way, his adopted son's mother would return. For Antonio, he'd tried to build a secure and loving home. But for Tanya, his deep brown eyes spoke of passion, not just security...life, not just existence. Only he could give her back her son...but could she find the courage to accept everything else he offered?
For years Tanya had dreamed of the day she'd be free, and able to be with the young son for whom she'd sacrificed everything. Antonio was her baby, her entire reason for living...
A PASSIONATE HEART
Ramon had known that someday, some way, his adopted son's mother would return. For Antonio, he'd tried to build a secure and loving home. But for Tanya, his deep brown eyes spoke of passion, not just security...life, not just existence. Only he could give her back her son...but could she find the courage to accept everything else he offered?
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1995
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75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 30, 2012
This is such a good book! Tanya, at age 22, ended up in jail for murder of her ex husband, even though it was in self-defense. She was forced to give up her 3 year old son, Tonio, for adoption, so she chose the boy's uncle Ramon, an honorable man who secretly loved her. At the age of 33, she was released and Ramon gave her a job as a cook at his ranch for troubled boys. She could get to know her son and eventually tell him who she was. As she grew close to Tonio, she also fell in love with Ramon after she overcame her fear of being touched even casually.
Before I finished this book, I confess to being so moved that I got a bit teary-eyed. And of course, since this is a romance, it ends happily after a few bumps along the way. (Insert happy sigh)
Before I finished this book, I confess to being so moved that I got a bit teary-eyed. And of course, since this is a romance, it ends happily after a few bumps along the way. (Insert happy sigh)
January 27, 2023
This story is about forgiveness and learning to trust again. Tanya has been released from prison and she is now at the Last Chance Ranch for two reasons to work and to get to know her son, but he doesn't know who she is.
Although the subject matter is harsh, I found the characters loving and caring and wanting a better life not only for themselves but for the boys who have come to the ranch to learn that life can be better from where they have come from.
I loved almost all of the characters in the story, I love that they are all trying to find a better life and are working together to help each other reach that dream. I love the romance between Ramon and Tanya and how its grown and matured in the story and how its given Tanya the chance to actually a relationship without doubt or pain.
This is one of Barbara O'Neal's earlier novels and it's the style of writing that drew me to her story. I love the depth of the characters and the endearing plots that she writes. Most of the plots deal with family relationships that need to be worked through and she finds interesting ways to that.
Although the subject matter is harsh, I found the characters loving and caring and wanting a better life not only for themselves but for the boys who have come to the ranch to learn that life can be better from where they have come from.
I loved almost all of the characters in the story, I love that they are all trying to find a better life and are working together to help each other reach that dream. I love the romance between Ramon and Tanya and how its grown and matured in the story and how its given Tanya the chance to actually a relationship without doubt or pain.
This is one of Barbara O'Neal's earlier novels and it's the style of writing that drew me to her story. I love the depth of the characters and the endearing plots that she writes. Most of the plots deal with family relationships that need to be worked through and she finds interesting ways to that.
June 3, 2024
Beautiful. Heart gripping. I cried.
November 26, 2014
Not one of her better efforts, but one of her first. I will start by saying this is a Category Romance written by Barbara Samuel about 20 years ago, so the fact that is sounds terribly dated isn't surprising. When I read historical fiction I expect it to not include modern conveniences, but it is difficult for me to listen to something considered "contemporary" fiction that sounds like it might as well have been set 200 years ago.
I have recently become a fan of Barbara Samuel/Barbara O'Neal's books, so thought I should at least try some of her early works when she wrote under the name Ruth Wind. And if I get past the "dated" issue and the obvious traditional format for books in this genre, the plot itself was fairly interesting.
However, the narration was so poor I barely made it through the book. Mr. Oliver had a pleasant speaking voice and would probably be fine reading a book that didn't require he speak with any type of accent or dialect or include any children characters. But his "Spanish" accent was terrible and his kids' voices were worse. His female voice wasn't great, but probably no worse than most male narrators, and it didn't bother me as much.
The problem went beyond that however. This book was edited terribly. There were at least 10 instances where words or phrases were repeated and you could tell that the editor had inserted the word or phrase without deleting the original.
I am still a Barbara Samuel/Barbara O'Neal fan. And my expectations of her earlier work weren't all that high, so this disappointment won't put me off of her work. But I cannot recommend listening to this audiobook. If you insist on reading this author's early works, read the e-book or paperback instead.
I have recently become a fan of Barbara Samuel/Barbara O'Neal's books, so thought I should at least try some of her early works when she wrote under the name Ruth Wind. And if I get past the "dated" issue and the obvious traditional format for books in this genre, the plot itself was fairly interesting.
However, the narration was so poor I barely made it through the book. Mr. Oliver had a pleasant speaking voice and would probably be fine reading a book that didn't require he speak with any type of accent or dialect or include any children characters. But his "Spanish" accent was terrible and his kids' voices were worse. His female voice wasn't great, but probably no worse than most male narrators, and it didn't bother me as much.
The problem went beyond that however. This book was edited terribly. There were at least 10 instances where words or phrases were repeated and you could tell that the editor had inserted the word or phrase without deleting the original.
I am still a Barbara Samuel/Barbara O'Neal fan. And my expectations of her earlier work weren't all that high, so this disappointment won't put me off of her work. But I cannot recommend listening to this audiobook. If you insist on reading this author's early works, read the e-book or paperback instead.
January 17, 2021
An old, OLD favorite that held up well - actually better than some of the writer's latest books.
May 2, 2019
Well that all worked out. Most of the story happened before the book took place. And so much is glossed over that it makes the story not make that much sense. Random that the couple liked each other while she was pregnant and married to a psycho. Eh, not very interesting overall.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews