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Hannah #1
Love's Avenging Heart
Love's dream...
Hannah wondered if her daydreams and nightly fantasies would ever come true. A captive, near-slave to Silas Quint, her brutal stepfather, she lived in squalor, suffering the indignities of poverty and shame. She knew only that she must escape, that must come first. Then to find the man and the lover who'd fulfill her dreams.
Hannah's sordid life with Quint was soon replaced by long hours toiling as an innkeeper's bar maiden -- literally sold into servitude by her stepfather! It was but the beginning of a wild and tumultuous new phase of life that would test Hannah's very soul. Her fiery red hair, voluptuous body, and impudently beautiful face would attract men -- men of wealth, men of nothing but strength and lust -- and she would have to learn to survive amidst their passions and furies.
After all, she was only a wench, a body to be owned, used or bartered. But Hannah would do more than survive, she would win. She would overcome the sadistic beatings, the rapes, the treachery, the crushing humiliation of her circumstances. She would discover the all-consuming raptures of passion when love came to free her questing heart.
Hannah wondered if her daydreams and nightly fantasies would ever come true. A captive, near-slave to Silas Quint, her brutal stepfather, she lived in squalor, suffering the indignities of poverty and shame. She knew only that she must escape, that must come first. Then to find the man and the lover who'd fulfill her dreams.
Hannah's sordid life with Quint was soon replaced by long hours toiling as an innkeeper's bar maiden -- literally sold into servitude by her stepfather! It was but the beginning of a wild and tumultuous new phase of life that would test Hannah's very soul. Her fiery red hair, voluptuous body, and impudently beautiful face would attract men -- men of wealth, men of nothing but strength and lust -- and she would have to learn to survive amidst their passions and furies.
After all, she was only a wench, a body to be owned, used or bartered. But Hannah would do more than survive, she would win. She would overcome the sadistic beatings, the rapes, the treachery, the crushing humiliation of her circumstances. She would discover the all-consuming raptures of passion when love came to free her questing heart.
512 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
About the author
Patricia Matthews
88 books23 followersPatricia Anne Klein Ernst Brisco Matthews
aka Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews, Laura Wylie, Denise Matthews
Patricia Anne Klein Ernst was born on 1 July 1927 in San Fernando, California, USA, the daughter of Gladys Gable and Roy Oliver Ernst. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Associated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
She started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Clayton's agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews in 1976. She become a popular writer, called "American's First Lady of Historical Romance". She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American South, westat the fourth- sixth- and eighth-grade reading levels, yet offer characters, situations, and concerns appropriate for adult readers. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia Anne Brisco Matthews died at 5:30 a.m. 7 December 2006 in the familiar house of Brisco in Arizona.
aka Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco, Patty Brisco, Pat A. Brisco, Pat Brisco, Patricia Matthews, Laura Wylie, Denise Matthews
Patricia Anne Klein Ernst was born on 1 July 1927 in San Fernando, California, USA, the daughter of Gladys Gable and Roy Oliver Ernst. Her mother enrolled her in the famous Meglin Kiddies school, but she recorded only two of her songs professionally for one demo tape. She studied at California State University, Los Angeles, were she worked as secretary to the General Manager of Associated Students by the California State College.
In 21 December 1946, she married Marvin Owen Brisco and moved to Arizona, they had two sons: Michael Arvie and David Roy. By 1961, the marriage had ended in divorce. Focused on her writing career, she returned to California, where she met the writer Clayton Matthews in a local writers' group. After Matthews divorced his first wife, he and Patricia married in 3 November 1972 and lived near San Diego.
She started to write poetry, juvenile books, a play, fantasy and mystery short stories, which she signed under different names: Patricia Ernst, P.A. Brisco and Pat A. Brisco. Using the names Patty Brisco and Pat Brisco, she wrote gothic novels.
When the market for gothic novels softened, at the suggestion of the Clayton's agent, Jay Garon, she began to write romance novels under her second married name, Patricia Matthews in 1976. She become a popular writer, called "American's First Lady of Historical Romance". She and her husband also collaborated on several romance and suspense novels using the pseudonyms Laura Wylie and Laurie Wylie. She and her husband wrote five Casey Farrell mystery novels together, and she wrote three on her own, the Thumbprint Mysteries, set in the American South, westat the fourth- sixth- and eighth-grade reading levels, yet offer characters, situations, and concerns appropriate for adult readers. With Denise Hrivnak, she also wrote under the pseudonym Denise Matthews.
Her husband Clayton died in 25 March 2004. Patricia Anne Brisco Matthews died at 5:30 a.m. 7 December 2006 in the familiar house of Brisco in Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 6, 2014
The story is set in the early 1700s (1717 I think, but I'm too lazy to go and look). Sixteen-year-old Hannah's ebil step-father has indentured her to the local icky squicky tavern owner. Supposedly to be a tavern wench (a phrase oft repeated in this book), but her new owner has other ideas for making good use of his new servant.
"I'm about to have you, girl. I'm going to claim my rights."
Hannah finally reaches her limits and escapes into the arms of a very old, but very wealthy plantation owner. Y'all can pretty much guess what happens next (such a scandal!). New hubby has a son who ran off and is presumed dead, but I'll spare all the details, since you can guess all those twists a mile away.
My thoughts on all this? I was fairly positive by the first few pages this was going to go on the side of old skool romances, and I was OK with that, really I was, but I need some WTF craziness to go along with it. Stuff actually happened in the first half of the book and I was fairly well engaged. Then, after a night of wild sex between virtual strangers and it's all twu-wuv forever and ever and ever and it all went downhill. Nothing happened. Hannah pines for her twu-wuv, but why does she love him? He screwed her and rode out of town without a word. By the time he realizes he's in love and should come home (why does he love her, for all appearances she's a gold-digging slut), she's in a pickle and has to run off. To Boston. Where she opens a tavern. She sings in the tavern. How exciting was that? Not.
Not recommended, even for the die-hard fans of these older romances. There just isn't enough story to hold it together. And definitely not recommended for the more PC set of readers (nothing wrong with that, tastes do vary). Rape, beatings and plentiful use of the "N" word to be found here. Off to the charity box with this one.
"I'm about to have you, girl. I'm going to claim my rights."
Hannah finally reaches her limits and escapes into the arms of a very old, but very wealthy plantation owner. Y'all can pretty much guess what happens next (such a scandal!). New hubby has a son who ran off and is presumed dead, but I'll spare all the details, since you can guess all those twists a mile away.
My thoughts on all this? I was fairly positive by the first few pages this was going to go on the side of old skool romances, and I was OK with that, really I was, but I need some WTF craziness to go along with it. Stuff actually happened in the first half of the book and I was fairly well engaged. Then, after a night of wild sex between virtual strangers and it's all twu-wuv forever and ever and ever and it all went downhill. Nothing happened. Hannah pines for her twu-wuv, but why does she love him? He screwed her and rode out of town without a word. By the time he realizes he's in love and should come home (why does he love her, for all appearances she's a gold-digging slut), she's in a pickle and has to run off. To Boston. Where she opens a tavern. She sings in the tavern. How exciting was that? Not.
Not recommended, even for the die-hard fans of these older romances. There just isn't enough story to hold it together. And definitely not recommended for the more PC set of readers (nothing wrong with that, tastes do vary). Rape, beatings and plentiful use of the "N" word to be found here. Off to the charity box with this one.
July 14, 2017
2.5 stars. I rounded up because of the good beginning, but the last half...nope. It tumbled downhill in a landslide of Teh Dumbz. Once Hannah achieved her short-term goals & became mistress of Malvern, the plot ground to a halt & the entire cast cracked open a bottle of stupid pills. The pirate plot only added to the plodding snore that was the remainder -- a damn shame, since the opening sections were pretty good & gave a (false) impression of further awesomeness to be had. Dammit.
Personal feeling aside, this is a true Bodice Ripper & as such contains content suitable for pearl-clutching.
Squick list:
-large age gap in first marriage
-rape & abuse
-swearing/un-pc language
-heroine bangs father & son in same family
-town bicycle heroine
-general violence
Personal feeling aside, this is a true Bodice Ripper & as such contains content suitable for pearl-clutching.
Squick list:
-large age gap in first marriage
-rape & abuse
-swearing/un-pc language
-heroine bangs father & son in same family
-town bicycle heroine
-general violence
July 19, 2016
Sometimes you just have to read a trashy romance...
April 20, 2013
Hannah endures, what I call, pure hell and torture in the first part of book in the hands of her stepfather then to man she is sold to warm his bed with cause she was virgin..and it was a bit of an aggravating portion of the book that was difficult for me personally to read..
Difficult to read but overall an ok read.
Difficult to read but overall an ok read.
February 9, 2020
This is one of those books that I love and hate at the same time. That is why I wondered so much how many stars should I give. And I feel confused because I am not sure what to write in this review. I suppose that you must read the book to understand what I am saying.
Hannah is a survivor, and even though she passed through many abusive situations I kinda have a hard time understanding some of her decisions. The story happens in 1717, and I suppose that in those times women did not have much saying in what men could do or not do to them. My problem with the story itself, it's that she actually fell in love with one of her abusers. :/
I tried...but I have nothing more. :-s
Thanks for reading!
CB.
Hannah is a survivor, and even though she passed through many abusive situations I kinda have a hard time understanding some of her decisions. The story happens in 1717, and I suppose that in those times women did not have much saying in what men could do or not do to them. My problem with the story itself, it's that she actually fell in love with one of her abusers. :/
I tried...but I have nothing more. :-s
Thanks for reading!
CB.
April 12, 2018
I vividly remember the cover from reading it 40 years ago, and the story is coming back to me but it turned me off this author.
August 7, 2023
Goodness gracious. We need more bodice rippers in the world. And hero's named Dancer.
December 25, 2014
Pub. Date: 1976 Publisher: Pinnacle
Setting: Virginia, July 1717
Timeline: 3-4 years
Heroine: Hannah McCambridge, 16
Hero: Michael Verner,22-ish
Rating/Grade: B/4 stars
Hannah goes through hell during the first part of the book. Her stepfather leads her, with a rope around her neck, to an inn called The Cup and Horn. He’s forcing her to become an indentured servant for the next five years, until she’s twenty-one. The man who buys her is the owner of the inn, Amos Stritch. He’s fifty, fat and bald. Amos bought her to ‘warm his bed’ and because she was a virgin. She’s to work at the inn too. He rapes her and beats her several times.
She meets a sixty-three year old Englishman named Malcolm Verner. He’s owner of a plantation called Malvern, which is assume the word is a combination of his first and last name. He’s wealthy because he grows tobacco. He’s got a young son, Michael, whom he assumes is dead. He buys Hannah’s indenture papers from Silas and gives them to her; he frees her but she chooses to say at Malvern and continue on as his housekeeper. Malcolm asks her to marry him and she agrees. She’s now seventeen.
The rest of the book is a bit boring to me. There is some interesting information about Hannah being octoroon, meaning she’s 1/8 African. Her
father is 1/4 African. There’s some blackmail toward her involving that. Malcolm dies and his dead son reappears. He and Hannah begin a sexual relationship, resulting in a pregnancy. She flees to Boston and opens up an inn and had a lover. The plague strikes and kills thousands. Michael finds her and they, and their daughter, Michele, move back to Virginia and they get their happily-ever-after.
I didn’t like that Michael was only 22 ish or the secret mission he was on to kill the pirate known as Blackbeard. I also didn’t like the plague stuff either. The book wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping but it was alright.
There’s a sequel to this and is about both Hannah and her adult daughter, Dancer of Dreams.
Setting: Virginia, July 1717
Timeline: 3-4 years
Heroine: Hannah McCambridge, 16
Hero: Michael Verner,22-ish
Rating/Grade: B/4 stars
Hannah goes through hell during the first part of the book. Her stepfather leads her, with a rope around her neck, to an inn called The Cup and Horn. He’s forcing her to become an indentured servant for the next five years, until she’s twenty-one. The man who buys her is the owner of the inn, Amos Stritch. He’s fifty, fat and bald. Amos bought her to ‘warm his bed’ and because she was a virgin. She’s to work at the inn too. He rapes her and beats her several times.
She meets a sixty-three year old Englishman named Malcolm Verner. He’s owner of a plantation called Malvern, which is assume the word is a combination of his first and last name. He’s wealthy because he grows tobacco. He’s got a young son, Michael, whom he assumes is dead. He buys Hannah’s indenture papers from Silas and gives them to her; he frees her but she chooses to say at Malvern and continue on as his housekeeper. Malcolm asks her to marry him and she agrees. She’s now seventeen.
The rest of the book is a bit boring to me. There is some interesting information about Hannah being octoroon, meaning she’s 1/8 African. Her
father is 1/4 African. There’s some blackmail toward her involving that. Malcolm dies and his dead son reappears. He and Hannah begin a sexual relationship, resulting in a pregnancy. She flees to Boston and opens up an inn and had a lover. The plague strikes and kills thousands. Michael finds her and they, and their daughter, Michele, move back to Virginia and they get their happily-ever-after.
I didn’t like that Michael was only 22 ish or the secret mission he was on to kill the pirate known as Blackbeard. I also didn’t like the plague stuff either. The book wasn’t quite as good as I was hoping but it was alright.
There’s a sequel to this and is about both Hannah and her adult daughter, Dancer of Dreams.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 22, 2010It had to be the FAB 70's....I like the cover, but I would have personally done so much more with it, still, very intriguing and I actually own this copy!!!
March 24, 2011
Very entertaining book, different from your average romance novel. The characters are more human, relatable, and some truly evil sots! I really enjoyed this book. Definitely worth the read!!
October 12, 2014
a good read read it over 30 years ago
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews