Woman's Own

by Robyn Carr Narrated by Amy McFadden

Overview

Blessed with great beauty and wealth, Emily Armstrong had the highest privileges that youth can bestow. But all that is behind her now. Pregnant and abandoned by the man she loved, she struggles to survive in the slums of Philadelphia after the Civil War. Vowing never to be fooled by love again, she builds a new life as the mistress of a boardinghouse, known for her morals, virtue, and strictly guarded heart. But when a traveler from out West visits for the Centennial Exhibition and checks into Emily's lodging, something stirs within her. Rugged yet ever the gentleman, this cowboy is nothing like the man who left her pregnant long ago. Perhaps this time, love deserves a second chance....

A sweeping saga that spans three generations, Woman's Own is the story of four Armstrong women-Emily, her two daughters, and her estranged mother-who are seemingly cursed when it comes to love. In a time before women's rights, the Armstrong women challenge expectations and carve out a life of independence and freedom on their own terms. Fans of Virgin River will enjoy this timeless novel of new beginnings, untamable passion, and all-redeeming love.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Set in 19th-century Philadelphia, this complex historical romance follows three generations of women in the Main Line Armstrong family as they are propelled into independence by the men, good and bad, in their lives. Emily, the mother of two girls, is abandoned when the marriage for which she defied her social class collapses. Learning working-class survival skills, she becomes a respectable boarding-house proprietor, but still must cope with her daughters' coming-of-age. Patsy is determined to wed wealthily whatever the cost, and pays a high price; Lilly finds male support for her entrepreneurial undertaking, the building of a luxury hotel. Reconciled with her wealthy mother, Emily deals with the willfulness of her daughters, and with her own sexual awakening. Carr ( Tempted ) evokes a city brimming with the rich and famous, who are often cruel and greedy, as she depicts interesting women, survivors of the various rebellions that shaped their lives. (Apr.)

Library Journal

Set in late-19th-century Philadelphia, Women's Own is a departure from Carr's medieval historical novels ( By Right of Arms, LJ 5/1/86; The Troubadour's Romance, LJ 7/85). It is the story of three generations of Armstrong women, all strong, stubborn, and seemingly cursed when it comes to men: Amanda, married and widowed three times; her daughter Emily, married to a man who abused her and abandoned her to poverty; and Emily's daughters, Patricia, repelled by the physical aspects of love, who forces herself to marry a man she abhors, and Lilly, who loves a man she cannot have. This is also the story of four women who try to live their lives on their own terms. Though the plot is predictable at times and the romantic scenes cliched, the characters are strongly drawn and engage the reader's interest and emotions.-- Susan K. Cohen, Westfield Memorial Lib., N.J.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172436727
Publisher:	Brilliance Audio
Publication date:	05/14/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged

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