What do you think?
Rate this book
Ever since she could remember, Anna Cochran had been passionately, shamelessly in love with tall, quiet Evan Tremayne. But the stubborn man was so focused on protecting her from rough-and-tumble cowboys like him that he wouldn't acknowledge the fierce yearning she awoke in him.So it was up to Anna to draw Evan out of his shell and prove that she was the only woman for him now…and always.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1991
152 people are currently reading
953 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,039 books3,098 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
November 2, 2018
I had so MUCH FUN reading this one. This is five stars for the reading experience – so don’t look for an objective analysis of the story. But it is a good story. It’s logical – there are no whiplash changes of heart like the first seven books. The emotions build, as does the angst.
OMG – and so much angsty glory of a humiliated heroine and a cruel hero who hates himself for being cruel. *happy sigh*
Heroine is 19 and has had an open crush on the 34 year-old hero for two years. When the story opens, she is flirty and fun and the hero is amused by her. However, she has worn a “sophisticated sundress” which shows off her very large breasts.
And suddenly the harmless flirtation alarms the hero. He wants her, but she’s a virgin and the only other virgin he was ever involved with was frightened by his huge “anatomy” and struggled so hard to get away from him that she broke a rib when she fell out of bed. So no virgins for this 6 foot 4 giant (Reviewers note – are over-sized heroes still a thing? Cause this guy seems about average for the current crop of heroes).
He decides to bring an old flame supermodel (OW) to a party the heroine’s real estate agent mother is throwing to celebrate the new mall. (LOL – adding it to the play set) At the same time, the heroine is taunted by another party goer telling her that everyone knows she’s had a crush on the hero and isn’t it about time she realized he didn’t want her?
Heroine is humiliated. She drinks too much of the spiked punch and hangs all over the OM. The hero is jealous of the heroine hanging on to the OM and is quite cutting to her.
The next day the OW rubs it in that the hero hates her for chasing him. The broken-hearted heroine decides to avoid the hero. Hero is angry/confused that she has turned on him, so he’s even more cruel every time he sees her. She apologizes several times for chasing him and asks him to leave her alone.
He can’t seem to do that – even after she changes jobs and goes to work in an art gallery rather than be in her mom’s real estate office where the hero frequently drops in to buy investment properties. He’s got it so bad that by chapter five he’s stalked her at the art gallery and begins to kiss and caress her. (It’s not busy at the art gallery in Jacobsivlle, obv.) He hates himself for succumbing to the temptation and the heroine thinks it’s more of his revenge – showing her what she can’t have and then walking away.
Heroine eventually decides that she’ll marry her OM – a medical resident at the hospital who wants her mother’s money so he can set up a practice in Houston. He is a flirt and has told the heroine he will not be faithful to her. Heroine doesn’t care because she doesn’t love the OM, but she will marry him in order to get her out of Jacobsville and away from the hero.
Hero has decided after a trip to Denver where he picked up a woman and couldn’t “raise the flag” that he must have the heroine. He’ll apologize and then ask the heroine out on a date. But he’s too late - heroine is wearing an emerald ring and nothing will change her mind. She thinks the hero wants her to break her engagement so he can break her heart again.
Oh, the angst! There are many encounters with the hero eating his heart out, but being cruel to hide his intense emotions. The hero is especially disturbed when he sees the OM with another woman and he realizes the heroine is throwing herself away on the OM. The OW is still at war with the h – sticking the knife in whenever she can about what a great time she and the hero are having in bed.
The heroine is in a bad way and listlessly goes with the OM to Houston to meet his family. They stop at a liquor store in a bad part of town. OM leaves the h in the car, but she gets out when she sees a stray kitten. She is immediately mugged for her jewelry and then she is viciously beaten by a “large man.” The OM chases the mugger away and gets the comatose heroine to a hospital.
It’s touch and go in intensive care until the hero finally arrives and actually “virgin whispers” her to consciousness by reminding her of their hot second base session in the art gallery. (Reviewers note – I actually chortled at this. All my careful parsing of DP lead to this moment)
The hero chases off the OM. After a lot of convincing and make out sessions – even a skinny dip in the pond - the hero convinces her to marry him. The skinny dip helped the hero in that she didn’t faint at seeing his enormous “anatomy.”
They still have trust issues after their wedding, but once they finally do the deed, all is well. Meanwhile the heroine’s airline pilot father has returned and he and her mother are getting back together, so that was a nice (implausible) bonus for a fun HEA.
I’ve left out all kind of details, but I hope I’ve given you a flavor of the fun angst and drama. I liked the heroine a lot – she never fell out of love with the hero – she just did what she had to do to keep going. That she has a daddy complex because her father was away for most of her childhood and is attracted to a much older man is never stated, but boy is it implied.
The hero had so many hang ups – DP loves her messed up heroes – but they were hang ups that sex with the heroine could and did cure. So I believed this HEA. Can you see my starry eyes behind my rose colored glasses?
And have I got a checklist for you.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest – check – and not just a mention: From chapter five
He caught her hands and put them inside his shirt, pressing them gently into the thickness of body hair.
"Evan!" she moaned.
His breath caught as he pushed her hands closer. "Oh, God," he managed as his body suddenly went taut with violent arousal. "Pull, baby," he breathed, bending to her mouth. "Get a handful of it and pull...!"
Breast Description – check – so big they fill his hands. Mauve
Cigarettes – check – hero never smoked until heroine was in the hospital – then he smoked “like a furnace.”
Alcohol – spiked punch
Town Descriptions – A mall! feedstore, real estate office, post office, art gallery, dress boutique, hardware store, a restaurant called “Beef Palace”, Chinese restaurant, civic center where they have concerts, a zoo!
Gardenia Scent – no – rose petals.
LOL detail – hero is smoking in intensive care
Cutesy detail – none, thank God
OMG – and so much angsty glory of a humiliated heroine and a cruel hero who hates himself for being cruel. *happy sigh*
Heroine is 19 and has had an open crush on the 34 year-old hero for two years. When the story opens, she is flirty and fun and the hero is amused by her. However, she has worn a “sophisticated sundress” which shows off her very large breasts.
And suddenly the harmless flirtation alarms the hero. He wants her, but she’s a virgin and the only other virgin he was ever involved with was frightened by his huge “anatomy” and struggled so hard to get away from him that she broke a rib when she fell out of bed. So no virgins for this 6 foot 4 giant (Reviewers note – are over-sized heroes still a thing? Cause this guy seems about average for the current crop of heroes).
He decides to bring an old flame supermodel (OW) to a party the heroine’s real estate agent mother is throwing to celebrate the new mall. (LOL – adding it to the play set) At the same time, the heroine is taunted by another party goer telling her that everyone knows she’s had a crush on the hero and isn’t it about time she realized he didn’t want her?
Heroine is humiliated. She drinks too much of the spiked punch and hangs all over the OM. The hero is jealous of the heroine hanging on to the OM and is quite cutting to her.
The next day the OW rubs it in that the hero hates her for chasing him. The broken-hearted heroine decides to avoid the hero. Hero is angry/confused that she has turned on him, so he’s even more cruel every time he sees her. She apologizes several times for chasing him and asks him to leave her alone.
He can’t seem to do that – even after she changes jobs and goes to work in an art gallery rather than be in her mom’s real estate office where the hero frequently drops in to buy investment properties. He’s got it so bad that by chapter five he’s stalked her at the art gallery and begins to kiss and caress her. (It’s not busy at the art gallery in Jacobsivlle, obv.) He hates himself for succumbing to the temptation and the heroine thinks it’s more of his revenge – showing her what she can’t have and then walking away.
Heroine eventually decides that she’ll marry her OM – a medical resident at the hospital who wants her mother’s money so he can set up a practice in Houston. He is a flirt and has told the heroine he will not be faithful to her. Heroine doesn’t care because she doesn’t love the OM, but she will marry him in order to get her out of Jacobsville and away from the hero.
Hero has decided after a trip to Denver where he picked up a woman and couldn’t “raise the flag” that he must have the heroine. He’ll apologize and then ask the heroine out on a date. But he’s too late - heroine is wearing an emerald ring and nothing will change her mind. She thinks the hero wants her to break her engagement so he can break her heart again.
Oh, the angst! There are many encounters with the hero eating his heart out, but being cruel to hide his intense emotions. The hero is especially disturbed when he sees the OM with another woman and he realizes the heroine is throwing herself away on the OM. The OW is still at war with the h – sticking the knife in whenever she can about what a great time she and the hero are having in bed.
The heroine is in a bad way and listlessly goes with the OM to Houston to meet his family. They stop at a liquor store in a bad part of town. OM leaves the h in the car, but she gets out when she sees a stray kitten. She is immediately mugged for her jewelry and then she is viciously beaten by a “large man.” The OM chases the mugger away and gets the comatose heroine to a hospital.
It’s touch and go in intensive care until the hero finally arrives and actually “virgin whispers” her to consciousness by reminding her of their hot second base session in the art gallery. (Reviewers note – I actually chortled at this. All my careful parsing of DP lead to this moment)
The hero chases off the OM. After a lot of convincing and make out sessions – even a skinny dip in the pond - the hero convinces her to marry him. The skinny dip helped the hero in that she didn’t faint at seeing his enormous “anatomy.”
They still have trust issues after their wedding, but once they finally do the deed, all is well. Meanwhile the heroine’s airline pilot father has returned and he and her mother are getting back together, so that was a nice (implausible) bonus for a fun HEA.
I’ve left out all kind of details, but I hope I’ve given you a flavor of the fun angst and drama. I liked the heroine a lot – she never fell out of love with the hero – she just did what she had to do to keep going. That she has a daddy complex because her father was away for most of her childhood and is attracted to a much older man is never stated, but boy is it implied.
The hero had so many hang ups – DP loves her messed up heroes – but they were hang ups that sex with the heroine could and did cure. So I believed this HEA. Can you see my starry eyes behind my rose colored glasses?
And have I got a checklist for you.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest – check – and not just a mention: From chapter five
He caught her hands and put them inside his shirt, pressing them gently into the thickness of body hair.
"Evan!" she moaned.
His breath caught as he pushed her hands closer. "Oh, God," he managed as his body suddenly went taut with violent arousal. "Pull, baby," he breathed, bending to her mouth. "Get a handful of it and pull...!"
Breast Description – check – so big they fill his hands. Mauve
Cigarettes – check – hero never smoked until heroine was in the hospital – then he smoked “like a furnace.”
Alcohol – spiked punch
Town Descriptions – A mall! feedstore, real estate office, post office, art gallery, dress boutique, hardware store, a restaurant called “Beef Palace”, Chinese restaurant, civic center where they have concerts, a zoo!
Gardenia Scent – no – rose petals.
LOL detail – hero is smoking in intensive care
Cutesy detail – none, thank God
December 23, 2016
5 I HATE THAT I LOVE YOU STARS!
This is the book that got me hooked on Diana Palmer's book. The first time I read this book was in my early teen years.
And I remember going
Anna was such a strong woman, who was worn down by the hero, Evan. I will explain: at the beginning she was obviously In love with Evan and had been for many years and was not put off by his ridicule and rejection. She kept hoping he would eventually see her and beginning to care about her.
However, when he throws back his ex lover in her face, she is left feeling more then rejected, she is humiliated in front of the whole town.
As a result, she finally gives up on Evan. She moves on and gets engaged to another man.
In theory, this seems life a great idea to Evan, until it actually happens. Then, he is confronted with feelings for her he did not realize he had. Well, he did realize but he was fighting it all the way.
You see, Evan has had a bad experience with his Virgin ex fiancé who rejected him due to his size. He couldn't take a chance on hurting another innocent or even worst getting hurt himself.
Will Evan overcome his fears and claim his innocent beauty for himself?
Read the book and find out.
All I can say is...
Some of the more worthwhile moments in this book took place in the art gallery and in the hospital.
Not to mention, his truck and when they watched "Tapes" of movies.
Seriously, I loved this book and the passion was off the charts!
As a teen, I secretly wanted an Evan.
To me he was extremely hot!
This is the book that got me hooked on Diana Palmer's book. The first time I read this book was in my early teen years.
And I remember going
Anna was such a strong woman, who was worn down by the hero, Evan. I will explain: at the beginning she was obviously In love with Evan and had been for many years and was not put off by his ridicule and rejection. She kept hoping he would eventually see her and beginning to care about her.
However, when he throws back his ex lover in her face, she is left feeling more then rejected, she is humiliated in front of the whole town.
As a result, she finally gives up on Evan. She moves on and gets engaged to another man.
In theory, this seems life a great idea to Evan, until it actually happens. Then, he is confronted with feelings for her he did not realize he had. Well, he did realize but he was fighting it all the way.
You see, Evan has had a bad experience with his Virgin ex fiancé who rejected him due to his size. He couldn't take a chance on hurting another innocent or even worst getting hurt himself.
Will Evan overcome his fears and claim his innocent beauty for himself?
Read the book and find out.
All I can say is...
Some of the more worthwhile moments in this book took place in the art gallery and in the hospital.
Not to mention, his truck and when they watched "Tapes" of movies.
Seriously, I loved this book and the passion was off the charts!
As a teen, I secretly wanted an Evan.
To me he was extremely hot!
December 16, 2016
Fricking Evan. Apply two by four vigorously.
Mid-chapter 5...There is some betrayal here, and it's me. Betrayed by fellow Goodread reviewers. Here is a quote about the hero,
Time to ditch the two by four, and go for the guns.
All righty.
The premise of the story is Anna has been chasing Sasquatch aka Evan of the incredibly hairy chest and Mr. BIG-ALL-OVER for a couple of years.Sasquatch Evan is the uber, closed off cowboy about town that Anna adores. Evan is also an asshole of epic proportions. Due to a sexual "incident" with a delicate flower virgin who didn't react well to all of Evan's BIG self, he is afraid of poor Anna. So instead of talking to her mother or Anna about how he is uncomfortable with her advances, he gets an ex, the bitch from hell, to parade around as his GF. He also takes every opportunity to humiliate Anna. The whole town knows she has a crush on him. Part of this is her fault, but he is 15 years older, and he breaks the Texas cowboy code of conduct for setting her up for ridicule.
The worm turns for Anna, and she gets a new job and a fiancee. This is when I had to check the publishing date. No, not 1951, published in 1991. Her fiancee is a womanizing, ambitious friend who admits he won't be faithful. How about NOT looking for a man to solve your problem, or at least find someone decent?
Now, that Evan gets his way and has Anna off his back, he pouts. He misses her adoration. He is just one big tease. He puts the moves on Anna AGAIN and humiliates her AGAIN.
Anna and her fiancee go to Houston where a deus ex machina mugging puts her in the hospital on life support for crying out loud. She has a 50-50% chance which doesn't explain why or how Evan is leching on her in a big way 48 hours later. Evan 86's the fiancee and moves in on her. Heavy petting ensues. When I say petting, it's because these anachronistic idiots are probably thinking ... PETTING. Evan, not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, has an epiphany. Hey, maybe they should get married. He could have sex. He could have kids. Well, he could have sex if he can get over his psychological fear of delicate virgins who cry wolf.
Evan is one messed puppy. He obsesses about his ex, Valerie or Virginia, whatever, and her OTT response to his largeness to the extent
HEA where she paints a portrait of him where he is happy as he seems in proportion. I see it like something like this...
Mid-chapter 5...There is some betrayal here, and it's me. Betrayed by fellow Goodread reviewers. Here is a quote about the hero,
But he is a DP H and just as butt headed as any of them, although he wasn't as mean as most others."The reviewer will remain nameless (yeah Preeti, it's you), but she was not alone in damning with faint praise. Fricking Evan is NOT a bad DP hero?? I am about two minutes from channeling my Dad's WWII bootcamp Marine cussing over this guy for lack of better term.
Time to ditch the two by four, and go for the guns.
All righty.
The premise of the story is Anna has been chasing Sasquatch aka Evan of the incredibly hairy chest and Mr. BIG-ALL-OVER for a couple of years.
The worm turns for Anna, and she gets a new job and a fiancee. This is when I had to check the publishing date. No, not 1951, published in 1991. Her fiancee is a womanizing, ambitious friend who admits he won't be faithful. How about NOT looking for a man to solve your problem, or at least find someone decent?
Now, that Evan gets his way and has Anna off his back, he pouts. He misses her adoration. He is just one big tease. He puts the moves on Anna AGAIN and humiliates her AGAIN.
Anna and her fiancee go to Houston where a deus ex machina mugging puts her in the hospital on life support for crying out loud. She has a 50-50% chance which doesn't explain why or how Evan is leching on her in a big way 48 hours later. Evan 86's the fiancee and moves in on her. Heavy petting ensues. When I say petting, it's because these anachronistic idiots are probably thinking ... PETTING. Evan, not being the sharpest knife in the drawer, has an epiphany. Hey, maybe they should get married. He could have sex. He could have kids. Well, he could have sex if he can get over his psychological fear of delicate virgins who cry wolf.
Evan is one messed puppy. He obsesses about his ex, Valerie or Virginia, whatever, and her OTT response to his largeness to the extent
HEA where she paints a portrait of him where he is happy as he seems in proportion. I see it like something like this...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2013
He moved one hand to his shirt and, holding her eyes, ripped the snaps open down the front, baring the bronze, muscular chest under its thick mat of dark, curling hair. "Touch me," he said curtly.
Her lips parted. She couldn't believe this was happening, here in the gallery, in broad
daylight.
"It's all right," he said quietly. He caught her hands and put them inside his shirt, pressing
them gently into the thickness of body hair.
"Evan!" she moaned.
His breath caught as he pushed her hands closer. "Oh, God," he managed as his body suddenly went taut with violent arousal. "Pull, baby," he breathed, bending to her mouth. "Get
a handful of it and pull...!"
WTF!!! I'd like to thank my Mom for loaning me this awesomely bad book. The laugh my ass off moments made this read completely worth the time and it's the reason I'm giving it 2 stars. And I'm shelving this under "historical romance" because Diana Palmer writes like it's still 1972.
Her lips parted. She couldn't believe this was happening, here in the gallery, in broad
daylight.
"It's all right," he said quietly. He caught her hands and put them inside his shirt, pressing
them gently into the thickness of body hair.
"Evan!" she moaned.
His breath caught as he pushed her hands closer. "Oh, God," he managed as his body suddenly went taut with violent arousal. "Pull, baby," he breathed, bending to her mouth. "Get
a handful of it and pull...!"
WTF!!! I'd like to thank my Mom for loaning me this awesomely bad book. The laugh my ass off moments made this read completely worth the time and it's the reason I'm giving it 2 stars. And I'm shelving this under "historical romance" because Diana Palmer writes like it's still 1972.
December 13, 2016
A sweet, sexy romance served the DP way.
It’s been a while since I read a DP I enjoyed so much and can swoon about too.
The 19 yrs. old h is the sweetest DP h ever. She’s no downtrodden Mary Sue. I just love the way she chases after the H, who though attracted to her blonde buxom beauty tries to fob her off as he feels she’s too young.
It wasn’t that he minded the dinner so much.... What bothered Evan Tremayne was the way Anna sat and watched him.
“I have to go.”
She stood up. “Not yet,” she pleaded.
“I’ve got things to do,” he said.
“No, you haven’t,” she said, pouting. “You just don’t want to be alone with me. What are you afraid of, Evan, that I’ll assault you on the table?”
She was so sweet and guileless, and openly adoring with it. I just loved her.
And of course, he has to have some woman/sex/ex issues. He is this big broad cowboy whose one past petite, virgin lady love had fled his bed terrified of ..err things and spread stories how he had broken her ribs in the bargain!
So he runs scared of all things virginal and innocent. Only thing is our h is not only buxom and statuesque, but is also totally in love with him. The logic behind the love part is that according to the H’s brother had the ow really loved him (rather than his money) she wont have ran..but endured! And I'm still wondering whether love or money would make a better motivation for ‘bearing’ what the H had to offer!
But he is a DP H and just as butt headed as any of them, although he wasn't as mean as most others. His reasons for distancing himself were more for her sake than his own.
And so he uses (another) ow to send the h signal that he is not interested. Well, she feels humiliated and finally lets go accepting the om’s proposal. Conversely our H feels peeved at her desertion. And so it goes on…
But the chemistry and the making out scenes were signature DP. Hawt, simply hawwwt! She is one author who can make do with just the second base and set the pages on fire. And it's not the h's assets that matter as much as the H’s thick rasping mat of hair that covered him from throat to stomach does- the biggest weapon in DP's arsenal!
Peeves -
Why did she think she even had to marry someone?
She’s only 19, beautiful, spirited and wants to pursue painting. And especially marry a man (om) who makes it clear that he will not be faithful to her, but yes, will be careful and discreet! That was plain disgusting.
She could have gone away if saving her pride and avoiding the H was the motive.
And for a change there were no family/money issues as well. Her mom’s a wealthy businesswoman who’s also a loving and communicative mother.
And okay, I get it that the om dint love her, but weirdly he’s not even attracted to her. She's a very beautiful girl with a great figure. And the om is a ladies man who pursues anyone and anything in a skirt. So that was a bit odd.
It’s been a while since I read a DP I enjoyed so much and can swoon about too.
The 19 yrs. old h is the sweetest DP h ever. She’s no downtrodden Mary Sue. I just love the way she chases after the H, who though attracted to her blonde buxom beauty tries to fob her off as he feels she’s too young.
It wasn’t that he minded the dinner so much.... What bothered Evan Tremayne was the way Anna sat and watched him.
“I have to go.”
She stood up. “Not yet,” she pleaded.
“I’ve got things to do,” he said.
“No, you haven’t,” she said, pouting. “You just don’t want to be alone with me. What are you afraid of, Evan, that I’ll assault you on the table?”
She was so sweet and guileless, and openly adoring with it. I just loved her.
And of course, he has to have some woman/sex/ex issues. He is this big broad cowboy whose one past petite, virgin lady love had fled his bed terrified of ..err things and spread stories how he had broken her ribs in the bargain!
So he runs scared of all things virginal and innocent. Only thing is our h is not only buxom and statuesque, but is also totally in love with him. The logic behind the love part is that according to the H’s brother had the ow really loved him (rather than his money) she wont have ran..but endured! And I'm still wondering whether love or money would make a better motivation for ‘bearing’ what the H had to offer!
But he is a DP H and just as butt headed as any of them, although he wasn't as mean as most others. His reasons for distancing himself were more for her sake than his own.
And so he uses (another) ow to send the h signal that he is not interested. Well, she feels humiliated and finally lets go accepting the om’s proposal. Conversely our H feels peeved at her desertion. And so it goes on…
But the chemistry and the making out scenes were signature DP. Hawt, simply hawwwt! She is one author who can make do with just the second base and set the pages on fire. And it's not the h's assets that matter as much as the H’s thick rasping mat of hair that covered him from throat to stomach does- the biggest weapon in DP's arsenal!
Peeves -
Why did she think she even had to marry someone?
She’s only 19, beautiful, spirited and wants to pursue painting. And especially marry a man (om) who makes it clear that he will not be faithful to her, but yes, will be careful and discreet! That was plain disgusting.
She could have gone away if saving her pride and avoiding the H was the motive.
And for a change there were no family/money issues as well. Her mom’s a wealthy businesswoman who’s also a loving and communicative mother.
And okay, I get it that the om dint love her, but weirdly he’s not even attracted to her. She's a very beautiful girl with a great figure. And the om is a ladies man who pursues anyone and anything in a skirt. So that was a bit odd.
March 9, 2015
Good heavens. That was hysterically cheesy, but I did enjoy it in that guilty way I enjoy a box of Cheez-Its. I just had to exercise this Diana Palmer mania that got started up over at Amazon. I didn't feel right being the only one to suffer since I'd kinda suggested that it would be fun to have a Diana Palmer/Lynne Graham mish-mash. Basically the MOST pitiful downtrodden, orphan heroine EVER and the Greek tycoon turned rancher turned secret federal agent.
This one didn't really have a downtrodden heroine though. She actually had living parents and was fairly well off, financially. She also had no great past trauma that made her fear intimacy and dress frumpy.
Basic story - Evan is a 34-year-old "big" strapping cowboy. 6'4" broad shoulders, big frame, huge hands. All of this was emphasized over and over and over, along with his fear of being with a virgin due to one experience. Because really all this talk about his size was all eluding to the awesome manliness of his penis. I'm sure my brilliant analysis of the subtext is impressive ;)
Anna is 19 and virginal and has been chasing him for 2 years. Evan thinks she's too young for him, but mostly he's just scared he'll kill her with his giant wiener. No, I'm not kidding.
So, he pushes her away and publicly humiliates her (basic DP hero). So, she decides to move on and stop chasing him and marry someone else. That's when Evan gets all jealous and then REALLY goes psycho with the hot/cold treatment.
There was lots of chest hair fetish and cheeztastic lines. You'll all be glad to know that the H/h lived happily ever after and she was absolutely thrilled that he was such a "big man" ;)
ETA: The tiny town of Jacobsville,TX (~2K) has a fine art gallery and a new mall just opened in this installment.
This one didn't really have a downtrodden heroine though. She actually had living parents and was fairly well off, financially. She also had no great past trauma that made her fear intimacy and dress frumpy.
Basic story - Evan is a 34-year-old "big" strapping cowboy. 6'4" broad shoulders, big frame, huge hands. All of this was emphasized over and over and over, along with his fear of being with a virgin due to one experience. Because really all this talk about his size was all eluding to the awesome manliness of his penis. I'm sure my brilliant analysis of the subtext is impressive ;)
Anna is 19 and virginal and has been chasing him for 2 years. Evan thinks she's too young for him, but mostly he's just scared he'll kill her with his giant wiener. No, I'm not kidding.
So, he pushes her away and publicly humiliates her (basic DP hero). So, she decides to move on and stop chasing him and marry someone else. That's when Evan gets all jealous and then REALLY goes psycho with the hot/cold treatment.
There was lots of chest hair fetish and cheeztastic lines. You'll all be glad to know that the H/h lived happily ever after and she was absolutely thrilled that he was such a "big man" ;)
ETA: The tiny town of Jacobsville,TX (~2K) has a fine art gallery and a new mall just opened in this installment.
January 8, 2023
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
==============================
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
==================
UPDATE: Reread, April 2019 =>Caminhos da Sedução, portuguese edition, Kindle Unlimited
UPDATE: Re-read in March 2018 (added highlights)
UPDATE: Relido em 9 de junho de 2016
UPDATE: re-read in October 2014
--------------------
Our hero is very cruel to our heroine and does unforgivable things in my opinion. But she forgives him in the end and they have the HEA.
All features already known from the author's books are present. Virginal and naive heroine, another woman is sophisticated and evil, hero is an asshole and full of traumas of the past. There are parties and another man interested in our heroine and as always she faces a dangerous situation.
---------------------
==============================
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
==================
UPDATE: Reread, April 2019 =>Caminhos da Sedução, portuguese edition, Kindle Unlimited
UPDATE: Re-read in March 2018 (added highlights)
UPDATE: Relido em 9 de junho de 2016
UPDATE: re-read in October 2014
--------------------
Our hero is very cruel to our heroine and does unforgivable things in my opinion. But she forgives him in the end and they have the HEA.
All features already known from the author's books are present. Virginal and naive heroine, another woman is sophisticated and evil, hero is an asshole and full of traumas of the past. There are parties and another man interested in our heroine and as always she faces a dangerous situation.
---------------------
She was nineteen, blond, buxom and blue-eyed, a statuesque young woman with long tanned legs that looked incredible in shorts.
"I could be dying of love for you," she said quietly. "And you don't even care that you're breaking my heart." He grinned. "Hearts don't break, especially at your age."
Better to stick to experienced women who weren't afraid of him.
Playing games with grown men could be dangerous. Someone needed to prove it to her.
"A man won't usually turn down a blatant invitation, even if it's against his better judgment."
He'd brought Nina, whom everyone knew was his old flame. The woman was now a successful fashion model in Houston, and she was visiting locally.
Nina sighed complacently. "My career has taken off since Evan helped me find that new agency."
"The band is very good," Nina remarked. "Evan, do let's dance!"
He had the lovely Nina close in his big arms and he was holding her with casual intimacy. Both her slender arms were looped around his neck; his hands on her waist held her carelessly close.
He tore his gaze away and bent to kiss Nina in front of the whole assembly. He did it thoroughly and with fierce need, to banish the sight of Anna's wounded face.
"I'll help you scrape the kid off, no problem."
"Anna is Randall's business, not mine. Dance. Help me get her off my neck."
It was humiliating to have him publicly reject her like this. As she glanced around, she caught people looking at her and began to notice the faint pity in their eyes.
"I'm sorry I made your life so difficult. I won't embarrass you anymore, I promise."
"I see," Harden murmured. "She's helping you fend off Anna."
"Anna's a virgin," Evan said shortly. "I'm almost certain of it. I had a rough experience with an innocent woman. These days, I look for sophistication."
"The doctor with the wandering eye, hmm?" Nina mused,...
Nina's delicate eyebrows levered up. "I haven't 'got' Evan at all," she said. "He only asked me out to keep you away from him. He said he'd do anything to scrape you off."
"Because the longer he feels you're a threat, the longer I'll have with him. He's quite something in bed," she said deliberately, watching Anna blush.
Only if Anna was kept away would Nina have a clear shot at Evan.
Evan glowered at her. "It isn't necessary to ridicule her," he said quietly. She stared at him blankly. "Why not? Everyone else does. It's common knowledge that she's made an utter fool of herself over you. She knows it, too."
"Do you know how to kiss, Anna?" he asked, his head spinning with this new experience of her, his reason abruptly gone in the heat of his need for her mouth. "Y-yes," she breathed. "Show me."
"You don't need to explain anything to me, Evan, I know how you feel. You want me, but I'm not in the running."
"Nina's more your style," she said bitterly, pushing at his chest. "She's experienced and sophisticated. I'll bet she knows as much as you do!"
"Good luck with your new job. I'll give Nina your regards."
The last thing he wanted to do was to hurt or humiliate her. But Denver hadn't rid him of his need for her. He hadn't been able to touch the woman who'd clung to him there. He'd intended to. He'd taken her back to his room, fed her drinks, flattered her. But when he'd pulled her into his arms and started kissing her, nothing happened.
"Why don't you marry him? It would get you out of my hair, at least."
"I haven't come near you! It's you who are harassing me!" "Turn about," he said softly, his eyes glittery. "How do you like it?"
Thank God for Nina, she must have finally convinced you that it was never going to work. Even a man who cares about a woman can't stomach that kind of harrassment.
The next few weeks dragged by, with Evan taunting her at every corner. He brought Nina in to buy paintings at the gallery, making his attentiveness to her so evident that Anna wanted to scream. He was seen around town with her, and seemed to go out of his way to make sure that Anna saw them. As revenge went, it was pure mastery. Anna felt as if she'd been cut to pieces, even if she did manage to salvage a little pride by stepping up her dates with Randall.
"Nina likes being touched," he said, his eyes holding hers. "She opens her mouth when I kiss her, and melts under my body...."
"I know you're not dying of love for me, Randall," she said quietly. "I know that there have been other women. It doesn't matter. I might as well marry you as anybody else. Why not?"
Evan was obviously not interested in her, either. He was being seen everywhere with Nina, flaunting his relationship. He'd even brought the woman to Polly's office with him, making his interest in her so evident that half the staff must have mentioned it to Anna.
The humiliation of knowing that Evan was totally aware of her helpless passion for him was unbearable. Having him flaunt Nina at her was worse.
We all know what he's been doing, throwing Nina in your face. I used to think that Evan was a big teddy bear, but Harden wasn't kidding when he told me Evan had fangs. I never dreamed he could be so cruel."
"You're mine," he whispered, nibbling softly at her nipple. "You belong to me. I'm not giving you to Randall."
"Do you let Randall do that to you?" he asked mockingly.
He was telling her that he owned her, and that wasn't true. She couldn't let him humiliate her again.
"You wanted to show me that I can't resist you. All right, you've done it. Now you can go and laugh about it with Nina. But I'm going to marry Randall."
"Well, hello," Nina gushed. She went up to Evan and blatantly kissed him, despite his obvious reticence.
"What kind of life will we have, falling all over your discarded lovers every time we go out to eat? Evan, I don't want this," she said wildly. "I can't marry you...!"
June 4, 2020
THIS BOOK WAS SO ROMANTIC THAT I ACTUALLY SHED SOME TEARS...JUST OH!
My very first book by Diana Palmer, she has this easy going way of writing that just makes you jump into the story from the very first word and live it through-and oh the bittersweet and sensual romance between Evan and Anna was incredible, and oh how i am a sucker for these characters.
Anna are utterly adorable in her naive nature, but a very brave young woman fighting for her love. Evan´s attempt to push Anna backfires on him when he realizes that he can`t live without her. Their passion are just WOW, forceful with its burning fire, Diana Palmer pulled up more better and hotter steamy-scenes than the actual graphic ones in other books..and for that Diana Palmer is a master of Romance in her own class. I look forward to read more of Diana Palmer`s works, especially about the "Long, Tall Texans" series.!
My very first book by Diana Palmer, she has this easy going way of writing that just makes you jump into the story from the very first word and live it through-and oh the bittersweet and sensual romance between Evan and Anna was incredible, and oh how i am a sucker for these characters.
Anna are utterly adorable in her naive nature, but a very brave young woman fighting for her love. Evan´s attempt to push Anna backfires on him when he realizes that he can`t live without her. Their passion are just WOW, forceful with its burning fire, Diana Palmer pulled up more better and hotter steamy-scenes than the actual graphic ones in other books..and for that Diana Palmer is a master of Romance in her own class. I look forward to read more of Diana Palmer`s works, especially about the "Long, Tall Texans" series.!
October 12, 2014
Loved the brooding hero, the spirited sassy heroine and the angst! Great romantic book!
December 4, 2021
Soooooo… this one is that with the big sized hero and the virgin.
One of the best DP in my opinion.
It has some differences from her usual books.
-the heroine is pretty, with big boobs and a body like a pin up. She has a very good mother and a quiet familiar environment. She also has money and some skills. She likes to paint.
- the hero POV is described. So we know exactly what passes through his lil brains, always. And if it’s not an entertaining journey for us to have, it is very revealing.
- there are some of the most entertaining scenes I’ve ever read in hp. Ever. I swear!
- the sex is too hilarious, with the heroine scratching her boobs on the hero’s chest hairs, that reminds me of my kitchen carpet, so thick and rusty. Really, I’m dying.
- the hero is cruel but he’s also stupid and the heroine understands his reasons and tells him. She’s not so clueless.
So the hero had a bad experience in his younger years, when he was making love for the first time with his fiancée and when he saw his big bamboo she panicked and hurt herself to avoid him. Hilarious for us, traumatizing for the poor guy. So he only dates experienced women.
The heroine is a virgin so he doesn’t want to hurt her- physically- and since she’s following him like a puppy because she’s in love with him he decides to make her understand there’s no chance, and he starts dating one of his ex, a bitch who of course hurts the heroine telling her the hero doesn’t want her around and they are having sex and enjoying it very much.
The heroine understands and decides she’s not going to pine after the hero.
He’s surprised that she doesn’t follow him anymore and also a little resentful. Really? What a genius.
He keeps on dating ow and strolling around with her so everyone see them together and the heroine decides to accept the proposal of a young man she’s dating.
Now, why she had to choose another loser, a cheater who only wanted to marry her for her money I don’t know. Couldn’t DP for once give her heroine a decent om?? Not a Superman, a decent one, who didn’t cheat, maybe a lukewarm one, but not another bastard sob.
That is what would you chose between a warm s**t and a cold one??? Mmmm, I don’t know. What a choice!
Whatever.
The hero, as soon as the heroine gets engaged, understands he wants her for himself and so he tries in every way to break her engagement.
Some other drama follows, with the heroine beaten and robbed and in a coma for some time, the hero all remorseful for what he did to her and the matter of her virginity and his issues with that.
Of course all is well in the end and I enjoyed the book because even if it was angsty it was also ironic and entertaining.
For DP lovers, big heroes (all over) with hairy chest and hands like plates ( really???) but not very high IQ. As one of my friend said once, he grew too much and his brains didn’t keep up with it…
One of the best DP in my opinion.
It has some differences from her usual books.
-the heroine is pretty, with big boobs and a body like a pin up. She has a very good mother and a quiet familiar environment. She also has money and some skills. She likes to paint.
- the hero POV is described. So we know exactly what passes through his lil brains, always. And if it’s not an entertaining journey for us to have, it is very revealing.
- there are some of the most entertaining scenes I’ve ever read in hp. Ever. I swear!
- the sex is too hilarious, with the heroine scratching her boobs on the hero’s chest hairs, that reminds me of my kitchen carpet, so thick and rusty. Really, I’m dying.
- the hero is cruel but he’s also stupid and the heroine understands his reasons and tells him. She’s not so clueless.
So the hero had a bad experience in his younger years, when he was making love for the first time with his fiancée and when he saw his big bamboo she panicked and hurt herself to avoid him. Hilarious for us, traumatizing for the poor guy. So he only dates experienced women.
The heroine is a virgin so he doesn’t want to hurt her- physically- and since she’s following him like a puppy because she’s in love with him he decides to make her understand there’s no chance, and he starts dating one of his ex, a bitch who of course hurts the heroine telling her the hero doesn’t want her around and they are having sex and enjoying it very much.
The heroine understands and decides she’s not going to pine after the hero.
He’s surprised that she doesn’t follow him anymore and also a little resentful. Really? What a genius.
He keeps on dating ow and strolling around with her so everyone see them together and the heroine decides to accept the proposal of a young man she’s dating.
Now, why she had to choose another loser, a cheater who only wanted to marry her for her money I don’t know. Couldn’t DP for once give her heroine a decent om?? Not a Superman, a decent one, who didn’t cheat, maybe a lukewarm one, but not another bastard sob.
That is what would you chose between a warm s**t and a cold one??? Mmmm, I don’t know. What a choice!
Whatever.
The hero, as soon as the heroine gets engaged, understands he wants her for himself and so he tries in every way to break her engagement.
Some other drama follows, with the heroine beaten and robbed and in a coma for some time, the hero all remorseful for what he did to her and the matter of her virginity and his issues with that.
Of course all is well in the end and I enjoyed the book because even if it was angsty it was also ironic and entertaining.
For DP lovers, big heroes (all over) with hairy chest and hands like plates ( really???) but not very high IQ. As one of my friend said once, he grew too much and his brains didn’t keep up with it…
January 13, 2019
H was sooo awful at first that I loved him almost instantly.
April 9, 2020
Evan es el más terco y cabezota de sus hermanos y eso que parecía el más agradable, pero bueno las apariencias engañan, pobre Anna y seguimos desperdiciando el tiempo y lastimando a quien amamos por experiencias pasadas, te odio Evan :P...
June 16, 2021
Rating:**3.5 stars**
Highly recommended for readers who love alphaholes redeeming themselves in the end and a plot with lots of angst.
Evan without a doubt was a really cruel hero, not surprised he almost led the FL into the arms of another man. He was like a bull with a red flag waved in front of him whenever Anna was in sight, he just could not help himself and tear into her every time. Evan did not entirely redeem himself in my eyes towards the end yet his reasons, fear and his effort to make their relationship work out and his affection and care could not make me view him as the bad guy either. I just wish he had suffered a little more though.
Anna was a sweet girl for me who just had the bad luck of falling for a guy like him. I liked the fact that on realizing the folly of her actions she did try to leave him alone and start on a new note instead of moping and drowning into self pity, unfortunately Evan was having none of it and made sure she suffered for her crush. I found her really endearing and strong for moving on and understanding him yet felt a tad bit disappointed for her giving into him so easily. Although it did not come as a surprise considering she did not have in her to fight him.
Overall an infuriating yet an equally entertaining read
Highly recommended for readers who love alphaholes redeeming themselves in the end and a plot with lots of angst.
Evan without a doubt was a really cruel hero, not surprised he almost led the FL into the arms of another man. He was like a bull with a red flag waved in front of him whenever Anna was in sight, he just could not help himself and tear into her every time. Evan did not entirely redeem himself in my eyes towards the end yet his reasons, fear and his effort to make their relationship work out and his affection and care could not make me view him as the bad guy either. I just wish he had suffered a little more though.
Anna was a sweet girl for me who just had the bad luck of falling for a guy like him. I liked the fact that on realizing the folly of her actions she did try to leave him alone and start on a new note instead of moping and drowning into self pity, unfortunately Evan was having none of it and made sure she suffered for her crush. I found her really endearing and strong for moving on and understanding him yet felt a tad bit disappointed for her giving into him so easily. Although it did not come as a surprise considering she did not have in her to fight him.
Overall an infuriating yet an equally entertaining read
April 6, 2020
Wow this one was a little whackadoodle. I can see why the reviews are polarized.
My thoughts - the h was childish in the extreme at the start and stalked/hounded the H for years because she fancied him.
H was not into the h at all then he suddenly was when she decided to pretend she had moved on.
H was very cruel to the h and he is lucky she took him back. H seems to have major issues about having a giant wang ! I'll just send Ramsay Bolton over to sort that one out for you ya moron H.
St Margaret's and Vintage say it way better than me and while I secretly loved the drama here I cannot condone a book with a restaurant called The Beef Palace. The mind just boggles and I have to wonder whether DP was high when she named it that. What next the Pork Pagoda?
My thoughts - the h was childish in the extreme at the start and stalked/hounded the H for years because she fancied him.
H was not into the h at all then he suddenly was when she decided to pretend she had moved on.
H was very cruel to the h and he is lucky she took him back. H seems to have major issues about having a giant wang ! I'll just send Ramsay Bolton over to sort that one out for you ya moron H.
St Margaret's and Vintage say it way better than me and while I secretly loved the drama here I cannot condone a book with a restaurant called The Beef Palace. The mind just boggles and I have to wonder whether DP was high when she named it that. What next the Pork Pagoda?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2011
Love the cowboys, but enough with them getting the virgins.
August 4, 2023
Fact #1: I have read some other books by Diana Palmer and didn't like them.
Fact #2: I'm not really into category romance. They are not developed enough.
Fact #3: I don't like caveman alphas...
Fact #4: … or hairy male chests.
Fact #5: I don't mind age differences, but I don't care about them either.
Fact #6: The naïve, sweeter than honey, brainless, virginal heroines make me angry.
And what I really don't like are books that have all of the above piled into less than 300 pages. Unfortunately, I not only already had Evan on my shelf but it also suited perfectly not one, but two of my challenges. So it was a perfect opportunity to take it out of my TBR pile and make some progress while doing it.
Things I didn't hate about this book:
- Anna is not as immature as some other heroines from Diana Palmer, and she is less sugar sweet than the others.
Things that made me roll my eyes time after time:
You can say I wasn't really impressed with this book. I'm giving it 1.5 stars because I was actually able to finish it.
Fact #2: I'm not really into category romance. They are not developed enough.
Fact #3: I don't like caveman alphas...
Fact #4: … or hairy male chests.
Fact #5: I don't mind age differences, but I don't care about them either.
Fact #6: The naïve, sweeter than honey, brainless, virginal heroines make me angry.
And what I really don't like are books that have all of the above piled into less than 300 pages. Unfortunately, I not only already had Evan on my shelf but it also suited perfectly not one, but two of my challenges. So it was a perfect opportunity to take it out of my TBR pile and make some progress while doing it.
Things I didn't hate about this book:
- Anna is not as immature as some other heroines from Diana Palmer, and she is less sugar sweet than the others.
Things that made me roll my eyes time after time:
You can say I wasn't really impressed with this book. I'm giving it 1.5 stars because I was actually able to finish it.
December 12, 2020
The H is a monster who sadistically torments the h. This is a 1-5 special -- 1 for romance and 5 for hate-readability and epic cruelty. A Diana Palmer must-read.
July 12, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
======================
======================
Você ainda o ama? A mãe ergueu uma das sobrancelhas escuras perfeitas. – O amor é um mito. – Oh, mamãe. – Anna suspirou. Polly se limitou a soltar uma risada. – Sonhe à vontade, criança. Prefiro ficar com meus comprovantes de depósito bancário e uma abundância de ações e títulos no cofre.
E Nina está com ele. Aquela mulher é uma especialista em encontrar o impossível.
Trouxera Nina, que todo mundo sabia ser sua antiga paixão. A mulher era agora uma modelo de sucesso em Houston e estava visitando a cidade.
Sim. – Nina suspirou, complacente. – Minha carreira decolou depois que Evan me ajudou a encontrar aquela nova agência.
Evan estava lhe transmitindo uma mensagem muito clara: fique longe de mim.
A graciosa Nina se encontrava envolta em seus braços grandes, que a seguravam com casual intimidade. Por sua vez, os braços magros de Nina estavam enroscados no pescoço de Evan.
Desviando o olhar, ele inclinou a cabeça e beijou Nina na frente de todos os presentes.
Nina estava ofegante quando ele a soltou. E Anna havia desaparecido.
Eu o ajudarei a se livrar dessa menina, sem problemas.
Anna é problema de Randall, não meu. Ajude-me a fazer com que ela desgrude de mim. Nina exibiu um sorriso afetuoso. – O prazer é todo meu.
Evan não dançou com mais ninguém além de Nina e lhe dispensava tanta atenção que a especulação sobre uma possível reconciliação entre os dois se espalhou feito fogo em palha.
Não sabia que você pintava. – Com a atenção que me dispensa, não é nada surpreendente – retrucou ela, imperturbável, aplicando mais tinta amarela à tela.
Ele só me convidou para sair para mantê-la afastada. Disse-me que faria qualquer coisa para se livrar de você.
Não precisa me explicar nada, sei como se sente. Você me quer, mas eu não sirvo.
Nina faz mais seu estilo – afirmou ela, amarga, empurrando-lhe o peito. – É experiente e sofisticada. Aposto que sabe tanto quanto você!
Nina não está correspondendo ao seu ardor, ou isso é algum tipo de vingança? – perguntou ela.
Concordo. Boa sorte em seu novo emprego. Transmitirei suas saudações a Nina.
Não fora capaz sequer de tocar a mulher que se colara a ele naquela cidade. Era o que prendia fazer quando a levara para seu quarto de hotel, lhe oferecera alguns drinques e flertara com ela. Mas, quando a tomou nos braços e começou a beijá-la, nada aconteceu.
Pela primeira vez, seu corpo o traíra. Dispensara a mulher e xingara Anna até ficar rouco.
– E o que você faz comigo é justo? – perguntou ele em um tom de voz frio. – Não tenho feito nada a não ser evitá-lo – retrucou Anna, tristonha.
Por que não se casa com ele? Isso a faria desgrudar de mim.
O jogo virou – disse ele, suave, com os olhos faiscando. – Como se sente? – Detesto isso! – vociferou ela. – Eu também detestava, querida – retrucou Evan com a voz fria.
Até mesmo um homem que aprecia mulheres ficaria enojado com esse tipo de perseguição.
As semanas que se seguiram se arrastaram, com Evan a assombrando a cada esquina. Ele levou Nina à galeria para comprar quadros, mostrando-se tão atencioso com a namorada que Anna teve vontade de gritar.
Evan circulava por toda a cidade com Nina e parecia mudar seu caminho apenas para se certificar de que ela os visse.
February 4, 2021
So, Evan is the human manifestation of a Peacock and this Anna girl is 19 going on 39 .
But, he can't just be a Peacock he had to be a monkey too.
and don't think this book was bad because it's old and written in times where this ridiculousness was romance. Heck, many romance classics older than this have better themes.
But, I won't lie. I'm damn proud of myself for sifting through romance and focusing on the shittiest that are a comedy if you squint at them just right.
But, he can't just be a Peacock he had to be a monkey too.
and don't think this book was bad because it's old and written in times where this ridiculousness was romance. Heck, many romance classics older than this have better themes.
But, I won't lie. I'm damn proud of myself for sifting through romance and focusing on the shittiest that are a comedy if you squint at them just right.
May 5, 2020
Típica historia de Diana Palmer, que aunque típicas y algo repetitivas entre ellas me gustan igual.
Si tengo que remarcar alguna cosa sería la actitud de la madre de ella. Me parece muy bien que los padres respeten las decisiones de sus hijos, pero la actitud de ella ante la decisión de Anna aún sabiéndola desacertada me pareció inadecuada. Por mucho que un padre respete la decisión de su hijo también es su obligación intentarle hacerle ver que esta cometiendo un error, aunque recordando siempre que la vida debe ser vivida por uno mismo.
Me divirtió mucho la actitud de ella al principio, como lo perseguía como loca. Y me reí mucho cuando él le dijo "Imagínate un pájaro zambulléndose en el agua" en semejante momento jajaja
Si tengo que remarcar alguna cosa sería la actitud de la madre de ella. Me parece muy bien que los padres respeten las decisiones de sus hijos, pero la actitud de ella ante la decisión de Anna aún sabiéndola desacertada me pareció inadecuada. Por mucho que un padre respete la decisión de su hijo también es su obligación intentarle hacerle ver que esta cometiendo un error, aunque recordando siempre que la vida debe ser vivida por uno mismo.
Me divirtió mucho la actitud de ella al principio, como lo perseguía como loca. Y me reí mucho cuando él le dijo "Imagínate un pájaro zambulléndose en el agua" en semejante momento jajaja
May 20, 2018
Grandes sentimientos se desarrollan en esta novela a pesar de la arrogancia del rota, y eso que pensè que era el màs afable de los hermanos.
Want to read
April 20, 2023This looks BONKERS, but the chest hair game is supposedly strong, so I must give it a try
July 3, 2024
3.5✨’s
This was pretty sweet. I didn’t connect to the characters, but I was highly entertained.
This was pretty sweet. I didn’t connect to the characters, but I was highly entertained.
January 29, 2023
Ok... I love Diana Palmer but this book was ridiculous!!
The beginning was okay:
-Anna, a 19 going on 20 young woman is in love with Evan (34 years old). Anna sounded like a nightware the way her pursuit was described. Apparently she would chase Evan all over town, magically appears wherever he showed up, flirts with him.. And it started 2 years ago, so she was a 17 years old minor stalking a grown 32 man, while the town founds it funny -_-
I had issues with it but since she was 19 when the book started, ok.
So at first, she is the one after him and he avoids her. Except that he is secretly attracted to Anna so he had to hide his feelings.
Until something happens that makes Anna realizes what an idiot she'd been and she decides to give him up. Of course now that Anna is ignoring him, Evan now wants his lapdog back, and he is the one harassing her now
There is another man in the story, and I really didn't like this part. Evan's rationale for staying away was Anna was young and not serious about him. While everyone was telling him she really was in love, Anna also had a beau on the side, Randall, while chasing after Evan!! That sounds serious to you?
Randall is not handsome but charming, unfaithful yet Anna kept him, like is it the best you can do? You're supposedly gorgeous and rich, and you attach yourself to Randall while pinning for Evan?
Evan also has another woman he uses to make Anna jealous.
There is a lot of pull and push between those two, really dumb plot.
Ater they semi-reconcile, we had to endure talks of Evan being too big and afraid to hurt Anna with his big body -_-
Or Evan marvelling at Anna's boobs being so huge -_-
Until they finally gave us lame sex lool
It is only 11 chapters so easy to read, not a masterpiece but really funny!!
The beginning was okay:
-Anna, a 19 going on 20 young woman is in love with Evan (34 years old). Anna sounded like a nightware the way her pursuit was described. Apparently she would chase Evan all over town, magically appears wherever he showed up, flirts with him.. And it started 2 years ago, so she was a 17 years old minor stalking a grown 32 man, while the town founds it funny -_-
I had issues with it but since she was 19 when the book started, ok.
So at first, she is the one after him and he avoids her. Except that he is secretly attracted to Anna so he had to hide his feelings.
Until something happens that makes Anna realizes what an idiot she'd been and she decides to give him up. Of course now that Anna is ignoring him, Evan now wants his lapdog back, and he is the one harassing her now
There is another man in the story, and I really didn't like this part. Evan's rationale for staying away was Anna was young and not serious about him. While everyone was telling him she really was in love, Anna also had a beau on the side, Randall, while chasing after Evan!! That sounds serious to you?
Randall is not handsome but charming, unfaithful yet Anna kept him, like is it the best you can do? You're supposedly gorgeous and rich, and you attach yourself to Randall while pinning for Evan?
Evan also has another woman he uses to make Anna jealous.
There is a lot of pull and push between those two, really dumb plot.
Ater they semi-reconcile, we had to endure talks of Evan being too big and afraid to hurt Anna with his big body -_-
Or Evan marvelling at Anna's boobs being so huge -_-
Until they finally gave us lame sex lool
It is only 11 chapters so easy to read, not a masterpiece but really funny!!
December 22, 2022
Evan and Anna
I didn't like it, Evan was an absolute nightmare, the only thing I liked was that he didn't sleep with Nina or other woman, however he wanted to very badly but his body wouldn't cooperate.
What Evan did to Anna was so messed up, he staight up bullied her. It felt like Evan was psychologically torturing Anna. Him going past her work everyday for a month with the other woman (that is something so horrible that I'm surprised she ever talked to him again after that), showing up everywhere she did with the other woman, kissing the other woman in front of heroine, all the horrible things he said to her.
I felt really bad for Anna and just wanted a nice guy to sweep her off her feet but instead she had Randall (cheater that wasn't really interested in her). I liked her, she had a fun personality in the beginning. I liked that once she saw him with the other woman she quit pursuing him.
In the end Evan wasn't so bad and did take care of Anna and showed he cared. He did explain himself and did apologize and no longer treated her badly. I liked the scene where other woman said that Anna wasn't his problem and that she was engaged, so he got mad and didn't talk to her the rest of the night. I believe he quit seeing her after that. Np.
* I would have rated slightly higher if he hadn't pulled the show up everywhere Anna was with the other woman stunt. That's just something I can't get over, some women would kill themselves over that kind of thing. She tried her best to avoid him and he shoved down her throat he had another woman (even if he wasn't actually with her, heroine thought they were).
I didn't like it, Evan was an absolute nightmare, the only thing I liked was that he didn't sleep with Nina or other woman, however he wanted to very badly but his body wouldn't cooperate.
What Evan did to Anna was so messed up, he staight up bullied her. It felt like Evan was psychologically torturing Anna. Him going past her work everyday for a month with the other woman (that is something so horrible that I'm surprised she ever talked to him again after that), showing up everywhere she did with the other woman, kissing the other woman in front of heroine, all the horrible things he said to her.
I felt really bad for Anna and just wanted a nice guy to sweep her off her feet but instead she had Randall (cheater that wasn't really interested in her). I liked her, she had a fun personality in the beginning. I liked that once she saw him with the other woman she quit pursuing him.
In the end Evan wasn't so bad and did take care of Anna and showed he cared. He did explain himself and did apologize and no longer treated her badly. I liked the scene where other woman said that Anna wasn't his problem and that she was engaged, so he got mad and didn't talk to her the rest of the night. I believe he quit seeing her after that. Np.
* I would have rated slightly higher if he hadn't pulled the show up everywhere Anna was with the other woman stunt. That's just something I can't get over, some women would kill themselves over that kind of thing. She tried her best to avoid him and he shoved down her throat he had another woman (even if he wasn't actually with her, heroine thought they were).
June 25, 2017
Too cute and fluffy for my taste.
Kinda hated the heroine for blindingly chasing the hero for two years to the point she's being ridiculed by everyone she knows. Yeah yeah, love is blind and shit like that but it doesn't mean you can continually throw yourself at the guy every time you see him.
The hero was too stubborn to acknowledge his feeling for the heroine because he was extremely traumatized by his ex.
All in all, it was an okay book. Thumbs up for the angst.
Kinda hated the heroine for blindingly chasing the hero for two years to the point she's being ridiculed by everyone she knows. Yeah yeah, love is blind and shit like that but it doesn't mean you can continually throw yourself at the guy every time you see him.
The hero was too stubborn to acknowledge his feeling for the heroine because he was extremely traumatized by his ex.
All in all, it was an okay book. Thumbs up for the angst.
May 9, 2014
This was recommended to me as a read that involved unrequited love on the hero's part and then the heroine gave up on him, so he actually missed her.
Boy did that hit the nail on the head.
So I loved how freaking Alpha Evan was. Yes, Alpha with a capital A for sure. I also loved how pliable the heroine was for him. Sometimes these things just work. Yes, she was a door mat and yes, he was an a-hole most of the time, but you know what? I loved it!
I think these two were meant for each other, even though it took Evan a while to figure it out.
The steam was just very mild and not a lot of it. However, the story was worth it and so was the build up. Totally recommend.
Boy did that hit the nail on the head.
So I loved how freaking Alpha Evan was. Yes, Alpha with a capital A for sure. I also loved how pliable the heroine was for him. Sometimes these things just work. Yes, she was a door mat and yes, he was an a-hole most of the time, but you know what? I loved it!
I think these two were meant for each other, even though it took Evan a while to figure it out.
The steam was just very mild and not a lot of it. However, the story was worth it and so was the build up. Totally recommend.
January 3, 2020
I am kinda disappointed with h for pursuing the H relentlessly for almost like 2 years which lead to everybody mocking her for it. And she doesn't seem to GET it too that the H was (supposedly) uninterested in her in those times, well, until the scene with the OW happened.
The story tends to be on the cheesy side sometimes but overall it was still a good read.
The story tends to be on the cheesy side sometimes but overall it was still a good read.
February 20, 2021
This book deals with a common plot for Diana Palmer's book - the older hero/younger heroine relationship. Yet, it never became predictable or cliche in any way, which is part of the reason I ended up enjoying this story too much.
June 17, 2017
Great read , love these books
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews