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Brannt Family #4
The Rancher
Days Are Hot On Skylance Ranch,
And The Nights Even Hotter!
And The Nights Even Hotter!
New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Diana Palmer brings her readers back to Branntville, Texas, with Cort Brannt's story. The heir to the Skylance Ranch empire has women gallop into his life, but the handsome lone wolf sends them just as quickly on their way...until a pretty, vivacious neighbor appears on the range. Has the most eligible bachelor in Branntville met his match?
217 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
322 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
December 14, 2012
This may well be my last DP book. After years of loving her books and formula, I am just tired of the sub-par books that she has been putting out recently. It actually made me sad to give this a one star rating.
* There was NO chemistry between Cort and Maddie.
* I didn't like Maddie. TSTL
* I didn't like Cort. Immature
* Why didn't "the developer" ever get called by his name?
* Inane situations and conversations.
Big disappointment.
* There was NO chemistry between Cort and Maddie.
* I didn't like Maddie. TSTL
* I didn't like Cort. Immature
* Why didn't "the developer" ever get called by his name?
* Inane situations and conversations.
Big disappointment.
July 22, 2021
.
I think DP is an aquired taste, like stinky cheese... It's so cheesy and so stinky but I love it!
...and yet this one I truly did not enjoy!
I guess I would have liked this book if it weren't for Odalie being such a big part of the story.
Cort is the wealthy rancher who lives next door to Maddie. Maddie is poor and struggling to keep her ranch afloat. Cort fancied himself in love with his childhood friend, Odalie. Odalie is little miss perfect whereas Maddie is plain and poor but sweet as pie.
Odalie also made Maddie's life hell in school and never apologized. In fact the whole town knows how awful she was to Maddie. She even made sure that Cort stayed away from Maddie.
But of course things will change when Odalie is out of the picture,
BUT then she comes back.
This is where the story took a right turn at Albuquerque...
And when things should be getting interesting between the MCs, it's more about Odalie turning over a new leaf. So in fact Odalie is so selfish, the book revolves around her.
My other beef is that Maddie is such a damn doormat she makes the sidewalk jealous. If she wasn't bending over backwards to accept Odalie's guilt infused overtures, the book might have kept my interest. But there was hardly a scene in the last half of the book that didn't have that woman in it... INCLUDING THE EPILOGUE for crying out loud!
Safety is technically good
Other triggers
I think DP is an aquired taste, like stinky cheese... It's so cheesy and so stinky but I love it!
...and yet this one I truly did not enjoy!
I guess I would have liked this book if it weren't for Odalie being such a big part of the story.
Cort is the wealthy rancher who lives next door to Maddie. Maddie is poor and struggling to keep her ranch afloat. Cort fancied himself in love with his childhood friend, Odalie. Odalie is little miss perfect whereas Maddie is plain and poor but sweet as pie.
Odalie also made Maddie's life hell in school and never apologized. In fact the whole town knows how awful she was to Maddie. She even made sure that Cort stayed away from Maddie.
But of course things will change when Odalie is out of the picture,
BUT then she comes back.
This is where the story took a right turn at Albuquerque...
And when things should be getting interesting between the MCs, it's more about Odalie turning over a new leaf. So in fact Odalie is so selfish, the book revolves around her.
My other beef is that Maddie is such a damn doormat she makes the sidewalk jealous. If she wasn't bending over backwards to accept Odalie's guilt infused overtures, the book might have kept my interest. But there was hardly a scene in the last half of the book that didn't have that woman in it... INCLUDING THE EPILOGUE for crying out loud!
Safety is technically good
Other triggers
June 1, 2013
This is the best new Palmer I've read in years, which sadly is saying very little. She changes the formula up a bit here, mainly in that the hero Cort is not decades older than the heroine, and in fact comes off as somewhat callow and immature. And though the "kids today" prissiness is still there, it's toned down some. Other than that, it's the usual "downtrodden young woman has been madly in love forever with mean guy" plot.
One problem with the book were lots of logic fails on Maddie's part. She thinks her cattle can't be being harmed by the nasty developer who made threats, because they're so valuble. Um, he has no interest in the value of your cattle since he plans to tear your ranch down anyway! And she doesn't tell her neighbor (a former palmer hero and Cort's father) that she's being threatened, despite the fact that he explicitly told her he would hate to see her ranch developed and would help her.
But I think what bugged me most was the insistent recurrence of themes I'm seeing far too often in Palmer: the "good women give up their careers for marriage and babies" theme -- the reformation of the Evil Other Woman includes losing interest in her singing career and starting to ponder babies --and the heroine who hides her valuable talents away and has to be pushed into realizing she can make money from them. Maddie is allowed no agency at all, it has to be forced upon her. These days, a Palmer heroine has to not only be incredibly pure, downtrodden, and wanting nothing more than lots of babies, she also has to strenuously hide her light under a bushel.
Still, it was readable and had fun moments. It will probably appeal to longtime Palmer fans because of links to her previous books, Heather's Song and To Love and Cherish.
One problem with the book were lots of logic fails on Maddie's part. She thinks her cattle can't be being harmed by the nasty developer who made threats, because they're so valuble. Um, he has no interest in the value of your cattle since he plans to tear your ranch down anyway! And she doesn't tell her neighbor (a former palmer hero and Cort's father) that she's being threatened, despite the fact that he explicitly told her he would hate to see her ranch developed and would help her.
But I think what bugged me most was the insistent recurrence of themes I'm seeing far too often in Palmer: the "good women give up their careers for marriage and babies" theme -- the reformation of the Evil Other Woman includes losing interest in her singing career and starting to ponder babies --and the heroine who hides her valuable talents away and has to be pushed into realizing she can make money from them. Maddie is allowed no agency at all, it has to be forced upon her. These days, a Palmer heroine has to not only be incredibly pure, downtrodden, and wanting nothing more than lots of babies, she also has to strenuously hide her light under a bushel.
Still, it was readable and had fun moments. It will probably appeal to longtime Palmer fans because of links to her previous books, Heather's Song and To Love and Cherish.
March 9, 2015
This pains me to write as DP has long been a favorite romance author of mine.This book was terrible.If I was new to her books,I would not go any futher with her writings.Her older books,how I loved the the angst ,the heros,heroines,everything.This book featured the son of a prior H/h ,the OW mean girl,who is the daughter of another prior H/h ,and the heroine of course.If this iss an example of her attempt at second generation romances,I am going to pass,but I know me,DP will be calling my name...again.
January 17, 2021
1. A hideous OW we are supposed to think has reformed -- Diana Palmer does NOT do this successfully, and she should steer away from attempting to do so.
2. Heroine was always second choice, by a million miles. The OW even took a role in the ultimate "courtship" by the H!
This isn't a happy ending in my book.
Edited to add a healing epilogue.
When the pathetic doormat h gives the OW a fairy statue, the OW is full of admiration and ends up showing it to the doll collector she knows, although the reality of that encounter is quite different than she tells the H and the h. In reality, the "doll collector" is the 30-something chief legal officer of a large toy company, a family-owned business founded by his grandmother. The OW wrangled a meeting to show him the statue that she was going to claim she made herself, figuring that she could trick the h into surrendering her rights. The doll collector isn't the creative mind behind the company, but the fairy reminds him of sketches his grandmother used to draw, and he wants to learn more.
He is not a lawyer for nothing and recognizes that the OW is not the creator of the statue, so he takes her out for drinks to figure it out. In short order, the OW tips her hand. Lawyer man soon learns about how the OW arranged for an assault on the h, and how the OW is playing mind games with the H, encouraging his relationship with the h, but making sure she is always there to interrupt potentially intimate moments, and with the ultimate plan of seducing the H away from the h at the most humiliating moment.
Lawyer Man (LM) is disgusted, but asks the OW if she will introduce her to the still-hospitalized h, supposedly so he can trick the h into signing away her rights to the statue. Instead, as he always planned, he signs the h to a long-term contract with generous terms. He also quickly falls in love with the h, who is sweet and kind-hearted and quietly lovely. In short order, he exposes the OW's plans in front of the H, which he seems reluctant to believe until LM produces a video of her drunken confessions. Even then, the H defends the OW, saying that it must have been very painful for the OW to go against her principles like that.
The h overhears this, and the spell is finally broken. She decides to get the heck outta town, and LM is glad to help. He helps her find a place living in his grandmother's 10-room guest cottage. There he is able to visit the h and she quickly falls in love with Lawyer Man, who is kind, strong, doting, ruthless, and surprisingly brawny. While the h gets to know his beloved grandmother, the LM contacts his many friends in law enforcement and arranges for the OW to be prosecuted for attempted murder of the h for running her down, citing a long history of the OW engineering attacks on the h. She is convicted and goes to jail for 30 years. The h visits her in jail and presents her with another fairy statue. This one is wearing an orange prison jumpsuit.
The H continues to pine for both the OW and the h, but his terrible behavior to the h and his continued defense of the OW prevent him from ever having a happy relationship.
As a wedding gift, Lawyer Man buys her land and makes it into a sanctuary for aggressive roosters, taking advantage of obscure environmental protection laws to allow the roosters free range far outside of the property line and making it a felony to kill them.
2. Heroine was always second choice, by a million miles. The OW even took a role in the ultimate "courtship" by the H!
This isn't a happy ending in my book.
Edited to add a healing epilogue.
When the pathetic doormat h gives the OW a fairy statue, the OW is full of admiration and ends up showing it to the doll collector she knows, although the reality of that encounter is quite different than she tells the H and the h. In reality, the "doll collector" is the 30-something chief legal officer of a large toy company, a family-owned business founded by his grandmother. The OW wrangled a meeting to show him the statue that she was going to claim she made herself, figuring that she could trick the h into surrendering her rights. The doll collector isn't the creative mind behind the company, but the fairy reminds him of sketches his grandmother used to draw, and he wants to learn more.
He is not a lawyer for nothing and recognizes that the OW is not the creator of the statue, so he takes her out for drinks to figure it out. In short order, the OW tips her hand. Lawyer man soon learns about how the OW arranged for an assault on the h, and how the OW is playing mind games with the H, encouraging his relationship with the h, but making sure she is always there to interrupt potentially intimate moments, and with the ultimate plan of seducing the H away from the h at the most humiliating moment.
Lawyer Man (LM) is disgusted, but asks the OW if she will introduce her to the still-hospitalized h, supposedly so he can trick the h into signing away her rights to the statue. Instead, as he always planned, he signs the h to a long-term contract with generous terms. He also quickly falls in love with the h, who is sweet and kind-hearted and quietly lovely. In short order, he exposes the OW's plans in front of the H, which he seems reluctant to believe until LM produces a video of her drunken confessions. Even then, the H defends the OW, saying that it must have been very painful for the OW to go against her principles like that.
The h overhears this, and the spell is finally broken. She decides to get the heck outta town, and LM is glad to help. He helps her find a place living in his grandmother's 10-room guest cottage. There he is able to visit the h and she quickly falls in love with Lawyer Man, who is kind, strong, doting, ruthless, and surprisingly brawny. While the h gets to know his beloved grandmother, the LM contacts his many friends in law enforcement and arranges for the OW to be prosecuted for attempted murder of the h for running her down, citing a long history of the OW engineering attacks on the h. She is convicted and goes to jail for 30 years. The h visits her in jail and presents her with another fairy statue. This one is wearing an orange prison jumpsuit.
The H continues to pine for both the OW and the h, but his terrible behavior to the h and his continued defense of the OW prevent him from ever having a happy relationship.
As a wedding gift, Lawyer Man buys her land and makes it into a sanctuary for aggressive roosters, taking advantage of obscure environmental protection laws to allow the roosters free range far outside of the property line and making it a felony to kill them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2021
Well yuck! DP finally has an evil OW do the unforgivable then redeems her out the wazoo.
The hero is presented as the heir to his father’s ranch with no real ambition of his own; plays the guitar like a virtuoso but is not much of a dancer. He doesn’t even tango? This is a DP hero?
Finish off with a cringe worthysex love scene at the end where the word “pistol” is used in a context the word should never be used.
And they just drive through Jacobsville.
The hero is presented as the heir to his father’s ranch with no real ambition of his own; plays the guitar like a virtuoso but is not much of a dancer. He doesn’t even tango? This is a DP hero?
Finish off with a cringe worthy
And they just drive through Jacobsville.
July 21, 2021
Rating: **3 stars**
Ever seen a man letting down a woman so gently?? Me neither. Straight to the point so the woman harbors no doubt and yet we have a full blown wedding in the end.
“You’re too thin, too flat-chested, too plain and too untalented to ever appeal to me, just in case you wondered,” he added with unconcealed distaste.
Not surprised considering most DP books start with such "love filled" demeaning barbs. If ever a man needs lessons to impress a woman and make her a part of his life forever take notes from DP heroes. Their dialogues always lead to the couple having a HEA.
This was a very different DP book where we saw Miss Cruella turning Mother Teresa. This was less about the leads chemistry and romance and more about the redeeming story of Lady Odalie.
In fact more importance was given to her lovely dress than the FL when she lay dying on the side of the road and Lady Odalie was praised nearly by everyone for not throwing a fit and being extremely brave in the face of some blood on her clothes, even Maddie who woke up in hospital barely conscious was lamenting of blood on Odalie's beautiful dress??!!! Including Maddie's aunt and the Deputy...I mean c'mon priorities right...
One day the ML found her ugly and despised her and on another was planning his kids with her, it was so rushed. Their story started in the blink of an eye.
The romance and story was unbelievable between the leads. Towards the end I was rooting more for Odalie than Maddie. It definitely would have made for more of an interesting premise with the evil OW finally turning goody two shoes and having a HEA. Damn what a missed opportunity.
Ever seen a man letting down a woman so gently?? Me neither. Straight to the point so the woman harbors no doubt and yet we have a full blown wedding in the end.
“You’re too thin, too flat-chested, too plain and too untalented to ever appeal to me, just in case you wondered,” he added with unconcealed distaste.
Not surprised considering most DP books start with such "love filled" demeaning barbs. If ever a man needs lessons to impress a woman and make her a part of his life forever take notes from DP heroes. Their dialogues always lead to the couple having a HEA.
This was a very different DP book where we saw Miss Cruella turning Mother Teresa. This was less about the leads chemistry and romance and more about the redeeming story of Lady Odalie.
In fact more importance was given to her lovely dress than the FL when she lay dying on the side of the road and Lady Odalie was praised nearly by everyone for not throwing a fit and being extremely brave in the face of some blood on her clothes, even Maddie who woke up in hospital barely conscious was lamenting of blood on Odalie's beautiful dress??!!! Including Maddie's aunt and the Deputy...I mean c'mon priorities right...
One day the ML found her ugly and despised her and on another was planning his kids with her, it was so rushed. Their story started in the blink of an eye.
The romance and story was unbelievable between the leads. Towards the end I was rooting more for Odalie than Maddie. It definitely would have made for more of an interesting premise with the evil OW finally turning goody two shoes and having a HEA. Damn what a missed opportunity.
November 28, 2012
2.5
Why can't I quit Palmer? I know going in it's basically the same story, with just different hero & heroine names yet I still buy her books each time I see a new one out.
Was almost 100 pages in before hero finally stopped being cruel to the heroine. I don't remember him being so rude and annoying when he was in his sister's book. I truly wanted heroine to take a bat to him and just knock him out to shut him up with all his cruel taunting. Not a favorite at all.
Why can't I quit Palmer? I know going in it's basically the same story, with just different hero & heroine names yet I still buy her books each time I see a new one out.
Was almost 100 pages in before hero finally stopped being cruel to the heroine. I don't remember him being so rude and annoying when he was in his sister's book. I truly wanted heroine to take a bat to him and just knock him out to shut him up with all his cruel taunting. Not a favorite at all.
July 12, 2017
Sweet romance but the ending could have been better.
July 10, 2025
Woot! I finished a book! It’s been nearly a month long slump 😭🤣
This wasn’t Diana Palmer’s best work. There was some good potential but I wasn’t wild about the execution. I was loving the evil OW plot but that was rudely yanked away from me in a very abrupt manner. The bully OW gets a random redemption arc/lobotomy that just falls from the sky. One minute she’s a selfish raging b*tch, and the next, the sweetest woman to ever walk the earth. This of course ruined all the good angst potential.
Womp-womp
HOWEVER, I did find it entertaining enough to finish, so it gets 3.5 stars 🤷🏼♀️
This wasn’t Diana Palmer’s best work. There was some good potential but I wasn’t wild about the execution. I was loving the evil OW plot but that was rudely yanked away from me in a very abrupt manner. The bully OW gets a random redemption arc/lobotomy that just falls from the sky. One minute she’s a selfish raging b*tch, and the next, the sweetest woman to ever walk the earth. This of course ruined all the good angst potential.
Womp-womp
HOWEVER, I did find it entertaining enough to finish, so it gets 3.5 stars 🤷🏼♀️
May 1, 2016
Leer historias de Diana Palmer es como escuchar historias de una viejecita afable y aleccionadora. No parecen estar escritas en este siglo.
En cuanto a la historia en sí, la verdad es que con El camino del encuentro me quedé con ganas de leer la historia de Cort y su batalla con el gallo de su vecina pero la verdad es que no me ha gustado tanto como pensé que lo haría. Creí que iba a ser más divertido de lo que luego ha resultado.
Además, después de haber leído tres historias seguidas de esta autora declaro oficialmente que tengo que darme un alto ya que son bastante repetitivas y me estoy empezando a cansar.
En cuanto a la historia en sí, la verdad es que con El camino del encuentro me quedé con ganas de leer la historia de Cort y su batalla con el gallo de su vecina pero la verdad es que no me ha gustado tanto como pensé que lo haría. Creí que iba a ser más divertido de lo que luego ha resultado.
Además, después de haber leído tres historias seguidas de esta autora declaro oficialmente que tengo que darme un alto ya que son bastante repetitivas y me estoy empezando a cansar.
March 21, 2018
UPDATE==> Re-read March, 2018 and I added highlights
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Mais um livrinho da titia DP com a fórmula mocinho ogro + mocinha virgem + outra mulher intragável. Tem até o bailinho com danças latinas e o mocinho enciumado da mocinha dançar com outro cara.
Achei um horror a tal da Odalie... ela foi muito malvada com a mocinha e não recebeu o castigo devido... achei uma M$%#@! Ela tinha que se ferrar ou sofrer as consequências dos atos dela.
Muito mais ou menos o livro... eu li pq eu adoro a autora e estava com saudade de ler algo dela.
O livro "To Love and Cherish" conta a história dos pais do Colt e o livro "Wyoming Tough" conta a história da irmã dele, Moira.
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Mais um livrinho da titia DP com a fórmula mocinho ogro + mocinha virgem + outra mulher intragável. Tem até o bailinho com danças latinas e o mocinho enciumado da mocinha dançar com outro cara.
Achei um horror a tal da Odalie... ela foi muito malvada com a mocinha e não recebeu o castigo devido... achei uma M$%#@! Ela tinha que se ferrar ou sofrer as consequências dos atos dela.
Muito mais ou menos o livro... eu li pq eu adoro a autora e estava com saudade de ler algo dela.
O livro "To Love and Cherish" conta a história dos pais do Colt e o livro "Wyoming Tough" conta a história da irmã dele, Moira.
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her short, wavy blond hair
Her wide gray eyes searched the yard, hoping against hope that she...
...her slim hips. She had a boyish figure.
But she was graceful,...
Cort Matthew Brannt was every woman’s dream of the perfect man. He was tall, muscular without making it obvious, cultured, and he could play a guitar like a professional. He had jet-black hair with a slight wave, large dark brown eyes and a sensuous mouth that Maddie often dreamed of kissing.
Cort was in love with their other neighbor, Odalie Everett.
Cort wanted to marry Odalie, who couldn’t see him for dust.
“You’re too thin, too flat-chested, too plain and too untalented to ever appeal to me, just in case you wondered,” he added with unconcealed distaste.
“You think you’re God’s gift to women, don’t you? Well, let me tell you a thing or two! You’ve traded on your good looks for years to get you what you want, but it didn’t get you Odalie, did it?”
Her pride was never going to heal from that attack. She’d had secret feelings for Cort since she was sixteen. He’d never noticed her, of course, not even to tease her as men sometimes did.
They weren’t elegant hands. They had short nails and they were functional, not pretty. She remembered Odalie Everett’s long, beautiful white fingers on the keyboard at church, because Odalie could play as well as she sang.
She really was plain, she thought. Of course, she never used makeup or perfume, because she worked from dawn to dusk on the ranch.
“One day Odalie may discover that you’re the sun in her sky and come home. But you have to let her try her wings.
Morie glanced at him. “You ever going to get married?” she asked. “Sure, if Odalie ever says yes.”
“She was mean to you when you were in school. Your dad actually went to the school to get it stopped. He went to see Cole Everett about it, too, didn’t he?”
“Had a nasty attitude, that one,” Ben muttered. “Looked down her nose at every other girl and most of the boys. Thought she was too good to live in a hick town in Texas.”
“Take a picture,” he drawled, because her interest irritated him. She wasn’t his type. Not at all.
“You meant Odalie,” he said. “She can’t help being beautiful and rich and talented,”
...guess if you don’t have a real talent and you aren’t as pretty, it’s hard to get along with someone who has it all,” he commented.
“I don’t have any talent, I’m ugly and I lie.” She nodded. “Thanks.”
“Nobody ever told Cort just what Odalie did to you, did they?”
“Men get hooked on a pretty face and they’d believe white was black if the woman told them it was. He’s infatuated, baby. No cure for that but time.”
“If I can get Odalie to marry me, I promise you, I’ll have it.”
“Even if she is my sister, Odalie makes me ashamed sometimes. I haven’t forgotten the things she did to you.”
John Everett could actually dance!
You weren’t the only girl she victimized. Several others came forward and talked to my dad when they heard about what happened to you in the library. He was absolutely dumbfounded. So was my mother.”
“Pity Odalie never really gets paid back for the things she does,” Sadie muttered.” Maddie hugged her. “That mill grinds slowly but relentlessly,” she reminded her. She grinned. “One day…”
He turned and pulled her into his arms, looking down into her wide eyes. “It’s very lovely here.” He bent his head and kissed her.
She was very pretty like that, her mouth swollen from his kisses, her face shy, timid. He was used to women who demanded. Aggressive women. Even Odalie, when he’d kissed her once, had been very outspoken about what she liked and didn’t like. Maddie simply…accepted.
“I’m confused. Maddie isn’t pretty. She can’t sing or play anything. But she can paint and sculpt and she’s sharp about people.” He grimaced. “Odalie is beautiful, like the rising sun, and she can play any instrument and sing like an angel.”
“He came over for supper last night. They went driving.”
“I’m really sorry,” he said gently. “But I thought you should know before you heard gossip.”
“Well, she’s plain as toast,” Odalie said haughtily. “She has no talent and she’s not educated.”
She laughed, and she was so beautiful that he was really confused.
Maybe she’d settle down, maybe she wouldn’t, but Cort was hers. She wanted Maddie to know it.
November 5, 2017
Im still reading this book but stopped because im irritated.
The story is that the orphan heroine has a big crush on the hero but he is head over heals with a different neighbor girl thats pretty tallented and educated, and he makes this clear to the heroine on multiple occasions. The other woman did not want the hero at all but liked having him there for her ego, she wanted to be a famous singer. This other woman was evil, pure and simple. She bullied the heroine in highschool to the extent that lawyers and authorities had to be involved. The heroind was attacked because of this but this was brushed under the carpet because every one involved except her had money. The hero doesnt know any of this even though its a small, every one knows everyone's business community, he tells her she's lying and just jealous of the beautiful other woman.
Now all this was good for me, it just added to the angst of the story. But then hero started to kinda date the heroine and the evil other woman came back to get an ego boost from the hero, he wasn't giving it so she asks to ride his car, in front of the heroines house, cause u know, shes a bitch like that. She wasn't looking at the road and the heroine ran after a chicken and accidents happen. Now the author is making this whole deal about she got her pretty expensive dress and white leather bag ruined trying to help the heroine after the accident. Isn't the other woman just sooooo good because she hit someone in a car and stayed behind to help even ruining her expensive clothes in the process? And now everyone is admiring her for common decency? uhmm.... no, just no. And the police saying intent is important? no, just no. You have to mean to hit someone with your car? thats just moronic. The heroine did recklessly run on the road to get her chicken but they are in a part of town with ranches and cattle, therefore adjusted speeding limits so that driver don't hit wandering cattle while driving to fast. So yes, even if the heroine jumped on the road the other woman legally should be driving at a speed that she could stop at any time, so most of the liability of the accident falls on her shoulders, so i hate just HATE that now the heroine is put in a position where she was not at fault but has to feel grateful towards her bully for helping her after an accident she caused instead of just exercising her legal right to take her to court.
I just hate all these characters, i understand the author wanted to make the evil ow likable to maybe give her her own book but the things she did were nonredeemable. And staying behind after you cause an accident doesnt make u a good person because driving away is called a hit ad run and is punishable by law. I dont live in the US and even i know that. This book made no sense what so ever.
The story is that the orphan heroine has a big crush on the hero but he is head over heals with a different neighbor girl thats pretty tallented and educated, and he makes this clear to the heroine on multiple occasions. The other woman did not want the hero at all but liked having him there for her ego, she wanted to be a famous singer. This other woman was evil, pure and simple. She bullied the heroine in highschool to the extent that lawyers and authorities had to be involved. The heroind was attacked because of this but this was brushed under the carpet because every one involved except her had money. The hero doesnt know any of this even though its a small, every one knows everyone's business community, he tells her she's lying and just jealous of the beautiful other woman.
Now all this was good for me, it just added to the angst of the story. But then hero started to kinda date the heroine and the evil other woman came back to get an ego boost from the hero, he wasn't giving it so she asks to ride his car, in front of the heroines house, cause u know, shes a bitch like that. She wasn't looking at the road and the heroine ran after a chicken and accidents happen. Now the author is making this whole deal about she got her pretty expensive dress and white leather bag ruined trying to help the heroine after the accident. Isn't the other woman just sooooo good because she hit someone in a car and stayed behind to help even ruining her expensive clothes in the process? And now everyone is admiring her for common decency? uhmm.... no, just no. And the police saying intent is important? no, just no. You have to mean to hit someone with your car? thats just moronic. The heroine did recklessly run on the road to get her chicken but they are in a part of town with ranches and cattle, therefore adjusted speeding limits so that driver don't hit wandering cattle while driving to fast. So yes, even if the heroine jumped on the road the other woman legally should be driving at a speed that she could stop at any time, so most of the liability of the accident falls on her shoulders, so i hate just HATE that now the heroine is put in a position where she was not at fault but has to feel grateful towards her bully for helping her after an accident she caused instead of just exercising her legal right to take her to court.
I just hate all these characters, i understand the author wanted to make the evil ow likable to maybe give her her own book but the things she did were nonredeemable. And staying behind after you cause an accident doesnt make u a good person because driving away is called a hit ad run and is punishable by law. I dont live in the US and even i know that. This book made no sense what so ever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2020
It’s been a while since I’ve read a DP, but after several dark/cheating books, I needed some fluff. If your new to D. Palmer, her writing is very formulaic…there typically will be a broody/worldly (asshole) cowboy, rancher or lawman that shows his love by insulting the poor virgin (many times orphan) plain h all with some snarky (blond) wannabe OW in the mix. They’re the wholesome/country version of HP’s.
The Rancher is Cort and Maddie’s story. The Branndt has been around for a long time. Cort’s parents’ book To Love and Cherish was released in 1980, and his sister Morie also has a book, Wyoming Tough.
Maddie’s family ranch neighbors the Branndt ranch, and she has loved Cort forever. The problem is that he’s in love with the bitchy Odalie Everett. (daughter of Cole & Heather from Heather's Song) As usual, Cort is completely blind to Odalie’s nasty ways, and lashes out anytime the truth comes up.
You venomous little snake,” he said furiously. “As if you could sing a note that wasn’t flat!” She colored. “I could sing if I wanted to!” He looked her up and down. “Sure. And get suddenly beautiful with it?” The color left her face. “You’re too thin, too flat-chested, too plain and too untalented to ever appeal to me, just in case you wondered,” he added with unconcealed distaste.
I absolutely LOVE to hate a snarky OW, but I want her to remain the villain. My biggest grump with DP is that she’s (IMO) too easy on these skanks, and even tries to reform them into future h’s. I hold grudges and ain’t down with that. Even more annoying, Odalie’s dastardly deeds all happened in the past, and after several chapters of being told she’s a TOTAL bitch… She waltzes on the scene and almost immediately is portrayed as the best female lead. It was nauseating. 🙄😫
Bottom Line- OK showing, but not her greatest. It was too nice and flat for me. Cort simmers down pretty quickly; Odalie has a brain transplant, and Maddie would happily stand aside which makes for low drama and 🥱🥱. There’s an injury that (IMO) hindered the natural progression of chemistry, so it felt forced. I’m a little bummed because I really liked the Branndt Family series, but Cort fell flat.
The Rancher is Cort and Maddie’s story. The Branndt has been around for a long time. Cort’s parents’ book To Love and Cherish was released in 1980, and his sister Morie also has a book, Wyoming Tough.
Maddie’s family ranch neighbors the Branndt ranch, and she has loved Cort forever. The problem is that he’s in love with the bitchy Odalie Everett. (daughter of Cole & Heather from Heather's Song) As usual, Cort is completely blind to Odalie’s nasty ways, and lashes out anytime the truth comes up.
You venomous little snake,” he said furiously. “As if you could sing a note that wasn’t flat!” She colored. “I could sing if I wanted to!” He looked her up and down. “Sure. And get suddenly beautiful with it?” The color left her face. “You’re too thin, too flat-chested, too plain and too untalented to ever appeal to me, just in case you wondered,” he added with unconcealed distaste.
I absolutely LOVE to hate a snarky OW, but I want her to remain the villain. My biggest grump with DP is that she’s (IMO) too easy on these skanks, and even tries to reform them into future h’s. I hold grudges and ain’t down with that. Even more annoying, Odalie’s dastardly deeds all happened in the past, and after several chapters of being told she’s a TOTAL bitch… She waltzes on the scene and almost immediately is portrayed as the best female lead. It was nauseating. 🙄😫
Bottom Line- OK showing, but not her greatest. It was too nice and flat for me. Cort simmers down pretty quickly; Odalie has a brain transplant, and Maddie would happily stand aside which makes for low drama and 🥱🥱. There’s an injury that (IMO) hindered the natural progression of chemistry, so it felt forced. I’m a little bummed because I really liked the Branndt Family series, but Cort fell flat.
June 27, 2021
Meh
It’s been a hot minute since I last read Diana Palmer, but she was one of my favorite authors when I was a girl, so when this book was on sale, I thought I’d give it a try.
typical of her style there was a hero who is initially cruel and cutting, and a shy, innocent heroine. This trope would’ve been fine, but the things I found annoying and distracting in the story was all the “name dumping” of characters from previous books that didn’t do anything to add to the story, they’re just pumped onto the pages as filler. And there was waaaayyyy too much time spent on the nitty gritty details of ranch life and trying to save a family ranch and business matters. This is a romance, and I didn’t feel the romance. Instead it was a parade of unnecessary characters, or references to characters who have no part in the story and there was no growth or development of the romance between the MCs.
I also didn’t like one little bit the subplot with the OW. It was unnecessary and smarmy and just came off sickly sweet.
And then there was the lack of a resolution with the hero—in the beginning he said cruel and nasty things to her. Is there any groveling? Nope. Instead of saying how wrong and stupid he had been, and how she was the opposite of what he had originally said, it’s just forgotten. Not good enough for me.
Overall, I found this book kinda boring and I skimmed large portions just to get to the end and the HEA.
Hero’s past isn’t mentioned but it’s implied he ISNT a manwhore, even if he was panting after the OW and thought he was in love with her. Hes never intimate with her. Heroine is a virgin. OW drama and slight OM drama as another man shows interest in h. No abuse or cheating. HEA.
It’s been a hot minute since I last read Diana Palmer, but she was one of my favorite authors when I was a girl, so when this book was on sale, I thought I’d give it a try.
typical of her style there was a hero who is initially cruel and cutting, and a shy, innocent heroine. This trope would’ve been fine, but the things I found annoying and distracting in the story was all the “name dumping” of characters from previous books that didn’t do anything to add to the story, they’re just pumped onto the pages as filler. And there was waaaayyyy too much time spent on the nitty gritty details of ranch life and trying to save a family ranch and business matters. This is a romance, and I didn’t feel the romance. Instead it was a parade of unnecessary characters, or references to characters who have no part in the story and there was no growth or development of the romance between the MCs.
I also didn’t like one little bit the subplot with the OW. It was unnecessary and smarmy and just came off sickly sweet.
And then there was the lack of a resolution with the hero—in the beginning he said cruel and nasty things to her. Is there any groveling? Nope. Instead of saying how wrong and stupid he had been, and how she was the opposite of what he had originally said, it’s just forgotten. Not good enough for me.
Overall, I found this book kinda boring and I skimmed large portions just to get to the end and the HEA.
Hero’s past isn’t mentioned but it’s implied he ISNT a manwhore, even if he was panting after the OW and thought he was in love with her. Hes never intimate with her. Heroine is a virgin. OW drama and slight OM drama as another man shows interest in h. No abuse or cheating. HEA.
January 4, 2013
Egads. What the heck happened here? DP is my total guilty pleasure, and I make HUGE allowances for formula, etc. but something just went seriously wrong here, and I wanna smack her editors for not fixing this one!
A few of the issues I had with this book:
* What's with the Morie/Dana and Cort/?? name thing? Didn't get that. Wasn't in on the joke, and I HAVE read all of the books!
* Could they repeat just one more darn time that Odalie was going to "get what was coming to her"? Ok. We get it, it's coming, move on!
* Odalie - seriously? THAT'S her big comeuppance??? That and the singer not being all that impressed? Whatever!
* Cort - really, seriously? The alcohol made him do it!! Sorry. That whole "jee, I think I loves, Maddie" (my words, not his) was a bit rushed to me.
* Who the heck are/were her parents? I'm gonna have to do a family tree to figure all that out. I kept thinking it was either Pierce Hutton or Colby Lane. Incredibly confusing!
* The "incidents" from High School - I'm sorry NO ONE could be that blind and Branntville is a small town; Cort should have known about SOMETHING that happened. Too convenient for me.
* What was up with "the developer"? That whole character/story line just smacked of filler to me.
* In true DP fashion, Cort should have led her on and tortured her a bit longer with Odalie. Sick, but true. :-)
* What the heck was up with the Epilogue? Abrupt much?
Personally, I would have rather seen:
* Our hero and heroine GROW THE HECK UP sometime during the book!
* Our heroine end up with the other guy (Odalie's brother-figure that one out-whose name I can't remember). HE sounded GREAT-an honest to goodness NICE DP hero. Of course, when he gets a book, he'll probably be the jerkwad we've come to love and expect.
* The parents get the heads out of the freaking clouds!
That rooster was darn funny, though! Poor, evil thing.
All in all...I am upset I burned an Audible credit, but DP has given me so many good moments, I'm okay with it. I did go back and read To Love and Cherish. Should have read Wyoming Tough again, too, but I just can't read that one again! Shudder!
A few of the issues I had with this book:
* What's with the Morie/Dana and Cort/?? name thing? Didn't get that. Wasn't in on the joke, and I HAVE read all of the books!
* Could they repeat just one more darn time that Odalie was going to "get what was coming to her"? Ok. We get it, it's coming, move on!
* Odalie - seriously? THAT'S her big comeuppance??? That and the singer not being all that impressed? Whatever!
* Cort - really, seriously? The alcohol made him do it!! Sorry. That whole "jee, I think I loves, Maddie" (my words, not his) was a bit rushed to me.
* Who the heck are/were her parents? I'm gonna have to do a family tree to figure all that out. I kept thinking it was either Pierce Hutton or Colby Lane. Incredibly confusing!
* The "incidents" from High School - I'm sorry NO ONE could be that blind and Branntville is a small town; Cort should have known about SOMETHING that happened. Too convenient for me.
* What was up with "the developer"? That whole character/story line just smacked of filler to me.
* In true DP fashion, Cort should have led her on and tortured her a bit longer with Odalie. Sick, but true. :-)
* What the heck was up with the Epilogue? Abrupt much?
Personally, I would have rather seen:
* Our hero and heroine GROW THE HECK UP sometime during the book!
* Our heroine end up with the other guy (Odalie's brother-figure that one out-whose name I can't remember). HE sounded GREAT-an honest to goodness NICE DP hero. Of course, when he gets a book, he'll probably be the jerkwad we've come to love and expect.
* The parents get the heads out of the freaking clouds!
That rooster was darn funny, though! Poor, evil thing.
All in all...I am upset I burned an Audible credit, but DP has given me so many good moments, I'm okay with it. I did go back and read To Love and Cherish. Should have read Wyoming Tough again, too, but I just can't read that one again! Shudder!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2019
The whole time I read this I was picturing the main characters as 10/11 year olds trying to act as adults, a la 'Bugsy Malone' (1976). That's becuase mc's didn't behave like mature adults. Instead of tall, dark and sexy hero my mind couldn't shake an image of short, petulant children. The h is not petulant but she's certainly very 'young'. I know DP likes to push the limits on her H's but I couldn't for the life of me see anything remotely attractive about him. The h was pleasant enough if somewhat lacking in esteem because not many women would overlook being called ugly, or near enough, twice.
We had the usual umpteen mentions of characters from other books, mostly unwarranted and the inevitable trip to Jacobsville. The best character was the rooster Pumpkin, he could discern a lously H right off, but .
We had the usual umpteen mentions of characters from other books, mostly unwarranted and the inevitable trip to Jacobsville. The best character was the rooster Pumpkin, he could discern a lously H right off, but .
October 28, 2019
Soy una gran fan de Diana Palmer pero este libro me ha decepcionado mucho,
No me he creído para nada el amor de Cort hacia Maddie.
Y lo del cambio repentino de Odalie muchísimo menos, nadie cambia de la noche a la mañana
porque si, y sobre todo después de haber sido tan malvada. Y para ser sincera me polio que la autora
le diera una personalidad semejante a una de las hijas de los protas de otro de sus libros.
February 11, 2017
I love everything Diana Palmer writes so this one was no different :)
May 31, 2018
Loved this book can't wait to read more books by this author
April 4, 2020
Estuve esperando leer esta historia, desde que Cort apareció en la historia de su hermana, estuve ansiosa por conocer su historia, sobre todo al famoso "gallo de su vecina", supe que la mujer que lo tenía obsesionado no era para él, y al conocer como era esa mujer llegue a despreciarla aún más, sabia que iba a aparecer e iba causar daño, pero no podía creer que uno de los hijos de otra historia de Diana Palmer fuera tan desalmada, simplemente no puede ser que tuvieran tan mal corazón, ya se que todos los hijos no son iguales, y que uno es bueno y otro malo, simplemente no creo eso, porque a los hijos les das el mismo amor, los educas igual y no pueden estar tan alejados de lo que le has educado en ellos, me pareció que la mimaban mucho y al actuar de la peor manera pudo ocasionar una tragedia, y por fin se vio como era y no le gusto en lo que se había convertido, esta historia me pareció divertida. ...
March 18, 2013
Two stories – of two different women of strength, ranchers, average looking, virgins… and both are attracted to neighboring ranchers who are strong, independent, cold… and it takes them a bit to realize the depths of their feelings for their neighbors… both pleasantly surprised by the hidden passion of the women.
The Rancher –
Maddie Lane, an artist at heart, who dabbles in drawing and creating porcelain fairies; inherits her father’s small ranch and breeding cattle; she is doing her best to apply what her father taught her; and she has branched a bit and is raising chickens and selling their eggs – but her rooster is mean, and has it out for her neighbor Cort Matthew Brannt, whom she has had a crush on since school – but he is enamored of her enemy, daughter of another rich rancher, spoiled, beautiful, with a beautiful singing voice and she hopes to become an opera Odalie and has left to study in France.
He is furious with her rooster coming after him, he says some spiteful things to her (that she is plain, flat chested, and can’t sing) and then is ashamed of hurting her feelings. A shady developer makes an offer for her ranch… she contacts Cort’s father for advice…. He sends his son over to explain the breeding plan her father developed… and they start to spend time together… but just as he starts to see her in a different light, the Odalie comes home… and wanting to make sure that Maddie knows Cort is now with her, she talks Cort into letting her drive his fancy convertible, and heads towards maddies house… and Maddie is chasing her rooster and steps in front of the car… and Odalie’s attention is not focuses… and she is hit… Odalie, for the first time, puts another ahead of herself, is needed instead of petted… ad Odalie and Cort stay in the hospital with her… encourage her to have hope… and purchase the equipment (fancy wheelchair, etc) that she needs until she completed physical therapy… Odalie can see Cort’s love for Maddie… Cort is showing Maddie his interest with touches and kisses… she makes a beautiful fairy that looks like Odalie… and then Odalie asks her to make one based on a cameo of her supposed great grandmother… then Cort and Odalie go to Dallas together, and Maddie assumes that they have been kind to her, but have discovered their feelings for one another… and is resigned to giving up on her dreams… but when they return, Odalies turns over a check for $5,000 for the fairy based on the cameo – a cameo provided by a rich man/collector of dolls, who wants to contract with her to sell her fairies… and the Cort proposes… and marries her… ahhh
The Rancher –
Maddie Lane, an artist at heart, who dabbles in drawing and creating porcelain fairies; inherits her father’s small ranch and breeding cattle; she is doing her best to apply what her father taught her; and she has branched a bit and is raising chickens and selling their eggs – but her rooster is mean, and has it out for her neighbor Cort Matthew Brannt, whom she has had a crush on since school – but he is enamored of her enemy, daughter of another rich rancher, spoiled, beautiful, with a beautiful singing voice and she hopes to become an opera Odalie and has left to study in France.
He is furious with her rooster coming after him, he says some spiteful things to her (that she is plain, flat chested, and can’t sing) and then is ashamed of hurting her feelings. A shady developer makes an offer for her ranch… she contacts Cort’s father for advice…. He sends his son over to explain the breeding plan her father developed… and they start to spend time together… but just as he starts to see her in a different light, the Odalie comes home… and wanting to make sure that Maddie knows Cort is now with her, she talks Cort into letting her drive his fancy convertible, and heads towards maddies house… and Maddie is chasing her rooster and steps in front of the car… and Odalie’s attention is not focuses… and she is hit… Odalie, for the first time, puts another ahead of herself, is needed instead of petted… ad Odalie and Cort stay in the hospital with her… encourage her to have hope… and purchase the equipment (fancy wheelchair, etc) that she needs until she completed physical therapy… Odalie can see Cort’s love for Maddie… Cort is showing Maddie his interest with touches and kisses… she makes a beautiful fairy that looks like Odalie… and then Odalie asks her to make one based on a cameo of her supposed great grandmother… then Cort and Odalie go to Dallas together, and Maddie assumes that they have been kind to her, but have discovered their feelings for one another… and is resigned to giving up on her dreams… but when they return, Odalies turns over a check for $5,000 for the fairy based on the cameo – a cameo provided by a rich man/collector of dolls, who wants to contract with her to sell her fairies… and the Cort proposes… and marries her… ahhh
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2016
Pues nada, bastante decepcionante. Lo leí porque quería leer algo de vaqueros y, bueno, el vaquero está, pero menudo romance decepcionante. Ya sé que del amor al odio hay un paso, pero aquí lo han exagerado un poco. Vamos, que ni yo sabía cuando había pasado Cort a quererla, ni la propia Maddie lo sabía. De la noche a la mañana pasa de no poder ni verla y pensar que es fea, insulsa e incapaz de atraer a nadie, a estar totalmente loco por ella. No me extraña que la pobre Maddie no se lo creyera, es que era increíble. El romance, por tanto, bastante pobre, los personajes eran sosos de morirse, y la Odalie esta, pues también sufre una gran transformación que te deja un poco wtf. La suya es más creíble que la de Cort, pero es que Cort desarrolla unos profundos sentimientos en nada y menos, porque además, no es que los desarrolle tras el "incidente" (que no digo qué es por los spoilers...), es que él ya los tenía de antes, y eso, que no venían a cuento. Un tostón. Por lo menos es cortito y se lee rápido (menos mal), pero la verdad es que me ha dejado con mal sabor de boca, me ha resultado insulso y aburrido...
June 15, 2013
I love Diana Palmer's early stuff, and although each modern one I read seems to be slightly worse than the last, I keep going back for more. It's sort of like reading a romance novel written by your grandmother - so endearingly well intentioned yet so hopelessly out of touch.
The Rancher was no exception, although at least we were spared the relentless re-treading of other people's stories as so often happens in the Jacobsville books. This is a terribly written story with two-dimensional characters and an absurd plot, yet there's something so innocently heartwarming about Palmer's tales that I could barely put it down.
Is this an outstanding contribution to the canon? Of course not. It's not even well written, and I would only recommend it to serious romance fans as a look at what happens when an author fails to evolve with the genre. But it's a cute, swift, lovable read, and I'm sure I'll find myself cringing my way through another one of hers very soon.
The Rancher was no exception, although at least we were spared the relentless re-treading of other people's stories as so often happens in the Jacobsville books. This is a terribly written story with two-dimensional characters and an absurd plot, yet there's something so innocently heartwarming about Palmer's tales that I could barely put it down.
Is this an outstanding contribution to the canon? Of course not. It's not even well written, and I would only recommend it to serious romance fans as a look at what happens when an author fails to evolve with the genre. But it's a cute, swift, lovable read, and I'm sure I'll find myself cringing my way through another one of hers very soon.
January 14, 2013
I really enjoy Diana Palmer's books, they are completely fluff reading and I can finish one in an evening. The heroes all seem to be the same cowboy of my dreams, rich, ruggedly handsome and sexually satisfying. I keep all my Diana Palmer books, I have over 85 of her books and "The Rancher" is the worst I have read to date. I did not enjoy this book, it struck me as a book Diana Palmer wrote only to meet a publisher's deadline. This book is not worth re-reading and I would normally throw it away or toss it in my fireplace, but I have left a note in the book that it is the worst to date and I will add it reluctantly to my collection.
December 23, 2012
I loved the first two books, Wyoming Tough & Fierce.. This one was good but not those kind of good. Every once & awhile Diana will injure her main character in some way.. I like it sometimes other times I can not finish *ahem* Maggie's Dad I'm looking at you. This time is was all mediocre, but still a good love story. Nothing to write home about though. I liked it, the characters were okay.. You got a glimpse of a few old faces the parents of the characters all have their own books too about their love story. It was a quick nice read, still worth reading by all means.
July 30, 2014
3.5 stars.
Actually, this book has a lot of potential especially with the whole Cort-being-mean thingy? It made me all tingly inside. But one thing that I didn't really like is But so far, I think this book is almost one of my favorite.
Looking forward to read another Diana Palmer's books.
Actually, this book has a lot of potential especially with the whole Cort-being-mean thingy? It made me all tingly inside. But one thing that I didn't really like is But so far, I think this book is almost one of my favorite.
Looking forward to read another Diana Palmer's books.
December 10, 2012
Maddie Lane and her ferocious rooster, Pumpkin, are a thorn in the side of neighbor Cort Brannt. Cort already has the woman of his dreams in his sight, but the plain little neighbor down the road seems to have gotten under his skin.
Maddie had dealt with the rejection of Cort since she was young. Having him mooning of her nemesis, Odalie, makes things even worse.
Very nice.
Maddie had dealt with the rejection of Cort since she was young. Having him mooning of her nemesis, Odalie, makes things even worse.
Very nice.
March 19, 2013
Not a huge fan of this one: I thought it was too rushed. One day Cort hates Maddie, and the next he's switched his affections from Odalie to her? Not really believable, IMO. Furthermore, I also expected him to flaunt Odalie more, but I guess since Odalie is the daughter of a previous DP couple, she needed redemption? Not crazy about that twist.. 2.5* for me.
September 22, 2018
Ame en serio a pumpkin es un gallo con mucha personalidad
Me encanto la historia de amor muy tierna me gusto mucho el tímido amor de Maddie y Cort ella siempre estuvo enamorada de él y él estaba confundido por el amor que se supone que tenía por odalie la cual por cierto mostró una gran transformación y madurez gracias a lo que vivió ame que todos los vecino la cuidaron cuando tuvo su accidente
Me encanto la historia de amor muy tierna me gusto mucho el tímido amor de Maddie y Cort ella siempre estuvo enamorada de él y él estaba confundido por el amor que se supone que tenía por odalie la cual por cierto mostró una gran transformación y madurez gracias a lo que vivió ame que todos los vecino la cuidaron cuando tuvo su accidente
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