What do you think?
Wyoming Men #2
Wyoming Fierce
Ranch owner Cane Kirk lost more than his arm in the war. He lost his way, battling his inner demons by challenging any cowboy unfortunate enough to get in his way. No one seems to be able to cool him down, except beautiful Bodie Mays. Bodie doesn't mind saving Cane from himself, even if he is a little too tempting for her own peace of mind.
But soon Bodie's the one who finds herself in need of rescuing - only, she's afraid to tell Cane what's really going on. How can she trust someone as unpredictable as this fierce cowboy? When her silence only ends up getting her into even deeper hot water, it's up to Cane to save the day. And if he does it right, he won't be riding off into the sunset alone.
But soon Bodie's the one who finds herself in need of rescuing - only, she's afraid to tell Cane what's really going on. How can she trust someone as unpredictable as this fierce cowboy? When her silence only ends up getting her into even deeper hot water, it's up to Cane to save the day. And if he does it right, he won't be riding off into the sunset alone.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,018 books3,136 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 267 reviews
December 30, 2020
Scraped up to two stars only for the heroine’s quick and decisive action when she catches the H doing what no new new husband should do, and her proactive handling of rumors. For once, a DP heroine that has some gumption even if it’s for just a little while.
And then there’s the rest of the story… the hero...the one-armed, lust in his heart, whining, pity-partying, DUI, dog in the manger hero. For someone who thinks he so manly, he sure does whine a lot.
The H and h get a happily ever after with an incredibly saccharinely sappy ending. I should probably add a star for that.
And then there’s the rest of the story… the hero...the one-armed, lust in his heart, whining, pity-partying, DUI, dog in the manger hero. For someone who thinks he so manly, he sure does whine a lot.
The H and h get a happily ever after with an incredibly saccharinely sappy ending. I should probably add a star for that.
January 28, 2017
This started out as a typical DP book, but parts of it frustrated me to no end.
Cane is a war veteran who's lost his arm. Instead of dealing with it, he spends time wooing women and creating bar fights. And if things dont get his way...tantrums. The only person who can pacify and rescue him is his 12 year junior neighbor Bodie, who works, studies and takes care of her sick grandfather.
Now I get that Cane has issues, but he was a dbag and mean/verbally abusive (idiotic) hero throughout most of the book. He called her names, refused to help her, almost pushed her to a bad situation, and even that kiss after marriage pissed me off.
I know Bodie is supposed to be sweet and in love and having a million problems, but she let him use her like a doormat and easily forgave his every stupidity.
Yes, I like parts of it but overall VERY frustrating.
2.5/5
Cane is a war veteran who's lost his arm. Instead of dealing with it, he spends time wooing women and creating bar fights. And if things dont get his way...tantrums. The only person who can pacify and rescue him is his 12 year junior neighbor Bodie, who works, studies and takes care of her sick grandfather.
Now I get that Cane has issues, but he was a dbag and mean/verbally abusive (idiotic) hero throughout most of the book. He called her names, refused to help her, almost pushed her to a bad situation, and even that kiss after marriage pissed me off.
I know Bodie is supposed to be sweet and in love and having a million problems, but she let him use her like a doormat and easily forgave his every stupidity.
Yes, I like parts of it but overall VERY frustrating.
2.5/5
October 5, 2012
Anyone who knows me,knows that I love Diana Palmer.I always liken her to my favorite comfort foods.Well,this latest entry was second helpings!
I really enjoyed this book,it seemed like a DP of old.
There were still the preachy moments,refs to archeology,some ramblings about the state of the economy,the state of health care with which I felt like I was in some kind of political ad,but they did not detract from the story.
I liked this heroine,I even liked the hero,asshat that he was.
The book moved smoothly and enjoyable with no lull in the story.Classic DP love scene tension was present.We even visited a past h/H in which this present hero was the brother of the hero in that book,Morie and Mallory Kirk.Looking
forward to Cort Brandt's book soon as his parent's story was a fav of mine.
I really enjoyed this book,it seemed like a DP of old.
There were still the preachy moments,refs to archeology,some ramblings about the state of the economy,the state of health care with which I felt like I was in some kind of political ad,but they did not detract from the story.
I liked this heroine,I even liked the hero,asshat that he was.
The book moved smoothly and enjoyable with no lull in the story.Classic DP love scene tension was present.We even visited a past h/H in which this present hero was the brother of the hero in that book,Morie and Mallory Kirk.Looking
forward to Cort Brandt's book soon as his parent's story was a fav of mine.
October 9, 2019
Horrific book. Boa a fan of manipulations, the hero kissed another woman on his wedding day on purpose to hurt his wife! Apparently the fact it was on purpose meant it was ok? How? Also, the story made many comparisons to Beth believing the worst about Bodies nude pictures, to avoids bot hanging around and hearing Cane’s feeble cause for cheating. Not a fan of manipulation, this book has that in doses. Characters saying Bodie needs to wait for Cane to get used to being married, to forgive him for being scum etc. This was not a an old book, if Diana Palmer is going to write modern books and move with the times, including things such as Skype and Facebook, then she need to adapt her stance on fidelity and her heroine’s. This shit was never ok, but to try and have obedient little good girls to cheating men in today’s day and age just does not wash. Either set this rubbish decades ago, or maybe actually write decent characters who are faithful, just a though. Emotionally abusive relationships are not the one, we are in a time where we are trying to get people to move away from toxic relationships and realise their worth. This sends the opposite message! 😒🤮
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2018
A supposedly heroic H who pouts, sulks, and boozes it up after he loses an arm in the war while saving a bunch of people. He also spends a lot of time while drunk confiding in the virginal h about his sordid sex life. To cap it all off, he deliberately kisses another woman in front of the h while on his honeymoon.
If you're really disappointed because you missed out on this prince of an H, I recommend one of the books on my "scaphism is too good for him" shelf -- you'll like these H's a LOT.
If you're really disappointed because you missed out on this prince of an H, I recommend one of the books on my "scaphism is too good for him" shelf -- you'll like these H's a LOT.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2012
Did not finish this book.
After 10% of reading I decided that although I wanted to know the outcome of the story of Cane and Bodie I had to move on.
The potential was there for a great story if only there was a little more depth to the characters and situations rather than flitting about with unrelated memories to the scene.
After 10% of reading I decided that although I wanted to know the outcome of the story of Cane and Bodie I had to move on.
The potential was there for a great story if only there was a little more depth to the characters and situations rather than flitting about with unrelated memories to the scene.
January 8, 2015
Way too cheesy for me, but again, Phil Gigante is doing an awesome job narrating it <3
February 21, 2014
Great love story! Hero is rich but emotionally and physically handicapped, heroine is poor and all alone in the world. They are friends but when hero fails her, heroine's only option to get the money she desperately needs is to pose in some posed, compromising photos for her evil stepfather. Cane and his family save her, take Bodie home, he is jealous of her relationship with his brother so he asks her to marry him but he screws up their marriage and Bodie leaves him.
I adored Bodie. She is caring, loving, sweet, innocent with a heart of pure gold. Hero is all Alpha male but insecure and vulnerable cause of his disability. He thinks women are after his money but all Bodie wants is his heart. Good angst and adorable epilogue!
I adored Bodie. She is caring, loving, sweet, innocent with a heart of pure gold. Hero is all Alpha male but insecure and vulnerable cause of his disability. He thinks women are after his money but all Bodie wants is his heart. Good angst and adorable epilogue!
April 30, 2016
De verdad que no aprendo, esta autora no me gusta mucho pero aquí sigo leyendo estas historias que parece que están escritas en 1980 o.0
May 1, 2016
2,5 estrellas
Estoy en uno de esos momentos donde no sabes qué leer porque nada te llama la atención lo suficiente. Así es como he conocido a Diana Palmer y sus historias de vaqueros. La conocí con el primer libro de esta serie El camino más largo y como seguía sin llamarme lo sufciente ningún libro decidí seguir con el segundo de la serie al ser lecturas amenas y ágiles, sin grandes complicaciones. Parecen estar escritas en otra época, lo que me hace gracia, es como si el libro estuviera escrito por un viejecita que suspira y se queja de como va el mundo y suelta algunas críticas aleccionadoras en sus escritos. Y viendo la edad de la escritora, casi 70 años, me parece que eso es exactamente lo que es.
Lo que llamó mi atención es que el protagonista hubiera perdido un brazo en la guerra, los hombres atormentados y con algún problema de ese tipo me conquistan porque cansa dar siempre con protagonistas que son el súmmun de la masculinidad, el atractivo y la capacidad, casi dioses del Olimpo. Me gustan personas más comunes y corrientes pero no por ello menos extraordinarias.
Aún así ha habido varias cosas que no me han gustado mucho. Para empezar el comportamiento de él y la forma que tiene ella de perdonarlo taaaan rápido es increíble, junto con las excusas que da que a mi modo de ver no justifica nada.
El final es bonito y me ha entrado curiosidad por conocer la historia del hermano de Moire, su vecina y el gallo.
En resumen, es una lectura entretenida que es lo que esperaba de este tipo de libros. Nunca leeré uno de estos pensando que me voy a encontrar la octava maravilla pero cumple su función: me entretienen mientras estoy en esos raros momentos en los que no me apetece leer nada o no encuentro nada mejor que leer.
Estoy en uno de esos momentos donde no sabes qué leer porque nada te llama la atención lo suficiente. Así es como he conocido a Diana Palmer y sus historias de vaqueros. La conocí con el primer libro de esta serie El camino más largo y como seguía sin llamarme lo sufciente ningún libro decidí seguir con el segundo de la serie al ser lecturas amenas y ágiles, sin grandes complicaciones. Parecen estar escritas en otra época, lo que me hace gracia, es como si el libro estuviera escrito por un viejecita que suspira y se queja de como va el mundo y suelta algunas críticas aleccionadoras en sus escritos. Y viendo la edad de la escritora, casi 70 años, me parece que eso es exactamente lo que es.
Lo que llamó mi atención es que el protagonista hubiera perdido un brazo en la guerra, los hombres atormentados y con algún problema de ese tipo me conquistan porque cansa dar siempre con protagonistas que son el súmmun de la masculinidad, el atractivo y la capacidad, casi dioses del Olimpo. Me gustan personas más comunes y corrientes pero no por ello menos extraordinarias.
Aún así ha habido varias cosas que no me han gustado mucho. Para empezar el comportamiento de él y la forma que tiene ella de perdonarlo taaaan rápido es increíble, junto con las excusas que da que a mi modo de ver no justifica nada.
El final es bonito y me ha entrado curiosidad por conocer la historia del hermano de Moire, su vecina y el gallo.
En resumen, es una lectura entretenida que es lo que esperaba de este tipo de libros. Nunca leeré uno de estos pensando que me voy a encontrar la octava maravilla pero cumple su función: me entretienen mientras estoy en esos raros momentos en los que no me apetece leer nada o no encuentro nada mejor que leer.
November 16, 2012
This was another book that I wanted to like so much more than I did. I understand the usage of virgins in romance novels, but come on! How is it that the guys get free passes and the ladies are sullied if they so much as say the word "penis?" It's ridiculous. Virgins can be believable if written as...well, believable. I appreciated the personality of Bodie, but felt that the strength of her feelings towards sex and propriety were at odds with her own nature. The story was good and I loved the incorporation of the war injury. Cane's flawed character is forced to face some harsh facts and take responsibility for his actions (I liked that part quite a bit!). HOWEVER, I found the dialogue to be quite lacking and even laughable in parts. It didn't make sense. While the majority of the book flowed okay, there were several awkward moments where stuff was written directly into the narrative or dialogue rather than addressed over the natural course of the story. I am slightly curious as to Cort's book, but I don't know if I can read about another absolutely faithful, devout virgin that is shown the ways of the world by an older, wiser, and debauched man.
We aren't living in the 1800's. These books make me feel like the responsibility of remaining chaste and pure is solely rested on the woman's shoulders. What? Have sex or don't have sex. Remain pure or go totally wild child. I find it hard to believe that there are so many absolutely chaste 20-somethings available for corruption by hedonistic-by-nature men in such a small area. Whew! *Rant over*
We aren't living in the 1800's. These books make me feel like the responsibility of remaining chaste and pure is solely rested on the woman's shoulders. What? Have sex or don't have sex. Remain pure or go totally wild child. I find it hard to believe that there are so many absolutely chaste 20-somethings available for corruption by hedonistic-by-nature men in such a small area. Whew! *Rant over*
December 28, 2017
Siendo generosa, muy generosa.
Me voy a leer el primero de la serie antes de decir "no more from Diana Palmer"
Me voy a leer el primero de la serie antes de decir "no more from Diana Palmer"
October 30, 2012
Cover & Title - 4 out of 5
Favorite Lines - "You'll find one someday that you can love, maybe. You'll be happy. That's all i want. I just want you to live and be happy. Whatever it takes."
Favorite Character - Tank
That is Cane, sexy, fierce & a total asshole :)
I was really enjoying this story and I was even ok with Cane being a total prick & not deserving Bodie and then about 80% in Cane did something that made me completely & absolutely hate him. I cannot tell you what as it will totally ruin the story but it was the freaking icing on the cake.
I managed to enjoy the ending but the whole book was tainted for me. Bodie was like a child/lost puppy, easily lead & stupidly forgiving, I felt that almost everyone used her tender-heart & naiveness against her, especially Cane, i really hated that.
I would read more by this author, especially Tank's story.
Favorite Lines - "You'll find one someday that you can love, maybe. You'll be happy. That's all i want. I just want you to live and be happy. Whatever it takes."
Favorite Character - Tank
That is Cane, sexy, fierce & a total asshole :)
I was really enjoying this story and I was even ok with Cane being a total prick & not deserving Bodie and then about 80% in Cane did something that made me completely & absolutely hate him. I cannot tell you what as it will totally ruin the story but it was the freaking icing on the cake.
I managed to enjoy the ending but the whole book was tainted for me. Bodie was like a child/lost puppy, easily lead & stupidly forgiving, I felt that almost everyone used her tender-heart & naiveness against her, especially Cane, i really hated that.
I would read more by this author, especially Tank's story.
August 15, 2018
This book had potential, but there were several things that bothered me about it. For one, they talk of how Bodie was the only one who could get through to Cane when he was drunk. The fact that the book never tells how, exactly, it was discovered that she, the twelve-year-younger granddaughter of one of their retired ranch hands who lives in town, had this magical ability seems like a giant plot hole that we're intended to ignore. Then there's the fact that he sees her as a kid and perpetually belittles her--and basically molests her--but she puts up with it.
If the book had stuck with the "broken hero" trope and simply allowed them to save each other, it would have been sweet. As it was, it was borderline abusive and a little creepy.
If the book had stuck with the "broken hero" trope and simply allowed them to save each other, it would have been sweet. As it was, it was borderline abusive and a little creepy.
August 23, 2019
3,5 Estrellas
Se trata del segundo libro de la serie “Hombres de Wyoming” pero al centrarse en una pareja diferente puede leerse de manera independiente, aunque la pareja protagonista de la primera entrega aparece en este.
En el esta ocasión le toca el turno a Cane Kirk, un ranchero de 34 años que perdió un brazo en la guerra y está bastante traumatizado.
La protagonista femenina es Bodie, una joven estudiante universitaria de 23 años que vive con su abuelo. Ambos tienen problemas económicos causados por el segundo marido de la fallecida madre de la joven.
Me ha costado conectar con la protagonista porque es excesivamente puritana, incluso para los estándares de la autora. Entiendo que las jóvenes vírgenes con hombres más experimentados es marca de la casa, pero me ha parecido demasiado anacrónica la protagonista.
Aún así, el libro engancha y se disfruta. Las partes de crítica social me han parecido algo forzadas, pero en general está bien.
Reconozco que me gustó más el primero y estoy deseando leer la historia del hermano restante.
Se trata del segundo libro de la serie “Hombres de Wyoming” pero al centrarse en una pareja diferente puede leerse de manera independiente, aunque la pareja protagonista de la primera entrega aparece en este.
En el esta ocasión le toca el turno a Cane Kirk, un ranchero de 34 años que perdió un brazo en la guerra y está bastante traumatizado.
La protagonista femenina es Bodie, una joven estudiante universitaria de 23 años que vive con su abuelo. Ambos tienen problemas económicos causados por el segundo marido de la fallecida madre de la joven.
Me ha costado conectar con la protagonista porque es excesivamente puritana, incluso para los estándares de la autora. Entiendo que las jóvenes vírgenes con hombres más experimentados es marca de la casa, pero me ha parecido demasiado anacrónica la protagonista.
Aún así, el libro engancha y se disfruta. Las partes de crítica social me han parecido algo forzadas, pero en general está bien.
Reconozco que me gustó más el primero y estoy deseando leer la historia del hermano restante.
July 18, 2017
I was tremendously disappointed in this book. If a writing student had handed this in, I would have given it a C for pedestrian writing. The style of prose is dull and simple. Characterization stereotypical and not realistic at all: the handsome, emotionally stuck hero, incredibly naive, sweet, innocent heroine. The situation has possibilities but is too simplistic.
February 4, 2020
Wow this book was a hot mess. The characters were annoying and mean to each other. The relationship felt very toxic throughout the story and then suddenly became overly sweet. I can't count how many times I wanted to slap Cane and Bodie for being stupid. And Cane was seriously over possessive. It felt like he forced Bodie into getting married.
May 30, 2013
Utter crap, I can't believe I finished it. I can't figure out which is worse, the writing or the story.
August 25, 2021
Rating: **2.5 stars**
The first 30% my hopes were high for this FL thinking she would be one of the exceptions but in my hopes I forgot this is a DP book how can a FL ever have something resembling a backbone or even two brain cells to rub together. It's a norm for the DP males to be absolute assholes but this guy takes the cake . There is zero grovel not just for this shit but also the innumerable number of times he behaved like an asshat with her.
Good for you, go girl!
“I know you don’t like me. I get in your way, I’m rude, I’m volatile.” She swallowed. “I’m not pretty, I don’t have social skills, I’ll never win prizes for being witty or brilliant. But I love you.”
The ML just used her to stroke his ego and as a punching bag for his frustrations. Overall conclusion these morons deserved each other.
The first 30% my hopes were high for this FL thinking she would be one of the exceptions but in my hopes I forgot this is a DP book how can a FL ever have something resembling a backbone or even two brain cells to rub together. It's a norm for the DP males to be absolute assholes but this guy takes the cake . There is zero grovel not just for this shit but also the innumerable number of times he behaved like an asshat with her.
Good for you, go girl!
“I know you don’t like me. I get in your way, I’m rude, I’m volatile.” She swallowed. “I’m not pretty, I don’t have social skills, I’ll never win prizes for being witty or brilliant. But I love you.”
The ML just used her to stroke his ego and as a punching bag for his frustrations. Overall conclusion these morons deserved each other.
July 13, 2019
Bien pensé que esta historia resultaría mejor que la de su hermano, claro que como dice, que el que predica no sigue su ejemplo y así resulto, estuvo peor que Mallory, ocasionando algo horrible, destruyendo momentos especiales con sus dudas, definitivamente no es mi hermano favorito...
April 18, 2013
Low, growly voice: “You must pay the rent!”
High, squeaky voice: “I can’t pay the rent!”
Low, growly voice: “You must pay the rent!”
High, squeaky voice: “I can’t pay the rent!”
Dear God, will it never end? It wasn’t the above plot line that made the book so bad, it was the trope overload. Don’t get me wrong – one of the reasons the romance genre works is because it uses many a trope – virginal damsel in distress, rake who needs reforming, dastardly villain. Unfortunately, when you pile every trope into one book, with a healthy splash of ‘tell, don’t show’ you are going to get something unbelievable. On so many levels.
This was my second stab at Diana Palmer. I wasn’t able to finish to the first book I tried, but I figured this time I HAD to stick it out. I love Westerns, particularly those that give you some details about life as a rancher (don’t get excited, none of that here), and Palmer has been writing for ages and is consistently popular. There had to be something in here worth my time. The kitchen sink?
I am sure people who loved the romances of the 1980’s adore virginal, helpless Bodie. They probably swoon over the hero, Cane, who has no redeeming value what-so-ever and is verbally and emotionally abusive to Bodie (presumably because he is fighting his ‘affection’ for her. Whatever.) And the villain: evil stepfather who demands increasingly impossible rent payments from the elderly grandfather and helpless heroine, stole said heroine’s inheritance, and distributes pornography, is only so laughably bad because we must make an effort to make him worse than the hero - who destroys bars, is cruel to his family and friends, and drives drunk. What a stud! Just when you think his character arc is not just going to be a flat line, he finally gets the heroine to marry him: then sets it up so she will witness him kissing an attractive blond in a bar shortly after they are married.
While I wish I could say Bodie deserves better, it’s really not clear she does. She loves Cane – although she never tells us why, other than mentioning several times that he’s so handsome he makes her heart stop, which indicates she is shallow at best, dimwitted at worst. The book ends with what looks like the makings of a terrible marriage – he will likely continue to emotionally abuse her, she will continue to just take it. I had to check the copyright, folks – this book WAS published in the 21st century.
There were also some extremely questionable editorial choices. The hero is a veteran soldier (sorry, not actually a good enough excuse to justify his terrible behavior) who lost part of an arm in the Middle East. Since they make a point of telling the reader that he doesn’t like to wear his prosthesis in the book, they should use extreme caution when using phrases with the hero such as “He threw up his hands” and “he stroked her cheek with one of his hands” because it will pull the reader out of the story every time as they stop and think to themselves, “I assume the one hand he has, right?” The author further demeans the expected IQ of her audience when, after using the word “quixotic”” in the story, then stops and explains to us what it means. Ouch.
Sadly, part of my issues with this terrible book stem partly from the audio performance. I can understand the narrator doing thrillers, or even mysteries. But he read every male character like a slow-drawling guy named ‘Tex’ and every female character like a two-digit IQ drag queen. There is nothing quite like an audio book where every time you put the next disc in, you are saying to yourself ‘please, God, let this be the last.’ Such a shame – there are great romances out there, people. This just wasn’t one of them.
High, squeaky voice: “I can’t pay the rent!”
Low, growly voice: “You must pay the rent!”
High, squeaky voice: “I can’t pay the rent!”
Dear God, will it never end? It wasn’t the above plot line that made the book so bad, it was the trope overload. Don’t get me wrong – one of the reasons the romance genre works is because it uses many a trope – virginal damsel in distress, rake who needs reforming, dastardly villain. Unfortunately, when you pile every trope into one book, with a healthy splash of ‘tell, don’t show’ you are going to get something unbelievable. On so many levels.
This was my second stab at Diana Palmer. I wasn’t able to finish to the first book I tried, but I figured this time I HAD to stick it out. I love Westerns, particularly those that give you some details about life as a rancher (don’t get excited, none of that here), and Palmer has been writing for ages and is consistently popular. There had to be something in here worth my time. The kitchen sink?
I am sure people who loved the romances of the 1980’s adore virginal, helpless Bodie. They probably swoon over the hero, Cane, who has no redeeming value what-so-ever and is verbally and emotionally abusive to Bodie (presumably because he is fighting his ‘affection’ for her. Whatever.) And the villain: evil stepfather who demands increasingly impossible rent payments from the elderly grandfather and helpless heroine, stole said heroine’s inheritance, and distributes pornography, is only so laughably bad because we must make an effort to make him worse than the hero - who destroys bars, is cruel to his family and friends, and drives drunk. What a stud! Just when you think his character arc is not just going to be a flat line, he finally gets the heroine to marry him: then sets it up so she will witness him kissing an attractive blond in a bar shortly after they are married.
While I wish I could say Bodie deserves better, it’s really not clear she does. She loves Cane – although she never tells us why, other than mentioning several times that he’s so handsome he makes her heart stop, which indicates she is shallow at best, dimwitted at worst. The book ends with what looks like the makings of a terrible marriage – he will likely continue to emotionally abuse her, she will continue to just take it. I had to check the copyright, folks – this book WAS published in the 21st century.
There were also some extremely questionable editorial choices. The hero is a veteran soldier (sorry, not actually a good enough excuse to justify his terrible behavior) who lost part of an arm in the Middle East. Since they make a point of telling the reader that he doesn’t like to wear his prosthesis in the book, they should use extreme caution when using phrases with the hero such as “He threw up his hands” and “he stroked her cheek with one of his hands” because it will pull the reader out of the story every time as they stop and think to themselves, “I assume the one hand he has, right?” The author further demeans the expected IQ of her audience when, after using the word “quixotic”” in the story, then stops and explains to us what it means. Ouch.
Sadly, part of my issues with this terrible book stem partly from the audio performance. I can understand the narrator doing thrillers, or even mysteries. But he read every male character like a slow-drawling guy named ‘Tex’ and every female character like a two-digit IQ drag queen. There is nothing quite like an audio book where every time you put the next disc in, you are saying to yourself ‘please, God, let this be the last.’ Such a shame – there are great romances out there, people. This just wasn’t one of them.
August 21, 2014
That is it! I have finally done my dash with Diana Palmer. If this book hadn't been on an e reader I would have tossed it across the room! I used to enjoy her writing as a simple guilty pleasure. But not anymore, now you have to wade through a whole heap of her weird and quite frankly insulting preaching about modern society. The characters come across as sanctimonious jerks going on about how they are "dinosaurs" and have "old fashioned values" and that everyone else in modern society is apparently into porno's and trying to get the dear heroine who proudly states she is a girl of "faith" and not interested in getting involved in them (hate to break this to you but studies show that being religious has no influence on their rate of viewing of pornography) Apparently in Diana Palmers' world only someone of "faith" would object to staring in porn....
The previous book had the characters talking about modern women and how common it was for "modern women to accept jewelry for sex and again smugly shaking their heads and talking about how old fashioned they themselves were. Well hello taking money or jewelry for sex is as old fashioned as you can get its called prostitution and has been around for thousands of years! And as a modern woman with lots of modern women friends I don't know one who would do that and resent that being implied as a modern characteristic or value.
Diana Palmer obviously has a soap box that she is currently pushing and unfortunately even though I like the premise of the stories her preachy characters obvious agenda are just too offensive. I give up!
P.S The fanny pack. Please no women out of the 1990's would be caught dead in one of those!
P.P.S What is it with co-ed dorms at universities that she also has a bee in her bonnet about? (must be an American thing as we don't have dorms as such in my country)We are far more likely to go flatting and yes they are often co-ed does not imply that you sleep with your flatmate. Most people have no problem having male and female friends with out crossing boundaries. Diana Palmer is a very strange woman!!!
The previous book had the characters talking about modern women and how common it was for "modern women to accept jewelry for sex and again smugly shaking their heads and talking about how old fashioned they themselves were. Well hello taking money or jewelry for sex is as old fashioned as you can get its called prostitution and has been around for thousands of years! And as a modern woman with lots of modern women friends I don't know one who would do that and resent that being implied as a modern characteristic or value.
Diana Palmer obviously has a soap box that she is currently pushing and unfortunately even though I like the premise of the stories her preachy characters obvious agenda are just too offensive. I give up!
P.S The fanny pack. Please no women out of the 1990's would be caught dead in one of those!
P.P.S What is it with co-ed dorms at universities that she also has a bee in her bonnet about? (must be an American thing as we don't have dorms as such in my country)We are far more likely to go flatting and yes they are often co-ed does not imply that you sleep with your flatmate. Most people have no problem having male and female friends with out crossing boundaries. Diana Palmer is a very strange woman!!!
January 18, 2017
Gostei imenso. Adoro os livros desta autora e este não foi exceção. Adoro esta família e a interação que têm uns com os outros e com as pessoas que os rodeiam, gostava que existissem mais pessoas assim, tornariam o mundo muito melhor.
January 26, 2013
A nice read.
I like how the story still retains it's sweetness even with the nasty things that both characters go through. The author does a wonderful job creating wonderful interesting characters and continuing the storyline but still keeping Cane and Bodie's story unique.
I like how the story still retains it's sweetness even with the nasty things that both characters go through. The author does a wonderful job creating wonderful interesting characters and continuing the storyline but still keeping Cane and Bodie's story unique.
November 29, 2012
A heroína sofre, sofre, sofre... até o final do livro!
O herói é um ogro dos mais cabulosos...
Típico livro da autora.
O herói é um ogro dos mais cabulosos...
Típico livro da autora.
December 7, 2013
I'm really tired of women who let men intimidate, bully and berate them but continue loving their emotional ans psychological abusers....
March 21, 2018
Si CANE ini bener2 keterlaluan deh. Salah satu tokoh co yg jahat dan nyebelin. Suka sama si ce tp gak mau ngaku. Akhir nya nikahin si ce jg krn dia gak mau adik nya deketin si Bodie. Hari pertama menikah dia merasa terkekang jd dia duduk di bar, cium ce lain supaya si istri ngeliat dan ngajuin cerai biar dia ba bebas lg.. duh pengen jitak aja. Ce nya tipe lugu dan sangat mencintai sayang nya. Padahal si Cane menurut gw bisa dibikin nyesel bgt. Tp walo kesel gw enjoy baca nya. Sempet nangis bombay juga waktu si Bodie kehilangan kakek nya. Sedih. Blm lagi waktu Cane nuduh Bodie cuma pelacur kecil yg mau duit nya doang #jitakCanelagi
January 10, 2019
Rancher brother number two takes the lead in this story. He’s had a tough time adjusting to life after the war where he lost an arm in an heroic way that saved lives. All he can see is the loss of his limb. Drink helps him lose himself until it almost kills him.
October 26, 2024
This one felt more realistic on how Bodie & Cane met and fell in love. First boo was a bit forced.
August 11, 2019
It's always great to read about these brothers!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews