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Long, Tall Texans #2
Justin
A New York Times Bestselling AuthorThey were hard and strong . . . and the sweetest, most handsome men of Texas. Diana Palmer presents these legendary cowboys that will captivate your heart.Justin was a rancher who was haunted by the past and had dreamed a thousand times that Shelby was asking for his help . . . but when she finally needed him . . . would he be able to come to her rescue?
Republished in 2008 in Long Tall Texan Legacy
Republished in 2008 in Long Tall Texan Legacy
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1988
364 people are currently reading
616 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 82 reviews
October 29, 2018
Hero was jilted by the heroine six years before. He's been bitter and celibate ever since. Heroine was a poor little rich girl who sacrifice their love so her father wouldn't ruin the hero's business. Hero was told heroine cheated on him. Heroine let him think that because she was convinced hero never really loved her since he never said so.
Oh, and she's a super-virgin, so she's always been nervous around the hero in case he loses control.
What's a super virgin, you ask? Someone who needs surgery or sex will be painful/impossible. The term "hymen" is never used, but I think that's what DP was getting at.
Hero thinks the heroine is repulsed by him because he's so plain. (DP used this insecurity of the hero's again in Rawhide and Lace to much greater effect.)
So with all of that baggage the H/h embark on a marriage of convenience because heroine has lost her home and hero is lonely in his big house since his brother married his ward and they moved out.
There are misunderstandings large and small. The H/h eventually have sex and are happy until the black moment when the hero sees 'two silhouettes on the shade" and leaps to the conclusion that the heroine is having an affair with her boss while he was out of town for two days. (FYI - it was the other secretary - they are both slender and the same height)
I'm sensing a pattern that DP likes heroes who bring about their own suffering because of honor, pride, ego, or a combo of all three.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest: check
Breasts commented on: small and beautiful
Cigarettes: check
Whisky: check
Ever expanding small town: there's a junk yard with a new piece of heavy equipment - a car crusher. There's also an airport with one terminal, but many gates to run to and a lounge/bar to drown your sorrows.
Oh, and she's a super-virgin, so she's always been nervous around the hero in case he loses control.
What's a super virgin, you ask? Someone who needs surgery or sex will be painful/impossible. The term "hymen" is never used, but I think that's what DP was getting at.
Hero thinks the heroine is repulsed by him because he's so plain. (DP used this insecurity of the hero's again in Rawhide and Lace to much greater effect.)
So with all of that baggage the H/h embark on a marriage of convenience because heroine has lost her home and hero is lonely in his big house since his brother married his ward and they moved out.
There are misunderstandings large and small. The H/h eventually have sex and are happy until the black moment when the hero sees 'two silhouettes on the shade" and leaps to the conclusion that the heroine is having an affair with her boss while he was out of town for two days. (FYI - it was the other secretary - they are both slender and the same height)
I'm sensing a pattern that DP likes heroes who bring about their own suffering because of honor, pride, ego, or a combo of all three.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest: check
Breasts commented on: small and beautiful
Cigarettes: check
Whisky: check
Ever expanding small town: there's a junk yard with a new piece of heavy equipment - a car crusher. There's also an airport with one terminal, but many gates to run to and a lounge/bar to drown your sorrows.
December 5, 2017
Much better than Book #1!
I so wanted to read the Justin-Shelby story and it almost didn't disappoint. If one leaves out the dragged out feel and the silly sexual fears of the h. What was that all about?
There's something about star crossed lovers getting a hea that is very satisfying.
I so wanted to read the Justin-Shelby story and it almost didn't disappoint. If one leaves out the dragged out feel and the silly sexual fears of the h. What was that all about?
There's something about star crossed lovers getting a hea that is very satisfying.
January 30, 2019
These two are never going to make it.
May 4, 2010
I can't honestly call this a good book; it's very formulaic and ridiculously repetitive. How often can one short book contain variations of the word "intimate"? You'd be amazed. But it tugged fairly successfully at my heartstrings.
Palmer's cruel hero/downtrodden heroine formula works better than usual here, because Justin is driven by insecurity and low self-esteem, which makes him a little more sympathetic. Also because Shelby actually takes some action instead of just being increasingly pathetic.
This was a reread and it still worked. For most of the story my eyes were rolling, but then it got to the big dramatic moment and my gut started twisting, instead. Gotta love it.
Palmer's cruel hero/downtrodden heroine formula works better than usual here, because Justin is driven by insecurity and low self-esteem, which makes him a little more sympathetic. Also because Shelby actually takes some action instead of just being increasingly pathetic.
This was a reread and it still worked. For most of the story my eyes were rolling, but then it got to the big dramatic moment and my gut started twisting, instead. Gotta love it.
July 2, 2014
Poor hero and rich heroine were in love years ago but she left him for another man or so he thinks. In reality she was blackmailed by her evil father. Now years later she is penniless he is rich and offers her a MOC. She still adores him, he has been celibate for six years but he is still bitter and suspicious about her past betrayal.
Another super romantic book by DP. Beautiful love story!
Another super romantic book by DP. Beautiful love story!
December 24, 2016
Ahhhhh why is this a contemporary romance?
This would have worked a lot better in a historical setting. I am of course biased, since I have almost never liked contemporary stories. I am trying (very hard) to read some works by Diana Palmer and Linda Howard. Somehow their western romances could almost fool me with their ultra alpha males. But honestly, I have yet to get pass the fact that they are all actually contemporary.
I read about Justin and Shelby in the first book of the series. They caught my attention because I do so love a story of unrequited love. Justin and Shelby had that desperate and longing air about them, ah, my romantic heart couldn't help it.
So in Calhoun (Justin's younger brother) story we knew that Justin and Shelby were engaged 6 years ago, when Shelby was 21 and Justin was 31. Shelby was a socialite from old money and Justin was the poor young man who wanted to make a name for himself. He saw Shelby and that was that. A young man who hadn't had much tenderness in life, found all the tenderness he needed in this young woman. We also knew from Calhoun's story that Shelby gave back Justin's engagement ring and turned him down after agreeing to marry him. We didn't know why. We only know that Justin had indeed made a name for himself, whereas Shelby's father invested poorly and lost all of his money, leaving Shelby and her brother Tyler essentially penniless.
This is where this book starts. Their positions were reversed. Shelby was poor and Justin had money. They loved each other but Justin had not forgotten how Shelby left him for another man. This was the story he was told: Shelby did not want to marry him and only used him to get another man's attention. Shelby hid a few things from Justin: her "problem" with sexual intercourse and her real reason for leaving Justin. All of which, did not help Justin's distrust of Shelby.
It is like this, the more involved you are, the more you withdraw from the other person. This is especially true when you do not know each other very well, but are strongly attracted to the other person. Because they so affect you, you fear that you'd be in over your head. Justin was like this with Shelby. He loved Shelby and had never looked at another woman since he met Shelby. But they did not know each other well enough, they were guided by attraction, which did not fully develop into something more profound before they were forced to separate. Justin's distrust and jealousy endangered the relationship. Shelby's inability, which was rather unbelievable, to tell Justin about her physical issue, fear of sex and the real reason of her "defection", was very annoying. I'd have bought this if the setting was historical. In a contemporary setting, I kind of just want to laugh at Shelby's silliness and Justin's macho behaviors.
Honestly, the story is a waste of a good couple. They had something going, but the story failed to capture me. Either it was all the silliness that was too hard to ignore in a contemporary setting or the superficiality (is this even a word?) of the "love", or it is just my personal preference, I cannot say. I do not think it is a bad book. I just wasn't as moved as I wanted to be. I am peculiar so I suppose, I can't hold it against the books.
This would have worked a lot better in a historical setting. I am of course biased, since I have almost never liked contemporary stories. I am trying (very hard) to read some works by Diana Palmer and Linda Howard. Somehow their western romances could almost fool me with their ultra alpha males. But honestly, I have yet to get pass the fact that they are all actually contemporary.
I read about Justin and Shelby in the first book of the series. They caught my attention because I do so love a story of unrequited love. Justin and Shelby had that desperate and longing air about them, ah, my romantic heart couldn't help it.
So in Calhoun (Justin's younger brother) story we knew that Justin and Shelby were engaged 6 years ago, when Shelby was 21 and Justin was 31. Shelby was a socialite from old money and Justin was the poor young man who wanted to make a name for himself. He saw Shelby and that was that. A young man who hadn't had much tenderness in life, found all the tenderness he needed in this young woman. We also knew from Calhoun's story that Shelby gave back Justin's engagement ring and turned him down after agreeing to marry him. We didn't know why. We only know that Justin had indeed made a name for himself, whereas Shelby's father invested poorly and lost all of his money, leaving Shelby and her brother Tyler essentially penniless.
This is where this book starts. Their positions were reversed. Shelby was poor and Justin had money. They loved each other but Justin had not forgotten how Shelby left him for another man. This was the story he was told: Shelby did not want to marry him and only used him to get another man's attention. Shelby hid a few things from Justin: her "problem" with sexual intercourse and her real reason for leaving Justin. All of which, did not help Justin's distrust of Shelby.
It is like this, the more involved you are, the more you withdraw from the other person. This is especially true when you do not know each other very well, but are strongly attracted to the other person. Because they so affect you, you fear that you'd be in over your head. Justin was like this with Shelby. He loved Shelby and had never looked at another woman since he met Shelby. But they did not know each other well enough, they were guided by attraction, which did not fully develop into something more profound before they were forced to separate. Justin's distrust and jealousy endangered the relationship. Shelby's inability, which was rather unbelievable, to tell Justin about her physical issue, fear of sex and the real reason of her "defection", was very annoying. I'd have bought this if the setting was historical. In a contemporary setting, I kind of just want to laugh at Shelby's silliness and Justin's macho behaviors.
Honestly, the story is a waste of a good couple. They had something going, but the story failed to capture me. Either it was all the silliness that was too hard to ignore in a contemporary setting or the superficiality (is this even a word?) of the "love", or it is just my personal preference, I cannot say. I do not think it is a bad book. I just wasn't as moved as I wanted to be. I am peculiar so I suppose, I can't hold it against the books.
August 21, 2021
Vayaaaa, Justin es más terco que su hermano, claro como es el hermano mayor jajajaja, y otra característica a agregar a los hombres de texas es ser muy rencorosos, no olvidan nada, pobre de las protagonistas, no se como aguantan tanto reproche y palabras crueles :O...
February 15, 2018
me río lo más grande con las cosas de estos hombres, no he visto cosa igual XDDDD
February 18, 2015
I've been trying to see what it is about Diana Palmer that gains her such legions of fans. So far, I'm fairly sure I'm never going to be one of them. I guess she's just not for me. YMMV
This one was better because, at least, it wasn't all about a poor, downtrodden heroine chasing after and worshiping some jerk who ran hot and cold mostly because he felt she wasn't good enough/pretty enough/glamorous enough for him and he resented the fact that he could even be attracted to someone so far beneath his awesomeness.
In this the heroine came from a richer background and was the better looking of the pair. He'd also been carrying a torch for her for years. He did perform the requisite DP jerk requirements, but he was coming from a place of misunderstanding and insecurity. He ALWAYS wanted her and there was no question about that. That's how I like my heroes :)
Still, nothing real special about this one. Some of it was enjoyable, but overall an average read.
This one was better because, at least, it wasn't all about a poor, downtrodden heroine chasing after and worshiping some jerk who ran hot and cold mostly because he felt she wasn't good enough/pretty enough/glamorous enough for him and he resented the fact that he could even be attracted to someone so far beneath his awesomeness.
In this the heroine came from a richer background and was the better looking of the pair. He'd also been carrying a torch for her for years. He did perform the requisite DP jerk requirements, but he was coming from a place of misunderstanding and insecurity. He ALWAYS wanted her and there was no question about that. That's how I like my heroes :)
Still, nothing real special about this one. Some of it was enjoyable, but overall an average read.
March 18, 2012
This one disappointed me.The reason for their seperation was repetative,Justin's mistrust over Shelby even after she tells him the truth about what happened 6 years back,the way he kept cruelly taunting her and Shelby's silence irritated me.How much i adored and liked Justin in first book i disliked him here so much.Also there was no grovelling at all she just took him back:(
July 21, 2025
This is a second chance story. I like Justin, I don’t like her. She is doing things that put him off again and again but she is acting all innocent about it. For instance making a joke about running off with another man, that’s not funny. Or her lie six years before that she had slept with another man while being engaged to Justin. So because of her it’s not 5 stars.
April 17, 2025
Slow, very slow building. It’s missing something too. The angst perhaps? This is supposed to be second chance with no others during their separation. But where’s the longing? I mean, they’ve loved each other for years and now they’re married but not “together”? Makes no sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2019
Creo que me gustó más este libro que el de Calhoun. Ambos hermanos son tan cabezotas.
Justin es un personaje muy diferente al cómo me imaginaba. En el libro anterior, me lo introdujeron de una manera más “sana”, no sé cómo describirlo.
Shelby y Justin se quieren mucho, eso se ve desde el principio de esta saga, el problema es que, intentan ocultarlo para no salir heridos como en el pasado.
Shelby Jacobs es un personaje muy bonito, me parece adorable su forma de ser, es tan frágil... de verdad me daban muchas ganas de darle un abrazo y decirle que todo iba a estar bien🥺.
Justin Ballenger en cambio, es un personaje muy impulsivo y aunque no le guste admitirlo, es inseguro y sentimental.
Me gustó mucho el final de la historia, debo admitir que me quedaron cabos sin ser atados, pero aún quedan muchos libros de esta saga y aunque ya no haya otro libro de esta pareja, al menos espero ver una conclusión para el tema de 6 años atrás.
Justin es un personaje muy diferente al cómo me imaginaba. En el libro anterior, me lo introdujeron de una manera más “sana”, no sé cómo describirlo.
Shelby y Justin se quieren mucho, eso se ve desde el principio de esta saga, el problema es que, intentan ocultarlo para no salir heridos como en el pasado.
Shelby Jacobs es un personaje muy bonito, me parece adorable su forma de ser, es tan frágil... de verdad me daban muchas ganas de darle un abrazo y decirle que todo iba a estar bien🥺.
Justin Ballenger en cambio, es un personaje muy impulsivo y aunque no le guste admitirlo, es inseguro y sentimental.
Me gustó mucho el final de la historia, debo admitir que me quedaron cabos sin ser atados, pero aún quedan muchos libros de esta saga y aunque ya no haya otro libro de esta pareja, al menos espero ver una conclusión para el tema de 6 años atrás.
January 8, 2023
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK or decent reads
=========================
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
"Never mind." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "I told you, we won't be sharing a bed. I don't care about your chastity."
=========================
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
He wasn't a handsome man. His dark face was too craggy, his features too irregular, his unsmiling countenance too forbidding. But he had wealth and power, and that drew women to him.
She had an innocence about her, still, that made Justin grind his teeth. It was false; she'd even admitted it.
Her dreams of loving him and bearing his sons had died long ago, but it was still a pleasure beyond bearing just to look at him.
"I'd kept you on a pedestal until then. And all the time, you were sleeping with that boy millionaire!" She threw up her hands. "I never slept with Tom Wheelor!"
"I never could decide why you wanted to marry me."
You were a feather in my cap," he said coldly, lying through his teeth. "A rich sophisticate. I was just a country boy with stars in my eyes, and you took me for a hell of a ride, lady. Now it's my turn. I've got money and you haven't.
I'll marry you, then, if you mean it.
But he could never trust her again, and that was the hell of it. She was just a stray person, he told himself. Just someone who needed help.
"I'm not mercenary," she said defensively. "Sure," he replied. He sipped his coffee without another word.
Your father would never have done that to me," he interrupted coldly, and his eyes went black, threatening as he leaned forward. "Don't try to use him for a scapegoat just because he's dead. He was one of the best friends I had."
You'll never trust me again, will you?" she asked softly.
"I'm thirty-seven years old," he reminded her. "I sowed my wild oats years ago, even before I started going with you."
"Are we going to have a church wedding?" she asked. "Aren't we a little old for that kind of ceremony?" he asked.
"I want a church wedding."
"There's just one thing. Don't you come down that aisle in a white dress. If you dare, I'll walk out the front door of the church and keep going."
"You know as well as I do that it takes a doctor to establish virginity. Even an experienced man can't tell."
They were going to be married, but he was going to see to it that she was publicly disgraced, like an adultress being paraded through the streets.
She didn't tell Abby that Ty had been infatuated with her. And on top of losing his entire heritage and having to go to work for someone else, losing his chance with Abby was just the last straw.
"Never mind." He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. "I told you, we won't be sharing a bed. I don't care about your chastity."
Dreams die hard, honey, didn't you know?" he asked coldly.
He still blamed her for what he thought she'd done with Tom Wheelor, and he thought she was frigid.
The black depression that she'd taken to bed on her wedding night got worse. Justin tolerated her presence, but he was away more often than not.
Justin had come home from his latest trip and had gone straight to the feedlot office with an abrupt and coolly polite greeting.
She felt reckless. As she'd told Justin, she had nothing left to lose. She was going to enjoy her life from now on. Justin could just do his worst.
"I'm rich." There was cool cynicism in the words. "Sure, I get offers." He studied her face calculatingly. "In fact, Shelby, I had one while I was in New Mexico last week, wedding ring and all."
"Fear," he ground out, searching them. "That's all I ever see in your eyes when I come near you. Well, don't sweat it, honey. You won't be called on to make the supreme sacrifice. I'm not desperate!"
"No," he agreed with a mocking smile. "You're my wife, aren't you? My saintly, untouched wife who can bear anyone's hands except mine."
"I've never had a lover, Justin," she said shyly. "Sure. And I'm the king of Siam."
He laughed coldly. "It's safe enough, in case you're worried. I won't risk my ego again with you."
You're small," he whispered. His fingers drew along one smooth curve. "I like my women small."
"You act," he whispered, moving the fabric aside sensually, "just like a virgin with her first man.
She felt the pain like a hot knife. She clutched at him and her eyes got as big as saucers. She cried out and tears ran down her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. Her hands reached up. "Don't stop," she said. "It's all right, I think I can...bear it...!"
"My virgin bride," he whispered huskily. His fingers touched her breasts hesitantly, with something like reverence.
"So that I could prove that I hadn't slept with Tom," she said simply.
"I want you, you know that. But I can't let you close. A woman who'll betray a man once will do it twice."
"You smell like a gardenia," he murmured. "It's a scent I never connected with anyone but you."
"I thought...you realized that I hadn't slept with Tom." "Sure I did," he admitted. "But you broke the engagement all the same, didn't you, and told the whole damned world that I wasn't rich enough to suit you."
Now it's my turn. I'm rich and I don't want you anymore, honey. Try that on for size.
Shelby didn't know what had gone wrong. When Justin had left for Wyoming, everything had been perfect for them.
You'll live in my house and I'll take care of you. But we'll have separate rooms, and separate lives, from now on."
Shelby lay down on the coverlet and cried for all the happy years she'd never have with him, for the child she was carrying that he didn't even know about. She cried for all of them, and fell asleep in her evening gown, lying on top of the covers.
March 19, 2017
Re-read
2.5/5
2.5/5
May 22, 2017
I enjoyed Justin. He was of course a first class jerk but 5yrs of celibacy can make anyone in a sour mood. Parts were definitely ridiculous
January 9, 2019
Loved this book like all of her books I cried for these two they broke my heart through the whole book can't wait to read more books by this author love all her books
January 23, 2022
Another story I read and never reviewed. I may read it again at some point, but I am trying to read the first 20 LTT books. I have read most of them, unfortunately it was done out of order. I am now going back to catch the ones I didn’t read and really do not have time to read this atm. Stmargarets gave a a thorough enough review to help me remember, so I will leave at that for now.
June 4, 2012
May have slight spoilers.
In author Diana Palmer’s novel Justin, the second book in her Long, Tall Texans series, we have Justin Ballenger and Shelby Jacobs story.
We met them in the first novel Calhoun which was about Justin’s brother Calhoun and Abby. Justin is a bitter man not to mention lonely and he has been for six long years ever since Shelby Jacobs broke off their engagement for another man, a man she admitted to having been sleeping with the whole time she and Justin had been together.
Which is why he thinks he would be happy to see the once rich woman loose everything from her land to her house, but that is not the case in actuality he hates it and so he asks her to marry him, which she aggress to knowing she does not really have a choice even knowing he probably wants revenge.
Shelby has loved Justin for a long time and never cheated on him, it was her father’s crazy plan and want for more money that took Justin from her and made her tell him the lies she had been told to.
Now that they are married though they must work though it all if they ever want to get to the truth and have they relationship they both secretly would love to have.
I liked this book as with the first novel, Calhoun, it has some very nice romance scenes and Justin and Shelby are so in love that you can practically feel the pain and frustration building in the book as the two of them try to live together before Justin knows, and believes, the truth of what really happened all those years ago.
At the same time I have to admit that this book did not reach more than three stars because it frustrated me, mostly because everything could have been solved so easily if Shelby had just told Justin the truth and he would have not been so stubborn and actually set down and listed to her long ago. It could have saved them years of hurt.
Overall—I liked it, in the end we have our happily ever after which is want I wanted so much for both characters in the first book and this one.
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good contemporary western romance.
In author Diana Palmer’s novel Justin, the second book in her Long, Tall Texans series, we have Justin Ballenger and Shelby Jacobs story.
We met them in the first novel Calhoun which was about Justin’s brother Calhoun and Abby. Justin is a bitter man not to mention lonely and he has been for six long years ever since Shelby Jacobs broke off their engagement for another man, a man she admitted to having been sleeping with the whole time she and Justin had been together.
Which is why he thinks he would be happy to see the once rich woman loose everything from her land to her house, but that is not the case in actuality he hates it and so he asks her to marry him, which she aggress to knowing she does not really have a choice even knowing he probably wants revenge.
Shelby has loved Justin for a long time and never cheated on him, it was her father’s crazy plan and want for more money that took Justin from her and made her tell him the lies she had been told to.
Now that they are married though they must work though it all if they ever want to get to the truth and have they relationship they both secretly would love to have.
I liked this book as with the first novel, Calhoun, it has some very nice romance scenes and Justin and Shelby are so in love that you can practically feel the pain and frustration building in the book as the two of them try to live together before Justin knows, and believes, the truth of what really happened all those years ago.
At the same time I have to admit that this book did not reach more than three stars because it frustrated me, mostly because everything could have been solved so easily if Shelby had just told Justin the truth and he would have not been so stubborn and actually set down and listed to her long ago. It could have saved them years of hurt.
Overall—I liked it, in the end we have our happily ever after which is want I wanted so much for both characters in the first book and this one.
I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good contemporary western romance.
February 25, 2012
This one was a bit better than the first one, but not by much. Justin and Shelby have a past. They are still in love but both refuse to let the past go and move on. I thought that Justin was a jerk through pretty much the whole book. Even when she had proof that she didn't lie about what happened to break them up, he still didn't trust her. I didn't blame her in the least for leaving him. Although, I probably would have done it a lot sooner. I also probably would have made him grovel a little more, but that is me. I liked their HEA though. It was nice to see two loves find their way back to each other.
April 1, 2025
lettura Amatoriale
Justin Ballenger e Shelby Jacobs (fratello di Calhoun)
(Fratelli Ballenger #2)
Justin è il fratello maggiore di Calhoun protagonista del primo libro LTT
(Fratelli Jacobs #1)
Shelby è sorella di Tyler a cui è dedicato il libro 3 della serie (inedito)
pronipoti del fondatore di Jacobsville a cui è dedicato il libro 0.5 The Faunding Father (inedito - lettura amatoriale)
I due ex fidanzati, si sposano per evitare a Shelby, diventata povera, di ritrovarsi senza una casa.
Si fa riferimento per la prima volta al Wyoming, e a Quinn Sutton a cui è dedicato il libro Sutton's Way LTT #4 (inedito)
Justin Ballenger e Shelby Jacobs (fratello di Calhoun)
(Fratelli Ballenger #2)
Justin è il fratello maggiore di Calhoun protagonista del primo libro LTT
(Fratelli Jacobs #1)
Shelby è sorella di Tyler a cui è dedicato il libro 3 della serie (inedito)
pronipoti del fondatore di Jacobsville a cui è dedicato il libro 0.5 The Faunding Father (inedito - lettura amatoriale)
I due ex fidanzati, si sposano per evitare a Shelby, diventata povera, di ritrovarsi senza una casa.
Si fa riferimento per la prima volta al Wyoming, e a Quinn Sutton a cui è dedicato il libro Sutton's Way LTT #4 (inedito)
October 23, 2012
A 2.5 star rating.
August 20, 2020
Infelizmente na minha releitura não curti muito o livro, consegui enxergar melhor os defeitos, como por exemplo os motivos extremamente fracos de rompimento do casal, tudo levado por motivos da mocinha ser muito ingênua com a situação, quase todos os traumas do casal resolveria com uma simples conversa, então achei os empecilhos deles ficarem juntos super fracos, e fiquei meio boiando no motivo da mocinha ter medo de intimidade com o protagonistas..nunca tinha visto um argumento daquele em livro kkk acho que é algo bem datado de romance de banca antigo kkkk. É complicado ler um livro mais antigo pela questão de conflito de gerações, aqui ainda têm aquela ideia da mulher ser submissa, dona de casa e tudo mais, porém tentei não levar em consideração as ideias arcaicas pois entendo o contexto da época, mas é algo que incomoda sim.
Sobre minha descrição da história na 1° vez que li:
Nesse livro conta a história do mocinho feio o Justin,irmão do bonitão Cal do primeiro livro,e gente que homem calado,reservado,de orgulho ferido,sofre porque não se acha bom o suficiente para a Shelby que é linda,e sempre fica inseguro e também tem consciência da sua aparência não muito boa ownn tadinho,mais o que ele não tem de aparência ele tem de sentimentos pela Shelby,ele é maravilhoso. EDIT: Essas características dele poderiam ter sido mais explorada no livro, de fragilidade e insegurança pessoal!
Enfim,a história deles se passa depois que anos atrás rompem o noivado,porque ele acreditava que ela o tinha traído,e isso acabou com ele,tanto é que depois disso nunca mais se relacionou com ninguém e nunca esqueceu ela.Depois de uns anos,ela está no fundo do poço financeiramente e ele mesmo machucado por ela,oferece ajuda p/ ela,e aí vai se desenrolando a história,e ela vai tendo que ganhar a confiança dele,porque mesmo não tendo o traído,ele acredita que sim...O homem coitado sofre,ele a ama demais,mas fica com medo de se magoar de novo.
Sobre minha descrição da história na 1° vez que li:
Nesse livro conta a história do mocinho feio o Justin,irmão do bonitão Cal do primeiro livro,e gente que homem calado,reservado,de orgulho ferido,sofre porque não se acha bom o suficiente para a Shelby que é linda,e sempre fica inseguro e também tem consciência da sua aparência não muito boa ownn tadinho,mais o que ele não tem de aparência ele tem de sentimentos pela Shelby,ele é maravilhoso. EDIT: Essas características dele poderiam ter sido mais explorada no livro, de fragilidade e insegurança pessoal!
Enfim,a história deles se passa depois que anos atrás rompem o noivado,porque ele acreditava que ela o tinha traído,e isso acabou com ele,tanto é que depois disso nunca mais se relacionou com ninguém e nunca esqueceu ela.Depois de uns anos,ela está no fundo do poço financeiramente e ele mesmo machucado por ela,oferece ajuda p/ ela,e aí vai se desenrolando a história,e ela vai tendo que ganhar a confiança dele,porque mesmo não tendo o traído,ele acredita que sim...O homem coitado sofre,ele a ama demais,mas fica com medo de se magoar de novo.
January 31, 2022
Well here we have Calhoun from Book 1’s brother and we met the h in there as well.
She’s a descendant of the Jacobs from Founding Father and this book didn’t really explain how the family has ended up on such hard times. I mean the FF was a self made man with his own rail siding ranch and statue at the end and the future looked promising for his descendants so how the heck did her daddy make such a mess of it all?
We never really properly find out in this book or the next.
The H and h have only recently started talking again since Calhoun and Abby hooked up in book 1. h has fallen on hard times and H can’t help but enjoy it a bit as the h dumped him when they were engaged 6 years ago. Seems her daddy wanted her to marry a rich dude and threatened to ruin the H if she didn’t. She duly dumped him but refused to have anything to do with the OM and went off on a bit of a death wise holiday in Europe which included dangerous skiing and fast cars.
H is bitter and so off women he has vowed never to have one again and he has been celibate but grumpy ever since.
He ends up rescuing h from “poverty” by marrying her but the attraction is just as strong as ever but he scares the h with his full on passion. Really a good conversation would have sorted these 2 out. He’s super mean to her for a lot of the book but just as they are sorting themselves out he takes a trip up to see our H due in book 4 Quinn Sutton.
He arrives back and spots the H’s boss making out with his secretary and assumes it’s the h and proceeds to be super mean to her now. He also crushes her new car because she drives it far too fast and almost has an accident in it.
When he realises his mistake he is a bit grovelly but these DP H’s really know how to gaslight their h’s into believing they are in the wrong.
Turns out they were both mad for each other all along but he came in far too strong with the h at original engagement and scared her off and did the same then they got married. Took ages for h to explain why she was soooo innocent and why they didn’t admit to loving each other to start with.
Hairy chest/boob whispering appears again
More chain smoking
The Mexican drinking song makes another appearance
She’s a descendant of the Jacobs from Founding Father and this book didn’t really explain how the family has ended up on such hard times. I mean the FF was a self made man with his own rail siding ranch and statue at the end and the future looked promising for his descendants so how the heck did her daddy make such a mess of it all?
We never really properly find out in this book or the next.
The H and h have only recently started talking again since Calhoun and Abby hooked up in book 1. h has fallen on hard times and H can’t help but enjoy it a bit as the h dumped him when they were engaged 6 years ago. Seems her daddy wanted her to marry a rich dude and threatened to ruin the H if she didn’t. She duly dumped him but refused to have anything to do with the OM and went off on a bit of a death wise holiday in Europe which included dangerous skiing and fast cars.
H is bitter and so off women he has vowed never to have one again and he has been celibate but grumpy ever since.
He ends up rescuing h from “poverty” by marrying her but the attraction is just as strong as ever but he scares the h with his full on passion. Really a good conversation would have sorted these 2 out. He’s super mean to her for a lot of the book but just as they are sorting themselves out he takes a trip up to see our H due in book 4 Quinn Sutton.
He arrives back and spots the H’s boss making out with his secretary and assumes it’s the h and proceeds to be super mean to her now. He also crushes her new car because she drives it far too fast and almost has an accident in it.
When he realises his mistake he is a bit grovelly but these DP H’s really know how to gaslight their h’s into believing they are in the wrong.
Turns out they were both mad for each other all along but he came in far too strong with the h at original engagement and scared her off and did the same then they got married. Took ages for h to explain why she was soooo innocent and why they didn’t admit to loving each other to start with.
Hairy chest/boob whispering appears again
More chain smoking
The Mexican drinking song makes another appearance
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
No puedo creer que me frustre menos con el libro de Calhoun que con el de Justin.
Mis criticas siguen siendo similares, los personajes principales no actuan acorde a su edad, la mujer virgen que se asusta de la intimidad y el hombre mayor que se fija en la chica de 21.
A diferencia del libro anterior, Justin y Shelby tienen un pasado, ella rompió su compromiso y acompañado a la baja autoestima de Justin hizo que por 6 años este la resintiera.
La idea de este libro habría funcionado sin los cliches y palmerismos de Diana. Parte del resentimiento de Justin no tiene mucho sentido porque él era el hombre de 31, con más experiencia en comparación a los 21 de Shelby y este bruto sale con el "solo fui un chico engañado"
Eso no me habría molestado si Shelby y Justin tuvieran la misma edad.
A pesar de todas las veces que casi rompo mi tablet y el drama ridiculo, es un libro que divierte. Ahora seguire con Tyler, tengo que admitir que estos personajes masculinos me dan muchas vibes de incels.
Otra cosa, que tiene Diana con los hombres peludos? Sus descripciones me hacen pensar en pie grande 😭
Mis criticas siguen siendo similares, los personajes principales no actuan acorde a su edad, la mujer virgen que se asusta de la intimidad y el hombre mayor que se fija en la chica de 21.
A diferencia del libro anterior, Justin y Shelby tienen un pasado, ella rompió su compromiso y acompañado a la baja autoestima de Justin hizo que por 6 años este la resintiera.
La idea de este libro habría funcionado sin los cliches y palmerismos de Diana. Parte del resentimiento de Justin no tiene mucho sentido porque él era el hombre de 31, con más experiencia en comparación a los 21 de Shelby y este bruto sale con el "solo fui un chico engañado"
Eso no me habría molestado si Shelby y Justin tuvieran la misma edad.
A pesar de todas las veces que casi rompo mi tablet y el drama ridiculo, es un libro que divierte. Ahora seguire con Tyler, tengo que admitir que estos personajes masculinos me dan muchas vibes de incels.
Otra cosa, que tiene Diana con los hombres peludos? Sus descripciones me hacen pensar en pie grande 😭
June 12, 2023
I liked Justin for being old and a bit crabby. He's not a lady's man or a playboy, he's insecure about his looks and spends his weekends in smoking and watching old war movies. He's also suuuuper jealous and flies off the handle at the smallest thing. Normally when these heroes are out for revenge against the heroine it's due to a misunderstanding - but in this case she straight up lied to him and and spent 6 years shoring up those lies so he was never mistaken, he was deceived - and so I kinda get his trust issues.
As for Shelby - she was a bit of an idiot even though her heart was in the right place. I did cheer her for keeping her job and doing one when Justin took things too far. I also get the scared virgin thing since she had a legit medical issue about it.
All in all a very enjoyable, quick read.
As for Shelby - she was a bit of an idiot even though her heart was in the right place. I did cheer her for keeping her job and doing one when Justin took things too far. I also get the scared virgin thing since she had a legit medical issue about it.
All in all a very enjoyable, quick read.
May 20, 2018
Justin & Shelly
I must say I really enjoyed this book, much more than the previous one. We first hear about this couple in Calhoun ( previous book ) and I was so looking forward to read more. It was so obvious that they still loved each other. Justin and Shelly were engaged 6 years ago until she returns his ring she and breaks it off. She came from money with a privileged background while the H was just a poor cowboy with dreams and ambition. Fast forward 6 years and Shelly has lost it all, money, the family ranch due to her father's dept. She is basically destitute and needs help while Justin has become a millionaire. His distrust and jealousy will destroy everything he holds dear. Or will it? Really good read. Highly recommended
I must say I really enjoyed this book, much more than the previous one. We first hear about this couple in Calhoun ( previous book ) and I was so looking forward to read more. It was so obvious that they still loved each other. Justin and Shelly were engaged 6 years ago until she returns his ring she and breaks it off. She came from money with a privileged background while the H was just a poor cowboy with dreams and ambition. Fast forward 6 years and Shelly has lost it all, money, the family ranch due to her father's dept. She is basically destitute and needs help while Justin has become a millionaire. His distrust and jealousy will destroy everything he holds dear. Or will it? Really good read. Highly recommended
October 6, 2023
I read first ‘Calhoun’ then ‘Justin’. The plots were very similar and both were VERY unrealistic and very labored. I looked up the publishing dates—1988. It is just impossible to believe Shelby is that naive or sheltered at the age of 27 in the late 80’s. I think Todd McLaren must be a wonderful actor, but he is so totally wrong for these books. The first Diana Palmer book I read was a much more recent write, and I’m thrilled to say that she has improved wonderfully from this era of her writing.
February 5, 2017
I felt sorry for Justin while reading Calhoun's story. So it was a bittersweet reading. He's been tormented for six years, ever since Shelby broke up their engagement and destroyed his pride. But now, he proposed to marry for convenience. The problem is that the past is very difficult to forget, and when there are secrets, misunderstandings happen. Delightfully lovely.
November 5, 2022
Altra rilettura . Calhoun e Justin saranno nominati tantissime volte rivisti altrettante in tutti i libri della serie .Justin incarna perfettamente l’uomo dalla Palmer tormentato e tormentoso con dei lati positivi e negativi con un grande fascino ma con un brutto aspetto . Adorabile per me. Indimenticabile.
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