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Mystery Man
"First published in Great Britain 1997"--T.p. verso.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1997
128 people are currently reading
225 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 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 19, 2017
“Mystery Man” is the story of Canton and Janine.
When Tycoon and computer wiz Canton goes on a vacation to Cancun with his daughter Karie to escape from a recent financial disaster- he never expects to have a neighbor like Janine, the exasperating redhead who drives him mad with her tongue.. and lust. She pretends to be a mother to Kurt, who he soon realizes is her younger brother- and both embark on this passionate but funny banter filled ride- not knowing she’s a best selling author.
This is mixed with loads of heated kisses, boob rubbing on hairy chests, kidnapping drama and naughty kids planning insane hoaxes.
Really enjoyed this one, and it could have ended 50 pages sooner with the proposal rather than the last kidnapping drama. (Which made me a little mad as the heroine forgave easily).
Sweet ending.
Safe
4/5
When Tycoon and computer wiz Canton goes on a vacation to Cancun with his daughter Karie to escape from a recent financial disaster- he never expects to have a neighbor like Janine, the exasperating redhead who drives him mad with her tongue.. and lust. She pretends to be a mother to Kurt, who he soon realizes is her younger brother- and both embark on this passionate but funny banter filled ride- not knowing she’s a best selling author.
This is mixed with loads of heated kisses, boob rubbing on hairy chests, kidnapping drama and naughty kids planning insane hoaxes.
Really enjoyed this one, and it could have ended 50 pages sooner with the proposal rather than the last kidnapping drama. (Which made me a little mad as the heroine forgave easily).
Sweet ending.
Safe
4/5
June 4, 2023
I was going to cut her some slack and give her 3 stars because the story itself is actually kinda good, save for a few details. Plus the book was short and if you’re going to write a bad book, it better be short. At lease Diana respects that. But the ending was absolute GARBAGE. I would’ve liked it much better if the main couple just didn’t end up together. It was actually so dumb and not romantic at all. The writing in the book was also exhausting every other sentence it’s “she said haughtily, he asked curiously, she said helpfully”. It was like an AI wrote it. And don’t even get me started on the bullshit 2 second eye roll of a climax. I’d also like to add something that is not this authors fault alone , but I am so so tired of reading books in which the main character is an author or journalist. It’s every other book. I get that’s literally your personal background and “write what you know” but holy god please dig deeper, find anything else. So many thumbs down. Sorry Diana.
August 30, 2020
Ero convinta che il libro fosse degli anni 80/90 invece è del '97 ma caspita che idee antiquate. Canton desidera Janine ma si convince che lei è una brava ragazza da matrimonio, quindi dopo 2/3 baci le propone le nozze per potersela portare a letto. Lei gliela avrebbe mollata anche prima ma siccome è ancora vergine, va prima sposata. Boh
Finale confuso con tutti quei rapimenti e poi Marie non si è neanche palesata!
E per concludere dopo due mesi senza neanche una chiamata lei vuole ancora sposarlo? Senza neanche averlo testato prima? Doppio boh
Finale confuso con tutti quei rapimenti e poi Marie non si è neanche palesata!
E per concludere dopo due mesi senza neanche una chiamata lei vuole ancora sposarlo? Senza neanche averlo testato prima? Doppio boh
January 25, 2016
Update: Re-read in January 2016
Update: Re-read in January 2015
Update: Re-read in January 2015
April 1, 2025
4 stars
I purchased a copy of Mystery Man/ Canton’s Protection: A Protector Hero Romance by Diana Palmer and this review was given freely.
Based on irony, this is a story where exasperation with the help of some meddling children grows into attraction and more.
Former computer billionaire Tycoon Canton Rourke takes a vacation in Cancun, Mexico, with his daughter to relax, but soon finds himself and his daughter wrapped up in writer Janine and her sick younger brother’s lives. Things become interesting when Janine realizes he looks and sounds like the character she has a crush on in her favorite tv show, and Canton just happens to be a big fan of her books.
I purchased a copy of Mystery Man/ Canton’s Protection: A Protector Hero Romance by Diana Palmer and this review was given freely.
Based on irony, this is a story where exasperation with the help of some meddling children grows into attraction and more.
Former computer billionaire Tycoon Canton Rourke takes a vacation in Cancun, Mexico, with his daughter to relax, but soon finds himself and his daughter wrapped up in writer Janine and her sick younger brother’s lives. Things become interesting when Janine realizes he looks and sounds like the character she has a crush on in her favorite tv show, and Canton just happens to be a big fan of her books.
September 1, 2024
4½ Stars
This was refreshingly light and fun, a change from the more intense romance I've read by Ms. Palmer. Canton and Janine are fabulous characters who have sizzling chemistry and bounce witty barbs off each other. Canton's teen daughter and Janine's teen brother are perfect supporting characters. I enjoyed the intrigue they found themselves embroiled in, and the resolution. I'm sure I'll be reaching to read Canton and Janine's journey to HEA again.
This was refreshingly light and fun, a change from the more intense romance I've read by Ms. Palmer. Canton and Janine are fabulous characters who have sizzling chemistry and bounce witty barbs off each other. Canton's teen daughter and Janine's teen brother are perfect supporting characters. I enjoyed the intrigue they found themselves embroiled in, and the resolution. I'm sure I'll be reaching to read Canton and Janine's journey to HEA again.
March 29, 2019
This is a new one for me
I thought I'd read all of Diana Palmer's books but this is a new one for me I have read most of her book and about Canton Rourke in other of her books but this one is a another of her books that I'll have to read again. If you haven't read it yet it's great.
I thought I'd read all of Diana Palmer's books but this is a new one for me I have read most of her book and about Canton Rourke in other of her books but this one is a another of her books that I'll have to read again. If you haven't read it yet it's great.
April 20, 2025
I've read Diane Palmer before and thought I'd give her another shot. I surmise that
she just isn't the author for me. The book is short, but even so, it did not harbor any great story. 3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
she just isn't the author for me. The book is short, but even so, it did not harbor any great story. 3 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2022
Book was very interesting in my opinion.Very amazing book.It was like an enemies to lovers arc.I would put it in the young adult section bcz of its spicy scenes.Idk what to say cuz I bad at explaining books i finished like 2 weeks ago....hahaha
September 2, 2024
Clinton's Protection
One of Diana Palmer's best stories,. She tells an exciting story, with plenty of mystery and references of characters from past stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and mystery.
One of Diana Palmer's best stories,. She tells an exciting story, with plenty of mystery and references of characters from past stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romance and mystery.
March 1, 2025
Why do I keep doing this to myself? 😂
I was so happy with this one until the end. There's no freaking way he said one month abruptly and without explanation, then went two months AND was seen with another woman, and she didn't say a single word!
I was so happy with this one until the end. There's no freaking way he said one month abruptly and without explanation, then went two months AND was seen with another woman, and she didn't say a single word!
March 7, 2025
Just couldn't put this book down! The kids were doing everything to drive her dad and his sister crazy. The adventure and mystery kept me engaged along with the sizzling attraction between the dad and sister. Great book
March 2, 2020
Bellina la prima metà ma poi diventa un guazzabuglio di idee, troppo roba
May 9, 2023
Cute read but not one of her best.
February 13, 2024
Nancy
Short and sweet! Lots of mystery and fun. Characters were fun and interesting with a touch of romance. Thanks for book.
Short and sweet! Lots of mystery and fun. Characters were fun and interesting with a touch of romance. Thanks for book.
March 21, 2024
This book was so good! Diana Palmer books never let you down!
August 18, 2024
More comedy than romance. The kids were cute.
August 18, 2021
Silhouette Romance #1210
July 22, 2019
DP prostě neudrží myšlenku.
s. 10 Janine mluvila celkem obstojně německy , i když neměla na jazyky nadání.
s. 41 „Ano, mám bakalářský titul z dějin umění a z němčiny.“
s. 31 Hrdinka je spisovatelka, která „se vyhýbá rozhovorům a reklamě“, je „tajemnou ženou, která všem uniká a nikdo o ní nic neví“.
Přesto ji zvou na večírky, „aby vysvětlovala, jak se to dělá, aby člověku vydali jeho knihu“ nebo „aby k vydavateli protlačila knihu kamarádky nějaké bohaté ženské“ (s. 33, 34)?
A její pravé jméno zná i sestřička z mexické nemocnice (s. 104).
A že by miliardář přišel o všechno kvůli jedné zamítnuté fúzi?
Ale i když přišel o všechno (s. 16), zůstal mu dům v Chicagu, byt na Manhattanu a tryskáč. Přesto „nemá ani cent“ (s. 115).
Vypadá to, že hrdina zbohatl až po třicítce. Ale podle s. 45 nedokončil ani střední školu, protože „měl příliš mnoho práce s vyděláváním peněz na to, aby mohl chodit na univerzitu“.
Rodiče hrdinky jsou archeologové a chtějí bránit bohaté naleziště „před vykradači tak dlouho, jak jen dokážeme“. Proto naložili bednu s poklady a vrátili se do civilizace (s. 121)?
s. 59 Quentin učí renesanci? Na s. 7 učil dějiny středověku, předrenesanční období.
s. 160 paní Radka Tedy paní Vlasta.
s. 108 veřírků
s. 122 rozumější
s. 138 Oči jí jen zářili
s. 138 Canoth [Canton]
s. 149 fotofrafie
povědomně
uvozovky - s. 12
s. 10 Janine mluvila celkem obstojně německy , i když neměla na jazyky nadání.
s. 41 „Ano, mám bakalářský titul z dějin umění a z němčiny.“
s. 31 Hrdinka je spisovatelka, která „se vyhýbá rozhovorům a reklamě“, je „tajemnou ženou, která všem uniká a nikdo o ní nic neví“.
Přesto ji zvou na večírky, „aby vysvětlovala, jak se to dělá, aby člověku vydali jeho knihu“ nebo „aby k vydavateli protlačila knihu kamarádky nějaké bohaté ženské“ (s. 33, 34)?
A její pravé jméno zná i sestřička z mexické nemocnice (s. 104).
A že by miliardář přišel o všechno kvůli jedné zamítnuté fúzi?
Ale i když přišel o všechno (s. 16), zůstal mu dům v Chicagu, byt na Manhattanu a tryskáč. Přesto „nemá ani cent“ (s. 115).
Vypadá to, že hrdina zbohatl až po třicítce. Ale podle s. 45 nedokončil ani střední školu, protože „měl příliš mnoho práce s vyděláváním peněz na to, aby mohl chodit na univerzitu“.
Rodiče hrdinky jsou archeologové a chtějí bránit bohaté naleziště „před vykradači tak dlouho, jak jen dokážeme“. Proto naložili bednu s poklady a vrátili se do civilizace (s. 121)?
s. 59 Quentin učí renesanci? Na s. 7 učil dějiny středověku, předrenesanční období.
s. 160 paní Radka Tedy paní Vlasta.
s. 108 veřírků
s. 122 rozumější
s. 138 Oči jí jen zářili
s. 138 Canoth [Canton]
s. 149 fotofrafie
povědomně
uvozovky - s. 12
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
This is a Drama filled Romance. I listened to the audiobook for this book, and I found the narrator to be ok. I really got pulled into this book, and I do not want to put this book down. I found the kids to be cute and funny. I loved that there is a writer in this book. The romance is cheesey at times, but I was living for the drama and cute kids moments in this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
February 17, 2014
3,5 stars.
Mostly because I keep waiting for boom-boom-pow that never happen until the end. I want to read the angst between Canton and Janine, but there's none.
So overall, very typical story of Diana Palmer as usual. Good but not exactly my favorite.
Mostly because I keep waiting for boom-boom-pow that never happen until the end. I want to read the angst between Canton and Janine, but there's none.
So overall, very typical story of Diana Palmer as usual. Good but not exactly my favorite.
October 23, 2008
Mystery Man (Desire) by Diana Palmer (2000)
April 15, 2012
3.5 stars It was a good fun romance.
April 16, 2018
Not one of her best I am afraid. Quite boring and it seamed to drag for a long time. No much chemistry between them. Not a fan
August 28, 2016
I just finished reading this book and found it good.
August 8, 2017
good book
Read
April 22, 2018Tycoon Canton Rourke, was beset and besieged - and all because of his neighbor, Janine Curtis. The woman was out to get him, he was sure of it. He'd come to Cancun, Mexico, with his daughter to relax, not catch bandits, track kidnappers...or save the woman from any other fine mess she landed herself in!
Her neighbor's opinion was not a secret to Janine. So she was determined to live down to his image of her...while trying to ignore how her knees buckled every time he rescued her. Was she falling in love? The man was a mystery...would a lifetime of love prove an answer?
Her neighbor's opinion was not a secret to Janine. So she was determined to live down to his image of her...while trying to ignore how her knees buckled every time he rescued her. Was she falling in love? The man was a mystery...would a lifetime of love prove an answer?
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews