Rancher's Law: A Small Town Cowboy Contemporary Romance

by Diana Palmer

A Texas detective and his former neighbor reunite in this heartfelt romance novel from New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer 

One night in his arms changes everything…

For Amelia Rose Grayson, there was only ever one Cal Hollister. When Cal, a police captain, is wounded, she’s there for him and helps nurse him back to health. After he shrugs off their undeniable chemistry, Amelia knows she needs to cut all her old ties. She escapes her small-town life and forges a new path, trying to leave Cal behind. But Amelia can't break free of Cal’s orbit. Emotion—and an unrelenting passion—takes over when they reconnect, sending them both into dangerous territory. Can the two of them move past their previous hurt and make peace? And will they finally face the reason they keep finding each other?

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From Harlequin Special Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.
 

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Audiobook, Harlequin

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Paula (in & out) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I forgot how annoying Diana Palmer's Heroes all are and I never liked doormat heroines so unfortunately this was not my cuppa tea but others may enjoy it.

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Cowboy Romance. I had a very hard time getting into this book, and I almost DNF this book a couple of times. Overall, I just found this book to be ok. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bind up of a novel Rancher’s Law and a novella, Guy.

Review of Rancher’s Law:

Amelia Grayson nurtured an unrequited love for her troubled neighbor Cal Hollister who viewed her only as a friend and off limits romantically. She was determined to enjoy their time together, with the understanding that they would never get a happy ending. He “wasn’t the type to settle down,” something that her grandfather continually reminds of her. When tragedy strikes, they part in the worst of ways, misunderstanding and distrust between them. Years later, they run into each other again in Jacobsville. Amelia has moved on with her life (as best as possible), and Cal is not in a good place emotionally. Cal has realized Amelia is the one who got away, but can he convince her to give him another chance?

This is a heartfelt, second chance-at-love with plenty of angst, and Diana Palmer’s characteristic gentle humor. Fans of Diana Palmer’s Long Tall Texas series will appreciate getting a chance to spend more time with beloved characters and to see a new couple’s relationship come to fruition. Dark content, such as war and violent death during war, child death, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, grief, toxic family relationships, alcoholism and drug abuse feature in this story, but are dealt with sensitively. The values and traits of many of the characters do feel dated (although this may be the norm in small towns?), which may not appeal to some readers who like their romances with a very contemporary feel. I do think there was an opportunity to humanize Edie (the other woman) and explore her complexity as a person. (Honestly, I was thinking it would be cool to have a story about Edie where she finds a happy ending). There was quite a bit of editorializing via character speeches in this book that may annoy some readers. I was able to shrug that off personally, but I can see that being off putting to some.

As usual, Cal has the Diana Palmer hero trait of being very emotionally mean to Amelia (for reasons that are very frustrating to me, and his viewpoint is really archaic). I did like that he was very remorseful and did grovel in a satisfactory way. Amelia comes off as very young, and in some ways, unbelievably innocent (for a 21st Century young woman). You can’t help but love her (in my opinion, Diana Palmer heroines are always likable).


As a lifelong fan of Diana Palmer, it was nice to get an opportunity to spend time with her characteristic storytelling. I am able to shrug off some of the dated aspects and enjoy her writing. (I just remind myself that her stories exist in some sort of time bubble and it makes things more believable). While I like romances with on the page sex scenes, I think sometimes they can be over the top and I get kind of burned out and put off by it, if I’m honest. It’s nice to read a romance that isn’t too descriptive with the sex scenes that focuses on the sensuality and emotion. Because that’s what I read romance for (if you can get good love scenes that are nicely sexy too then that’s great). I would love to see some black people in Jacobsville. There are literally zero.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a good read and it calmed me down and relaxed me to read this on my Kindle after work. 4.25/5.0 stars

Review of Guy

I really liked this story. I don’t know why, but it flowed a lot better for me, and there weren’t any things that rubbed me the wrong way. I love me some angst, and there was some great angst in this one. Both Guy and Candy are both very tortured by past traumas, and carry scars and wounds. I love an imperfect, physically ailing heroine, so that drew me in. I think I remember Guy from previous Long Tall Texan stories, and he seemed a lot more lighthearted in those. He’s pretty dark and taciturn. At first, they don’t get along, but as they spend time together and get to know each other (and each other’s trauma), they find a bond with each other. Even though things move very quickly, it felt authentic and possible. I loved how they were there for each other. Although it wouldn’t seem very interesting, I liked the tidbits about raising cattle and how to feed them (and moving towards organic and humane care for them) because I’m a nerd. It was a sweet and meaningful romance. Yeah, I loved everything about this story. 5 stars.

Overall rating: 4.5 (technically it was 4.6 stars doing the math)/5.0 stars.

[*CJ* · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Ranchers Law” is the story of Amelia and Cal.

Very old school DP formula with a conservative old fashioned hero, a doormat heroine with her virginity as her badge, lots of misunderstandings, mean words, a long separation, a measly apology and their happy ending.

Toxic toxic toxic. These heroes who lose their shi because of a miscarriage as “abortion is sin” can fall and rot for all I care. Her body, her choice.

SWE
1.5/5

[Rhonda Petersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a snooze. Nearly the entire book was told in flashbacks and they magically got back together after six years. Why do I keep reading Diana Palmer?

[Tessa]

I wasn't a big fan of this one, but I think its how the story unfolds with major flashbacks throughout the story, and then they just get back together. It did not flow well

[Mary Kirkland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia lives with her grandfather and gets good grades in school and is friends with Cal. She studies chemicals in college and knows how to use them to blow things up. In the small town of Jacobsville, there are so many ex-Military people, law enforcement and mercenaries that you have to expect people to like shooting guns, making bombs ect. Cal is ex-military and after his last mission, he's pretty messed up mentally but doesn't show it outwardly too much. He and Amelia get closer as they spend time together and he knows it would be a mistake to sleep with her since she's not experienced but it happens anyway. They spend one night together and both of their lives fall apart right after for a lot of different reasons.

Eb Scott is a retired Soldier of Fortune and what I would call mercenary and has a team that he sends out on missions. After Amelia and Cal have a falling out, she goes to Eb Scott and asks to join his team and reluctantly he agrees. Years later she's been trained but is mostly behind the scenes where she can't be hurt or put into danger. Years later Amelia and Cal see each other again and it's bitter sweet after everything they've both been through but Amelia wants nothing to do with him because of how he treated her the last time they spoke.

Cal wasn't the nicest of guys and the way he treated Amelia without even letting her explain anything made me so mad. She was the nicest of people and he knew her, knew her better than to think she would treat him the way he thought she did. Cal in my opinion took advantage of her when she was in emotional pain and then treated her like crap afterwards for no reason. I'm not sure I would have forgiven him as easily as she did in the end even if it was because of other people meddling and spreading lies. He should have at least talked to her like a civil human being instead of his excuse of being in emotional pain because of what he went through during his last mission. That wasn't a good enough excuse for the way he treated her and what she went through.

I've read a lot of Diana Palmer books and I know the men in them are going to be gruff, grumpy and standoffish and I can accept that but Cal was a jerk and Amelia deserved better.

Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diana Palmer's latest novel, Rancher's Law, a novel that had nothing to do with ranching or the law as the title indicates, is about what I've come to expect from Ms. Palmer's novels--the same formula, as always: A young virgin of limited means in love with an apparently unavailable man 20 years her senior. The biggest change to the usual scenario was that this time around, the older man had blonde hair rather than black, as well as black eyes. Since I was curious, I learned that black eyes and blonde hair account for only .01% of the population.

Additionally, the man in question, Cal, has PTSD from his work as a mercenary, and is spiteful beyond belief. After having unprotected sex with Amelia, a 19-year-old virgin, he tells her to get a morning-after pill, and, oh yes, he's leaving town to take a job with the San Antonio police department. Due to circumstances beyond her control, such as the death of her beloved grandfather, she is unable to do so in a timely manner. Of course, she becomes pregnant, wants to keep the baby, but since Cal flaunts the other woman in his life at the funeral for Amelia's grandfather, Amelia goes to live with her only living relative, her nasty aunt Valeria, who upon discovering the pregnancy, throws Amelia down a flight of stairs, she ends up in a hospital, waking to discover she's lost the baby. Why isn't Aunt Valeria arrested or put into a mental institution? Your guess is as good as mine. Then the madwoman calls Cal and tells him that Amelia aborted the fetus, and does he check to see if that's the truth? Of course not--instead he calls Amelia, raging and cursing at her and telling her to go to hell. Then, he gets plastered and marries Edie, an alcoholic and drug-addicted woman he doesn't love, just out of spite. Charming fellow--not!

Yes, Cal and Amelia eventually meet up 6 years later, and in the space of a few pages you'll get the HEA ending you expect at the end of a romance novel, but for this reader, I cannot imagine any sane woman wanting to spend the rest of her life with a man so easy to spite and anger, who drowns himself in alcohol, and who is both mentally and verbally abusive to the woman he purports to love. There is simply no way I can recommend this novel, which left me both bewildered and angry.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rancher’s Law by Diana Palmer was not exactly what the title indicated. It was (obviously) a romance, but mostly told in memories and not good ones, by both involved. Cal Hollister was in his late twenties when he met Amelia Grayson and her grandfather. She was barely eighteen and kind and cheerful and young. He was a mercenary who fought wars in other countries. He had seen things he couldn’t bear to think about, let alone share with her. She was in love with him: he knew it, she knew it, and her grandfather knew it. Cal knew better than to act on it and her grandfather counseled her that it was a bad idea. She went to community college where she majored in Chemistry. She loved to blow things up, and to cook. Both were simple chemistry. Then her grandfather died. She was beyond heartbroken but she knew things needed to be done and she did them. Then Cal arrived and they spent one night of passion, a reaffirmation of life. He brought another woman to the funeral. Heartbroken, Amelia went to stay with her great-aunt. Things unwound from there. All of these folks made mistakes.

Cal was a good man, brave and honest, mostly. On a drunken whim he married a woman he had been escorting for years. He spent years regretting that decision, along with many others. Amelia had nowhere to go. She couldn’t stay with her aunt so she trained to be an explosives expert at a school for mercenaries. She was trying to nurse her broken heart. This was a relatively unused kind of plot and Palmer did it well. Both these characters were well-written and although the reader wanted to knock their heads together, she was silently cheering them on. It was a unique way to tell a story and the ending came too quickly. But it was worth it. Thanks, Diana Palmer, for this and for the cute story after this one about love at first sight.

I was invited to read Rancher’s Law by Harlequin Romance. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarlequinRomance #DianaPalmer #RanchersLaw

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read any of the Jacobsville books. So long that the only name I recognized was Police chief Cash Grier, who was only mentioned at the end of the first book. So we have two books here, both second chances, which is my favorite trope. The first one, Rancher's Law, is about Cal Hollister, ex-mercenary, with PTSD, who temporarily moves to Jacosbville, across the street from young Amelia Grayson and her grandfather, also ex-military. Most of their story is told in flash backs, but it got a bit tedious at times. They befriend him and Amelia has a crush, but is constantly reminded by her grandfather that he is too old and sophisticated for her. Cal also is drawn to Amelia, but she his too innocent for him. So they all become friends, while Cal dates a socialite that he can barely tolerate. Amelia is working on her degree in chemistry. But when her grandfather dies suddenly, everything comes crashing down on her, at the same time that Cal is leaving Jacobsville. Two rotten women, conspire against them, until 6 years later, they learn the truth and get their second chance.

The second book, "Guy", is about Guy Fenton, who used to fly, but now works as a cow hand. He is haunted by his ex fiancee's death. She was killed in a plane accident when he was the pilot. Candace Marshall is a freelance publicist, who comes to Jacobsville to get information on doing an article about feedlots. Candace is the survivor of a mass shooting, which not only cost her her father but left her with only one lung. While assigned to take her to a few different ranches, he notices that she does not look well and finally diagnoses her with asthma, but it takes her almost dying to trust and believe him. I actually liked this story better than the main one.

I was gifted with an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.com. This is my honest, voluntary and unbiased review.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin - Romance through NetGalley.
Palmer has consistently stayed with her formula for successful romances and this one follows the pattern. In an interesting style change, Palmer uses flashbacks to tell most of the story. The present is six years beyond most of the events related from the characters' lives. Both have journeyed far from their first meeting as a naive nineteen year old (Amelia) and a former police officer who has become a mercenary (Cal). In the present, both have seen darker sides of life and deal with the nightmares and memories. Both have hurt each other though Cal certainly did more than his share to create the pain in the past. Readers follow their lives as the story moves between their stories and can see how events unfolded that led to the estrangement and grief.
This book did not flow as smoothly as some of her others and she acknowledges events in her own life that are causing grief. In particular, I was disappointed in how the Great Aunt's actions were treated. That even the doctor excused her serious rages as simply a reaction to her illness without any consequences was frustrating and appalling to me.
On the whole, a quick read with some heavier themes.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was told mostly in flashbacks, and the current time was extremely short and minimal. This was a typical Diana Palmer story - young, virgin heroine and older experienced mercenary hero. He never should of touched her, but of course he does, and of course she gets pregnant. Chaos ensues. Hero treats heroine like garbage, and of course she forgives him - no groveling needed. ARGH!

The characters were not fully developed, and it was challenging to invest in them. There were times when you felt like you might be getting to who they are, but, no. There were many things that were handled so strangely in this book. The lead character's Aunt commits a criminal act against her and it is just ignored and brushed under the carpet, like - Oh that's just her. What - she should be in jail! There should have been consequences.

The hero verbally brutalizes the heroine, and when they meet 7 years later, after one little talk - all is good. HEA happens. It just is so frustrating. I wish there had been more depth to the characters, and more time set in the current time. Years of angst and torment are settled in less then 10 minutes and everyone is happy now. It needed to be more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

[Denise Schenk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amelia Rose Grayson is quite young when she encounters Cal Hallister. He has just moved into her neighborhood, having left his job at the police department. Cal starts working as a mercenary for Eb Scott, unaware of the full extent of what he's getting into. During his time there, Cal and Amelia grow close. Her grandfather cautions her that Cal is too old and not suitable for her. After Cal is wounded on a job and returns home, Amelia takes care of him. Despite having a high-society girlfriend in the city, Cal re-enlists with the police department without informing Amelia of his departure and intention not to return. Following her grandfather's death, when Cal reaches out to Amelia again, she hopes things will be different. However, as any reader of Diana Palmer would know, it's never that straightforward.

[Becky Tatar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Formulaic entry in the Long Tall Texan series. Older, jaded, Cal, a former police officer, and now mercenary for Cy Parks, is adored by his young neighbor, Ameila Grayson. And while the attraction is mutual, Cal tries to stay away. But Amelia's father dies, and leaves her with only a crotchety aunt. And that night, comfort turns to more. But Cal is lied to by the aunt and turns away from Amelia. His first posting on a mercenary trip goes bad, and he returns to police work. But Amelia is no slouch, and with her background in chemistry, is soon working for Parks. Years pass before Cal and Amelia's paths meet, and all is forgiven eventually.

[K B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet with happy endings.

4 stars:I purchased a copy of the steamy, sad, and bittersweet novel Ranchers Law by Diana Palmer and this review was given freely. Relatively new mercenary Cal and his sweet teenaged neighbor Amelia share a friends to more romance that is complicated by greed, substance abuse, mental illness, and life after multiple tragedies. So, sad but the ending is happy. Book 2: 5 stars: new New York veterinarian Maple travels to Texas for an obligation, but receives love, inner peace, and community through the help of her recently deceased paternal father's therapy dog and the local pediatrician.

[Anfalas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Regret spending my money on this

DNG round 70% She was young he was older and a merc... She was there for him, he dated another woman. She loved him and he hurt her. Her grandpa died,he got her pregnant. Then told her he's leaving next day. Bought the woman he was dating to her grandpa's funeral. Got lied to cussed her out and married the woman he was dating. For seven years he hasn't seen her. And she forgives him and agrees to marry him the first conversation they have. Words can't tell how disappointed I am at this book!

[CANDEN333 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me just say that I am a fan of Diana Palmer’s work. I know it’s old fashioned but I still love it!
This book was a real snooze fest! Way too much dialogue! I could have cared less how every single mercenary made a speech about something!!! So much so that the actual romance was about a chapter long!
And the mmc was pretty much unlikeable after the way he used then left the mfc during the worst time of her life without even a backwards glance! Yuck!

[Mblack]

Thanks to Kindle and other libraries, I have read all of DP's books. This was the first DP book I've read in two years (I have "The Loner" in my bag ready to read). Anyway, with the exception of the last two chapters, this book was told in flashbacks. Not only that, but the flashbacks were so far back that things hadn't happened yet to other characters who had their own books. For instance, Colby Lane (Outsider 2006) had just had his arm amputated in Cal's version of the flashback. There were also other characters who were in the book that have already had their own book and their HEA.

Just like NS, Diana Palmer has become formulaic in her writing, but it won't keep me from reading her books.

[Debbie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

So surprised in the story as the title and cover was deceiving. The book was a gift for my 89 year old Mom with content she didn’t need to read. No, it wasn’t something sexual but she didn’t need to read with her dementia mind. The book was pretty good but the second story was better, Dog days of Summer by Teri Wilson and that story would have been more suitable for Mom and I give that story 5 stars.

[Rebecca]

If you like western romance books pick this one up, you'll enjoy it. I enjoyed following the story of Cal and Amelia. Plus the version I read included a bonus story, Guy, which was also a fun read. If you're a Diana Palmer fan you'll want to read this newest addition and even if you aren't pick it up for a good western romance read.

[Angel]

I love this book and it was very different to the way that Diana Palmer normally writes... It was heartbreaking and I think that the Great Aunt in question should have been arrested because what she did was a crime... This will be a book that I end up re-reading eventually because once again Diana hit it out of the ballpark with her writing...

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Diana Palmer for ages. She introduced me to the romance novel when I was probably too young to be reading them! I recently found Elsie Silver, Bailey Hannah and Lyla Sage. After enjoying their western themed romances I thought..Hey, why not look up something by the Cowboy Romance OG!? This book seriously has me questioning my whole literary life! It was TERRIBLE.

[Barbara Lack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read. There’s a lot of angst. It’s mostly flashbacks of the history behind Amelia and Cal. I really liked Amelia. It’s a well written book. There is a bonus short story included that was also a good story.

[Nancy Ku · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rancher's Law (Harlequin Special Edition) by Diana Palmer
This was not one of my favorite Diana Palmer books. I had a very hard time getting into this book, and I almost DNF this book a couple of times. Overall, I just found this book to be ok.

[Barbara Tobey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some interesting characters. I don't understand the title of the book. Some things were predictable and others a surprise. Lots of misunderstandings. Also quite a bit of good advice. As usual, I skipped over the intimate scenes. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

[Caroline Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I loved every minute of this read, I loved the heroes and heroines both in Ranchers Law and Guy. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Diana Palmer that is why I have it 5 stars.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Towards the beginning there is a section that I swear was about the exact same thing, just written slightly different, in two different ways. Palmer's editors need to actually read her books. Editing was definitely needed.

Still, a good story with familiar characters.

[Rosie Trzewik · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title was totally misleading. The main story was about lost loves and mercenaries. I thought unbelievable and just dragged on. The bonus story of Guy was slightly better, a typical cowboy romance.
Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #RanchersLaw

[Gogol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well. I asked for it, it had all the wackiest hall marks of our dear DP but it was very badly stitched together. Didn’t quite hit 5e spot. And this is her second heroine -that I can remember- who goes into covert work. They sound like toddlers trying out their mothers’ shoes.

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. Diana Palmer has done it again, written a book you can’t put down. This book has two stories. Both stories has heartache, death and love. Both stories have happy ending with the characters falling in love.