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Whitehall #1
Lacy
Cole Whitehall had asked Lacy Jarrett to wait for him. But after the war, he returned to the rambling Whitehall cattle ranch a changed man, the promise of lasting love replaced by a cold, hard distance. And Lacy yearned to reignite the unquenched passion they'd once shared.
Unwittingly compromised into marriage, Cole refused to let Lacy get too close—but still, she longed to learn the secrets the handsome Texan harbored in his heart. Tormented, she wouldn't let him shoulder the burden alone, and soon the pursuit of an endless love burned bright enough to set their world ablaze….
Unwittingly compromised into marriage, Cole refused to let Lacy get too close—but still, she longed to learn the secrets the handsome Texan harbored in his heart. Tormented, she wouldn't let him shoulder the burden alone, and soon the pursuit of an endless love burned bright enough to set their world ablaze….
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
99 people are currently reading
769 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 books3,099 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 88 reviews
August 27, 2019
Once in a while you come across a DP book that reminds you why she’s an author you keep coming back to despite some really appalling books and lean spells.
‘Lacy’ begins in the typical DP way - trying to push maximum background info in the first few pages - about the h/H, his family, history of the time, the war, his post war ptsd behavior etc. And then puts it on a loop for the next chapter as well!
So what's so great about it?
To begin with, the era works. The roaring 20s. We have the prohibition time bathtub gin, shorter skirts, rolled stockings, dark lip rouges (and we are told the galoshes version of the 'flappers' etymology) and so on.
The h/H have an interesting and endearing chemistry. They are a married couple with a convoluted history going back years. She’s a rich city girl to his struggling but proud rancher. They live part and the H comes to take her back home as the book opens. After some usual ass-hattery, the H turns really gentle and loveable. They, in fact, resolve their differences quite easily and that was great to read.
What happens in the rest of the book?
What provides the drama, angst and substance to the book? Sometimes engrossing, at times icky, many times tiresome!
It’s the story and romances of the H’s brother and sister that run parallel to the h/H’s.
The sister loves the foreman (the H’s bff), who spurns her after taking her virginity. She runs off with an Italian gangster type and her story’s the most substantial with the three men in her life. This tale could have been wrapped up sooner than it was done. Really high on drama- a specter that could never have been allowed to materialize as a DP h!
The brother is as immature as the sister but so much more selfish. He seduces a sweet next door type, gets her pregnant and then gets enamored with a bitchy glamor doll. Hemingway is invoked here.
All this while, the h/H watch on mostly benignly. And interfere and course correct where possible!
Of course staples like ‘age of permissiveness’ ‘morals’, ‘if you break the rules’ ‘in the big cities’ make an appearance as do the Santa Gertrudis and Alamo!
And miracle babies. No spoilers there. We knew they were coming. >>> The Cowboy And The Lady
‘Lacy’ begins in the typical DP way - trying to push maximum background info in the first few pages - about the h/H, his family, history of the time, the war, his post war ptsd behavior etc. And then puts it on a loop for the next chapter as well!
So what's so great about it?
To begin with, the era works. The roaring 20s. We have the prohibition time bathtub gin, shorter skirts, rolled stockings, dark lip rouges (and we are told the galoshes version of the 'flappers' etymology) and so on.
The h/H have an interesting and endearing chemistry. They are a married couple with a convoluted history going back years. She’s a rich city girl to his struggling but proud rancher. They live part and the H comes to take her back home as the book opens. After some usual ass-hattery, the H turns really gentle and loveable. They, in fact, resolve their differences quite easily and that was great to read.
What happens in the rest of the book?
What provides the drama, angst and substance to the book? Sometimes engrossing, at times icky, many times tiresome!
It’s the story and romances of the H’s brother and sister that run parallel to the h/H’s.
The sister loves the foreman (the H’s bff), who spurns her after taking her virginity. She runs off with an Italian gangster type and her story’s the most substantial with the three men in her life. This tale could have been wrapped up sooner than it was done. Really high on drama- a specter that could never have been allowed to materialize as a DP h!
The brother is as immature as the sister but so much more selfish. He seduces a sweet next door type, gets her pregnant and then gets enamored with a bitchy glamor doll. Hemingway is invoked here.
All this while, the h/H watch on mostly benignly. And interfere and course correct where possible!
Of course staples like ‘age of permissiveness’ ‘morals’, ‘if you break the rules’ ‘in the big cities’ make an appearance as do the Santa Gertrudis and Alamo!
And miracle babies. No spoilers there. We knew they were coming. >>> The Cowboy And The Lady
July 29, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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Money could almost buy absolution, she mused. The only thing it couldn’t get her was the man she wanted most.
Marion Whitehall had been in hysterics about the potential disgrace, so Cole had spared his mother’s tender feelings by marrying Lacy. But not willingly.
Coleman Whitehall was an enigma in so many ways.
But he resented her, ignored her, put a wall between them that all her efforts hadn’t dented. He refused to let her close enough to give their marriage a chance.
Cole had backed her up against the wall that rainy morning in the barn and had kissed her until her mouth was swollen and her body raging with unexpected passion. That night, he’d come to her room and, in the darkness, had taken her. But it had been quick, and painful, and she remembered the strength in his lean hands as he’d held her wrists beside her head, not even allowing her to touch him through the brief intimacy while his hard mouth smothered her cries of pain.
Lacy couldn’t bear the thought of any more of his brutal passion and his indifference. She’d packed her bags and gone to San Antonio, to be a companion to her great-aunt Lucy, Great-uncle Horace’s widow.
Eight months had passed without a word from him, without an apology.
No, he’d told her, he didn’t want children. Not with a pampered little rich girl like Lacy. And after a few more insulting words, he’d stormed off in a black temper.
December 4, 2019
.
As others have said, this isn't your typical DP. I enjoyed it but not for the romance (or lack of).
There are 3 couples in this one. The main couple is Cole and Lacy, but the others almost hog the stage as much. But their romances aren't as convincing.
Cole runs a ranch where Lacy also grew up after her parents died. They finally reveal their feelings just as he leaves for WW1. When he returns he isn't the same and wouldn't have married her if he hadn't been forced to. She gives up and leaves to live on her own in San Antonio. The book starts with him arriving to bring her home. I liked Cole and Lacy. He's a bit of an ass at first, for misguided reasons.
The other couples... I didn't believe in their HEAs.
There's Cole's little sister Katy and his foreman Turk. That was a convoluted sobfest. I was actually rooting for the OM (...er second OM) Blake Wardel. Katy was such a self pitying fool. -sigh-
The 3rd couple were Cole and Katy's kid brother, Ben and the drunk neighbour's girl, Faye.
I ended up liking Faye, but was in NO WAY convinced that Ben would ever keep it in his pants around other women. I don't think he would go looking for it, but I don't think he would say no to it, if offered.
But the story is as much about the times as it is about the foolish people.
There's a nice introduction by DP explaining how her inspiration came from stories her grandfather told her about life back then. And she does a good job placing the characters in the times and how their actions and reactions were a byproduct of life back then.
At the end, there's a lovely epilogue where you learn what becomes of everyone AND their children.
Safety is good for some and not for others (BIG spoilers ahead)
As others have said, this isn't your typical DP. I enjoyed it but not for the romance (or lack of).
There are 3 couples in this one. The main couple is Cole and Lacy, but the others almost hog the stage as much. But their romances aren't as convincing.
Cole runs a ranch where Lacy also grew up after her parents died. They finally reveal their feelings just as he leaves for WW1. When he returns he isn't the same and wouldn't have married her if he hadn't been forced to. She gives up and leaves to live on her own in San Antonio. The book starts with him arriving to bring her home. I liked Cole and Lacy. He's a bit of an ass at first, for misguided reasons.
The other couples... I didn't believe in their HEAs.
There's Cole's little sister Katy and his foreman Turk. That was a convoluted sobfest. I was actually rooting for the OM (...er second OM) Blake Wardel. Katy was such a self pitying fool. -sigh-
The 3rd couple were Cole and Katy's kid brother, Ben and the drunk neighbour's girl, Faye.
I ended up liking Faye, but was in NO WAY convinced that Ben would ever keep it in his pants around other women. I don't think he would go looking for it, but I don't think he would say no to it, if offered.
But the story is as much about the times as it is about the foolish people.
There's a nice introduction by DP explaining how her inspiration came from stories her grandfather told her about life back then. And she does a good job placing the characters in the times and how their actions and reactions were a byproduct of life back then.
At the end, there's a lovely epilogue where you learn what becomes of everyone AND their children.
Safety is good for some and not for others (BIG spoilers ahead)
July 29, 2021
Never was a title less proper than this one.
This is definitely not a book focused on the heroine, whose name is Lacy as you can imagine.
This is a family saga.
The book is the story of the Whitehalls, three siblings and a mother, and their love affairs.
The heroine lived with them since she was a teenager and was in love with the hero, the older one.
The hero leaves to Europe during WWI.
He kisses her and asks her to wait for him.
He's hurt and when he comes back he's not the same, he's cold and ignores her.
They are caught in a compromising situation and he has to marry her.
He ignores her until one night he makes love to her hurting her and she leaves him.
After 8 months he asks her to come back to him because he has problems managing his sister and his mother.
And this is all described more or less as I did, in two pages.
So we lost all their story, their attraction before the war, their problems after the wars, that could be the whole core of this book if it was according to the title.
When they are back together Lacy is determined to change their relationship and actually they start talking like two adults and in a brief time they solve all their problems.
There was of course a secret that the hero kept from the heroine, then there's a matter of pride since she's much richer than him, and then there was the disastrous night together, easily solved since the heroine talked to other married women who explained that the first time is often painful, and the hero reveales that he was a virgin (how cute!) and didn't know much about sex.
The hero is really a good man, in love with the heroine and a very gentle an honourable man.
I coulnd't take issue with im at all.
Then there are his siblings.
His sister who is in love with is foreman/ ex pilot who is in love with his dead wife so she leaves him after having unprotected sex with him and marries a gangster and....
Boring.
And his younger brother, worst man ever, who seduces a teenager and then gets engaged with a richer and more sophisticated woman, and is angry when he knows the girl is pregnant, then runs away to France and has sex with anything with two legs. Then eventually, after securing some nasty STDs, he comes back to the poor pregnant girl and asks her to marry him.
We could do without him.
And without his sister.
And I'm asking how their mother, who has severe heart issues, isn't dead at the end of the book since her children really did their best to upset her.
Then we have an epilogue.
But not only what we hoped.
yes, our heroine and hero will have children, but we also know what their children will do, what his siblings will do and that is not a nice thing.
We went so far with this book.
I found it boring and the only interesting story was only summarized in two pages.
This is definitely not a book focused on the heroine, whose name is Lacy as you can imagine.
This is a family saga.
The book is the story of the Whitehalls, three siblings and a mother, and their love affairs.
The heroine lived with them since she was a teenager and was in love with the hero, the older one.
The hero leaves to Europe during WWI.
He kisses her and asks her to wait for him.
He's hurt and when he comes back he's not the same, he's cold and ignores her.
They are caught in a compromising situation and he has to marry her.
He ignores her until one night he makes love to her hurting her and she leaves him.
After 8 months he asks her to come back to him because he has problems managing his sister and his mother.
And this is all described more or less as I did, in two pages.
So we lost all their story, their attraction before the war, their problems after the wars, that could be the whole core of this book if it was according to the title.
When they are back together Lacy is determined to change their relationship and actually they start talking like two adults and in a brief time they solve all their problems.
There was of course a secret that the hero kept from the heroine, then there's a matter of pride since she's much richer than him, and then there was the disastrous night together, easily solved since the heroine talked to other married women who explained that the first time is often painful, and the hero reveales that he was a virgin (how cute!) and didn't know much about sex.
The hero is really a good man, in love with the heroine and a very gentle an honourable man.
I coulnd't take issue with im at all.
Then there are his siblings.
His sister who is in love with is foreman/ ex pilot who is in love with his dead wife so she leaves him after having unprotected sex with him and marries a gangster and....
Boring.
And his younger brother, worst man ever, who seduces a teenager and then gets engaged with a richer and more sophisticated woman, and is angry when he knows the girl is pregnant, then runs away to France and has sex with anything with two legs. Then eventually, after securing some nasty STDs, he comes back to the poor pregnant girl and asks her to marry him.
We could do without him.
And without his sister.
And I'm asking how their mother, who has severe heart issues, isn't dead at the end of the book since her children really did their best to upset her.
Then we have an epilogue.
But not only what we hoped.
yes, our heroine and hero will have children, but we also know what their children will do, what his siblings will do and that is not a nice thing.
We went so far with this book.
I found it boring and the only interesting story was only summarized in two pages.
December 18, 2017
Unique in every way!!
This book! It was strange & unique for DP..it was three stories in one & had so much drama & scandal & I loved it. I loved the ending it was perfect and exactly what you wanted after reading it all. I was team Blake he was to me so much better than Turk & I was so happy with the twist ending. Loved it so glad I finally read this one. I loved the roaring 20’s theme & for some reason I love Palmers historical fiction more than anything! I hated Ben he was the only character I could not deal with his story just made me mad but I loved his love interest Faye.. that story was lack luster though.. I mean in my humble opinion the love story of Katy overshadowed everything even Lacy’s story.. I enjoyed Lacy and Cole but was way more interested after the book went on about Katy, Turk & Blake. Like I said the ending was on point, Diana tied up every loose end and I felt the story was complete. Love her writing always will!
This book! It was strange & unique for DP..it was three stories in one & had so much drama & scandal & I loved it. I loved the ending it was perfect and exactly what you wanted after reading it all. I was team Blake he was to me so much better than Turk & I was so happy with the twist ending. Loved it so glad I finally read this one. I loved the roaring 20’s theme & for some reason I love Palmers historical fiction more than anything! I hated Ben he was the only character I could not deal with his story just made me mad but I loved his love interest Faye.. that story was lack luster though.. I mean in my humble opinion the love story of Katy overshadowed everything even Lacy’s story.. I enjoyed Lacy and Cole but was way more interested after the book went on about Katy, Turk & Blake. Like I said the ending was on point, Diana tied up every loose end and I felt the story was complete. Love her writing always will!
October 20, 2013
Even though I have a slight confusion especially when the story jumps from Lacy to Katy and to Faye, I enjoyed this book.
So basically there are three stories in a book. It's Lacy and Cole's, Katy and Turk's and Faye and Ben's. I liked everything, but Katy's story a little bit confusing.
Overall I enjoyed all of them. Nailed it, Diana Palmer!
So basically there are three stories in a book. It's Lacy and Cole's, Katy and Turk's and Faye and Ben's. I liked everything, but Katy's story a little bit confusing.
Overall I enjoyed all of them. Nailed it, Diana Palmer!
September 25, 2011
One of the rare romance novels that I enjoyed. It actually had a storyline and character development beyond the sex part of a romance novel. The characters were also very likeable.
August 14, 2013
I'm still reeling from this book. It was so totally unlike a regular Diana Palmer!!! :O Especially Katy, Cole's sister. So completely not like your regular DP heroine! She was too immature and uncaring; I didn't like her one bit. (But she really didn't deserve all the stuff that happened to her).
Even the story wasn't written the way she usually writes. There were three couples' stories in this one, and even though this book is supposed to be Lacy and Cole's, it felt like it was all about Katy.
Anyways, I'm not sure how to rate this book. While on one hand I loved loved loved Lacy and Coleman's story, I hated Katy's. I've said it before and I'll say again - I honestly hate it when the heroine in a book goes out with a guy other than the hero. In this case, she had TWO of them, one of whom she married and the other with whom she committed adultery with. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I can't say that I find that sort of behaviour acceptable. Katy was too wild and immoral for my taste. Turk, Katy's love interest (the 'hero'), was a good hero. He had potential, and paired with the right woman, his would have made a really good story. But *sniffle* it was disappointing. (I still love Diana Palmer though).
Ben, Cole's brother, was truly an ass. I liked his and Faye's story better than I liked Katy's, although it wasn't as good as Cole's and Lacy's. I didn't like the way Faye forgave him everything because she loved him so much, and I hated the callous way he treated her. In my opinion, he didn't do enough grovelling at the end. If I were Faye, I would have made him work for it more. MUAHAHAHA.
I'm not writing a long review this time because I hardly have time to read anymore, and now that I'm free, I'd rather spend it reading than writing. I miss reading :'(
Coleman and Lacy: 4 stars (I loved their story, would have liked it better if we were told their story from the beginning)
Katy and Turk: 0 stars
Ben and Faye: 2 stars
Even the story wasn't written the way she usually writes. There were three couples' stories in this one, and even though this book is supposed to be Lacy and Cole's, it felt like it was all about Katy.
Anyways, I'm not sure how to rate this book. While on one hand I loved loved loved Lacy and Coleman's story, I hated Katy's. I've said it before and I'll say again - I honestly hate it when the heroine in a book goes out with a guy other than the hero. In this case, she had TWO of them, one of whom she married and the other with whom she committed adultery with. I don't know about the rest of y'all, but I can't say that I find that sort of behaviour acceptable. Katy was too wild and immoral for my taste. Turk, Katy's love interest (the 'hero'), was a good hero. He had potential, and paired with the right woman, his would have made a really good story. But *sniffle* it was disappointing. (I still love Diana Palmer though).
Ben, Cole's brother, was truly an ass. I liked his and Faye's story better than I liked Katy's, although it wasn't as good as Cole's and Lacy's. I didn't like the way Faye forgave him everything because she loved him so much, and I hated the callous way he treated her. In my opinion, he didn't do enough grovelling at the end. If I were Faye, I would have made him work for it more. MUAHAHAHA.
I'm not writing a long review this time because I hardly have time to read anymore, and now that I'm free, I'd rather spend it reading than writing. I miss reading :'(
Coleman and Lacy: 4 stars (I loved their story, would have liked it better if we were told their story from the beginning)
Katy and Turk: 0 stars
Ben and Faye: 2 stars
August 4, 2012
I am most pleasantly surprised. I haven't read too much of Diana Palmer, but I enjoyed the books I've read so far. She spins her tale so you really want to know what is going to happen next. This novel was no different--it was better. This is probably the only romance over I've ever read where we follow three couples through their romances. Not only do we get to read all the tender moments and juicy moments between Cole and Lacy as they learn to be honest with one another, but we also have a rather exciting romance delivered in Katy and Turk who are torn apart by mistaken intentions, put through hell and back, and nearly miss each other several times. And I have to say, their romance left me bittersweet. I was glad they got to live out the epic love that was between them, but knowing Blake was waiting for Katy made me ache a little. Sure, they got their time together too, but I almost wanted him to quit carrying a torch for her and find someone else. Perhaps the idea that she was meant to be with both of them jarred my romantic sensibilities a little. Still, I appreciate the bittersweet in romance as well. Ben and Faye's story is that of a girl loving a boy who thinks he's a man, but is soon to learn otherwise and just as enjoyable to read as the other romances in this novel. I also like that the characters and relationships are very different. Palmer really gave us three very different sort of romances in this novel. Cole and Lacy had more or less the ideal romance, a few bumps in the road, but still, almost picture perfect. Turk and Katy had that epic Romeo and Juliet passion, and Ben and Faye had the innocent love, a love that becomes deeply rooted because they both do some serious growing up in this story.
Your average romance novel? I think not. It's almost epic.
5 glittering stars
More reviews at www.devastatingreads.blogspot.com
Your average romance novel? I think not. It's almost epic.
5 glittering stars
More reviews at www.devastatingreads.blogspot.com
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September 17, 2009Cole Whitehall/Lacy Jarrett-he was a rancher and because of her parents death early in life she came to live with the Whitehalls and his little brother locked them in a shed as a joke so everyone thought that they had sex so Cole married Lacy (this was in the early 1900's) then Cole went away to the war and he was badly burned and didn't think Lacy would want him and he also beleived that he couldn't father a child so he tried to not love her but after a time he gave into desire and this produced a child and they lived happly even after....
Turk/Katy-he was a friend that Cole brought home from the war whom had saved Cole life and Katy was Cole younger sister. Cole has warned Turk not to get involved with his little sister but he still fell in love with her and they had sex before she married & moved out of town with a jerk whom starting beating her and caused her to lose Turk baby but the jerk was killed by a friend of Katy and Cole brought her home were Turk & Katy fell in love !!!!
Ben & Faye-he was Cole little brother who only cared about himself who want to be a writer so after moving to Houston he got engaged to a new paper owner daugther to help his career but on a trip home he went to see his old girlfriend Faye and had sex getting her pregrant and because of his engagement and job he didn't want to marry her but he did break the engagement and moved to PARIS were we wrote and published some stories but he relaized that he did love Faye and moved home and married her !!!!
Turk/Katy-he was a friend that Cole brought home from the war whom had saved Cole life and Katy was Cole younger sister. Cole has warned Turk not to get involved with his little sister but he still fell in love with her and they had sex before she married & moved out of town with a jerk whom starting beating her and caused her to lose Turk baby but the jerk was killed by a friend of Katy and Cole brought her home were Turk & Katy fell in love !!!!
Ben & Faye-he was Cole little brother who only cared about himself who want to be a writer so after moving to Houston he got engaged to a new paper owner daugther to help his career but on a trip home he went to see his old girlfriend Faye and had sex getting her pregrant and because of his engagement and job he didn't want to marry her but he did break the engagement and moved to PARIS were we wrote and published some stories but he relaized that he did love Faye and moved home and married her !!!!
December 29, 2008
As a fan of Diana Palmer's category romance books, I have to say that I was quite surprised by the complexity of story and character depths. The story manages to develop three romances, each affording the characters a genuine opportunity to examine their self-limitations and grow beyond them.
Katy's story touched and delighted me the most. I have never read a Diana Palmer book in which a woman is caught up in so much pain and abuse that she finds herself loving one man (Turk), being married to another, then opening her heart and giving her body to the third (Blake) while still loving the first (Turk). The relationship between Katy and Blake, and their life-long love for each other even though they were not destined to be together until Katy is widowed by Turk, represents the kind of rich dimension romance genre is capable of in the hands of a great author. They say romance readers are too conservative for this kind of a love triangle, but I say, bring it on. Let's feel courageous to explore the mysteries and depths the human heart is capable of.
Katy's story touched and delighted me the most. I have never read a Diana Palmer book in which a woman is caught up in so much pain and abuse that she finds herself loving one man (Turk), being married to another, then opening her heart and giving her body to the third (Blake) while still loving the first (Turk). The relationship between Katy and Blake, and their life-long love for each other even though they were not destined to be together until Katy is widowed by Turk, represents the kind of rich dimension romance genre is capable of in the hands of a great author. They say romance readers are too conservative for this kind of a love triangle, but I say, bring it on. Let's feel courageous to explore the mysteries and depths the human heart is capable of.
October 19, 2017
An unexpected saga
I loved how each character was complete. The three Whitehall’s all have their stories enter woven into the crazy time period of ww1 through the roaring 20s. This is Diana Palmers best book and I almost didn’t read it. It has it all love, frustration, betrayal, hea ending
I loved how each character was complete. The three Whitehall’s all have their stories enter woven into the crazy time period of ww1 through the roaring 20s. This is Diana Palmers best book and I almost didn’t read it. It has it all love, frustration, betrayal, hea ending
August 3, 2016
This one ... this one. Classic 80s, with all the silent fuming men and the emotional ladies and whatnot. The B plot is weirrrd and the whole thing just seems like a bunch of people who cannot move on with their lives.
March 15, 2017
This story had 3 romances in the plot/a post WWII timeline situated on a Texas ranch. The two brothers and one sister find their significant others. Did I know all would end up well in the end? Yup. Do I mind? Sometimes, but not this particular time.
August 25, 2018
Three Whitehall children and their lives
They each had struggles in finding and keeping the loves of their lives. They survived living through World War I and the Great Depression. They all had families of their own.
They each had struggles in finding and keeping the loves of their lives. They survived living through World War I and the Great Depression. They all had families of their own.
October 31, 2011
Eh.. Didn't do anything for me
September 2, 2018
DNF. Everyone in the story is an asshole.
December 20, 2019
It’s extremely rare I say this but this is one book I would have liked better without an epilogue!🤦🏻♀️ and without the stories about the secondary characters, they took away from the main couple.
January 30, 2015
Un libro que me gustó pero que no terminó de encantarme. La novela tiene tres historias contadas de forma paralela, podemos decir que cada historia incumbe a una pareja distinta y lo común es que en las tres parejas hay un componente formado por uno de los hermanos Whitehall: Cole y Lacy; Katy y Turco; y Ben y Faye.
La historia está bien, pero al ser tres, ninguna se alarga mucho por lo que no llegamos al pico de complejidad que haría de esta una gran novela. Tampoco hace que mejore el hecho de que las primeras páginas sean un largo resumen de todo lo que ha pasado hasta llegar al momento actual, una lista de sucesos contados de forma aburrida que hace que sintamos que estamos leyendo un libro que es una segunda parte, cuando no es así. Ese resumen sirve de contexto, pero es muy largo e incluye partes muy importantes, hubiera mejorado si en lugar de contarnos todo como una lista pudiésemos verlo al igual que el resto de la historia.
Los personajes están bien construidos, son complejos, pero ninguna de las historias tiene un desarrollo completo, puesto que todo avanza muy deprisa y solo vemos una pequeña parte de la historia. El final también se cuenta como una lista de sucesión de hechos, algo que hace que se pierda mucho.
Unas historias complejas que pudieran estar bien si se hubieran desarrollado de otra forma, con más tiempo, más páginas y tal vez eliminando la parte que incluye a Ben y Faye, puesto que el personaje al que seguimos en esta parcela, Ben, no aporta nada útil a la historia y sobra.
La historia está bien, pero al ser tres, ninguna se alarga mucho por lo que no llegamos al pico de complejidad que haría de esta una gran novela. Tampoco hace que mejore el hecho de que las primeras páginas sean un largo resumen de todo lo que ha pasado hasta llegar al momento actual, una lista de sucesos contados de forma aburrida que hace que sintamos que estamos leyendo un libro que es una segunda parte, cuando no es así. Ese resumen sirve de contexto, pero es muy largo e incluye partes muy importantes, hubiera mejorado si en lugar de contarnos todo como una lista pudiésemos verlo al igual que el resto de la historia.
Los personajes están bien construidos, son complejos, pero ninguna de las historias tiene un desarrollo completo, puesto que todo avanza muy deprisa y solo vemos una pequeña parte de la historia. El final también se cuenta como una lista de sucesión de hechos, algo que hace que se pierda mucho.
Unas historias complejas que pudieran estar bien si se hubieran desarrollado de otra forma, con más tiempo, más páginas y tal vez eliminando la parte que incluye a Ben y Faye, puesto que el personaje al que seguimos en esta parcela, Ben, no aporta nada útil a la historia y sobra.
March 23, 2013
I could not get into this one. Well written and a nice flow but I found it too long and a nit boring.
Read
August 18, 2019It's a typical Diana Palmer with her verbal abusive male characters and female doormats. The characters in this book are the worst I've ever read in along time. I understand that a story needs a little drama but really what the point of reading about an abusive relationship the whole book then at the very end when its convenient to the male characters that everything is forgiven without a second thought. The worst part was finding out that not only did Blake (the other man) send gifts and cards to Katy and her husband's daughter throughout her marriage and when her husband died Blake shows up and six months later she remarries. Katy supposedly loved Turk some most she tried to kill herself because she thought he didn't want her and when he died she couldn't even wait a year to remarry!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2024
Quite a departure from Diana Palmer’s normal style of writing! This is a family saga not a romance novel. It has three siblings and their stories. I loved Lacy and Cole. A very sweet romance!! Very different from the usual ho-alpha man and much younger virgin heroine. These two were both virgins. Only 4 years difference. He has big issues from the war. Their path to hea is not easy.
Then Katy and Turk…what a creepy s*** show!!! Not to mention incredibly depressing! And annoying!
What was the last kids name? Idk…he’s a disgusting man-ho and absolutely does not deserve any absolution! He ends up with Faye who could have done sooooo much better!!!
This is worth the read for anyone! Love DP, hate DP, or anyone in between!
Then Katy and Turk…what a creepy s*** show!!! Not to mention incredibly depressing! And annoying!
What was the last kids name? Idk…he’s a disgusting man-ho and absolutely does not deserve any absolution! He ends up with Faye who could have done sooooo much better!!!
This is worth the read for anyone! Love DP, hate DP, or anyone in between!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2022
Cole and Lacy
Amazing read. The plot is heartbreaking in many ways, a truly tearjerker. The relationship between Cole and Lucy is full of angst but also very sweet. There are two other side stories that are equally great, and all three have different and even unorthodox HEA for that time. Highly recommended
Amazing read. The plot is heartbreaking in many ways, a truly tearjerker. The relationship between Cole and Lucy is full of angst but also very sweet. There are two other side stories that are equally great, and all three have different and even unorthodox HEA for that time. Highly recommended
May 5, 2025
Not sure what I was expecting. Definitely a book of many relationships of the romantic kind. A look at city and ranch life and lower and high society. What I wasn't expecting was all the explicit sex. Not able to pass book along to older female friends. Didn't they have to put that on the outside of the book? So you knew? Or is this the type of writing that Diana Palmer does?
January 7, 2021
Fascinante, me encantó
Me gustó desde el primer capítulo, me enamoré de sus personajes, de todos, y de sus historias tan conmovedoras y apasionadas. Está bien elaborada y narrada. Cada historia es en sí misma una novela, no tiene desperdicio. Recomendada.
Me gustó desde el primer capítulo, me enamoré de sus personajes, de todos, y de sus historias tan conmovedoras y apasionadas. Está bien elaborada y narrada. Cada historia es en sí misma una novela, no tiene desperdicio. Recomendada.
March 14, 2021
Diana Palmer ha sido una constante desde que tengo Kindle... Los leia con mi madre y ahora se los cuento.
En este caso al ser de las primeras cuenta varias historias en el mismo libro que me ha gustado mucho.
En este caso al ser de las primeras cuenta varias historias en el mismo libro que me ha gustado mucho.
June 3, 2024
Very enjoyable read! Loved the difference Era -- wish there were more romances that mixed this time with the ranch. Very unique and great character development. Another masterpiece from Diana Palmer!
October 4, 2025
"It won't ever be that bad again," she said gently.
He framed her face in his big hands. "You might be
happier with someone else," he said, still unconvinced.
"I'd have to learn how to stop loving you first,"🌹
He framed her face in his big hands. "You might be
happier with someone else," he said, still unconvinced.
"I'd have to learn how to stop loving you first,"🌹
March 26, 2018
I loved this book.
March 7, 2021
The best
As always, a great read. My favorite Diana Palmer book. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an afternoon spent reading.
As always, a great read. My favorite Diana Palmer book. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an afternoon spent reading.
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