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Long, Tall Texans #53
The Loner
"You just can't do better than a Diana Palmer story to make your heart lighter and smile brighter."— Fresh Fiction
Dubbed the Queen of Western Romance, New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer writes about passion & heartache, revenge & justice all set within a small-town community.
Tanner Everett spends most of his time jet-setting around the world. But that hasn’t stopped innocent Stasie Bolton, the daughter of a neighboring rancher, from falling head-over-heels for the jet-setting playboy. So Stasie is secretly thrilled when both her father proposes linking the properties in matrimony…which means Tanner will be hers, for good.
Despite his globetrotting ways, Tanner can’t help but be enthralled by the quiet girl next door. But as the embers between the two are fanned into flames, Tanner wonders if he’s found forever in the last place he ever expected.
Dubbed the Queen of Western Romance, New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer writes about passion & heartache, revenge & justice all set within a small-town community.
Tanner Everett spends most of his time jet-setting around the world. But that hasn’t stopped innocent Stasie Bolton, the daughter of a neighboring rancher, from falling head-over-heels for the jet-setting playboy. So Stasie is secretly thrilled when both her father proposes linking the properties in matrimony…which means Tanner will be hers, for good.
Despite his globetrotting ways, Tanner can’t help but be enthralled by the quiet girl next door. But as the embers between the two are fanned into flames, Tanner wonders if he’s found forever in the last place he ever expected.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published April 25, 2023
347 people are currently reading
2576 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,049 books3,097 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 101 reviews
April 23, 2023
I’ve never read anything by Diana Palmer before, but I figured it was about time. THE LONER is the only book I’ve ever read where I wanted the heroine to pick The Other Guy. In other books, the hero does some dumb things, but you still always root for him to get the girl. But in THE LONER, the hero more often than not made it tough to like him, and The Other Guy made it really hard not to cheer for him. Stasie has been in love with Tanner for most of her life. He doesn’t love her but knows how she feels. Poor John has always loved Stasie, but she thinks of him as more of a brother.
Stasie lives next to the Everetts. In THE LONER, Stasie’s father dies and one of the stipulations of the will, is that Stasie and Tanner get married so the two ranch properties become linked. What a crazy story! Tanner does not want any part of this, but feels obligated to make the deal happen for his family. He leaves after the wedding and doesn’t return until five years later. Stasie and Tanner are still married and even though Stasie tries to move on with her life, she still loves Tanner. I really wanted to knock some sense into her!
Overall, THE LONER is a story that I really enjoyed. There is so much heart in Diana’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart, very happy. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I look forward to reading Ms. Palmer’s previous books that I haven’t gotten to yet as well as her future ones. There is so much going on in this story, but Diana Palmer does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then smiling on the same page. Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
Stasie lives next to the Everetts. In THE LONER, Stasie’s father dies and one of the stipulations of the will, is that Stasie and Tanner get married so the two ranch properties become linked. What a crazy story! Tanner does not want any part of this, but feels obligated to make the deal happen for his family. He leaves after the wedding and doesn’t return until five years later. Stasie and Tanner are still married and even though Stasie tries to move on with her life, she still loves Tanner. I really wanted to knock some sense into her!
Overall, THE LONER is a story that I really enjoyed. There is so much heart in Diana’s writing that I was left with a huge smile on my face and my heart, very happy. All of the characters are very interesting and believable, so much so that I felt as if I’ve known them for a long time. I look forward to reading Ms. Palmer’s previous books that I haven’t gotten to yet as well as her future ones. There is so much going on in this story, but Diana Palmer does a wonderful job of weaving all the pieces together. All of the characters will have you feeling sad and then smiling on the same page. Once you finish devouring this story, you are going to want to tell everyone you know about this awesome book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.
March 26, 2023
Needs some editing and imagination. Very jumpy. Repetitive but decent.
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I have to say I am actually a little surprised at this book. As I mentioned, I have never read a Palmer story before, so I was really not sure what to expect.
The theme is engaging and offers an interesting story with a few good twists. What I did not anticipate was the clear need for better editing in this book. We run into a lot of repetitive conversations, sequences with conversations that don’t fit right, and this story is missing the spark and the fire that a good romance should lead us into.
There are parts of this book I truly enjoyed but some of it was just pure editing issues that would’ve made the flow a lot smoother. Thankfully, the second half of the book picked up, flowed better, and became easier to enjoy. The main and secondary characters offer a good dynamic to the book and set up additional areas for more stories to come.
Unfortunately, I did not really feel a connection between the two main characters until close to the end which is sad as overall it was a good story. I just need more of the emotional connection and imagination to draw me into the book.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-loner-by...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say I am actually a little surprised at this book. As I mentioned, I have never read a Palmer story before, so I was really not sure what to expect.
The theme is engaging and offers an interesting story with a few good twists. What I did not anticipate was the clear need for better editing in this book. We run into a lot of repetitive conversations, sequences with conversations that don’t fit right, and this story is missing the spark and the fire that a good romance should lead us into.
There are parts of this book I truly enjoyed but some of it was just pure editing issues that would’ve made the flow a lot smoother. Thankfully, the second half of the book picked up, flowed better, and became easier to enjoy. The main and secondary characters offer a good dynamic to the book and set up additional areas for more stories to come.
Unfortunately, I did not really feel a connection between the two main characters until close to the end which is sad as overall it was a good story. I just need more of the emotional connection and imagination to draw me into the book.
* copy received for review consideration
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-loner-by...
April 12, 2023
In The Loner (Long Tall Texans #53), Diana Palmer returns to her familiar format, her heroine, Anastasia (Stasia) Bolton , a young virgin, living next door to a huge ranch and falling hopelessly in love with the eldest son, Tanner Everett, who was spoiled and over-indulged by his mother from birth. Tanner wants nothing to do with the family ranch, and instead spends his life traveling the world's exotic locations with a variety of snobby, obnoxious, self-centered women, as shallow and narcissistic as himself.
When Stasia's father dies suddenly, his will stipulates that unless Stasia marries Tanner and stays married to her for one year, their ranch will be sold to a buyer who intends to build a large amusement park there, and Stasia will be left homeles and penniless, since their ranch is mortgaged to the hilt and deeply in debt. After loads of arguments and looking for loopholes in the will, and finding none, Tanner and Stastia marry, and after their sultry wedding night, Tanner leaves for Europe with his rude, obnoxious, current bed partner. How could Stasia, a seemingly intelligent woman, be pining her life away on this louse of a man? I spent so much time shaking my head while reading this that I'm surprised I didn't suffer brain damage.
What Tanner didn't expect was that his wedding night produced a pregnancy, and I won't get into details as to what happens when he and his flavor of the month return to the ranch, but it's ugly and awful, and once again, I had to ask myself how could Stasia possibly still love this man? Tanner ends up banned from his parents' ranch, and 5 years later, Stasia is now a well-known and well-paid portrait artist and art restorer in New York, and Tanner is now working as an operative for a secret government agency. This turn of event, of course, means that we now get to learn all about Eb Scott and the cast of characters from Ms. Palmer's previous novels about the Jacobsville, Texas mercenaries. If you've not read her novels before, I'm guessing you will be totally befuddled as they are briefly introduced, and connections made. I've read all of Ms. Palmer's novels, and I found myself still trying to remember who was who.
Yes, of course, there's an HEA ending eventually, but I just couldn't buy into Ms. Palmer's main character, Tanner Everett, having a complete personality change, suddenly claiming to want the ranch he hated before, and I found his sudden romantic feelings towards Stasia completely one-sided and unbelieveable. Read at your own risk.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
When Stasia's father dies suddenly, his will stipulates that unless Stasia marries Tanner and stays married to her for one year, their ranch will be sold to a buyer who intends to build a large amusement park there, and Stasia will be left homeles and penniless, since their ranch is mortgaged to the hilt and deeply in debt. After loads of arguments and looking for loopholes in the will, and finding none, Tanner and Stastia marry, and after their sultry wedding night, Tanner leaves for Europe with his rude, obnoxious, current bed partner. How could Stasia, a seemingly intelligent woman, be pining her life away on this louse of a man? I spent so much time shaking my head while reading this that I'm surprised I didn't suffer brain damage.
What Tanner didn't expect was that his wedding night produced a pregnancy, and I won't get into details as to what happens when he and his flavor of the month return to the ranch, but it's ugly and awful, and once again, I had to ask myself how could Stasia possibly still love this man? Tanner ends up banned from his parents' ranch, and 5 years later, Stasia is now a well-known and well-paid portrait artist and art restorer in New York, and Tanner is now working as an operative for a secret government agency. This turn of event, of course, means that we now get to learn all about Eb Scott and the cast of characters from Ms. Palmer's previous novels about the Jacobsville, Texas mercenaries. If you've not read her novels before, I'm guessing you will be totally befuddled as they are briefly introduced, and connections made. I've read all of Ms. Palmer's novels, and I found myself still trying to remember who was who.
Yes, of course, there's an HEA ending eventually, but I just couldn't buy into Ms. Palmer's main character, Tanner Everett, having a complete personality change, suddenly claiming to want the ranch he hated before, and I found his sudden romantic feelings towards Stasia completely one-sided and unbelieveable. Read at your own risk.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
December 31, 2023
This one has one novel element, the fact that the H spends months jetting around the world with his mistress immediately after marrying the h and consummating the marriage on the wedding night. So that was different. I don’t think I’ve read Diana Palmer book where that’s happened before.
Without having the two protagonists together, that means there’s a lot of space filler, and you know what that space filler is? If you guessed agonizing secret agent plot lines then you are either a genius or very familiar with Diana Palmer.
I just can’t stand hearing about another retired special ops guy who now works for a secret organization. And I hate the way Diana Palmer does this balancing act where all of the alpha men have to somehow be superior in one area of alpha -dom. I can’t. Please Lord, make it stop!
Without having the two protagonists together, that means there’s a lot of space filler, and you know what that space filler is? If you guessed agonizing secret agent plot lines then you are either a genius or very familiar with Diana Palmer.
I just can’t stand hearing about another retired special ops guy who now works for a secret organization. And I hate the way Diana Palmer does this balancing act where all of the alpha men have to somehow be superior in one area of alpha -dom. I can’t. Please Lord, make it stop!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2023
This isn't my first Diana Palmer book, and I doubt it will be my last. However, I had no plans to read this book; I hadn't even heard of it until I saw it on the shelves of the New Books at the front of the library. The pink cover and the fact that it was written by Diana Palmer called me. The blurb sounded okay/good; upon reading the book, the blurb isn't fully accurate.
Anastasia "Stasia" has been in love with the eldest son, Tanner, of the neighboring ranch for years. However, he sees her only as an unsophisticated girl and is busy consorting around the world with his kept mistresses. I thought it was a little too much that the younger brother, John, was also in love with Stasia, but it was only Tanner for her. So we had this weird love triangle (???) going on. And John was more of a catch than Tanner was.
I didn't get why Stasia was in love with Tanner for the first half of the book.
There were sometimes too many characters and connections introduced that made me feel like I had to read other DP books to understand. Luckily, I understood the intrigue with Tanner's ex-boss, but barely. DP's contemporary books always feel dated for some reason. I would have sworn this book took place in the 90s had Game of Thrones not been referenced.
Also, the two sex scenes were not spicy enough for me. DP's books are usually a little spicier, so maybe it's because Harlequin was the publisher. I'm not sure. I did like how both hero and heroine were celibate during their separation; it's rare you see a hero be celibate during the separation in a romance novel, too.
It also seemed like there was a dual romance going on with Odalie, Tanner's sister, and Tony, Anastasia's boss/benefactor. I wonder if they'll have their own book because their romance was never concluded in this one.
I might have to read the parents' story (Tanner's parents who were madly in love) because it sounds interesting. Another woman (3rd party) made them believe they were siblings.
The thank you note DP wrote at the beginning made me cry. I can't believe she almost died from covid! So sad that she and her husband both went into the hospital and only she came out alive. The same happened with my grandparents. Poppa, I love you 🖤🖤🖤 This review is dedicated to you.
I loved the formatting of the book, even though it was simplistic, and I kind of want my next book to be formatted the same way.
Anastasia "Stasia" has been in love with the eldest son, Tanner, of the neighboring ranch for years. However, he sees her only as an unsophisticated girl and is busy consorting around the world with his kept mistresses. I thought it was a little too much that the younger brother, John, was also in love with Stasia, but it was only Tanner for her. So we had this weird love triangle (???) going on. And John was more of a catch than Tanner was.
I didn't get why Stasia was in love with Tanner for the first half of the book.
There were sometimes too many characters and connections introduced that made me feel like I had to read other DP books to understand. Luckily, I understood the intrigue with Tanner's ex-boss, but barely. DP's contemporary books always feel dated for some reason. I would have sworn this book took place in the 90s had Game of Thrones not been referenced.
Also, the two sex scenes were not spicy enough for me. DP's books are usually a little spicier, so maybe it's because Harlequin was the publisher. I'm not sure. I did like how both hero and heroine were celibate during their separation; it's rare you see a hero be celibate during the separation in a romance novel, too.
It also seemed like there was a dual romance going on with Odalie, Tanner's sister, and Tony, Anastasia's boss/benefactor. I wonder if they'll have their own book because their romance was never concluded in this one.
I might have to read the parents' story (Tanner's parents who were madly in love) because it sounds interesting. Another woman (3rd party) made them believe they were siblings.
The thank you note DP wrote at the beginning made me cry. I can't believe she almost died from covid! So sad that she and her husband both went into the hospital and only she came out alive. The same happened with my grandparents. Poppa, I love you 🖤🖤🖤 This review is dedicated to you.
I loved the formatting of the book, even though it was simplistic, and I kind of want my next book to be formatted the same way.
May 2, 2023
Are AI's now writing Diana Palmer Books?
This is not a new book ... not really. This is Diana Palmer repeating over and over again histories of old characters and old plot lines mixed in with the repeating things already stated involving the new main characters. Little originality, little humor, little romance... if I imagine an AI taking the previous writings of Diana Palmer and picking pieces to slap together then this would be it!
This is not a new book ... not really. This is Diana Palmer repeating over and over again histories of old characters and old plot lines mixed in with the repeating things already stated involving the new main characters. Little originality, little humor, little romance... if I imagine an AI taking the previous writings of Diana Palmer and picking pieces to slap together then this would be it!
January 3, 2025
I liked this one more than I thought I would after reading other reviews. But it wasn't very satisfying.
Stasia grew up next to Tanner's family ranch. Her father knows he's going to die soon and writes a will forcing Tanner to marry Stasia. She is 19 at the time and he's a 25 year old playboy. Do ranchers really make that much money? It always seems that they are either swimming in the money or at bankruptcies' doorstep (like Stasia's father) in DP books.
Tanner is dating a total skank at the time and doesn't want to be tied down. He doesn't like to work either. So after shagging Stasia he leaves almost immediately to join his skank (Julienne) in Europe.
Stasia of course finds out she is pregnant and dreads telling Tanner because he said he doesn't want kids.
When he gets back from Europe he brings Julienne with him as protection against Stasia's strong allure. Julienne ends up causing Stasia to miscarry and Tanner's parents, who were really looking forward to a grandchild, disinherit him and kick him off the ranch.
Now Tanner joins some covert government agency and loses an eye. I guess this is to show how much he's changed. But losing an eye in this book, is more like those strategically placed scars that make a man seem more macho. It's not like it affects his vision or anything ; )
Tanner ends up in the cross hairs of a bad gov agent, and is sent home to recover. Now everything is instantly forgiven all around. His parents forgive him. Stasia forgives him and doesn't make him work for it AT ALL.
So even though he apologizes nicely and tells her it was always her and he never had sex with Julienne after the marriage. It wasn't very satisfying. He didn't have to prove his love. He may not have been having sex with Julienne, but he was certainly making sure the entire town knew what a cuckold Stasia was. He didn't even try a little bit to be discrete.
The whole ending which should have been him making up for what an ass he'd been, gets kinda sidetracked by the set up for Odalie and Tony's book which comes next. I still haven't forgiven Odalie for hijacking Cort and Maddie's book (The Rancher), so I will NOT be reading that book.
But, the story was entertaining and not as angsty as I was expecting.
Safety is technically good I suppose.
Stasia grew up next to Tanner's family ranch. Her father knows he's going to die soon and writes a will forcing Tanner to marry Stasia. She is 19 at the time and he's a 25 year old playboy. Do ranchers really make that much money? It always seems that they are either swimming in the money or at bankruptcies' doorstep (like Stasia's father) in DP books.
Tanner is dating a total skank at the time and doesn't want to be tied down. He doesn't like to work either. So after shagging Stasia he leaves almost immediately to join his skank (Julienne) in Europe.
Stasia of course finds out she is pregnant and dreads telling Tanner because he said he doesn't want kids.
When he gets back from Europe he brings Julienne with him as protection against Stasia's strong allure. Julienne ends up causing Stasia to miscarry and Tanner's parents, who were really looking forward to a grandchild, disinherit him and kick him off the ranch.
Now Tanner joins some covert government agency and loses an eye. I guess this is to show how much he's changed. But losing an eye in this book, is more like those strategically placed scars that make a man seem more macho. It's not like it affects his vision or anything ; )
Tanner ends up in the cross hairs of a bad gov agent, and is sent home to recover. Now everything is instantly forgiven all around. His parents forgive him. Stasia forgives him and doesn't make him work for it AT ALL.
So even though he apologizes nicely and tells her it was always her and he never had sex with Julienne after the marriage. It wasn't very satisfying. He didn't have to prove his love. He may not have been having sex with Julienne, but he was certainly making sure the entire town knew what a cuckold Stasia was. He didn't even try a little bit to be discrete.
The whole ending which should have been him making up for what an ass he'd been, gets kinda sidetracked by the set up for Odalie and Tony's book which comes next. I still haven't forgiven Odalie for hijacking Cort and Maddie's book (The Rancher), so I will NOT be reading that book.
But, the story was entertaining and not as angsty as I was expecting.
Safety is technically good I suppose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
The Loner had a typical Diana Palmer start, with the heroine helplessly in love with the hero. Stasia, is young, but does at times stand up for herself. Tanner is a spoiled jerk. There is not much of their actual love story, it just seems that they suddenly realize they are in love. There is a lot of background in this story setting up the siblings story, with a l lot more love reference there. There were parts of the plot that were very repetitive and dialogue repeated itself. Overall it was an okay book.
July 18, 2025
This book was batshit insane. I don't think I can fully capture what a wild ride this is but I'm gonna try.
Okay, so full spoilers. There's this girl named Anastasia. She's 19 and her dad just died. In his will, her father makes it so the only way his ranch stays in the family is if Stasia marries her childhood crush and the boy next door. So far, this is a basic romance plot. Things get complicated when her childhood crush, Tanner, turns out to be a playboy and a huge asshole. Like, asshole beyond the point of what's normal for a romance hero. He has a mistress that he refuses to break up with and he legit goes to Greece with the mistress right after the wedding. Now, mind you. Stasia's dad has just died. And Tanner is aware that she is in love with him. He's also aware that Stasia's mother killed herself after the fallout from an affair she had. (Also, Stasia discovered her mom's body??) And with all this knowledge in mind, he continues living with his mistress and causing a tabloid scandal. Things pick up when Stasia finds out she's pregnant with Tanner's baby. Tanner brings his mistress back home and she insults Stasia so bad that Stasia falls down the stairs and miscarries. (Or something like that.) And then Tanner's parents disown him and help Stasia get a divorce.
The crazy thing? Everything I just described is from the relatively normal part of the book. Things go absolutely off the rails, from here. It’s only been an hour since I finished reading but I’ve already forgotten and mixed up some of the plot points.
So, like, the story skips five years. Stasia is a really good painter, apparently. And she finds a wealthy patron in New York. He’s twelve years older than her and treats her like an adopted daughter. But the patron in question is in love with Stasia’s best friend (who I believe is the same age as Stasia?) I don’t think the age gap is that big but it’s weird that the dude outright says that Stasia is like a daughter to him. And falls for her best friend. Also, the dude is a mob boss and Stasia’s bestie is an opera singer.
Things are the most bizarre in Tanner’s sideplot. Before the story began, he was in the military. And it’s established that he was in some kind of covert op. After his family disowns him, he becomes a government agent under the cover of being a mercenary. And a huge portion of the book is dedicated to a side plot where he’s in South America?? Whilst in South America, Tanner gets shot by his boss. Who is double crossing Tanner because Tanner saw him mow down civilians in Iraq (I think). And then one of Tanner’s friends tells Tanner’s family that Tanner is dead. And they go to Stasia’s mob-boss-patron to investigate. And at that point, I lost the plot.
OH and also??? I figured this book was written in the 80s or 90’s because they mention conservative values a whole ton, and there’s this yuppie girlboss view of what it means to be a successful woman. AND THEN THERE’S A RANDOM GAME OF THRONES REFERENCE? THAT LEADS TO A HOUSE OF THE DRAGON REFERENCE? Which places the book in 2022?? Like, I’m not saying I found this offensive. It’s just melodramatic and outdated in the way that an old paperback is. I cannot believe this book.
In any case, this ‘brief’ summary is still missing out on a ton. I haven’t even gotten to how Tanner’s brother is in love with Stasia. I’m not sure if that ever got resolved. Like I’m genuinely blanking. I just. I don’t know. I’m truly bewildered.
This is a one star book but I’m giving it an extra star just for how audacious it is. Like, a Western contemporary becoming a suspense in the Amazon is mind blowing. And now that I’m reflecting, Stasia and Tanner barely interact. So in that sense, it is a bold book. It takes risks. It’s just… not a good story.
Okay, so full spoilers. There's this girl named Anastasia. She's 19 and her dad just died. In his will, her father makes it so the only way his ranch stays in the family is if Stasia marries her childhood crush and the boy next door. So far, this is a basic romance plot. Things get complicated when her childhood crush, Tanner, turns out to be a playboy and a huge asshole. Like, asshole beyond the point of what's normal for a romance hero. He has a mistress that he refuses to break up with and he legit goes to Greece with the mistress right after the wedding. Now, mind you. Stasia's dad has just died. And Tanner is aware that she is in love with him. He's also aware that Stasia's mother killed herself after the fallout from an affair she had. (Also, Stasia discovered her mom's body??) And with all this knowledge in mind, he continues living with his mistress and causing a tabloid scandal. Things pick up when Stasia finds out she's pregnant with Tanner's baby. Tanner brings his mistress back home and she insults Stasia so bad that Stasia falls down the stairs and miscarries. (Or something like that.) And then Tanner's parents disown him and help Stasia get a divorce.
The crazy thing? Everything I just described is from the relatively normal part of the book. Things go absolutely off the rails, from here. It’s only been an hour since I finished reading but I’ve already forgotten and mixed up some of the plot points.
So, like, the story skips five years. Stasia is a really good painter, apparently. And she finds a wealthy patron in New York. He’s twelve years older than her and treats her like an adopted daughter. But the patron in question is in love with Stasia’s best friend (who I believe is the same age as Stasia?) I don’t think the age gap is that big but it’s weird that the dude outright says that Stasia is like a daughter to him. And falls for her best friend. Also, the dude is a mob boss and Stasia’s bestie is an opera singer.
Things are the most bizarre in Tanner’s sideplot. Before the story began, he was in the military. And it’s established that he was in some kind of covert op. After his family disowns him, he becomes a government agent under the cover of being a mercenary. And a huge portion of the book is dedicated to a side plot where he’s in South America?? Whilst in South America, Tanner gets shot by his boss. Who is double crossing Tanner because Tanner saw him mow down civilians in Iraq (I think). And then one of Tanner’s friends tells Tanner’s family that Tanner is dead. And they go to Stasia’s mob-boss-patron to investigate. And at that point, I lost the plot.
OH and also??? I figured this book was written in the 80s or 90’s because they mention conservative values a whole ton, and there’s this yuppie girlboss view of what it means to be a successful woman. AND THEN THERE’S A RANDOM GAME OF THRONES REFERENCE? THAT LEADS TO A HOUSE OF THE DRAGON REFERENCE? Which places the book in 2022?? Like, I’m not saying I found this offensive. It’s just melodramatic and outdated in the way that an old paperback is. I cannot believe this book.
In any case, this ‘brief’ summary is still missing out on a ton. I haven’t even gotten to how Tanner’s brother is in love with Stasia. I’m not sure if that ever got resolved. Like I’m genuinely blanking. I just. I don’t know. I’m truly bewildered.
This is a one star book but I’m giving it an extra star just for how audacious it is. Like, a Western contemporary becoming a suspense in the Amazon is mind blowing. And now that I’m reflecting, Stasia and Tanner barely interact. So in that sense, it is a bold book. It takes risks. It’s just… not a good story.
June 6, 2023
Review at chapter 4
I am not even sure I can finish this. I swear it seems that a newbie writer is writing this. I'm not sure I can finish it. Spent WAY too much money for this. Wait for second hand stores. The inconsistencies is driving me crazy. These first chapters feel like the whole story has vomited on me all at once. I love Diana Palmer's older books where the guy was a guy. Manly, mature. Not these PC teenager like characters. And I'm sorry but I have a hard time with reading about a heroine who is barely out of their teens and the guy is going in thirty or more. I don't care about age gaps but when one is so young I have a hard time.
Back to the inconsistencies. Spoilers! He doesn't like her but he does...we could have seen the evolution of their relationship more.
They are marrying for convenience but he has to sleep with her to make it legal...uh no one needs to know.
She has to live with him to make it look real but they say the whole town knows he left her to be with his mistress.
I could go on and on! Whoever her agent is should be fired.
I miss the old Diana palmer books. They weren't perfect and they still had the age gap issue but they were a good read. I'd just wait until you can get it in paperback for cheaper or a used book store. I don't even know if I can finish this..it might take.me.a long time.
I am not even sure I can finish this. I swear it seems that a newbie writer is writing this. I'm not sure I can finish it. Spent WAY too much money for this. Wait for second hand stores. The inconsistencies is driving me crazy. These first chapters feel like the whole story has vomited on me all at once. I love Diana Palmer's older books where the guy was a guy. Manly, mature. Not these PC teenager like characters. And I'm sorry but I have a hard time with reading about a heroine who is barely out of their teens and the guy is going in thirty or more. I don't care about age gaps but when one is so young I have a hard time.
Back to the inconsistencies. Spoilers! He doesn't like her but he does...we could have seen the evolution of their relationship more.
They are marrying for convenience but he has to sleep with her to make it legal...uh no one needs to know.
She has to live with him to make it look real but they say the whole town knows he left her to be with his mistress.
I could go on and on! Whoever her agent is should be fired.
I miss the old Diana palmer books. They weren't perfect and they still had the age gap issue but they were a good read. I'd just wait until you can get it in paperback for cheaper or a used book store. I don't even know if I can finish this..it might take.me.a long time.
April 23, 2023
***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***
This one felt like a book that was written 20 years ago and resurfaced now so they published it.
And it just didn't work for me.
Tanner and Stacie are forced to marry because of a will that can't be challenged (but later can???) and off we go down one cliché ridden plot line, and then another one.
Pretty much everything hapoens...except a romance I actually believed. I just didn't and I couldn't get past the idea that she should have refused to have anything to do with him after how terribly he treats her.
I sort of finished this title as I ended up skimming it. I'm unable to recommend this book.
This one felt like a book that was written 20 years ago and resurfaced now so they published it.
And it just didn't work for me.
Tanner and Stacie are forced to marry because of a will that can't be challenged (but later can???) and off we go down one cliché ridden plot line, and then another one.
Pretty much everything hapoens...except a romance I actually believed. I just didn't and I couldn't get past the idea that she should have refused to have anything to do with him after how terribly he treats her.
I sort of finished this title as I ended up skimming it. I'm unable to recommend this book.
April 25, 2023
Tanner is a jerk. Gosh, I really started off disliking this guy a lot. He showed a few soft moments like when Stasie's mother died and he came to comfort her. But when Stasie's father changes his will so that she and Tanner have to marry in order for Stasie's ranch not to get sold to a developer who could build something right next door to Tanner's ranch which would ruin his ranch and cause havoc to his cattle, he's just mad he's been backed into a corner. But Tanner is used to jet setting around the world, having a woman who is not naïve and unsophisticated so he's really mad he has to marry Stasie even though he knows she loves him.
He treats her badly, making her think that they might get along after their marriage night and then he leaves to be with his mistress. He was a total jerk. So I totally understood why his family cut him off after a tragic event happens and Stasie decides to find a way out of the marriage and divorce him. He has to find a way to make it on his own and grow up.
Fast forward a few years and Stasie and Tanner meet again and neither of them are the same people they were. Watching these two have a second chance with each other was nice but I'm not sure I would have been able to forgive him like she did. But of course she still loved him and probably always would.
You always know what you're going to get with a Diana Palmer cowboy romance and I love that about this author. When I want a story like this, she is the author I always come back to because I know what kind of story I'm going to get and I almost always like them.
Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC copy of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
He treats her badly, making her think that they might get along after their marriage night and then he leaves to be with his mistress. He was a total jerk. So I totally understood why his family cut him off after a tragic event happens and Stasie decides to find a way out of the marriage and divorce him. He has to find a way to make it on his own and grow up.
Fast forward a few years and Stasie and Tanner meet again and neither of them are the same people they were. Watching these two have a second chance with each other was nice but I'm not sure I would have been able to forgive him like she did. But of course she still loved him and probably always would.
You always know what you're going to get with a Diana Palmer cowboy romance and I love that about this author. When I want a story like this, she is the author I always come back to because I know what kind of story I'm going to get and I almost always like them.
Disclosure: I was given an e-ARC copy of this book via NetGalley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2025
I really REALLY tried to finish this, but I only got 52% through before it just became too annoying to handle with nothing good to balance it out.
Complaints:
1. The way every character in this book believes women will and should give up their careers to become wives and stay at home moms is just so repetitive. It’s brought up in every other chapter, like yes hello we get that you think women’s jobs aren’t that important if they can’t stay home to care for children, and that women who think they don’t want that life “just haven’t met the right man yet.”
2. I thought this was supposed to be a cowboy book. The cowboys are like 5%, and instead it’s all about the mob, mercenaries and a little about painting and singing.
3. This book so far is not spicy, the intimacy description may as well have been traded in for closed door romance. Note: I can’t speak for the second half of the book if it does spice up.
4. The other potential love interest is talked about like he’s saddest most pitiful person on earth because of unrequited love, when the woman he loves has an unrequited love that everyone else around all of them is all for? Like what’s the difference? Again I didn’t finish this, but if she ended up with the guy who has loved her to whole time instead of the guy who acted like she was dirt until he realized she was pretty, I would be SHOCKED. Again, they bring up how pitiful the guy is so often, it’s infuriating. WE GET IT, he’s tooooooo nice, just like a brother.
5. The way women are talked about staying virgins til marriage is fine but these ones talk about it like it’s the most taboo and awful thing to do before marriage. The only character that has pre-marital relations is written as a shallow rude gold digger, and everyone refers to her as a pr*stitute.
5. For f*cks sake, as an audio book why is this read by a man? It’s so weird. At least have a woman read the women’s parts. He even speaks like a gangster wannabe, so it really ruins this.
I don’t recommend this, honestly I didn’t care much for another book I read by this author, but at least it was more of a cowboy romance. The women are very old fashioned as if they’re living in the 50s, which some people are probably into, but it’s not my cup of tea. Again, not enough cowboy for me, even though a main plot line is about cattle ranches!!
Complaints:
1. The way every character in this book believes women will and should give up their careers to become wives and stay at home moms is just so repetitive. It’s brought up in every other chapter, like yes hello we get that you think women’s jobs aren’t that important if they can’t stay home to care for children, and that women who think they don’t want that life “just haven’t met the right man yet.”
2. I thought this was supposed to be a cowboy book. The cowboys are like 5%, and instead it’s all about the mob, mercenaries and a little about painting and singing.
3. This book so far is not spicy, the intimacy description may as well have been traded in for closed door romance. Note: I can’t speak for the second half of the book if it does spice up.
4. The other potential love interest is talked about like he’s saddest most pitiful person on earth because of unrequited love, when the woman he loves has an unrequited love that everyone else around all of them is all for? Like what’s the difference? Again I didn’t finish this, but if she ended up with the guy who has loved her to whole time instead of the guy who acted like she was dirt until he realized she was pretty, I would be SHOCKED. Again, they bring up how pitiful the guy is so often, it’s infuriating. WE GET IT, he’s tooooooo nice, just like a brother.
5. The way women are talked about staying virgins til marriage is fine but these ones talk about it like it’s the most taboo and awful thing to do before marriage. The only character that has pre-marital relations is written as a shallow rude gold digger, and everyone refers to her as a pr*stitute.
5. For f*cks sake, as an audio book why is this read by a man? It’s so weird. At least have a woman read the women’s parts. He even speaks like a gangster wannabe, so it really ruins this.
I don’t recommend this, honestly I didn’t care much for another book I read by this author, but at least it was more of a cowboy romance. The women are very old fashioned as if they’re living in the 50s, which some people are probably into, but it’s not my cup of tea. Again, not enough cowboy for me, even though a main plot line is about cattle ranches!!
May 9, 2023
3.5 rating. I liked the story and it was just okay.
October 27, 2023
A very interesting read.
Another DP hit. A sweet girl with a backbone and a huge crush on a spoiled playboy. Her father dies in debt but his will can save her if the playboy will marry her. By marrying her his saves both his ranch & his father's plus her's, what deal but he is an ass at his wedding. He does not want to become a family man & already has his mistress on standby. He learns through tragedy & his divorce, what he really wants & he finally grows up. His family disowned him & five years pass before they are reunited. He wants a second chance with everyone & needs to prove to everyone that he has changed. There is a lot packed into this book & DP gets you emotionally invested enough to cry.
Another DP hit. A sweet girl with a backbone and a huge crush on a spoiled playboy. Her father dies in debt but his will can save her if the playboy will marry her. By marrying her his saves both his ranch & his father's plus her's, what deal but he is an ass at his wedding. He does not want to become a family man & already has his mistress on standby. He learns through tragedy & his divorce, what he really wants & he finally grows up. His family disowned him & five years pass before they are reunited. He wants a second chance with everyone & needs to prove to everyone that he has changed. There is a lot packed into this book & DP gets you emotionally invested enough to cry.
March 4, 2023
Diana Palmer brings us the story of Stasie and her father. Everyone knows that she has eyes for their neighbor's oldest son Tanner. Yet, Tanner is not satisfied with being on the family farm and takes advantage of his family's wealth jet-setting around the world with the latest arm candy. When tragedy strikes her' family, it brings Tanner back home and back into her life. Tanner resents her and her father for forcing him into his present situation and when tragedy strikes a second time, it breaks that bond even more. Five years later, Tanner's job brings this family back together and shows that love and family will ultimately prevail.
Diana Palmer brings us a story of love, tragedy, chances, and family. You get to feel all of the emotions their story brings out with each page. As you follow them along this journey, you get to see the rollercoaster they take you on. I like how you get to follow their journey and see how they change throughout the years and how the events in their lives affect them and how that translates to how they react to what happens to them throughout the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, HQN for this privilege.
Diana Palmer brings us a story of love, tragedy, chances, and family. You get to feel all of the emotions their story brings out with each page. As you follow them along this journey, you get to see the rollercoaster they take you on. I like how you get to follow their journey and see how they change throughout the years and how the events in their lives affect them and how that translates to how they react to what happens to them throughout the book. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, HQN for this privilege.
April 24, 2023
The Loner by Diana Palmer is part of her Long, Tall Texas world, but can be read as a standalone. Tanner Everett is a man used to living his life as he pleases with who he pleases. Stasia has always loved Tanner, but knows she has no chance with him. Suddenly Stasia may get just what she has always wanted, Tanner. But Tanner has other plans. But in the end, they are forced to marry. Is this the beginning of all her dreams or the start of her nightmares?
Tanner is drawn to Stasia, but he is not ready to commit to her. When tragedy strikes, they are driven apart. Years later they are face-to-face again. Is this finally their time? Stasia gave her heart freely and fiercely. She was strong, even when seen as weak. Tanner was strong, determined and maybe a little young at first. As time went by, he grew and knew what he wanted. Their journey was not easy and a bit suspenseful, but it was sweet and charming as well.
Happy reading!
3-5-stars!
Tanner is drawn to Stasia, but he is not ready to commit to her. When tragedy strikes, they are driven apart. Years later they are face-to-face again. Is this finally their time? Stasia gave her heart freely and fiercely. She was strong, even when seen as weak. Tanner was strong, determined and maybe a little young at first. As time went by, he grew and knew what he wanted. Their journey was not easy and a bit suspenseful, but it was sweet and charming as well.
Happy reading!
3-5-stars!
May 17, 2023
Stasie has been in love with Tanner since she was fifteen. He father owns a large ranch and is dying. He knows Tanner's family need the water rights he has and in his will he leaves it Stasie if she marries Tanner, if not it's to be sold as an amusement park. Tanner is too busy traveling the world with his jet-setting girlfriend and has no desire to marry her.
Tanner marries Stasie and leaves the next day to return to his girlfriend waiting for him overseas. This move turns into disaster for the families. Stasie is divorced and living in NYC under the watchful eyes of an older man who is her benefactor.
Tanner has spent the last five years growing up and working special ops and undercover work. He runs into Stasie in NYC and realizes how bad he messed up years ago. Can Tanner and Stasie find their way back to each other.
Tanner marries Stasie and leaves the next day to return to his girlfriend waiting for him overseas. This move turns into disaster for the families. Stasie is divorced and living in NYC under the watchful eyes of an older man who is her benefactor.
Tanner has spent the last five years growing up and working special ops and undercover work. He runs into Stasie in NYC and realizes how bad he messed up years ago. Can Tanner and Stasie find their way back to each other.
April 26, 2023
same story, different title
The last decade her books have all been similar. It’s like she uses plots AB& C, female D,E& F, male G,H& I and then chooses one of each to write her books. The results are same stories just different names.
I did like that it showed grown children from a couple from a previous book and characters from previous books. the male character had no redeeming qualities.
I feel like I wasted 90 minutes that I’ll never get back.
The last decade her books have all been similar. It’s like she uses plots AB& C, female D,E& F, male G,H& I and then chooses one of each to write her books. The results are same stories just different names.
I did like that it showed grown children from a couple from a previous book and characters from previous books. the male character had no redeeming qualities.
I feel like I wasted 90 minutes that I’ll never get back.
June 18, 2024
Tanner the H is the grown son of Heather and Cole from "Heather's Song."
After Tanner finished doing military black ops, he just decided to do nothing with his life. When the story begins, he's an irresponsible playboy with a "girlfriend," or more of a sugar baby. His parent bought an adjoining ranch at auction and gave it to Tanner, hoping that would make Tanner settle down. All it did was give him an income stream to finance himself and his sugar baby, without needing a real job. He leaves all the work up to his foreman.
Anastasia "Stasia," the h, is literally and figuratively the girl next door, the sweet girl who lives next door and who has a crush on Tanner. What Stasia doesn't know is that her father is ill and their ranch is bankrupt. After he dies, everyone learns his will requires Tanner and Stasia to marry, or else the ranch will go to an amusement park developer. Dad put this in the will because he wanted Stasia to be taken care of. She had no other money or family. Tanner agreed to it because an amusement park would ruin his and his parents' ranches, which are all next to each other.
The wedding night, he has sex with Stasia, then leaves to meet his sugar baby (now mistress) in Greece. A month or 2 after that, Stasia finds out she's pregnant, and around the same time Tanner returns with his mistress in time to find out about the pregnancy. It's after this pregnancy confrontation his parents disown him and take back his ranch.
This has the makings of a great 2nd chance story. What ruins the book for me, is that Tanner has a brother and sister who have their own sub-stories within this book. Meanwhile, the main characters divorce and don't see each other again for 5 years. Because it was an arranged marriage with a long separation, the book is mostly about Tanner's brother and sister drama, rather than about the actual H and h.
So, 5 years after the pregnancy confrontation, Tanner's had to get a job and support himself, and finally grow up. Now he feels bad about treating Stasia so badly. Ok, I'm glad he's now a mature grown ass man, but is that a reason to pursue Stasia? They never really had a relationship or a marriage. They need to just move on. The story has a recurring theme of everlasting, unrequited love.
The plot depends on Stasia still loving Tanner, no matter what, no matter how long, in order to give Tanner a 2nd chance later on. It's honestly kind of pathetic.
After Tanner finished doing military black ops, he just decided to do nothing with his life. When the story begins, he's an irresponsible playboy with a "girlfriend," or more of a sugar baby. His parent bought an adjoining ranch at auction and gave it to Tanner, hoping that would make Tanner settle down. All it did was give him an income stream to finance himself and his sugar baby, without needing a real job. He leaves all the work up to his foreman.
Anastasia "Stasia," the h, is literally and figuratively the girl next door, the sweet girl who lives next door and who has a crush on Tanner. What Stasia doesn't know is that her father is ill and their ranch is bankrupt. After he dies, everyone learns his will requires Tanner and Stasia to marry, or else the ranch will go to an amusement park developer. Dad put this in the will because he wanted Stasia to be taken care of. She had no other money or family. Tanner agreed to it because an amusement park would ruin his and his parents' ranches, which are all next to each other.
The wedding night, he has sex with Stasia, then leaves to meet his sugar baby (now mistress) in Greece. A month or 2 after that, Stasia finds out she's pregnant, and around the same time Tanner returns with his mistress in time to find out about the pregnancy. It's after this pregnancy confrontation his parents disown him and take back his ranch.
This has the makings of a great 2nd chance story. What ruins the book for me, is that Tanner has a brother and sister who have their own sub-stories within this book. Meanwhile, the main characters divorce and don't see each other again for 5 years. Because it was an arranged marriage with a long separation, the book is mostly about Tanner's brother and sister drama, rather than about the actual H and h.
So, 5 years after the pregnancy confrontation, Tanner's had to get a job and support himself, and finally grow up. Now he feels bad about treating Stasia so badly. Ok, I'm glad he's now a mature grown ass man, but is that a reason to pursue Stasia? They never really had a relationship or a marriage. They need to just move on. The story has a recurring theme of everlasting, unrequited love.
The plot depends on Stasia still loving Tanner, no matter what, no matter how long, in order to give Tanner a 2nd chance later on. It's honestly kind of pathetic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2023
The Loner is the 54th book in prolific author Diana Palmer’s Long, Tall Texans series. Nineteen year old Stasia Bolton was left in a precarious position when her 50 something father, Glenn, succumbed to heart disease. The ranch was mortgaged to the hilt. His will specified that the ranch be sold to an amusement park company if Stasia and neighbor’s son Tanner Everett did not marry and combine the land with the neighboring ranch. This odd instruction was meant to offer Stasia protection and a way to hold on to the ranch that had been in the family more than 100 years. It was also meant to offer his dear daughter the man she had been in love with for most of her young life.
However, Tanner was a jet setting playboy unlikely to give up his globe trotting ways. But when tragedy strikes as a result of his lack of control and reckless ways, life will change for them all.
Five years later, Tanner is back in Stasia’s life under mysterious circumstances, putting her and his family in danger. As Tanner’s undercover life is revealed, a cast of interesting players assembles leading to a very satisfying conclusion.
This is a multi faceted tale with unexpected twists. I very much enjoyed the story and do recommend this book.
However, Tanner was a jet setting playboy unlikely to give up his globe trotting ways. But when tragedy strikes as a result of his lack of control and reckless ways, life will change for them all.
Five years later, Tanner is back in Stasia’s life under mysterious circumstances, putting her and his family in danger. As Tanner’s undercover life is revealed, a cast of interesting players assembles leading to a very satisfying conclusion.
This is a multi faceted tale with unexpected twists. I very much enjoyed the story and do recommend this book.
May 5, 2023
I'd heard the name Diana Palmer, I'd even heard that she wrote romance, but somehow, this is the first time I've read one of her books. I find myself a little on the fence with The Loner. I like the trope, and I love a redeemable alpha male - this one is quite the jerk, and it takes him a good while to even start changing my feelings toward him, which had me wondering if he was going to be redeemable. There were some interesting twists, and I like the storyline. I suppose the romance is what has me on that earlier-mentioned fence. I struggled with this couple and had a hard time rooting for them, which makes it difficult to immerse myself in the romance. As far as the story as a whole, I liked many things about it. There were some times that things were repetitive, but overall, it's an entertaining story. As I understand it, this is part of a series, but as far as I could tell, it worked fine as a standalone. I think this book was maybe the wrong one for me. I do think it has its audience, and it was certainly worth the read.
April 20, 2024
I don’t know if I have read all of her books, but if not, I have read very many of them. Happy that the male MC (tanner) wasn’t 20 years older than the female MC (stasia) and a smoker as was typical in most of her earlier books. But of course he has to be a big cattle rancher. And of course she has to be a naïve young virgin. I liked the book well enough and I did like the side characters who I’m assuming will be in the next book. I felt stasia’s extreme adoration to tanner to be a bit much. Especially when he was such a complete ass in the beginning. But this is very typical of Diana Palmer. So after tanner has to go off and almost die he realizes how stupid he was. It’s just such a super quick, I’m back (after 5 yrs), I was stupid, we should get married again. And stasia says great! I don’t feel like these two characters actually got to really know each other, especially in a romantic way. Other than the fact that they were neighbors for their whole lives and Tanner didn’t like her growing up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2024
Stasia Bolton is an only child whose mother passed away when she was only 13. She loves to paint. Her dad, Glenn Bolton runs their ranch and has borrowed heavily to keep it afloat. Stasia has had a crush on Tanner Everett forever. He lives on his family's ranch next door. He never had feelings for Stasia, and he lives an out-of-control life with Julienne who spends his money while they travel around the globe. When Glenn dies, his will states that Stasia can only inherit the ranch if she and Tanner wed. Tanner comes home and does marry Stasia to save her family's ranch. That evening he consummates their marriage. But he leaves the next morning. Tanner meanwhile continues with his out-of-control life away from Stasia. One of Stasia's paintings is sold, and she is commissioned to do another for $10,000. Will Stasia become a famous painter? Will Tanner and Stasia ever find their way back to each other? Please read their story and find out the many events they experience to their HEA.
June 15, 2023
Dear Diana Palmer, why so bitter against vegetarians? I get that your characters are all cattle ranchers, but the antagonism towards "tofu boys eating mock meat and dying their hair green", especially coming from a supposedly modern 19 year old girl, is bizarre. And it keeps popping up throughout the book, all these throwaway anti-vegetarian comments, or making the Other Woman a vegan as more evidence that she's a horrible modern slut unlike the virginal heroine who eats her steak like a good girl.
"Supposedly modern" really sums up the rest of my problems with this one. It reads like it was written in the 70s and someone decided to publish it as is. No 19-25 year olds talk like this.
Well, that and the fact that the hero is a monster who deserved to come home and find that his ex-wife had realized his brother was the man she should have been loving all that time.
"Supposedly modern" really sums up the rest of my problems with this one. It reads like it was written in the 70s and someone decided to publish it as is. No 19-25 year olds talk like this.
Well, that and the fact that the hero is a monster who deserved to come home and find that his ex-wife had realized his brother was the man she should have been loving all that time.
April 11, 2024
Another in the Long, Tall Texans series, in which Tanner Everett really doesn't want to be a rancher, in spite of his parents' hopes and dreams. Stasia Bolton, a neighboring rancher, has always had a crush on Tanner, which he's ignored while gallivanting around the world with his favorite woman companion (they change frequently). When Stasia's father dies, he sets up a situation by which Tanner must marry Stasia in order to protect his own ranch and animals while making sure that Stasia is taken care of. Neither wants such a shotgun wedding, but when they can't find a way out, they go through with it.
Things don't get better, even when Stasia finds out she's pregnant but then loses the baby. But when Tanner is injured, things begin to turn around for them with the help of people who care about them. But the question remains: will he go back to ranching or continue his gallivanting?
Things don't get better, even when Stasia finds out she's pregnant but then loses the baby. But when Tanner is injured, things begin to turn around for them with the help of people who care about them. But the question remains: will he go back to ranching or continue his gallivanting?
May 12, 2023
I appreciate the formula Palmer uses for her romances. It's predictable and comforting. I've read all of her Long Tall Texans series and do miss some of the energy of the early volumes. Her hero, Tanner, is certainly anything but heroic in his relationships as the story begins. There are hints that he is more than the jet setting playboy but the full story is not revealed until much later in the book. The main character, Stacie, is typical for Palmer - virgin, small town content. However, like the hero, there are depths that come out when she finds her own strength. The trope love doesn't run smooth is used and reused for a reason - it works for those looking for a light escape. It's always fun to see the other characters interweave in the new stories.
January 13, 2024
I suffered through this entire book, only to reach the conclusion where the main hero experiences an orgasm?! How does it make sense for a character with established "experience" to have never orgasmed before? Coupled with the slut-shaming, criticism of those not ultra-conservative or, horror, uninterested in marriage and kids, the overall vibe was a book that could have been published a couple of centuries ago. The writing style proved challenging to enjoy—repetitive, excessively verbose in information, and more telling than showing. Additionally, there were irrelevant side plots involving side characters that added little value to the story.
July 9, 2024
Not sure why this is called, "The Loner." It should have been called, "The Asshole." When you think of a loner, you think of a mountain man secluded in the forests in a cabin. This guy was just a selfish, narcissistic asshole. Well, I guess he does grow up. The heroine being "in love with him..." What does that even mean? Anyone with that much emotional hollowness is not worth investing your time with. Anyone worth their weight in character would rise above an infatuation like that. So I guess I couldn't relate to the characters. Or maybe I've just read one too many DP books that seem to have the same formula. Sometimes they are fun, sometimes exciting and sometimes lamentable.
November 15, 2025
Intense, tender, and beautifully classic Diana Palmer.
The Loner showcases everything that makes Diana Palmer beloved — a fiercely independent, emotionally guarded hero and a heroine whose quiet strength brings down every wall he’s built.
The chemistry is deliciously slow and simmering. Every misunderstanding, every moment of closeness, every slip of vulnerability hits harder because the characters feel so real and flawed.
Palmer does a beautiful job exploring themes of trust, healing, and love that grows not out of perfection but out of persistence and heart. The western setting adds charm and emotional depth.
A compelling, heartfelt cowboy romance with a deeply satisfying payoff.
The Loner showcases everything that makes Diana Palmer beloved — a fiercely independent, emotionally guarded hero and a heroine whose quiet strength brings down every wall he’s built.
The chemistry is deliciously slow and simmering. Every misunderstanding, every moment of closeness, every slip of vulnerability hits harder because the characters feel so real and flawed.
Palmer does a beautiful job exploring themes of trust, healing, and love that grows not out of perfection but out of persistence and heart. The western setting adds charm and emotional depth.
A compelling, heartfelt cowboy romance with a deeply satisfying payoff.
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