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Texas Honor
Enjoy two classic Lone Star romances from New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer!
Unlikely Lover
When Ward Jessup and Mari Raymond meet after being brought together by Mari’s wily matchmaking aunt, neither is what the other expected. The handsome oilman is anything but old and unwell, and Mari is hardly a helpless girl. But although the sparks fly between them, they can’t fight the power of Cupid’s arrow…
Rage of Passion
A vacation at her grandmother's ranch would have been the perfect place for Maggie Turner to escape her ex-husband's threats. Perfect, that is, if it hadn't been for Gabe Coleman. The sexy rancher was just as direct—and undeniably handsome—as he'd been ten years ago. And his icy-blue eyes dared her to look beneath his rough exterior. Could this rugged Texas cowboy give Maggie a new lease on love?
New York Times Bestselling Author
Previously published as Unlikely Lover and Rage of Passion
Unlikely Lover
When Ward Jessup and Mari Raymond meet after being brought together by Mari’s wily matchmaking aunt, neither is what the other expected. The handsome oilman is anything but old and unwell, and Mari is hardly a helpless girl. But although the sparks fly between them, they can’t fight the power of Cupid’s arrow…
Rage of Passion
A vacation at her grandmother's ranch would have been the perfect place for Maggie Turner to escape her ex-husband's threats. Perfect, that is, if it hadn't been for Gabe Coleman. The sexy rancher was just as direct—and undeniably handsome—as he'd been ten years ago. And his icy-blue eyes dared her to look beneath his rough exterior. Could this rugged Texas cowboy give Maggie a new lease on love?
New York Times Bestselling Author
Previously published as Unlikely Lover and Rage of Passion
- GenresWesternsContemporary
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2022
121 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,050 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 6, 2021
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 4
Performance – 5
Story – 3
There’s a part of me that wonders why I continue to request audiobook review copies for Diana Palmer books because all of the ones I’ve listened to so far are extremely outdated for today’s romances that they are almost LOL funny. But I finally figured out the biggest reason and that is Todd McLaren’s smooth and sexy voice; it really resonates with me even though I still think his female voices are pretty terrible. His Diana Palmer narrations are ones that I can easily listen to while doing other things and just enjoy his voice.
Also, even though the two stories in Texas Honor are seriously outdated with ridiculous, over-the-top alpha male dialogue they bring back memories of the stories I cut my romance teeth on back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I don’t remember reading any Diana Palmer books back then but the style of her stories, as far as I can remember, are very similar to the books I read during that time period.
Unlikely Lover
Classic setup story. Mari’s aunt lies to her about needing her at the ranch where she works so Mari can help her take care of her sick boss. Of course, the boss isn’t sick at all. Mari is pretty feisty and doesn’t hesitate to stand up to Ward when he proposes a relationship that isn’t at all what she had in mind. True love always wins in the end.
Rage of Passion
Another classic story. Abused wife running from horrible ex-husband who is trying to take her child away. Gabe offers her marriage to keep the ex from getting sole custody of her child. He’s rich and assumes that she wants his money, too. When his feelings start to change, he becomes upset because of an incident that makes him think she only wanted to marry him to protect her child. There is a lot of sexy inuendo in this one and after ignoring all of the outdated stuff I really enjoyed listening to it.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary
Overall – 4
Performance – 5
Story – 3
There’s a part of me that wonders why I continue to request audiobook review copies for Diana Palmer books because all of the ones I’ve listened to so far are extremely outdated for today’s romances that they are almost LOL funny. But I finally figured out the biggest reason and that is Todd McLaren’s smooth and sexy voice; it really resonates with me even though I still think his female voices are pretty terrible. His Diana Palmer narrations are ones that I can easily listen to while doing other things and just enjoy his voice.
Also, even though the two stories in Texas Honor are seriously outdated with ridiculous, over-the-top alpha male dialogue they bring back memories of the stories I cut my romance teeth on back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I don’t remember reading any Diana Palmer books back then but the style of her stories, as far as I can remember, are very similar to the books I read during that time period.
Unlikely Lover
Classic setup story. Mari’s aunt lies to her about needing her at the ranch where she works so Mari can help her take care of her sick boss. Of course, the boss isn’t sick at all. Mari is pretty feisty and doesn’t hesitate to stand up to Ward when he proposes a relationship that isn’t at all what she had in mind. True love always wins in the end.
Rage of Passion
Another classic story. Abused wife running from horrible ex-husband who is trying to take her child away. Gabe offers her marriage to keep the ex from getting sole custody of her child. He’s rich and assumes that she wants his money, too. When his feelings start to change, he becomes upset because of an incident that makes him think she only wanted to marry him to protect her child. There is a lot of sexy inuendo in this one and after ignoring all of the outdated stuff I really enjoyed listening to it.
A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary
September 5, 2025
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the steamy Texas Honor by Diana Palmer, and this review was given freely.
Determinedly single and shrewd owner of Three Forks Ranch, Ward Jessup, resists the matchmaking of his housekeeper Lillian, until her sweet and virginal twenty-two-year-old niece Marriane, visits from Georgia.
Many steamy scenes are initiated but not completed.
18+ for intimate scenes.
4 stars
I purchased the book Rage of Passion by Diana Palmer through Kindle Unlimited, and this review was provided freely.
This second chance at love story features another angry and powerful rancher and many steamy scenes.
Unable to withstand her greedy and unfaithful ex-husband’s continued blackmail and threat to become the sole guardian of their daughter Becky, to gain access to their daughter’s trust fund, Maggie Turner must turn to her Godmother, “Aunt Janet” Coleman, and her domineering and intimidating rancher son, Gabriel for peace and security. Initially angry and bitter, Gabriel makes it his mission to rekindle the sexually and mentally abused Madeline’s childhood love for him and earn Becky’s trust.
18+ for steamy scenes.
I purchased a copy of the steamy Texas Honor by Diana Palmer, and this review was given freely.
Determinedly single and shrewd owner of Three Forks Ranch, Ward Jessup, resists the matchmaking of his housekeeper Lillian, until her sweet and virginal twenty-two-year-old niece Marriane, visits from Georgia.
Many steamy scenes are initiated but not completed.
18+ for intimate scenes.
4 stars
I purchased the book Rage of Passion by Diana Palmer through Kindle Unlimited, and this review was provided freely.
This second chance at love story features another angry and powerful rancher and many steamy scenes.
Unable to withstand her greedy and unfaithful ex-husband’s continued blackmail and threat to become the sole guardian of their daughter Becky, to gain access to their daughter’s trust fund, Maggie Turner must turn to her Godmother, “Aunt Janet” Coleman, and her domineering and intimidating rancher son, Gabriel for peace and security. Initially angry and bitter, Gabriel makes it his mission to rekindle the sexually and mentally abused Madeline’s childhood love for him and earn Becky’s trust.
18+ for steamy scenes.
Read
June 14, 2022What a great book two hard headed men until they meant their match in these women two great stories
May 2, 2023
I very much enjoyed this book. Both stories were good and very humorous.
February 10, 2025
Both stories were excellent!
August 9, 2025
Awesome
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting perfect love story
Kept me interested in the story. Loved the book
I really enjoyed this book. It was very interesting perfect love story
Kept me interested in the story. Loved the book
January 7, 2026
More story line
Too much sex in the first book and not enough story line. The second book was better. I’m married so am not a prude.
Too much sex in the first book and not enough story line. The second book was better. I’m married so am not a prude.
Read
February 5, 2023Two great stories in one Ward Jessup wasn't looking for a woman he had one bad experience with one than comes along Mari Raymond his housekeeper niece she wasn't looking for a man either they didn't get along to good and when she decided to go back home he realized he was in love with her and she already knew she was in love with him she gets a job at a bank and he goes to her work and brings her back to his house to tell her he loves her.
Maggie Turner is trying to escape he scary ex husband so she goes to her grandmother ranch to get away and that's when she meets Gabe Coleman she remembers him from ten years ago she wasn't looking for anything in a man once she looked beneath his rough exterior she seen the man for who he is and once he got to know her again he realizes he has feelings for her
Maggie Turner is trying to escape he scary ex husband so she goes to her grandmother ranch to get away and that's when she meets Gabe Coleman she remembers him from ten years ago she wasn't looking for anything in a man once she looked beneath his rough exterior she seen the man for who he is and once he got to know her again he realizes he has feelings for her
July 3, 2023
.unreal situations/love story. Not worth spending the time to read”
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews