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Quaid Horses #1

Rumor Has It

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Nick Leone was a walking hunk poster, a Yankee heartthrob with a mysterious past and a rogue's smile that dared Katie Quaid to unmask him! The exquisite Southern lady had her own deep secrets, and when Nick heard the tremble beneath her smooth, sweet drawl, he vowed to melt the walls that caged the heart of the woman others called an ice princess. For flue years Katie had buried herself in her work, restoring lovely historic homes, and recovering from an accident that had destroyed a lifelong dream. Nick sensed that beneath her prim, proper facade was fire--Katie was a woman of desire unspoken... and he would be the one to teach her the dance of passion. In his embrace she risked everything, reaching with wild, insatiable hunger for all she'd believed she could never have. But truly loving Nick meant giving him all a woman could, and for Katie, that was impossible. Could they build a love that bridged two different dreams?

184 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

157 people are currently reading
486 people want to read

About the author

Tami Hoag

102 books6,158 followers
Tami Hoag is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—BITTER SEASON, COLD COLD HEART and THE 9TH GIRL. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller list with NIGHT SINS, and each of her books since has been a bestseller.

She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage. Other interests include the study of psychology, and mixed martial arts fighting.


Visit her at www.tamihoag.com, Facebook.com/TamiHoag and on Twitter @TamiHoag

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5 stars
238 (19%)
4 stars
307 (24%)
3 stars
417 (33%)
2 stars
217 (17%)
1 star
73 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
Profile Image for *CJ*.
5,114 reviews632 followers
September 7, 2020
"Rumor Has It" is the story of Katie and Nick.

Basically, our heroine is an ex rider who had a tragic accident that left her scarred for life- both physically and emotionally. She now lives as an ice princess and runs an interior designing firm, when the hero, a kickass erotic dancer, performer and future restaurateur enters her life. He is smitten, she is wary. How she leads him on a merry chase while wallowing in self pity forms the story.

I ADORED the hero. Charming, honest, smart, sexy, and an absolute sweetheart- He was one of them ideal book husbands that deserve all the goodness. Coming to the heroine, she was..sad. I get that she had physical deformities and sadly was , but she let these overtake her life and influence all her decisions. Heavy dose of angst in this one, I'm glad she gets called out by multiple people though.

Safe
2.75/5
Profile Image for Vintage.
2,720 reviews729 followers
June 22, 2018
DNF because I am a cynical bitch who can no longer read about pity-partying, matchy-matchy pastel wearing heroines. Plus the narrator is pushing the whole Southern drawl thing to a nauseatingly camp version.

This chick is definitely related to the fathead in Man of Her Dreams.
Profile Image for Robin.
1,987 reviews98 followers
October 18, 2015
When Katie Quaid notices that a new man in town has bought the building across the street from her business, she is interested in finding out everything about him. Rumors are flying around town. Is he a secret agent? A mercenary? In Witness Protection? He is definitely good looking enough to be a model. Nick Leone has moved to this town to open an Italian Restaurant. He wasn't sure about leaving the city for a small town, but when he meets Katie, he thinks he may have made the right decision.

This is an older (1988) category romance by Tami Hoag. It is a world away from her suspense thrillers. Both Katie and Nick have secrets that are resolved rather early in the book. You'd think it would be smooth sailing after that. But Katie has another secret she doesn't spring until later in the story. I hated the way she handled the whole thing. I thought she was selfish and inconsiderate. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
Profile Image for Cheri.
507 reviews76 followers
February 9, 2018
This was a very short read. Not much substance to it. Mostly romance with a little steam. It was just okay for me.
Profile Image for Danielle  Gypsy Soul.
3,174 reviews80 followers
October 23, 2015
This was a very early book that Tami Hoag wrote and well you can tell. I like Tami Hoag she's written some really good books, this is not one of them.

I just couldn't get past my dislike of the main heroine. She was so selfish and spent so much time feeling sorry for herself I don't see how the hero could possible fall in love with her.

Katie had a riding accident that stopped her from pursuing her dream of riding in the Olympics and left her with some physical limitations and the inability to have children. She cuts herself off from just about everyone and decides she will never be in a relationship until she meets our hero who breaks down some of her walls. However, she leaves him when she finds out he wants a family and loves kids. Even though he is willing and wants to compromise she isn't.

I had a hard time even finishing this book, so if you want to read an earlier Tami Hoag please don't start with this book. Try Still Waters or Cry Wolf.
Profile Image for Soo.
2,928 reviews346 followers
June 19, 2020
Notes:

Intro was campy but I thought it was cute. Then the story turns into an overdose of sweetness and sunshine.

I was also turned off by the whole "had an accident and now I can't blah blah blah". I'm sorry. If you can walk, then you can learn to dance. Heck, if all else fails, you can sit in a chair with wheels and dance that way.

The story is dated in a negative fashion. I thought it would be a fun, nostalgic romance. Nah. I'm kind of sorry I listened to it. Ugh.
Profile Image for Leigh.
254 reviews
September 9, 2017
I am glad Tami Hoag switched to thrillers instead of romance.
Profile Image for k.eleanor.s.
211 reviews
December 12, 2024
DNF
Strike One for Tami Hoag, from me.

Nick gets angry and raises his voice when Katie stops him from taking off her clothes; aka for not being ready for sex.
It’s pretty quickly “resolved,” but it’s a big yuck for me and I’m sure a trigger for others. It doesn’t matter to me that Katie isn’t upset for long.

Nick says “it’s a little late in the game to say no, Katherine,” and “you can’t push a man that far and pull away.” Then he tries persuasion, after that blame game, by reminding her how long he’s waited, how much he wants her and how much he cares about her.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,671 reviews25 followers
July 23, 2012
Oh the things I pick up at the library when I'm stuck. I was sitting at the library, minding my friend's 1 yr old baby and letting my two younger kids play and browse while we waited for the older one to finish an appointment. They have this shelf of "books for busy moms" in the children's section and I grabbed this. It was short. A typical "repressed girl meets un-repressed boy" and both of their lives change forever" sprinkled with a couple of steamy interludes and interactions with sassy friends. It kept me from going nuts while sitting there. Good enough if there's nothing else to read.
Profile Image for Gail.
Author 25 books216 followers
August 11, 2017
Sweet little romance. The hero and heroine fall in love rather quickly with a few secrets to give the romance a little spice. The big conflict is that the heroine feels too flawed to deserve happiness. But of course it all works out in the end.
354 reviews
November 23, 2016
This is a quick read that has an interesting couple....he's "ahem" a dancer opening a restaurant and she's an interior designer in a small town. This book is full of great characters, and excellent writing. Most of all it's full of hope!
85 reviews3 followers
September 29, 2011
I really really wanted to smack her upside the head and tell her, "Get over it." I only finished it because I didn't have anything else to read.
Profile Image for Veronica.
217 reviews
April 7, 2015
True love conquers all obstacles...........brought tears to the eyes at some parts. Beware!
Profile Image for Jim Barber.
Author 6 books11 followers
March 10, 2018
If I kept a list of the top 20 WORST books I've read, this would easily make the list. In fact, it would challenge for the top spot. I appreciate a good romance from time to time, but this was incredibly awful. I know you need plot lines, but this one made the main character out to be about the most stupid heroine in the history of heroines. Her thought process was so bad, that I kind of wanted her to lose the guy -- then she could have wallowed in her misery and we'd all probably been better off. As for the guy--a stripper no less--there's not much to be said for him either. He was dumb enough to keep up a pursuit better left alone. All I can say is I'm glad it's over and done with and shame on me for not just putting this one down one or two chapters into it.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,469 reviews29 followers
March 2, 2021
Not really a horrid story overall, but there were so many times that I literally rolled my eyes reading Kate's thoughts. In addition to that, Nick's comment when they finally get to the point where they're making moves physically and then Kate pulls away and he gets all butt-hurt and offended and tells her that she can't push a man to that point and then say no...yeah, no. EFFFFFFF no. There were a couple moments like that that just made me uncomfortable and incredibly angry. I'd give the book 1 star, but there were a few moments that I did like. The beginning was cute, the ending was really sweet too, but other than that I will absolutely never recommend this story and I won't read anything by this author again.
126 reviews
July 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I know that Tami Hoag writes excellent suspense books, but this is a slice of heaven to me. The main character Kathy is a survivor, no, a liver of life and doesn't know it. A devastating accident changed the trajectory of plans and she created a new life for herself. Too bad, the life is full with a lot of restrictions. Enter her love interest, Nick a man of mystery (where did he get that bullet wound in the shoulder), transplanted from Jersey. I love that the characters are well developed and engaging. Their foibles are charming and real. Such a satisfying read, well worth the 4 star rating. Enjoy the book.
Profile Image for Jessica Sanford.
322 reviews3 followers
November 3, 2016
Good quick read. Kate meets heart throb, they have their quirks they over come. That is appreciated, and normally that's what would unreasonably drive a wedge in the relationship.

However, what does cause the conflict, I have mixed feelings about. I understand the need for conflict, and Katie not wanting to adopt. I appreciate the author giving her a strong stance, rather then kids being the end all be all. It is unexpected, especially in a book written in the 80s.

Bravo Tami Hoag.
Profile Image for Christiane.
155 reviews
December 19, 2017
Early Tami Hoag Romance

Tami Hoag is one of my favorite authors. This is one of her early romance books. It touches on overcoming ones fears and emotional growth. Even though it was pretty cheesy it held some entertainment value. Reading this early book shows how much Tami has grown and developed her stories, characters and writing abilities over the years. Recommended for Romance lovers especially if you don't mind the occasional ' steam '.
Profile Image for Lisa.
671 reviews7 followers
June 20, 2025
The book is dated and it is a typical predictable romance. I listened to it on audio and the reader was not as effective as I think she could have been. The male voice was odd and the southern accents were tough to get through. Nonetheless if you like romances it is short and you may enjoy it, The lead female had some obstacles in her life and she struggled with feeling adequate which can be very realistic but the romance seemed to move pretty fast.
2,704 reviews
November 27, 2019
I usually enjoy books by this author. I ran into the bookstore and bought this book. I don't enjoy romantic novels or reading about women that are about as deep as the ink on paper. I finished the book because I bought it, but the reading was painful. Thank goodness, it was a shorter book than some I have read.
3 reviews
March 27, 2019
Insipid shallow childish characters. Nothing about this book keeps your attention. The characters are so lame I couldn’t bring myself to even finish this book! This is sad because this author has written some very good books!
Profile Image for Rosemary Kennedy.
86 reviews
July 24, 2020
Did not finish. Selected it because it was by Tami Hoag and I wanted an audiobook that I didn't have to wait for. Had no idea this was just a cheesy romance novel. The narrator's fake southern drawl was nauseating as was her male voice when reading Nick's lines. Just terrible.
2,143 reviews37 followers
January 23, 2017
This is a earlier book from Tami Hoag in different genre, but I really enjoyed the story and the characters.
979 reviews75 followers
March 26, 2018
I am giving 80’s romance a chance but seriously this book was painful. The protagonist got on my last serve from the first paragraph. Luckily, it was a super quick read.
Profile Image for Malia.
1,165 reviews15 followers
June 23, 2018
Romance...I don't like reading romances much. This was okay.
Profile Image for Jeannette Randone.
436 reviews5 followers
April 9, 2020
Certainly this book is not a murder mystery. Pretty steamy but oh so predictable.
1,287 reviews
September 15, 2020
It was about as I expected for a romance written in the 1980s. The reader on the audiobook was really bad on the male voices though; she made them all sound like idiots.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews

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