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Rimmer's Way
Della tried to shut out the disturbing effect Cal was having on her. "Might be better if you let yourself go occasionally," he said. "I'd kind of like to see what's behind that wall you've built up around yourself." Della gasped as she realized the implication of his words. So he did want to make love to her! Well, he was right about the wall. What's more she'd go on building - so high no man could scale it. Especially not Cal Tarn!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 6, 2017
I see the ratings are all over the place for this one, and I can see why - this marriage of convenience to-inherit-the-station really hinges on how the *reader* interprets what's going on. While we're only given the heroine's point of view, we are given glimpses into the hero's mind from some of his cryptic remarks and how other characters react to him.
Okay - the set up. Heroine arrives from England by ship to Australia. She's finally decided to visit her uncle after her boyfriend marries the daughter of the company owner and tries to convince her she should be his piece on the side. She has quite a shock when the H (co-owner of the Outback station with her uncle) tells her that her uncle died not six hours before her arrival. Furthermore, he promised the uncle on his deathbed to marry her so that the ranch would stay in one piece.
The heroine is horrified. Tries to talk him out of it. Offers to sign it over to him, etc. . . But he is adamant. He will agree to a marriage of convenience for a year and will then raise enough money to buy her out.
So there's the funeral, then the wedding and then the 18 year-old OW from the neighboring station practically moves in with them. She's there every night for dinner. But it's her first ride around the station with the OW that sets off the h's behavior for the rest of the story.
I really liked this heroine and I even liked the hero when he was being an idiot. The author trusts the reader to come to her own conclusions and I liked that, too.
Okay - the set up. Heroine arrives from England by ship to Australia. She's finally decided to visit her uncle after her boyfriend marries the daughter of the company owner and tries to convince her she should be his piece on the side. She has quite a shock when the H (co-owner of the Outback station with her uncle) tells her that her uncle died not six hours before her arrival. Furthermore, he promised the uncle on his deathbed to marry her so that the ranch would stay in one piece.
The heroine is horrified. Tries to talk him out of it. Offers to sign it over to him, etc. . . But he is adamant. He will agree to a marriage of convenience for a year and will then raise enough money to buy her out.
So there's the funeral, then the wedding and then the 18 year-old OW from the neighboring station practically moves in with them. She's there every night for dinner. But it's her first ride around the station with the OW that sets off the h's behavior for the rest of the story.
I really liked this heroine and I even liked the hero when he was being an idiot. The author trusts the reader to come to her own conclusions and I liked that, too.
August 22, 2015
2.4 stars
You won't have to remind me not to read another book where the h has an ex again. She was stubborn, hardheaded and a bit too cynical for my taste. I like heroines who fall in love with the Hs faster and easier than this one did. This one only fell for him a chapter or 2 before the ending. Not my kinda story. I love the angst that comes along with unrequited love from the h's POV, it is so bittersweet. This book didn't have any of that.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. I mean, I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. She was a very meh heroine, bordering sometimes on Bleh No.
It was obvious the hero was smitten right from the beginning. I don't like seeing smitten heroes. The OW was bratty, bitchy and the youngest OW I have ever come across, being at the not-so-tender age of 18.
I love the horse theme, but even that won't make me give it a higher rating. I did not enjoy this book, and several times I thought of just abandoning it (which was why it took me so long to finish it), but I didn't, because once I start a book, I need to see it through till the end.
You won't have to remind me not to read another book where the h has an ex again. She was stubborn, hardheaded and a bit too cynical for my taste. I like heroines who fall in love with the Hs faster and easier than this one did. This one only fell for him a chapter or 2 before the ending. Not my kinda story. I love the angst that comes along with unrequited love from the h's POV, it is so bittersweet. This book didn't have any of that.
I wasn't sure how to rate this book. I mean, I didn't hate her, but I didn't love her either. She was a very meh heroine, bordering sometimes on Bleh No.
It was obvious the hero was smitten right from the beginning. I don't like seeing smitten heroes. The OW was bratty, bitchy and the youngest OW I have ever come across, being at the not-so-tender age of 18.
I love the horse theme, but even that won't make me give it a higher rating. I did not enjoy this book, and several times I thought of just abandoning it (which was why it took me so long to finish it), but I didn't, because once I start a book, I need to see it through till the end.
August 31, 2015
Oh Lordy! What a title!
3.5
Cute. The heroine didn't bug me too much. The hero was thick as a brick and couldn't see his nose, apparently. I wonder if the fly in the ointment was going to be allowed to keep buzzing around, making the moves on the hero and making everyone else miserable. The H&h barely interacted so how they fell in lurve was a mystery. But no hard limits with this one. Just mellow OW action.
3.5
Cute. The heroine didn't bug me too much. The hero was thick as a brick and couldn't see his nose, apparently. I wonder if the fly in the ointment was going to be allowed to keep buzzing around, making the moves on the hero and making everyone else miserable. The H&h barely interacted so how they fell in lurve was a mystery. But no hard limits with this one. Just mellow OW action.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2024
“Della thought how good-looking he was, and wondered how he had managed to sidestep matrimony, then she recalled what Alice had said about Rimmer’s Way being his only love.”
*Would love to know everyone’s favorite “Rimmer’s Way” quote of many 😂
5 stars for the number of times the cattle ranch name “Rimmer’s Way” was used that made it sound like a rimming technique and made me cackle (my reason for getting it). See a list below the rest of my review.
3 stars for general plot set up, predictable but decently pleasant old cowboy romance.
1 star for the ending of him basically saying he intentionally did all the following and none of it was an accident or just him being thoughtless:
forced her to marry him to steal her wealth within hours of her uncle dying while she was too shocked to refuse,
isolated her completely by removing any employees at the ranch she was nice to, denying her the opportunity to invite or see friends from town, and only letting her be around a cruel neighbor,
neglected her emotionally,
Fiscally abused her by denying her her own inheritance and by sabotaging any attempts by her to gain employment
physically trapped her by denying her opportunities to travel to town, and chasing her and throwing her into a creek as punishment for attempting to leave the ranch.
After he announces all the domestic abuse and isolation was intentionally to “break her like a filly” they make out and she agrees to stay and let him fuck her.
Nightmare ending, way worse than a typical old romance.
———
“‘Rimmer’s Way!’ She had exclaimed. ‘Why, goodness, everybody knows of Rimmer’s Way’”
“Della had received a mine of information on Rimmer’s Way; but she had become increasingly puzzled by the repeated mention of one man’s name: Cal Tarn.”
“‘There’s only one thing that man loves, and that’s Rimmer’s Way. Whoever married him will come a bad second’”
“Della thought how good-looking he was, and wondered how he had managed to sidestep matrimony, then she recalled what Alice had said about Rimmer’s Way being his only love.”
“‘No romantic attachments? …There will be when it’s known you’re part owner of Rimmer’s Way.’”
“‘You’d forgetting Rimmer’s Way, Miss Castle. We’ve that in common.’”
“When she thought of Rimmer’s Way she felt sad”
“‘It’s probably Cora Waites they’re talking about. She lives on the adjoining ranch, and is a right little madam. I believe she spends a lot of time at Rimmer’s Way.’”
“She didn’t have Rimmer’s Way, did she? For the first time she realized just how much Rimmer’s Way meant to Cal”
“‘I shall take you back to Rimmer’s Way. You will find plenty to keep you occupied, and Cora will be around’”
“She began to cheer up. A year wasn’t a long time really, and she would be seeing Rimmer’s Way. All she had to do was look at it as a year’s holiday.”
“It was a nice voice, she thought, and she noticed how the very mention of the name Rimmer’s Way brought the soft innovations out. She sighed inwardly; she wasn’t sure about the girl yet, but she was sure about Cal’s feelings for Rimmer’s Way.”
“‘Yes; I took lessons years ago when Uncle Denny first asked me to join him.’
The answer seemed to relieve him, as if he had just realized the fact that now she was to be installed in Rimmer’s Way, he wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do with her!
‘Good!’ He said with much feeling.”
“Della’s first view of Rimmer’s Way was an impressive one.”
“She felt a slight thrill pass through her. At last she was going to see something of Rimmer’s Way.”
“‘Thinks Cal saved his life; I suppose he did, too—they say he was in a pretty bad state, been wandering for some time before he stumbled on to Rimmer’s Way.”
“Between Cora and Cal, her first day at Rimmer’s Way had so far not exactly come up to expectations, and Della was not feeling very optimistic on the subject of obtaining better relations in the near future with either of them.”
“It was not an easy situation for either of them, and right now he was hating every minute of it. Then she sighed; it was the price he was making himself pay for Rimmer’s Way”
“If he really did want to see to her welfare he ought to be made to understand that she did not, and never would, fit in at Rimmer’s Way”
“‘You haven’t given it a chance, have you?’ Cal said harshly.
Coming to with a jerk, Della stared at him. Give what a chance? The office hunting—or Rimmer’s Way?”
“‘I couldn’t understand why it was so important to me to pull you round and to make you part of Rimmer’s Way’”
“‘Would you really have left Rimmer’s Way for me?’
‘To find you and drag you back, yes’”
*Would love to know everyone’s favorite “Rimmer’s Way” quote of many 😂
5 stars for the number of times the cattle ranch name “Rimmer’s Way” was used that made it sound like a rimming technique and made me cackle (my reason for getting it). See a list below the rest of my review.
3 stars for general plot set up, predictable but decently pleasant old cowboy romance.
1 star for the ending of him basically saying he intentionally did all the following and none of it was an accident or just him being thoughtless:
forced her to marry him to steal her wealth within hours of her uncle dying while she was too shocked to refuse,
isolated her completely by removing any employees at the ranch she was nice to, denying her the opportunity to invite or see friends from town, and only letting her be around a cruel neighbor,
neglected her emotionally,
Fiscally abused her by denying her her own inheritance and by sabotaging any attempts by her to gain employment
physically trapped her by denying her opportunities to travel to town, and chasing her and throwing her into a creek as punishment for attempting to leave the ranch.
After he announces all the domestic abuse and isolation was intentionally to “break her like a filly” they make out and she agrees to stay and let him fuck her.
Nightmare ending, way worse than a typical old romance.
———
“‘Rimmer’s Way!’ She had exclaimed. ‘Why, goodness, everybody knows of Rimmer’s Way’”
“Della had received a mine of information on Rimmer’s Way; but she had become increasingly puzzled by the repeated mention of one man’s name: Cal Tarn.”
“‘There’s only one thing that man loves, and that’s Rimmer’s Way. Whoever married him will come a bad second’”
“Della thought how good-looking he was, and wondered how he had managed to sidestep matrimony, then she recalled what Alice had said about Rimmer’s Way being his only love.”
“‘No romantic attachments? …There will be when it’s known you’re part owner of Rimmer’s Way.’”
“‘You’d forgetting Rimmer’s Way, Miss Castle. We’ve that in common.’”
“When she thought of Rimmer’s Way she felt sad”
“‘It’s probably Cora Waites they’re talking about. She lives on the adjoining ranch, and is a right little madam. I believe she spends a lot of time at Rimmer’s Way.’”
“She didn’t have Rimmer’s Way, did she? For the first time she realized just how much Rimmer’s Way meant to Cal”
“‘I shall take you back to Rimmer’s Way. You will find plenty to keep you occupied, and Cora will be around’”
“She began to cheer up. A year wasn’t a long time really, and she would be seeing Rimmer’s Way. All she had to do was look at it as a year’s holiday.”
“It was a nice voice, she thought, and she noticed how the very mention of the name Rimmer’s Way brought the soft innovations out. She sighed inwardly; she wasn’t sure about the girl yet, but she was sure about Cal’s feelings for Rimmer’s Way.”
“‘Yes; I took lessons years ago when Uncle Denny first asked me to join him.’
The answer seemed to relieve him, as if he had just realized the fact that now she was to be installed in Rimmer’s Way, he wasn’t quite sure what he was going to do with her!
‘Good!’ He said with much feeling.”
“Della’s first view of Rimmer’s Way was an impressive one.”
“She felt a slight thrill pass through her. At last she was going to see something of Rimmer’s Way.”
“‘Thinks Cal saved his life; I suppose he did, too—they say he was in a pretty bad state, been wandering for some time before he stumbled on to Rimmer’s Way.”
“Between Cora and Cal, her first day at Rimmer’s Way had so far not exactly come up to expectations, and Della was not feeling very optimistic on the subject of obtaining better relations in the near future with either of them.”
“It was not an easy situation for either of them, and right now he was hating every minute of it. Then she sighed; it was the price he was making himself pay for Rimmer’s Way”
“If he really did want to see to her welfare he ought to be made to understand that she did not, and never would, fit in at Rimmer’s Way”
“‘You haven’t given it a chance, have you?’ Cal said harshly.
Coming to with a jerk, Della stared at him. Give what a chance? The office hunting—or Rimmer’s Way?”
“‘I couldn’t understand why it was so important to me to pull you round and to make you part of Rimmer’s Way’”
“‘Would you really have left Rimmer’s Way for me?’
‘To find you and drag you back, yes’”
August 19, 2014
This was a fun little book. I liked both the hero, Cal, and the heroine, Della. There were a few times though when I questioned the hero's actions. Punishing her for wanting to go to a dance for example. Not that he hit her or anything. He just took her to a barn dance and made her dance the square dances without any instruction or rest to teach her better than to want to kick up her heels?
Then he says "Had enough?" he asked softly. "Yes, thank you!" she bit out, quite understanding the silent message: in other words, so much for her liking dancing. There would be no more parties or dancing while she resided at Rimmer's Way, and if Cal didn't see to that Della would!
Heaven forbid she might want to see a movie someday.
Still he did say that he was bad with women. And he definitely was if he couldn't see that having the cute but malicious neighbor girl spend every waking hour with them was sabotaging his marriage.
Also large parts of the book were covered by words like Cal spent the next week trying to court her but then gave up. Show me some of those courting scenes. For heavens sake that's what makes a romance not lots of scenes with a jealous school girl. That sort of thing was the biggest reason it didn't score higher for me. More show, less tell. I did feel the ending was a bit too short and simplistic too. But I guess it matched the tone of the book overall.
So I enjoyed it and will probably try more by the author but it had some flaws.
Then he says "Had enough?" he asked softly. "Yes, thank you!" she bit out, quite understanding the silent message: in other words, so much for her liking dancing. There would be no more parties or dancing while she resided at Rimmer's Way, and if Cal didn't see to that Della would!
Heaven forbid she might want to see a movie someday.
Still he did say that he was bad with women. And he definitely was if he couldn't see that having the cute but malicious neighbor girl spend every waking hour with them was sabotaging his marriage.
Also large parts of the book were covered by words like Cal spent the next week trying to court her but then gave up. Show me some of those courting scenes. For heavens sake that's what makes a romance not lots of scenes with a jealous school girl. That sort of thing was the biggest reason it didn't score higher for me. More show, less tell. I did feel the ending was a bit too short and simplistic too. But I guess it matched the tone of the book overall.
So I enjoyed it and will probably try more by the author but it had some flaws.
August 16, 2014
One of the very best by this author.
March 7, 2018
Jane Corrie hits one out of the park again -- the H is the ultimate Alpha, who at the end reveals that he's totally in the power of the heroine, but not until after he's made her suffer indignity after indignity. The h is long-suffering, but she finally snaps and it's a great moment. After that, there's a bit more standard insufferable Corrie H behavior , but ultimately, when all is said and done, it's clear that she has the power in the relationship.
OMG, I just realized why I like this genre of Jane Corrie book -- unlike so many other old-school romances where I'm cringing that the h has capitulated and signed on for a lifetime of this behavior, the H always admits that he is helplessly in love with the h and will do anything for her, and that she has the whip hand in the relationship.
OMG, I just realized why I like this genre of Jane Corrie book -- unlike so many other old-school romances where I'm cringing that the h has capitulated and signed on for a lifetime of this behavior, the H always admits that he is helplessly in love with the h and will do anything for her, and that she has the whip hand in the relationship.
August 20, 2014
I realize this is an older story, but I didn't find it to be much of a romance. Seems like the hero and heroine hardly had much interaction, mostly it was a story of the heroine behaving angelically and selflessly all the time, which the hero either saw or didn't see. It was readable as a story, I just didn't find it very exciting romantically.
June 24, 2013
A clean, easy to read love story.
January 12, 2011
Della tried to shut out the disturbing effect Cal was having on her.
"Might be better if you let yourself go occasionally" he said. "I'd kind of like to see what's behind that wall you've built up around yourself."
Della gasped as she realized the implication of his words. So he did want to make love to her! Well, he was right about the wall. What's more, she'd go on building--so high no man could scale it. Especially not Cal Tarn!
"Might be better if you let yourself go occasionally" he said. "I'd kind of like to see what's behind that wall you've built up around yourself."
Della gasped as she realized the implication of his words. So he did want to make love to her! Well, he was right about the wall. What's more, she'd go on building--so high no man could scale it. Especially not Cal Tarn!
April 5, 2017
The technique I dislike in a book is all tell but no show. Slow development so much that almost entire book could be considered the introduction. Nothing much happens romance vise. Hardly any show of emotion on either side. Hardly any conversation between H/h. Childish interaction among everybody.
May 13, 2021
I am currently in a Jane Corrie read a thon. I picked this book after reading StMargarets review. If you do not mind spoilers, I highly recommend her review first as it made me appreciate things in the book that I probably wouldn’t have thought of.
No hero POV, but we can tell by past events he has a kind heart...hence the reason he lets the teenage menace known affectionately to me as evil ow extraordinaire to take up space in his life. I really don’t care that she comes from a broken home and parents that ignore her. She does things in the book that are downright nasty.(almost gets heroine killed, a horse killed, frames stable boy and is a snob of epic proportions)
At one point, hero says even though he’s not interested, she will make someone a good wife some day...Satan maybe? 🤷🏻♀️
Our heroine plays her part well, and she shows her fiery spirit in the last chapter...it’s good too!!!
The h and H do not spend lots of alone time together or intimate moments....I really like that StMargarets mentioned the letters and that the H was probably 1/2 way in love already...that really made the love part work for me.
No hero POV, but we can tell by past events he has a kind heart...hence the reason he lets the teenage menace known affectionately to me as evil ow extraordinaire to take up space in his life. I really don’t care that she comes from a broken home and parents that ignore her. She does things in the book that are downright nasty.(almost gets heroine killed, a horse killed, frames stable boy and is a snob of epic proportions)
At one point, hero says even though he’s not interested, she will make someone a good wife some day...Satan maybe? 🤷🏻♀️
Our heroine plays her part well, and she shows her fiery spirit in the last chapter...it’s good too!!!
The h and H do not spend lots of alone time together or intimate moments....I really like that StMargarets mentioned the letters and that the H was probably 1/2 way in love already...that really made the love part work for me.
December 22, 2020
Della tried to shut out the disturbing effect Cal was having on her.
"Might be better if you let yourself go occasionally" he said. "I'd kind of like to see what's behind that wall you've built up around yourself."
Della gasped as she realized the implication of his words. So he did want to make love to her! Well, he was right about the wall. What's more, she'd go on building--so high no man could scale it. Especially not Cal Tarn!
"Might be better if you let yourself go occasionally" he said. "I'd kind of like to see what's behind that wall you've built up around yourself."
Della gasped as she realized the implication of his words. So he did want to make love to her! Well, he was right about the wall. What's more, she'd go on building--so high no man could scale it. Especially not Cal Tarn!
December 31, 2022
I was very surpised by this old school romance when i read it. It is not perfect but I ejoyed it very much.
May 9, 2024
I enjoyed it. It was an easy read. A bit of romance
and some interesting information regarding life on a large country homestead.
and some interesting information regarding life on a large country homestead.
March 22, 2025
"I love you so I'm going to be as emotionally abusive to you as I can for the next year." That is, like, SO romantic. *rolls eyes*
October 1, 2016
Della Castle has come out to Australia to be with her uncle who owns a half interest in a cattle station. When she arrives, however, the other owner, Cal Tarn, comes to meet her and tells her that her uncle has died, just that afternoon. Then he proceeds to tell her that it was her uncle's wish for them to marry; furthermore, they need to marry because he can't buy her out, because all his funds are tied up in cattle. He proposes a MOC, for one year, and then they can reevaluate.
Della is rather in shock and although she makes some objections, she allows him to overrule her. So, they attend the funeral on Wednesday and get married on Thursday.
Then when Della gets to the ranch, she meets the various workers, including Luis the cook and David, a teenage boy who helps with the horses and wherever he is needed. She also meets Cora.
Cora is a young woman from a neighboring station. She spends a great deal of time at Rimmer's Way and makes it clear to Della that Cal will always love the land more than Della. It's obvious to Della that the younger woman is in love with Cal herself. Cora does everything she can to make Della look bad, including giving her a special stallion to ride that Cal keeps exclusively for himself. Cora doesn't like David and makes trouble for him, too.
Della tries to avoid Cora and keep to herself as much as possible. She spends a lot of time with David and helps him learn to read.
I wish there was more interaction between Cal and Della. We're told that they have conversations at dinner, but they aren't related.
The ending is so fabulous. I don't want to give it away, but I laughed so hard! It was thoroughly satisfying.
3.5 stars.
Della is rather in shock and although she makes some objections, she allows him to overrule her. So, they attend the funeral on Wednesday and get married on Thursday.
Then when Della gets to the ranch, she meets the various workers, including Luis the cook and David, a teenage boy who helps with the horses and wherever he is needed. She also meets Cora.
Cora is a young woman from a neighboring station. She spends a great deal of time at Rimmer's Way and makes it clear to Della that Cal will always love the land more than Della. It's obvious to Della that the younger woman is in love with Cal herself. Cora does everything she can to make Della look bad, including giving her a special stallion to ride that Cal keeps exclusively for himself. Cora doesn't like David and makes trouble for him, too.
Della tries to avoid Cora and keep to herself as much as possible. She spends a lot of time with David and helps him learn to read.
I wish there was more interaction between Cal and Della. We're told that they have conversations at dinner, but they aren't related.
The ending is so fabulous. I don't want to give it away, but I laughed so hard! It was thoroughly satisfying.
3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews