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The Men of Medicine Ridge #4
Will of Steel
Will of Steel (Desire)
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
67 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,041 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 52 reviews
March 24, 2017
3.5 Stars. When you read a Diana Palmer book once, you pretty much know what to expect from every other of her books to some degree. She usually sticks to a certain formula with slight variances but the same fundamentals.
Ted and Jillian are no exception for the most part. However, I found Ted to be a little refreshing from her usual woman-hating heroes. He was actually a straightforward kind of guy. He was funny and playful with Jillian. He knew what he wanted even if at first his reasons were somewhat mercurial.
The plot wasn't all that interesting to me but it was a quickie story so I think it did ok with the page space it had. Safety: No others for either though there are definite some others interested. No rape though an attempt was made (graphic enough to possibly trigger so proceed with caution). No abuse.
Ted and Jillian are no exception for the most part. However, I found Ted to be a little refreshing from her usual woman-hating heroes. He was actually a straightforward kind of guy. He was funny and playful with Jillian. He knew what he wanted even if at first his reasons were somewhat mercurial.
The plot wasn't all that interesting to me but it was a quickie story so I think it did ok with the page space it had. Safety: No others for either though there are definite some others interested. No rape though an attempt was made (graphic enough to possibly trigger so proceed with caution). No abuse.
December 4, 2010
This book had a rocky, choppy start for me; it improved as it went along, however. The second half was a big improvement over the somewhat disjointed beginning. What was missing for me in this book was the connection to the characters and the emotional and sexual tension. It was a decent DP book, but certainly not one for the Silhouette Desire line. I’d say the content was more appropriate for a standard Harlequin Romance. I miss DP’s writing of old. I am glad I have an extensive collection of her classics and I revisit them frequently.
November 22, 2013
Good but not my favorite.
I have this little confusion, in the synopsis Ted sounds like a hard and merciless man when in reality Ted's easy going and gentle. And Ted's the one who chase Jillian, not the other way around. So, I think there's a little misfit in this book.
But so far so good. I enjoyed it.
I have this little confusion, in the synopsis Ted sounds like a hard and merciless man when in reality Ted's easy going and gentle. And Ted's the one who chase Jillian, not the other way around. So, I think there's a little misfit in this book.
But so far so good. I enjoyed it.
February 15, 2014
I adore Diana Palmer but I thought this heroine was too stupid to live. Trying to find excuses for a man who almost raped you?! Unacceptable! Hero on the other hand was a gentleman, very likable.
February 26, 2021
This was really about 1/2 a book, plotwise. Damaged h, crabby H, and that's about it. Diana Palmer gets on her soapbox about academic historians writing on history outside of their main area of study. Yeah, she dared to call them out.
December 4, 2020
I can't believe I actually finished this book. Was one of the worse light romance books I have ever read. Both characters were annoying, as was the storyline
January 7, 2012
Seriously? I could have done without this book. There was ABSOLUTELY NO WAY he should have believed ANYTHING that guy was saying. Sorry, not buying it. Foul!
March 27, 2013
All this book did was remind me how much I love DP and her novels. This one wasn't just absolutely beautiful, but dry humourous too
December 2, 2023
Good Lord this was BORING. The majority of this book consists of people sitting about talking absolute waffle. Pages and pages of utter shite that has nothing what-so-ever to do with the plot: how about those dumb tourists keep getting their facts about the battle of Little Bighorn wrong? Did you know the Japanese find the back of the neck sexy? Puff adders faint if you walk up to em! Hey did you know there are child soldiers in Africa? How about those *dreadful* modern women who wear pinstripe suits and want careers? Remember when TV where really big? Not like those awful modern TVs! Hey did you see that British cop show with the line 'life's hard then you die?' in it? Diana Palmer has because she quotes it endlessly in all her books. Then she'll have her characters sit about for 10 pages talking guff about their favorite old TV shows. It's interminable.
And how about CASH GRIER all the way over there in a small town in Texas? Did you hear about CASH GRIER? There are at least 5 to 6 separate scene where characters stand about talking about Cash for NO REASON! He can do the tango you know. He was an assassin. His wife is a model did you hear? That Cash was on the cyber crime unit. That Cash, why, he taught me how to make pound cake. I've become a little bit obsessed with how much Diana Palmer wants to cram Cash into every single one of her books, including series that have nothing at all to do with the Long Tall Texans.
The romance was entirely straightforward and nothing happened. It starts with a couple discussing getting married, a bit later on they get engaged, then married. It seems to miss every essential beat of what a romance novel is supposed to be.
BUT HEY did you know that Jonny Cash wrote a song about a boy named Sue? If he did then it's OK to have a cow named Sammy, and a dog named Bob. Remember Cy Parkes in Jacobsville? His dog got bloat one time, did you know about bloat? Big dogs can get it. This same bullshit has come up in several other of DPs books as well. It's like she can't help herself.
And how about CASH GRIER all the way over there in a small town in Texas? Did you hear about CASH GRIER? There are at least 5 to 6 separate scene where characters stand about talking about Cash for NO REASON! He can do the tango you know. He was an assassin. His wife is a model did you hear? That Cash was on the cyber crime unit. That Cash, why, he taught me how to make pound cake. I've become a little bit obsessed with how much Diana Palmer wants to cram Cash into every single one of her books, including series that have nothing at all to do with the Long Tall Texans.
The romance was entirely straightforward and nothing happened. It starts with a couple discussing getting married, a bit later on they get engaged, then married. It seems to miss every essential beat of what a romance novel is supposed to be.
BUT HEY did you know that Jonny Cash wrote a song about a boy named Sue? If he did then it's OK to have a cow named Sammy, and a dog named Bob. Remember Cy Parkes in Jacobsville? His dog got bloat one time, did you know about bloat? Big dogs can get it. This same bullshit has come up in several other of DPs books as well. It's like she can't help herself.
May 31, 2019
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Letto e recensito da Iaia
Anche in questo romanzo troviamo la classica coppia di questa autrice. Theodore Graves e Jillian Sanders. I loro rispettivi zii hanno fatto un testamento particolare e hanno in comproprietà la casa e il terreno dove vive la protagonista. Questa terra diverrà loro se si sposeranno, altrimenti dovrà essere venduta. Lui ha più di 30 anni e lei ne ha 20, ma per vari motivi Jillian non vuole sentire parlare di matrimonio, ma... tutto finirà come ci si aspetta.
E' una storia molto carina, semplice e fa parte della serie Medicine Ridge. Chi leggerà questo romanzo si troverà catapultato in un mondo della provincia americana dove gli abitanti sanno tutto di tutti e partecipano attivamente nella vita di uno con l'altro. Se da un lato può essere piacevole vivere come in una "famiglia", dall'altra parte penso che non sia sempre gradevole avere gli occhi addosso di tutti. Comunque alla Palmer piace raccontare episodi di questo genere, e intreccia storie come nella serie di Jacobsville. Passare un po' di tempo senza grandi scossoni rende il pomeriggio tranquillo e sereno.
Lo consiglio
Letto e recensito da Iaia
Anche in questo romanzo troviamo la classica coppia di questa autrice. Theodore Graves e Jillian Sanders. I loro rispettivi zii hanno fatto un testamento particolare e hanno in comproprietà la casa e il terreno dove vive la protagonista. Questa terra diverrà loro se si sposeranno, altrimenti dovrà essere venduta. Lui ha più di 30 anni e lei ne ha 20, ma per vari motivi Jillian non vuole sentire parlare di matrimonio, ma... tutto finirà come ci si aspetta.
E' una storia molto carina, semplice e fa parte della serie Medicine Ridge. Chi leggerà questo romanzo si troverà catapultato in un mondo della provincia americana dove gli abitanti sanno tutto di tutti e partecipano attivamente nella vita di uno con l'altro. Se da un lato può essere piacevole vivere come in una "famiglia", dall'altra parte penso che non sia sempre gradevole avere gli occhi addosso di tutti. Comunque alla Palmer piace raccontare episodi di questo genere, e intreccia storie come nella serie di Jacobsville. Passare un po' di tempo senza grandi scossoni rende il pomeriggio tranquillo e sereno.
Lo consiglio
April 18, 2022
Sheriff Ted Graves is attracted to Jillian. A good thing since their Uncle's co-owned a ranch they left to both of them. There is only one problem - they only inherit if they marry each other. A tragedy in Jillian's past stands in the way. When that past returns to haunt her, Ted is determined to help her overcome it, and spend the future with him.
With all the elements of the small town romances Diana Palmer is known for, this book has a bit more suspense and excitement. Combined with a bit of the quiet humor and wit her books are known for, this is another enjoyable, heart warming addition to her Men of Medicine Ridge series.
With all the elements of the small town romances Diana Palmer is known for, this book has a bit more suspense and excitement. Combined with a bit of the quiet humor and wit her books are known for, this is another enjoyable, heart warming addition to her Men of Medicine Ridge series.
March 1, 2019
Ted and Jillian
This could have been a great read but sadly it didn't get there.
Ted a Jillian have to marry in order to keep a ranch. Ted is the town's sheriff and 11 years older than 21 year old Jillian. The decided to get to know each other better and we see their relationship and attraction grow throughout the book. The problem?! They don't seem to have a deep emotional connection between them. Love is never mentioned any point. It just two friends getting married to keep their inheritance. None the less is was a ok read. Dissatisfying but ok reaf
This could have been a great read but sadly it didn't get there.
Ted a Jillian have to marry in order to keep a ranch. Ted is the town's sheriff and 11 years older than 21 year old Jillian. The decided to get to know each other better and we see their relationship and attraction grow throughout the book. The problem?! They don't seem to have a deep emotional connection between them. Love is never mentioned any point. It just two friends getting married to keep their inheritance. None the less is was a ok read. Dissatisfying but ok reaf
February 14, 2021
I enjoy this book because the main characters are not rich. It is kind of refreshing to read about love with the "commoners." As usual Palmer's story telling is not diminished with this tale. Bravo Diana
January 31, 2023
Even though I picked this book to read as my first Diana Palmer, I didn't know it was right in the middle of a series...oops...I loved the story line though. So romantic, honest, and friendly. What a wonderful read it was. You can say, I'm hooked.
September 9, 2024
So glad I got to go on a date with grandma and grandpa! They’re such nice old fashioned people!
Nice people, no heat. And we got to read every single word they said to each other on their dates. And they both can talk!
Nice people, no heat. And we got to read every single word they said to each other on their dates. And they both can talk!
March 25, 2017
Diana has a formula that usually works well, but this one was a bit over-the-top. Corey Snow did a good job with the narration, but just couldn't make the story better for me.
August 26, 2017
Great Read. Highly recommend this book!!
October 22, 2019
Great Read
I really couldn’t stop reading this book I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance books I have all of Diana Palmer book
I really couldn’t stop reading this book I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance books I have all of Diana Palmer book
July 15, 2020
No jerk hero as per usual DP.
November 21, 2020
Oplæser: Corey Snow. Flot oplæsning.
Det her er ren råhygge. Romantisk og hyggeligt med et lille stænk af uhygge. Perfekt til en regnfyldt efterårseftermiddag.
Det her er ren råhygge. Romantisk og hyggeligt med et lille stænk af uhygge. Perfekt til en regnfyldt efterårseftermiddag.
June 13, 2022
A good book!.Interesting characters and interesting story. With characters from previous books. Liked the intrigue and loved the ending!
June 15, 2023
Needed to read a couple of simple books to get my reading challenge up. This was simple fluff! Never again.
February 23, 2024
Not muvh of a plot
June 21, 2014
Okie Dokey then.
When I read one of the thinner Harlequin type romances - I am not expecting deep literature. I am expecting a fluff read to pass the time.
I picked up this little volume because of three elements: Man, Cowboy Hat and Horse. I am expecting a stoic rancher/cowboy type of thing here.
The male protagonist was a police chief in a small town. There was no horse. The female protagonist had a calf which she kept as a pet. They kept referring to this calf throughout the book. Does the calf age and become a cow. It seems not in the alternate universe in which this story takes place.
The woman is young - around twenty. She is not just niave and untravelled. She is dumber than a sack of rocks. Good thing that "Ted," who is ten years her senior is around. She appears needing to be led around like the stupid calf who never grows up.
The story hinges on a completely ludicrous principal that the two protagonist have to marry or they will not receive their joint inheritences and their ranch will be sold (to an evil land developer). I am not sure about Wyomming, but in my parts - there is something called the Wills Variation Act where dumb-assed clauses like this will be very quickly thrown out of court and the proper procedure for the passing down of inheritances will prevail. This will does not have a legal leg to stand on.
Suspend your disbelief and just keep reading. You will find that our fluff brained female protagonist is working as a cook in "the only cafe in town" and is being threatened, stalked, harrassed by a guy who formerly sexually assaulted her. The owner of the cafe can't do anything about it. Um... Yeah. Because the owner of the cafe obviously has no balls - I will tell him what he needs to do. You say to the harrassing creep, "If you want to continue to take your meals here, you will not speak to my cook. You behaviour is making her uncomfortable. If you continue to make my cook uncomfortable - you will be asked to leave." Then follow through on this.
The fact that the whole town allowed this woman to be harrassed was not romantic, it was downright uncomfortable and offensive in even the last century, never mind the 21st century.
There was a supposedly mercenary tough guy who shows up and acts as a bodyguard/security expert - except that he is useless, not even noticing that the bad guy breaks into the woman's home, right under his nose. Whatever.
Finally - the sex scenes were almost non existent, except in the last few chapters. They felt creepy.
Give it a pass.
When I read one of the thinner Harlequin type romances - I am not expecting deep literature. I am expecting a fluff read to pass the time.
I picked up this little volume because of three elements: Man, Cowboy Hat and Horse. I am expecting a stoic rancher/cowboy type of thing here.
The male protagonist was a police chief in a small town. There was no horse. The female protagonist had a calf which she kept as a pet. They kept referring to this calf throughout the book. Does the calf age and become a cow. It seems not in the alternate universe in which this story takes place.
The woman is young - around twenty. She is not just niave and untravelled. She is dumber than a sack of rocks. Good thing that "Ted," who is ten years her senior is around. She appears needing to be led around like the stupid calf who never grows up.
The story hinges on a completely ludicrous principal that the two protagonist have to marry or they will not receive their joint inheritences and their ranch will be sold (to an evil land developer). I am not sure about Wyomming, but in my parts - there is something called the Wills Variation Act where dumb-assed clauses like this will be very quickly thrown out of court and the proper procedure for the passing down of inheritances will prevail. This will does not have a legal leg to stand on.
Suspend your disbelief and just keep reading. You will find that our fluff brained female protagonist is working as a cook in "the only cafe in town" and is being threatened, stalked, harrassed by a guy who formerly sexually assaulted her. The owner of the cafe can't do anything about it. Um... Yeah. Because the owner of the cafe obviously has no balls - I will tell him what he needs to do. You say to the harrassing creep, "If you want to continue to take your meals here, you will not speak to my cook. You behaviour is making her uncomfortable. If you continue to make my cook uncomfortable - you will be asked to leave." Then follow through on this.
The fact that the whole town allowed this woman to be harrassed was not romantic, it was downright uncomfortable and offensive in even the last century, never mind the 21st century.
There was a supposedly mercenary tough guy who shows up and acts as a bodyguard/security expert - except that he is useless, not even noticing that the bad guy breaks into the woman's home, right under his nose. Whatever.
Finally - the sex scenes were almost non existent, except in the last few chapters. They felt creepy.
Give it a pass.
Read
February 20, 2017Amazing book, I finished it and then reread it.
February 10, 2017
Slightly different.
This book was just a little different than most of her books. It was funny, sexy and had an amazing storyline. I really liked it.
This book was just a little different than most of her books. It was funny, sexy and had an amazing storyline. I really liked it.
January 3, 2012
The main characters have known each other long before the book even starts, adding to their relationship. They are further connected when their uncles leave similar wills, stating their desire for Ted and Jillian to marry in order to keep a ranch. As the book continues on, their relationship and attraction for one another strengthen.
I love the fact that this book gave an example of time strengthening a relationship, instead of the oh-so-overused "love at first sight" concept. The book was fresh and had multiple elements in it that made it enjoyable.
I love the fact that this book gave an example of time strengthening a relationship, instead of the oh-so-overused "love at first sight" concept. The book was fresh and had multiple elements in it that made it enjoyable.
March 24, 2015
3 1/2 stars. Ok, calling the female lead stupid is harsh. Jillian is not stupid but is sheltered and very naive. Females without strong role models can seem to be "stupid" about men who are manipulative. And wheither the marriage clause is realistic or not, it's a novel and it's not supposed to be realistic. If you're looking for realism, read a newspaper.
I liked Ted (what woman doesn't like a hot lawman), and Jillian was just a very young adult. Not everyone is super wise about the male gender at 20.
I liked Ted (what woman doesn't like a hot lawman), and Jillian was just a very young adult. Not everyone is super wise about the male gender at 20.
August 13, 2016
I couldn't believe I would DNF a DP's book because of the h! I liked the first part esp how h and H got to know each other, and it was refreshing that a h was not eager for H's love, but, bam! When the man who almost raped h was out of the jail, he tried to brainwash her that all of her accusation was imagination, and she believed him! Was she nuts? Of course a 15-year-old girl could already tell whether a man was pursuing her or attacking her! Not to mention her customers believed an outsider's words over a woman who lived in this town all her life. Therefore, I DNF this book.
February 2, 2011
I have no strong feelings about this book. It was just okay for me. I loved Diana Palmer books in the past but recently her books lack that certain something that pulls at my heartstrings. Don't get me wrong the book was not bad but there was something missing. Or maybe the problem was the storyline was the same as all the other tens of thousands of books Palmer has written. I leave it up to my fellow Palmer fans to decide.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews