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Blake Donovan #2
Reluctant Father
Man of the Month --- MR. JANUARY ...
Name: Blake Donavan
Description: Tough. Formidable. Lonely . . .
Fears: Surprises, like the unsmiling little girl who suddenly appeared on his doorstep and called him "daddy;" Meredith Calhoun, the one woman who could melt his heart of ice...
Conclusion: He's colder than the snow in winter.
Blake Donavan lived alone and liked it that way. His nemesis was love, but he had one obsession-and her name was Meredith Calhoun.
After five years, Meredith had come home. A successful author, she was no longer the shy, insecure girl Blake had once so cruelly rejected. But Meredith would never know that that rejection had cost Blake his heart ...and the child who should have been theirs.
Name: Blake Donavan
Description: Tough. Formidable. Lonely . . .
Fears: Surprises, like the unsmiling little girl who suddenly appeared on his doorstep and called him "daddy;" Meredith Calhoun, the one woman who could melt his heart of ice...
Conclusion: He's colder than the snow in winter.
Blake Donavan lived alone and liked it that way. His nemesis was love, but he had one obsession-and her name was Meredith Calhoun.
After five years, Meredith had come home. A successful author, she was no longer the shy, insecure girl Blake had once so cruelly rejected. But Meredith would never know that that rejection had cost Blake his heart ...and the child who should have been theirs.
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
271 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 books3,098 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 61 reviews
April 27, 2021
This was a comfortable 3 stars for me.
I didn't think it was near as angsty as I was expecting. Just the usual formula but the H wasn't as nasty as some of DP's heroes. He was a little clueless really.
5 years ago Blake lived with his uncle but it was Merry that his uncle seemed to care about. Merry who was poor but honourable. She was 20 and of course had a big crush on Blake whom she had known for years, but he was 32 and only saw her as a plain girl. ...Yet he couldn't seem to keep his hands of her.
But he had Nina and when his uncle tried to force him to marry Meredith, he said some seriously unkind things lashing out at Merry.
So she left town and became a famous romance author.
Now 5 years later, Blake finds he has a daughter that Nina hid from him. Blake who had married Nina has been divorced since not long after the wedding. Nina conveniently died before the book starts. I was kinda bummed about that. I wanted her to get a talking to.
Just the next day, Merry comes back to town for a book signing. She's staying with Bess, the OW from Fit for a King . I still dislike her from that book so I wasn't thrilled that DP was trying to make her into some kinda nice woman. ...sorry not buying it.
But anyways, Merry is super skittish around Blake yet she's perfected a calm demeanor that throws him off for a while. Blake has matured somewhat in the last 5 years. He believes he is incapable of love because he's never been loved. And apparently he's so crushed by his marriage to Nina and her duplicity, that he never wants to try again. It seemed a little far fetched for a whirlwind wedding and a marriage that only lasted a few months.
I never did understand how he could prefer Nina over Merry back then. But Nina is really just an empty character who's barely in the book. SO a very unsatisfying OW.
Her daughter Sarah has a much bigger role in the story. She's supposed to be 4 but she sounds more like 6 at least. She's a plot moppet but she didn't bother me.
SO overall I enjoyed this one because it was comfortable and predictable and sweet. Blake was an ass when the story needed it, and he was remorseful before things went too far.
Merry did have a backbone but she also suffered from a traitorous body whenever Blake touched her.
And of course he had a hairy chest ; )
Safety is good.
I didn't think it was near as angsty as I was expecting. Just the usual formula but the H wasn't as nasty as some of DP's heroes. He was a little clueless really.
5 years ago Blake lived with his uncle but it was Merry that his uncle seemed to care about. Merry who was poor but honourable. She was 20 and of course had a big crush on Blake whom she had known for years, but he was 32 and only saw her as a plain girl. ...Yet he couldn't seem to keep his hands of her.
But he had Nina and when his uncle tried to force him to marry Meredith, he said some seriously unkind things lashing out at Merry.
So she left town and became a famous romance author.
Now 5 years later, Blake finds he has a daughter that Nina hid from him. Blake who had married Nina has been divorced since not long after the wedding. Nina conveniently died before the book starts. I was kinda bummed about that. I wanted her to get a talking to.
Just the next day, Merry comes back to town for a book signing. She's staying with Bess, the OW from Fit for a King . I still dislike her from that book so I wasn't thrilled that DP was trying to make her into some kinda nice woman. ...sorry not buying it.
But anyways, Merry is super skittish around Blake yet she's perfected a calm demeanor that throws him off for a while. Blake has matured somewhat in the last 5 years. He believes he is incapable of love because he's never been loved. And apparently he's so crushed by his marriage to Nina and her duplicity, that he never wants to try again. It seemed a little far fetched for a whirlwind wedding and a marriage that only lasted a few months.
I never did understand how he could prefer Nina over Merry back then. But Nina is really just an empty character who's barely in the book. SO a very unsatisfying OW.
Her daughter Sarah has a much bigger role in the story. She's supposed to be 4 but she sounds more like 6 at least. She's a plot moppet but she didn't bother me.
SO overall I enjoyed this one because it was comfortable and predictable and sweet. Blake was an ass when the story needed it, and he was remorseful before things went too far.
Merry did have a backbone but she also suffered from a traitorous body whenever Blake touched her.
And of course he had a hairy chest ; )
Safety is good.
July 3, 2016
3.75 stars
July 20, 2020
2.5 “rounded up” Stars
One of her older books (1988) I wanted to read this one, because Blake was in Fit for a King which I LOVED, and I was curious about his story. The book starts with Blake receiving a visit from an attorney notifying him that his ex-wife is dead, and the 5-yr-old she pawned off on her 2nd hubs is in fact his. While adjusting to fatherhood, he sees an article in the paper that Meredith (the woman he cruelly rejected, but has secretly pined over for the last 5 years) is coming to town for a book signing.
It pains me to say this, but I didn’t really enjoy this one. I’m a HUGE D.P. fan, so I’ll always be generous with my ratings, but this missed the mark for me. For starters, all the rejection/asshole stuff happened before the book started. We get some of it through recollections, but it wasn’t the same. She’s already dealt with it, so all the heartbreaking, angsty goodness of Meredith being cruelly rejected, and Blake marrying someone else was skipped.
Also, much of the story revolves around the kid; kids are cool and all, but I get enough of my own, and don’t love reading about others in that much detail. She was like having another MC.
Bottom Line- I found this lacking in the drama-llama department, and pretty dull for soapy-smut. There wasn’t a wannabe snarky OW, or any real obstacles in their way. Blake isn’t a broody ass, because now he realizes he should have married Meredith all along. I actually found him a bit wimpy with his insecurities, trembling, etc. They are both inexperienced, Blake was a virgin when he married, and it sounds like they only did it a few times. He’s been celibate since she left, and Meredith was a virgin. There isn’t an epilogue, but the last chapter FF almost a year.
One of her older books (1988) I wanted to read this one, because Blake was in Fit for a King which I LOVED, and I was curious about his story. The book starts with Blake receiving a visit from an attorney notifying him that his ex-wife is dead, and the 5-yr-old she pawned off on her 2nd hubs is in fact his. While adjusting to fatherhood, he sees an article in the paper that Meredith (the woman he cruelly rejected, but has secretly pined over for the last 5 years) is coming to town for a book signing.
It pains me to say this, but I didn’t really enjoy this one. I’m a HUGE D.P. fan, so I’ll always be generous with my ratings, but this missed the mark for me. For starters, all the rejection/asshole stuff happened before the book started. We get some of it through recollections, but it wasn’t the same. She’s already dealt with it, so all the heartbreaking, angsty goodness of Meredith being cruelly rejected, and Blake marrying someone else was skipped.
Also, much of the story revolves around the kid; kids are cool and all, but I get enough of my own, and don’t love reading about others in that much detail. She was like having another MC.
Bottom Line- I found this lacking in the drama-llama department, and pretty dull for soapy-smut. There wasn’t a wannabe snarky OW, or any real obstacles in their way. Blake isn’t a broody ass, because now he realizes he should have married Meredith all along. I actually found him a bit wimpy with his insecurities, trembling, etc. They are both inexperienced, Blake was a virgin when he married, and it sounds like they only did it a few times. He’s been celibate since she left, and Meredith was a virgin. There isn’t an epilogue, but the last chapter FF almost a year.
February 11, 2022
I still can't believe it but I liked it.
The hero scorned and humiliated the heroine in front of all his relative and his fiancee, rejecting her and telling her she was plain and he would have never married her, behaving with the usual charm and finesse that is an endearing trait of almost all DP's heroes, and the heroine run away never coming back.
The hero married ow who was a selfish bitch and she left him when he didn't have all the money she thought he had.
Years later the cow dies and hero finds out he has a child.
The heroine became a famous and appreciated writer, with money of her own, and is back in town to sing authographs, and when they meet she avoid the hero like the plague.
The hero of course regretted his behaviour as soon as his uncle told him the heroine was in love with him, but it was too late, she already left and he went on marrying the bitch ow.
Actually he was madly in lust with her but believed she only wanted him for his money, while he thought ow loved him because she told him so. Very idiot even if he was 32 (the world has no hope if there are many like him!).
He regretted his behaviour ever since and he went on desiring the heroine and being celibate after his wife left him, that was really soon in his marriage.
So in this case I wasn't really upset with him because he didn't choose his wife for his feelings for her, but for her- supposed-feelings for him.
His feelings were all for the heroine.
So the whole book is about hism trying to win the heroine back.
This hero is not one of my top heroes, actually he is in my black list because he married ow and had a child with her, and even after he met the heroine again he thought to marry her because she would be a good mother for his child, so I definitely hated him, but DP makes him suffer enough and I think I had my retribution.
He was a virgin when he married ow and not a womanizer, and he never had other women because he only wanted the heroine.
Those heroes are really fragile and not alpha males at all, we can only pity them because they don't really have any courage in them.
The strenght is only in the heroine.
But I liked the book, it was full of angst and the hero suffered for his idiotic actions.
The hero scorned and humiliated the heroine in front of all his relative and his fiancee, rejecting her and telling her she was plain and he would have never married her, behaving with the usual charm and finesse that is an endearing trait of almost all DP's heroes, and the heroine run away never coming back.
The hero married ow who was a selfish bitch and she left him when he didn't have all the money she thought he had.
Years later the cow dies and hero finds out he has a child.
The heroine became a famous and appreciated writer, with money of her own, and is back in town to sing authographs, and when they meet she avoid the hero like the plague.
The hero of course regretted his behaviour as soon as his uncle told him the heroine was in love with him, but it was too late, she already left and he went on marrying the bitch ow.
Actually he was madly in lust with her but believed she only wanted him for his money, while he thought ow loved him because she told him so. Very idiot even if he was 32 (the world has no hope if there are many like him!).
He regretted his behaviour ever since and he went on desiring the heroine and being celibate after his wife left him, that was really soon in his marriage.
So in this case I wasn't really upset with him because he didn't choose his wife for his feelings for her, but for her- supposed-feelings for him.
His feelings were all for the heroine.
So the whole book is about hism trying to win the heroine back.
This hero is not one of my top heroes, actually he is in my black list because he married ow and had a child with her, and even after he met the heroine again he thought to marry her because she would be a good mother for his child, so I definitely hated him, but DP makes him suffer enough and I think I had my retribution.
He was a virgin when he married ow and not a womanizer, and he never had other women because he only wanted the heroine.
Those heroes are really fragile and not alpha males at all, we can only pity them because they don't really have any courage in them.
The strenght is only in the heroine.
But I liked the book, it was full of angst and the hero suffered for his idiotic actions.
May 16, 2011
Ok. I get it. Your ex "did you wrong." Can you stop mentioning her especially when you're being intimate with someone else? I mean, okay she steered you wrong in the whole intimacy department (more on THAT later), but, uh, your realization of this and what a bit#h she was should NOT BE MENTIONED WHEN YOU'RE KISSING, STROKING, LICKING, ETC. ANOTHER WOMAN!
Just my two cents. I'm a little over midway through the book. Of course, it is the second book of two related books but I don't have the first. Oh, well.
He still kept comparing them often at the exact WRONG times, but he wa suffering and healing and reconciling the passion he felt (had felt five years ago) with the heroine against what his ex-wife taught him and led him to believe was acceptable between a man and woman.
What a heinous bitc@!
They get together 3/4 of the way into the book via marriage after consummating their relationship. A little backwards considering their views on marriage and sex but the time lapse between making love and getting married was maybe a little over a week; so, all is good
And things are good until her work (she's an author with a recent book release) literally takes her away from their new family. Oh, the day before she came back to town for vacation he found out his ex had borne him a daughter which she had succesfully passed off to her second husband as his kid...until she died and the kid's birth certificate was discovered. Oops.
Again, the ex is a heinous bitc&!
So, we're all lovey dovey until she has to leave (and hasn't gotten preggers despite not using protection) and he begins to believe thigs that aren't true about his place/thier place in the heroine's life and blah blah blah the fight then make up and all live happily ever after.
The fabulously satisfying and incredibly mushy Epilogue includes the birth of Baby Carson some eight months after they "make-up." Ain't life grand sometimes.
Just my two cents. I'm a little over midway through the book. Of course, it is the second book of two related books but I don't have the first. Oh, well.
He still kept comparing them often at the exact WRONG times, but he wa suffering and healing and reconciling the passion he felt (had felt five years ago) with the heroine against what his ex-wife taught him and led him to believe was acceptable between a man and woman.
What a heinous bitc@!
They get together 3/4 of the way into the book via marriage after consummating their relationship. A little backwards considering their views on marriage and sex but the time lapse between making love and getting married was maybe a little over a week; so, all is good
And things are good until her work (she's an author with a recent book release) literally takes her away from their new family. Oh, the day before she came back to town for vacation he found out his ex had borne him a daughter which she had succesfully passed off to her second husband as his kid...until she died and the kid's birth certificate was discovered. Oops.
Again, the ex is a heinous bitc&!
So, we're all lovey dovey until she has to leave (and hasn't gotten preggers despite not using protection) and he begins to believe thigs that aren't true about his place/thier place in the heroine's life and blah blah blah the fight then make up and all live happily ever after.
The fabulously satisfying and incredibly mushy Epilogue includes the birth of Baby Carson some eight months after they "make-up." Ain't life grand sometimes.
July 31, 2016
For me this book was very frustrating.
Guy likes girl however thinking that she is a total fake, he marries her slutty relative instead who was only after his money! Oh shocker here.
Of course hero must treat heroine like crap to punish her for the fact that his marriage was shit and that he rejected her (that was all her fault).
She started with some back bone but then it went south fast because she was just a slut in a virgin's body when it comes to the hero.
Ahhhh! Well he has a kid and that comes into play also.
I'll not give the whole thing away just to say it had some cute moments (heroine delivers some good one liners) but also it was a lot of crap.
DP should NEVER have kids in her stories because she has no idea what is age appropriate dialogue.
Unbelievable!
So if you enjoy a good DP nonsense then this is your read.
Guy likes girl however thinking that she is a total fake, he marries her slutty relative instead who was only after his money! Oh shocker here.
Of course hero must treat heroine like crap to punish her for the fact that his marriage was shit and that he rejected her (that was all her fault).
She started with some back bone but then it went south fast because she was just a slut in a virgin's body when it comes to the hero.
Ahhhh! Well he has a kid and that comes into play also.
I'll not give the whole thing away just to say it had some cute moments (heroine delivers some good one liners) but also it was a lot of crap.
DP should NEVER have kids in her stories because she has no idea what is age appropriate dialogue.
Unbelievable!
So if you enjoy a good DP nonsense then this is your read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2017
"The Reluctant Father" is the story of Meredith and Blake, as well as Sarah.
Blake has been living a calm life, until he realizes he's having a daughter with his ex wife as well as his first love, whom he cruelly rejected is in town.
How he tries to be a father to a traumatized afraid child, as well as win back the woman he once humiliated forms the story.
Though the book has its ups, i.e. Blake trying to adjust to parenthood, him craving Meredith and genuinely apologizing for the past, the passion; there are some downs too i.e. Him being a total douchebag when it comes to the h working, her being subservient.
Overall, it was a good book with some difficult to read scenes. However, I liked the epilogue.
Not safe by definition
3.5/5
Blake has been living a calm life, until he realizes he's having a daughter with his ex wife as well as his first love, whom he cruelly rejected is in town.
How he tries to be a father to a traumatized afraid child, as well as win back the woman he once humiliated forms the story.
Though the book has its ups, i.e. Blake trying to adjust to parenthood, him craving Meredith and genuinely apologizing for the past, the passion; there are some downs too i.e. Him being a total douchebag when it comes to the h working, her being subservient.
Overall, it was a good book with some difficult to read scenes. However, I liked the epilogue.
Not safe by definition
3.5/5
September 25, 2018
How can someone be considered a ‘hero’ if they make a wrong decision every chance he gets? This dude is mean, rude, unloved(expect by our heroine), impulsive, and never responsible of ANYTHING going on around him. I think this story needed to be stretched out longer because the hero makes all the mistakes in the books and his reasoning is very weak every time. The heroine can’t keep up with his whiplash emotions! The age gap should have been a deciding factor for the hero before otherwise drop it from the story. A lot of squandered potential in this one.
January 21, 2021
3.5 stars
What can I say? It's Diana Palmer ...
This is one of her earlier ones and I actually liked this a lot ...
What can I say? It's Diana Palmer ...
This is one of her earlier ones and I actually liked this a lot ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2017
Too sexist for me
Usually I'm a fan of Diana Palmer and I'm used to her sexist domineering men but this one was too much. Yes, it is supposed to be the 1980s but still it was just too much. First off, she establishes that they have a history. He resents her and humiliated her in public and mocked her feelings for him. Then suddenly it's 5 years later and he realizes he is and always was attracted to her. And she, who was supposed to be traumatized by their history, she basically forgives and forgets within 30 seconds of seeing him again. They get together way too quickly. The he resents her for traveling for work, she's an author who goes to book signings, it's not like she is jet setting around the world for fun. He is an insecure man from start to end of this book with little or no character growth. I'm sorry but this book made me so angry with the characters I couldn't enjoy this very weak love story.
Usually I'm a fan of Diana Palmer and I'm used to her sexist domineering men but this one was too much. Yes, it is supposed to be the 1980s but still it was just too much. First off, she establishes that they have a history. He resents her and humiliated her in public and mocked her feelings for him. Then suddenly it's 5 years later and he realizes he is and always was attracted to her. And she, who was supposed to be traumatized by their history, she basically forgives and forgets within 30 seconds of seeing him again. They get together way too quickly. The he resents her for traveling for work, she's an author who goes to book signings, it's not like she is jet setting around the world for fun. He is an insecure man from start to end of this book with little or no character growth. I'm sorry but this book made me so angry with the characters I couldn't enjoy this very weak love story.
March 6, 2015
This was a nice quick read. This is a second book i have read by DP where the Hero was inexperienced and read books on sex. The hero grew on me.
February 20, 2015
Sweet romance but the chemistry was not that strong!
June 21, 2015
2.5
Banale e ripetitivo.
Banale e ripetitivo.
November 26, 2024
Life happened by MeemsAngel82
I adore this author and sometimes I just need a book that I know all about and reread it. This one was always hard for me because they knew one another before his unintentionally having a child. The writing is solid, this woman knows her craft and excels at it. The emotional turmoil, the jealousy, the love, it's all there.
She ran from him, justifiably so. Then he made a mistake that created a child he didn't know what to do with. They never had a real chance and yet she had a child that needed her...
And yes, he needed her. He always did, he just screwed up his life and had to take the consequences. I hated the way it had to go, because, yes. That child could have been theirs together. It hurt and yet that wonderful child was very much the push that the two of them needed most. I had no doubt that they would have found one another again, they loved one another despite the little one. But the fact that they both did love her was fantastic. The bonding that just grew despite problems was beautiful and emotional. She is such a good woman despite his being difficult. The patience and love she had to give was needed by her man and her little girl. This was another entertaining and emotional read by Diana.
I adore this author and sometimes I just need a book that I know all about and reread it. This one was always hard for me because they knew one another before his unintentionally having a child. The writing is solid, this woman knows her craft and excels at it. The emotional turmoil, the jealousy, the love, it's all there.
She ran from him, justifiably so. Then he made a mistake that created a child he didn't know what to do with. They never had a real chance and yet she had a child that needed her...
And yes, he needed her. He always did, he just screwed up his life and had to take the consequences. I hated the way it had to go, because, yes. That child could have been theirs together. It hurt and yet that wonderful child was very much the push that the two of them needed most. I had no doubt that they would have found one another again, they loved one another despite the little one. But the fact that they both did love her was fantastic. The bonding that just grew despite problems was beautiful and emotional. She is such a good woman despite his being difficult. The patience and love she had to give was needed by her man and her little girl. This was another entertaining and emotional read by Diana.
April 12, 2021
Another one of Diana Palmer’s older novels, and a companion to the book “Fit for a King” by the author.
This one features Blake Donovan, a scarred, wealthy rancher, and Meredith Calhoun, successful author.
These two have a history, where Blake played the traditional Palmer “alphahole”, and Meredith was the scared, innocent virgin.
Five years later, sees them a little older, a little sadder, and a lot wiser. Blake is surprisingly a rather sympathetic character, really wanting to make amends.
Meredith is pretty quick to forgive.
The book has the advantage of being an older one, so not quite so formulaic as some of her newer stuff, and providing you don’t mind the 1980s values, it’s an enjoyable read... I’ve found that most of the older Palmer novels read best if you treat them as historicals, though they were written as contemporaries.
A fun, if dated story, enjoyable for those who love vintage romances, and Diana Palmer books.
This one features Blake Donovan, a scarred, wealthy rancher, and Meredith Calhoun, successful author.
These two have a history, where Blake played the traditional Palmer “alphahole”, and Meredith was the scared, innocent virgin.
Five years later, sees them a little older, a little sadder, and a lot wiser. Blake is surprisingly a rather sympathetic character, really wanting to make amends.
Meredith is pretty quick to forgive.
The book has the advantage of being an older one, so not quite so formulaic as some of her newer stuff, and providing you don’t mind the 1980s values, it’s an enjoyable read... I’ve found that most of the older Palmer novels read best if you treat them as historicals, though they were written as contemporaries.
A fun, if dated story, enjoyable for those who love vintage romances, and Diana Palmer books.
August 8, 2024
This is a loooot better than the first book. Though I really don’t warm up to Blake until past 60%. But I’m glad Meredith held her ground a bit much longer. Blake was an ass at her just because she brings out intense feelings within him.
I didn’t liked the virgin h trope, though in this book I kinda accepted (?) I dunno the right term, but it didn’t bother me much since the MMC has only been with 1 woman and was never really satisfied or fulfilled until the FMC. So in a way, it’s first for them to discover their sexual satisfaction.
Meredith is a career woman and I love how the author never took that away from her even when her career was causing issue with her marriage with Blake. I was honestly annoyed with that cuz god forbid a woman be successful in her field.
I didn’t liked the virgin h trope, though in this book I kinda accepted (?) I dunno the right term, but it didn’t bother me much since the MMC has only been with 1 woman and was never really satisfied or fulfilled until the FMC. So in a way, it’s first for them to discover their sexual satisfaction.
Meredith is a career woman and I love how the author never took that away from her even when her career was causing issue with her marriage with Blake. I was honestly annoyed with that cuz god forbid a woman be successful in her field.
January 20, 2021
The Reluctant Father
This was about two people who had grown up around each other, since he came to his uncle's ranch. He was jealous of the attention she got from his uncle. When his uncle died and the will was read he blew up at her. He married another woman to spit his uncle. She left and didn't come back till five years later. A well known author with a book made into a movie. He just found out that his ex had a child and didn't tell him about it. Now that she is dead he has the child. A girl who has her own problems with trust. Between the three of them there is a new beginning. But how that will play out in the pages of this book.
This was about two people who had grown up around each other, since he came to his uncle's ranch. He was jealous of the attention she got from his uncle. When his uncle died and the will was read he blew up at her. He married another woman to spit his uncle. She left and didn't come back till five years later. A well known author with a book made into a movie. He just found out that his ex had a child and didn't tell him about it. Now that she is dead he has the child. A girl who has her own problems with trust. Between the three of them there is a new beginning. But how that will play out in the pages of this book.
July 7, 2022
I expected more angst. In the beginning we learned how the H had humiliated the heroine in the past and the story seemed promising to me. Then it became predictable and the writing was repetitive. I don’t know how many times I read that the heroine had full breasts.
The child acted more like six years old and she supposed to be only four. The conflict in the end felt flat and forced.
I never understood why he went on and married Nina if he felt so strongly about the heroine. It wasn’t realistic IMO. All this talk about the honor didn’t convince me. He surly was more infatuated with Nina and more wrapped around her finger that he was willing to admit.
The child acted more like six years old and she supposed to be only four. The conflict in the end felt flat and forced.
I never understood why he went on and married Nina if he felt so strongly about the heroine. It wasn’t realistic IMO. All this talk about the honor didn’t convince me. He surly was more infatuated with Nina and more wrapped around her finger that he was willing to admit.
April 12, 2025
4 stars
I purchased the book The Reluctant Father: Blake Donovan: Book 2 by Diana Palmer through Kindle Unlimited, and this review was provided freely.
This is not the normal second chance at love story.
This is the story of children hardened by the lack of love and a sexually inexperienced couple who experience an emotional trauma, but when they are reunited, and after some growing pains, become a loving family.
The cold and introverted Blake Donavan finds himself the sudden father to three-year-old Sarah, and needing to trust the woman he wronged but was still strongly attracted to to help him with her care.
18+ for steamy scenes.
I purchased the book The Reluctant Father: Blake Donovan: Book 2 by Diana Palmer through Kindle Unlimited, and this review was provided freely.
This is not the normal second chance at love story.
This is the story of children hardened by the lack of love and a sexually inexperienced couple who experience an emotional trauma, but when they are reunited, and after some growing pains, become a loving family.
The cold and introverted Blake Donavan finds himself the sudden father to three-year-old Sarah, and needing to trust the woman he wronged but was still strongly attracted to to help him with her care.
18+ for steamy scenes.
September 14, 2023
Nope. Don’t bother. I missed that this book was written in 1988. That’s not to say that books written decades ago are not worth reading, many are. This one is not unless you skim your stories. Neither of the main characters was relatable to me. The story moves slowly, then rushes to the next scene, then slows down again. The hero had an excuse for absolutely everything he did/does wrong and thinks that should excuse him of responsibility. The heroine lets him. It reminded me of the middle schoolers I taught!
May 9, 2021
If you like whispery tenderness, lean hands and exquisite sensations rippling through your powerfulbody, exquisitely slow movements, exquisite sensations of oneness, exquisite... you get the point
This could have been a great little read but instead I couldn't stop gigging at the repetitive descriptions and the choppy scenes.
I give this one 2 side eyes👀 for its exquisite attempt at tension and manly lean hands.
This could have been a great little read but instead I couldn't stop gigging at the repetitive descriptions and the choppy scenes.
I give this one 2 side eyes👀 for its exquisite attempt at tension and manly lean hands.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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September 27, 2019 Прокудена любов
February 5, 2021
Not my favorite DP book
February 23, 2021
Typical Diana Palmer book. I did skip some parts as I got tired of the “I want sex but we aren’t married” line.
April 8, 2021
3.5 stars, I think the premise deserved more than category length.
May 8, 2021
A very relaxing and enjoyable read! Unrealistic in parts, but a good “Calgon, take me away!” story!
February 11, 2023
So sorry I truly love DPs but this is putting me to sleep easily 😩
October 13, 2023
First published in 1988.
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March 2, 2024Reread
January 18, 2017
another Diana Palmer charner!
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