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Brannt Family #2
Heather's Song
Cole Everett dreams of touching beautiful Heather Shaw's vulnerable heart and showing her the path to fulfilling her desires, but unfortunately circumstances have made Heather the only woman that Cole can never possess. Reissue.
250 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1982
143 people are currently reading
454 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,039 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 53 reviews
September 6, 2021
After the first ten pages I really thought: well, this time DP did it! She wrote not only about a dumb heroine, but a mute one. She really won't say anything, and that is great!
Because the heroine, that is a singer, after an accident, lost her voice for some time. The only thing she can do is making calf eye to the poor hero, her much older stepbrother.
This part was really fun because actually he talks to her and she either smiles or watch him with loving eyes.
She loved him for all her life but he, in DP's perfect style, rejected her thinking she was too young for him and that it was only infatuation.
Now she's all grown up anc decides to take what she wants, that is, him.
So she turns herself into a sexy woman and (almost) seduces the hero on a tropical beach.
But there's an evil ow who has always hoped that H decides to marry her (actually they are not a couple, only neighbour and friends) and now wants to separate them once and for all.
So we have the wonderful taboo subject ( I really jumped from the chair when I read it): she tells the H that the h is his half sister.
The hero is horrified, and of course decides that the most pitiful thing to do is to beat the h to death telling her he was only having fun with her and now he wants her out of his life.
He wants to ask his mother if it's true but sadly the woman dies that very night, before he can ask.
The h goes back to her concerts and singing and we have those two unhappy and tortured people pining for each other away for some time. He also tell her he's having an affair with ow, to be sure she doesn't have false hopes.
Luckily for us, after ome time the very stupid and dumb hero finds out that it was a lie, and they are not related at all.
Happy that he can have his love back, but unhappy because he can't tell her the reason why he left her, he tries to win her back but thank god the girl is wary and doesn't trust him.
Of course she will find out why the hero left her, and the awful truth, that is that her mother tried to seduce his father but the man, very much in love with his wife, rejected her. The hero didn't want to tell her because he knew she would be hurt by her mother's behaviour.
What a dear.
The book was fun, I loved the mute part and the forbidden love.
Nice and angsty.
Because the heroine, that is a singer, after an accident, lost her voice for some time. The only thing she can do is making calf eye to the poor hero, her much older stepbrother.
This part was really fun because actually he talks to her and she either smiles or watch him with loving eyes.
She loved him for all her life but he, in DP's perfect style, rejected her thinking she was too young for him and that it was only infatuation.
Now she's all grown up anc decides to take what she wants, that is, him.
So she turns herself into a sexy woman and (almost) seduces the hero on a tropical beach.
But there's an evil ow who has always hoped that H decides to marry her (actually they are not a couple, only neighbour and friends) and now wants to separate them once and for all.
So we have the wonderful taboo subject ( I really jumped from the chair when I read it): she tells the H that the h is his half sister.
The hero is horrified, and of course decides that the most pitiful thing to do is to beat the h to death telling her he was only having fun with her and now he wants her out of his life.
He wants to ask his mother if it's true but sadly the woman dies that very night, before he can ask.
The h goes back to her concerts and singing and we have those two unhappy and tortured people pining for each other away for some time. He also tell her he's having an affair with ow, to be sure she doesn't have false hopes.
Luckily for us, after ome time the very stupid and dumb hero finds out that it was a lie, and they are not related at all.
Happy that he can have his love back, but unhappy because he can't tell her the reason why he left her, he tries to win her back but thank god the girl is wary and doesn't trust him.
Of course she will find out why the hero left her, and the awful truth, that is that her mother tried to seduce his father but the man, very much in love with his wife, rejected her. The hero didn't want to tell her because he knew she would be hurt by her mother's behaviour.
What a dear.
The book was fun, I loved the mute part and the forbidden love.
Nice and angsty.
June 1, 2009
A rather archaic romance. Which, considering that it was written by Diana Palmer, who tends to be old-fashioned as it is, and that it was published in 1982, isn't surprising. The book has a double-whammy in that sense when it comes to values, personalities and whatnot.
Cole Everett and Heather Shaw have been step-siblings since Heather was about 13. They got along great until Heather got older and things changed. Then she decided to pursue a singing career, something Cole did not approve of, and the two drifted further apart. When Heather is injured in an accident, Cole comes for her and brings her home. During this time, Cole lets his feelings for Heather out and she is scared but excited by the prospect. But Cole learns something that makes him believe he could never have Heather, so he pushes her away. When he finds out the truth, it might be too later to win her back.
If you've ever read a Diana Palmer book, you know that she's got a different way of writing romance, and that she tends to stick to a formula of over-bearing heroes and super naive heroines. This book is no different, except that Cole seemed to be exceptionally brutish.
He would tell Heather that she needed to stop tempting him when she wasn't really doing anything because he wanted her so bad and wouldn't be held accountable for his actions. Give me a break. That's like saying a woman asked to be raped because she left her front door unlocked. I wanted to smack the jerk upside the head. There was nothing appealing about his behavior in this book.
And the heroine wasn't any more interesting. Young, ridiculously naive, with little sense of self. She bored me.
There's just wasn't really anything I liked about this book. It's a bit too old-fashioned. And I didn't enjoy the characters or the romance. So a pretty lackluster book to me.
Cole Everett and Heather Shaw have been step-siblings since Heather was about 13. They got along great until Heather got older and things changed. Then she decided to pursue a singing career, something Cole did not approve of, and the two drifted further apart. When Heather is injured in an accident, Cole comes for her and brings her home. During this time, Cole lets his feelings for Heather out and she is scared but excited by the prospect. But Cole learns something that makes him believe he could never have Heather, so he pushes her away. When he finds out the truth, it might be too later to win her back.
If you've ever read a Diana Palmer book, you know that she's got a different way of writing romance, and that she tends to stick to a formula of over-bearing heroes and super naive heroines. This book is no different, except that Cole seemed to be exceptionally brutish.
He would tell Heather that she needed to stop tempting him when she wasn't really doing anything because he wanted her so bad and wouldn't be held accountable for his actions. Give me a break. That's like saying a woman asked to be raped because she left her front door unlocked. I wanted to smack the jerk upside the head. There was nothing appealing about his behavior in this book.
And the heroine wasn't any more interesting. Young, ridiculously naive, with little sense of self. She bored me.
There's just wasn't really anything I liked about this book. It's a bit too old-fashioned. And I didn't enjoy the characters or the romance. So a pretty lackluster book to me.
January 5, 2021
Oofa! This H doesn't know how to rein himself in. He can't stop baiting, taunting and judging the h. Suffice to say, he 's his own worst enemy, and since the OW is the h's worst enemy, there are a lot of false starts.
It's weirdly entertaining, so sit back and enjoy this visit back to a time when Diana Palmer didn't have to even pay lip service to feminist notions before having her h's subjugate their wills to the H.
It's weirdly entertaining, so sit back and enjoy this visit back to a time when Diana Palmer didn't have to even pay lip service to feminist notions before having her h's subjugate their wills to the H.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2013
Don't you just love Diana Palmer? :)
I like this book's twist, especially in the end. But to be honest, I'm not a fan of both Heather and Cole. Sure, Heather's typical virgin-sheltered kind of heroine and Cole's alpha-jerk Hero. But in this book they're just annoying to read.
Cole's unstable behavior really make me ick. At some point he goes boomboompow towards Heather and the he pushed her away with a real harsh words. I don't like it.
And Heather, she's just too meek! I liked her, but she needs to make Cole grovel a little more. She's too easy to surrender sometimes I consider her cheap. Sorry. :/
But eventually, I enjoyed reading this book. This one's good. :)))
I like this book's twist, especially in the end. But to be honest, I'm not a fan of both Heather and Cole. Sure, Heather's typical virgin-sheltered kind of heroine and Cole's alpha-jerk Hero. But in this book they're just annoying to read.
Cole's unstable behavior really make me ick. At some point he goes boomboompow towards Heather and the he pushed her away with a real harsh words. I don't like it.
And Heather, she's just too meek! I liked her, but she needs to make Cole grovel a little more. She's too easy to surrender sometimes I consider her cheap. Sorry. :/
But eventually, I enjoyed reading this book. This one's good. :)))
September 13, 2021
I never get tired of reading Ms. Palmer's books, even though sometimes I want to hit her hero in the face for being such a douchebag! But anyway, I still did enjoy it. I think this was my first read with the stepbrother/stepsister theme. And I loved how Diana Palmer shows the transition from a platonic relationship to a romantic relationship. It started slow, and then it got a little sweet and sexy. The last half was much more angsty.
Heather Shaw and Cole Everett have been step-siblings since she was 13 when her father married Cole's mother. And because of their relationship, she'd always been shielded from his devastating masculinity. But now, she'd stepped out from behind the shield, and she was vulnerable for the first time. During her stay, Cole told her how he felt and let her see how much he wanted her. No matter what their relationship, Cole and Heather can’t deny their feelings for one another. But Cole learns something that makes him believe he could never have her, so he let her go.
I liked Heather's character. I love her strength but also her vulnerability. I love that her character feels so real. It makes it easy to connect to her. I loved that when she realized what she felt for Cole, she didn't fight it. She took a risk and told him what she felt. And my heart broke for her, especially after the way Cole callously told her that he didn't love her and never will.
Cole Everett was your typical Palmer's hero. I can honestly say that it took a while for me to warm up to his character. He runs on both hot and cold at interchangeable moments. I swear the guy was all over her one minute and then completely standoffish the next. But Cole has his reasons for doing that. And she doesn't know the truth about why he did what he did. Although I didn't like him at first, I understood why he pushed her away. He may be an ass in not being honest with Heather, but he's making up for it. Okay, he may have to work to get on her and my good graces again, but he's willing to do it.
If you are looking for an angsty-romance between step-siblings, Heather's Song will give it to you and more.
Heather Shaw and Cole Everett have been step-siblings since she was 13 when her father married Cole's mother. And because of their relationship, she'd always been shielded from his devastating masculinity. But now, she'd stepped out from behind the shield, and she was vulnerable for the first time. During her stay, Cole told her how he felt and let her see how much he wanted her. No matter what their relationship, Cole and Heather can’t deny their feelings for one another. But Cole learns something that makes him believe he could never have her, so he let her go.
I liked Heather's character. I love her strength but also her vulnerability. I love that her character feels so real. It makes it easy to connect to her. I loved that when she realized what she felt for Cole, she didn't fight it. She took a risk and told him what she felt. And my heart broke for her, especially after the way Cole callously told her that he didn't love her and never will.
"Still want me, Heather? he asked with calculated cruelty. "Too bad. God knows I want no part of you. I won't deny that your sweet young body tempted me a bit, but there was never any love in what I felt. I could never love you."Hearing her every thought, seeing her every vulnerability being tested, watching her heartbreak before our eyes all over again is something that made every protective bone in my body come to life. I wanted to hit Cole!
Cole Everett was your typical Palmer's hero. I can honestly say that it took a while for me to warm up to his character. He runs on both hot and cold at interchangeable moments. I swear the guy was all over her one minute and then completely standoffish the next. But Cole has his reasons for doing that. And she doesn't know the truth about why he did what he did. Although I didn't like him at first, I understood why he pushed her away. He may be an ass in not being honest with Heather, but he's making up for it. Okay, he may have to work to get on her and my good graces again, but he's willing to do it.
If you are looking for an angsty-romance between step-siblings, Heather's Song will give it to you and more.
March 23, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ Heather is a young woman of 20 who left the family ranch to make a life of her own as a singer songwriter. Since she was 13, her stepbrother Cole has been her protector and he kept her tightly under his control; so when she left the ranch, it hadn't been on good terms. Now, after two years away, Heather's back on the ranch recovering from an auto accident. It seems every time Cole is in the same room, they shoot sparks off each other, and Heather feels uncomfortable with her new found awareness of her stepbrother as a virile man. Cole finds himself unnerved by Heather's sudden interest, and his own desire to teach her everything her eyes are begging him to. Just as they begin to explore these new feelings, Cole learns something that will forever keep them apart and he's forced to brutally reject Heather.
This is Diana Palmer's first original romance published by Silhouette / Harlequin. It holds all her trademarks; the overpowering arrogant hero; the young hero worshiping heroine; an evil jealous other woman; and a betrayal. In this story, it's obvious Cole adores Heather and is patiently waking up her passionate nature, realizing she's as skittish as a young horse ready to be broken. Written in early 80's it's quite plausible for a young woman of 20 to be as innocence as Heather is, and Ms. Palmer gives her all the insecurities sexual awakening brings. With the black secret forcing Cole to reject Heather, it's obvious he's just as heartbroken, but determined to make her hate him for her own sake. When he learns the truth, that it was all lies, and there was no reason to keep him apart from Heather, I couldn't understand his reluctance to tell Heather why he'd pushed her away. Of course, Heather has grown up in learning her bitter lesson, so when Cole tries to take things back to the way they used to be, it's her turn to push him away. Heather does get her moment of justice with the teller of lies, which made Cole and Heather's HEA all the sweeter.
This is Diana Palmer's first original romance published by Silhouette / Harlequin. It holds all her trademarks; the overpowering arrogant hero; the young hero worshiping heroine; an evil jealous other woman; and a betrayal. In this story, it's obvious Cole adores Heather and is patiently waking up her passionate nature, realizing she's as skittish as a young horse ready to be broken. Written in early 80's it's quite plausible for a young woman of 20 to be as innocence as Heather is, and Ms. Palmer gives her all the insecurities sexual awakening brings. With the black secret forcing Cole to reject Heather, it's obvious he's just as heartbroken, but determined to make her hate him for her own sake. When he learns the truth, that it was all lies, and there was no reason to keep him apart from Heather, I couldn't understand his reluctance to tell Heather why he'd pushed her away. Of course, Heather has grown up in learning her bitter lesson, so when Cole tries to take things back to the way they used to be, it's her turn to push him away. Heather does get her moment of justice with the teller of lies, which made Cole and Heather's HEA all the sweeter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2025
Either they never had sex in the book or they had it off page? This book was also published in 1982, so maybe having sex scenes in romance novels was less common then, I'm not sure. I think Cole also wanted to marry a virgin.
This was a good romance between stepsiblings with a big age gap (13 years, I think).
This was a good romance between stepsiblings with a big age gap (13 years, I think).
March 12, 2025
3.5-ish?? I love all the ridiculous vintage throw back attitudes - it’s one of the reasons I read Diana Palmer. This book, written in 1982, feels more like it’s set in the 1930’s, and it’s just a lot of fun for me. 🤷🏼♀️. (Hero only gets a pass for smoking on page because this is basically an historical at this point and I let a lot of things go for a period piece 🤡🤷🏼♀️)
I love how jealous/possessive the hero is, but per usual, I hate how gullible and stupid he is. Why does he let that horrible girl (wannabe OW) treat the h so terribly when he’s so protective in every other way?? Why does he just take her word for truth? She’s a nasty bitch who has been chasing him like a dog in heat for most of their lives… so I really wished he didn’t break the h’s heart on her word alone (mostly). I want the hero to be the smartest person in the room, not follow some jealous man-chasing floozy’s lead. It’s annoying.
I would have rated this way higher if we’d gotten a real, on-page, confrontation between the H and the Evil Cackling Whore OW - a great time for that would have been when the OW was being ugly to the h at her show in her dresssing room - I really wanted the H to overhear her spewing her venom and flip the eff out… but alas, instead the Ow gets a trip to Paris after the H discovers her treachery. 😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐🫠
AND THEN, later, the OW and the h have it out without the hero involved at all, which really chaps my hide. 😡 Dude made a big ol’ mess allowing that snake to hang about, sowing discord and angst, and HE should have been the one to take the trash out. Not the heroine, who was completely innocent in all of it.
So, this gets 3.5 stars for the blameless h, the jealous possessive hero, and the shear dramarama vintage throwback entertainment 🥰
I love how jealous/possessive the hero is, but per usual, I hate how gullible and stupid he is. Why does he let that horrible girl (wannabe OW) treat the h so terribly when he’s so protective in every other way?? Why does he just take her word for truth? She’s a nasty bitch who has been chasing him like a dog in heat for most of their lives… so I really wished he didn’t break the h’s heart on her word alone (mostly). I want the hero to be the smartest person in the room, not follow some jealous man-chasing floozy’s lead. It’s annoying.
I would have rated this way higher if we’d gotten a real, on-page, confrontation between the H and the Evil Cackling Whore OW - a great time for that would have been when the OW was being ugly to the h at her show in her dresssing room - I really wanted the H to overhear her spewing her venom and flip the eff out… but alas, instead the Ow gets a trip to Paris after the H discovers her treachery. 😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐😐🫠
AND THEN, later, the OW and the h have it out without the hero involved at all, which really chaps my hide. 😡 Dude made a big ol’ mess allowing that snake to hang about, sowing discord and angst, and HE should have been the one to take the trash out. Not the heroine, who was completely innocent in all of it.
So, this gets 3.5 stars for the blameless h, the jealous possessive hero, and the shear dramarama vintage throwback entertainment 🥰
August 21, 2013
So this book marks the end of my DP phase. I might get back to my Vintage Harleys now. Anyways, about the book. It wasn't really a good read for me, mostly for 2 reasons - Heather and the possible-incest theme.
Heather turned hot and cold in moments and I didn't like her reluctance considering intimacy with Cole. She took the innocent virgin act way too far. Cole himself was okay. I don't know why, but I don't feel much for alpha heroes anymore :( I used to love overbearing alphaholes! *sniffle*
This novel took me about three days to finish, that's how much I disliked it. But then again, maybe I'd have liked it better if I was in a different mood? Perhaps I'm not being fair. And I do love DP after all, so I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time.
Heather turned hot and cold in moments and I didn't like her reluctance considering intimacy with Cole. She took the innocent virgin act way too far. Cole himself was okay. I don't know why, but I don't feel much for alpha heroes anymore :( I used to love overbearing alphaholes! *sniffle*
This novel took me about three days to finish, that's how much I disliked it. But then again, maybe I'd have liked it better if I was in a different mood? Perhaps I'm not being fair. And I do love DP after all, so I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time.
February 3, 2012
Another vouch to Diana Palmer! It definitely delivers. There's that great tension that wraps around a tortured hero and unawakened heroine which really starts at the very beginning. It's surprisingly different because usually it builds up to that breaking point of awareness. Diana Palmer takes it another level and she doesn't disappoint. Cole's passion has this raw, primitive, manly, earthy and honest vitality to it that I can't really fault Heather's reaction. Whew! He was all man!
If I have to take a stab at this book it would be nondescript and rather pointless conflict of misunderstanding that drag on. It could have been solve sooner and I thought that was a little silly.
If I have to take a stab at this book it would be nondescript and rather pointless conflict of misunderstanding that drag on. It could have been solve sooner and I thought that was a little silly.
February 4, 2012
3.5 stars. Definitely old and a little goofy -- a few lines made me laugh out loud, they were so silly (something about the hero's "oriental cologne," lots of cigarettes and cigarette tossing, including into the ocean). And it has that old-fashioned feel, where the hero would be saying things implying that he if she didn't watch out he was pretty much ready to rape her, but what he really meant was that he was going to kiss her a bunch and not even get to second base. The characters were likable, but their feelings were too obvious for my taste -- story lacked real tension because of it. I was drawn in enough to want to see the characters get together in the end, but the story was too long given the obviousness of their feelings.
January 6, 2013
The heroine had to grow up crazy fast in this novel, after the hero knocked her down so hard, she definitely bruised. I thought the hero was being a douche but eventually he worked it out. The hero and heroine had some serious issues with each other but ultimately worked everything out. There is one thing I would of changed though, the heroine should of punched Tessa straight in the face.
April 22, 2016
This is a typical Diana Palmer book with a alpha male and shy innocent heroine.
If you like old romance you will enjoy this.
There were some issues that could have been solved by just speaking out. Hence jus a 3 star.
If you like old romance you will enjoy this.
There were some issues that could have been solved by just speaking out. Hence jus a 3 star.
March 22, 2021
Well, I have just reread my review, and it is basically a rant with a lot of spoilers, so beware!
Ok, as I said on other occasion, I have a weakness for DP’s mean heroes, but this one was not so much mean as he was aggressive? He is her stepbrother, and basically brought her up after her father’s death. She adores him as a brother, she smiles at him and hugs him. He of course interprets this as flirting and now that she is grown up, he starts making passes at her. This is written from her POV only, we don’t know what drives the H, but there does not seem to be any kind of hesitation on his part due to her being young, innocent, and his family (his mother married her father). The first time he kisses her it feels violent, she later describes it as almost an assault. Then he proceeds to warn her that if she keeps flirting with him, he will do what he pleases and not stop no matter what. She doesn’t know what he means, she behaves with him like she always did, uninhibited because she sees him as a brother. She is confused and scared, wants things to be as they were before, and starts avoiding him, which makes him angry. There is also an other woman.
They go for a vacation with his mother and he brings the OW along. In one conversation with the stepmother, who loves her, the h tells her that she does not understand his behaviour and the stepmother tells her that maybe instead of running away from him, she should go to him. And I was like, what????? You can give advice like this to a girl who knows she is in love with someone and doesn’t know how to attract him. But the h does not know what she feels for him, she is confused and wants him to be a brother.???? Anyway, she dresses nicely for dinner, asks him to dance, starts flirting for real, and he basically drags her to the hotel room for a make-out session. She suddenly tells him that she loves him and he goes about doing the deed, but the OW interrupts. They spend the next day together, make out some more, and finally he starts having some scruples because she is innocent, and doesn’t take advantage of her.
When they return to the hotel, the OW waits for him, jealous, and tells him something that makes it impossible for them to be together. He wants to ask his mother for corroboration but, unfortunately, she died while they were out. She left the h half of the ranch with the stipulation that she cannot sell without his consent.
When they are back, he distances himself, and when she declares herself again, he tells her that he does not love. I thought, well that was painless, because usually, DP’s heroes are cruel when they want to dissuade the heroine. But it was not over yet. She has to leave but does not have enough money to support herself - and I had another WTF moment – he is a millionaire and made his money after working with her father on his ranch (the H and his mother did not have money before she married the h's father). He of course is a great business man, he helped her father to make the ranch greater, and invested money outside too. But how come the father did not make a provision for his daughter in his will? He left the ranch to the stepmother. She left half of it to the h because she was a good woman and loved her, but there is no income to support her and she cannot sell. The H even made a dig at her at the beginning about her living of him. WTF? It was her father’s ranch that made him all his money, yet she has nothing?????
Anyway, she has to go back to her singing career even though it did not make her happy before, and this time she is lucky and finds a good band and they make it big. The H and the OW come to see her performance one day and she sings a song to him, and he decides that he has to make her stop pining for him so that she can get over him. So they go to see her in her dressing room, the OW gloats, and he says some horrible things to her. She is brokenhearted, starts to work herself hard to overcome the suffering, in detriment of her health.
In the meantime, the H of course finds out that what the OW told him was a lie, and decides to win the h back. He invites her spend her vacations with him, which she refuses. Then she collapses and he takes her home to care for her, and tries to win her back. She doesn’t not trust him, there is a lot of back and forth, she suffers some more and decides to leave again. The H goes away hurting, because of course, real men never talk about their feelings, even if they are about to lose the love of their life. The OW woman appears, spilling her lies to the h, but she laughs at the OW out knowing they were not true. But this of course makes her realise why the H rejected her in the first place, that he did it for her own good so that she could be happy with someone else.???? So she goes to him and declares her love and he admits to loving her too. HEA.
So the first half of the book is horrible because of how aggressive and inconsiderate he is. After the separation, it is as DP’s books usually are, the H trying to win the h back. I enjoyed that part because she resisted, she did not melt right away as DP’s heroines usually do. But the H’s motivation in the first part was just horrible. I don't understand that this book has such a high rating, to be honest.
Ok, as I said on other occasion, I have a weakness for DP’s mean heroes, but this one was not so much mean as he was aggressive? He is her stepbrother, and basically brought her up after her father’s death. She adores him as a brother, she smiles at him and hugs him. He of course interprets this as flirting and now that she is grown up, he starts making passes at her. This is written from her POV only, we don’t know what drives the H, but there does not seem to be any kind of hesitation on his part due to her being young, innocent, and his family (his mother married her father). The first time he kisses her it feels violent, she later describes it as almost an assault. Then he proceeds to warn her that if she keeps flirting with him, he will do what he pleases and not stop no matter what. She doesn’t know what he means, she behaves with him like she always did, uninhibited because she sees him as a brother. She is confused and scared, wants things to be as they were before, and starts avoiding him, which makes him angry. There is also an other woman.
They go for a vacation with his mother and he brings the OW along. In one conversation with the stepmother, who loves her, the h tells her that she does not understand his behaviour and the stepmother tells her that maybe instead of running away from him, she should go to him. And I was like, what????? You can give advice like this to a girl who knows she is in love with someone and doesn’t know how to attract him. But the h does not know what she feels for him, she is confused and wants him to be a brother.???? Anyway, she dresses nicely for dinner, asks him to dance, starts flirting for real, and he basically drags her to the hotel room for a make-out session. She suddenly tells him that she loves him and he goes about doing the deed, but the OW interrupts. They spend the next day together, make out some more, and finally he starts having some scruples because she is innocent, and doesn’t take advantage of her.
When they return to the hotel, the OW waits for him, jealous, and tells him something that makes it impossible for them to be together. He wants to ask his mother for corroboration but, unfortunately, she died while they were out. She left the h half of the ranch with the stipulation that she cannot sell without his consent.
When they are back, he distances himself, and when she declares herself again, he tells her that he does not love. I thought, well that was painless, because usually, DP’s heroes are cruel when they want to dissuade the heroine. But it was not over yet. She has to leave but does not have enough money to support herself - and I had another WTF moment – he is a millionaire and made his money after working with her father on his ranch (the H and his mother did not have money before she married the h's father). He of course is a great business man, he helped her father to make the ranch greater, and invested money outside too. But how come the father did not make a provision for his daughter in his will? He left the ranch to the stepmother. She left half of it to the h because she was a good woman and loved her, but there is no income to support her and she cannot sell. The H even made a dig at her at the beginning about her living of him. WTF? It was her father’s ranch that made him all his money, yet she has nothing?????
Anyway, she has to go back to her singing career even though it did not make her happy before, and this time she is lucky and finds a good band and they make it big. The H and the OW come to see her performance one day and she sings a song to him, and he decides that he has to make her stop pining for him so that she can get over him. So they go to see her in her dressing room, the OW gloats, and he says some horrible things to her. She is brokenhearted, starts to work herself hard to overcome the suffering, in detriment of her health.
In the meantime, the H of course finds out that what the OW told him was a lie, and decides to win the h back. He invites her spend her vacations with him, which she refuses. Then she collapses and he takes her home to care for her, and tries to win her back. She doesn’t not trust him, there is a lot of back and forth, she suffers some more and decides to leave again. The H goes away hurting, because of course, real men never talk about their feelings, even if they are about to lose the love of their life. The OW woman appears, spilling her lies to the h, but she laughs at the OW out knowing they were not true. But this of course makes her realise why the H rejected her in the first place, that he did it for her own good so that she could be happy with someone else.???? So she goes to him and declares her love and he admits to loving her too. HEA.
So the first half of the book is horrible because of how aggressive and inconsiderate he is. After the separation, it is as DP’s books usually are, the H trying to win the h back. I enjoyed that part because she resisted, she did not melt right away as DP’s heroines usually do. But the H’s motivation in the first part was just horrible. I don't understand that this book has such a high rating, to be honest.
April 5, 2014
Good book with a rancher hero and a singer heroine. Chemistry was not that intense though.
January 13, 2015
Love old school Diana Palmer!
December 8, 2018
I give it 2 🌟 because of the abrupt ending it needed a couple of pages more.
September 28, 2022
After reading The Rancher I wanted to know more about Cord's and Odalie's parents which led to this book. I loved Emma with her warmth and unconditional love. Heather needed her after surviving her icebox of a mother. Her stepmother married her widowed father and brought along her son. Heather's father and his stepson worked to make their ranch into a successful enterprise and made the family rich before the death of the father. While the H was a whiz at business, he was less astute at interpersonal relationships. He attempted to totally control his stepsister and was clueless about his toxic OW wanna-be and her lies and manipulations. He did everything OTT and seemed to react with too much aggression and too little understanding.
Heather, it seemed, suffered from a low self esteem at not being 'enough' for her parents. Tessa the wanna-be, got the attention from Heather's mother and even got some of her inheritance. The h allowed herself to be victimized all too frequently and did not stand up for herself until late in the book.
A lie told by Tessa wanna-be set the stage for a tragic, emotional split between the two lovers at heart. It would be months/years before the H got his head out of a lower body part and began to understand how he was manipulated. Still he did not clarify and again and again came close to another tragedy. Enter the OW wanna-be and her telling the h the same lie that had worked once with the H that became the catalyst for healing.
My only regret was that this toxic wanna-be was not dealt with effectively. There was a happy ending and more angst than 3 books normally contain.
Heather, it seemed, suffered from a low self esteem at not being 'enough' for her parents. Tessa the wanna-be, got the attention from Heather's mother and even got some of her inheritance. The h allowed herself to be victimized all too frequently and did not stand up for herself until late in the book.
A lie told by Tessa wanna-be set the stage for a tragic, emotional split between the two lovers at heart. It would be months/years before the H got his head out of a lower body part and began to understand how he was manipulated. Still he did not clarify and again and again came close to another tragedy. Enter the OW wanna-be and her telling the h the same lie that had worked once with the H that became the catalyst for healing.
My only regret was that this toxic wanna-be was not dealt with effectively. There was a happy ending and more angst than 3 books normally contain.
January 3, 2023
Cole and Heather
I didn't like it. I understand why Cole was mean to Heather after the lies Tessa told him. He thought Heather was his half sister and how wrong that was, however his pride was more important to him than she was once he learned the truth. She was going to leave (because she couldn't trust he wouldn't hurt her again not knowing why he did what he did) and he still would not tell her why he was cruel all because of his pride at falling for the lies of the OW.
Cole did tell Heather that he didn't sleep with Tessa (but that was before he fell for her lies about Heather being his sister). He continued to date Tessa in the months after, all the while thinking that Heather was his sister so he could have slept with Tessa. I think though that if he hadn't in all the years before (even after a passionate kiss Heather witnessed the year before start of book) that he still did not after. I think because her father owned a ranch nearby he would only have slept with her if planned to marry her.
No mention if he slept with other women though or if he was celibate since realizing he had feelings for Heather.
It was not stated when he started wanting Heather (I really hope he wasn't 26 attracted to a 13 year old though).
I did like how once Cole told her he didn't want her to love him she made a massive success of herself and was finally able to stand up to Tessa fully. Sad she was deteriorating over him though after how mean he was. Np.
I didn't like it. I understand why Cole was mean to Heather after the lies Tessa told him. He thought Heather was his half sister and how wrong that was, however his pride was more important to him than she was once he learned the truth. She was going to leave (because she couldn't trust he wouldn't hurt her again not knowing why he did what he did) and he still would not tell her why he was cruel all because of his pride at falling for the lies of the OW.
Cole did tell Heather that he didn't sleep with Tessa (but that was before he fell for her lies about Heather being his sister). He continued to date Tessa in the months after, all the while thinking that Heather was his sister so he could have slept with Tessa. I think though that if he hadn't in all the years before (even after a passionate kiss Heather witnessed the year before start of book) that he still did not after. I think because her father owned a ranch nearby he would only have slept with her if planned to marry her.
No mention if he slept with other women though or if he was celibate since realizing he had feelings for Heather.
It was not stated when he started wanting Heather (I really hope he wasn't 26 attracted to a 13 year old though).
I did like how once Cole told her he didn't want her to love him she made a massive success of herself and was finally able to stand up to Tessa fully. Sad she was deteriorating over him though after how mean he was. Np.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2018
Heather Shaw and Cole Everett are step brother and sister. Cole has protected and watch over Heather since she was a young teenager and her father married his mother, Emma. Emma is the mother that Heather longed for. Her mother was cold and cruel.
Heather is not a child but she is an innocent and she leave Big Spur and Emma and Cole behind to pursue a singing career. She is good but it will take a lot of hard work to make it. She has a amazing voice until an accident takes it from her temporality and she flees to Big Spur to recover.
While back at the ranch she and Cole get closer but this is all new to Heather and Cole is giving her mixed signals and then he finds out something that will keep him from Heather forever.
This is a fast read and Cole is very cruel like some of her heroes. He is cruel to be kind because he doesn't see a future for them is what he has been told is true. Heather is a true innocent who only has eyes for Cole but he pushes her away too many times and she becomes stronger for it and grows up a bit.
Heather is not a child but she is an innocent and she leave Big Spur and Emma and Cole behind to pursue a singing career. She is good but it will take a lot of hard work to make it. She has a amazing voice until an accident takes it from her temporality and she flees to Big Spur to recover.
While back at the ranch she and Cole get closer but this is all new to Heather and Cole is giving her mixed signals and then he finds out something that will keep him from Heather forever.
This is a fast read and Cole is very cruel like some of her heroes. He is cruel to be kind because he doesn't see a future for them is what he has been told is true. Heather is a true innocent who only has eyes for Cole but he pushes her away too many times and she becomes stronger for it and grows up a bit.
March 29, 2021
I read this book at work because it was the last romance novel I could find. It was written in 1982 and definitely would not be published today. The male protagonist was the definition of a rape-y lead. He keeps telling the female protagonist ( a virgin 13 years his junior) that he’ll never force her to do anything and then proceeds to force her (“Don’t tell me to stop”). She REPEATEDLY says “stop, you’re hurting me” and he doesn’t. Just blames her for teasing him. Also they’re step siblings and he has tried to control her life since she met him at 13. Abusing her when she wears revealing clothing, mocking her choice in men, and refusing to let her have her own career. When she tries to stand up for herself, he guilts her into forgiving him and she backs down. Just a truly terrible relationship. This is probably the first time I’ve ever rooted for the female protagonist to jilt the man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2025
4 stars
I purchased the book: Heather’s Song: Big Spur, Texas: Book 1 by Diana Palmer in Kindle Unlimited, and this review was given freely.
Predominantly sad with touches of steam and a happy ending.
Two years after leaving her home and everyone she loved in Big Spur to begin a singing career, a car accident reunites the homesick Heather with her protective and domineering, millionaire rancher, older stepbrother Cole Everett. But her growing awareness of Cole, her stepmother’s sudden death, the lies of a vindictive and jealous neighbor, and Cole’s hot, predatory to harsh, icy mood swings result in more heartbreak and a separation meant to last forever.
I purchased the book: Heather’s Song: Big Spur, Texas: Book 1 by Diana Palmer in Kindle Unlimited, and this review was given freely.
Predominantly sad with touches of steam and a happy ending.
Two years after leaving her home and everyone she loved in Big Spur to begin a singing career, a car accident reunites the homesick Heather with her protective and domineering, millionaire rancher, older stepbrother Cole Everett. But her growing awareness of Cole, her stepmother’s sudden death, the lies of a vindictive and jealous neighbor, and Cole’s hot, predatory to harsh, icy mood swings result in more heartbreak and a separation meant to last forever.
August 25, 2019
I’ll admit. It’s not that great of a story, but it was the first romance novel that i ever read at the tender age of 14, so it will always have a soft spot in my heart.
Insanely Overbearing alpha? ✔️
Ridiculously innocent heroine? ✔️
Years of sexual angst & tension? ✔️
HEA? ✔️
Only thing missing is a nice and tidy epilogue!
Insanely Overbearing alpha? ✔️
Ridiculously innocent heroine? ✔️
Years of sexual angst & tension? ✔️
HEA? ✔️
Only thing missing is a nice and tidy epilogue!
April 9, 2024
Good book with lots of angst between Heather and Cole. Stepbrother and stepsister whose feelings for each other are put through the ringer. Got a little tired of just how easily they misunderstood some things and began to doubt the 13 year age difference made much difference. Overall enjoyable as all of her books are.
November 27, 2018
Love happy endings!
Cole and his mother moved to big spur when she married Heathers father. Many, many misunderstandings later Heather and Cole became bitter enemies because of lies told to Cole by a jealous, bitter, nasty woman. Love this authors books.
Cole and his mother moved to big spur when she married Heathers father. Many, many misunderstandings later Heather and Cole became bitter enemies because of lies told to Cole by a jealous, bitter, nasty woman. Love this authors books.
April 21, 2025
Miss Palmer books
Very good,,I enjoy all her books,,I've read all of the at least 3times and some lots more than that,,,J am also from georgia. North west ,,,cave spring,,Floyd county
Very good,,I enjoy all her books,,I've read all of the at least 3times and some lots more than that,,,J am also from georgia. North west ,,,cave spring,,Floyd county
June 3, 2017
Beautiful romance
Subtle suspense and human emotions make this a good romance read, especially if you like the western theme, a cowboy and a beautiful lady.
Subtle suspense and human emotions make this a good romance read, especially if you like the western theme, a cowboy and a beautiful lady.
August 18, 2020
Too slow. The story could had been shortened a lot. It got boring.
March 2, 2023
This book has a lot of misconceptions and miscommunications in it. It’s easy to read. Reading this book was an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon.
September 25, 2023
this book is borderline grooming by the hero and I don't love the angst and how the conflict is resolved *Sigh*
3.5
3.5
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