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Loveplay
THE New York THE Bett Cambridge, aspiring actress. She had devoted her entire professional life to escaping her backwoods past and was now a Broadway star. The one blot on her resume an ill-fated affair with Americas most promising playwright, Edward Cul McCullough, hot new author. He left Bett behind when his career took off, but now they were working together again. Yet Cul was still afraid of commitment, and even as Bett's sensuality washed away his inhibitions, he still tried to deny their love. THE A love story, fraught with complications, but destined for fulfillment.
Mass Market Paperback
First published July 18, 1986
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,020 books3,138 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 40 reviews
April 27, 2017
Actress heroine had her heart broken by fellow actor (now a director) when she was 18. He jilted her when he found out she was a virgin and had dreams of marriage and family. He jilted her with a very public showing of his OW and heroine was humiliated.
Now it's years later and she has made a success of herself, yet was duped by an unscrupulous manager and she owes a bunch of back taxes. She auditions for the hero's play and wins the role. The hero is not very nice to her, but eventually they fall into bed together. Heroine is still a virgin after all of this time. Hero goes to California for a few weeks and heroine breaks the news to the hero that she is pregnant over the phone. Hero accuses her of sleeping with her co-star since he is sterile.
The heroine does stick to her story and never gives into the hero on that point. The hero pretends to be sleeping around to show the heroine he is not affected by her news. Heroine has a difficult pregnancy until she gets some medical care. She resists the marriage offer of her co-star and insists she'll get by.
The hero eventually realizes he has to trust the heroine rather than the fertility specialist. He writes a new play and almost drinks himself to death. The heroine goes to his apartment to snap him out of it. He asks her to marry him. The heroine hems and haws for awhile, but eventually they marry. There is a mad dash to the hospital for the baby to be born. In a last chapter epilogue, the heroine is pregnant again.
Lots of angst in this one, but it didn't move me. I think because there was so much repetition. H/h had the same conversation over and over.
Now it's years later and she has made a success of herself, yet was duped by an unscrupulous manager and she owes a bunch of back taxes. She auditions for the hero's play and wins the role. The hero is not very nice to her, but eventually they fall into bed together. Heroine is still a virgin after all of this time. Hero goes to California for a few weeks and heroine breaks the news to the hero that she is pregnant over the phone. Hero accuses her of sleeping with her co-star since he is sterile.
The heroine does stick to her story and never gives into the hero on that point. The hero pretends to be sleeping around to show the heroine he is not affected by her news. Heroine has a difficult pregnancy until she gets some medical care. She resists the marriage offer of her co-star and insists she'll get by.
The hero eventually realizes he has to trust the heroine rather than the fertility specialist. He writes a new play and almost drinks himself to death. The heroine goes to his apartment to snap him out of it. He asks her to marry him. The heroine hems and haws for awhile, but eventually they marry. There is a mad dash to the hospital for the baby to be born. In a last chapter epilogue, the heroine is pregnant again.
Lots of angst in this one, but it didn't move me. I think because there was so much repetition. H/h had the same conversation over and over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2018
You can take the DP asshole hero out of Texas, Wyoming or some other cowboy-ish state, but you can't take the asshole out of the hero.
November 23, 2020
2.75 stars
last 30% was really good, and the last chapter where baby kate was born was really cute lol. overall an entertaining and angsty read and i thought bett made cul work pretty hard to get back into her good graces while being realistic about her baby and financial situation.
last 30% was really good, and the last chapter where baby kate was born was really cute lol. overall an entertaining and angsty read and i thought bett made cul work pretty hard to get back into her good graces while being realistic about her baby and financial situation.
January 28, 2012
What can I say about this book but that It was horribly written. Everything from the the writing itself to the hero that didn't believe the baby was his - even though he didn't take any precautions or a paternity test. I love reading about unrequited love from the heroine's POV and hard to get heroes, but only when the book is written well. This one wasn't. The heroine was like a love sick fool over a hero that didn't seem to want her and did everything to prove it to her. One minute he was declaring his love for her at 34 percent in, and then at about 37 percent he was kicking her to the curb and cheating out of nowhere. If I could sum this book up with one word, it would be depth-less. I've read a few books by Diana Palmer that was quite enjoyable but this one must have been one of her first ones because it screams amateur.
March 17, 2014
Elisabet an aspiring young actress lands a big Broadway role. What she doesn't expect is for the director to be Edward, the man who broke her heart and abandoned her years ago when his career took off. They give into their passion which leads to pregnancy. But Edward thinks he is sterile so he denies that the baby is his and dumps her again, alone, pregnant, sick and extremely poor.
This book is a keeper. I adored Elisabet, such a strong, admirable woman. I loved how she denied to marry sweet David even though she is destitute and so in need of security. She is just so classy and proud I couldn't believe Edward had the guts to doubt her. The scene where she is actually trying to commit suicide broke my heart. Edward had valid reasons for denying paternity but I was glad that he eventually trusted Elisabet, accepted Kate was his and didn't take a DNA test. Super intense and angsty romance!
This book is a keeper. I adored Elisabet, such a strong, admirable woman. I loved how she denied to marry sweet David even though she is destitute and so in need of security. She is just so classy and proud I couldn't believe Edward had the guts to doubt her. The scene where she is actually trying to commit suicide broke my heart. Edward had valid reasons for denying paternity but I was glad that he eventually trusted Elisabet, accepted Kate was his and didn't take a DNA test. Super intense and angsty romance!
March 19, 2015
I read this book in 2009 and I'm still remenber it. I used to love reading Diana Palmer's book at that time and I'm still love her. I'll re-reading this book these days, so I could change my rating since I have seen scores of 4 and 5 stars from other readers. Maybe, my mood wasn't good the first time I read it, I don't know...
January 1, 2012
Enjoyed this book very much,was angry at Cal but later when it is revealed how also suffered little of my anger melted away,adored the Elisabet such a strong woman,absolutely hats off to her that inspite of being at bankruptcy never did she took any help from Cal and David such a sweet man offering to take care of her but Elisabet was right by not agreeing to marry and hurt him
What really made the book a keeper for me is though Cal has his reasons for denying paternity but he did not take any test,he decided to trust Elisabet's words and accepts the child as his,the way Elisabet deals with Cal's behaviour she is hurting but everytime she stands and comes out as a more stronger person and the way Elisabet made him grovel was good to read
Overall i enjoyed the book
Recommend it
What really made the book a keeper for me is though Cal has his reasons for denying paternity but he did not take any test,he decided to trust Elisabet's words and accepts the child as his,the way Elisabet deals with Cal's behaviour she is hurting but everytime she stands and comes out as a more stronger person and the way Elisabet made him grovel was good to read
Overall i enjoyed the book
Recommend it
September 18, 2018
Perfectly angsty and tearjerker Harveyland story may be summarized as:
1. Arrogant, selfish, cruel hero explaines why he should have humiliated the loving heroine.
“I wanted you to the point of obsession.”
She felt the old hurt come back, full force. “How interesting. Was that before or after you humiliated me in front of the entire cast?”
(...)
You were in love with me. Too much in love. I had nothing to give you, except a few kisses in the moonlight or, at best, a brief affair. I had to break if off.”
“You might have just told me,” she returned.
“You’re a bulldog, Bett,” he replied with a faint smile. “It wouldn’t have worked. It had to be something drastic.”
2. Doormat h melts when H forcibly kisses her.
“She still loved him, damn him! Still, after all the years, all the humiliation. And she wanted him with a woman’s hunger.”
3. According to H, the life span of the relationship
“For how long?” she managed in a last grasp at sanity.
“For as long as rehearsals last,” he whispered as he bent and kissed her very slowly on the mouth. “Maybe for longer than that. Can’t we just take it one day at a time, Bett?”
4. Heroine gets pregnant despite of protection or like this story, H doesn’t believe he can have a child. Besides, paternity of the baby is always questioned.
“Pregnant by whom?” he asked in the coldest tone she’d ever heard.
“By you, of course,” she faltered. “You know I was a virgin.”
“Were, yes,” he agreed. “But you’ve been with Hadison a lot since I left.”
5.This one is a rare sample because in Harveyland h does not drag Hs over the coals.
“I don’t have any lovers, Bett,” he replied, his voice deep and soft.
“And the pope isn’t Catholic,” she agreed.
“Now who’s lacking trust?” he queried.
“I’ve been getting lessons.”
6. Heroines’s revenge is rare and unfortunately for a very short time. (Sigh)
“I want you all to myself for a while. Just the two of us. The three of us,” he amended, tracing her belly with his fingers. “Well?”
Her nails bit into the fine fabric of his suit coat. Her eyes closed. Where were her pride and her temper when she needed them?
“Yes,” she said on a held breath.”
7. HEA with an epilogue includes pregnant h with happy H and a daughter.
1. Arrogant, selfish, cruel hero explaines why he should have humiliated the loving heroine.
“I wanted you to the point of obsession.”
She felt the old hurt come back, full force. “How interesting. Was that before or after you humiliated me in front of the entire cast?”
(...)
You were in love with me. Too much in love. I had nothing to give you, except a few kisses in the moonlight or, at best, a brief affair. I had to break if off.”
“You might have just told me,” she returned.
“You’re a bulldog, Bett,” he replied with a faint smile. “It wouldn’t have worked. It had to be something drastic.”
2. Doormat h melts when H forcibly kisses her.
“She still loved him, damn him! Still, after all the years, all the humiliation. And she wanted him with a woman’s hunger.”
3. According to H, the life span of the relationship
“For how long?” she managed in a last grasp at sanity.
“For as long as rehearsals last,” he whispered as he bent and kissed her very slowly on the mouth. “Maybe for longer than that. Can’t we just take it one day at a time, Bett?”
4. Heroine gets pregnant despite of protection or like this story, H doesn’t believe he can have a child. Besides, paternity of the baby is always questioned.
“Pregnant by whom?” he asked in the coldest tone she’d ever heard.
“By you, of course,” she faltered. “You know I was a virgin.”
“Were, yes,” he agreed. “But you’ve been with Hadison a lot since I left.”
5.This one is a rare sample because in Harveyland h does not drag Hs over the coals.
“I don’t have any lovers, Bett,” he replied, his voice deep and soft.
“And the pope isn’t Catholic,” she agreed.
“Now who’s lacking trust?” he queried.
“I’ve been getting lessons.”
6. Heroines’s revenge is rare and unfortunately for a very short time. (Sigh)
“I want you all to myself for a while. Just the two of us. The three of us,” he amended, tracing her belly with his fingers. “Well?”
Her nails bit into the fine fabric of his suit coat. Her eyes closed. Where were her pride and her temper when she needed them?
“Yes,” she said on a held breath.”
7. HEA with an epilogue includes pregnant h with happy H and a daughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 27, 2019This book made me confused. The heroes told each other ´´I love you´´ the first time they had sex. Later when they broke up the H told the h ´´I was just inches away from falling in love with you´´ and near the end ´´I didn’t even know that I loved you´´. BUT he had already told her that he loves her that first time, was he lying those other times or what? It doesn't make sense to me cause he didn't seem to be the lying playboy type that would say anything to get a girl in bed.
July 23, 2019
Possibly the worst of Diana Palmer’s heroes, and that is saying something.
Plus the whole domineering, asshole act lost effect when it was not country/cowboy themed!
Plus the whole domineering, asshole act lost effect when it was not country/cowboy themed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2014
Well, as much as I enjoyed the storyline, I think the Hero is an arsehole. Like super arshe "sloppy" hole.
He accused Bett with everything abominable, yelling at her that she's a tramp while he's the only man she's been sleep with and not to mention
But the thing that made me downgrading the stars from four to three is
So, yeah. But I still enjoyed this book though, just not my favorite. :)
He accused Bett with everything abominable, yelling at her that she's a tramp while he's the only man she's been sleep with and not to mention
But the thing that made me downgrading the stars from four to three is
So, yeah. But I still enjoyed this book though, just not my favorite. :)
July 18, 2017
"Loveplay" is the story of Cul and Bett.
Cul broke Bett's heart years ago. After years of struggle, she's finally in NY when she auditions for a play she has done before, written by Cul..when she realizes hes the director and back in her life.
What you have is a heroine crazy in love, and a hero you want to punch through 80% of it.
Firstly it annoyed me that while the heroine was so utterly devoted to the hero, the hero slept around.
Even when he finally seduced the heroine thinking she was experienced, he avoided using contraception and when a bun enters the oven..shock
The heroine is like a lovesick puppy throughout first half, and finally gains some backbone in the last 1/4 for the sake of her baby. The hero is a dbag, and even when he finally realizes the obvious, i remained unconvinced.
I know the past shapes who you end up as, but please, I hate when characters use it as an excuse to be an general ass.
The last chapter/epilogue-ish makes up for the general frustration I had with this book, but overall.. eh.
Unsafe
1.75/5
Cul broke Bett's heart years ago. After years of struggle, she's finally in NY when she auditions for a play she has done before, written by Cul..when she realizes hes the director and back in her life.
What you have is a heroine crazy in love, and a hero you want to punch through 80% of it.
Firstly it annoyed me that while the heroine was so utterly devoted to the hero, the hero slept around.
Even when he finally seduced the heroine thinking she was experienced, he avoided using contraception and when a bun enters the oven..shock
The heroine is like a lovesick puppy throughout first half, and finally gains some backbone in the last 1/4 for the sake of her baby. The hero is a dbag, and even when he finally realizes the obvious, i remained unconvinced.
I know the past shapes who you end up as, but please, I hate when characters use it as an excuse to be an general ass.
The last chapter/epilogue-ish makes up for the general frustration I had with this book, but overall.. eh.
Unsafe
1.75/5
September 17, 2018
In romance novels isn’t there suppose to be a hero? Cause if someone said this bastard was a romantic lead I would laugh in their face!!! This “hero” was a selfish turd the entire book. What attractive or better yet redeeming qualities did he possess? Zero! Nada. Maybe if he actually loved/cared for/liked the heroine I could root for him a bit but he doesn’t!!!! He wants her and that’s about it. When he gets her blows outta town quick. How many times did he say “you were a virgin” “you aren’t a virgin”? 10? 20 times? Jeez dumbass your obsessed with virginity. This guy is the definition of white TOXIC MASCULINITY! He humiliated the heroine and sabotages her career for good measure cause he “loved her”. Bullshit! Besides thinking the heroine, who he knows wouldn’t cheat but is jealous, and convinced she cheated instead of getting a simple second opinion from a doctor! He only wants the heroine back when she is taking care of herself(not well), has friends, and is independent. He thinks he is the “bigger man” offering to care for her even though the baby couldn’t remotely possibly inconceivable be his! How forgiving! And he only wants to marry her for his own selfish reasons not for the baby or her at all!
Oh heroine! Why art though so stupid? I don’t mind the money problems, that shit is a very real life issue. Just wish it wasn’t for the sake of showing how well off and awesome perfect the “hero” has it. But every decision she makes in her life is about her “love”. The only moment she got to shine was when she told the “hero” the cold hard truth that he doesn’t want love or a family, it idea is much more fun than actually trying for relationships. But she gives in quickly after he starts hounding her and he didn’t even have to apologize. All he does is hurt her, the entire book! From beginning to end. How does he change? How will be become the perfect man/husband/father for her?
The poor book reads very dated. “Hollywood”....isnt where movie studios are, say California! I liked the side people and the theater/broadway(which is why I read it) but that didn’t make up for the trashy abusive snob pig trying to be passed off as romantic. No. No all of this nonsense.
Oh heroine! Why art though so stupid? I don’t mind the money problems, that shit is a very real life issue. Just wish it wasn’t for the sake of showing how well off and awesome perfect the “hero” has it. But every decision she makes in her life is about her “love”. The only moment she got to shine was when she told the “hero” the cold hard truth that he doesn’t want love or a family, it idea is much more fun than actually trying for relationships. But she gives in quickly after he starts hounding her and he didn’t even have to apologize. All he does is hurt her, the entire book! From beginning to end. How does he change? How will be become the perfect man/husband/father for her?
The poor book reads very dated. “Hollywood”....isnt where movie studios are, say California! I liked the side people and the theater/broadway(which is why I read it) but that didn’t make up for the trashy abusive snob pig trying to be passed off as romantic. No. No all of this nonsense.
December 25, 2020
Y la comedia donde quedó? El nombre no le quedó en nada.
June 18, 2017
Omg i never thought the story would be this good (because of their career) all emotion are present. The Angst,the love, funny scene. Drama.I was like crying at the same time laughing. I enjoy reading this book din not feel clichè and boring. This definitely worth five star.
May 24, 2015
Tripe. Predictable and repetitive. The same conversations are repeated over and over. The "hero" hurts the lady's feelings for her own good. Women need to be taken care of. A child needs a name. Yes this was written in 1985 but the logic is from the 1950's.
May 21, 2026
I thought I would really like this, as usually books with a theatre theme are good, but this one got too frustrating. The H took "cruel to be kind" a bit too seriously, broke the h's heart when she was only 18 (she was an actress just getting started, while he was a playwright who wrote the play she had a part in), then does the same thing again several years later, by accusing her of cheating she tells him she's pregnant, because he's under the impression that he shoots blanks! (One doctor's statement that it's highly unlikely he'll father a child was enough for him, apparently.) That was the reason he dumped her the first time (he felt he'd be depriving her of having children) and why he's acting like the betrayed lover this time around. (I guess it never occurred to him to get a second medical opinion???? Not to mention being honest with her: just because she said she dreamed of having children someday, didn't mean she's dump him or stick with him out of pity when she found out he was supposedly sterile! Anyway, was adoption a "no way" option?)
And the fact that she was a virgin after their years apart didn't tell him anything???? She didn't want any man but him, yet he believes that right after they become lovers she was going to do an about face and sleep with another man??? OH, COME ON!!!
And the OM in the story, who was a good friend to her naturally gets blamed. He does play White Knight, offering to marry her because he did have some romantic feelings for her, but they were later transferred to her BFF, and I would have liked more time devoted to this SC.
As for the MC, after a time the h stopped trying to get him to believe her and gave up, and who can blame her? She also got angry when the H said he'd help out financially, assuming the OM wasn't stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility, and who can blame her for that either? Later, he suddenly decides he was wrong (gee, you think???) and goes a bit overload trying to make it up to her, while she's not too receptive at first (again, who can blame her).
He even decides not to do what he should have done a long time ago and saved them both a lot of mess: get a second medical opinion. He wants her to know he trusts her when she says it's his baby and she's never been with another man, and not looking for proof will be a way to do that.
It tells you something about their true feelings that when each had a turn at not feeling well (in her case, not being able to afford proper medical care and suffering from anemia, in his, working too hard on a script, and not eating or sleeping properly) the other one was there to help and see that they got well. A sign of love, though neither would admit it at first.
But some things were a bit much, like the h collapsing on stage and everyone in the cast/crew, etc. taking care of her medical bills, watching out for her, and keeping a doctor backstage in case she overdoes it. in the real world, the understudy would have taken over the part until she was better. But in this book, she's onstage until she's ready to pop out the kid, just too ridiculous!
That's about as believable as that whole mess with her investing all that money on her manager's (very bad) advice and losing a bundle, as well as owing taxes, so she has to move out of the fancy Park Avenue apartment she shared with the BFF and move into a dump in Queens instead.
Where the book rally goofed was turning the birth of the baby into a rom-com farce, with things getting a bit berserk, the cab driver turning out to be a man they had a chat with in a deli (where he gave his advice on parenthood, along with another guy and a waitress, who stopped serving tables to sit and chat with them, if you can believe that), and he, the other guy, and the waitress end up at the hospital waiting for the baby to arrive. Altogether now: "WTF!!!!"
So DUMB!!!
There were two things that were never touched on. The storyline makes it sound like the h was determined to forget her small town roots, but the book itself never gives that impression. Also, the h mentioned more than once that her BFF hates men, and at first didn't think it would work out between her and the OM (though she was glad it did), but you're never told why she felt that way. Did some guy break her heart in the past? Was she sexually assaulted? Did she have an abusive or perverted stepdad or some other creepy relative? We're never given any info, just the idea that whatever it was that made her feel that way, the OM changed her mind.
There was just too much silliness to be able to take this seriously. It's an okay story, but way too flawed.
And the fact that she was a virgin after their years apart didn't tell him anything???? She didn't want any man but him, yet he believes that right after they become lovers she was going to do an about face and sleep with another man??? OH, COME ON!!!
And the OM in the story, who was a good friend to her naturally gets blamed. He does play White Knight, offering to marry her because he did have some romantic feelings for her, but they were later transferred to her BFF, and I would have liked more time devoted to this SC.
As for the MC, after a time the h stopped trying to get him to believe her and gave up, and who can blame her? She also got angry when the H said he'd help out financially, assuming the OM wasn't stepping up to the plate and taking responsibility, and who can blame her for that either? Later, he suddenly decides he was wrong (gee, you think???) and goes a bit overload trying to make it up to her, while she's not too receptive at first (again, who can blame her).
He even decides not to do what he should have done a long time ago and saved them both a lot of mess: get a second medical opinion. He wants her to know he trusts her when she says it's his baby and she's never been with another man, and not looking for proof will be a way to do that.
It tells you something about their true feelings that when each had a turn at not feeling well (in her case, not being able to afford proper medical care and suffering from anemia, in his, working too hard on a script, and not eating or sleeping properly) the other one was there to help and see that they got well. A sign of love, though neither would admit it at first.
But some things were a bit much, like the h collapsing on stage and everyone in the cast/crew, etc. taking care of her medical bills, watching out for her, and keeping a doctor backstage in case she overdoes it. in the real world, the understudy would have taken over the part until she was better. But in this book, she's onstage until she's ready to pop out the kid, just too ridiculous!
That's about as believable as that whole mess with her investing all that money on her manager's (very bad) advice and losing a bundle, as well as owing taxes, so she has to move out of the fancy Park Avenue apartment she shared with the BFF and move into a dump in Queens instead.
Where the book rally goofed was turning the birth of the baby into a rom-com farce, with things getting a bit berserk, the cab driver turning out to be a man they had a chat with in a deli (where he gave his advice on parenthood, along with another guy and a waitress, who stopped serving tables to sit and chat with them, if you can believe that), and he, the other guy, and the waitress end up at the hospital waiting for the baby to arrive. Altogether now: "WTF!!!!"
So DUMB!!!
There were two things that were never touched on. The storyline makes it sound like the h was determined to forget her small town roots, but the book itself never gives that impression. Also, the h mentioned more than once that her BFF hates men, and at first didn't think it would work out between her and the OM (though she was glad it did), but you're never told why she felt that way. Did some guy break her heart in the past? Was she sexually assaulted? Did she have an abusive or perverted stepdad or some other creepy relative? We're never given any info, just the idea that whatever it was that made her feel that way, the OM changed her mind.
There was just too much silliness to be able to take this seriously. It's an okay story, but way too flawed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
Nope.
It’s a mess.
The hero had a brief affair no sex with the heroine when she was 19 a would be actress and he a producer, he dumped her without explanation and humiliating her flaunting in her face his new mistress.
She left him.
Years later she’s the actress in one of his play, he wants to have sex with her, no string and when she gets pregnant he refuses to believe it’s his, because the usual dumb doctor told him he’s sterile.
And he even tells her that he never used anything with the women he was with and nobody got pregnant. Yuck double yuck. I couldn’t get past this shit.
I can only imagine him getting a lot of std from each and every woman. I understand it was many years ago but my god, AIDS was just from those years.
Of course eventually he understands that the child could be his, and wants the heroine back, but I wish the heroine found another man.
Of course he had plenty of women while she was a virgin. I threw up in my mouth a little… I hope I can forget it very soon…
It’s a mess.
The hero had a brief affair no sex with the heroine when she was 19 a would be actress and he a producer, he dumped her without explanation and humiliating her flaunting in her face his new mistress.
She left him.
Years later she’s the actress in one of his play, he wants to have sex with her, no string and when she gets pregnant he refuses to believe it’s his, because the usual dumb doctor told him he’s sterile.
And he even tells her that he never used anything with the women he was with and nobody got pregnant. Yuck double yuck. I couldn’t get past this shit.
I can only imagine him getting a lot of std from each and every woman. I understand it was many years ago but my god, AIDS was just from those years.
Of course eventually he understands that the child could be his, and wants the heroine back, but I wish the heroine found another man.
Of course he had plenty of women while she was a virgin. I threw up in my mouth a little… I hope I can forget it very soon…
October 6, 2018
Cull and Bett
This is one of the best books of DP and I loved it!!!!
Bett is a actress that had her heart broken early in her career by Cull, a fellow actor, now director. Now years later she is a successful actress and are now working together. The attraction between them is as strong as ever resulting on a unplanned pregnancy. Bett finds herself pregnant and alone after Cull refuses to believe the child is his. This is a fantastic story boiling with intense emotions. Highly recommended
This is one of the best books of DP and I loved it!!!!
Bett is a actress that had her heart broken early in her career by Cull, a fellow actor, now director. Now years later she is a successful actress and are now working together. The attraction between them is as strong as ever resulting on a unplanned pregnancy. Bett finds herself pregnant and alone after Cull refuses to believe the child is his. This is a fantastic story boiling with intense emotions. Highly recommended
July 8, 2023
'He wasn't totally convinced. It was hard to accept, that a specialist could be wrong about his sterility. On the other hand, he couldn't imagine Bett sleeping with any other man.'
Isn't the hero a DREAM? He's holding his newborn daughter in his hands, after marrying her mother and confessing his undying love and he still isn't convinced it's his child?!
I dislike the hero immensely. He's a selfish juvenile coward.
Isn't the hero a DREAM? He's holding his newborn daughter in his hands, after marrying her mother and confessing his undying love and he still isn't convinced it's his child?!
I dislike the hero immensely. He's a selfish juvenile coward.
July 28, 2021
Odie mucho a Cult pero por dios que ame este libro, 🤧, las lágrimas no podia contener ante las maravillosas y trágicas cosas que pasaban, como nos enseñaban que tener hijos es una decisión de cada mujer y no se necesita realmente un hombre para sobrevivir
May 17, 2024
Książki Diany Palmer traktuję jako „odpoczynek” po cięższych lekturach.
Jak podobała mi się jej nowela pod tytułem „Miłość w jednym akcie”?
Zapraszam do zapoznania się z moją opinią…
https://taka-jest-agata.blogspot.com/...
Jak podobała mi się jej nowela pod tytułem „Miłość w jednym akcie”?
Zapraszam do zapoznania się z moją opinią…
https://taka-jest-agata.blogspot.com/...
August 22, 2024
Well…this guy was one of the worst of Diana Palmer’s heroes. Rude, crude, womanizing, mean. The heroine was not too likeable herself. Stubborn, not too smart, self sacrificing to the point of idiocy. This is not a flowery love story. It was actually make one sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2025
Love, loss, and paternity
I purchased a copy of Love play by Diana Palmer and this review was give not freely. A tension filled story of love, loss,paternity, and miracles with a happy ending.
I purchased a copy of Love play by Diana Palmer and this review was give not freely. A tension filled story of love, loss,paternity, and miracles with a happy ending.
Read
October 8, 2025I have no excuse for reading this many Diana Palmers in such a short period of time. I had to pick one not set on a ranch for fear that I would start smoking cigars and exposing my hairy chest to innocent virgins.
Surprisingly cute in the second half ngl
Surprisingly cute in the second half ngl
January 23, 2018
Another great book by Diana Palmer.
March 4, 2018
Broadway
The story of love trust and Broadway. Very well written. One of my all time favorite books .enjoyable read .
The story of love trust and Broadway. Very well written. One of my all time favorite books .enjoyable read .
May 13, 2018
Amatoriale, 3 stelline e mezzo!!!
July 20, 2020
horrible.
April 30, 2022
Read this so long ago but recall enjoying this one quite a bit. Definitely need to do a re-read.
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