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The Humbug Man
Montana rancher Tate Hollister had to be the grouchiest, grumpiest humbug man widow Maggie Jeffries had ever met. But, as the holiday season progressed, Maggie discovered that Tate wasn't completely immune to the Christmas spirit-his loving embrace on a cold winter's night could prove to be the gift of a lifetime...
95 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
296 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 books3,097 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 14, 2020
A short and sweet Christmas romance between a widow and widower. When Maggie inherits a ranch in Montana, she decides to spend the Christmas holiday there with her nine-year-old son Blake, to decide if she wants to keep it or sell it. Maggie meets her gruff neighbor Tate, who just wants to be left alone, yet her son hero worships him. Circumstances keep bringing Maggie and Tate together, and these two lonely people find out that they are just what each other needs, much to Blake’s delight. A lovely little novella, with a likable hero and heroine and a cute and endearing matchmaking young boy.
February 24, 2020
Light, sweet romance with two loving characters. You can’t go wrong with Diana Palmer! Hero and heroine are two celibate widowers and heroine has already a child from her first marriage. They fall in love fast because it’s s short book but it’s totally believable.
March 17, 2020
It's amazing that even in her corny ways palmer manages to pack so much sensuality and sweetness in this novella. A nice Christmas story as two people who've not loved before are brought together by a determined young boy to start a family. In contemporary times, this would have an epilogue with the couple having their desired brood of half a dozen or more proof of their love. DP deftly describes the inexperienced couples burning desire for each other's bodies and souls.
June 20, 2018
"The Humbug Man" is the story of Maggie and Tate.
A sweet Christmas romance between two celibate widowers and a child, this one has a grumpy cowboy hero, a kind, independent single-mother heroine, an adorable child and loads of attraction, hairy chests and brushing kisses.
Ah I adore thee Diana so much!
Safe
4/5
A sweet Christmas romance between two celibate widowers and a child, this one has a grumpy cowboy hero, a kind, independent single-mother heroine, an adorable child and loads of attraction, hairy chests and brushing kisses.
Ah I adore thee Diana so much!
Safe
4/5
May 7, 2019
This was a sweet, low angst, Christmassy book. Maggie and her 9 year old son Blake are staying for a few weeks at the cattle ranch she recently inherited from her father-in-law. The H Tate is their neighbor and he starts out as a grouch but swings over to sweetie-pie pretty quickly.
Blake is a great kid (although written a little older than 9) and he is working on a way to get these two together. They both have tragic pasts, but are ready to move on together. I really liked this one!
Safety
Blake is a great kid (although written a little older than 9) and he is working on a way to get these two together. They both have tragic pasts, but are ready to move on together. I really liked this one!
Safety
November 26, 2016
This is the perfect Christmas bok to read if you have a spare hour. It is short, sweet, albeit unrealistic, but ultimately succeeds in bringing the spirit of Christmas alive.
Tate's character is very ulikeable at first, but when Maggie's son is in need and Tate steps up to the plate, I couldn't help but forgive him for his bad behavior in the first few chapters.
With only being slightly less than 100 pages, this novella does not have any time to waste in getting these characters to fall in love. Palmer succeeds in doing just that, and this is truly a sweet "making of a family" type of romance.
Tate's character is very ulikeable at first, but when Maggie's son is in need and Tate steps up to the plate, I couldn't help but forgive him for his bad behavior in the first few chapters.
With only being slightly less than 100 pages, this novella does not have any time to waste in getting these characters to fall in love. Palmer succeeds in doing just that, and this is truly a sweet "making of a family" type of romance.
February 4, 2022
This did Not have enough of a plot but it was a nice, sweet short story!
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December 24, 2023This book was so dumb why does it have so many good reviews
December 13, 2024
I don't know why it took me so long to finally read a Diana Palmer book. Especially considering she has a huge back list and I have around eighty of her books in my TBR. But one night I wanted a short book to read since my current read was a Kindle book and my phone needed to be charged. So I picked up this slim – ninety-five pages – paperback. And I would've read the entire book in one sitting if I hadn't been so dang tired that I had to quit around page seventy-eight and go to sleep.
I love a grouchy, rude, arrogant hero, a hero who is a loner, a hero who has avoided relationships, a hero who can inspire worship in a child whose innocent little brain doesn't see all those traits that piss off mama whenever she's around him. Tate ticked box after box for me. And despite having been married once, he's relatively inexperienced, and his awkward admissions of that were endearing.
Muscles rippled under darkly tanned skin as he rose from peeking into the oven, and when he turned toward her, she wondered if it was permissible for a modern woman to swoon.
Maggie is also, despite having been married once, inexperienced, and naive. In fact, she's practically a virgin, her husband having died shortly after their marriage. When she answers the door to Tate one night and then remembers she's in her pajamas, she's horribly embarrassed. And we're not talking a negligee or peignoir.
Then there's Maggie's son, Blake, who never knew his father and who quickly plots to get his mother and Tate together.
Such a sweet story, and with lots of humor and entertaining banter between Maggie and Tate, and Maggie and Blake. It's short, so Tate's thawing out and losing his grouchiness happens almost a little too quickly, but just almost. I definitely need to read more from this author.
Review first posted on my blog.
I love a grouchy, rude, arrogant hero, a hero who is a loner, a hero who has avoided relationships, a hero who can inspire worship in a child whose innocent little brain doesn't see all those traits that piss off mama whenever she's around him. Tate ticked box after box for me. And despite having been married once, he's relatively inexperienced, and his awkward admissions of that were endearing.
Muscles rippled under darkly tanned skin as he rose from peeking into the oven, and when he turned toward her, she wondered if it was permissible for a modern woman to swoon.
Maggie is also, despite having been married once, inexperienced, and naive. In fact, she's practically a virgin, her husband having died shortly after their marriage. When she answers the door to Tate one night and then remembers she's in her pajamas, she's horribly embarrassed. And we're not talking a negligee or peignoir.
Then there's Maggie's son, Blake, who never knew his father and who quickly plots to get his mother and Tate together.
Such a sweet story, and with lots of humor and entertaining banter between Maggie and Tate, and Maggie and Blake. It's short, so Tate's thawing out and losing his grouchiness happens almost a little too quickly, but just almost. I definitely need to read more from this author.
Review first posted on my blog.
July 5, 2014
This is a sweet novella about two lonely people who have lost their loved ones. They are brought together by her nine year old son who wants his two favourite people to get together. A short read but with enough character development to care about the ending.
September 26, 2019
Maggie Jeffries, an executive secretary in Tucson, has just inherited her father-in-law's ranch in Montana. Her 9-year-old son Blake has talked her into spending the Christmas holiday there. Her neighbor, Tate Hollister, lost his wife and son/nephew 6 years earlier in an accident. He closed himself off, but Blake has a serious case of hero worship. He breaks his leg to get them together. It works. Nice clean love story. Hero and heroine are practically virgins - both had very brief naive relationship with spouses and they wait to marry. Nice little story.
December 28, 2024
I read a different version of this so not sure what’s happening with this app. Anyway, I enjoyed this cute Christmas novella. Palmer knows how to write sensuous and romantic stories that are on the cusp or being cheesy but not annoying. I love blended families and this was a cute single mom romance, city girl meets cowboy romance.
June 10, 2018
Great
One of my favorites from this author. Very little hate and lots of love. Full of good feelings and a couple of puppies.
One of my favorites from this author. Very little hate and lots of love. Full of good feelings and a couple of puppies.
September 30, 2019
This was a short read, but a nice little romance that took my mind off of a gloomy day.
May 13, 2020
Sweet Christmas read
A really sweet short Christmas story. Opposites attract and Grinch finds true love could be the title of this read. I loved it.
A really sweet short Christmas story. Opposites attract and Grinch finds true love could be the title of this read. I loved it.
November 10, 2020
Great Love Story
This was a great love story about two people who didn't want to get involved with anyone. Except the son who wanted to get his mother and the loner together.
This was a great love story about two people who didn't want to get involved with anyone. Except the son who wanted to get his mother and the loner together.
June 26, 2021
A nice easy read.
October 27, 2022
Wait that was really cute I'm keeping it
September 24, 2024
Short novella. About an hour read. Totally G rated.
October 27, 2024
Short and sweet.
November 8, 2025
A super quick light and sweet romance. I could definitely read a full length novel of Maggie and Tate.
December 20, 2025
3.5 Rounded up.
February 1, 2025
This was a quick and easy read. Not one of my favorites, but it had it's cute moments.
December 27, 2014
Sweet Gentle Novella
"Tate Hollister lived alone, which wasn't surprising to his nearest neighbor."
THE STORY: Maggie Jeffries is a widow with a nine year old son who comes to visit the ranch left to her by her deceased husband's grandfather. Her son worships their neighbor Tate Hollister. Tate is a taciturn neighbor who is grumpy and doesn't want anything to do with Maggie or her son after the death of his own family. A stormy Christmas, a boy determined to build a family may bring these two together.
OPINION: This is one of my favorite Diana Palmer stories. It is short but sweet and gentle and there are no misunderstandings to separate the hero and heroine. It is really just about two people getting to know one another. In fact, considering the backgrounds of the hero and heroine, I would have expected more angst and discord, but this story is really about finding love for Christmas. An easy, sweet read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This is a short novella written in the 1980s so it does have some anachronistic material in it.
FINAL DECISION: I loved this novella. There are no misunderstandings and despite their pasts no real conflict here. Just two people getting to know one another.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This is a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this story 4 stars.
"Tate Hollister lived alone, which wasn't surprising to his nearest neighbor."
THE STORY: Maggie Jeffries is a widow with a nine year old son who comes to visit the ranch left to her by her deceased husband's grandfather. Her son worships their neighbor Tate Hollister. Tate is a taciturn neighbor who is grumpy and doesn't want anything to do with Maggie or her son after the death of his own family. A stormy Christmas, a boy determined to build a family may bring these two together.
OPINION: This is one of my favorite Diana Palmer stories. It is short but sweet and gentle and there are no misunderstandings to separate the hero and heroine. It is really just about two people getting to know one another. In fact, considering the backgrounds of the hero and heroine, I would have expected more angst and discord, but this story is really about finding love for Christmas. An easy, sweet read.
WORTH MENTIONING: This is a short novella written in the 1980s so it does have some anachronistic material in it.
FINAL DECISION: I loved this novella. There are no misunderstandings and despite their pasts no real conflict here. Just two people getting to know one another.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This is a standalone.
STAR RATING: I give this story 4 stars.
July 5, 2013
Espírito Natalino...
O livro é ótimo uma história simples mais cheia de nuances interessante, com um espírito natalino.
Como toda história da DP os personagens tem os seus fantasmas, mas nada assim assustador, são coisas da vida, na realidade é um enredo levíssimo, ótimo pra ler num dia de chuva, debaixo do edredom.
Tate apesar de suas magoas, não é um ogro, não é mal educado, não grosso, apenas é duro e direto.
Maggie é batalhadora, criou o filho sozinha, pois ficou viúva muito cedo.
Blake, como toda criança de 10 anos, é impulsiva, inteligente, esperto, um fofo.
Bem, como já disse é uma história agradabilíssima...
Vale apena ler!!!!!!!!!!
O livro é ótimo uma história simples mais cheia de nuances interessante, com um espírito natalino.
Como toda história da DP os personagens tem os seus fantasmas, mas nada assim assustador, são coisas da vida, na realidade é um enredo levíssimo, ótimo pra ler num dia de chuva, debaixo do edredom.
Tate apesar de suas magoas, não é um ogro, não é mal educado, não grosso, apenas é duro e direto.
Maggie é batalhadora, criou o filho sozinha, pois ficou viúva muito cedo.
Blake, como toda criança de 10 anos, é impulsiva, inteligente, esperto, um fofo.
Bem, como já disse é uma história agradabilíssima...
Vale apena ler!!!!!!!!!!
March 5, 2009
Another quick holiday read. Each year Harlequin and Silhouette find the sweetest if not most unrealistic stories to help pass the stressful times before Christmas. I always read mine afterward. The Humbug Man was really a sweet tale of a young widow who falls fast for a rather crotchety rancher in Montana. Could it happen in real life? Probably not, but romance novels aren't about what could happen, they are about what we fantasize will happen.
November 23, 2019
A Rancher for Christmas
I think that I have read this book before. I've read most of her work and love it. This was a pretty straight forward story of two people at the mercy of a nine year old boy that didn't get a chance to know his father as he was killed before the child was born. So wanting his Mother to be happy and having spent time with his grandfather and knew the rancher next door, he did a little matchmaking......
I think that I have read this book before. I've read most of her work and love it. This was a pretty straight forward story of two people at the mercy of a nine year old boy that didn't get a chance to know his father as he was killed before the child was born. So wanting his Mother to be happy and having spent time with his grandfather and knew the rancher next door, he did a little matchmaking......
May 25, 2009
A very sweet story about a mother afraid to fall in love again, little boy whose has never known a father and a man who lost a family (married the woman who loved his brother to give the baby a name and lost in an accident). Little boy gets lost and brings to lonely people together at Christmas time. A good happy ever after book.
May 15, 2018
A very short read. I admit, I miss reading Ms. Palmer’s stories. I adore her alpha males who are perpetually broody and seemingly mean but are truly big warm teddy bears deep down in need of the love of a good woman.
Rated: 3.5/5.0—Overall, a lovely read by one of my favorite authors whom I haven’t read in a while.
Rated: 3.5/5.0—Overall, a lovely read by one of my favorite authors whom I haven’t read in a while.
December 18, 2019
Great Christmas ROMANCE
Every time I get one of your books can't put it down no matter what needs to be done read until I've finished day or night just so enamoured with the awesome characters that are so strong yet no one can say that they aren't giving up on love the real thing that means forever till death comes. #1 fan Carmen
Every time I get one of your books can't put it down no matter what needs to be done read until I've finished day or night just so enamoured with the awesome characters that are so strong yet no one can say that they aren't giving up on love the real thing that means forever till death comes. #1 fan Carmen
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews