Diana Palmer: Triple Review

Winter Roses is the story of Stuart York a ranch owner and businessman and Ivy Conley the best friend of Stuarts younger sister. One night the two of them run into each other, unsuspecting, and when Ivy finds herself in Stuarts arms, even temporarily, the two felt the fire, and Stuart stayed away.

Two years later, Ivy has a career and she is ready to assert herself. She isn’t a child and she doesn’t need anyone fighting her battles for her. But when she and Stuart end up together again, he’s doing everything he can to protect her.

In the end, Ivy overcomes her battle and Stuart his, and the two are able to be together, for good.

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In Tough To Tame, Dr. Bentley Rydel and vet tech Cappie Drake have only begun working together. Dr. Rydel is known to be a hardass, especially to his employees, and the woman before Cappie was known to run into the bathroom crying at least twice a day before she finally left. Bentley is a lonely well to do man, if he is a bit stubborn and Cappie is hardworking and doing everything she can to help her brother who is paralyzed.

When Cappie stands up to Rydel he takes a serious look at her and learns that he can’t stay away. The two grow closer, but as Cappie’s past catches up with her – before she gets a chance to explain to Rydel – things get a little messy. Rydel lowers into serious stubborn asshole male territory and Cappie is left to get through everything alone… until Rydel finds a way to apologize. Triumph again! In a little Texas town.

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Rogue Stallion takes place in a small Montana town. Police officer Sterling McCallum does his job and goes home to his dog. It’s a lonely life, but one that works for him. He wants nothing to do with Jessica Larson, a hard working social worker. The two have to work together on the odd case, but McCallum warns Jessica that all is strictly work. However, during one particular case, stakes get raised. During the case Jessica can’t seem to back down. She wants to see what it is about the cop that stirs her emotions, and McCallum ends up letting his guard down to get close to Jessica.

When a man from a past Jessica thought was behind her comes through town, Sterling gets shaken and Jessica is left in the dust. Eventually the two are able to overcome differences and begin their life with a little bit of miracle.

My Thoughts:

I have to say upfront that I liked each of these books. I read all three in a 24 hour period, they were incredibly quick reads, and while I enjoyed them, I wish I had spaced them out a little more.

If there is one thing that Diana Palmer can do, she can build tension between two characters. If there is one thing she needs to work on, it’s character variation.

Yes, I realize I’ve read all of three of her many, many romance novels. Yes, I know she’s considered to be in the top ten romance novelists out there. But based on what I read in these three books she needs some variation. What do I mean?

I mean that the three men here were big, tall, and dark with big hands and feet and hairy chests. Each was a ‘woman hater’ in their own way. Military experiences and tempers flying were not rare. They were all experienced and lovely and in need of a woman, but kept themselves isolated a good deal.

The women were no different. They were all several years younger than the man they wanted. They had a horrible past they were running from. A horrible past that caught up with them. Physical and emotional scars were there. They were hardworking and just above the poverty line. They were all very inexperienced and held beliefs they they need to wait until marriage to be intimate with a man. There is also someone who manages to give a horrible portrayal of character of these women to the men they are interested in causing the men to end up biased against the woman.

I haven’t spent any time in small town Texas or small town Montana. I don’t pretend to know whether or not this is how most things go in those places. But seriously, every relationship? I would love to see some character variation in Palmer’s books. I’m halfway through one now, and I have another on my shelves which I’ll be getting to eventually. The one I’m on though seems to be very similar to these books.

I really do like the tension though. Palmer is good at that. The couple starts experimenting but they never actually have sex, and by the middle of the book you’re just like, get it over with already! Of course you end up having to wait anyways. I really did expect there to be a bit more spice. I’ve read other Harlequin and Silhouette novels, but in comparison, these are incredibly tame.

When it comes down to it… Don’t read them all one after the other, unless this is exactly the type of relationship you’re looking for in your romance. Palmer’s books are good quick reads and I’d recommend them with a cup of hot chocolate on your day off.