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Amelia
Amelia's father is determined that she marry into the powerful Culhane family. Mild mannered Alan is to be the man she marries. But his brother, dangerous King Culhane, is the man she has to have.
311 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
675 people are currently reading
1294 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,039 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 152 reviews
March 26, 2020
Count on Diana Palmer to come up with ever creative ways to torture and abuse her poor heroines, always by a complete psychopath hero. She pretty much writes the same story, just changing settings and names. This one takes us to Texas in 1900.
Amelia’s hero spends 90% of the book bullying, degrading, humiliating, and terrorizing the meek, mousey heroine for absolutely no reason other than because he can. At least, your typical Harlequin or Bodice-Ripper gives you some reason to justify their hero’s often sadistic cruelty, usually a half-baked revenge plot or a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding.
But here, the only seeming reason for H's obsessive hatred of h is simply that she breathes. And wow, this guy is a piece of work. Slow clap for Diana. When I think she can't write a more horrendous "hero", she tops herself yet again.
This zero hero rapes heroine and then goes blabbing around town that she is a loose woman, causing her psycho dad to whip her almost to death! Yet our wonderful hero STILL doesn't let up: Apparently, everything he did is her fault. She drove him to it, you guys!!!
And all the Other Women he is involved with... Poor heroine doesn't even figure as second best. He is pining for his dead fiancee, a woman who left him twenty years ago at the first sign that he may not be as rich as she had hoped. And when he is not pining for OW number 1, he is constantly dangling OW number 2, a very much alive, extremely venomous, almost fiancee. He straight up tells h she is no wife material, that he wants to marry the OW, but that he is forced to marry h only because she might be pregnant after his rape, and his whole family threatened to shun him for life if he didn’t marry his rape victim. Absolute horror show.
Don't even get me started on the doormat/martyr h with obvious masochistic desires. After everything he has done, all she can muster is a few witty comebacks and one instance where she throws a pitcher at him. I would have thrown the entire contents of a glass factory at him and then stabbed him with the broken shards.
There is some extremely boring subplot involving heroine’s brother, a Texas ranger, and how he falls in love with the daughter of the Mexican Bandido he is pursuing.
Yeah, hot mess.
Amelia’s hero spends 90% of the book bullying, degrading, humiliating, and terrorizing the meek, mousey heroine for absolutely no reason other than because he can. At least, your typical Harlequin or Bodice-Ripper gives you some reason to justify their hero’s often sadistic cruelty, usually a half-baked revenge plot or a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding.
But here, the only seeming reason for H's obsessive hatred of h is simply that she breathes. And wow, this guy is a piece of work. Slow clap for Diana. When I think she can't write a more horrendous "hero", she tops herself yet again.
This zero hero rapes heroine and then goes blabbing around town that she is a loose woman, causing her psycho dad to whip her almost to death! Yet our wonderful hero STILL doesn't let up: Apparently, everything he did is her fault. She drove him to it, you guys!!!
And all the Other Women he is involved with... Poor heroine doesn't even figure as second best. He is pining for his dead fiancee, a woman who left him twenty years ago at the first sign that he may not be as rich as she had hoped. And when he is not pining for OW number 1, he is constantly dangling OW number 2, a very much alive, extremely venomous, almost fiancee. He straight up tells h she is no wife material, that he wants to marry the OW, but that he is forced to marry h only because she might be pregnant after his rape, and his whole family threatened to shun him for life if he didn’t marry his rape victim. Absolute horror show.
Don't even get me started on the doormat/martyr h with obvious masochistic desires. After everything he has done, all she can muster is a few witty comebacks and one instance where she throws a pitcher at him. I would have thrown the entire contents of a glass factory at him and then stabbed him with the broken shards.
There is some extremely boring subplot involving heroine’s brother, a Texas ranger, and how he falls in love with the daughter of the Mexican Bandido he is pursuing.
Yeah, hot mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2015
DP can be like crack. It's bad for you, you swear never again, and then you always relapse and repeat the cycle.
This one, unfortunately, was not as much of a guilty pleasure. For one thing there was very much a this happened, then that happened, then... quality to the storytelling. No depth and it just didn't flow. I didn't feel immersed in the least. Plus, all the jumping back an forth between Amelia and her brother's story was jarring.
In many ways this was the typical DP hero, reluctantly attracted to the heroine yet inexplicably hating her for one irrational reason or the other. He was also one of the biggest, cruelest asses and that's saying a lot considering DP's track record. Even so, this lacked that certain DP crackiness that only she can get away with writing over and over and over again. Perhaps historical romance is simply not her forte.
I think the reason I grudgingly enjoy her contemporaries is the campy OTT mess that her stories often are. The outrageously put upon virginal heroine who is a secret member of Mensa and champion biscuit maker combined with the cranky hero with a massive amount of chest hair and graduate degree in jumping to conclusions. All set against the background of a town of 2000 which has it's own movie theater, mall, fine art gallery, and community college which can offer any degree from Ancient Greek to Forensics. Oh, and we mustn't forget the 500 secret federal agents working anything from serial killing to international drug trafficking cases in that busy little town. It's too funny.
This had some elements of her contemporary novels, but they just didn't translate. I believe she tried to be serious and the trials of the heroine provided some serious angst potential, but there was too much showing and not telling.
This one, unfortunately, was not as much of a guilty pleasure. For one thing there was very much a this happened, then that happened, then... quality to the storytelling. No depth and it just didn't flow. I didn't feel immersed in the least. Plus, all the jumping back an forth between Amelia and her brother's story was jarring.
In many ways this was the typical DP hero, reluctantly attracted to the heroine yet inexplicably hating her for one irrational reason or the other. He was also one of the biggest, cruelest asses and that's saying a lot considering DP's track record. Even so, this lacked that certain DP crackiness that only she can get away with writing over and over and over again. Perhaps historical romance is simply not her forte.
I think the reason I grudgingly enjoy her contemporaries is the campy OTT mess that her stories often are. The outrageously put upon virginal heroine who is a secret member of Mensa and champion biscuit maker combined with the cranky hero with a massive amount of chest hair and graduate degree in jumping to conclusions. All set against the background of a town of 2000 which has it's own movie theater, mall, fine art gallery, and community college which can offer any degree from Ancient Greek to Forensics. Oh, and we mustn't forget the 500 secret federal agents working anything from serial killing to international drug trafficking cases in that busy little town. It's too funny.
This had some elements of her contemporary novels, but they just didn't translate. I believe she tried to be serious and the trials of the heroine provided some serious angst potential, but there was too much showing and not telling.
October 23, 2019
Hero was harsh but I loved Amelia. There's something really romantic about unrequited love. My heart broke for Amelia and the abuse she suffered in the hands of her sadistic father and I was so happy when King realized what an idiot he was and admitted his feelings. Loved the angst and their sweet HEA!
December 31, 2020
Not the worst DP hero ever but still a ratfink.
Heroine hides her shining light under a bushel because of her once nice, now mean father. Very, very mean because of a smack on the head as well as other things. Her meekness is a red flag to the H who does some pretty unforgivable things that get forgiven.
The h’s Texas Ranger brother has his own romance with a sixteen year old virgin he finds in a brothel that is the adopted daughter of the man he is searching for. Diana Palmer plays rough with her dolls.
The secondary hero goes into an alcoholic decline when the secondary heroine gets mad at him. Had to laugh when the sheriff said he made a good deputy. Uh duh, he WAS a Texas Ranger after all.
The most interesting character is the Robin Hood bandido with a of heart of gold that steals from the rich gringos to save the poor peasants with things like buckets and churches.
Problems When You Know the Area:
Set in West Texas, more specifically Alpine, Texas, DP does a “John Ford”. When John Ford filmed The Searchers which is set just west of San Antonio, Texas, he filmed it in Monument Valley like he filmed almost everything except The Quiet Man. Even he couldn’t get away with pretending MV is Ireland.
DP has the hero, heroine et al running between Alpine and El Paso via buggy likes it’s a nice little jaunt and not the four to five day ride it really is.
Heroine hides her shining light under a bushel because of her once nice, now mean father. Very, very mean because of a smack on the head as well as other things. Her meekness is a red flag to the H who does some pretty unforgivable things that get forgiven.
The h’s Texas Ranger brother has his own romance with a sixteen year old virgin he finds in a brothel that is the adopted daughter of the man he is searching for. Diana Palmer plays rough with her dolls.
The secondary hero goes into an alcoholic decline when the secondary heroine gets mad at him. Had to laugh when the sheriff said he made a good deputy. Uh duh, he WAS a Texas Ranger after all.
The most interesting character is the Robin Hood bandido with a of heart of gold that steals from the rich gringos to save the poor peasants with things like buckets and churches.
Problems When You Know the Area:
Set in West Texas, more specifically Alpine, Texas, DP does a “John Ford”. When John Ford filmed The Searchers which is set just west of San Antonio, Texas, he filmed it in Monument Valley like he filmed almost everything except The Quiet Man. Even he couldn’t get away with pretending MV is Ireland.
DP has the hero, heroine et al running between Alpine and El Paso via buggy likes it’s a nice little jaunt and not the four to five day ride it really is.
September 4, 2023
Reread-via audiobook (on scribd & part of audible plus currently) I like this one and the male narrator wasn't bad... but I hate that the OW just disappears and we don't even get to see her get dumped. DP is not good at OW comeuppance at all.
***Original Review***
I’m deep into a DP binge so there’ll be several of these. *Disclaimer- Diana Palmer is not for everyone… she’s probably not for most, but I’m obsessed with them, so my ratings will usually be higher, but that doesn’t mean you’ll think it’s good-LOL
Amelia 1993, is not part of the Long, Tall Tex series, but they’re still in Texas, and there’s still many of the “elements” DP fans crave. This one takes place in 1900, so King Culhane (30) may lack the “worldly-ness” as many other H’s, but he makes up for it in broodiness. He’s a grumpy asshole!! He hates his attraction to Amelia, so he insults her, and is hostile every chance he can in between devouring her lips. He also likes to throw OW Darcy in her face and remind her how she can’t measure up. This is all pretty standard, but he takes it one step further by
For much of the book, Amelia (20) channels a welcome mat in attempts of keeping her angry father pacified but finds her backbone towards then end. Eventually, King pulls his head out of his ass, and the couple rides out into the sunset. There’s a side-plot going throughout following Amelia’s brother Quinn through Mexico. It’s loosely tied to King’s dead fiancée, but I skimmed most of those parts.
Bottom line- This one’s a little different… the OW isn’t blond; the H isn’t a mercenary; there’s no drug lords, but still has a “DP” feel to it. Hard core fans will probably like it, but others might find King past the point of redemption. Personally, I found the volatile relationships entertaining, and enjoyed this one.
***Original Review***
I’m deep into a DP binge so there’ll be several of these. *Disclaimer- Diana Palmer is not for everyone… she’s probably not for most, but I’m obsessed with them, so my ratings will usually be higher, but that doesn’t mean you’ll think it’s good-LOL
Amelia 1993, is not part of the Long, Tall Tex series, but they’re still in Texas, and there’s still many of the “elements” DP fans crave. This one takes place in 1900, so King Culhane (30) may lack the “worldly-ness” as many other H’s, but he makes up for it in broodiness. He’s a grumpy asshole!! He hates his attraction to Amelia, so he insults her, and is hostile every chance he can in between devouring her lips. He also likes to throw OW Darcy in her face and remind her how she can’t measure up. This is all pretty standard, but he takes it one step further by
For much of the book, Amelia (20) channels a welcome mat in attempts of keeping her angry father pacified but finds her backbone towards then end. Eventually, King pulls his head out of his ass, and the couple rides out into the sunset. There’s a side-plot going throughout following Amelia’s brother Quinn through Mexico. It’s loosely tied to King’s dead fiancée, but I skimmed most of those parts.
Bottom line- This one’s a little different… the OW isn’t blond; the H isn’t a mercenary; there’s no drug lords, but still has a “DP” feel to it. Hard core fans will probably like it, but others might find King past the point of redemption. Personally, I found the volatile relationships entertaining, and enjoyed this one.
January 26, 2024
2.25 stars (3 stars for the first half but 1.5 stars for the second half)
Pros for me:
1- a jerk hero
2- a heroine with unrequited love for said jerk hero (brother's best friend)
Both are the makings of a good angsty love story!
3- ANGST! (at least for the first half of the book)
4- forced proximity
Cons for me:
1- the second half was slow and nothing really happened to move the story along (like episodes 6 and 7 of season 2 of Bridgerton). Some things also got repetitive in this section too.
2- the hero is an idiot at times and I just wanted to smack him
3- the hero does something unforgivable to the heroine and it (I know cons #2 and #3 come with the territory of a jerk hero but I think he went a little too far with #3.)
4- the hero does not grovel for forgiveness
5- the love confessions weren't epic. Why not?! 😫
6- only one unsatisfying sex scene (Trigger warning: questionable consent but I think it was rape). There was a wedding night but all we read is How disappointing. However, there are a lot of kisses throughout the book.
7- When it came to Amelia's father's treatment of Amelia, why didn't anyone do anything about it when they suspected something is wrong?!?!?! Why didn't Amelia ask for help? Trigger warning: abuse
8- There's a secondary plot and love story with Amelia's brother, Quinn, and Maria and Maria's bandit (adopted) father, Rodriguez. It was interesting at first, but then I stopped caring for it in the second half and wanted to skip their parts. This side story is loosely connected to King's former fiance's murder.
9- The hero is referred to by his nickname, King. Not sexy at all.
10- The POV jumps from one character to the next within the same chapter.
Other things:
- the temporary amnesia
- how is it that King (and everyone else) can see Quinn's love for Maria yet he couldn't see that there was more to Amelia and her relationship with her father? Everybody else saw it! Why didn't he see it?! This is one of his idiot moments.
-Apparently, this author likes to write about jerk heroes with hairy chests. 🤣 So, yes, King has a bit of hair on his chest.
-The setting is in Texas in 1900.
This doesn't bother me but it might bother other readers:
-The hero kisses another woman twice after meeting the heroine since he's thinking about marrying the other woman. On the bright side, he's not marrying the other woman because he loves her. The OW doesn't love him either. She's marrying him for his money and for a business arrangement/alliance of sorts. The hero knows this and is okay with it since love is not involved and the OW is at least honest about her intentions.
Pros for me:
1- a jerk hero
2- a heroine with unrequited love for said jerk hero (brother's best friend)
Both are the makings of a good angsty love story!
3- ANGST! (at least for the first half of the book)
4- forced proximity
Cons for me:
1- the second half was slow and nothing really happened to move the story along (like episodes 6 and 7 of season 2 of Bridgerton). Some things also got repetitive in this section too.
2- the hero is an idiot at times and I just wanted to smack him
3- the hero does something unforgivable to the heroine and it (I know cons #2 and #3 come with the territory of a jerk hero but I think he went a little too far with #3.)
4- the hero does not grovel for forgiveness
5- the love confessions weren't epic. Why not?! 😫
6- only one unsatisfying sex scene (Trigger warning: questionable consent but I think it was rape). There was a wedding night but all we read is How disappointing. However, there are a lot of kisses throughout the book.
7- When it came to Amelia's father's treatment of Amelia, why didn't anyone do anything about it when they suspected something is wrong?!?!?! Why didn't Amelia ask for help? Trigger warning: abuse
8- There's a secondary plot and love story with Amelia's brother, Quinn, and Maria and Maria's bandit (adopted) father, Rodriguez. It was interesting at first, but then I stopped caring for it in the second half and wanted to skip their parts. This side story is loosely connected to King's former fiance's murder.
9- The hero is referred to by his nickname, King. Not sexy at all.
10- The POV jumps from one character to the next within the same chapter.
Other things:
- the temporary amnesia
- how is it that King (and everyone else) can see Quinn's love for Maria yet he couldn't see that there was more to Amelia and her relationship with her father? Everybody else saw it! Why didn't he see it?! This is one of his idiot moments.
-Apparently, this author likes to write about jerk heroes with hairy chests. 🤣 So, yes, King has a bit of hair on his chest.
-The setting is in Texas in 1900.
This doesn't bother me but it might bother other readers:
-The hero kisses another woman twice after meeting the heroine since he's thinking about marrying the other woman. On the bright side, he's not marrying the other woman because he loves her. The OW doesn't love him either. She's marrying him for his money and for a business arrangement/alliance of sorts. The hero knows this and is okay with it since love is not involved and the OW is at least honest about her intentions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2016
I loved and hated this book. I loved how he grovelled and I hated how he treated her. She was very naive at first but when she recovers from her ordeal, she finally grows a spine and gets a clue.
However, she gets sex crazy again and just gives it up. Man, woman can be stupid at times.
I wanted him to sweat it out more. He was a major asshat. He had to know how her father would react! Come on, they knew each other for God sake!!!
Poor girl needs a better hero and a nicer family.
However, she gets sex crazy again and just gives it up. Man, woman can be stupid at times.
I wanted him to sweat it out more. He was a major asshat. He had to know how her father would react! Come on, they knew each other for God sake!!!
Poor girl needs a better hero and a nicer family.
January 31, 2021
A Palmer must-read and one of the top 5 cruelest heroes. He is unbelievable! Tons of drama.
July 14, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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Update: Re-read in July 2021
Update: Re-read in January 2015
Hero cruel and insensitive.
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Update: Re-read in July 2021
Update: Re-read in January 2015
Hero cruel and insensitive.
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Left in Atlanta with her failing mother and her abusive father, Amelia learned quickly that being docile and obedient was the only way to escape the physical violence that began to accompany her father’s personality change.
Her father had suddenly become a money-hungry tyrant.
King didn’t speak as he rode past Amelia. He didn’t even look at her. The silent treatment had gone on for a week—the entire length of time Amelia and her father had been visiting. He contrived to ignore her completely, even when the family was all together in the evenings. No one else noticed, but Amelia did.
For a rural man, he had something of a reputation with city women of a certain sort.
King looked at her with cool disdain. He was used to women fawning over him.
She played the piano well, and she spoke a few simple words of French, but she had no real intellect and no backbone.
He did, too, usually ride him to the neighboring Valverde estate when he paid court to Miss Darcy.
Miss Darcy had been condescending almost to the point of rudeness, while clinging limpetlike to King.
“Alan should marry,” she returned curtly. “And Amelia is a lovely, sweet girl.” “A spineless jellyfish with no spunk and no grit,” he said shortly.
Amelia hesitated. She didn’t like the Valverde heiress, and the woman certainly didn’t like her.
At least Darcy didn’t manage to drain his resolve. He found her attractive and even desirable, but he wanted her only with his mind, not with his emotions.
Darcy’s gown, while it might have flattered a taller woman, made the short, dark Darcy look like an ice cream sundae. The woman was attractive but hardly a beauty. And expensive designer gowns made little difference.
“Can you see her on a horse?” King asked with cold sarcasm, shocking his mother even further. “She’s a chocolate box beauty with no spirit and even less imagination.”
“I have no affection for or interest in your guest,” he added coldly. “I came here to spend some time with Darcy, whom I shall most likely marry one day soon.”
He threw the cigar down with little appreciation for its age and cost and drew Darcy roughly against him. He noticed the flicker of her eyelids and her fixed smile, and he wanted to curse her. Darcy pretended to be enslaved by him, but her distaste of intimacy with him was all too visible.
He kissed her roughly and felt her hands go against his chest, pushing, almost at once.
He was sure that Alice would have come back to him, that she had truly loved him. She had panicked at the thought of being poor, that was all. She would have married him.
Alice had welcomed him into her bed time and time again, and he still woke sweating, remembering her quicksilver response.
He had mourned her deeply, just after her death. But over the years, the sting had faded somewhat. Not that he forgave Rodriguez. Oh, no.
Poor Amelia. Her life had certainly been no bed of roses. Quinn grieved for her. Only he knew the agonies she suffered and the danger she faced.
“Perhaps there is a reason.” “Even if that were the case, she is not my concern. I have no wish to saddle myself with a pretty little piece of fluff with no backbone.” With that curt remark, he went back to his own room.
This time they had a passenger. Miss Valverde had wrangled an invitation to lunch. She climbed in beside King and chatted to him animatedly until they arrived back at Latigo.
Without counting the cost, he flipped the cigar out into the dust and abruptly bent, dragging a shocked Darcy up to him. He kissed her with every indication of true passion for the benefit of the woman standing, shocked, in the doorway.
“I daresay your Miss Valverde has sufficient for us both,” she replied coolly. He arched an eyebrow and smiled. “Indeed she has. I appreciate spirit in animals and women.”
“She will be exactly what you require in a wife, Mr. Culhane. I knew that.”
You have a sweet mouth. But it was only curiosity. Nothing more. Not on my part.”
It would be to save Alan from what King had endured, from the humiliation of loving a woman who only wanted his bank account. It was no more than Amelia deserved, after all.
Amelia felt him with shame and degradation. Her eyes closed to shut out the sight of it. Her body felt torn and used, and she wanted nothing more in that moment than to die.
Here, as in every other way, a man was an animal, a brutal, unfeeling animal who took his pleasure and repaid a woman with pain and debasement.
“I will not marry you,” he said bluntly. “If this bit of seduction was planned toward that end, it has failed miserably. Nor will I allow Alan to marry you. If you attempt to lure him to a minister, I’ll tell him what you permitted me to do to you in sordid, glorious detail. Is that understood?”
King Culhane himself came to see me, to tell me that you blatantly offered yourself to him! Do you think any man will marry what he can have for the asking? Alan will never want you now! You have disgraced me! You have disgraced us all!”
All King had wanted was for Hartwell to know that Amelia couldn’t marry Alan, and why. He should never have done it.
“I have chosen a wife with my mind, not my heart. I will marry Darcy, when I marry.”
He would be honor-bound to marry her in such a case, and it was the last thing he wanted.
“You do not love her?” “Of course I do not love her,” King denied violently, averting his eyes with a cold laugh. “She is everything I detest most in a woman.”
“If you do not love her, to marry her would be an act without honor.”
Darcy would make him feel better, he told himself. Darcy would help him forget. She was going to be his wife. She might as well start being a comfort to him now.
But pray God, let her not be pregnant, he thought. That would lock them both into a prison from which there would be no escape.
“I’ll kill him,” King said coldly. “Do you think I can forget what he did to her?” Amelia had thought King was falling in love with her. Now she knew the truth. It was all a lie.
King was too furious to listen. All he could see was Alice’s poor body, cut to ribbons, mutilated.
King had gotten on his horse and ridden away without another word to anyone.
“How can I stay? King wants no part of me! If he had cared, he would never have let the capture of an outlaw destroy our wedding day like this. He did the right and honorable thing, I cannot expect him to pretend love where none exists.”/
August 7, 2021
My god what a tragedy this book was.
DP woke up with the wrong foot and she decided to take it out on the poor heroine.
We’re in the early 1900, or end 800 i don’t remember.
Heroine is in love with the mean hero since forever.
He’s her brother’s friend.
She’s a guest for some time in his house, with her father.
Her father has changed his behavior for some years becoming more and more unpredictable and with severe anger issues. He beats the poor heroine for anything. So she’s become a meek and careful creature, trying not to draw his attention (and his fists)
The hero seems to hate her, because she’s meek.
His brother is fond of her, and they are good friends.
The hero understands that her father hopes for them to get married, but H is against their union.
The hero seems not to understand that her father is abusive and hates her because she’s meek.
I found his behavior frankly vile and mean.
No excuses here.
She’s a young lady and she’s doing nothing wrong.
He verbally abused her every time he sees her, shaming her and telling her he doesn’t want her to marry his brother.
I couldn’t accept his behavior.
He’s a hick without manners.
Even if he didn’t like her what he did was unforgivable.
He coldly seduces her and then tells her he’ll never marry her and he did it only to prevent her from marrying his brother.
He basically raped her! Because she asked him to stop and he didn’t, hurting her badly.
Then goes to her father and tells him she’s a slut that threw herself to him.
Her father, who has a brain tumor that caused his personality issues, beats her almost to death, then dies of a heart attack.
The heroine loses her memory about what happened before her beating.
All this was tragic and excessive.
Even if the hero didn’t know her situation what he did was unforgivable and dishonest.
He’s a man without honor.
Even after what he did to her he was still thinking to marry his fiancée and not the heroine.
His brother offered to marry her, but H didn’t want it.
This man is one of those toxic DP hero that I don’t really see how could be redeemed, and actually they don’t redeem themselves.
I still can’t see how the heroine could love him, after what he did to her.
I wished her brother, who is a Texas ranger, would have killed him.
She defended him even after what he did to her!
I don’t really think I can forgive his behavior.
He’s simply appalling.
And until 80% of the book he hated her and planned to marry his fiancée, a true and royal (and I mean royal as in queen of) b***h if ever was one. He deserved her and he deserved to live a long and unhappy life with her.
The heroine should have married his brother, who was a real gentleman.
Whatever.
I don’t ever get what I wish with DP, this is for certain!
I loved the angst, though, so I can’t give less than 3 stars.
Oh, the parallel story of her brother and his enemy’s daughter was useless and I skipped without remorse.
DP woke up with the wrong foot and she decided to take it out on the poor heroine.
We’re in the early 1900, or end 800 i don’t remember.
Heroine is in love with the mean hero since forever.
He’s her brother’s friend.
She’s a guest for some time in his house, with her father.
Her father has changed his behavior for some years becoming more and more unpredictable and with severe anger issues. He beats the poor heroine for anything. So she’s become a meek and careful creature, trying not to draw his attention (and his fists)
The hero seems to hate her, because she’s meek.
His brother is fond of her, and they are good friends.
The hero understands that her father hopes for them to get married, but H is against their union.
The hero seems not to understand that her father is abusive and hates her because she’s meek.
I found his behavior frankly vile and mean.
No excuses here.
She’s a young lady and she’s doing nothing wrong.
He verbally abused her every time he sees her, shaming her and telling her he doesn’t want her to marry his brother.
I couldn’t accept his behavior.
He’s a hick without manners.
Even if he didn’t like her what he did was unforgivable.
He coldly seduces her and then tells her he’ll never marry her and he did it only to prevent her from marrying his brother.
He basically raped her! Because she asked him to stop and he didn’t, hurting her badly.
Then goes to her father and tells him she’s a slut that threw herself to him.
Her father, who has a brain tumor that caused his personality issues, beats her almost to death, then dies of a heart attack.
The heroine loses her memory about what happened before her beating.
All this was tragic and excessive.
Even if the hero didn’t know her situation what he did was unforgivable and dishonest.
He’s a man without honor.
Even after what he did to her he was still thinking to marry his fiancée and not the heroine.
His brother offered to marry her, but H didn’t want it.
This man is one of those toxic DP hero that I don’t really see how could be redeemed, and actually they don’t redeem themselves.
I still can’t see how the heroine could love him, after what he did to her.
I wished her brother, who is a Texas ranger, would have killed him.
She defended him even after what he did to her!
I don’t really think I can forgive his behavior.
He’s simply appalling.
And until 80% of the book he hated her and planned to marry his fiancée, a true and royal (and I mean royal as in queen of) b***h if ever was one. He deserved her and he deserved to live a long and unhappy life with her.
The heroine should have married his brother, who was a real gentleman.
Whatever.
I don’t ever get what I wish with DP, this is for certain!
I loved the angst, though, so I can’t give less than 3 stars.
Oh, the parallel story of her brother and his enemy’s daughter was useless and I skipped without remorse.
April 28, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: When I need a vintage romance with some angst and a bully H, I can always depend on DP. This delivers in spades and I love it. I’ve read it multiple times.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the setting of Texas in 1900. That’s what lets this terrible H (King) get away with so much. Amelia (h) is stuck at the mercy of her father who is ill with a brain tumor. He’s violent and unpredictable. Much of the story is the H mercilessly torturing the helpless h because he labels her a stupid, spineless gold digger. I honestly didn’t care too much for the parallel story of Amelia’s brother Quinn and his love interest though. I skimmed it when I reread the book.
* What did you think about the main characters?: King has few redeeming qualities. He’s not handsome, he strings women along, and he jumps to nasty conclusions about people. We keep hearing from his brother and parents that he’s a decent guy, but we don’t really see it until the end when he takes full responsibility for all the damage he caused. He is a man toddler. Amelia is a paragon. She hides her intelligence and plays the meek subservient role in order to pacify her abusive father. He literally beats her if she falls out of line. It is a believable scenario, though. I loved the resilience of her character.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: The climax of this book is heart-wrenching and sickening. You have questionable consent/rape and then the H literally gets the h’s father so riled up that he almost beats the h to death before the H finally regrets his actions. I love it so much because I’m a masochist.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Bully cruel hero, horrible OW, Texas 1900 HR
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted more groveling, but King does repeatedly tell everyone how guilty/horrible he is and he seems to be atoning for it in the end.
* What is your impression of the author?: I love DP!
Triggers: questionable consent (on page), domestic violence (fades to black)
* How did the book make you feel?: When I need a vintage romance with some angst and a bully H, I can always depend on DP. This delivers in spades and I love it. I’ve read it multiple times.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the setting of Texas in 1900. That’s what lets this terrible H (King) get away with so much. Amelia (h) is stuck at the mercy of her father who is ill with a brain tumor. He’s violent and unpredictable. Much of the story is the H mercilessly torturing the helpless h because he labels her a stupid, spineless gold digger. I honestly didn’t care too much for the parallel story of Amelia’s brother Quinn and his love interest though. I skimmed it when I reread the book.
* What did you think about the main characters?: King has few redeeming qualities. He’s not handsome, he strings women along, and he jumps to nasty conclusions about people. We keep hearing from his brother and parents that he’s a decent guy, but we don’t really see it until the end when he takes full responsibility for all the damage he caused. He is a man toddler. Amelia is a paragon. She hides her intelligence and plays the meek subservient role in order to pacify her abusive father. He literally beats her if she falls out of line. It is a believable scenario, though. I loved the resilience of her character.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: The climax of this book is heart-wrenching and sickening. You have questionable consent/rape and then the H literally gets the h’s father so riled up that he almost beats the h to death before the H finally regrets his actions. I love it so much because I’m a masochist.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Bully cruel hero, horrible OW, Texas 1900 HR
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted more groveling, but King does repeatedly tell everyone how guilty/horrible he is and he seems to be atoning for it in the end.
* What is your impression of the author?: I love DP!
Triggers: questionable consent (on page), domestic violence (fades to black)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2021
I just didn’t like the hero that much, he was too stubborn and he obviously had a great dislike for “unaccomplished women”! I mean wth, some women were unable to get an education, heck even now there are places on this planet where women are not educated and it’s not right at all and people are fighting to get women educated and have rights but it certainly isn’t the female’s fault if she didn’t get an education or if she doesn’t know a thousand languages, etc. The hero in this, King, simply had a very bad view of women who apparently were not educated. He seduced (I call it raped because she was not ready and was definitely forced into the situation even if it was not rape rape) Amelia and he fought against his attraction to her and didn’t for once consider her reputation and the impact it would have on her when he sullied her good name. Then suddenly once he realised that she wasn’t the dimwit that he thought she was, he started to like her, when he realised she had a sharp tongue and an intelligent mind, he started to like her, talk about being in love only when you think the other person is educated or short tempered.
What I mean to say is there are plenty of women who avoid confrontation and abuse by simply staying quiet in a situation, it’s not because they are not strong, it’s because they don’t want something worse to happen. But god knows those types of people are the strongest out there, only someone who has been in such a situation can understand that it’s hard when you love someone so much and they change and become violent and you still love them, instead of abusing them further like this H did, we should help them.
The H’s parents and younger brother were great and really understood what was going on and even tried to help Amelia but the H was just the trigger to everything that happened.
What I mean to say is there are plenty of women who avoid confrontation and abuse by simply staying quiet in a situation, it’s not because they are not strong, it’s because they don’t want something worse to happen. But god knows those types of people are the strongest out there, only someone who has been in such a situation can understand that it’s hard when you love someone so much and they change and become violent and you still love them, instead of abusing them further like this H did, we should help them.
The H’s parents and younger brother were great and really understood what was going on and even tried to help Amelia but the H was just the trigger to everything that happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2019
Almost four but I can’t really.
Fun read! But not in a funny way, more like in a jaw dropping I can’t believe he’s so silly stupid. Very angsty until two thirds of the book, the way he treats the poor loving heroine, then it was all topsy turvy and totally uninteresting but then it picked up again as we got a grand finale angsts wedding. I just wished the heroine held out for more than 1 day after leaving the silly man.
Fun read! But not in a funny way, more like in a jaw dropping I can’t believe he’s so silly stupid. Very angsty until two thirds of the book, the way he treats the poor loving heroine, then it was all topsy turvy and totally uninteresting but then it picked up again as we got a grand finale angsts wedding. I just wished the heroine held out for more than 1 day after leaving the silly man.
August 20, 2017
If as a reader you are not a familiar with DP
book formula then you are going to absolutely
hate this book. All of DP's books follow the same
pattern guy is super cruel, more cruel, cruelness
ensues, major event that is not redeemable, then
groveling, somewhat cruel, the end. Pretty much
most of DP's men are beyond repair and should
not be the male lead. As for the female protagonist
she is the definition of TSTL main character.
However, I grew up reading DP and for some
reason I still punish myself by reading her books.
book formula then you are going to absolutely
hate this book. All of DP's books follow the same
pattern guy is super cruel, more cruel, cruelness
ensues, major event that is not redeemable, then
groveling, somewhat cruel, the end. Pretty much
most of DP's men are beyond repair and should
not be the male lead. As for the female protagonist
she is the definition of TSTL main character.
However, I grew up reading DP and for some
reason I still punish myself by reading her books.
July 24, 2023
Тук сюжетното клише е “героиня-мъченица”. Ужас! Чак прекалено.
December 5, 2023
3.5 stars (upgraded because it is Di Palmer)
⏳ [4th re-read of 2022, 1st proper review, rating maintained]
This is vintage Di Palmer, a tad more outrageous than usual. I first discovered Di Palmer during my high school years through the excellent The Cowboy And The Lady. Since then I have read quite a few more, but that first book will always remain at the top of my Di Palmer reads. For many people, reading her books are always either a hit or a miss. Yes, her works now feel dated, full of rough, domineering and foolish Alphaholes who always hurt the hearts of emotional heroines in a melodramatic way, full of plotholes in retrospect, and even if not all her books are equal in quality, there is always that element of 'swept-off-your-feet' with 'high-passion' that just like that makes my reader's heart sigh and swoon at some critical moments of the story.
Certainly, the feminist message in her books is not very enlightened, but the romantic me tends to suspend much of her disbelief (and feminist outcry) when reading Di Palmer's books. It is probably very unfair and nostalgic of me, but I thus give her stories much more lee-way that I would ever give a contemporary author. I think that this is because my mind catalogues her stories well in the past, her writing style calls irresistibly to the raw emotions of romantics in a dashing way, and her Hs somehow always redeem themselves in a very raw and dramatic manner.
In Amelia, the story is set at the very start of the 19th Century in Texas, USA, and follows one of the most recurrent themes beloved by Di Palmer:
- Unrequited love on the h's side (or so she thinks)
- Enemies to Lovers (all because of foolish prejudices)
- Intense and confrontational mutual attraction (guaranteeing lots of delicious angst)
- Alphahole H with cutting words
- Tormented but sometimes spitfire h
- H always stubbornly misunderstanding h's intentions and actions
- H's little brother is the best friend of the h (and the cause of jealousy)
- Future mother-in-law supportive of h
- The life/ health of h gets endagered somehow, because of H (to his intense remorse)
This is basically the whole plot of The Cowboy And The Lady, repeated in Amelia in a 'period piece' context. This book also possibly qualifies as a late bodice-ripper-like book, much more so than her other works that I have read. Though this book comes up often in my re-reads, I am always very much shocked of the .
Then, why do I still caution this book and include it in my re-reads? Well, from my latest re-read, I can see that King, even if he did not grovel much, showed very raging remorse and did verbalise his fault over and over again to Amelia (and many others) in a very sincere and heartfelt way, which a male of his calibre would normally rebuke at doing. Also, though I don't appreciate the way Amelia swept away just like that the emotional hurt from his , I can see that for her, her intense love for King is what counts over everything. And King did love her, to his very bone, even if he was often stupid blind, quick tempered and beastly in his dealings with Amelia. I have a shelf called men who love deeply and I was a bit tempted to classify this book in it, but I reasoned that King's love read more as men who love dangerously. So, in brief, King and Amelia were not perfect as persons, but apparently perfect for each other. And while I would not condone ever this type of lover in RL, I do believe that they deserved each other and will be happy with each other.
Hence, Amelia is much a 'moth to flame' book to me despite its many imperfections (and I could seriously write a long list of plotholes I noted during this re-read). The angst was very intense and I was in tears (good and bad) in a few places. Recommended to those addicted to melodramatic period piece romances verging on the OTT side. Else, for a better written story in the same period, Di Palmer's Magnolia would probably be a better choice, one that I intend to re-read in 2022 as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2011
This is the first historical by Diana Palmer that I've read, and like her contemporaries I have to be in a certain mood for them. Sometimes I just need to know exactly what's going to happen before I even open the book (usually I need this after reading a few really emotional books). With Diana Palmer she seems to follow the same formula when writing her stories so when I pick up one of her books I know that there will be a jerky hero, who has a big mouth and usually acts like he can't stand the heroine. She of course is madely and secretivly in love the jerky hero. There is a big missunderstanding and the H digs himself a huge whole and for some reason he digs it deeper as the story goes on (he can't help himself, something just comes over him when he's in her presence). The H doesn't seem to admit that he loves the h until she's decided that they will never have a future together and he has to spend the rest of the book trying to win her back. So when I'm in the right mood for them I guess it's kinda like comfort food for me. =)
Amelia (h) has had a rough life. She lost her mother and younger twin brothers at an early age, her older brother Quin is a Texas Ranger and doesn't live at home nor does he have much time to visit. A few years ago her father had an accident that had given him a head injury and ever since then he has been known to have violent outburst, usually causing Amelia harm. Over the years she has learned to adapt her personality to a more meek,submisive attitude to lessen her father's anger/outbursts and to avoid severe beatings. Now her father wants her to marry Alan Culhane but it's not Alan she's in love with it's his older brother King (H). Too bad King can't stand her.
King (H) is the eldest son of a rich cattle barron. He's use to women thoughing themselves at him but he want's a woman who is at least honest( he know's he's no looker and the only reason women want him is for his $$). So when a woman from the next farm over said that they should marry for a kind of buisness arangement, to blend the two farms of course, he gives it serious concideration because at least she was stright forward and honest. Too bad he's so distracted by Amelia, his brother Alan seems to be taking a liking to him but King knows she's no good for him. Alan needs a strong woman, not someone with little brains and no backbone. So before King can think about getting married he has to save his brother and make him see that Amelia isn't a woman worthy of him.
Amelia (h) has had a rough life. She lost her mother and younger twin brothers at an early age, her older brother Quin is a Texas Ranger and doesn't live at home nor does he have much time to visit. A few years ago her father had an accident that had given him a head injury and ever since then he has been known to have violent outburst, usually causing Amelia harm. Over the years she has learned to adapt her personality to a more meek,submisive attitude to lessen her father's anger/outbursts and to avoid severe beatings. Now her father wants her to marry Alan Culhane but it's not Alan she's in love with it's his older brother King (H). Too bad King can't stand her.
King (H) is the eldest son of a rich cattle barron. He's use to women thoughing themselves at him but he want's a woman who is at least honest( he know's he's no looker and the only reason women want him is for his $$). So when a woman from the next farm over said that they should marry for a kind of buisness arangement, to blend the two farms of course, he gives it serious concideration because at least she was stright forward and honest. Too bad he's so distracted by Amelia, his brother Alan seems to be taking a liking to him but King knows she's no good for him. Alan needs a strong woman, not someone with little brains and no backbone. So before King can think about getting married he has to save his brother and make him see that Amelia isn't a woman worthy of him.
April 21, 2019
What the actual fuck :)
This has to be one of the worst DP books I've read so far.
This dude can't be called a Hero, like... EVER. He wanted the h but he couldn't admit it to himself so he made sure she couldn't be with his brother, either. Not that she wanted to, anyway. Obviously she was crazy in love with him and his horrible personality, she forgave him everything, even that he almost got her killed.
Oh yes, the love.
Yuck.
This has to be one of the worst DP books I've read so far.
This dude can't be called a Hero, like... EVER. He wanted the h but he couldn't admit it to himself so he made sure she couldn't be with his brother, either. Not that she wanted to, anyway. Obviously she was crazy in love with him and his horrible personality, she forgave him everything, even that he almost got her killed.
Oh yes, the love.
Yuck.
November 10, 2019
Classic DP, with horribly awful H and lots of angst, thus HPlandia math!
June 10, 2019
Wow, just wow!
Talk about stupid characters... each and every one of them got on my nerves.
First, the so-called hero. King or should I say Shit. The guy was attracted to Amelia, but because she was docile and obedient and quiet (a charade btw), he decided that he will detest her. And he spent a great deal of the book bullying her, forcing himself on her everytime they were alone and then blaming her! Even after the big drama, he was still blaming her.
Now Amelia, wow... I understand her being afraid of her shitty father but I wish she would have asked for help sooner. Tell her brother Quinn or even Enid. And I also wished she made it King grovel more at the end.
Quinn: the useless brother and his stupid love story I didn't even bother to read. I don't like when secondary stories are not directly related to the main characters so I skipped all things Maria & Quinn. I didn't really Quinn who abandoned his sister and let her take car of their father. Had he been closer to her, she wouldn't have to carry that burden alone.
The Culhanes: stereotypical western nosy family... They saw the way Hartwell was bullying Amelia and even the animals, and no one said a thing. Kudos to King for reacting, only thing I liked about him.
The story was still good. A good hate to love, with a lot of hatred from the male character who makes you mad. I couldn't believe King's treason towards Amelia, and I wish the author made him grovel more. I also didn't like that he only starts loving her when she changed her behaviour. It was like he was in love with her persona, her rebellious side and not herself as a human.
The ending was also abrupt and too dramatic. A nice epilogue would have been nice to see them settled as a couple.
Talk about stupid characters... each and every one of them got on my nerves.
First, the so-called hero. King or should I say Shit. The guy was attracted to Amelia, but because she was docile and obedient and quiet (a charade btw), he decided that he will detest her. And he spent a great deal of the book bullying her, forcing himself on her everytime they were alone and then blaming her! Even after the big drama, he was still blaming her.
Now Amelia, wow... I understand her being afraid of her shitty father but I wish she would have asked for help sooner. Tell her brother Quinn or even Enid. And I also wished she made it King grovel more at the end.
Quinn: the useless brother and his stupid love story I didn't even bother to read. I don't like when secondary stories are not directly related to the main characters so I skipped all things Maria & Quinn. I didn't really Quinn who abandoned his sister and let her take car of their father. Had he been closer to her, she wouldn't have to carry that burden alone.
The Culhanes: stereotypical western nosy family... They saw the way Hartwell was bullying Amelia and even the animals, and no one said a thing. Kudos to King for reacting, only thing I liked about him.
The story was still good. A good hate to love, with a lot of hatred from the male character who makes you mad. I couldn't believe King's treason towards Amelia, and I wish the author made him grovel more. I also didn't like that he only starts loving her when she changed her behaviour. It was like he was in love with her persona, her rebellious side and not herself as a human.
The ending was also abrupt and too dramatic. A nice epilogue would have been nice to see them settled as a couple.
August 27, 2022
Amelia
Beautiful, blond, 20 years old, a virgin
King
The oldest son, hard, tall
I may be of the minority here, for I really enjoyed this book ... very much. I get that the Hero was an a-hole who acted like the worst scumbag one could ever know. He was irresponsible and ungentlemanly (he refused to marry the heroine even after taking her virginity). That was his lowest point! I could not tolerate that part. I detested him for that.
He was also treating the heroine badly; he bullied her with his words and actions ---> but these ones, I secretly loved. The angst was real. He felt bad (inner thoughts) about his actions and I felt he couldn't have done more groveling but it was what it was.
And the heroine? Many people would call her spineless but I don't. She only behaved like so because she was avoiding her father's wrath. In fact, I liked her very much. It was survival. She was determined to be on her father's good side as he was physically abusive - when he had his headaches and started drinking.
I also loved the side characters; Enid, Brant and Allan. All of them.
Truly, this was a good book. Very enjoyable.
Beautiful, blond, 20 years old, a virgin
King
The oldest son, hard, tall
I may be of the minority here, for I really enjoyed this book ... very much. I get that the Hero was an a-hole who acted like the worst scumbag one could ever know. He was irresponsible and ungentlemanly (he refused to marry the heroine even after taking her virginity). That was his lowest point! I could not tolerate that part. I detested him for that.
He was also treating the heroine badly; he bullied her with his words and actions ---> but these ones, I secretly loved. The angst was real. He felt bad (inner thoughts) about his actions and I felt he couldn't have done more groveling but it was what it was.
And the heroine? Many people would call her spineless but I don't. She only behaved like so because she was avoiding her father's wrath. In fact, I liked her very much. It was survival. She was determined to be on her father's good side as he was physically abusive - when he had his headaches and started drinking.
I also loved the side characters; Enid, Brant and Allan. All of them.
Truly, this was a good book. Very enjoyable.
March 25, 2013
what a waste. i would have given this book at least 3 stars, had Diana Palmer made her H done some real grovelling, but alas no. this one was too suppose to be a jerkiest hero.
I've no problem with a jerk for a hero for half of the story, but that's my limit. i had even made my self to be patient, so not to be to get angry with H ad give him some benefit of the doubt. i keep telling my self be patient he'll realize his fault and would come on right track.
what a disappointment. and he had a gutz to say that h was spineless. when he him self was running scare of his feeling, Coward.
I've no problem with a jerk for a hero for half of the story, but that's my limit. i had even made my self to be patient, so not to be to get angry with H ad give him some benefit of the doubt. i keep telling my self be patient he'll realize his fault and would come on right track.
what a disappointment. and he had a gutz to say that h was spineless. when he him self was running scare of his feeling, Coward.
April 6, 2025
First off minus one star for a secondary romance. I hated when secondary romances were the usual back in the day. I consider them page filler and skim and skip right through. Second I’m Not buying the plot DP is selling.
The h is hiding her bratty feisty personality from everyone because of her father’s head trauma. She becomes a simpering mealy mouthed door mat. The H hates her pushover personality.Then after her father dies she becomes super brat extroindinaire and the H loves it. Also several Times the H is described as an unattractive guy who Can’t get any…his potential ow fiancé can’t even stand to kiss him….then the the selective amnesia that only works on the H. This was a big miss for me.
The h is hiding her bratty feisty personality from everyone because of her father’s head trauma. She becomes a simpering mealy mouthed door mat. The H hates her pushover personality.Then after her father dies she becomes super brat extroindinaire and the H loves it. Also several Times the H is described as an unattractive guy who Can’t get any…his potential ow fiancé can’t even stand to kiss him….then the the selective amnesia that only works on the H. This was a big miss for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2025
DNF 80%. I enjoyed it for the most part, the mc was insufferable and mostly not in the way I like.
November 28, 2018
You know a book has made an impact when you’ve moved on to your next book but wake up the next morning still thinking about the characters. Amelia and King have quite a story to tell, and I suspect they’ve secured a place in my heart permanently. I’ve been a Diana Palmer fan for years, but this book is like no Diana Palmer I’ve ever read. First of all, I was surprised that this is a historical romance, and secondly, Ms. Palmer certainly turned up the heat in this one! The chemistry between Amelia and King was explosive. They were like fire and gasoline, and long before they ever got together!
Amelia finds herself at the Culhane family's Latigo ranch when her father is invited on a hunting trip with Brandt Culhane and his son Alan. Amelia’s father has determined Alan would be an appropriate suitor for Amelia, and he also hopes to do business with Brandt Culhane. Amelia has different ideas, but adapts subservient behavior to placate her father. After Amelia's younger siblings and mother died and her father's subsequent buggy accident, her father's behavior changed drastically, with violent outbursts and physical harm to Amelia. So Amelia stays behind with Mrs. Culhane and the oldest son, King, as the rest of the men depart on their trip. King Culhane also happens to be best friends with Amelia's brother, Quinn, and she's always had a bit of a crush on King, but King, for some unknown reason, treats Amelia cruelly and avoids her whenever possible. Of course, Amelia hides her true personality and holds her tongue, maintaining the persona least likely to upset her father.
I’ll be honest. When I read an early copy of this book, I really had a hard time warming up to King, which I suspect is the exact intent Ms. Palmer had when crafting his character. Of course I immediately sympathized with Amelia, having had such a hard life at such a young age. Make no mistake, though, Amelia is no shrinking violet. Life was hard in the early 1900's in Texas, and it spared no cruelty on Amelia. Any woman would need a strong constitution to survive what she had. When the time came and Amelia was able to reveal her true personality, she wasted no time displaying her magnificent strength, quick wit, stunning intellect and sharp tongue.
This book reads like a historical saga, and I was surprised with the short timeframe it covered, considering all of the events that took place. There is certainly never a dull moment, with Quinn, a Texas Ranger, tracking a bandit, all that took place with Amelia and her father, and King’s romantic entanglements. Even if you read only contemporary romance, like me, I urge you to give this book a try. It’s rich and colorful, exciting and intense, and poignant and inspiring. Definitely a five-star read, and I suspect Amelia will easily make a place for herself in your heart.
*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
Amelia finds herself at the Culhane family's Latigo ranch when her father is invited on a hunting trip with Brandt Culhane and his son Alan. Amelia’s father has determined Alan would be an appropriate suitor for Amelia, and he also hopes to do business with Brandt Culhane. Amelia has different ideas, but adapts subservient behavior to placate her father. After Amelia's younger siblings and mother died and her father's subsequent buggy accident, her father's behavior changed drastically, with violent outbursts and physical harm to Amelia. So Amelia stays behind with Mrs. Culhane and the oldest son, King, as the rest of the men depart on their trip. King Culhane also happens to be best friends with Amelia's brother, Quinn, and she's always had a bit of a crush on King, but King, for some unknown reason, treats Amelia cruelly and avoids her whenever possible. Of course, Amelia hides her true personality and holds her tongue, maintaining the persona least likely to upset her father.
I’ll be honest. When I read an early copy of this book, I really had a hard time warming up to King, which I suspect is the exact intent Ms. Palmer had when crafting his character. Of course I immediately sympathized with Amelia, having had such a hard life at such a young age. Make no mistake, though, Amelia is no shrinking violet. Life was hard in the early 1900's in Texas, and it spared no cruelty on Amelia. Any woman would need a strong constitution to survive what she had. When the time came and Amelia was able to reveal her true personality, she wasted no time displaying her magnificent strength, quick wit, stunning intellect and sharp tongue.
This book reads like a historical saga, and I was surprised with the short timeframe it covered, considering all of the events that took place. There is certainly never a dull moment, with Quinn, a Texas Ranger, tracking a bandit, all that took place with Amelia and her father, and King’s romantic entanglements. Even if you read only contemporary romance, like me, I urge you to give this book a try. It’s rich and colorful, exciting and intense, and poignant and inspiring. Definitely a five-star read, and I suspect Amelia will easily make a place for herself in your heart.
*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
December 22, 2018
Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Amelia by Diana Palmer that I read and reviewed.
This book is a reprint of a book that has been out for a number of years but it is a classic Diana Palmer that made her the great author that she is today. I can honestly say that I am not big fan of older western themed books but once you get into this story you forget the era the book is written in until she mentions riding horses instead of driving cars and how women are treated so differently then they are in books today.
As for the book I really enjoyed it. I loved Amelia's dedication to her father even though he was really mean to her and I loved how she hid her spunk from King and shocked him when he found out how she really was. This was a true Diana Palmer work that is her signature writing.
I am giving Amelia five out of five stars.
This book is a reprint of a book that has been out for a number of years but it is a classic Diana Palmer that made her the great author that she is today. I can honestly say that I am not big fan of older western themed books but once you get into this story you forget the era the book is written in until she mentions riding horses instead of driving cars and how women are treated so differently then they are in books today.
As for the book I really enjoyed it. I loved Amelia's dedication to her father even though he was really mean to her and I loved how she hid her spunk from King and shocked him when he found out how she really was. This was a true Diana Palmer work that is her signature writing.
I am giving Amelia five out of five stars.
April 2, 2013
The love interest in this was such a jerk to the heroine even causing her to be hurt by his actions because
I dont have trouble with tortured heroes or angsty plotlines but this one was just awful.If the hero had at least groveled correctly...
I dont have trouble with tortured heroes or angsty plotlines but this one was just awful.If the hero had at least groveled correctly...
November 15, 2013
This book is good! I always love when the heroine is badly hurt especially because of the Hero. Eeeep! I feel the angst! I love it so bad it made me jumpy! :)))
I don't understand why Amelia's stuck with King when he did nothing but humiliating her. He practically hurting her yet she's still madly in love. If I were her, I'm so gonna slap his face. But then again, love's indeed blind.
Nailed it, as usual, Diana Palmer! I want to read more about Quinn and Maria though..
I don't understand why Amelia's stuck with King when he did nothing but humiliating her. He practically hurting her yet she's still madly in love. If I were her, I'm so gonna slap his face. But then again, love's indeed blind.
Nailed it, as usual, Diana Palmer! I want to read more about Quinn and Maria though..
March 6, 2025
I read this back in October of 2023 but decided to reread because a mutual gave it a funny and very accurate review.
Typical Palmer book where the hero initially feels nothing but contempt and lust for the down on her luck heroine who is just trying to do her best.
The hero, King, earns his spot on my Very Bad Man shelf.
Typical Palmer book where the hero initially feels nothing but contempt and lust for the down on her luck heroine who is just trying to do her best.
The hero, King, earns his spot on my Very Bad Man shelf.
April 6, 2012
Same old pattern:(
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