Calhoun

Long, Tall Texans #1

by Diana Palmer

Date of 1988 SR# 580. This is a Brand New Copy that may have minor shelf wear - may have age tanning . Ships within 24 hours with delivery confirmation. Purchase three books or more from me and get free upgrade to priority shipping.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Westerns, Harlequin, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Chick Lit

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1988

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[StMargarets · Rating 3 out of 5]

My public library is now pushing addictive substances - namely boxed sets of Diana Palmer's Long, Tall Texans series. I now have the first six and I'm NOT going to binge -

Very much.

Okay, so they're dated and this first one, a guardian/ward story is cringey. The heroine has daddy issues/is totally imprinted on the hero since she was 15. The playboy hero swears off all other women after he happens to see the twenty year-old heroine's bare breast while she is sleeping. But somehow I can overlook the hero introducing the heroine as his ward like he's Bruce Wayne or something. I can eagerly look forward to the H's older brother's story after finding out he's been celibate for six years ever since his neighbor broke his heart and handed back his engagement ring.

As I read on I also overlook the hairy chest descriptions, the heroes with breast obsessions, the drawn out explanations for the virgin heroine about soul kisses and how the hero will explode if she touches him. I don't blink when the H's brother keeps the two from consummating their engagement by blocking the way to the heroine's childhood bedroom. It's so tacky, but I read on to the epilogue set one day after their wedding night as the H/h casually discuss the h's deflowering. This is the nicotine of category romance.

Already in book one I'm noticing DP's world building. She is creating a small town that has a venue that will attract a Chippendale's show of male strippers, a new Greek restaurant, bars, a hall for square dances, and plenty of employment opportunities for the heroine. I will continue to note the new locations/amenities in this amazing place.

I'll also include one detail that made me LOL. In this story the heroine contemplates the feedlot and what a fine cattle operation the brothers are running. It's so well-run that it doesn't smell. These are sweet-smelling that cows Helen Bianchin could love.

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am certain that I can copy paste any of my previous DP reviews here and get away with it!!
The h was pathetic btw.... AND sending mixed signals. Making goo goo eyes at him. Come get me. Stop, where's the ring? I'm not that kind of girl.
Oh,shut up, do!!
The way DP progressed it, it seems that the poor, super frustrated H had to bow to the h's very clever no-ring-no-action scheme.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
This was a short, sweet, and old fashioned romance. You know the type. With an extremely masculine Texan for the hero. He’s 32 years old and the most experienced of playboys with a lot of money to boot, thanks to the success of his and his brother’s ranch. They took in the heroine at 15 (almost 6 years ago) when their father and her mother died in a car crash together 2 days before they were about to wed. Abbey is incredibly sweet and just as innocent as they come, but she’s been in love with Calhoun forever. Only Calhoun is not the settling down type and Abby is not the love’em and leave’em kind of woman he’s used to. Both struggle to fight their desires and it was very entertaining to see it all unfold.
Half a star was deducted because there were no explicit sex scenes. For them to have tap danced around it so vividly and openly— it was downright silly not to show them once they went all the way. But it is what it is and I enjoyed it all the same!

[Alejandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

El libro es una 💩 pinchá en un palo, pero me han hecho reír lo absurdo y estúpidos que son todos los personajes. No se libra ni un@. Ellos son machistas y retrógrados hasta el extremo, y ella es gilipollas perdía.
Fin, XDDD

[Melluvsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars This was a good one! Sweet innocent, hopelessly devoted heroine, swoony jealous/possessive older hero… angst, ow/OM drama…. All my favorite stuff!

[Annika · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 John Waynish ⭐️⭐️

I was very entertained for the first 1/3 of the book, yes it is very, and I mean very outdated, but I sometimes do enjoy the old school stereotypes play out on page.
It just warped into something resembling charicatures from a 1940’s western, where they forgot to make the mmc hot. The fmc actually cries about not being blond 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

I was laughing outright , when the h complained about how long her legs were😂 old school humble bragging at its finest.

The story got a little boring around 50% and I skimmed through it. I wasn’t connected to the characters and I honestly felt I was dealing with two adolescents, who acted like babies.
Reading something that is outdated can be fun because of the crazy drama that plays out, this didn’t have that, and I was bored towards the end.

The plot just wasn’t really plotting with me at the end.

Should you read it? It was my first DP book and I didn’t like very much at the end. Perhaps it was the wrong one to start with? I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.

[Cheesecake · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calhoun the self satisfied lady's man and Abby his somewhat plain ward with big boobs.

It was entertaining but kinda dull. Instead I found myself more interested in Calhoun's brother Justin and his forlorn love for Shelby the woman who supposedly jilted him. Justin and Shelby pretty much steal the story. (And yet after skimming their story in the next book, I have no desire to read it.)

A lot of push and pull by both MCs. They both behave like 19 year olds, but he is 32.
Abby's mom was going to marry Calhoun's dad when they were killed in a car accident. So Justin and Calhoun decided to keep Abby with them. Now years later she is almost 20 and tired of Calhoun keeping men away from her.

Of course he wants her himself and of course she has loved him for years. But now he has noticed her and deals with it by walking around like a bear with a sore paw.

It was cute and mildly entertaining but nothing special.
Safety is good He does date another blond during the book, but didn't have sex with her. He admits to her that the last time he had sex was just before the start of the book. He also contradicts himself about sex not being as good if it's doesn't have feelings with it. How would he know that? And if so, why is he so adamant about never marrying because he couldn't ever tie himself to one woman??? Anyways, I shouldn't try to assign logic to a DP book.
Abby is of course a virgin and has never even been kissed with more than a peck. She does go on a couple dates during the book too, but they were platonic dates.

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

That is: When DP’s long tall Texans were not big fat a***oles.
Abby is Calhoun’s ward. One day she’s a skinny teenager with brackets and pimples, all legs and planes, another day she’s got boobs and nice smile and pheromones. Of course the alpha male hero is suddenly attracted by her, and begins to notice that she’s got boobs, a nice a** and she smells like gardenia and starts feeling uncomfortable at the thought that she goes out with other males. So he becomes possessive and tries to keep her sheltered. The heroine Abby is in love with the hero and wants him to notice that she’s a woman, not a child anymore! And he notice all right, so much that he scares her to death when he kisses her passionately. Too passionately. She’s a virgin, my god! And DP virgins are true virgin, not slu**y virgins!
Hero, manners! So he feels rejected, since those long tall Texans are big outside but very small inside, and he tries going out with ow. Many misunderstandings happen, nothing too angsty, but quite entertaining, the hero is allergic to marriage and commitment but eventually he will understand that he can’t live without her.
Nice book, not very angsty, because the hero is not cruel or mean, only a little hard and slow on the uptake, but we can’t expect too much. Those DP men are so well developed on the outside that of course there’s not so much energy left for things like brain, intelligence and so on. Anyway I enjoyed it, it’s quite safe compared to other DP, the hero will be celibate after realizing that the heroine is a woman and not a child.

[Bella Foxygobble · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what inspired me to read this book again. I remember reading this book at 15 and thinking that Calhoun was the perfect hero and I hoped to someday meet someone like him. Now - 20 years later, re-reading this I feel sorry for all teenage girls who think that older men who fall in love with them will fulfill their need for a father figure as well as provide them with true love. I wanted to slap the hero with a dead fish many times in the novel. His hot&cold attitude with the heroine annoyed me more than anything else. The fact that he was her guardian was just plain creepy. I give him props for at least attempting to keep his predatory instincts under control. Palmer does give us a present in this book though: In the end we are left feeling relieved and satisfied that although the heroine is taken-advantage of rasvished from time to time in the book, we never actually have to witness Mr. Sex-Predator take the heroine's virginity. The last-laugh is on me though. Despite it all, I still enjoyed reading this book and it was a fun trip down memory lane. Being the glutton for punishment I am, I'll be moving on to Justin's story soon.

My Ratings:

5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished. (less)

[Kimberly Carrington-Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Madre mía... Vaya cosa más viejuna y rancia. Que conste que lo he leído justo por eso, eh, que Yola y Noemí nos los han recomendado por las risas y hemos hecho BR con Ale y Vero justo para eso. Y risas desde luego hemos pasado, pero también unas vueltas de cabeza que ni la niña de El exorcista.
Calhoun es un cerril y rancio de tomo y lomo, él no está hecho para el matrimonio y, aunque le pica la cola con Abby, no puede porque ella está a su cargo y blablabla, mierdas. Luego bien que se pone celoso y cavernícola cuando cree que a ella le mola otro, que le falta mear alrededor de la muchacha para marcar territorio.
Y Abby es más tonta que mear p'arriba. Le mola Calhoun, enamorada y todo está, y lo único que quiere es molarle a él. Como ve que a Calhoun le van las rubias, se pasa todo el libro diciendo que ojalá fuera ella rubia (lo dice tanto que te dan ganas de meterla en un cubo de tinte a ver si se calla de una vez). Eso sí, cuando Calhoun pasa a la acción, ella se acojona viva. Pero qué co*o quieres, Mari Puri!?!??! Que me vuelves loca a mí!!!!!
El libro está escrito de aquella manera (o sea, mñe), con reacciones de los personajes que no vienen a cuento (todos parecen ciclotímicos) y con un lenguaje medio ñoño (al menos, la traducción), muy acorde a lo pueril de la protagonista.
Que por qué no le doy menos nota? Pues ganas no me faltan pero tampoco me han dado ganas de prenderle fuego, así que voy a ser generosa XD.

[Vero Rinconin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un viejunismo muuuy viejuno y retrógrado, vamos hay momentos que parece que estamos en la edad de piedra XD.
Los protas son tontunos y machistas todo junto, tanto hombres como mujeres.
Como estudio sociológico no está mal, para comparti la lectura con amigas está bien pero no es el estilo de libro que leo esperando una joya por descubrir.

[Asteria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:**3.8 stars**

One of the best of DP works for me. It was a really enjoyable and a pleasant read.

For me the whole guardian-ward aspect of the book was handled pretty well. I am glad never did Calhoun ever see Abby as some little sister figure, she was just a ward to him and his brother. I hate it when authors show MLs viewing their wards as some sister/ daughter figure and when relationships start it just lends an icky factor to me.

Abby was a really endearing character, she was this complex mix of feisty and candid on one hand and naive and innocent on another. I liked the fact that she didn't back down easily from pursuing Calhoun yet knew when to put a stop to it as well. She was very susceptible when it came to him yet did not compromise on her beliefs of what she considered appropriate. I guess Abby's vulnerability could have easily showed her in the light of a doormat and a weak willed woman if it was not for Calhoun understanding and respecting her feelings even if he did not reciprocate it then.

Calhoun was a pretty decent guy for me in comparison to other DP heroes. As soon as he saw Abby in the capacity of a woman than his young ward he was an absolute goner. And from then on there was a tug of war between his feelings of wanting her yet knowing moving anywhere in that direction spelled commitment.

I guess as a couple they already had a lot going for them. Calhoun always had a soft corner for her pretty much considering her the sunlight in his otherwise bland life. I really liked there was not unnecessary dragging of drama when it came to their feelings. They were very open when it came to communication, made efforts to understand each other's view and work on their relationship.

There were obviously aspects that I disliked but that could be easily overlooked in the face of such a sweet and well written story.

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

He is a rounder with the emotional age of 2 years old. During the book he matures to the age of 12, which is all you can really expect from a man, so well done him.

[Yolanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vamos a verrrr con las vueltas que le damos al ahora sí ahora no, al final.... te lo tienes que imaginar.
La historia, para mi gusto, meh pero estamos pasando unos ratos @mysticnox y yo leyendo lo que son estos vaqueros y qué bien lo estamos pasando. XDDDDDDD

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Diana Palmer gold. 😍😍

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very generous 3 stars rating. My honest opinion is that it was just ok, which would categorically put this book in my 2 stars. But I am feeling generous today, must be the Christmas spirit.

I am still very very uncomfortable with contemporary romances. Calhoun, the hero watched Abby grow up. He was 12 years older than her, a cowboy and an "experienced" one if you know what I mean. Abby was of course, a 20-year-old virgin who had never dated anyone because she loved Calhoun with all of her childish heart. So the story begins with a recklessly Abby pulling all kinds of stunts hoping that Calhoun'd finally notice that she was no longer a 15 year old girl. So a possessive Calhoun was acting all kinds of man stupid out of so-called jealousy. Both of them acted stupid around each other. This is basically the story: Calhoun learning to recognize that he loved Abby and Abby got her heart's desire, which was to sleep with Calhoun.

This wasn't an awful read but the "love" was very superficial in this book. I am naturally suspicious of men who are all "I love you". Calhoun was little like that later in the book. I mean come on, all those "struggles" about not wanting to seduce Abby and all of a sudden you love her and it is ok now?

I really have a bone to pick with contemporary romances. These so-called alpha males..........in a contemporary setting, man I just want to tell them to get over themselves. lol In a historical setting I could live with it. It was in a place in time where people adhered to a different set of rules. In a contemporary story these alpha males are still very much the "warrior" and "tough" and whatever that makes someone an alpha male. I have trouble imagining any of them in real life. If any man talked to me like that, since it is contemporary I have to assume that this could very well happen today, I'd laugh in his face. And all those relationship hurdles, what keeps people who are in love apart nowadays? Nothing. There is no more Romeo and Juliet, and there is no Beauty and the Beast. At least not where I live. How many times have we witnessed the tragedy of a girl harboring hopeless dreams of "turning a playboy around"? I like to keep fantasy well away from the real life. And reading these contemporary stories always makes me want to laugh out loud, which makes it very difficult for me to enjoy them.

But I am very interested in Calhoun's older brother's story. Justin and Shelby are so much more interesting than Calhoun and Abby. I look forward to reading their story.

[Sheila Melo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Diana Palmer Tale

FINAL DECISION: Although this is a standard Diana Palmer story, the vivid characters make this story special. The connection between Abby and Calhoun raises the stakes in a somewhat predictable story.

THE STORY: Abby Clark was orphaned and taken in by her almost step-brothers when she was fifteen. Now at almost twenty-one she is desperately in love with with one of the brothers, Calhoun Ballenger. She knows, however, that he merely thinks of her as his ward. What she doesn't know is that Calhoun is troubled by his very unbrotherly feelings toward Abby. He is possessive and jealous and doesn't know what to do about it. The two are striking sparks off of one another and the question is whether they will destroy any relationship they may have.

OPINION: Diana Palmer has a certain style...gruff, alpha males who reluctantly fall for sweet innocent women. The men either don't want to be tied down or think that the woman has betrayed them and thus they treat the women poorly. CALHOUN fits in that typical outline. I am a fan of Diana Palmer's books and this one is one of her better ones. Calhoun is sick with love for Abby but doesn't recognize it. Although Abby is innocent, she is also unwilling to be a victim to Calhoun's bad behavior toward her. The characters are vivid and so well delineated that it makes this predictable story much better. There is also a great amount of humor in this book.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book sets up the next book about Calhoun's brother Justin and the woman he has loved and hated for years.

CONNECTED BOOKS: CALHOUN is the first book in the Long, Tall Texans series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ambos son tan exagerados. Si hablaran las cosas de frente en lugar de dejarse llevar por lo que creen entender, tal vez su relación hubiera sido más rápida de solucionar.

Calhoun Ballenger y Abigail Clark son una pareja bonita, sin dudas Abby aún es algo inmadura pero aún así es agradable. Calhoun es el más inteligente de la relación, gracias a él, muchos de los más entendidos son solucionados, me alegro que al menos él piense con un poquito más de credibilidad y no tanto con exageración y drama.

Justin (el hermano de Calhoun) me ha encantado, es una persona tan madura y sensata, siempre dando consejos y apoyando a ambos en todo momento, lo he amado muchísimo.

El libro ha sido muy digerible, lo he leído en 2 o 3 horas, me gustó, probablemente continue con la saga, quiero leer la historia de Justin y Shelby.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book I felt bad for Abby she always seemed to be getting her heart broken by Calhoun. Just because he could not see what was right in front of him, it would have deserved him right if he would have lost her. Love all the Diana Palmer books I have read can't wait to read more books by her man this man is stubborn and messing what is right in front of him

[GuisBell · Rating 4 out of 5]

El inicio de los hombres de texas. Calhoun un hombre posesivo, arrogante, terco, extremadamente celoso que no da su brazo a torcer sobre las ideas que tiene sobre el amor y su futuro. Abby cae demasiado fácil para mi gusto...

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

DP is just that good!

I just love DP and this was a massive high 5 for me. Angst, brooding, banter and a Texan what’s not to love?!

[Cristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The H was such an indecisive character. He wants the h but runs away as soon as things get “serious”.

[Laura Calderone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calhoun Ballenger e Abby Clark
(Fratelli Ballenger #1)
Calhoun è il fratello minore di Justin a cui è dedicato il libro 2 della serie (inedito)
entrambi sono tutori di Abby, la cui madre stava per sposare il padre dei Ballenger, morti entrambi prima delle nozze.
Iniziamo a conoscere anche Shelby ex fidanzata di Justin... e Tyler, i fratelli Jacobs, pronipoti del fondatore di Jacobsville a cui è dedicato il libro 0.5 The Faunding Father (inedito - lettura amatoriale)
in questo libro si cominciano a conoscere anche le dinamiche che poi portano al secondo e terzo libro della serie.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet love story but heroine's insecurities drove me crazy!

[Ana M. Román · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 estrellas

No hay mucho que decir, típico libro de los de Diana Palmer.

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK, or decent reads.
=============================


★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★

When he found out where his ward had been, he'd be furious.

They would have been her stepbrothers, except that an untimely car accident had killed their father and Abby's mother just two days before the couple were to have gotten married.

Justin rarely smiled, but Calhoun's antics brought him close to it.

She was desperately in love with Calhoun, but the big blond man still looked upon her as a child.

It upset him to think of any man taking advantage of Abby.

He didn't want other men touching her.

"Misty Davies," he muttered. "I've told you I don't approve of your friendship with that flighty heiress. She's years older than you and much more sophisticated."

A woman who treats her body cheaply doesn't invite a wedding ring.

She lifted her eyebrow. "And I suppose that means that you're a virgin, too, Calhoun?"

She probably knew more than he'd given her credit for, especially if she was hanging around with Misty Davies. Misty frequented the same kind of city hot spots that Calhoun did, and she'd seen him with one or two of his occasional companions.

He'd been alone a long time, and a woman here and there didn't really satisfy him.

Go ahead, tell me you've never been to a female strip show." Calhoun got up, looking uncomfortable. "That's different." "Oh, sure it is. Women are sex objects but men aren't, right?"

"Were you expecting something?" he asked coldly. "I just wanted my hat."

"I hired you to work here, not to send out signals, intentional or otherwise, to clients."

"I won't be home for supper, thank God," Calhoun said coldly. "I've got a date," he added, for no other reason than to irritate her.

Her heart was broken, because Calhoun was going out with one of his women and she didn't qualify for that title. She never would.

She wasn't pretty. She was plain, and she was serious a good bit of the time. But when she laughed... When she laughed, she was beautiful.

He had black eyes. Both the Ballengers did. But Calhoun was something to look at, and poor old Justin was as rangy-looking as a longhorn bull by comparison.

When Misty had told her last week about seeing him with some ravishing blonde up in Houston, it had knocked her for a loop, bringing home the true hopelessness of her situation. Calhoun liked sophisticated women.

"Misty Davies took her to a bar." "Last night a nude revue, tonight a bar." Justin stared at his cigarette. "Something's eating our girl."

He leaned even closer, but just as his hard mouth started down over hers, before his lips touched her pleading ones, the sound of an approaching vehicle broke them apart like an explosion.

He didn't want complications, damn it, and Abby was the biggest he'd ever faced.

"Nothing happened," he said shortly. "And nothing will," he added, his voice cold, "if you can manage to stop looking at me like a lovesick calf!"

Abby was really having a good time until she glanced across the room and saw a familiar face on the cozily intimate dance floor.

Calhoun! Her eyes widened as she followed his blond head through the crowd until there was a clear space.

Then she saw the ravishing blonde with him. He was holding the woman, who was at least his own age, with both hands at her waist, and she was curled up against him as if they'd been dancing together for years. They were smiling at each other like lovers.

This was one of his shadowy lovers. One of the women he never brought home.

He glared at her, trying to keep his temper. "I'm not a playboy," he said tersely. "I may date women occasionally—"

He had her mouth under his so smoothly and easily that her heart seemed to stop beating. He wasn't gentle,
either. It was as if the feel of her soft body under his made him wild, made him hungry.

He hadn't even tried to be gentle. She stared at him accusingly, her eyes bright with tears as she drew her jacket closer and shivered.

My God," he said huskily. "Abby, adults kiss that way!"

Well, it was a good thing she didn't like his kisses, because hell would freeze over before she ever got another one.

Shelby might be hurt? Surely she didn't think---It suddenly dawned on him that if Abby was crazy enough to imagine he was getting involved with Shelby, Justin might, too.

"Calhoun loves you," she defended him. "He wouldn't hurt you on purpose." "Any man could fall in love with her," he kept on. "Shelby's beautiful. A dream walking."

"I don't know much about women, Abby," he said absently. "I don't have Calhoun's charm, or his experience, or his looks."

"And I don't have Shelby's assets," Abby confessed. She sat down beside him. "I guess we'd both lose a beauty contest. I wish I was blond, Justin."

"I wish I had a black book." Justin sighed.

"Because you're a virgin," he breathed into her mouth as he took it.

His expression hardened. He drew in a slow breath and touched her cheek gently, thoughtfully. "I've been alone a long time. I like being my own boss, answering to no one. I've been a rounder, and in some ways I still am. I'm a bad marriage risk."

"One woman wouldn't satisfy you, I guess," she murmured, hiding her eyes from him. All her dreams were dead now.

"One woman never has," he said curtly. "I don't want to be tied."

"I'm young," she whispered after a minute. "I'll get over you."

"You're very special to me, Abby. Part of my life. I wish I could give you what you want. I wish I could give you back those words and offer you a future. But that would cheat us both ultimately. Marriage should be a joint commitment, with a foundation of shared love."

Remember, I have an apartment there," he said slowly. She closed her eyes. "No. I won't go to your apartment." "It isn't the last century," he whispered. "We could be alone. We could make love."

"I have work to do," she said, and tried to smile. "And...I don't think I'll go to Houston with you, thanks all the same."

Calhoun not only didn't love her. Now he didn't even respect her.

He didn't answer her immediately. "While I was away those few days, I moved. I changed apartments," he said. "This one is across town from the one I had. And I've never taken a woman there."

"You'll take a lot of teaching, won't you, tidbit?" he murmured.

"I could customize you."

"I won't make you pregnant," he whispered. "Come with me.

As she went into the living room, she recognized Calhoun's guest. It was the blonde from the restaurant, the one he'd taken out the night Abby had gone to dinner with Justin.

So that's why you didn't have time for me," the older woman said when she saw Abby. "My God, she's barely out of school!"

She hadn't had the presence of mind to think of stopping, and neither had he. If that woman hadn't interrupted them—

He opened the door for her, noticing her unnatural stiffness. "I don't know what to say, Abby," he said quietly. "I don't know how she traced me here."

It would be unrealistic to expect that we'd never run across any of your discarded lovers."

[Mihika in lovezone · Rating 4 out of 5]

H : Calhoun is cray cray jealous. He was possessive jealous and perfect. But he did lot of push and pull.

h : Abby was fine. In the beginning she was trying too hard to get the H’s attention, which I found desperate. But she got better later on.

OW : Slight. Not a big ow drama but an ow did came to confront the H and tries to fill the h’s ears about how Casanova the H was. That was the same ow the h had seen the H with. Of course he didn’t do anything physical but he did go out with that woman. But the ow was just a passing character not a major.

OM : Yes. But the h’s relationship with him was more friendly in nature. He wasn’t harmful either. But boy the H got jealous if anyone even looked at the h.

OVERALL : Good. Enjoyed the book. I love forbidden romance with crazy jealous heroes.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sentir cosas por la joven que está bajo su tutela desde que los padres de ambos murieron. Aunque ella en realidad no es pariente de ellos, ante la sociedad es su hermana.

La niña ya no es más una niña y las cosas se salen de control, los sentimientos por ambos lados son fuertes. Nuestra protagonista no para de provocar para tener una reacción de su amado, lo cual solo parece ser ¿Malo?

[Ala · Rating 1 out of 5]

Que libro tan aburrido dios

[faraona · Rating 1 out of 5]

en este libro está TODO mal.
q horror y q espanto.