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Most Wanted #2
The Case of the Confirmed Bachelor
Nick Reed, private investigator for the Lassiter Agency, wasn't the marrying kind. He craved excitement, change, and he never stayed in one place too long.
Unlike Tabitha Harvey. Tabby had lived in the house next door to Nick's childhood home for years. Stable and understated, she craved a home, children and a man who would love her. Too bad she'd already given her heart to a confirmed bachelor who'd run at the first hint of commitment. Unless could she change his ways?
184 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1992
107 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,041 books3,099 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
December 1, 2019
I am better detective than the ex-FBI agent H!
July 2, 2016
Same old same old DP!
We follow the H round and round in his convoluted thinking and reasoning on whether he feels something for the h or not, and the depth thereof. That is staple DP fare. It is interspersed with cruel put downs (not as much as usual) and hot making out sessions, while he also does a bit of detective work to exonerate the h from theft charges.
Their sex in the park scene made me perk up, as DP’s mcs are usually a moral lot so this transgression was crossing certain boundaries. And for all his cruel rebuffs (in the past) to the h, he was one of the author’s nicer H. And she does some real cruel uncaring Hs.
We follow the H round and round in his convoluted thinking and reasoning on whether he feels something for the h or not, and the depth thereof. That is staple DP fare. It is interspersed with cruel put downs (not as much as usual) and hot making out sessions, while he also does a bit of detective work to exonerate the h from theft charges.
Their sex in the park scene made me perk up, as DP’s mcs are usually a moral lot so this transgression was crossing certain boundaries. And for all his cruel rebuffs (in the past) to the h, he was one of the author’s nicer H. And she does some real cruel uncaring Hs.
December 26, 2015
Great read. Alpha sexy hero falls hard for innocent heroine who is engaged to another man. Loved the angst and passion!
March 1, 2016
To me this one was not the best of the series most wanted by DP but I was happy that she did not end up pregnant with his bastard child! Can't believe I said that!? He was a total asshole who comprised her twice in a public place. Omg so gross and without any emotions he just pulls out of her like it was all good. Omg!!! I was so mad at her for falling for it a second time!!!! News flash DP you can get a woman pregnant by pulling out!!! There is such a thing as pre-ejaculatory sperm and it is powerful stuff. I am just so disappointed with the way the woman just caves because she loves him covers a lot of mistreatment and abuse. Too much for me in this book. I didn't care for the way he was always hitting on her as well it was sending mixed messages when he knew she wanted to have a white wedding and kids and he just wanted to hook up. It was passionate and that why I gave it 3 stars. But not worth another read. Sorry
September 13, 2021
I enjoyed reading Nick and Tabby's story. I always love a story where the hero tries his best to stay away from the heroine, but he just can't.
Tabby has been in love with her best friend's brother forever without knowing that Nick secretly wants her but won't make a move because he thought Tabby didn't want him. Years later, Nick realized that he still wanted her and finally made her his woman. I'd say that it is about time Nick makes a move. It should have been done a long time ago.
I liked Tabby's character. She's a strong woman, independent, and knows what she wants. Even though she loves him and wants to be with him, she doesn't jump the opportunity to have an affair with Nick. Suppose she can't have his love, then fine. She refused to settle for anything less.
Great read. Keep you interested up to the last page.
Tabby has been in love with her best friend's brother forever without knowing that Nick secretly wants her but won't make a move because he thought Tabby didn't want him. Years later, Nick realized that he still wanted her and finally made her his woman. I'd say that it is about time Nick makes a move. It should have been done a long time ago.
I liked Tabby's character. She's a strong woman, independent, and knows what she wants. Even though she loves him and wants to be with him, she doesn't jump the opportunity to have an affair with Nick. Suppose she can't have his love, then fine. She refused to settle for anything less.
Great read. Keep you interested up to the last page.
December 11, 2020
This is almost a 1-star because he is constantly talking about how much he wants the OW, and his about-face doesn't quite ring true. However, this is vaguely readable and I don't feel the need to hunt down a fictional character, so...
April 3, 2018
Mόνο τη στιγμή που ζήλεψε και ήθελε να κοπανήσει τον αντίζηλο με το μπουκάλι...μόνο εκεί χάρηκα αυτό τον ήρωα.Κατά τα άλλα και αυτή ψιλοχαζοβιόλα τη βρήκα και αυτόν ψιλοαπροσάρμοστο.....Μπαααα δεν μου είπε κάτι.
Want to read
September 29, 2020I saw my name in this book, saw it was a maaaaybe tentative "childhood friends to more" situation (maybe), and also I am kinda itching to branch into the classic romance novel genre so ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ
September 2, 2019
Vaya con los detectives que solo quieren ser libres, pero en este caso no se aplica tanto, sino, la falta de comunicación, los malos entendidos, la falta de sinceridad por eso tanto enredo...
December 24, 2022
Nick and Tabby
I didn't like it, he wanted to be with heroine years before, but only very subtly asked her out so she had no idea he wanted to go out with her. So then he started dating a co-worker (who he loved having sex with on his apartment floor), then she got killed and it affected him for years (I think he loved her but wasn't IN love with her).
He sleeps with tons of women in the years after that and doesn't think of heroine again until she kisses him New Years then he's an absolute jerk to her, calling her a spinster.
Book begins with whole plot about her job and artifacts that I don't care about.
Anyway he basically wants her but doesn't want a commitment and jerks her around for most of the book. She wants marriage and babies however he doesn't but he seduces her in a park anyway.
In another book I wouldn't care but with this heroine it seems cruel for him to take her virginity in a public park that anyone could have seen them. All of that while she's engaged to another man, he may not be a great guy but she was still engaged.
I did not like Nick at all. He constantly pursued her sexually without intention of even sticking around for even a short term affair. He wanted her not to be engaged but didn't want to be engaged to her himself, like he just wanted her to be alone while he had freedom to do what he wanted.
He only talked about not being with anyone else since he was with her at park, he never said he was celibate since New Years. Np.
I didn't like it, he wanted to be with heroine years before, but only very subtly asked her out so she had no idea he wanted to go out with her. So then he started dating a co-worker (who he loved having sex with on his apartment floor), then she got killed and it affected him for years (I think he loved her but wasn't IN love with her).
He sleeps with tons of women in the years after that and doesn't think of heroine again until she kisses him New Years then he's an absolute jerk to her, calling her a spinster.
Book begins with whole plot about her job and artifacts that I don't care about.
Anyway he basically wants her but doesn't want a commitment and jerks her around for most of the book. She wants marriage and babies however he doesn't but he seduces her in a park anyway.
In another book I wouldn't care but with this heroine it seems cruel for him to take her virginity in a public park that anyone could have seen them. All of that while she's engaged to another man, he may not be a great guy but she was still engaged.
I did not like Nick at all. He constantly pursued her sexually without intention of even sticking around for even a short term affair. He wanted her not to be engaged but didn't want to be engaged to her himself, like he just wanted her to be alone while he had freedom to do what he wanted.
He only talked about not being with anyone else since he was with her at park, he never said he was celibate since New Years. Np.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2022
This is one of the most truly idiotic books I've ever read. I almost stopped about a third of the way in, but I was curious to see how Palmer could mess it up further. The thief is blatantly obvious. If Nick is really a P.I., he and Tabby could to starve to death without her income. Of course her fiance is using her for her research skills. Tabby is yet another shy virgin convinced that no one wants her. She's 25, but is a tenured professor at a university. Nick and Helen grew up with her; neither said anything about her attending high school when she was four, so I don't see how she could possibly graduated from college at 21 or 22, earned an Master's and Ph.D. in 5 years MINIMUM, traveled the world and gone on multiple digs, and still managed to achieve tenure before grad students her age completed their coursework, and had not even begun their dissertations. But in Palmer's world of romance, even the women with careers have to be young and either virgins or rape victims (never having volunteered to have sex). They also have to have a terrible self-image, which Nick and Helen really could have helped prevent if they'd looked up occasionally from their own navels in their teens. In the end, we have a smart woman made stupid by love and a not-very-bright guy acting like a not-very-bright guy throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2021
So...not my favorite Diana Palmer read(give me Sutton’s way or Calhoun any day) I would not read this a second time. However, by the looks of the ratings, I am in the minority. First, this was not angsty enough for my tastes. The hero was not brooding, angry, or jerk enough for me. The heroine was a little too bland as well. I mean I read the story to the end and I think it moved quickly because there was lots of dialogue, however the writing seemed clipped and routine. The “mystery” didn’t keep me guessing. I also felt it was weighed down by the other characters who were part of past and future books from DP. I think the ending had some good love moments in it, but overall my heart just didn’t rave enough for this one.
Hero with Commitment issues✅
Heroine who is a virgin and bookworm✅
OM-✅
OW-in the past✅
Animal🐒✅
Meddling Family✅(but not evil)
HEA-✅
Unplanned baby.🤷🏻♀️Since I felt the mystery in this book was lacking I will let you read to see if there is or isn’t
Hero with Commitment issues✅
Heroine who is a virgin and bookworm✅
OM-✅
OW-in the past✅
Animal🐒✅
Meddling Family✅(but not evil)
HEA-✅
Unplanned baby.🤷🏻♀️Since I felt the mystery in this book was lacking I will let you read to see if there is or isn’t
July 28, 2018
Nick is a confirmed bachelor who works as a private detective for Dane Lassiter. Tabby is a professor of anthropology at a college in Washington DC. Nick and his sister Helen have been friends with Tabby for years and she has had a major crush on him for a long time.
He meets up with her at a New Year's Eve party where she has had too much spiked punch and blurts our her desires to him. Nick gives her a tongue lashing that she won't soon forget. Months later Nick goes back to his childhood home to take care of some personal business when Tabby knocks on his door with a case for him. He takes her case and from there is a rocky road to love.
Nick can be cruel and Tabby is very green. Typical formula for Diana Palmer.
He meets up with her at a New Year's Eve party where she has had too much spiked punch and blurts our her desires to him. Nick gives her a tongue lashing that she won't soon forget. Months later Nick goes back to his childhood home to take care of some personal business when Tabby knocks on his door with a case for him. He takes her case and from there is a rocky road to love.
Nick can be cruel and Tabby is very green. Typical formula for Diana Palmer.
November 16, 2019
The Case of the Confirmed Bachelor
Nick was restless knowing that he needed something in his life, but didn't know what it was. He has embarrassed the girl next door at a party and then left her. She was slightly drunk and came on to him and he found that he couldn't handle it. Fate brought them together when he had to prove her innocence in a theft case. Then fireworks began.
Nick was restless knowing that he needed something in his life, but didn't know what it was. He has embarrassed the girl next door at a party and then left her. She was slightly drunk and came on to him and he found that he couldn't handle it. Fate brought them together when he had to prove her innocence in a theft case. Then fireworks began.
July 27, 2025
4 Stars
I purchased a copy of the steamy book The Case of the Confirmed Bachelor: Most Wanted: Book 2 by Diana Palmer, and this review was given freely.
The author blends unrequited love, humor, loss, jealousy, anger, and theft in this opposites-attract story where the restless PI and former FBI agent, Nick, has a hard time resisting his virginal and staid childhood next door neighbor, newly engaged college anthropology professor, Tabby.
18+ for intimate scenes
I purchased a copy of the steamy book The Case of the Confirmed Bachelor: Most Wanted: Book 2 by Diana Palmer, and this review was given freely.
The author blends unrequited love, humor, loss, jealousy, anger, and theft in this opposites-attract story where the restless PI and former FBI agent, Nick, has a hard time resisting his virginal and staid childhood next door neighbor, newly engaged college anthropology professor, Tabby.
18+ for intimate scenes
August 26, 2024
The hero was just a bland, horny, amazingly dim witted, supposed detective with issues. Fear of commitment. Fear of women. Emotions. Spiders. J/k but maybe!
Heroine…ugh…if I had to hear one more time about her thinking she was worthless and a fallen woman/streetwalker I’d pull my hair out.
Redeeming quality: this book actually had something of a plot!
Heroine…ugh…if I had to hear one more time about her thinking she was worthless and a fallen woman/streetwalker I’d pull my hair out.
Redeeming quality: this book actually had something of a plot!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2020
Another good book by Diana Palmer
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes detective books as well as romance. This book has both and it is a great read. This book is hard to put down once you start reading it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes detective books as well as romance. This book has both and it is a great read. This book is hard to put down once you start reading it.
January 31, 2022
Nick and Tabby
It was a-ok read though not one I would like to repeat. I didn't particularly like Nick or the ways he used Tabby while yearning for the other woman. Tabby, arrrh. So frustrating with this hs and their not existing spines.
It was a-ok read though not one I would like to repeat. I didn't particularly like Nick or the ways he used Tabby while yearning for the other woman. Tabby, arrrh. So frustrating with this hs and their not existing spines.
Want to read
February 16, 2022I could not find Books 1 and 3 in this series...but will continue to try to find them! Nick was the confirmed bachelor and as I soon found out his outlook was due to the way his family treated him. It is always good to kmow that love CAN soften the heart of even the stubornest man!
January 6, 2018
Started out classic Palmer with the guy being a jerk but the last few pages redeemed him
December 3, 2017
old but gold.
pada jamannya tapi, wkwkkw lumayanlah humornya dapet.
pada jamannya tapi, wkwkkw lumayanlah humornya dapet.
January 24, 2019
Lumayan naikin emosi buat buku pertama yang aku baca di 2019...
Magisssss... 😁
Magisssss... 😁
April 15, 2019
Typical Palmer.
June 13, 2019
Cute read.
December 4, 2019
She is not going to be considered a good author, non even a decent one (by me of course). But some of her books are particularly bad (as in badly written/planned/plotted).
June 8, 2020
recente rilettura dopo quella del 2012, per collegarlo alle letture amatoriali fatte di recente degli altri due delle serie.
September 15, 2020
Love
I have read this book twice. I think it was better the second time. I absolutely love reading her books.
I have read this book twice. I think it was better the second time. I absolutely love reading her books.
January 7, 2021
Unexpected
It was perfect, right length
Beautiful story
Sensual
I loved it
Thank you Diana
I did enjoy the story, the theme everything
It was perfect, right length
Beautiful story
Sensual
I loved it
Thank you Diana
I did enjoy the story, the theme everything
October 10, 2023
First published in 1992.
June 8, 2025
2.5⭐️’s
“𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓼. 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾.”
Tropes:
🤍Small-town
🤍Unrequited Love
🤍Best Friends Brother
“𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓼. 𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾.”
Tropes:
🤍Small-town
🤍Unrequited Love
🤍Best Friends Brother
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews