What do you think?
Rate this book
Long, Tall Texans #13
Coltrain's Proposal - Pinangan Coltrain
Dr. Louise Blakely didn't want to love Jeb Coltrain. They were supposed to be partners, running the Jacobsville medical clinic together, but instead, he treated her like the enemy. And yet when Lou tells Jeb that she's leaving, he shocks her by proposing!
It wouldn't be a real marriage, of course…at least, that was Jeb's intent. Then he started to get to know Lou, to let down his guard to her warmth and caring, and everything changed. After so many years of conflict, can he prove to Lou that his love is real?
It wouldn't be a real marriage, of course…at least, that was Jeb's intent. Then he started to get to know Lou, to let down his guard to her warmth and caring, and everything changed. After so many years of conflict, can he prove to Lou that his love is real?
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
163 people are currently reading
691 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,022 books3,076 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
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 7, 2020
Slightly off center DP.
Non-standard DP issues:
1. Hero drinks whiskey
2. H doesn’t smoke, but then he is a doctor after all.
3. Hero is cruel, but at least it’s behind the heroine’s back this time. Unfortunately she hears him anyway when she picks up the open line.
4. Heroine is not a librarian, 911 operator etc, bookkeeper etc, but a doctor in her own right.
5. Heroine has a backbone and actually confronts one of the three potential OW directly and tells her to shut the gossip down STAT.
The regular DP drill:
1. Rumor around town and the hospital is the H is supposedly infatuated with another woman, now married. Turns out he wasn’t in love with her, but has a hard time convincing everyone most especially the OW that he isn’t. She is happily married now, but really, really likes having the hero in her pocket. After some miscommunication with the heroine, she feels bad and offers to throw the heroine a party to show how contrite she is. Had to laugh when the party is to be Farewell Party for the heroine to leave town. This chick is not going away.
2. Heroine is a fearful virgin.
3. The ground is littered with OW: a cute and sassy nurse, the ex/girlfriend/love of his life and h of That Burke Man, and lastly his ex-fiancee
4. Bad parenting for both H and h all around.
Yes, the H is a jerk, but what to do with a smoking DP hero that doesn’t flaunt his hairy chest as he flagellates the heroine in front of a smirking OW? A year of jerkiness and one bad conversation is just not enough even he is from Jacobsville.
The overheard telephone call is the catalyst for the hero to…get nicer. He’s not all that great, but he is better than he was before.
P.S. Apparently they are going to perpetrate the bad parenting. They name their poor kid Joshua Jebediah.
Non-standard DP issues:
1. Hero drinks whiskey
2. H doesn’t smoke, but then he is a doctor after all.
3. Hero is cruel, but at least it’s behind the heroine’s back this time. Unfortunately she hears him anyway when she picks up the open line.
4. Heroine is not a librarian, 911 operator etc, bookkeeper etc, but a doctor in her own right.
5. Heroine has a backbone and actually confronts one of the three potential OW directly and tells her to shut the gossip down STAT.
The regular DP drill:
1. Rumor around town and the hospital is the H is supposedly infatuated with another woman, now married. Turns out he wasn’t in love with her, but has a hard time convincing everyone most especially the OW that he isn’t. She is happily married now, but really, really likes having the hero in her pocket. After some miscommunication with the heroine, she feels bad and offers to throw the heroine a party to show how contrite she is. Had to laugh when the party is to be Farewell Party for the heroine to leave town. This chick is not going away.
2. Heroine is a fearful virgin.
3. The ground is littered with OW: a cute and sassy nurse, the ex/girlfriend/love of his life and h of That Burke Man, and lastly his ex-fiancee
4. Bad parenting for both H and h all around.
Yes, the H is a jerk, but what to do with a smoking DP hero that doesn’t flaunt his hairy chest as he flagellates the heroine in front of a smirking OW? A year of jerkiness and one bad conversation is just not enough even he is from Jacobsville.
The overheard telephone call is the catalyst for the hero to…get nicer. He’s not all that great, but he is better than he was before.
P.S. Apparently they are going to perpetrate the bad parenting. They name their poor kid Joshua Jebediah.
November 10, 2018
Red-haired hero alert! There aren't too many of them, so I thought I'd give a shout out. Hero is a surgeon and has taken the heroine on as his junior partner. For a year he has treated her like dirt and she has been pining for him. Heroine must equate abuse with love because that is the only reason I can think of why she would fall in love with this guy during that time.
He does change, though. The hero's attitude turns around when the heroine resigns after overhearing him call her "repugnant." Hero is surprised she felt bad (!) because she has always kept a poker face around him and he has conflated the heroine with her surgeon father who Hero hated the heroine's father and transferred that hate on to the heroine and now he realizes he was wrong.
He also acknowledges that he didn't like the way the heroine recoiled every time he grabbed her wrist. It affected his ego since he's used to being chased by women. He thought the heroine was frigid. Turns out her father broke her wrist during one of his drunken abusive tirades.
All of this info takes a long time to dispense - the hero tries to draw the heroine out of her shell and the whole town/hospital is watching. There are three OWs after the hero - a young nurse, his ex-fiance and the heroine from the book before this one.
I didn't like the heroine in That Burke Man and I really didn't like her here. She was mean to the heroine, thinking that the hero wanted her to follow his lead. To her credit, she is sorry that misjudged the hero's feelings for the heroine, but she shouldn't have acted like that to *anyone.* I'm also surprised she would act like she and the hero were having an affair when she knows the small town gossip that was put to rest by her marriage will start up again.
The hero from the last book has to put with it *again* all because his charming wife joined in to torture the heroine. I hate bullies and she acted like one to this heroine. I'm also sorry the heroine has to put up with her in the future as she and the hero are just like brother and sister and see a lot of each other. *sigh*
Thankfully DP wrote a charming Christmas for the H/h and the story ended on a sweet note. She also showed how in tune the H/h were by showing them at work together and enjoying their model train obsession.
I've noticed these two books had very short sex scenes compared to earlier books. The heroes weren't too cruel, either. Hmmm a trend?
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest Red hair! Something for everyone.
Breast Description Small with rosebud nipples
Cigarettes No
Alcohol Hero gets drunk on two highballs at the hospital Christmas party and French kisses the heroine under the mistletoe. Heroine only finishes half of her pina colada. She buys non-alcoholic wine for Christmas dinner.
Town Descriptions – The hero shakes off two OWs at Jacobsville's "finest restaurant." Jewelry store. Department store with a restroom for the h to cry in.
Gardenia Scent – No, heroine doesn't even wear make up.
LOL detail – Hospital has two surgeons who do scheduled surgeries on Saturdays.
Cutesy detail – There's a little pun about trains and Coltrain - and whose set is bigger than the other.
He does change, though. The hero's attitude turns around when the heroine resigns after overhearing him call her "repugnant." Hero is surprised she felt bad (!) because she has always kept a poker face around him and he has conflated the heroine with her surgeon father who Hero hated the heroine's father and transferred that hate on to the heroine and now he realizes he was wrong.
He also acknowledges that he didn't like the way the heroine recoiled every time he grabbed her wrist. It affected his ego since he's used to being chased by women. He thought the heroine was frigid. Turns out her father broke her wrist during one of his drunken abusive tirades.
All of this info takes a long time to dispense - the hero tries to draw the heroine out of her shell and the whole town/hospital is watching. There are three OWs after the hero - a young nurse, his ex-fiance and the heroine from the book before this one.
I didn't like the heroine in That Burke Man and I really didn't like her here. She was mean to the heroine, thinking that the hero wanted her to follow his lead. To her credit, she is sorry that misjudged the hero's feelings for the heroine, but she shouldn't have acted like that to *anyone.* I'm also surprised she would act like she and the hero were having an affair when she knows the small town gossip that was put to rest by her marriage will start up again.
The hero from the last book has to put with it *again* all because his charming wife joined in to torture the heroine. I hate bullies and she acted like one to this heroine. I'm also sorry the heroine has to put up with her in the future as she and the hero are just like brother and sister and see a lot of each other. *sigh*
Thankfully DP wrote a charming Christmas for the H/h and the story ended on a sweet note. She also showed how in tune the H/h were by showing them at work together and enjoying their model train obsession.
I've noticed these two books had very short sex scenes compared to earlier books. The heroes weren't too cruel, either. Hmmm a trend?
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest Red hair! Something for everyone.
Breast Description Small with rosebud nipples
Cigarettes No
Alcohol Hero gets drunk on two highballs at the hospital Christmas party and French kisses the heroine under the mistletoe. Heroine only finishes half of her pina colada. She buys non-alcoholic wine for Christmas dinner.
Town Descriptions – The hero shakes off two OWs at Jacobsville's "finest restaurant." Jewelry store. Department store with a restroom for the h to cry in.
Gardenia Scent – No, heroine doesn't even wear make up.
LOL detail – Hospital has two surgeons who do scheduled surgeries on Saturdays.
Cutesy detail – There's a little pun about trains and Coltrain - and whose set is bigger than the other.
May 12, 2018
So finally I read the doctors' book! They have been in and out of all Jacobsville books - doing the doctoring, birthing for the residents and mooning over each other doing it.
Only the last book I read - the prequel with Jane, apparently Dr. Jeb Coltrain's unrequited - shows him being snappy and mean to his new assistant, Dr. Lou Blakely, our h.
*With spoilers* He apparently had bad blood with her father and so hates her by association. He's mean, he's cruel, he's verbally abusive and he humiliates her publicly. So it was happy me who began this book only for him to become thoughtful and mild and conciliatory pretty soon. That was a letdown so early in the book and so unlike a DP H!
But anyways there other ways to hurt and confound a h.
Throw in an arrogant and insensitive 'I know you are in love with me.' Offer something less than the whole and roll in the parade!
The way the ow kept popping out of the woodwork and the past, the h barely got time to take a steadying breath. He, meanwhile kissed, dined and gave them lovelorn looks - respectively. Speak of complications. But all's not lost and he's not a complete jerk - ow wise. And I loved the way the h took on each of them and sent them scurrying. No she doesn't chase him- that's his job.
He just needed the memo that time's a-wasting and the way to reassure a woman is to give her the words, you idiot. Saves time all around.
The second time proposal is sappy sweet (complete with heart-in-two key chains. Okay I'm regressing to teenage fantasies but I loved it!) and so is the ending.
Oh and these two share a passion for toy trains (so they are the Col-trains now! Hahaha) If you don't find that funny, hear what he's heard telling the others at the end, about their train sets. 'Hers is bigger than mine!' Any wonder people were 'choking' and 'howling'!
Only the last book I read - the prequel with Jane, apparently Dr. Jeb Coltrain's unrequited - shows him being snappy and mean to his new assistant, Dr. Lou Blakely, our h.
*With spoilers* He apparently had bad blood with her father and so hates her by association. He's mean, he's cruel, he's verbally abusive and he humiliates her publicly. So it was happy me who began this book only for him to become thoughtful and mild and conciliatory pretty soon. That was a letdown so early in the book and so unlike a DP H!
But anyways there other ways to hurt and confound a h.
Throw in an arrogant and insensitive 'I know you are in love with me.' Offer something less than the whole and roll in the parade!
The way the ow kept popping out of the woodwork and the past, the h barely got time to take a steadying breath. He, meanwhile kissed, dined and gave them lovelorn looks - respectively. Speak of complications. But all's not lost and he's not a complete jerk - ow wise. And I loved the way the h took on each of them and sent them scurrying. No she doesn't chase him- that's his job.
He just needed the memo that time's a-wasting and the way to reassure a woman is to give her the words, you idiot. Saves time all around.
The second time proposal is sappy sweet (complete with heart-in-two key chains. Okay I'm regressing to teenage fantasies but I loved it!) and so is the ending.
Oh and these two share a passion for toy trains (so they are the Col-trains now! Hahaha) If you don't find that funny, hear what he's heard telling the others at the end, about their train sets. 'Hers is bigger than mine!' Any wonder people were 'choking' and 'howling'!
January 8, 2023
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Liked it!
==============================
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚ ˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
.•°*”˜˜”*°•. ˜”*°• •°*”˜ .•°*”˜˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜Diana Palmer's Marathon, 2023˜”*°•.
.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜ ˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.
★ *˛ ˚♥* ✰。˚˛˚ ♥ 。✰˚* ˚ ★
===========================
==>Re-read April, 23-24 2018
==>Re-read June, 15 2016
OGRE with hairy chest and cowboy hat + 2 bitches chasing the hero + in love with another woman + Virgin with family trauma + daddy issues = typical story of author
Coltrain's Proposal (Diana Palmer)
Most people around Jacobsville knew that Dr. Coltrain had as little use for his partner as he had for alcohol. He’d made it all too evident in the months she’d been sharing his practice.
==========
was a standing joke in the hospital staff that Louise Blakely ended up talking to herself every time she argued with Dr. Coltrain.
==========
She wondered, too, why she kept hanging on where she wasn’t wanted. The hunger her poor heart felt for him was her only excuse. And one day, even that wouldn’t be enough.
==========
This woman in his arms had come to mean a lot to him, without his realizing it until he’d kissed her for the first time. He laid his cheek against her head with a long sigh. It was like coming home.
==========
“And I’m the soul of discretion in my private life. There was a widow in a city I won’t name. She and I were good friends, and we supplied each other with something neither of us was comfortable spreading around. She married year before last. Since then, I’ve concentrated on my work and my cattle. Period.”
==========
“You haven’t really gotten over Jane Burke yet. You have nothing to offer anyone else until you do. That’s why I wouldn’t marry you.”
====> added 2018<==
Secretly she suspected that he was grieving for Jane Parker, his old flame who’d just recently married Todd Burke. Jane was blond and blue-eyed and beautiful, a former rodeo star with a warm heart and a gentle personality.
She wasn’t bad looking. She had long, thick blond hair and big brown eyes and a creamy, blemish-free complexion. She was tall and willowy, but still shorter than her colleague.
He was tall and whipcord lean, with flaming red hair and blue eyes and a dark tan from working on his small ranch when he wasn’t treating patients.
...he did have a smattering of freckles over his nose and the backs of his big hands.
I find Louise Blakely repulsive and repugnant, and an automaton with no attractions whatsoever. Take her with my blessing. I’d give real money if she’d get out of my practice and out of my life, and the sooner the better!”
She wasn’t fiery by nature, but her father had been viciously cruel to her. She’d learned early not to show fear or back down, because it only made him worse.
a pretty young brunette came up beside him and clung to his arm as if it was the ticket to heaven.
“Copper’s got a new girl, I see,” Drew said with a grin. “That’s Nickie Bolton,” he added. “She works as a nurse’s aide at the hospital.”
Lou didn’t want to be anybody’s second-best girl. Besides, she never wanted to marry.
Nickie laughed and dragged Coltrain under the mistletoe, looking up to indicate it there, to the amusement of the others standing by. Coltrain laughed softly, whipped a lean arm around Nickie’s trim waist and pulled her against his tall body. He bent his head, and the way he kissed her made Lou go hot all over. She’d never been in his arms, but she’d dreamed about it. The fever in that thin mouth, the way he twisted Nickie even closer, made her breath catch. She averted her eyes and flushed at the train of her own thoughts.
“Leave it to Coltrain to draw the prettiest girls.” Ben chuckled. “The gossip mill will grind on that kiss for a month. He’s not usually so uninhibited. He must be over his limit!”
“You’re not getting away this time,” he said huskily. Before she could think, react, protest, his head bent and his thin, cruel mouth fastened on hers with fierce intent. He didn’t close his eyes when he kissed, she thought a bit wildly, he watched her all through it. His arm pressed her closer to the length of his muscular body, and his free hand came up so that his thumb could rub sensuously over her mouth while he kissed it, parting her lips, playing havoc with her nerves.
Nickie held on to him as they went back inside. “You’ve got her lipstick all over you,” she accused. He paused, shaken out of his brooding. Nickie was pretty, he thought, and uncomplicated. She already knew that he wasn’t going to get serious however long they dated, because he’d told her so. It made him relax. He smiled down at her. “Wipe it off.”
I’m the original bad boy of the community. If it hadn’t been for the scholarship one of my teachers helped me get, I’d probably be in jail by now. I had a hard childhood and I hated authority in any form. I was in constant trouble with the law.”
She went to the doctors’ lounge looking for him, and turned the corner just in time to see him with a devastating blond woman in a dress that Lou would love to have been able to afford.
“This is my partner,” he said, without giving her name. “Lou, this is Dana Lester, an old…friend.” “His ex-fiancée.”
Drew invited her out to eat and she went, gratefully, glad for the diversion. But the restaurant he chose, Jacobsville’s best, had two unwelcome diners: Coltrain and his ex-fiancée.
“You were in love with Jane Parker,” she said. “Not for a long time,” he said. He traced her cheek lightly. “The way I felt about her was a habit. It was one I broke when she married Todd Burke.
“That’s why I broke up with Jane,” he said matter-of-factly. She was jealous, angry. “Because she wouldn’t go all the way with you?”
“I said I was never able to want Jane sexually,” he said simply. “To put it simply, she couldn’t arouse me.”
January 1, 2021
I've compared this one to The Patient Nurse because the H is vicious to an already beaten-down shadow of a woman. He then has a change of heart and totally retcons his past behavior, but unlike the H of The Patient Nurse. He doesn't succeed in selling it. The h never really recovers her spirit, she just learns to accept that the H is now being kind to her.
It's unfortunate that I associate this h with her role in later books where she and her staff repeatedly violate healthcare privacy laws, always in favor of the H of the book.
Also, the OW is from That Burke Man and she is piece of work here. However, neither she nor the h is exactly a member of the sisterhood, so I can't get exorcised like I do about Tippy. (Don't know who Tippy is? Be grateful. )
It's unfortunate that I associate this h with her role in later books where she and her staff repeatedly violate healthcare privacy laws, always in favor of the H of the book.
Also, the OW is from That Burke Man and she is piece of work here. However, neither she nor the h is exactly a member of the sisterhood, so I can't get exorcised like I do about Tippy. (Don't know who Tippy is? Be grateful. )
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
I’ve wanted to read this one for a long time, because these MC’s pop-up ALL the time since someone’s always being kidnapped, injured, or accidentally impregnated. I didn’t remember until I was already in deep that I HATED the h from That Burke Man and realized this story is related. (FYI-I noticed I never wrote a review, but I’m not re-reading) Jane Parker rivals Tippy on my “least fav” of all-time lists… and shocker, she’s just as annoying and self-centered this time around. I know DP likes to use this plot device, but I can’t stand these ex-heroines that still reach out/stay friends/come around when they know the H is hung up on them. In the end it all works out, but it’s a long and tedious journey.
Bottom Line- I found this one boring as hell, and not eventwo three potential OW’s could spruce this up enough for me to enjoy it. I did appreciate his flaming red hair, and had fun imaging her running her fingers through his red roughened chest. You don’t get that very often. 😊
Bottom Line- I found this one boring as hell, and not even
April 22, 2012
I'm kind of bummed I didn't like this more, because the characters were a little different for Palmer. Our heroine Lou is not only a doctor, but she's pretty smart and tough. And Palmer was obviously just going crazy with heroes around this time, because the previous title in the series had a blond and this one is a redhead! (Don't worry though, they're still major jerks. With hairy chests. And Stetsons. All is right in the Palmer world.)
So I kind of liked the characters and the chemistry was good, but the inconsistencies and implausibilities of the plot just drove me crazy.
So I kind of liked the characters and the chemistry was good, but the inconsistencies and implausibilities of the plot just drove me crazy.
April 9, 2020
La cantidad de tiempo que se ahorrarían con simplemente conversar honesta y sinceramente, en vez de crear malos entendidos y desperdiciar años de equívocos, que frustrante :C ...
February 23, 2016
Read this book a few times now. It's all about a woman doctor who moves to a small town to set up shop with the town "God" doctor. They can't seem to agree on anything but toy trains which featured in a lot of DP books after. They have a kid at the end and it would seem they would have a lot and maybe take time for it and each other but nope if you keep reading they their story in other books they just have the one and they are just doctors. I liked this book a lot better before I knew how they turned out to be just dedicated doctors who's child was an after thought. Like ok I did the kid thing and let's just put it in daycare and when I have time I can take it to the zoo. In real life I don't think their relationship would last cause they would not have real time for each other. It's just knowing Doctors, and both being doctors it would not be all roses and chocolate. However the book is good and I gave it 4 stars. I just don't love it. It's a good story but very DP which is good and bad. Their big misunderstanding was very overdone.
October 11, 2022
I really liked this one! I loved the story and the characters, despite being such a jerk in the beginning he was one of the nicer DP Hs I’ve read.
September 20, 2015
I was always curious about this couple's story because they appeared in most DP 's books whenever there were any needs of medical care, and I didn't realize they indeed had a book until today. Really admired h's personality cause she talked back when H treated her badly rather than endured him silently. H totally deserved it.
August 28, 2022
Coltrain
A doctor, red hair
Lou
A doctor, 28 years old, blond hair
This was a so so story at the most. There wasn't any angst, not so much anyways. The H 'hated' the heroine because of her father but secretly, he admired her strength and resilience. He was annoyed because she never allowed him to touch her wrist and avoided kissing him at the christmas party (under the mistletoe). Little did he know that the heroine had been carrying a torch for him from the very beginning. She was always nervous when she was around him. One day, she overheard the H telling a fellow doctor that he was sick and tired of putting up with the heroine and the only reason he accepted her was because he wasn't aware of who she was. He couldn't stand her.
This was a little bit different from the usual D.P. books; firstly, the H was a RED HEAD! How interesting was that. Somehow, I couldn't picture a hot, alpha red headed man. Secondly, the H wasn't too much of an a**hole like some of her others. He was pretty "tame". Somehow, I didn't feel the chemistry ... and the attraction was only from the heroine.
Overall, this was an okay read. Pleasant at the most. I was expecting more angst, more tingly feelings on my fingers ... oh well.
A doctor, red hair
Lou
A doctor, 28 years old, blond hair
This was a so so story at the most. There wasn't any angst, not so much anyways. The H 'hated' the heroine because of her father but secretly, he admired her strength and resilience. He was annoyed because she never allowed him to touch her wrist and avoided kissing him at the christmas party (under the mistletoe). Little did he know that the heroine had been carrying a torch for him from the very beginning. She was always nervous when she was around him. One day, she overheard the H telling a fellow doctor that he was sick and tired of putting up with the heroine and the only reason he accepted her was because he wasn't aware of who she was. He couldn't stand her.
This was a little bit different from the usual D.P. books; firstly, the H was a RED HEAD! How interesting was that. Somehow, I couldn't picture a hot, alpha red headed man. Secondly, the H wasn't too much of an a**hole like some of her others. He was pretty "tame". Somehow, I didn't feel the chemistry ... and the attraction was only from the heroine.
Overall, this was an okay read. Pleasant at the most. I was expecting more angst, more tingly feelings on my fingers ... oh well.
June 25, 2021
Yet another rereading, what to say: this book has a certain something that makes me love it. And reading it already knowing the plot made me less distressed this time.
Generally I don't really appreciate Diana Palmer's novels: too much age difference between the protagonists, too young heroines, too bad and misogenic heroes. I usually avoid this last aspect precisely because it makes me feel sick.
The hero of this book, however, is a different thread: let's clarify immediately, he makes the heroine go through the pains of hell, but his problem is 1) He gets inflamed immediately and when he is angry he says everything 2) He does not trust women because of past experiences and carries a grudge 3) He is extremely stubborn and proud and if he had decided to talk to the heroine halfway through the book he would have spared her a lot of suffering.
* But *: After the first chapter he is already starting to soften and his comments are always pungent but not personal insults. In fact, he's already into heroin since he knows her and the fact that she keeps her distance from him infuriates him, so he fights back by verbally attacking her. We understand that he is interested because, when she writes the resignation from the clinic where they work together, he rushes to ask for explanations. If he hated her, like he says, he would be more than happy to get rid of her on her fly. Then for much of the book he looks for an excuse not to let her go because first he wants to understand exactly what he feels about her. Towards three quarters of the book he is convinced that he wants to marry her but the marriage request is quite painful and then he gets in the way of the fact that they don't talk or explain each other. The heroine has her own problems (family trauma, insecurity, problems relating to people outside of work in general) and this is also why he is cautious about it. However, I like the fact that heroin, despite her problems, is an established career woman, capable of responding in kind when necessary, self-sufficient economically and personally in general.
I've had my moments of despair in following the timeline of the story, which at one point completely loses sense. I actually started with pen and paper to mark all the time passages and they do not come back, worse than sudoku XD During the story it always seems that Christmas is behind the door and instead it only arrives at the end of the book. Another mysterious thing is how the hero’s Mercedes in the first chapter, magically becomes a Jaguard, but so be it! XD
Generally I don't really appreciate Diana Palmer's novels: too much age difference between the protagonists, too young heroines, too bad and misogenic heroes. I usually avoid this last aspect precisely because it makes me feel sick.
The hero of this book, however, is a different thread: let's clarify immediately, he makes the heroine go through the pains of hell, but his problem is 1) He gets inflamed immediately and when he is angry he says everything 2) He does not trust women because of past experiences and carries a grudge 3) He is extremely stubborn and proud and if he had decided to talk to the heroine halfway through the book he would have spared her a lot of suffering.
* But *: After the first chapter he is already starting to soften and his comments are always pungent but not personal insults. In fact, he's already into heroin since he knows her and the fact that she keeps her distance from him infuriates him, so he fights back by verbally attacking her. We understand that he is interested because, when she writes the resignation from the clinic where they work together, he rushes to ask for explanations. If he hated her, like he says, he would be more than happy to get rid of her on her fly. Then for much of the book he looks for an excuse not to let her go because first he wants to understand exactly what he feels about her. Towards three quarters of the book he is convinced that he wants to marry her but the marriage request is quite painful and then he gets in the way of the fact that they don't talk or explain each other. The heroine has her own problems (family trauma, insecurity, problems relating to people outside of work in general) and this is also why he is cautious about it. However, I like the fact that heroin, despite her problems, is an established career woman, capable of responding in kind when necessary, self-sufficient economically and personally in general.
I've had my moments of despair in following the timeline of the story, which at one point completely loses sense. I actually started with pen and paper to mark all the time passages and they do not come back, worse than sudoku XD During the story it always seems that Christmas is behind the door and instead it only arrives at the end of the book. Another mysterious thing is how the hero’s Mercedes in the first chapter, magically becomes a Jaguard, but so be it! XD
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2015
Doctors in Love
THE STORY: Dr. Louise "Lou" Blakely and Dr. Jebediah "Copper" Coltrain have been partners in the Jacobsville medical clinic for almost a year. Despite the fact that he hired her, however, Copper has treated Lou as an outcast. She finally has had enough and has decided to leave, but Copper shocks her by refusing to allow her to resign and instead wants them to get married.
OPINION: I liked this book especially because of the professional relationship between Lou and Coltrain. The ins and outs of their medical practice brought a smile to me as they struggled with their relationship. This story also was lighter and sweeter than I expected as the two discover what they have in common. There are typical misunderstandings that threaten their relationship, but these characters were interesting and I ended up liking them both.
WORTH MENTIONING: Palmer often has heroes with deep insecurities that cause them to reject the heroines. This book is typical in that respect.
FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book. While Copper is a jerk to Lou especially at the beginning, the story was also at times funny and sweet as to two find out they are a perfect match for one another.
CONNECTED BOOKS: COLTRAIN'S PROPOSAL is the fourteenth book in the Long, Tall Texans series but can definitely be read as a standalone. A secondary character Drew Morris is also the hero of one of the novellas in THE LONG, TALL TEXANS SUMMER.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.
THE STORY: Dr. Louise "Lou" Blakely and Dr. Jebediah "Copper" Coltrain have been partners in the Jacobsville medical clinic for almost a year. Despite the fact that he hired her, however, Copper has treated Lou as an outcast. She finally has had enough and has decided to leave, but Copper shocks her by refusing to allow her to resign and instead wants them to get married.
OPINION: I liked this book especially because of the professional relationship between Lou and Coltrain. The ins and outs of their medical practice brought a smile to me as they struggled with their relationship. This story also was lighter and sweeter than I expected as the two discover what they have in common. There are typical misunderstandings that threaten their relationship, but these characters were interesting and I ended up liking them both.
WORTH MENTIONING: Palmer often has heroes with deep insecurities that cause them to reject the heroines. This book is typical in that respect.
FINAL DECISION: I enjoyed this book. While Copper is a jerk to Lou especially at the beginning, the story was also at times funny and sweet as to two find out they are a perfect match for one another.
CONNECTED BOOKS: COLTRAIN'S PROPOSAL is the fourteenth book in the Long, Tall Texans series but can definitely be read as a standalone. A secondary character Drew Morris is also the hero of one of the novellas in THE LONG, TALL TEXANS SUMMER.
STAR RATING: I give this book 4.25 stars.
March 1, 2022
Satu lagi harlequin Diana Palmer yang menjadi favoriteku. Ada masanya saat kalian muak banget sama harlequin, jadi pengen baca fantasi dengan sedikit bumbu romance. Begitu pula sebaliknya.
Hampir 2 minggu baca harlequin mulu jadi agak mual-mual😂 Karena reading slump kan. Larilah ke harlequin. Tapi kayaknya too much harlquin deh. Sampai mual. Alur-alurnya dejavu banget🙃 Karena rata-rata harlequin ya begitu. But i'm not hate harlequin ya. Lini harlequin ngebantu aing menghadapi kerasnya penyakit slump. Tapi kalau kebanyakan harlequin malah berbalik bikin reading slump. *mau gw apa sih😂*
Apalagi kebanyakan harlequin yang aku baca belum di data di GR. Ah. It's so sad Alexa play been through by Exo *plak😂
Ini juga salah satu rekomendasi harlequin dariku😘 Sebuah romantisme yang gak melulu tentang ike ike kimochi😂
Hampir 2 minggu baca harlequin mulu jadi agak mual-mual😂 Karena reading slump kan. Larilah ke harlequin. Tapi kayaknya too much harlquin deh. Sampai mual. Alur-alurnya dejavu banget🙃 Karena rata-rata harlequin ya begitu. But i'm not hate harlequin ya. Lini harlequin ngebantu aing menghadapi kerasnya penyakit slump. Tapi kalau kebanyakan harlequin malah berbalik bikin reading slump. *mau gw apa sih😂*
Apalagi kebanyakan harlequin yang aku baca belum di data di GR. Ah. It's so sad Alexa play been through by Exo *plak😂
Ini juga salah satu rekomendasi harlequin dariku😘 Sebuah romantisme yang gak melulu tentang ike ike kimochi😂
August 7, 2016
Coltrain's Proposal
Bintang 4.
Lou vs Jeb Coltrain
Lou tidak memahami situasi yang ada hampir 1 tahun menjadi partner di klinik dokter Coltrain. Sikap Coltrain yang sinis, galak dan memusuhinya tak dapat dipahaminya. Sampai pembicaraan yang seharusnya tak didengar oleh Lou. Mengetahui skandal yang pernah terjadi antara ayah Lou dan mantan tunangan Coltrain membuat Lou memahami posisi serta perasaan benci Coltrain pada dirinya. Tapi benarkah kemarahan Coltrain bersumber dari hal tersebut? Lou tidak bernah memikirkan jika ada motif lain yang menimbulkan kesan yang salah itu, sampai Coltrain mengubah situasi diantara mereka ketika Coltrain mengetahui betapa kehidupan Lou tidak semudah dan segampang yang Coltrain kira.
Versi terjemahan yang jauh dari typo. Suka cetitanya.
Bintang 4.
Lou vs Jeb Coltrain
Lou tidak memahami situasi yang ada hampir 1 tahun menjadi partner di klinik dokter Coltrain. Sikap Coltrain yang sinis, galak dan memusuhinya tak dapat dipahaminya. Sampai pembicaraan yang seharusnya tak didengar oleh Lou. Mengetahui skandal yang pernah terjadi antara ayah Lou dan mantan tunangan Coltrain membuat Lou memahami posisi serta perasaan benci Coltrain pada dirinya. Tapi benarkah kemarahan Coltrain bersumber dari hal tersebut? Lou tidak bernah memikirkan jika ada motif lain yang menimbulkan kesan yang salah itu, sampai Coltrain mengubah situasi diantara mereka ketika Coltrain mengetahui betapa kehidupan Lou tidak semudah dan segampang yang Coltrain kira.
Versi terjemahan yang jauh dari typo. Suka cetitanya.
November 13, 2012
Absolutely loved this book!! I love a good hero antagonist because he's a mean grouch. And a good heroine who could hold her own. Such a good book. It was funny in some parts and interesting in others. You get the gist of it in the description of the book.
Sidebar: Diana Palmer is one of my go to authors when I want a good light hearted book that will put a smile on my face and have me giggling like a little girl. I absolutely love her. And even though I haven't read a lot of books by her, I know when I do, I'll either love it or think it was an okay read that did its job; which was to distract me.
And this book more than its job!! :)
Sidebar: Diana Palmer is one of my go to authors when I want a good light hearted book that will put a smile on my face and have me giggling like a little girl. I absolutely love her. And even though I haven't read a lot of books by her, I know when I do, I'll either love it or think it was an okay read that did its job; which was to distract me.
And this book more than its job!! :)
February 9, 2012
Dr. Louise Blakely knows that Dr. Jebediah Coltrain can not stand her. Overhearing him saying just that makes her realize that even though she might love the man, she must leave.
Jeb has never understood why Lou always backed away from him. He knew that he had given her a hard time while working with her. But he had a difficult time getting past who her father was, and what he had done. He knows that Lou is keeping secrets from him, but he finds that she loves him, and he refuses to let her go.
A very sweet story.
Jeb has never understood why Lou always backed away from him. He knew that he had given her a hard time while working with her. But he had a difficult time getting past who her father was, and what he had done. He knows that Lou is keeping secrets from him, but he finds that she loves him, and he refuses to let her go.
A very sweet story.
June 8, 2025
Lettura amatoriale. Quale giorno migliore se non questo, 14/02 per finire una lettura che si conclude all'insegna di San Valentino. Storia tenera, spiritosa, a volte pungente, come sono sempre i racconti di questa autrice che adoro.
Collegato a “That Burke Man LTT #12” (inedito)
lui amico e medico della protagonista Jane Parker
che incontriamo anche qui con Todd, mentre Cherry figlia di Todd viene solo nominata.
presente anche il collega Drew Morris a cui sarà dedicato un racconto in “Uomini soli LTT #14”
nominati Ted Regan e Coreen “Corrie” Tarleton “Orgoglio e Amore LTT #11”
Collegato a “That Burke Man LTT #12” (inedito)
lui amico e medico della protagonista Jane Parker
che incontriamo anche qui con Todd, mentre Cherry figlia di Todd viene solo nominata.
presente anche il collega Drew Morris a cui sarà dedicato un racconto in “Uomini soli LTT #14”
nominati Ted Regan e Coreen “Corrie” Tarleton “Orgoglio e Amore LTT #11”
June 21, 2025
Best Diana Palmer Book Ever
Quintessential Diana Palmer Romance!!! Angst, unrequited love, enemies to lovers, slow burn, passion, groveling, pursuit, and so much more. Those are my favorite aspects of romance novels and it’s why it’s my favorite genre. I’m still sometimes embarrassed I don’t have a more high brow genre favorite, but romance does it for me! I read for a living and need escapism. This romance book was an excellent read and hit all the marks!
Quintessential Diana Palmer Romance!!! Angst, unrequited love, enemies to lovers, slow burn, passion, groveling, pursuit, and so much more. Those are my favorite aspects of romance novels and it’s why it’s my favorite genre. I’m still sometimes embarrassed I don’t have a more high brow genre favorite, but romance does it for me! I read for a living and need escapism. This romance book was an excellent read and hit all the marks!
February 11, 2016
Enjoyable quick read. I have read quite a few of the long tall Texans books and the Doctors Coltrain frequently make an appearance. I have been interested in seeing how they got together. I liked their chemistry together and how much each loved their careers.
October 29, 2012
I liked this book very much, mostly because of the medicine theme. Lou was really sweet and Copper, if a bit rough at first, turned out to be really something. Another favourite by Diana Palmer.
June 29, 2017
Great Read, Love DP's books
May 14, 2020
This book tells a complete story. I can't tell what holds the series together since this is my first book in it and probably my last.
I hate it when the synopsis or title or both give something away that is deep into the book.
I found it hard to like how physically aggressive Coltrain was toward Lou. He crossed the line, in my opinion, many times. Some of them were inappropriate even before there was any hint that he had some sexual attraction and when it would have been presumptuous to assume she had any, despite possible telltale signs. After they both realized their mutual antagonism was misguided, he still continued to grab her and touch her in ways that now took on a sexual aggressiveness. He kissed her more than once without invitation.
I also found it difficult to have proper sympathy for Lou's abusive background. Instead of considering her as a sympathetic character, I pitied her. The author attempted to paint her as courageous standing up to Copper's meanness and the constant gossip around her, but how many times did she break down in tears, even sobbing? Not that she didn't have a right to given the extreme provocations, but it belied the intended picture of a courageous heroine. Another difficulty I had with her was that she kept thinking and even saying she was in love with Copper even when he was treating her horribly. I guess it can happen, but I don't understand it particularly when there is no happy period during which she can fall in love. And more than that, it makes me uncomfortable to think that it was the uninvited physically aggressive behavior, like the Christmas kiss, that might have sparked her interest.
The story has some interesting twists from what you might expect given the synopsis, but it still uses a lot of well worn plot devices. Of course the ending is predictable.
In this story we have not just one, but three possible rivals ranging from mean witch to simply misunderstood.
There are some timeline inconsistencies. For example, her contract for one year was over at New Year's Day. Yet the story explicitly states that she got along with Copper until he tried to kiss her at the Christmas party the previous year. So how much time did she spend and how well did she know Copper prior to that incident which was still several weeks before her contract started. Then, not exactly a timeline inconsistency but one that betrays his character is that
Mature themes: oddly there is no sexual intercourse described. There's plenty of kissing and groping. There are before and after scenes making it clear that it happened. There is also discussion of spousal and child abuse including breaking a daughter's wrist. There is description of drunken behavior including uninvited kissing and of drug abuse.
Rating 1.5 stars - barely OK and with reservations.
I hate it when the synopsis or title or both give something away that is deep into the book.
I found it hard to like how physically aggressive Coltrain was toward Lou. He crossed the line, in my opinion, many times. Some of them were inappropriate even before there was any hint that he had some sexual attraction and when it would have been presumptuous to assume she had any, despite possible telltale signs. After they both realized their mutual antagonism was misguided, he still continued to grab her and touch her in ways that now took on a sexual aggressiveness. He kissed her more than once without invitation.
I also found it difficult to have proper sympathy for Lou's abusive background. Instead of considering her as a sympathetic character, I pitied her. The author attempted to paint her as courageous standing up to Copper's meanness and the constant gossip around her, but how many times did she break down in tears, even sobbing? Not that she didn't have a right to given the extreme provocations, but it belied the intended picture of a courageous heroine. Another difficulty I had with her was that she kept thinking and even saying she was in love with Copper even when he was treating her horribly. I guess it can happen, but I don't understand it particularly when there is no happy period during which she can fall in love. And more than that, it makes me uncomfortable to think that it was the uninvited physically aggressive behavior, like the Christmas kiss, that might have sparked her interest.
The story has some interesting twists from what you might expect given the synopsis, but it still uses a lot of well worn plot devices. Of course the ending is predictable.
In this story we have not just one, but three possible rivals ranging from mean witch to simply misunderstood.
There are some timeline inconsistencies. For example, her contract for one year was over at New Year's Day. Yet the story explicitly states that she got along with Copper until he tried to kiss her at the Christmas party the previous year. So how much time did she spend and how well did she know Copper prior to that incident which was still several weeks before her contract started. Then, not exactly a timeline inconsistency but one that betrays his character is that
Mature themes: oddly there is no sexual intercourse described. There's plenty of kissing and groping. There are before and after scenes making it clear that it happened. There is also discussion of spousal and child abuse including breaking a daughter's wrist. There is description of drunken behavior including uninvited kissing and of drug abuse.
Rating 1.5 stars - barely OK and with reservations.
July 14, 2023
Dr. Lou's (h) parents died in a plane crash. Her friend Drew gets her a job with Dr. Coltrain (H), so that she can move closer to her emotional support system. Drew doesn't tell either of them he's trying to play matchmaker and get them to fall in love. Drew knows Lou's father had an affair with Coltrain's ex, and looking at Lou makes Coltrain feel enraged. So Lou is being manipulated into a hostile situation without knowing it. (She didn't know about the affair.) This seems like the worst idea for match making, but what do I know?
The job contract states Lou can't be forced out of the medical practice, but she can choose to leave. Dr. Coltrain treats her like dog shit for the next year trying to get her to leave voluntarily. But she has no idea that's why he's acting so hostile. Instead of leaving, she falls in love with him, which didn't make any sense and wasn't believable.
As year on the contract comes to an end, Lou decides not to renew the contract, and gives Coltrain two months notice to find a replacement. It's at this point he decides to seduce her because she's about to leave anyway. Honestly, his seduction attempts are just extremely creepy sexual harassment. I didn't enjoy reading this stuff. At the same time, there are other women he takes out while he's working on seducing Lou. He even makes out with one at the company Christmas party. This guy's just gross.
Then it gets really weird two weeks before she leaves. He wants more time to seduce her, so he proposes marriage. I think he's proposing is marriage of convenience or something? I'm not sure, because it didn't make any sense. I guess that by this time, he's supposed to actually be in love deep down, just in denial. But why should Lou agree to this marriage if the love part is hidden, even from Coltrain's own subconscious? He went from pure hatred and disgust to let's have sex in one instant, then lets get married on the next page. It was weird. I could believe he got to know enough about her not to hate her, but the marriage came out of nowhere, and why should they even sleep together? I just kept wondering WHY?!
Coltrain shows up repeatedly in this series after this, because people are always getting shot or something. It's disheartening to know he's such a creepy asshole in his own book.
The job contract states Lou can't be forced out of the medical practice, but she can choose to leave. Dr. Coltrain treats her like dog shit for the next year trying to get her to leave voluntarily. But she has no idea that's why he's acting so hostile. Instead of leaving, she falls in love with him, which didn't make any sense and wasn't believable.
As year on the contract comes to an end, Lou decides not to renew the contract, and gives Coltrain two months notice to find a replacement. It's at this point he decides to seduce her because she's about to leave anyway. Honestly, his seduction attempts are just extremely creepy sexual harassment. I didn't enjoy reading this stuff. At the same time, there are other women he takes out while he's working on seducing Lou. He even makes out with one at the company Christmas party. This guy's just gross.
Then it gets really weird two weeks before she leaves. He wants more time to seduce her, so he proposes marriage. I think he's proposing is marriage of convenience or something? I'm not sure, because it didn't make any sense. I guess that by this time, he's supposed to actually be in love deep down, just in denial. But why should Lou agree to this marriage if the love part is hidden, even from Coltrain's own subconscious? He went from pure hatred and disgust to let's have sex in one instant, then lets get married on the next page. It was weird. I could believe he got to know enough about her not to hate her, but the marriage came out of nowhere, and why should they even sleep together? I just kept wondering WHY?!
Coltrain shows up repeatedly in this series after this, because people are always getting shot or something. It's disheartening to know he's such a creepy asshole in his own book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
I did enjoy it, but not as much as the others in the series so far. The trouble was the characters were just a little bit 'meh' for me.
Coltrain was typically nasty, but it stank because he did it in the workplace (a doctors practice) to his supposedly equal partner. For a year he ruined her work life, criticized her in front of colleagues and patients, and drove her to resign. Why? Because she 'flinched' at the office Christmas party when he tried to kiss her. His ego took the tiniest hit, and that was it, he was relentlessly hostile. (and yes I know about the other reason, but even he admits it was the failed kiss that was his main motive for hating her)
She, meanwhile, loved him from the start and let him treat her like complete shit. Oh sure we're told she 'gives him hell back' but she doesn't, not really. She cries in stationary cupboards and stands about spluttering every time he calls her names. She doesn't even resign in style, she waits until the end of her contract then works it out anyway, doing his every whim and taking his every insult in the meantime... no girl, you should have stuffed that letter in his mouth and walked out like a queen.
She was just too 'in love' to be a foil to the typical DP bullyman. Normally DP will have the mean Texan kill her love, then have to fight to get it back. Not here, all he has to do is click his fingers and she's his with instant forgiveness and no apologies necessary. Soooo unsatisfactory.
The scene with the train was utterly wonderful. Best part of the whole book.
Coltrain was typically nasty, but it stank because he did it in the workplace (a doctors practice) to his supposedly equal partner. For a year he ruined her work life, criticized her in front of colleagues and patients, and drove her to resign. Why? Because she 'flinched' at the office Christmas party when he tried to kiss her. His ego took the tiniest hit, and that was it, he was relentlessly hostile. (and yes I know about the other reason, but even he admits it was the failed kiss that was his main motive for hating her)
She, meanwhile, loved him from the start and let him treat her like complete shit. Oh sure we're told she 'gives him hell back' but she doesn't, not really. She cries in stationary cupboards and stands about spluttering every time he calls her names. She doesn't even resign in style, she waits until the end of her contract then works it out anyway, doing his every whim and taking his every insult in the meantime... no girl, you should have stuffed that letter in his mouth and walked out like a queen.
She was just too 'in love' to be a foil to the typical DP bullyman. Normally DP will have the mean Texan kill her love, then have to fight to get it back. Not here, all he has to do is click his fingers and she's his with instant forgiveness and no apologies necessary. Soooo unsatisfactory.
The scene with the train was utterly wonderful. Best part of the whole book.
December 29, 2022
Coltrain and Lou
I didn't like it, hero was a huge jerk (for the entire year she worked with him) and heroine just took it and still loved him. She said she didn't want to be like her mother and yet she ended up with a guy who treated her terribly. He stopped being as mean to her when she gave him her resignation, but when she disagreed with him he reverted to making snide remarks.
He seems to fall in love pretty easily first the woman who cheated on him and had an abortion, Jane from last book and then all of sudden with the heroine (after a year of being a jerk to her). I don't even know his true feelings about any of them because he would change how he felt and say different things than his thoughts (or subconscious actions) suggested he felt.
He went out with 2 different woman and kissed one of them at a Christmas party during the book, all in front of heroine. Including the ex that cheated on him and had an abortion. He even defended her to the heroine after he hated heroine for a year for being the daughter of the man she (ex) cheated on him with.Makes no sense he hated heroine for just being the daughter of that man but one conversation with the other woman and it's in the past.
He was at least celibate for a year before meeting heroine.
I liked that she finally had enough and was going to leave and that she never chased after him. P.
I didn't like it, hero was a huge jerk (for the entire year she worked with him) and heroine just took it and still loved him. She said she didn't want to be like her mother and yet she ended up with a guy who treated her terribly. He stopped being as mean to her when she gave him her resignation, but when she disagreed with him he reverted to making snide remarks.
He seems to fall in love pretty easily first the woman who cheated on him and had an abortion, Jane from last book and then all of sudden with the heroine (after a year of being a jerk to her). I don't even know his true feelings about any of them because he would change how he felt and say different things than his thoughts (or subconscious actions) suggested he felt.
He went out with 2 different woman and kissed one of them at a Christmas party during the book, all in front of heroine. Including the ex that cheated on him and had an abortion. He even defended her to the heroine after he hated heroine for a year for being the daughter of the man she (ex) cheated on him with.Makes no sense he hated heroine for just being the daughter of that man but one conversation with the other woman and it's in the past.
He was at least celibate for a year before meeting heroine.
I liked that she finally had enough and was going to leave and that she never chased after him. P.
September 26, 2019
I'm a little conflicted about how to rate and review this. I liked the writing, it was really easy to read. That being said, I had a hard time getting the humor of the characters in this book. I'm not sure if it's because this was written in the 90s, right when I was born. But I've read older romance novels by Robyn Donald, Penny Jordan, Judith McNaught, and SEP and I've never had the same issue. Aside from the humor, I feel like I didn't understand some (most?) of the actions by the main characters, especially the Hero. I can't even explain it right now because I'm so confused... he seemed so detached? It was like "oh bother, she misunderstood" "sigh, now I need to fix things with her" haha I just didn't get the in love vibe from him, it was more like just in lust. I also felt like they conversed like two kids, a boy and a girl, who were best friends and quite possessive of each other and talked like this:
"Well I want you to stay here."
"But I want to go."
"No, stay here."
"No!"
"No!"
It was just not believable. But the kisses and all the hot scenes were really nicely written.
"Well I want you to stay here."
"But I want to go."
"No, stay here."
"No!"
"No!"
It was just not believable. But the kisses and all the hot scenes were really nicely written.
September 16, 2020
That story was all over the place...
Starting with Copper being extremely aggressive and cruel to Lou, and then she overheards him saying awful things about her (he called her repulsive and repugnant) and she decides to quit.
But the moment she gave him her resignation letter, oh miracle, he changed!!
And it is a whole 180! Like, that was so ridiculous...
She is sick and he barged into her house to take care of her. She dances with another coworker and he is all red and fuming, he kisses her out of the blue, they have a weird on and off relationship.
There was no sexual tension between them. It is a shame because it started out good, and the antagonism could have lasted more and them slowly falling for each other. But no, just like that, she is leaving and he realized he'd been a jerk and can't stop looking at her mouth.
Typical...
I also didn't like that other woman, Jane, and her appearance by the end. I understood she was probably a past heroine from a previous book but I didn't want to read about her, especially with the way she was linked to Copper.
Anyways, 2 stars.
Starting with Copper being extremely aggressive and cruel to Lou, and then she overheards him saying awful things about her (he called her repulsive and repugnant) and she decides to quit.
But the moment she gave him her resignation letter, oh miracle, he changed!!
And it is a whole 180! Like, that was so ridiculous...
She is sick and he barged into her house to take care of her. She dances with another coworker and he is all red and fuming, he kisses her out of the blue, they have a weird on and off relationship.
There was no sexual tension between them. It is a shame because it started out good, and the antagonism could have lasted more and them slowly falling for each other. But no, just like that, she is leaving and he realized he'd been a jerk and can't stop looking at her mouth.
Typical...
I also didn't like that other woman, Jane, and her appearance by the end. I understood she was probably a past heroine from a previous book but I didn't want to read about her, especially with the way she was linked to Copper.
Anyways, 2 stars.
February 3, 2024
I loved this book. One of the first I read from Diana Palmer. We have Coultrain who is a doctor and Lou who is also a doctor who butt heads with each other. Over time they fall in love however Lou is convinced that he is still in love with his ex and the only way he thinks he can get her to marry him is by making her think it’s to ward off the advances of other women. Due to a comment made by his ex Jane, Lou then reconsiders everything and dumps him. He, realising he went about it all wrong, goes after his girl.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was Jane and Todd. I loved Jane and Todd in That Burke Man. Absolutely loved them. But not in this book. Jane comes across somewhat possessive with her comments when she learns of the engagement and Todd is suddenly this insecure untrusting husband convinced his wife is cheating on him with her ex. I hated that. They were written so well in their book but so horribly in this one.
Other than that I did like Lou and Coultrain’s story.
The only thing I didn’t like about this book was Jane and Todd. I loved Jane and Todd in That Burke Man. Absolutely loved them. But not in this book. Jane comes across somewhat possessive with her comments when she learns of the engagement and Todd is suddenly this insecure untrusting husband convinced his wife is cheating on him with her ex. I hated that. They were written so well in their book but so horribly in this one.
Other than that I did like Lou and Coultrain’s story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews