Heartless [Hardcover]

I must as usual, begin my review of Diana Palmer's latest body of work with a "sigh".

To any one who purchased this book and expected to get a new and exciting book...well shame on you. For those of us who purchased this book despite the fact that we already knew the begining, middle and end of the story...well shame on us.
We knew the heroine would be a pale blond, shrinking violet with some sort of handicap ( be it physical or mental)...and we got it.
We knew that the hero would be a dark, brooding, rich, class A jerk...with a yen for younger women ...and we got it.
We knew that thered be missunderstandings, snotty girl friends, and characters who are somehow all related to spanish royality....
and you know what...ladies...we got it.
Diana Palmer delivers as always. And yet the majority of us readers are still miffed.
We should know better by now.
If nothing else at least the story is a little more fleshed out. Although I must say the book was about 50 pages too long for me. But it wasnt as trite and rediculous as the last few books ( please see my review for winter roses and heartbreaker..or anyone elses review for that matter)
After I put the book down, I was frustrated and had a literary break down. WHY WHY, I SCREAMED to the heavens
WHY in jesus's, buhdah, and krishna's name cant this woman come up with a new story line!!!!!
WHY must the heroine always be a simpering ball of lilly liveredness ( except when she single handledly rescues her husband from a dictator... but SHE cant stand up to a waif like model?)
ISNT this the 4th story MS PALMER'S told where the heroine has hooked up with her own stepbrother?
WHY cant the female lead be pretty? (and not just have a pretty mouth and a nice figure with small breasts SEE LAST 8 BOOKS) or is it just the adversary that gets the honor of being beautiful....but then shes usually a mean spirited "man-eater" as ms palmer would phrase it. Is beauty always synonomous with nastyness?
WHEN IS HARLEY FOWELER finally going to get a life, and stop popping up as every book's every man? This poor character has been through more changes then RUPAUL.
DOES she really think we dont see another book comming, but with the dictator in this book being the lead. Didnt she do the same in ONCE IN PARIS AND LORD OF THE DESERT? where the lead character falls in love with the pale blond woman hes confined with and then meets another woman who looks just like her? Do we not see this happening again with this book?
AND LASTLY....WHY DO I KEEP BUYING IT? I keep hoping, upon hope that she will use her powers of romantic writing and create a new story, with new characters, and new hijinks...but she ...just...wont. Why....because MS PALMER AKA SUSAN KYLE ET AL knows that people like me...and those of you who purchased this book despite its preordained plot and characters will continue to buy it.
If thats not heartless....what is?

The more a man loves you, the angrier he will get with you.

The way to win a fight is to sidestep any question asked and then make your own accusation. Accusations are especially effective if they revolve around the other person wanting someone else, them using you for money, or lying about their past.

A man really wants you if he can't touch you without completely losing control.

It's just "immaturity" to hurt lots of people you care about when you're angry.

Have a PI investigate your loved one's secret past if they don't tell you everything. You have the right to know.

Horniness will almost instantaneously overcome years of abuse and negative sexual programming.

Great sex naturally equals having kids. Great sex also makes any amount of verbal abuse immediately forgivable.

Raising concerns about someone else's actions will "damage" your relationship with them.

Men can "let" women do things like keep their job and drive a car.

Apologizing makes everything better even if you continue to do mean things you have to apologize for.

Words speak louder than actions.

I am a HUGE DP fan. I've been reading her work for years (since the late 80s) She's given me many hours of pleasurable reading & memorable characters. However, In recent years I have not enjoyed her work because of the veering off into the drug war stuff. If you're a fan, you know what I'm talking about. However, let me say that this book is the best of her recent work. I was pleasantly suprised when I read this one. She took her time developing the characters & I felt myself responding to them as I read along. Praise for Ms Palmer on this one. If you like her old stuff, I think like me, you'll really enjoy this.

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