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Nora
Nora Marlowe came to Texas with visions of dashing cowboys and great adventure -- but one despicable man with infernal laughing eyes, Cal Barton, took it upon himself to put an end to her illusions. Now Nora's love for Cal will cost her everything she holds dear. . .
345 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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549 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,014 books3,064 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 20, 2021
She’s a snob and a small town liar.
He’s a reverse snob and lies in the big leagues.
Her lies are to protect her husband from regretting marrying her more than he already does.
His lies are to teach her a lesson, keep her in poverty and ultimately if inadvertently and go on until the bitter, bitter end where she smiles and says let’s go see your mother.
To add an extra dollop of only that bizarre that DP can bring, the family attorneys are named Brooks and Dunn.
And here they are…
He’s a reverse snob and lies in the big leagues.
Her lies are to protect her husband from regretting marrying her more than he already does.
His lies are to teach her a lesson, keep her in poverty and ultimately if inadvertently and go on until the bitter, bitter end where she smiles and says let’s go see your mother.
To add an extra dollop of only that bizarre that DP can bring, the family attorneys are named Brooks and Dunn.
And here they are…
November 3, 2018
This is one of the best DPs I’ve read in a while. It doesn’t go round and round like so many of her others, there’s minimal preaching, the h/H do act unbearable at times but are flexible and certainly likable, there’s an actual storyline and there’s character growth!
The book is set in the turn of 20th century Texas.
The h, Eleanor/Nora is a socialite from Virginia – haughty and class conscious – an uppity snob to be truthful while the H Cal, is working as foreman at her uncle’s ranch in Texas but, of course he actually is from a wealthy ranching family (and brother to King from Amelia). She’s apparently an ‘adventuress’ alluding to her (very protected and limited) trip to Africa. I found that term a bit dicey and given to misconstruence – and the H seems to agree!
They meet when she comes for a visit, and hot and hostile sparks fly immediately. He thinks her a heartless flirt and vows to teach her a lesson in humility.
So he woos her with underhand motives, she falls for him, they have sex and then there’s a separation and a pregnancy and a moc. It doesn’t end there and with few twists and heartbreaks they get to their hea. The ending is a bit of a drag and I felt that in the end it’s the H who shows signs of conceit and pomposity as a result of his family’s eminence.
What I liked about their story is their connect and private moments. Despite her very real snobbery and his dishonest motives, they developed a sweet and searing chemistry. And while he’s a db, he’s never overly cruel for long.
I liked that she doesn’t act all goody and artificially humble. Her fears of loving and sharing a future with a poor man are real and refreshing. So while a H intending to ‘tame’ and teach a h is always annoying and quite sexist, here both the h and the H learn some life lessons. Together.
He decided that playing God wasn’t very profitable after all, and he was never going to do it again… I dragged her into a life of drudgery to teach her humility. But it was I who learned the lesson.
“ I felt very superior to other people.” She smiled wanly as she looked up. “I have learned a painful lesson. Decency cannot be measured in dollars.”
The book is set in the turn of 20th century Texas.
The h, Eleanor/Nora is a socialite from Virginia – haughty and class conscious – an uppity snob to be truthful while the H Cal, is working as foreman at her uncle’s ranch in Texas but, of course he actually is from a wealthy ranching family (and brother to King from Amelia). She’s apparently an ‘adventuress’ alluding to her (very protected and limited) trip to Africa. I found that term a bit dicey and given to misconstruence – and the H seems to agree!
They meet when she comes for a visit, and hot and hostile sparks fly immediately. He thinks her a heartless flirt and vows to teach her a lesson in humility.
So he woos her with underhand motives, she falls for him, they have sex and then there’s a separation and a pregnancy and a moc. It doesn’t end there and with few twists and heartbreaks they get to their hea. The ending is a bit of a drag and I felt that in the end it’s the H who shows signs of conceit and pomposity as a result of his family’s eminence.
What I liked about their story is their connect and private moments. Despite her very real snobbery and his dishonest motives, they developed a sweet and searing chemistry. And while he’s a db, he’s never overly cruel for long.
I liked that she doesn’t act all goody and artificially humble. Her fears of loving and sharing a future with a poor man are real and refreshing. So while a H intending to ‘tame’ and teach a h is always annoying and quite sexist, here both the h and the H learn some life lessons. Together.
He decided that playing God wasn’t very profitable after all, and he was never going to do it again… I dragged her into a life of drudgery to teach her humility. But it was I who learned the lesson.
“ I felt very superior to other people.” She smiled wanly as she looked up. “I have learned a painful lesson. Decency cannot be measured in dollars.”
October 17, 2014
Nora is a spoiled, snob superficial aristocrat heiress. Her family is rich and she is arrogant and thinks she is better than people from a lower social class. She meets Cal a dirty, working man, a cowboy who works at her aunt's ranch. They are attracted to each other, they have sex, she gets pregnant and they decide to marry.
But what Nora doesn't know is that Cal is not what he pretends to be. In reality he is a very rich man but he won't let Nora know. He wants her to love him who he is plus he wants to give her a lesson for being such a snob. He takes her to live with him in a small cabin where she scrubs floors, learns how to cook and how to live life without servants or privileges.
Loved the drama, the misunderstandings and the delicious angst! I even loved the obnoxious immature heroine! Another incredibly moving love story by my favorite author! Well, it's safe to say that I devoured this book!
But what Nora doesn't know is that Cal is not what he pretends to be. In reality he is a very rich man but he won't let Nora know. He wants her to love him who he is plus he wants to give her a lesson for being such a snob. He takes her to live with him in a small cabin where she scrubs floors, learns how to cook and how to live life without servants or privileges.
Loved the drama, the misunderstandings and the delicious angst! I even loved the obnoxious immature heroine! Another incredibly moving love story by my favorite author! Well, it's safe to say that I devoured this book!
July 16, 2016
The poor girl gets put through hell and then losses the baby! He feels bad but not bad enough he should be help up for murder! He knew she was pregnant and he made her do all those things he was criminally responsible and then she tries to make him feel better after he cost you everything!! It was well written and moving that is why 3 stars but otherwise it was just two immature people trying to score points off each other until the shit got real!!! She was way too good for his sorry ass!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
With the first 3 pages, I wasn't sure if this book was right for me because it read as a sort of unofficial prologue and I had to adjust to the writing style after reading "The Glass Slipper" by K Webster, which had a totally different writing style.
Once I quickly did that, I enjoyed this story SO MUCH. I was thinking of giving it 5 stars even. Then, I had to start packing to leave my dorm room so I put on a zombie show (I'm not a fan of zombies but this show WAS SO good) for noise and something to watch. It would be impossible to pack and read. I definitely watched more than packed lol.
Then, when I came back to this story, I was less into it...probably would have been better if I read it in one sitting but I had to pack. Then, also Nora & Cal had a long separation and something sad happened to them too, so there was that too for me being less engaged in the story.
Do all of Diana Palmer's heroines get accidentally pregnant and then
The book takes place right before 1900. Nora "Eleanor" is a wealthy socialite/"adventuress" who moves West to stay with her aunt's family for a little while where she meets the hired hand/foreman/cowboy *why am I forgetting his official job title* Cal. She thinks he's just a poor cowboy when in reality he's actually a wealthy man. Nora is 24, Cal 32.
Everyone in this book, ESPECIALLY CAL, was OBSESSED, with social status. Cal was honestly, in my opinion, the worst of the lot. He was wealthy, so why did it matter to him so much that Nora accepts and love him as a poor man?! Because she did love him even though she thought he was poor! I think maybe it was because of that time in his childhood a family looked down upon his family when the father temporarily lost a lot of their fortune. I felt like Cal preached to overlook social status but was in reality a total hypocrite about it... The whole social status was a little annoying...it's not like one's a beggar & the other is a royal princess...
Once I quickly did that, I enjoyed this story SO MUCH. I was thinking of giving it 5 stars even. Then, I had to start packing to leave my dorm room so I put on a zombie show (I'm not a fan of zombies but this show WAS SO good) for noise and something to watch. It would be impossible to pack and read. I definitely watched more than packed lol.
Then, when I came back to this story, I was less into it...probably would have been better if I read it in one sitting but I had to pack. Then, also Nora & Cal had a long separation and something sad happened to them too, so there was that too for me being less engaged in the story.
Do all of Diana Palmer's heroines get accidentally pregnant and then
The book takes place right before 1900. Nora "Eleanor" is a wealthy socialite/"adventuress" who moves West to stay with her aunt's family for a little while where she meets the hired hand/foreman/cowboy *why am I forgetting his official job title* Cal. She thinks he's just a poor cowboy when in reality he's actually a wealthy man. Nora is 24, Cal 32.
Everyone in this book, ESPECIALLY CAL, was OBSESSED, with social status. Cal was honestly, in my opinion, the worst of the lot. He was wealthy, so why did it matter to him so much that Nora accepts and love him as a poor man?! Because she did love him even though she thought he was poor! I think maybe it was because of that time in his childhood a family looked down upon his family when the father temporarily lost a lot of their fortune. I felt like Cal preached to overlook social status but was in reality a total hypocrite about it... The whole social status was a little annoying...it's not like one's a beggar & the other is a royal princess...
July 22, 2021
Meh, I think I have to take a break from DP. I find her plots repetitive .. the girl is always a virgin, always with family/health problems. the hero is always beautiful and with money, always a j***k. They instantly connect, he wants her, he wants her not, she is in love with him and rejected at 60-75% of the book, the ending is always a hea after some misunderstandings.
July 26, 2021
I'm still thinking.
I don't really know how to review this one.
The angst is present and is very strong.
Very good plot, very good writing skills, focus on main characters.
It's an hystorical romance.
What I didn't like was how both character behaved. Yes the heroine is in the beginning a young lady from a rich family, a little spoiled and classist.
It's understandable. She's not mean of cruel, and she doesn't target anyone.
The hero is a poor rich boy who plays being poor, for fun.
And he wants to punish the heroine because she's rich and spoiled, so he coldly seduces her, a well bred young lady, and then he rejects her.
I found it cruel and mean, and utterly coward.
I hated this man, he was a meaningless being.
She gets pregnant and he decides to marry her and punish her a little more, treating her as a slave and abusing her until she loses their baby and almost die.
Usually this kind of character in romances dies and afterwards she meets a hero who is kind and caring and they are happy together.
Sadly not in this romance-
The coward sob instead of taking her to his parents' big ranch , he disappears for months leaving her alone, so she has to work hard to keep herself, and gives her the address of his lawyer for a divorce.
He comes back later and wants her back, still not revealing her he's rich.
And eventually when she finds out she forgives him.
What?
I can accept he didn't love her, it would have been best for her if he refused to marry her because he really abused her and killed his baby.
Why treat her as a slave when she was pregnant with his baby? Is not this an act of a sadist?
How can a man like this have a hea?
How can he be forgiven?
Because the heroine is tstl!
She had sex with him first, knowing he was a sob, she got pregnant knowing it was dangerous because she suffered from malaric fevers, she didn't tell him she had to take care of herself and she couldn't work because she was ill and it's also her fault if she lost her baby.
Then she didn't ask for divorce when she had the chance.
Her parents wanted her back, she only had to apologize for her behaviour which was only fair since the book is set in late 800 so a young woman was not supposed to have sex before marriage.
She could apoligize and find a man who was surely better than the zero. It wouldn't take much.
No, she preferred to stay married with that POS.
So, eventually she was utterly stupid and deserved a bastard sob like the zero.
I think that she's one of those women who enjoy being abused.
I hope they are very unhappy together and for a long long time.
*rant*
I don't really know how to review this one.
The angst is present and is very strong.
Very good plot, very good writing skills, focus on main characters.
It's an hystorical romance.
What I didn't like was how both character behaved. Yes the heroine is in the beginning a young lady from a rich family, a little spoiled and classist.
It's understandable. She's not mean of cruel, and she doesn't target anyone.
The hero is a poor rich boy who plays being poor, for fun.
And he wants to punish the heroine because she's rich and spoiled, so he coldly seduces her, a well bred young lady, and then he rejects her.
I found it cruel and mean, and utterly coward.
I hated this man, he was a meaningless being.
She gets pregnant and he decides to marry her and punish her a little more, treating her as a slave and abusing her until she loses their baby and almost die.
Usually this kind of character in romances dies and afterwards she meets a hero who is kind and caring and they are happy together.
Sadly not in this romance-
The coward sob instead of taking her to his parents' big ranch , he disappears for months leaving her alone, so she has to work hard to keep herself, and gives her the address of his lawyer for a divorce.
He comes back later and wants her back, still not revealing her he's rich.
And eventually when she finds out she forgives him.
What?
I can accept he didn't love her, it would have been best for her if he refused to marry her because he really abused her and killed his baby.
Why treat her as a slave when she was pregnant with his baby? Is not this an act of a sadist?
How can a man like this have a hea?
How can he be forgiven?
Because the heroine is tstl!
She had sex with him first, knowing he was a sob, she got pregnant knowing it was dangerous because she suffered from malaric fevers, she didn't tell him she had to take care of herself and she couldn't work because she was ill and it's also her fault if she lost her baby.
Then she didn't ask for divorce when she had the chance.
Her parents wanted her back, she only had to apologize for her behaviour which was only fair since the book is set in late 800 so a young woman was not supposed to have sex before marriage.
She could apoligize and find a man who was surely better than the zero. It wouldn't take much.
No, she preferred to stay married with that POS.
So, eventually she was utterly stupid and deserved a bastard sob like the zero.
I think that she's one of those women who enjoy being abused.
I hope they are very unhappy together and for a long long time.
*rant*
October 3, 2023
Updated a couple of years later to note: I became obsessed with DP and read her entire back catalog, and it's funny to read this now because I ended up completely drinking the Koolaid and becoming a DP junkie. Hahaha, yep, she got me!
That said, this isn't one of my fave DP books but even a mediocre DP is chock full of what makes her addictive. So I'll keep the original review up for giggles and hindsight, but, first impressions aside, she's an amusing, addictive, idiosyncratic GIANT of the genre, and for good reason.
Original review: Just meh--DP's heroes blow too hot and cold for me. I like angsty reads, but I just fail to connect with her books. Ah well, I gave it a good go but after half a dozen or so books, I think i have to just conclude that we just don't have the right chemistry and while I'd like to stay friends, I just don't see the point, with so many other others who might be a better fit. So sorry DP, but I think this is the end of the road for us.
That said, this isn't one of my fave DP books but even a mediocre DP is chock full of what makes her addictive. So I'll keep the original review up for giggles and hindsight, but, first impressions aside, she's an amusing, addictive, idiosyncratic GIANT of the genre, and for good reason.
Original review: Just meh--DP's heroes blow too hot and cold for me. I like angsty reads, but I just fail to connect with her books. Ah well, I gave it a good go but after half a dozen or so books, I think i have to just conclude that we just don't have the right chemistry and while I'd like to stay friends, I just don't see the point, with so many other others who might be a better fit. So sorry DP, but I think this is the end of the road for us.
July 14, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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Update: Re-read in January 2015
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Nora tended to be impulsive and sometimes reckless.
By the time she reached her twenties, Nora had settled a bit, and with her family’s great wealth behind her, she became a socialite of note.
Inevitably her exploits were exaggerated and she became known as an adventuress.
There were four Tremaynes of East Texas: her uncle Chester, her aunt Helen, and her cousins, Colter and Melissa. Colter was on an expedition to the North Pole.
Nora was peculiarly cool with men, especially after the fright Summerville had given her and the dreadful illness that had plagued her.
How odd, that she could feel a skirl of physical attraction to a man so…uncivilized and in need of cleaning.
“None of that, now,” he said with a stern look. “I know all about you wild city women, and I am not the sort of man to be toyed with, I’ll have you know.”
When he got through with her, she was going to think twice before she looked down her nose at a man again, regardless of how he smelled.
“You make me hungry, Nora, for things no gentleman should admit to a lady….”
It was going to be fun to bring the so-superior Miss Marlowe down to the level of an ordinary woman.
He would be the sword of vengeance for Greely and all the other men this spoiled young miss had hurt with her thoughtlessness.
It had been a long time since he’d had a woman; surely that was the reason he reacted so violently to her!
Cal Barton escorted a pretty young girl who was a daughter of one of the organizers of the event.
He smiled coolly. “Well, Miss Marlowe, I have to admit that I prefer a hot game of poker to a cold woman.”
It was not the first time for him. There had been women. But the sight of Nora’s firm, pretty little breast kindled something besides passion in him.
He refused to think of consequences. He wanted her and she wanted him; surely nothing else mattered now!
Even his thoughts of revenge retreated behind the fury of his desire for her.
They rested, and slept a little. And then came the shame.
He felt sickened at his lack of honor. He had seduced an innocent woman, and all because his pride had been stung by her attitude.
“Your treatment of poor Greely made me determined to show you how easy it would be for a man of experience to make a plaything of you. And I have, madam. You were no challenge at all.”
He had seduced her to avenge his friend Greely. It had been a cold and deliberate act.
He had hurt her more than he would ever know, she vowed.
He smiled coldly. Well, Miss Eleanor Marlowe could marry him and come back to Texas, but not to the wealth of Latigo, the family ranch near El Paso. Oh, no, there would not be that elegant, monied setting for Miss Marlowe of Richmond.
“I don’t want a wife,” he said stiffly. “But I’m not so dishonorable that I can leave you to the mercy of strangers. Come.”
“I didn’t even have a proper dress, whether or not I deserved it,” she whispered miserably, “and no bridesmaids or a bouquet or a minister…”
Cal’s face froze. “Well, you have a husband, at least,” he said sharply. “A woman in your condition should be glad of one!”
Nora was a complete failure at the simplest chores.
Her only virtue to date had been her delightful presence in his bed, but her pregnancy even denied him that consolation.
She felt terrible and looked it, and her fragile health was beginning to deteriorate under the double strain of her troubled marriage and the physical labor she was not used to performing.
He had started sleeping at the bunkhouse as well as eating there, because, he told everyone, he disturbed Nora, and she needed her rest.
“You profess to love me, Nora, but both of us know that you will never be happy here. You have no household skills whatsoever. You haven’t the patience to accomplish anything in the kitchen.
God knows, I never wanted this marriage in the first place,” he added cuttingly, and untruthfully. “I only wanted to sleep with you.”
Our marriage was the worst mistake of my life.
He was so ashamed of her that he couldn’t bear to introduce her to his family. It was the worst blow of all.
“Mr. Brooks and Mr. Dunn,” he introduced. “They’re from New York. They handle all our family business,” he added when Nora looked puzzled.
June 26, 2014
3.5 stars for the audiobook version.
Typical Diana Palmer book but with an historical setting. This one is set partly in Beaumont in 1901 just before the big Spindletop oil discovery in East Texas. I grew up there, so I found that part really interesting. I think this one would have been better if I had read it. It always annoys me when a book does not use contractions. Maybe that's how people spoke in 1901, but it just did not come across very natural in this version. Good storyline, a nice bit of angst and each character showed some growth as the story progressed.
Typical Diana Palmer book but with an historical setting. This one is set partly in Beaumont in 1901 just before the big Spindletop oil discovery in East Texas. I grew up there, so I found that part really interesting. I think this one would have been better if I had read it. It always annoys me when a book does not use contractions. Maybe that's how people spoke in 1901, but it just did not come across very natural in this version. Good storyline, a nice bit of angst and each character showed some growth as the story progressed.
April 7, 2019
3.5 stars! Usual DP asshat males finding their love match. This was just ok for me. The hero needed to grovel more and didn’t like the underlining theme of taming of the shrew.
Just putting it out there that I HATE Shakespeare! I’m probably the only one who thinks that most of his plays tend to degenerate women morally. Although this has nothing to do with this story except for the concept.
Just putting it out there that I HATE Shakespeare! I’m probably the only one who thinks that most of his plays tend to degenerate women morally. Although this has nothing to do with this story except for the concept.
April 3, 2021
3.8/5
Ligero y rápido de leer. Se podría considerar un libro de “época” de USA (western), inicio de exploraciones petroleras y vaqueros. Libro independiente.
Es una historia sencilla que nos relata la historia de Nora, señorita refinada del este, un tanto melindrosa que menosprecia a los demás - Esnob. Por esto Cal Barton decidirá darle una lección de humildad, teniendo una aventura con ella. La actitud de Nora al comienzo “fastidiosa” ira cambiando con el trascurrir del libro. (La enfermedad que ella sufre: Malaria – la mantiene oculta gran parte del libro; ocasionara drama entre ellos) Siempre espero este tipo de drama y no me supone mayor problema de leer.
Cal a quien creemos alguien humilde, resultara siendo heredero de uno de los ranchos más importantes. Es un tanto rudo y machista
Entretenida, el romance es ameno de leer (Se aprovecha la atracción). Estoy de buenas pulgas.
Ligero y rápido de leer. Se podría considerar un libro de “época” de USA (western), inicio de exploraciones petroleras y vaqueros. Libro independiente.
Es una historia sencilla que nos relata la historia de Nora, señorita refinada del este, un tanto melindrosa que menosprecia a los demás - Esnob. Por esto Cal Barton decidirá darle una lección de humildad, teniendo una aventura con ella. La actitud de Nora al comienzo “fastidiosa” ira cambiando con el trascurrir del libro. (La enfermedad que ella sufre: Malaria – la mantiene oculta gran parte del libro; ocasionara drama entre ellos) Siempre espero este tipo de drama y no me supone mayor problema de leer.
Cal a quien creemos alguien humilde, resultara siendo heredero de uno de los ranchos más importantes. Es un tanto rudo y machista
Entretenida, el romance es ameno de leer (Se aprovecha la atracción). Estoy de buenas pulgas.
March 19, 2021
3 stelle ½
Una lettura scorrevole e piacevole ma un po' troppo ripetitive l’ interazioni tra i due personaggi ma nel complesso una bella lettura.
Una lettura scorrevole e piacevole ma un po' troppo ripetitive l’ interazioni tra i due personaggi ma nel complesso una bella lettura.
August 15, 2021
Angsty but too long due to unnecessary elements.
September 10, 2021
Quite good, these three stars are not representative of the unusually good story (for a DP novel). There was the usual stupid and cruel DP hero and lots of angst but I hated the blah ending so no more than ⭐️⭐️⭐️.
August 18, 2020
Nora is a historical rural romance about the importance of family honour and love. One lovely day Eleanor Marlowe (Nora), sitting with her mother in Richmond, Virginia, received an invitation to visit her Aunt's Texas ranch. Eleanor Marlowe needs a change of scene decided to go and see her cousins in Texas. On arrival in Texas, the first person Nora met was Callaway Barton, and sparks flew between them. Callaway Barton made a plan to put Eleanor Marlowe in her place. However, things did not work out the way Callaway Barton first thought. The readers of Nora will continue to follow Eleanor Marlowe and Callaway Barton to find out what happens.
Nora is the first book I have read of Diana Palmer. I enjoyed reading Nora. I love Diana Palmer's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Nora is well written and researched by Diana Palmer. I like the way Diana Palmer describes the settings of Nora that allowed me to imagine living on a Texas Ranch.
The readers of Nora will learn about running a sizeable rural conglomerate. Also, the readers of Nora will learn how Malaria can affect the suffers.
I recommend this book.
Nora is the first book I have read of Diana Palmer. I enjoyed reading Nora. I love Diana Palmer's portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Nora is well written and researched by Diana Palmer. I like the way Diana Palmer describes the settings of Nora that allowed me to imagine living on a Texas Ranch.
The readers of Nora will learn about running a sizeable rural conglomerate. Also, the readers of Nora will learn how Malaria can affect the suffers.
I recommend this book.
November 13, 2013
It's been a while since I have an anguish attack while reading Diana Palmer. This one's good! I practically feel Nora's painful heart break when she heard remark after remark from Cal. I like the feeling, I guess I am an angst-junkie after all. :)))
One of the best book of Diana Palmer I've read but I can't give it five stars. Mostly because I don't like Cal's withdrawal after Nora's terrible illness. I wish he'd fight for her. But still, I enjoyed it. Anyway, what an ending! :)
One of the best book of Diana Palmer I've read but I can't give it five stars. Mostly because I don't like Cal's withdrawal after Nora's terrible illness. I wish he'd fight for her. But still, I enjoyed it. Anyway, what an ending! :)
August 29, 2022
I LOVED this one - all the way until 4/5th of the book. The reason I'm docking off 2 stars is because there was literally no groveling. The Hero did not even apologize for lying to the heroine!!! And miraculously, she forgave him and accepted everything at face value!!! That was such a bummer. I really, really hate it when authors don't allow the Heroes to grovel.
Having said that, I loved everything else. I especially liked the part where the heroine That was a really big angst right there. BUT the worst part was the Hero did not apologize for killing the baby. I mean, the only reason she lost the baby was because she was forced into working hard with the household chores. If he hadn't forced her to do any of these things, she would not have lost the baby (the doctor had warned her she could not exert herself in any way due to her fragile condition). There was some intense inner turmoil going on inside the Hero's head (which I loved) but he never said sorry nor beg for her forgiveness. In fact, he drifted away thinking that the heroine would not want to be with him any longer. Argh, such hard headed man.
Overall, a good book - an enjoyable one.
Having said that, I loved everything else. I especially liked the part where the heroine That was a really big angst right there. BUT the worst part was the Hero did not apologize for killing the baby. I mean, the only reason she lost the baby was because she was forced into working hard with the household chores. If he hadn't forced her to do any of these things, she would not have lost the baby (the doctor had warned her she could not exert herself in any way due to her fragile condition). There was some intense inner turmoil going on inside the Hero's head (which I loved) but he never said sorry nor beg for her forgiveness. In fact, he drifted away thinking that the heroine would not want to be with him any longer. Argh, such hard headed man.
Overall, a good book - an enjoyable one.
March 12, 2024
Tengo muchas cosas para decir:
1) No me había dado cuenta de que este libro tenía más de 300 pág. De hecho, ni las sentí, aunque puede que se me haya hecho eterno jeje
2) Pensé que era un Western Contemporáneo, así que imaginen mi sorpresa cuando estaba leyendo aquella escena donde la protagonista fue presentada ante la mismísima Reina Victoria (así que sí, también es un Historical Romance).
3) Hay mucha gente que es hater de los Monster Romance, pero cómo les explico que todos esos monstruos fantasiosos o reptilianos son más caballerosos y leales que la basura de interés amoroso que pusieron en este libro (el man mintió sobre ser "pobre" solo para darle una lección a la protagonista (además de estar constantemente diciéndole cosas feas porque ella hería su orgullo), y debido a ello pasaron muchas cosas lamentables que se pudieron evitar, así que lo odio).
En fin, fue un buen chisme, pero no lo suficiente para que quiera seguir leyendo a la autora.
1) No me había dado cuenta de que este libro tenía más de 300 pág. De hecho, ni las sentí, aunque puede que se me haya hecho eterno jeje
2) Pensé que era un Western Contemporáneo, así que imaginen mi sorpresa cuando estaba leyendo aquella escena donde la protagonista fue presentada ante la mismísima Reina Victoria (así que sí, también es un Historical Romance).
3) Hay mucha gente que es hater de los Monster Romance, pero cómo les explico que todos esos monstruos fantasiosos o reptilianos son más caballerosos y leales que la basura de interés amoroso que pusieron en este libro (el man mintió sobre ser "pobre" solo para darle una lección a la protagonista (además de estar constantemente diciéndole cosas feas porque ella hería su orgullo), y debido a ello pasaron muchas cosas lamentables que se pudieron evitar, así que lo odio).
En fin, fue un buen chisme, pero no lo suficiente para que quiera seguir leyendo a la autora.
December 5, 2017
I'm not really a fan of cowboys, so I don't know why I keep reading about them. I think it's that I picked up one Diana Palmer book for a dime over a decade ago and enjoyed the romance genre enough but not enough to venture beyond this one author. I enjoy historical romance but I'm meh on cowboy themes. A bit too antiquated and weird masculine ideals that make me squirm more than sigh wistfully. I think I need new romance recommendations.
April 27, 2015
audiobook by Natalie Ross. 9 discs. Western. Elenor (Nora) from Richimond, Virginia and a high class lady goes to Texas and met a ranch hand, Cal Barton. She knows the class difference is an issue to fall in love with him but she does. She slept with him for the first time, but Cal pushed her away and she left for England for a few weeks. Nora had a problem with a guy before who tried to advance on her, and he chased her to England. He wants to marry her for money and blackmails her about her being pregnant.
When Nora's home, she contacted Cal and Cal came to her house. Cal now believes that she wanted to blame her pregnancy on him but the child was the other guy's who is chasing after her. Nora admitted to her parents that she was pregnant, but the child was Cal's in front of Edward (the bad guy), Cal and her parents. She was slapped by her father and was expelled from family. Cal and Nora gets married on the way back to Texas, and went to her uncle's ranch. There she lived in a cabin that was for Cal and starts cooking, ironing and cleaning for the first time. She never told Cal about her fever problem that resulted from the bad guy removing her clothes in Africa. While Cal was away with unknown business, she lost her baby and had the worst case of fever. Nora made it through but told Cal to leave. Cal went back to his oil digging business and his home, he was heartbroken, too.
Tool Cal a while to go after Nora, but he did eventually, and found her at the ranch instead of her home town in Virginia. They left immediately to his oil well. His well found oil, but a bad worker claimed it was his and they had a trial and Cal won. That was the first time he introduced Nora to his family and he disclosed who he was, a big family name then. Nora is pregnant again, and despite her surprise of his family status disclosure, she was happy to be with him.
Hero is the meanest man in the romance world. He says terrible things to Nora, and tested her so she will come down from her high class snobby attitude. Nora is more innocent and true to her heart.
It was an emotional jerker.
When Nora's home, she contacted Cal and Cal came to her house. Cal now believes that she wanted to blame her pregnancy on him but the child was the other guy's who is chasing after her. Nora admitted to her parents that she was pregnant, but the child was Cal's in front of Edward (the bad guy), Cal and her parents. She was slapped by her father and was expelled from family. Cal and Nora gets married on the way back to Texas, and went to her uncle's ranch. There she lived in a cabin that was for Cal and starts cooking, ironing and cleaning for the first time. She never told Cal about her fever problem that resulted from the bad guy removing her clothes in Africa. While Cal was away with unknown business, she lost her baby and had the worst case of fever. Nora made it through but told Cal to leave. Cal went back to his oil digging business and his home, he was heartbroken, too.
Tool Cal a while to go after Nora, but he did eventually, and found her at the ranch instead of her home town in Virginia. They left immediately to his oil well. His well found oil, but a bad worker claimed it was his and they had a trial and Cal won. That was the first time he introduced Nora to his family and he disclosed who he was, a big family name then. Nora is pregnant again, and despite her surprise of his family status disclosure, she was happy to be with him.
Hero is the meanest man in the romance world. He says terrible things to Nora, and tested her so she will come down from her high class snobby attitude. Nora is more innocent and true to her heart.
It was an emotional jerker.
December 1, 2008
I really enjoyed reading this one. I has nothing to do with her Jacobsville, Long Tall Texans, series. and It was nice to get away from there for a change.
Nora is a spoiled, pampered eliteist from Virginia. Her family has money and are of the highest social status. And Nora acts it. While in Africa, she is bitten by mosquitos and comes done with Malaria. She returns to the States and has the fevers at bay when a telegram arrives asking her to visit her family in East Texas. She goes and begins her journey to being a true person.
Cal Barton is a rough and ready cowboy trying to get the Rancher of teh ranch he works on to come into the 20th century. But unknown to all of them he is actually Callaway Culhane, one of 3 brothers from the wealthy Culhane family of El Paso Texas. The ranch is actually owned by a combine that his brother King owns.
Between oil wells, the huricane of Galveston, and other things they become a family and learn the secrets of one another.
Just great writing this book I could not out down until I finiahed
Nora is a spoiled, pampered eliteist from Virginia. Her family has money and are of the highest social status. And Nora acts it. While in Africa, she is bitten by mosquitos and comes done with Malaria. She returns to the States and has the fevers at bay when a telegram arrives asking her to visit her family in East Texas. She goes and begins her journey to being a true person.
Cal Barton is a rough and ready cowboy trying to get the Rancher of teh ranch he works on to come into the 20th century. But unknown to all of them he is actually Callaway Culhane, one of 3 brothers from the wealthy Culhane family of El Paso Texas. The ranch is actually owned by a combine that his brother King owns.
Between oil wells, the huricane of Galveston, and other things they become a family and learn the secrets of one another.
Just great writing this book I could not out down until I finiahed
August 7, 2015
Rating: 4.5 stars.
I haven't read this book since first touching it in 2012. What I do remember was that Nora was extremely up herself, due to her high social standing and that her family was well off.
Throughout the book, Cal tries to 'tame' her and put her into place, firstly by moving her into a small house, which she isn't used to, and on top of that a house without hired help!
I remember that Nora suffered from this, as she was not used to doing housework, but Cal was unforgiving and didn't believe she was suffering from doing housework (if I remember correctly).
Need to reread this book.
I haven't read this book since first touching it in 2012. What I do remember was that Nora was extremely up herself, due to her high social standing and that her family was well off.
Throughout the book, Cal tries to 'tame' her and put her into place, firstly by moving her into a small house, which she isn't used to, and on top of that a house without hired help!
I remember that Nora suffered from this, as she was not used to doing housework, but Cal was unforgiving and didn't believe she was suffering from doing housework (if I remember correctly).
Need to reread this book.
October 4, 2017
Even till the end, it felt like Nora and Cal were still strangers. There's no spark between them.
I don't deny Nora was snobbish but, she was raised that way. And Cal was no better trying to educate her. I still think there's so many other way for Cal to educate Nora. She just needed some home skill lesson and that's it.
This was shelve as grovelling hero. Not much grovelling because they both were wrong. I think they redeemed themselves in the end.
I don't deny Nora was snobbish but, she was raised that way. And Cal was no better trying to educate her. I still think there's so many other way for Cal to educate Nora. She just needed some home skill lesson and that's it.
This was shelve as grovelling hero. Not much grovelling because they both were wrong. I think they redeemed themselves in the end.
May 3, 2011
I think this is the only DP I've read to date that had absolutely no redeeming qualities for me. I disliked the hero, the heroine, the story and especially the dialog.
1 star / DNF
1 star / DNF
April 18, 2021
Libro: Nora
Serie: Culhane, libro 2
Autora: Diana Palmer
Páginas: 318
Reseña
Es la historia de Nora y Cal, dos personas que se conocen en el antiguo oeste.
Nora al comienzo es la clásica lady que hace notar las diferencias sociales en las que viven las personas.
Cal se hace pasar por un vaquero, cuando en realidad viene de una familia acaudalada.
Sus caminos se cruzan, y ninguno de los dos sale ileso en la historia.
Me gustó la novela, Diana Palmer es una de mis autoras favoritas de harlequin, hombres tercos y cabezotas, mujeres fuertes que los vuelven locos.
Los padres de Nora son muy crueles con ella, en cambio los padres de Cal son increíbles.
Los hermanos de Cal son los mejores, y primeros en ir, a su ayuda cuando lo necesita.
Serie: Culhane, libro 2
Autora: Diana Palmer
Páginas: 318
Reseña
Es la historia de Nora y Cal, dos personas que se conocen en el antiguo oeste.
Nora al comienzo es la clásica lady que hace notar las diferencias sociales en las que viven las personas.
Cal se hace pasar por un vaquero, cuando en realidad viene de una familia acaudalada.
Sus caminos se cruzan, y ninguno de los dos sale ileso en la historia.
Me gustó la novela, Diana Palmer es una de mis autoras favoritas de harlequin, hombres tercos y cabezotas, mujeres fuertes que los vuelven locos.
Los padres de Nora son muy crueles con ella, en cambio los padres de Cal son increíbles.
Los hermanos de Cal son los mejores, y primeros en ir, a su ayuda cuando lo necesita.
August 28, 2024
I’m not quite sure how to rate this book properly! Did it have the usual DP angst? Yes. One star. Was it interesting? Yes. Another star. Did I love it? No. Minus star. It had good sex. A plus star. But there was some weird stuff about losing consciousness during orgasm. Minus star.
Anyway, the hero was in the top ten DP jerks. He was beyond cruel and while he felt guilty he kept pushing her. She lost their baby. It didn’t seem like either really cared too much about that. They did care about having sex with one another though. The heroine was an idiot for all the crap she too and claimed it was ok because she loved him.
Anyway, the hero was in the top ten DP jerks. He was beyond cruel and while he felt guilty he kept pushing her. She lost their baby. It didn’t seem like either really cared too much about that. They did care about having sex with one another though. The heroine was an idiot for all the crap she too and claimed it was ok because she loved him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2016
I am not a fan of Harlequin. Never have been. I started reading this book, not realizing that it was a Harlequin. wow. So glad I did not now that, I may have missed a wonderful book. This was unlike any Harlequin that I had read in the past. Very, very interesting. I liked the family social status drama, the secrets between the main characters, and the setting of the story which was in Texas.
February 17, 2019
Carina l’ambientazione. Ci sono i soliti conflitti della Palmer anche se in questo non viene enfatizzata l’età che solitamente è la differenza di base su cui si svolgono le vicende dei racconti della scrittrice.
June 8, 2019
Love all her stories
I love everything I've read of Ms. Palmer's books! However, this and 1 other story I read over and over and over. I love how both main characters grow no matter how they feel about themselves or each other.
I love everything I've read of Ms. Palmer's books! However, this and 1 other story I read over and over and over. I love how both main characters grow no matter how they feel about themselves or each other.
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