A WILD, DANGEROUS LOVE Amelia Howard cherishes her desert country. The dazzling colors, white heat, and rough sensuality of west Texas stir her very soul. But there’s a serpent in her paradise: King Culhane. A towering sunburned cowboy with silver eyes that miss nothing, he’s a man she’s come to despise—no matter how much she had worshiped him when she was younger. As her father pushes her to … As her father pushes her to secure a marriage proposal from King’s mild-mannered brother in order to marry into the Culhane dynasty, Amelia assumes the mask of a demure young lady, always correct and obedient. It’s a posture that King holds in contempt. Yet when she reveals the true force of her feelings, she unleashes a smoldering passion that cannot be denied. And everything—propriety, filial duty, even love—will be scorched in the wake of such all-consuming desire.
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This is a reissue of one of Diana Palmer’s earlier books. It looks at what was the start f the Culhane dynasty in her texas novels. This is Amelia and King’s story with a smaller role given to Quinn and Maria’s story. It a story forged in the harsh early 1900 dust and barren lands on the Texas Mexico border. Marriages had to be able to survive not just love but the harsh land and the rustic living. King didn’t believe Amelia was tight for the until she proved him wrong and then he could not stay away from her. This is a classic Diana Palmer with excellent writing from start to finish.
Not the worst DP hero ever but still a ratfink.
Heroine hides her shining light under a bushel because of her once nice, now mean father. Very, very mean because of a smack on the head as well as other things. Her meekness is a red flag to the H who does some pretty unforgivable things that get forgiven.
The h’s Texas Ranger brother has his own romance with a sixteen year old virgin he finds in a brothel that is the adopted daughter of the man he is searching for. Diana Palmer plays rough with her dolls.
The secondary hero goes into an alcoholic decline when the secondary heroine gets mad at him. Had to laugh when the sheriff said he made a good deputy. Uh duh, he WAS a Texas Ranger after all.
The most interesting character is the Robin Hood bandido with a of heart of gold that steals from the rich gringos to save the poor peasants with things like buckets and churches.
Problems When You Know the Area:
Set in West Texas, more specifically Alpine, Texas, DP does a “John Ford”. When John Ford filmed The Searchers which is set just west of San Antonio, Texas, he filmed it in Monument Valley like he filmed almost everything except The Quiet Man. Even he couldn’t get away with pretending MV is Ireland.
DP has the hero, heroine et al running between Alpine and El Paso via buggy likes it’s a nice little jaunt and not the four to five day ride it really is.
Just a really great Diana Palmer read. Balanced, and good story.
Theme is getting tiring with the similar plots.
Enjoyed this book, as I do all books by Diana Palmer.
Diana Palmer at her best as always!
I loved this book. The story line was great.
Amelia’s father thinks that the youngest Culhane will ask for Amelia’s hand in marriage which is beneficial to him, however King Culhane the oldest son is determined not to let that happen.
This was really good but King is a jerk for the majority of the book, he does redeem himself but it takes awhile. I liked Amelia, there is a reason she is the way she is and the more you find out the stronger of character she becomes. Page turner.
I have been a devoted fan of Diana Palmer’s books for more than 30 years, and while this book was first written in 1993, the subject matter is still just as relevant today which is the beauty of historical fiction. Even though Diana’s male characters are hard headed chauvinists incapable of admitting they’re wrong, I can’t deny that I keep coming back to witness their spectacular fall from grace which gives me, and the heroine, great satisfaction. King and Amelia are enemies from the start and the simmering tension between them makes it painfully obvious that they’re totally besotted and fighting their feelings while they protect their disillusioned hearts from further destruction. The best thing about this wonderful historical fiction title is the lively, rapid fire dialogue which makes their happy ending all the more gratifying. I read a complimentary copy of this book provided by Kensington Books through NetGalley and all opinions expressed in my voluntary review are completely my own.
A western romance that will sweep you off your feet! My heart several times while reading this book – I thought I’d get a chapter in and then be able to stop for the night…nope. I found myself up until 2am, finally giving in to my eyes watering at 87% and immediately picked it back up the next morning.
The relationship between Amelia and her father is strained, but she keeps it under wraps, so nobody else knows her pain. I loved the interactions between her and the Culhane brothers as well. King is the sort of man you love to hate, and boy do you through most of the story. A wonderful tale of not judging a book by its cover!
Amelia was another great historical enemies to lovers, best friends little sister, with cowboys, read. It follows the trope beautifully, and Amelia is a completely likeable and sympathetic character. She has experienced some real losses in life, and continues to endure a painful existence. She is just trying to survive the crappy hand fate has dealt her. King’s outright disdain for her hurts and puzzles her, but the fleeting moments he is more than nice to her, are worse. They leave her confused and embarrassed, full of self-doubt and worry. Things do work out in the end, but they take a jagged path to get there, bringing out the worse, before things can get better