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emlickliter's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
4.0
Amelia by Diana Palmer – The brother and sister arc in this one was fantastic even though it felt like they were trying to out sad each other at times! A wonderful classic western romance! Happy Reading!
mayasgroove's review against another edition
2.0
This is like crack. Same storyline, different name, different setting, but just the same, recycled story over and over. And like any addiction you have, you hate it but you gotta keep reading. Because. Arrogant H, made me think that this book was written for what era even my ancestors weren't born yet. D.P. you are lucky I like you, otherwise I wouldn't have shed a tear or two for the h. *insert eye roll.
sblyon's review against another edition
3.0
The story was ok and the character growth was interesting. Being set in 1900, it was a bit different from the other DP books I’ve read. There was a more gruff persona to King than I’ve seen from any other DP character she’s written, and it was a bit off putting but also a nice change of pace. The FMC Amelia supposedly had fire in her spirit, but the few glimpses we got were not quite enough to make it believable.
serialromancelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: When I need a vintage romance with some angst and a bully H, I can always depend on DP. This delivers in spades and I love it. I’ve read it multiple times.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the setting of Texas in 1900. That’s what lets this terrible H (King) get away with so much. Amelia (h) is stuck at the mercy of her father who is ill with a brain tumor. He’s violent and unpredictable. Much of the story is the H mercilessly torturing the helpless h because he labels her a stupid, spineless gold digger. I honestly didn’t care too much for the parallel story of Amelia’s brother Quinn and his love interest though. I skimmed it when I reread the book.
* What did you think about the main characters?: King has few redeeming qualities. He’s not handsome, he strings women along, and he jumps to nasty conclusions about people. We keep hearing from his brother and parents that he’s a decent guy, but we don’t really see it until the end when he takes full responsibility for all the damage he caused. He is a man toddler. Amelia is a paragon. She hides her intelligence and plays the meek subservient role in order to pacify her abusive father. He literally beats her if she falls out of line. It is a believable scenario, though. I loved the resilience of her character.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: The climax of this book is heart-wrenching and sickening. You have questionable consent/rape and then the H literally gets the h’s father so riled up that he almost beats the h to death before the H finally regrets his actions. I love it so much because I’m a masochist.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Bully cruel hero, horrible OW, Texas 1900 HR
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted more groveling, but King does repeatedly tell everyone how guilty/horrible he is and he seems to be atoning for it in the end.
* What is your impression of the author?: I love DP!
Triggers: questionable consent (on page), domestic violence (fades to black)
* How did the book make you feel?: When I need a vintage romance with some angst and a bully H, I can always depend on DP. This delivers in spades and I love it. I’ve read it multiple times.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the setting of Texas in 1900. That’s what lets this terrible H (King) get away with so much. Amelia (h) is stuck at the mercy of her father who is ill with a brain tumor. He’s violent and unpredictable. Much of the story is the H mercilessly torturing the helpless h because he labels her a stupid, spineless gold digger. I honestly didn’t care too much for the parallel story of Amelia’s brother Quinn and his love interest though. I skimmed it when I reread the book.
* What did you think about the main characters?: King has few redeeming qualities. He’s not handsome, he strings women along, and he jumps to nasty conclusions about people. We keep hearing from his brother and parents that he’s a decent guy, but we don’t really see it until the end when he takes full responsibility for all the damage he caused. He is a man toddler. Amelia is a paragon. She hides her intelligence and plays the meek subservient role in order to pacify her abusive father. He literally beats her if she falls out of line. It is a believable scenario, though. I loved the resilience of her character.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: The climax of this book is heart-wrenching and sickening. You have questionable consent/rape and then the H literally gets the h’s father so riled up that he almost beats the h to death before the H finally regrets his actions. I love it so much because I’m a masochist.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Bully cruel hero, horrible OW, Texas 1900 HR
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted more groveling, but King does repeatedly tell everyone how guilty/horrible he is and he seems to be atoning for it in the end.
* What is your impression of the author?: I love DP!
Triggers: questionable consent (on page), domestic violence (fades to black)
emilyhei's review against another edition
4.0
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.
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.
yeahorneighreviews's review against another edition
5.0
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!
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!
kari_marie's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books.
Amelia by Diana Palmer is re-release. Amelia moves with her father out west to be closer to her brother and for her father to to find his fortune. Her father began to change when he hit his head and Amelia is taking care of him. The problem is to take care of him her personality has been changed. King, her brother's best friend, holds her in contempt for being meek. Wait till he meets the real Amelia.
This was an enjoyable read. I thought this was a fun read nothing life changing but still enjoyable.
4 stars for yes I recommend it and I did really like it.
Amelia by Diana Palmer is re-release. Amelia moves with her father out west to be closer to her brother and for her father to to find his fortune. Her father began to change when he hit his head and Amelia is taking care of him. The problem is to take care of him her personality has been changed. King, her brother's best friend, holds her in contempt for being meek. Wait till he meets the real Amelia.
This was an enjoyable read. I thought this was a fun read nothing life changing but still enjoyable.
4 stars for yes I recommend it and I did really like it.
katiev's review
1.0
DP can be like crack. It's bad for you, you swear never again, and then you always relapse and repeat the cycle.
This one, unfortunately, was not as much of a guilty pleasure. For one thing there was very much a this happened, then that happened, then... quality to the storytelling. No depth and it just didn't flow. I didn't feel immersed in the least. Plus, all the jumping back an forth between Amelia and her brother's story was jarring.
In many ways this was the typical DP hero, reluctantly attracted to the heroine yet inexplicably hating her for one irrational reason or the other. He was also one of the biggest, cruelest asses and that's saying a lot considering DP's track record. Even so, this lacked that certain DP crackiness that only she can get away with writing over and over and over again. Perhaps historical romance is simply not her forte.
I think the reason I grudgingly enjoy her contemporaries is the campy OTT mess that her stories often are. The outrageously put upon virginal heroine who is a secret member of Mensa and champion biscuit maker combined with the cranky hero with a massive amount of chest hair and graduate degree in jumping to conclusions. All set against the background of a town of 2000 which has it's own movie theater, mall, fine art gallery, and community college which can offer any degree from Ancient Greek to Forensics. Oh, and we mustn't forget the 500 secret federal agents working anything from serial killing to international drug trafficking cases in that busy little town. It's too funny.
This had some elements of her contemporary novels, but they just didn't translate. I believe she tried to be serious and the trials of the heroine provided some serious angst potential, but there was too much showing and not telling.
This one, unfortunately, was not as much of a guilty pleasure. For one thing there was very much a this happened, then that happened, then... quality to the storytelling. No depth and it just didn't flow. I didn't feel immersed in the least. Plus, all the jumping back an forth between Amelia and her brother's story was jarring.
In many ways this was the typical DP hero, reluctantly attracted to the heroine yet inexplicably hating her for one irrational reason or the other. He was also one of the biggest, cruelest asses and that's saying a lot considering DP's track record. Even so, this lacked that certain DP crackiness that only she can get away with writing over and over and over again. Perhaps historical romance is simply not her forte.
I think the reason I grudgingly enjoy her contemporaries is the campy OTT mess that her stories often are. The outrageously put upon virginal heroine who is a secret member of Mensa and champion biscuit maker combined with the cranky hero with a massive amount of chest hair and graduate degree in jumping to conclusions. All set against the background of a town of 2000 which has it's own movie theater, mall, fine art gallery, and community college which can offer any degree from Ancient Greek to Forensics. Oh, and we mustn't forget the 500 secret federal agents working anything from serial killing to international drug trafficking cases in that busy little town. It's too funny.
This had some elements of her contemporary novels, but they just didn't translate. I believe she tried to be serious and the trials of the heroine provided some serious angst potential, but there was too much showing and not telling.
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