Wyoming Tough, by Diana Palmer

I'm going out on a limb here, and posting the review for this book that releases on 10/25/11.  I see other bloggers posting their galley reviews way ahead of the release date, so in the spirit of getting the word out there, here we go!

Rating:  B warm

Mallory Kirk, along with brothers Cane and Dalton, own a huge working ranch in Wyoming.  The past few years have been financially difficult with the current economy, but they are getting by quite nicely.  Morie Brannt  is the daughter if a wealthy Texas rancher, who won’t allow Morie to have any kind of working relationship  with his ranch.  She is college educated, but wants to prove that she can make it on her own.  So, on to Wyoming she goes to hire on as a hand at Mallory’s ranch.  It quickly becomes obvious that she knows nothing about ranching, but the foreman Darby takes her under his wing and teaches her what she needs to know to get her jobs done.   

Morie is sick of men wanting her as a means to gain access to her father’s wealth, and Mallory has the same issues with women wanting him for his financial worth.  Mal has a socialite girlfriend Gelly,  who is constantly thinking up ways  to get Mal to fire Morie, as she comes to realize that Mal is very fond of Morie.  In addition to the romantic tension going on between Mal and Morie, there is an escaped convict on the loose, providing plenty of drama throughout the book. 

Everyone in this story is very well educated, and there is time spent on rehashing  our more modern era, and the benefits of inventions like the iPhone.  Mallory is very eco-conscious in his ranching.  The brothers have been approached about selling a small portion of their land for fracking, which they refuse to do, so there are discussions about oil drilling and bio fuels.  

One thing I look forward to in a Diana Palmer book is knowing what I am getting, and that’s  a good comfort read.  There were a few scenes in this book that took me back to one of my DP favorites, Once In Paris.    For most of you who are DP fans, you will recognize this when you stumble upon it!  One more thing, there is the usual age difference between the H/h, 36 and 23.  However, the age difference is not apparent at all.  Morie is not a dowdy heroine, and led a pretty well rounded life.

I only have two complaints – Gelly.  Where does she come up with these names?   The girl is a socialite – imagine calling Paris Hilton "Gelly".   I just couldn’t get by that name.  And…..she GASPED, she SOBBED, the SHOCK of it all…..and (saving the best for last) Mal says to his little bride Morie “As you may have guessed, I am better endowed than most men”…….ROTFL!!!!!!   Okay – it’s vintage Diana Palmer, and no book of hers would be complete without this byline. 

Book provided by NetGalley for review. 

Merciless, by Diana Palmer

Date read:  7/1/2011, book provided by Net Galley for an honest review

Rating:  Solid B

Jon Blackhawk is an FBI agent in San Antonio, and Jocelyn is his assistant.  Jocelyn needs help with her fashion sense (boy howdy does she!!),  is a single mother to Markie, and is an all around happy person and great assistant.  Wow – all this in a Diana Palmer book?  Aside from a crazy name or two, this book was a very pleasant surprise after a few sub par books by one of my favorite authors.

Take a step back a book or two, and we are reminded of McKuen Kilraven’s (Jon’s half brother)wife and daughter’ murder.  Harold Monroe, who we thought was the killer, is out on bail, and has made threats to both Jon and Jocelyn.  While everyone is watching Jocelyn’s back, Jon is shot from behind, has surgery and returns to the family ranch in Oklahoma to recuperate. 

Cammy, Jon’s mom, returns from a trip abroad to find Jocelyn and Markie there with Jon, and wastes no time in getting them to leave the ranch.  Cammy does not feel that Jocelyn is wife material for Jon, and is after him for his money.  Markie has an asthma attack as they prepare to leave, which has Cammy wondering…….Jon had the same thing as a child.  And said child has Jon’s Native American good looks.  As Cammy puts two and two together, she chases Jocelyn back to San Antonio to make sure Markie is all right.  The two women make amends, and Cammy returns to her hotel room.  She is on the phone talking to Kilraven and he hears gunshots.  He rushes to the hotel, only to find his mother murdered. 

Kilraven is off to Oklahoma to tell Jon what has transpired.  All the while I am thinking that Rick Marquez was acting strange at the hotel when he arrived to investigate the murder.  But with all this chasing back and forth with Jon and Kilraven, I am getting exhausted just reading about it, and forget all about Rick.  Back to Oklahoma, on to San Antonio, then on to Jacobsville to make funeral arrangements, back to San Antonio,  back to Jacobsville again for the funeral.  This is the spot where I determine that if you are not a DP fan girl, there’s no way you can keep up with all the places and faces.  So be warned – this is not a good book to start on if you are new to Diana Palmer! 

There is no beating around the bush here, and no big, mean nasty man who intimidates the little woman.  Jocelyn and Jon are only four years apart in age, and both are intelligent, strong characters.  There are your typical Diana Palmer love scenes,  but one of the few in all of her books that is mutually enjoyable for both characters because, well – they love each other.  Need I say more?  If you are a fan of Diana Palmer’s, you will enjoy this book, as Merciless is one of her better books in recent years.