From Goodreads: Tall, lean and headstrong, FBI agent Kilraven lives by his own rules. And one of those rules includes keeping his hands off Jacobsville’s resident sweetheart, Winnie Sinclair, no matter the temptation. Shy and innocent, Winnie couldn’t handle a man like him – a merciless man with a haunted past. And this small town may hold not only the woman he fights to resist, but the answers to a cold case that is very personal to Kilraven….
Winnie has had her own share of sorrow and senses Kilraven’s pain. Even though she tries to deny it, the gentle 911 operator feels a connection with the darkly handsome agent. When he makes the disturbing discovery that her family’s unsavory past might have a bearing on his case, Winnie is determined to help him crack it…and the ice around his heart.
As they combine forces in a dangerous investigation, the stakes rise ever higher. Winnie’s life is on the line, and she’ll need Kilraven more than ever. But if they are to have a future together, her ruthless Texan will need to confront his past and risk it all for their love.
Dangerous is my first Diana Palmer book and with her large back list I was excited to finally be trying one of her books. Unfortunately this one did not work for me. First, I could not keep up with the amount of characters, and who was related to who, and who was involved in the murdered victim’s life. The point of view changes so much it was hard to settle into one character’s thoughts.
Winnie gets psychic feelings – when something bad is going to happen. Or once when Kilraven went on a call, she had a feeling one of the men had a gun and knew to relay that information as the 9-1-1 operator. There is no explanation for why she gets these feelings, but it runs in her family. I never connect with characters like this. I don’t like the angle of her being a psychic. When the book starts she paints a picture of a raven for Kilraven’s secret Santa gift, and that just happens to be the same picture his late wife loved. He gets angry that she painted it and from there it is a bit of a jumble. It was too much to follow, and not enough in the story to keep me interested.
As I mentioned, Diana Palmer has such an extensive back list that I will definitely get some recommendations and try her again.
I have a large Diana Palmer collection, and am a fan of most of her work, and although Dangerous 'can' be read as a stand-alone, I can completely see where you are coming from. I have read (with the exception of a few that are impossible to find for under $50) almost all her books so I had the back story of all those other characters, and I agree that if I didn't have that I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the book. Even though the 'psychic powers' bits were a little hard to believe, I found the rest of the love story enjoyable. Now, you have to keep in mind, that Diana writes her female characters relatively the same in every book (I'm not saying there is anything wrong with their 'innocence' but sometimes I feel they are kinda stupid, ya know? I'm sorry but even if you are a virgin and over the age of twenty there is no way that you have like NO idea about the birds and the bees). Her male characters are sometimes hard to relate to because they are just so hard to 'get close to' I sometimes find.
Ok, now that I have babbled, I sincerely apologize! I DO REALLY LIKE Diana Palmer books, but they get repetitive in their plots when you really break it down. That said I truly hope you give her another go and find one that works for you! Feel free to email me: astewart305(at)rogers.com and maybe I can give you some starter tips to help you find what you are looking for!
Ok, ok…I'll shut up now! LOL
Aha – see, I felt like the book started in the middle of all of these characters lives. I am definitely missing out on their back story and I am pretty sure if I had read previous books, I would have had a much better understanding of who everyone is.
I have been talking to others this week about Diana Palmer and I have heard from many that her females are often innocent – that might bother me if I read many of her books in a row…but just to read one or two..I can probably live with it :)
Thanks so much for your insight!!
I'll be posting my review next week – it's about the same as yours. I really don't like Kilraven – he came off as a jerk.
I am sorry to hear that you didn't like it, but if she has so many books out there then I am sure you will find a good one
Very disappointing. Sorry it didn't work out for you Mandi.
Though I was offered a copy of this book for giveaway on my blog I've not read a DP book either. It sounds like if I ever wanted to I would have to go WAY back and glom the author. Not sure I have that much patience! lol
Sorry it didn't work for you.
I think I've read one Diana Palmer book, I don't think she is my cup of tea.
One of her earliest & still one of my faves is Diamond Spur written as Susan Kyle. I don't feel it's a "usual pattern" one. There's not a huge age difference & the heroine is not a weakling.
Her earlier books are a lot better than the ones in the last couple of years. Some of my favorite are Soldier of Fortune, The Cowboy and the Lady & His Girl Friday her some of my favorite ones. Her first Long, Tall Texans books are great I think this book is part of that series. I think if you try one of her older books you will like it a lot better than this one.
Mandi:
Thanks for the review!
I have most of Diana's backlist and can totally see where a newcomer would be lost in the sea of previously established characters. Her stuff is generally fluffy reading that involves young virgins and older crusty men, most of whom live in or have connections to the fictional town of Jacobsville, Texas.
One of the funniest reviews of Palmer's work I have ever read is over at the smartbitchestrashybooks.com website. If you want a good laugh, here is the link:
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/index.php/weblog/iron-cowboy-by-diana-palmer-a-guest-review-by-nonnie/
I can honestly say that Nonnie's review is a heck of a lot better than the book Iron Cowboy was, and I'm sure your review is better than Dangerous is too!
Patti – I didn't get far enough to determine Kilraven's jerk status. Sorry you didn't like it either.
Blodeuedd – Yes, I am sure I will!
FV – Me too :(
Tracy – it sounds like her books all have intermingling characters…all very connected.
Smokin – I might give her another try:)
Mary – Thanks so much! I will write that down :)
Sherry – Someone else told me about her Long, Tall Texans ones too…will have to look into those.
Christine – uh oh..I bet that review is funny…off to check it out!
I read Palmer when I was younger. Honestly, her storylines wore on me and I walked away from her.
I occasionally go back but yes, her women are innocent and her men can be jerky.
Sorry you didn't like. :(
Mandi – I'm with you on the psychic abilities. I like a book to be solidly in one subgenre – contemporary or paranormal, not attempting to straddle both.
And why are heroines either gentle or feisty. I'm going to be a hypocrit now and say that when it comes to heroines I like them to straddle. OK, they so came out wrong – LOL!
I like her Long Tall Texans series. But you do need to start near the beginning or all the family and friendship connections in the later books can get confusing.
I also like her Soldiers of Fortune series.
Ms. Palmer is an acquired taste I find and it's unfortunate you started with that book..
A huge chunk of her work is tied together in the whole Jacobsville drug war…
Try some of her stand along work, they might appeal to you more..
She is a firm fav of mine – she is sterotypical but I know what I am getting and I have known her characters for so many years now they now feel like old friends…
Hope the next one works for you..
E.H>
Never read her and that books sounds confusing.
Hope the next book works more for you!
Mandi –
Your review was on the money and, as I previously predicted, your review is better than the book!
I sat down and tried to read Dangerous today and I can honestly say that not liking the book has little to do with knowing the background characters. I am a longtime Palmer reader (guilty pleasure) and I forced myself to get part of the way through the book and it wasn't getting any better. It was just bad, all the way around.
I am sorry to say that the three most recent books of Ms. Palmer's I have read have been very disappointing.
If you still want to give Ms. Palmer's writing a try, my cheesy favorite is a short story called The Humbug Man that was written as a holiday offering back in the 80's. It is total fluff, but the leading man is a hairy-chested rancher man that may appeal to your smexy side. :)
Hairy chested rancher!?! MUST HAVE ;)
I'm glad you agree with my review…but also sorry it didn't work for you. From what I have heard, her earlier stuff is better!
Mandi, I know exactly what you mean. Diana Palmer has written some horrible books lately, but as people told you, she also has some really good stuff.
I would advice you to read her Soldiers of Fortune series. It's about a group of mercenaries who find love after their HEAs are in danger. I know it seems pretty horrible, but it worked for Diana Palmer :)
The first in the series is "Soldier of Fortune", followed by "The Tender Stranger" (my favorite. I love the hero, Dutch is very diferent from most of her heroes.), "Enamored" (I hate the hero. He is another of those morons who love (mis)judging the heroines. But her worst heroes are King Culhane and Rodrigo Ramirez, from 'Amelia' and 'Fearless'), "Mercenary's Woman", "The Winter Soldier" (I love Cy!) and "The Last Mercenary". This series is also related to another book, "Desperado", and generally speaking, to her Long Tall Texans series, given the fact that most of her characters are from the same city. Her book "Carrera's Bride" is very good, especially given his past.
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