Customer Reviews

Amelia

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I picked up my first Diana Palmer book after a friend recommended her to me as a change from all the cookie cutter books i was reading. I tried her and fell in love. her style which is steamy but not erotica is nice. I love the sexual tension that always exudes from her books while giving us enough conflict and character flaws to make the characters seem real.

This is the story of Amelia, a poor, mistreated girl and King, a cold, wealthy rancher. "Amelia" is set in 1900 Texas, outside El Paso where King's family ranch is. Amelia moved to El Paso with her father to be near her brother Quinn, a Texas Ranger. Amelia's father is a violent, unstable man and so Amelia must be docile and complacent to keep him calm. Alan, King's brother, likes this about Amelia and is thinking of marrying her but King can't stand anyone so spinelees, no matter that he might desire her. Quinn's, Amelia's brother, story is also told in small snipets throughout the book.

I found myself having mixed feelings about this book, but not for the reasons many other reviewers stated. I had my misgivings about this book when I read about Amelia taking so much of her father's abuse as well as King's. But honestly this isn't a huge problem in the book. The reader is quickly told she is loyal to her father because he is violent and unstable because he is ill. Many people felt like King's "verbale abuse" was awful and unforgiveable but it wasn't anything more than a few scathing insults that didn't bother the herione overly much.

What bothered me about this book is the absolute absence of chemistry between the two main characters. Though they have a few bursts of fighting and seem to spark a little it seems fake and not anything to get breathless over. Though while i was reading "amelia" I didn't notice the lack of intimacy between King and Amelia after i finished it i found myself wondering "that's it?" Diana Palmer is known for her characters sizzling passions and an inability to keep their hands off each other but King and Amelia's relationship lacked this.

Truthfully this story seemed more about Amelia overcoming her father and becoming herself than about romance. It needed more scenes between her and King and definitely some indication of passion between the two instead of Palmer just telling us "oh yeah and they really are in love with each other." Even having the characters say "i love you" to each other isn't the same as reading their body language and showing the reader this love.

Though this book was interesting it was not really a romance in true sense. for something a little less somber and more romantic to read check out some of her other works.

I couldn't help myself, I had to give this book five stars because it was one of those kind you can't put down. The disturbing part when King all but raped Ameilia bothered me alot and when she was beaten was horrible. I guess the thing that kept me interested was it was such a different "dark" love story and Diana Palmer is a great writer. If you like a love story that is all hearts and roses and happiness forget this one!! You will be depressed for a week!! What can I say, Diana Palmer is a great writer and if you read this book on that merit you will like it alot.

This is 1 of my fav. historicals of diana palmers. It's heartrendering. I cried and smiled through this whole book.

King should have no right to ill-treat Ameila who love him to death. King should first be honest to his heart and to Ameila, the girl he is attracted at the first sight. I wonder why no member of King's family can stop the torture King puts on Ameila just because King has a royal flair, a strong head and ill temper. If so, it will be very unfortunate that Ameila has to suffer so much before she finally wins back his love. I feel angry to King and pity Ameila for what happens to her.

Wonderful!!!Diana Palmer at her best. I couldn't put this one down. I was up all night. Lots of chemistry between King and Amelia. I can't reccommend this one enough. Get in, buckle up and hang on!!I only wish this book had gone on longer!

This novel is so depressing! Amelia is physically abused by her father and mentally abused by King through most of the book. I've never hated a lead man in a book so much. King is one of the most dense characters ever! I can't stand him! Ughhh! He is so distasteful! Amelia was weak through most of the book and just got on my nerves. I guess it was understandable because she was being abused but her loyalty to her abusive father was just sick! King almost gets her beaten to death and that is sooo UNFORGIVABLE in my eyes. I wish I never picked this book up! It made me cry because I was so angry and felt so sorry for Amelia. It wasn't a romance. It was a pity fest. Yet I had to give it 2 stars cause no matter how much I hate the book, it did make me feel something and I did like her brother Quinn and his story.

I simply cannot understand why this book got so many 5 star reviews. Amelia has suffered much throughout her life, from the death of her brothers and mother, to an accident that turns her loving father into a violent man who beats Amelia whenever he feels she has stepped out of line. Amelia, once a spirited young woman, must hide who she really is so as not to incur her father's wrath. Enter King, the "hero", who makes his comtempt for Amelia known from page one. King abhors Amelia's docile attitude and takes every opportunity to make sure all those around him know it. In an attempt to circumvent Amelia's father's plans for Amelia to marry King's younger brother, Alan, King all but rapes Amelia and then turns around and tells Amelia's father that Amelia has offered herself to King. Amelia's father, blind with rage, beats her to within an inch of her life.

Where to start on the attrocities in this book... Not only does King nearly get Amelia killed because of his lies, but then he feels guilt for exactly 1 page before returning to his prior mistreatment of her. Amelia finally shows some spunk, but unfortunately this only lasts about 3 pages before she is back to allowing King to dominate her again. What annoyed me very much was how everyone cows to King for some reason. He speaks to his mother and the rest of his family with the utmost disrespect, and they all sit back and take it. They allow King to treat Amelia horribly and never step in to make him stop. From page one, the lead characters in this story behave as if they are children, not the grown adults they are supposed to be. In an effort to "hide their feelings for eachother" they sling verbal barbs at one another and go out of their way to make eachother miserable. Does this remind anyone else of first grade when a boy pulls a girls hair and makes fun of her because he likes her? What bothers me most is that King treats Amelia in so many unforgivable ways, yet she takes it and loves him anyway. I cannot imagine loving someone who basically rapes me and then goes about getting me beat almost to death. And we are supposed to believe that King did this because he loves her but cannot come to grips with his own feelings?

I have read almost every Diana Palmer and truthfully I cannot figure out why I keep coming back for more. It is almost like a car wreck; you don't want to look, but for some reason your eyes stray to it anyway. I would not reccomend this book to anyone who is looking for a true romance. There is nothing romantic about the way these two characters react to eachother. If you are looking for a good romance by Diana Palmer, go read Trilby. Much better story.

This is my all time favorite Diana Palmer book. I read it and put it a way and bring it out and read it again. I recently got a kindle but can't get this book on kindle. That is the only thing I don't like about this book. Bring out a kindle version please!!!

I thought it was wonderful book. It is one of my favorites by Diana Palmer. I have read it more than once. The characters were wonderful.

We got the book within the advertised timeframe and its condition was better than expected from the writeup.

Rusty Bullerman