30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great friendship that turned into a rocky romance., July 29, 1998
By A Customer
This story features a funny and romantic friendship between a rich oil man(John) and a murder mystery writer (Madeline). Suddenly they can't get along because of the strong sexual attraction between them. The build up to the big night is fantastic, then they finally become lovers and the author cops out and does a fast forward to the next morning. Diana Palmer is know for her hot sex scenes, and this is a real disappointment. The book is still highly entertaining, but lacks the satisfaction she usually delivers in spades.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Where did the friendship go?, April 19, 2004
I have read a few books by Diana Palmer and I must say that my satisfaction has been hit and miss. I loved "Champayne Girl" by DP and looked forward to reading "Friends and Lovers".
This is a book about two "friends" Madeline and John who both are attracted to each other. John has been ready to be more longer than Madeline but even when she is aware of her feelings she is to much of a "child" to see it.
I like a strong man, an in control man, but I also like the woman to have some backbone. I also would like a leading lady I can identify with or atleast like. I did not find that in this book. She lied to him and herself almost till the end. She keep their pregnancy from him and I can't stand that. He may have been stubborn/hardheaded but sad to say I could identify with John more than Madeline.
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16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Typical Palmer - weak heroine, bully hero, June 13, 2001
I used to love big strong alpha type men. I still do, actually. What I hate, though, are bullies dressed up as big strong alpha types. And that seems to be what I get when I read a Diana Palmer book.
First off, John is supposedly an indredibly wealthy man. Their friendship is supposedly strengthened because Madeline has no need for his money. But this is never explained. Her books sell, but she's apparently not a name brand. She drives a 20 year old car. She can apparently pay her own way, but still..that doesn't seem to explain how that rules her out as a gold digger.
John is just mean - no other way to put it. You know the type - "I desire you so much that I *have* to be mean to you". He belittles her fear of men after a bad relationship. He doesn't trust her with his own cousin. Granted, she just doesn't lay back and take it, but her responses are weak.
Madeline doesn't thrill me, either. At 27, she goes around with a "sophisticated" facade of a woman who needs no one. She claims to feel trapped by the very idea of marriage and children. But when she gets pregnant, all those feelings simply dissolve without a wimper.
It also annoys me to no end in a book when women who are in a relationship with a man makes the deliberate decision to NOT tell him about her pregnancy. To me, is shows that the woman is too weak to substantially stand up to the man and that she doesn't really trust him.
I did give it 2 stars because for the most part the dialoug was witty and moved at a decent pace.
Alpha men are few and far inbetween..But if you're looking for a prime example of a hot and sexy alpha man - stay away from John.
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