Customer Reviews

The Hart Brothers Simon & Callaghan: Beloved\Callaghan's Bride

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had never read the Hart Brothers stories when they came out as single titles a long time ago, so I was excited to see that I could read two of them in one book, instead of trotting all over creation to try and find them one by one. I was not disappointed! I can't wait to read the other brother's stories now, after reading Simon's and Callaghan's.

I enjoyed Simon's story a little more than Callaghan's because of Tira (the leading lady of the story). She was very likeable and strong willed. She didn't let Simon's actions or his behavior bring her down. I love stories where the woman holds her own and not lets the man walk all over her. Simon was very strong and a great man to read about. They both were married before to other people and it turned out to be a tragic experience for them both. Tira's ex-husband and Simon were friends and he blames her for his death. So, at the beginning of the book, he already hates her. Tira has always been in love with Simon and vows that he won't hurt her anymore. So she moves on with her life. Then as the story goes on, we see that it is actually Simon and not Tira that has trouble moving on with their life. He realizes that he was all wrong about her and that she was the victim, not her ex-husband. The part about where she tries to live with/catch the mouse is so funny, that I love this book just for that. Read it and understand more! There is only one negative trait that I couldn't stand in Simon and that he was so jealous of Tira and her BEST FRIEND Charles that he had to go around with Jill (Tira's worst enemy). That was only to make her jealous of course, but I found it to be low and pitiful. Jill was an evil character in this book. I hated her and would have liked to have read the story without her in it.

Callaghan's story was good, but in the first chapter's of the Story, you come to hate the man. He is actually scary in the first couple of chapters. Tess is the Hart brother's cook/housekeeper. She lives with Ray, Leo, and Callaghan after her father dies and becomes their cook. Callaghan is attracted to her from the start and throughout the whole story fights his feelings for her (even up the the very end). His reason for hating women is a little flimsy (not a good enough one). At the beginning of the story we learn right off bat that Callaghan has a temper. He throws a birthday cake against the wall that Tess spent hours making for him and then he threatens her just because she was trying to be nice. I think that Tess should have left as soon as she could pack. He was pretty mean to her throughout the whole story. In the middle of the story, Callaghan gets drunk and stumbles into her room at night. He wakes her up thinking that they would have sex and then he just passes out. Well, in the morning he thinks that they slept together so, they get married. On their wedding night, he realizes that they never slept together because she is still a virgin and then he says some pretty NASTY things to her. I think that she should have never forgiven him for that, because he was the one who went into her room in the first place. Also, if he didn't want to get married than why do it? That whole scene threw me off of really enjoying this story.
Overall, I liked Simon's story a lot better but, I guess there will always be one that you like better over the other.

Enjoyed the stories of Simon & Callaghan. Always good for a second reading. Diana Palmer is a favorite.

This book was wonderful. I like the way the author incorporates romance with a wonderful sense of humor. Great Book!!

First there's the Hart brother,Simon Hart who'd sworn off women forever.Then,he met socialite Tira Beck.He thought she was nothing but a shameless flirt.Until he found out she was saving the flirting only for him.He decided he had to have her but could a reformed bachelor give up his bachelorhood for the long haul? For good?

Next,there was Callaghan Hart.Callaghan's as macho of a man as you can find.But the ranches new housekeeper,Tess Brady,might just bring him to his knees.She may be as soft as a kitten,but that doesn't mean she can't tempt him into breaking his own bad boy rules,and maybe want to make some new ones,with her. Ahh love! I love Diana Palmer's books!! Enjoy!The Hart Brothers Simon & Callaghan: Beloved\Callaghan's Bride

Diana Palmer is a great writer. I love her books The Hart Bothers are great though Simon story was great Callaghan's is one off my favorites the deep scares overcome by love its great.

If you haven't read it, please do so. You will love Simon and Callaghan! Actually you will love all the Hart Brothers, they are just great. Its a book that you will read again and again and still feel like the first time you read it.

Diana Palmer is the best!

I now own all of the long tall texan books. It was a long journey collecting these books but well worth it. The Harts are a funny bunch of guys. Some of DP's books were page turners, some not as good. I wish i lived in the town of Jacobsville and got to know these made-up characters. Soon i'll turn these books to the used bookstore so other people can enjoy a wonderful journey through J town, it's well worth it.

I was so glad to see the reprint of these two books come out in one issue, I really felt like Callaghan, or Cag as everyone calls him, deserved his own happiness. He finds it after the usual difficulties, worth reading.

I am not really sure why I bought this in the first place; can't recall what I might have read about it that made me think I would find it an entertaining read. Although I initially was going to give it one star, I'm giving it two because I did read the whole of "Beloved" which is Simon's story. However, it was so acutely awful that I did not even consider wasting my time by reading "Callaghan's Bride", the second story in the volume.

I guess Diana Palmer sells a lot of books as she has a huge backlist. But, if this a sample of her usual output, well, words fail me. I definitely won't be trying again.

If you want to read what I would truly like to say here, then have a look at the All About Romance website's take on this double header. It's puerile, trite fiction with utterly forgettable, one-dimensional, cardboard characters who arouse no interest, sympathy or attraction. Indeed, they are like some dreadful characters out of a 1950s "B" movie acting out a story about rich folk in Texas with banal, stiff dialogue. It was so bad I can't go on. And I cannot even give this to the church fete bookstall - this one is going in the bin.

PS - changed my mind - back to one star ............ and although I am sorry to be so negative, I am also trying to be honest here.