Contemporary Romance Audiobook published by Brilliance Audio 13 Aug 13
For the last number of years I’ve given up my radio in the car and have been listening to audiobooks instead. So whenever I find a great deal at a book sale, I usually pick up two or three to have plenty in the car as I travel around. One of those is Diana Palmer’s Man of Ice. Now, I’ve read/listened to only one other book by this author (no idea which one that was at this point), and after this particular audio, I realize now why I haven’t bothered with any others by her.
I did try to keep in mind as I listened to this book that it was written in 1996. Then again, it was recorded in 2013, so someone somewhere thought it was a good book, I would imagine. But, despite all that, I doubt I would have thought any differently between 1996 and today, whether I read or listened to it during those years. I have no idea how many times I rolled by eyes or exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” as I drove along.
Dawson and Barrie are stepbrother/sister, her mother marred his father. So even with issues from his childhood that clawed their way into his psyche, the same happens when he sees certain interaction between the new married couple – and he blames Barrie. He and Barrie have one night together where he basically rapes her and again blames her. He realizes what he’s done, then he ends up impotent for years afterward.
Barrie has loved Dawson for those years, even despite the way he hurt her. She’s, of course, afraid of men and sex, but when Dawson reappears in her life, the love is still here – even after he does the same thing to her again and after blackmailing her to help him out with some property acquisition. Just when you think they’re finally on an even keel and things will finally move along and they’ll begin to heal, they snipe at one another, mean as ever, hateful as ever, and we’re starting all over again. This happens time and again, and I got so dang tired of it. Just stupid all the way around.
I’ve read other reviews that say all of Ms. Palmer’s heroes are like Dawson, mean and insulting to the women they love. Well, this is the last book of hers I’ll ever read. I just can’t and won’t give that type of hero, and a heroine who isn’t much better, more of my time. Better authors out there to read.
Grade: F
Summary:
After a less than magical one-night stand, cynical Dawson Rutherford needs the help of the woman he considers seduced him. Barrie Bell, still reeling from their encounter, is ambivalent about aiding his scheme. She’s kept a secret from Dawson…one that could free them both to love again!
No excerpt available.
