Limecello’s review of Fearless by Diana Palmer
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin on 1 Jun 08
I love Diana Palmer’s books. I don’t know what it is about her, but I love her writing. Love. She’s an author most readers tend to have strong opinions about. I admit, some of her story lines seem old and rehashed – but, each one still has unique aspects. Her writing has a warmth and wry humor that grips you. Ms. Palmer’s books are fun, witty, classy, and very enjoyable.
Gloryanne started off as an unique Diana Palmer heroine – she’s an Assistant District Attorney, so her high powered fast paced job is something different. However, she also has a limp, and hypertension, both due to a troubled past. She’s smart, and sassy. I knew I liked her when I read about Glory and her cane. (You’ll see.) Unfortunately, must of that opinion crumples when she begins to interact with the hero, Rodrigo. There’s also the fact that Ms. Palmer’s heroines are almost excessively tragic.
For his part, Rodrigo is 100% a typical Ms. Palmer hero. He’s alpha, former mercenary and military, entitled, and a jerk. He goes completely on assumptions, and judges based on appearances. Still, he’s attracted to Glory, and acts on his attraction. Rodrigo is a character most Diana Palmer fans will recognize, and I have to admit I was a bit surprised at how he was portrayed in this book. He’s a genuinely nice guy, but has a hard time getting over a woman he loved and lost, and ends up taking it out on Glory.
The initial romance between Glory and Rodrigo was not believable to me, and the spontaneous sex came out of the blue. Glory’s affections were sudden and didn’t jive with how she acted otherwise. However, once they interacted more steadily I could see the romance blossom, and absolutely loved the ending. The drama, angst, and penitence on the part of both characters was new, and infinitely enjoyable. The scenes with Glory being the ball busting ADA are priceless.
I like reading about Jacobsville, though I’m skeptical at the same time. How can a town of 2,000 people have an orchestra, hospital, a plethora ex-mercs? Still, it’s fiction. And makes for a terrifically interesting read. Another minor detail I took issue with is the internet taunting Glory suffered as child – that most likely wouldn’t have happened, considering she’s 26. Then, there’s the boilerplate story of two people who greatly dislike each other, having a night of passion, and then a baby. Moreover, the plot falls into the old romance trap of lack of communication between the characters providing the core conflict of the novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I would have liked it more if Fearless hadn’t contained so many romance clichés. I feel that most readers know what they’re getting into, and what they’re going to get when they pick up a Ms. Palmer book. For those yet to be initiated, I recommend picking up one of her novels from the early 2000s, and making your decision from there. For my part, I’m sold. Fearless made me cringe at parts, but Glory is a great heroine, and I’m glad Rodrigo got his story. Now, if only Rick Marquez will get his…
Grade: B-
Even in the wide open spaces of Texas, secrets find a place to hide…in the heart of a shy, determined woman; behind the hard, rugged exterior of a DEA agent; and in the dangerous world of drug smuggling.
Rodrigo Ramirez is sent undercover as an itinerant laborer on Gloryanne Barnes’s stepbrother’s farm in Jacobsville, where he’s looking to bust a new and vicious cartel operating south of the border. Gloryanne is smart, savvy and fiercely independent, but her job has put her in danger from the same criminal Rodrigo is investigating. She’s drawn to the enigmatic new farmhand, Rodrigo, a man who is much more than he seems, and who stirs a desire that leaves her breathless. But secrets are about to shatter all their lives, for better, for worse…and maybe forever.
Gloryanne’s sweet innocence is too much temptation for a tormented man. Confused and bitter about love, driven by his dangerous job and searching for answers, Rodrigo is not sure if his reckless offer of marriage is just a means to completing his mission—or something more. But as Gloryanne’s bittersweet miracle and Rodrigo’s double life collide, two people learning just what it means to trust must face the truth about each other, and decide if there’s a chance for the future they both secretly desire.
