May have slight spoilers.In author Diana Palmer’s novel Calhoun, the first book in her Long, Tall Texans series, we meet Calhoun Ballenger and Abigail (Abby) Clark. Five years ago when Abby was just fifteen years old her mother died in a car crash with the man she was to marry in two day’s Calhoun and Justin Ballenger’s father.Doing the only thing they could they took Abby in as their ward. Only now at almost twenty-one Abby doesn’t want to be a ward to Calhoun, she wants to be more. But at the same time is going crazy with Calhoun’s ever more ‘protective’ way that scares off all her dates and doesn’t let her learn a thing leaving her an innocent in more than just one way.Calhoun himself has just started to notice Abby as a woman instead of kid and can not help himself at keeping men away from her and her way from them—he can not stand the though of another man touching her. At the same time he also realizes that he can not have a relationship with her besides the fact of being over ten years her senor he is not the marring type.I liked this book, both characters were very interesting gin their own way and it held my attention all the way through.There is a good bit of sexual tension between Abby and Calhoun but at the same time Abby is so innocent that she does not realize what is making Calhoun so upset about her going out on dates, etc. Justin, his older brother, of course realizes this along with the fact that Abby has feelings for Calhoun as well.I found myself really curious about Justin we get some of his past in this book and we meet a woman from his past—so I am looking forward to the next book ‘Justin’ to see how everything plays out.I have to admit though that there were things that kept me from really liking the book overall though it did hold my attention and kept me interested there felt like something missing from the book. Maybe it was us that Abby and Calhoun got together a little too easily in my opinion which left out some of the usual what is going to happen, etc.I would recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good contemporary western romance.
Homens do Texas 01O Gosto do PecadoDiana PalmerH.C.P. Sucessos 372013O primeiro livro dos homens do Texas!!!Abby e Calhoun o casal dos "extremos" da Diana. Pois, ela é muito inocente e ele muito safado. Chega ao absurdo da Abby nem saber beijar. Na realidade considero o livro muito cômico, além de ser mega romântico. Há muitas situações engraçadas.Foi extremamente hilário, quando Justin e Abby ficam completamente bêbados. E os momentos de ciúmes irracionais, de Calhoun são totalmente cômicos.Também há o momentos que percebemos o quanto o casal é completamente apaixonados um pelo outro.Não posso terminar sem deixar de mencionar Justin e Shelby, gente??? Como eles podem serem tão apaixonados um pelo outro, e ao mesmo tempo se repelirem tanto? O livro deles também é ótimo, recomendo.ADORO!!!RECOMENDADÍSSIMO!!!
What do You think about Calhoun (1988)?
Ah, the classic DP style of 80’s romance – the alpha man and the virgin heroine. These books are definitely an acquired taste, and I can only read them when I’m in the mood for them. The DP men are hard-skinned, alpha males, with definite opinions on how women should and shouldn’t behave. They’re thick-headed, masculine as anything and stubborn to boot.The DP women are definitely on the softer side, but have a little fire in their bellies. Usually on the young side and virginal, with a general naivety about relationships and men.Calhoun was the typical alpha male, and his heroine was definitely naïve, although had a nice amount of cheek and vivacity to her, which was great. A good classic DP read.
—Dayna
Being Calhoun's "ward" when Abby was 15 till she turned 21, it feels a bit awkward to twist the story for them to be together. Abby is a bit feisty and doing things that will make Calhoun pay attention to her. She was ready to have her heart broken because she thinks she is young and maybe, just maybe live with only the memory of Calhoun's kisses and almost lovemaking to sustain her without him. The fact that they waited till they get married before being together in bed is a positive thing for me though I doubt there would be a lot of men willing to wait for that. i think i will read Justin's and Tyler's stories after this.
—Julie C-f
I don't know what inspired me to read this book again. I remember reading this book at 15 and thinking that Calhoun was the perfect hero and I hoped to someday meet someone like him. Now - 20 years later, re-reading this I feel sorry for all teenage girls who think that older men who fall in love with them will fulfill their need for a father figure as well as provide them with true love. I wanted to slap the hero with a dead fish many times in the novel. His hot&cold attitude with the heroine annoyed me more than anything else. The fact that he was her guardian was just plain creepy. I give him props for at least attempting to keep his predatory instincts under control. Palmer does give us a present in this book though: In the end we are left feeling relieved and satisfied that although the heroine is taken-advantage of rasvished from time to time in the book, we never actually have to witness Mr. Sex-Predator take the heroine's virginity. The last-laugh is on me though. Despite it all, I still enjoyed reading this book and it was a fun trip down memory lane. Being the glutton for punishment I am, I'll be moving on to Justin's story soon.
—Dani "The REAL Cullens_Girl since 2002"
