by Roni Gehlke

Created on: February 17, 2009

Diana Palmer has made a franchise out of her Long Tall Texans series. She has written 35 books featuring the men and women of the small town of Jacobsville, Texas leaving a few readers getting bored with the series, but most still hungry for more news about the characters they have grown to love.

In Winter Roses, published in 2007, Palmer introduces two never talked about familiesthe Yorks and the Conleys. The story starts by introducing Ivy Conley, an 18 year old college student and her older sister Rachel. Like many of Palmer's heroines, Ivy is an innocent young woman in contrast to her to her vicious and vindictive drug addicted sister Rachel. Rachel is beautiful and charming when she wants to be. She's convinced many people in the town of Jacobsville, that shy Ivy is the bad seed of the family.

Even those who should know better don't realize this isn't true, especially the girls' father, who has recently died. Mr. Conley is a mean drunk and believes all of Rachel's lies and makes Ivy's life miserable before and after he dies. Leaving everything to Rachel when he passes away, Ivy is left to fend for herself, which she does admirably.

Ivy's best friend, Merrie is the only one who knows the real Ivy. When Merrie invites Ivy over for a weekend of studying, rest readers get to learn more of the story of Ivy's life. Ivy is leery of going to her friend's house because Ivy knows that Merrie's brother, Stuart, isn't fond on Ivy. He too has believed the stories that Rachel has told about the girl and disapproves of the girls' relationship.

Stuart learns quickly in the story that he shouldn't believe everything he hears, but not quick enough before he makes a heavy pass at the young girl and then hates himself for it. Stuart isn't as old as many of the heroes in Palmer's stories. Usually Palmer's men are in their late 30s already hardened by women. Stuart doesn't have that excuse. Although he is 30 and to Ivy's 18, he believes he is way to old for the younger girl, whom he quickly realizes is innocent.

He becomes guilt ridden by his feelings for the young woman. Readers learn early on that Stuart's life hadn't been a bed of roses either. His father wanted him to be someone Stuart didn't want to be and it caused many physically and mentally abusive arguments over the years before his father died. Stuart's character isn't quite as strong as many of the men of Jacobsville. He is, however, just as stubborn. Giving Ivy a very clear message, he pushes her out of his life for

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