by Angie Pollock

Created on: June 07, 2009

Author Diana Palmer is one of the best romance novel writers with over 150 books published. With a huge fan base, Ms. Palmer has many awards under her belt including the "Romance Writers of America". Published in 1987 (Silhouette), "Betrayed by Love" is part of the "Western Lovers Ranch Rogues" series that is your typical romance with a few twists.

Following the death of her father, Kate Walker and her older brother, Tom, moved to Blairsville, South Dakota to live with their grandmother. Margo Cade had also come to live in Blairsville following the unexpected death of her parents. Being raised by her Uncle Jacob Cade and his father, Hank, at the Warlance Ranch, Margo invited Kate many times out to the ranch. And as Kate began to turn into a young woman, she saw Jacob Cade as more than Margo's uncle.

Kate Walker wasn't just infatuated with the older man, she was in love with him. Even after Jacob banished her from the ranch following a misunderstanding, Kate still loved the uncle of her best friend. She had his pictures hidden everywhere in her Chicago apartment where she came to work as a journalist. Now 24-years old, Kate sees the man that she secretly pines for at Margo's wedding and he is still the handsome yet hard-as-steel man that threw her off his ranch when she was 18.

Jacob Cade had assumed that Kate was nothing more than a tramp or that is what his mind told him. His heart told him something more. Unbeknownst to Kate, Jacob also carried a picture in his wallet - one of the young Kate that he had never forgotten. However, Kate was his niece's best friend and off limits to pursue. But now Margo was married and Kate was a woman and now he would make his move on this woman who consumed his mind. But both Jacob and Kate would have to overcome their childhood pasts in order to build a life that they have waited years for.

"Betrayed by Love" is a typical Diana Palmer romance. The virgin heroine, the manly character who happens to be roguish, and an interesting storyline with a few obstacles thrown into play. Throughout most of the story, Jacob treats Kate as nothing more than a "loose woman" and Kate is the scared puppy who will allow this man to treat her as he wishes. Jacob finally comes to realize that his feelings for Kate are more than a lustful attraction and the relationship begins to build.

Diana Palmer has always been able to add more than the heroine, the rogue, and the "happily ever after". Her characters are lively and the relationships sometimes humorous which can be found in the rapport between Jacob and his dad, Hank. The dialogue between the characters in this short book can sometimes become repetitive but never dull. There aren't pages and pages of descriptive features that are often used as fillers to drag a storyline out. Overall, "Betrayed by Love" isn't spectacular but an interesting romance that was anything but bland.

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