Man of Ice by Diana Palmer ... QC #225

4 Stars! ~~~ This story held a few surprises!

Man of Ice by Diana Palmer

Silhouette Desire #1000 ~ May 1996

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For the past five years, Dawson Rutherford had let his stepsister continue to avoid him. He’d hurt her terribly and hated himself for it. For years he had thought she was just like her mother, teasing and taunting men to get what she wanted. One night of passion, to his shock, he discovered that Barrie had always been innocent, when he had lost control and taken her virginity and he’d hurt her physically and emotionally. Afraid of his own passion for Barrie, he’d treated her coldly as if she deserved his hate. That night had left such bitter scars on Barrie, not only had he taken her forcefully, he’d shattered her heart. Just the thought of any man touching her was enough to make her nauseous. Now Dawson learnt another bitter truth, that their night of passion had had consequences, and that Barrie had miscarried his child without ever having told him she’d ever been pregnant. She’d born it all alone. Somehow, he had to get her back to the family ranch and make it all up to her. Because he too carried deep scars from that night when he’d lost total control and only Barrie would be able to make him whole again.

Well! This story held a few surprises. After reading “Maggie’s Dad” I was intrigued by Antonia’s best friend Barrie and her strained relationship with her stepbrother Dawson, so I sought this one out. At first I was sure I wasn’t going to enjoy this story. Dawson’s treatment of Barrie was so emotionally brutal, I didn’t think he could be redeemed. But slowly as Barrie begins to realize that Dawson hates himself and not her, we see the why. Barrie at first seemed like that deer with the big eyes in the headlights, so shocked and afraid, both of Dawson’s physical side and for the love she can’t stop feeling for him. There are a few very touching scenes where Dawson’s guard is down and Barrie sees completely into the heart of the man she’s always loved. And with her new knowledge, she’s no longer that frightened deer, she becomes a woman willing to fight for the man she loves. After my shaky feelings at the beginning of the story, I’m very pleased that Ms Palmer was able to make this all work out. Though this intensely emotional love story has some very dark moments, the journey to healing and the HEA is a very satisfying one.

Excellence: Very Good ~ Steaminess: Sensual

My Totals = 78 ~ Harlequin Imprint = 71 ~ Other Publisher = 7

~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog