Tanner Everett has the world at his feet, he goes where he wants and does what he wants. He is the epitome of a loner. Too bad Anastasia Bolton had fallen for him and is willing to go along with her father's plans for his property. What could be better for them than a link in matrimony? What could be worse for Stasie than to be tied to a self-centered playboy?

Too many tragedies have happened for Stasia to be the same sweet girl, and too much has happened to the spoiled Tanner to be the same playboy. But when resentment and pain are the patterns of their life together - can there even be a together? Or is it time to move on to find others to love?

THE LONER takes author Diana Palmer's fans back to her world of long-running Long, Tall Texans series. As a fan of these books, I was so looking forward to this book, but - and this is only my opinion - it was really hard to root for Tanner, when he just wasn't all that likable.

Stasia is a sweetheart who had been hit with a number of blows. Her father's death, leaving her basically penniless if she and Tanner didn't marry, and her short-lived painful marriage to Tanner, during which he continued running around with his hateful girlfriend. There is more but I will leave that for readers to find out on their own. During the time away from her now ex readers will watch this young woman grow, but her heart is still trapped with Tanner. He does take the time away to become a less spoiled, less aggravating man- so some redemption.

Though THE LONER is the romance of Tanner and Stasia a lot of it deals with Tanner's siblings, Odalie and John, as well as other intriguing characters such as Tony Garza and his chauffeur Big Ben along with visits with past characters that fans will enjoy getting to know again.

THE LONER does have a happily ever after, but getting there is not an easy road. Stasia turns her head toward her art while Tanner realizes what he lost. An interesting book with the well-written characters, scenery, and drama we've come to expect from Diana Palmer. Though this might not have been my favorite hero, the heroine and the people that fill the pages are amazing.