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Bastard Tales #1
The Taming of The Bastard
Nanny-slash-waitress, Millie McIntyre thinks she has her life all mapped out. All it will take is a small mortgage, a fat deposit and a lot of luck. Then, she'll be off living her dream life, running a B & B in Bali. That is, of course, after she learns how to cook something other than steamed vegetables and organic chicken. Nobody warned her about Sam though. He's new to The Lederhosen and his presence has everyone in a spin, including Millie. Sam is cute. Sam is intelligent. Sam has lovely muscles which Millie finds utterly distracting.Yet, despite his obvious appeal, Sam has one massive flaw. He has an ego the size of Western Australia and even worse, he plays Rugby Union. Could Sam be the one who will ruin all Millie's life plans? Is she really smitten with a man who loves Bruce Willis and proudly proclaims his abilty to burp the national anthem? One thing's for sure.... something has got to change.
298 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2011
41 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Lindy Dale
27 books227 followersLindy began writing at University but never really wanted to be 'an author'. She wanted to be a Princess or at worst a Kindergarten teacher. Her first novel, Heart of Glass, was penned in 2007 and since then she become known for writing funny, forthright romantic fiction with a cast of crazy, comic characters. Lindy is also well-known for her short, romantic novellas which have repeatedly topped the short stories charts in the US and UK. She gains most of her inspiration from her dreams, listening to music and watching ridiculous amounts of reality TV.
In 2012, Lindy was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and, never one to let a chance escape, she used the hospital visits to write Storm in a B Cup, which features the fictional character Sophie, whose medical experiences mirror the author's own journey. Sophie however, ends up with her hot plastic surgeon. Lindy is still very much married to her gorgeous husband of twenty-six years. Storm in a B Cup went on to reach #1 in Medical Fiction, #1 in Breast Cancer Fiction, #1 in Genre Fiction on Amazon US and #4 on iBooks AU.
In 2012, Lindy was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and, never one to let a chance escape, she used the hospital visits to write Storm in a B Cup, which features the fictional character Sophie, whose medical experiences mirror the author's own journey. Sophie however, ends up with her hot plastic surgeon. Lindy is still very much married to her gorgeous husband of twenty-six years. Storm in a B Cup went on to reach #1 in Medical Fiction, #1 in Breast Cancer Fiction, #1 in Genre Fiction on Amazon US and #4 on iBooks AU.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 28, 2016
This book was mesmerizingly bad. I read the whole thing because there were moments of strength throughout that seemed promising... But no... Not a good read, would only recommend if one had already exhausted the list of highly rated romantic comedy novels available.
This story included:
- Blatant slut shaming
- Sexual harassment played as a joke
- Disgusting and immature humor written so poorly it's concerning
- Unrealistic romance
- Women "training" men to be their boyfriends (just writing that left a bad taste in my mouth)
- And a wholly confusing and wandering plot line
Don't read it, I only did because the book was free...
This story included:
- Blatant slut shaming
- Sexual harassment played as a joke
- Disgusting and immature humor written so poorly it's concerning
- Unrealistic romance
- Women "training" men to be their boyfriends (just writing that left a bad taste in my mouth)
- And a wholly confusing and wandering plot line
Don't read it, I only did because the book was free...
May 8, 2011
I finished reading Taming of the Bastard last night after 4:30am. Now I’m writing my first book review ever. Not that I haven’t considered it before (and wimped out) but she very nicely gave me a copy (without even knowing me) and asked me to post a review (after she gave me the book).
First, about her three books all being different. Why would you want them to be the same? The mark of a good author is one who can write in many different styles while creating characters that you become emotionally invested in. Otherwise you end up reading the same book over and over with the same character living the same life, solving the same crime/mystery over and over. That’s what men do. We’re better than that girls.
Okay, being an American, (though I watch more sport than my husband) my take on rugby is roughly the same as Millie’s “...which I knew nothing about except that it was a bunch of men trying to stick their faces in each other’s bottoms...”. My grasp of Australian geography isn’t much better, there would be a funny Pratchett quote from ‘The Last Continent’ here but I would never get this review written. While we all speak English it isn't exactly the same English. I Google'd a few words to make sure they weren't editing mistakes and I now have a larger vocabulary.That said, it doesn’t matter one bit. I laughed. Then I laughed again. I read parts out loud to my husband. Whether he wanted to hear them or not. At times I wondered why Millie continued to date this gorgeous yet disgusting man and then I looked at who was sleeping next to me and remembered why. He’s a real guy. Good points, bad points and all points in between.
So kudos to Dale for creating women we love to read about and men that make us shake our heads in wonder until they smile that special smile at just us. I’d like to see Paige all grown up and ruling the world. About Melanie, just like Millie I would like to know “...seriously, what was her deal?” Perhaps in another book?
First, about her three books all being different. Why would you want them to be the same? The mark of a good author is one who can write in many different styles while creating characters that you become emotionally invested in. Otherwise you end up reading the same book over and over with the same character living the same life, solving the same crime/mystery over and over. That’s what men do. We’re better than that girls.
Okay, being an American, (though I watch more sport than my husband) my take on rugby is roughly the same as Millie’s “...which I knew nothing about except that it was a bunch of men trying to stick their faces in each other’s bottoms...”. My grasp of Australian geography isn’t much better, there would be a funny Pratchett quote from ‘The Last Continent’ here but I would never get this review written. While we all speak English it isn't exactly the same English. I Google'd a few words to make sure they weren't editing mistakes and I now have a larger vocabulary.That said, it doesn’t matter one bit. I laughed. Then I laughed again. I read parts out loud to my husband. Whether he wanted to hear them or not. At times I wondered why Millie continued to date this gorgeous yet disgusting man and then I looked at who was sleeping next to me and remembered why. He’s a real guy. Good points, bad points and all points in between.
So kudos to Dale for creating women we love to read about and men that make us shake our heads in wonder until they smile that special smile at just us. I’d like to see Paige all grown up and ruling the world. About Melanie, just like Millie I would like to know “...seriously, what was her deal?” Perhaps in another book?
May 27, 2013
4.5 stars
If you like Sophie Kinsella, I highly recommend you check out Taming of the Bastard. It has that distinctive UK chicklit quality. If you are an avid reader of chicklit (as I am), you probably will agree that U.S. and UK chicklit can be easily distinguished. I don't know what it is! Anyway, the book was laugh-out-loud funny at times and all of the characters, main and supporting, definitely added to the story. I gather from some other reviews that some people were turned off by the "douchy" behavior of the guys. By contrast, I thought they were hilarious and the author made it clear which men really were dogs and which were just, well, guys! My favorite characters were Sam, whose behavior vacillitated constantly from totally crude and rude to irresistably sweet and Paige, one of the children Millie took care of as a Nanny. Millie was a good character although I didn't feel like I got to know her very well. I also thought that the development of Millie and Sam as a couple went from 0 to 100 a bit too quickly. Finally one of Millie's "indiscretions" didn't seem natural to me and I was surprised by how easily it was resolved. However, the book was so funny and easy to read that any issues I had were quickly replaced by giggles. Definitely adding the sequel, "The Bastard takes a Wife" to my TBR!
If you like Sophie Kinsella, I highly recommend you check out Taming of the Bastard. It has that distinctive UK chicklit quality. If you are an avid reader of chicklit (as I am), you probably will agree that U.S. and UK chicklit can be easily distinguished. I don't know what it is! Anyway, the book was laugh-out-loud funny at times and all of the characters, main and supporting, definitely added to the story. I gather from some other reviews that some people were turned off by the "douchy" behavior of the guys. By contrast, I thought they were hilarious and the author made it clear which men really were dogs and which were just, well, guys! My favorite characters were Sam, whose behavior vacillitated constantly from totally crude and rude to irresistably sweet and Paige, one of the children Millie took care of as a Nanny. Millie was a good character although I didn't feel like I got to know her very well. I also thought that the development of Millie and Sam as a couple went from 0 to 100 a bit too quickly. Finally one of Millie's "indiscretions" didn't seem natural to me and I was surprised by how easily it was resolved. However, the book was so funny and easy to read that any issues I had were quickly replaced by giggles. Definitely adding the sequel, "The Bastard takes a Wife" to my TBR!
June 28, 2012
Taming of The Bastard is a fun filled novel that fans of Chick Lit are sure to love.
Millie works in a pub and falls for the man of her dreams. Sam,a handsome rugby player,
falls for Millie. The novel tells the tale of two single people, who risk their independence, to try to find love and trust in a relationship, while associating with wild friends and colleagues. Some of the language is a bit different for Americans, as the novel takes place in Australia, but easily understood and a fun romp, especially for Chick Lit Lovers.
Millie works in a pub and falls for the man of her dreams. Sam,a handsome rugby player,
falls for Millie. The novel tells the tale of two single people, who risk their independence, to try to find love and trust in a relationship, while associating with wild friends and colleagues. Some of the language is a bit different for Americans, as the novel takes place in Australia, but easily understood and a fun romp, especially for Chick Lit Lovers.
September 5, 2016
2.5
The story was better than a lot of chick lit I've read lately, and the writing wasn't awful (which is a nice change), but the EDITING... As someone who went to school for it and still can't find work in the field, it baffles me that there are actually books being published that have been edited so terribly. I hope no one got paid to do it. Missing words, double question marks ending sentences, punctuation missing in some places...it was rough.
tldr: decent novel, edited horribly, could've been so much better.
The story was better than a lot of chick lit I've read lately, and the writing wasn't awful (which is a nice change), but the EDITING... As someone who went to school for it and still can't find work in the field, it baffles me that there are actually books being published that have been edited so terribly. I hope no one got paid to do it. Missing words, double question marks ending sentences, punctuation missing in some places...it was rough.
tldr: decent novel, edited horribly, could've been so much better.
August 2, 2016
Why would anyone want to marry him? He's a self-absorbed man-child who thinks he can get away with saying horrible things as long as he does it with a wink and smile. Even after Millie decides to 'tame' him, he doesn't change. It's like she becomes more tolerant of his behavior. Plus the 'surprises' are heavy-handed. At the end, we're asked if we want to know what else happens to the couple. The answer is no.
August 3, 2016
I won't be reading the rest of this trilogy, and that's all I'll say.
August 31, 2016
Far too many spelling/grammar mistakes. I only finished it just to find out what happened. No intention of reading the sequel.
October 2, 2016
This was a fun and easy read. Great for sitting by the pool in the sun.
June 28, 2020
My first rating was 4⭐ and i didn't write any kind of review so I really can't comment on why I loved it so much - originally read in 2016
So i decided yesterday to reread it because i wanted to remember my love for it (i remember vague details only)... So i made it to halfway and have decided to dnf it... I find none of the characters to be likeable and i want to punch Millie and Sam.
This story reminds me why i loathe female mcs who are clumsy... They tend to exclusively drop tons of stuff... Whilst the majority of people who are clumsy tend to trip over non existent objects and walk into many things. She is bar staff and constantly drops trays of glasses and other breakable objects, but hasn't been fired... This is insane... Having working as bar staff for a long time in my life, in various pubs - this would never happen - its a huge loss of both the dishes/glasses and whatever was contined within them. Even at the cost of the dishes being taken out of paychecks that still wouldn't keep her employed.
Also Millie is insanely weak, she loses all coherent thought when she so much as thinks his name... And yet she was incredibly clumsy before she met him so she can't really blame him for it. Also she decides she will break up with him, but he puts up some lame objections and she caves immediately... She doesn't put up any kind of arguement and basically pretends it hasn't happened.
Not to mention that she won't tell her employer that she has found her perfect future home/business and can put an offer on it, so you know... They will have to look for a replacement and yet... Halfway into the book, she has confirmation from the bank and she still doesn't tell her emloyer.
Sam is a manwhore... A self confessed manwhore who sleeps with anything the moves whilst wiaitng for Millie to accept his date... For possibly months she says no and he sleeps around... When Millie finds out - after having sex with him - she gets pissy about it for all of 5 minutes and they hardly talk about it, she hatches a plan to 'show him whose boss' and she fails. It's not even funny its sad.
I vaguely remember that Sam bought the bar - which is why he works there but never seems to work. That he is Adele's godson, the kids know him. And that Adele obviously hopes she will fall for Sam and stay.
So i decided yesterday to reread it because i wanted to remember my love for it (i remember vague details only)... So i made it to halfway and have decided to dnf it... I find none of the characters to be likeable and i want to punch Millie and Sam.
This story reminds me why i loathe female mcs who are clumsy... They tend to exclusively drop tons of stuff... Whilst the majority of people who are clumsy tend to trip over non existent objects and walk into many things. She is bar staff and constantly drops trays of glasses and other breakable objects, but hasn't been fired... This is insane... Having working as bar staff for a long time in my life, in various pubs - this would never happen - its a huge loss of both the dishes/glasses and whatever was contined within them. Even at the cost of the dishes being taken out of paychecks that still wouldn't keep her employed.
Also Millie is insanely weak, she loses all coherent thought when she so much as thinks his name... And yet she was incredibly clumsy before she met him so she can't really blame him for it. Also she decides she will break up with him, but he puts up some lame objections and she caves immediately... She doesn't put up any kind of arguement and basically pretends it hasn't happened.
Not to mention that she won't tell her employer that she has found her perfect future home/business and can put an offer on it, so you know... They will have to look for a replacement and yet... Halfway into the book, she has confirmation from the bank and she still doesn't tell her emloyer.
Sam is a manwhore... A self confessed manwhore who sleeps with anything the moves whilst wiaitng for Millie to accept his date... For possibly months she says no and he sleeps around... When Millie finds out - after having sex with him - she gets pissy about it for all of 5 minutes and they hardly talk about it, she hatches a plan to 'show him whose boss' and she fails. It's not even funny its sad.
I vaguely remember that Sam bought the bar - which is why he works there but never seems to work. That he is Adele's godson, the kids know him. And that Adele obviously hopes she will fall for Sam and stay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
Okay! I liked the child character, she was funny!
September 18, 2016
I didn't like it.
Too much sex and too much language. I read it because I liked the Shakespeare story of the taming of the shrew.
Too much sex and too much language. I read it because I liked the Shakespeare story of the taming of the shrew.
August 22, 2012
The clever title held the promise of an interesting read. The book has bags of potential but is stereotypical at times and outright degrading at others. The characters lack real depth and possess “appealing flaws” that are meant to endear you towards them but come off as superficial. The word ‘bastard’ is seriously overused, as is the foul language, and just leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Sam is pegged as a bad boy but not enough background is given to justify this being one of the main focuses of the book.
The plot has all the ingredients to be a fantastic read and there are moments of real comedy – most notably Paige, the eldest of Millie’s charges, is a one-liner genius and the book would have benefitted from featuring her more. However, with a flimsy plot, characters that “fall in love” all too easily and a lack of tension, The Taming of the Bastard just doesn’t hit the mark. An OK read but could be better.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
The plot has all the ingredients to be a fantastic read and there are moments of real comedy – most notably Paige, the eldest of Millie’s charges, is a one-liner genius and the book would have benefitted from featuring her more. However, with a flimsy plot, characters that “fall in love” all too easily and a lack of tension, The Taming of the Bastard just doesn’t hit the mark. An OK read but could be better.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
August 1, 2016
This is yet another chick-lit that will be forgotten mere hours after completion. Nonetheless, it did make for an interesting read. Although the plot could be more interesting, the characters were the redeeming factor in this story. Sam and Millie must be the most realistic characters in a story that I have had the pleasure of reading about for a long time, and for that I must applaud the author.
However,this does not distract from the fact that this book is not the most original one out there, but I guess most people reading would be expecting a light and fluffy story (which this definitely is).
All in all, I'd recommend to all those out there who need a filler book whilst on holiday or a long journey, as this is entertaining enough to grab your attention for those hours.
However,this does not distract from the fact that this book is not the most original one out there, but I guess most people reading would be expecting a light and fluffy story (which this definitely is).
All in all, I'd recommend to all those out there who need a filler book whilst on holiday or a long journey, as this is entertaining enough to grab your attention for those hours.
April 17, 2011
I was loving this book but three chaps in, it just got too predictable. I was expecting more snark and more banter, but instead I got a girl who played way too hard to get and a manwhore who's not shy about admitting it. There's some Australian colloquialism that I didn't understand but that's not the author's fault; that's just me :)
March 4, 2013
This was funny & entertaining but Milly was too clumsy to be believable & Sam was too much of a jerk to believably change into Prince Charming. I guess love is truly blind in this case because not a lot of people would have put up with the other character. I don't think I'll be reading the sequel though.
August 3, 2016
The Taming of the Bastard
I just finished this book and I can honestly say I loved it.You never know what is coming and the dialogue between the character's was really funny.I love it when the character's have a really snarky attitude.Sam and Millie were like TNT waiting to go off.Please buy this book and read it,you will enjoy it.
I just finished this book and I can honestly say I loved it.You never know what is coming and the dialogue between the character's was really funny.I love it when the character's have a really snarky attitude.Sam and Millie were like TNT waiting to go off.Please buy this book and read it,you will enjoy it.
August 7, 2016
I didn't like any of the characters in this book so I found it hard to get interested in their inane romance. The guy is a moron and the girl isn't much better. The book portrays Australian people as idiots. Boring, no plot, so I won't be reading any more from this author. Don't waste your valuable reading time on this.
August 29, 2016
It's a nice chick lit book to take a break, but the men in this novel are so utterly rude and disgusting. I had hope for Sam, but he proved to be just as bad as the rest. The men treat all women as objects, who simply get used to the men's habits and accept them for what they are...it's horribly frustrating to see the women dating, even MARRIED, to some of these men.
June 16, 2012
i absolutly loved this book!!!! once i started i could not put the book down. i ended up reading it in two days. just want to read 'The bastard takes a wife' when can i get it?? when will it be published?? please would you let me know.
July 29, 2016
A cute quick read, it had some little parts that made me giggle. Not sure if i actually care about either of the main characters- she seemed a bit uppity to me at times and he well, he was just a guy. But it wasn't enough to make me put it down.
October 3, 2011
Fun but predictable-would read the sequel.
September 5, 2013
Good book but the title of this series really annoyed me.
September 14, 2013
Hilarious.. chick lit at it's best!
January 24, 2014
A very fun read :) I really liked the other characters
December 24, 2015
funny and comical, not the traditional way to start a relationship. if you want something light to read and a new series to start, this is the first in "bastard" series.
January 1, 2016
A quick easy read. Pretty predictable but overall, light and cute. A good read if you have an afternoon to kill.
August 1, 2016
Meh....
This book was ok. Pretty unbelievable that women put up with their men acting that irresponsible. This is a to be continued book. Needless to say, I am not continuing.
This book was ok. Pretty unbelievable that women put up with their men acting that irresponsible. This is a to be continued book. Needless to say, I am not continuing.
August 22, 2016
Just couldn't get into the characters.
August 6, 2016
Couldn't have cared less about either of the main characters or the rest of the gang. Couldn't careless if they marry or not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews