Wild Oats

Territory Trysts #1

by Pamela Morsi

Folks in Dead Dog, Oklahoma, have never forgiven Cora Briggs for ending her youthful marriage in disgrace. The pert, pretty, 29-year-old divorcée has managed to ignore the snubs and snide remarks of the past eight years, the whispers that she is a fallen woman. She's even adjusted to her lonely lifestyle—and the fact that no respectable gentleman will ever call on her again.

Then handsome, young Jedwin Sparrow, one of the town's most eligible bachelors, arrives at her doorstep. But Cora is outraged at Jedwin's proposition: he'll spruce up Cora's neglected cottage if he can sow a few wild oats with the "notorious" Mrs. Briggs.

Then Cora decides to make Jedwin a proposition of her own—one that will cause a fury in the town—and cause Cora to question her own heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Westerns, Historical Fiction, Western Romance, Americana

277 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Pamela Morsi was an American writer. She was the author of 29 romance novels, beginning in 1991.

Reviews

[seton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is in my Top 25 Romances all-time.

I may read another thousand romances and never again come across a romance novel where the hero is a MORTICIAN! Yes, a mortician and he hates his job. His life is in a rut and he's a lousy virgin to boot. He needs to do what most young men do: sow some wild oats but how to in a small town where everyone knows your business? Well, there is that scandalous *gasp* divorcee (in early 1900 Americana) living on the edge of town. . .

Pamela Morsi wrote a string of Americana romances in the 1990s that totally envelope the reader in the small world that she describes. I don't usually go for "heartwarming" stories but Morsi underlines it with an earthy sensuality and gentle humor that negates the saccharin. In my opinion, Morsi is one of the most singular talents to ever write in the historical romance genre.

[Zeek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Morsi's old historical romances. They're so homespun, yet so very real, filled with quirky characters you immediately fall in love with.

Wild Oats is no exception. The story starts out with the local mortician desirous to sew some wild oats with the notorious Mrs. Cora Briggs who lives on the outskirts of town, ostracized from society for being a divorcee.

Jedwin gets more than he bargained for when Cora actually takes him up on his odious offer- just to get back at Jedwin's harridan of a mother for spreading all kinds of rumors about her. However with one condition- he has to romance her of all things.

Of course- he agrees, because Jedwin's been in love with Mrs. Briggs since the moment he saw her. In the process they fall in genuine love and Jedwin eventually decides he means to marry her... allowing long held secrets in Dead Dog, Oklahoma come to light.

I loved this book- I always say that Morsi writes a great Beta hero, but really they are not. Jedwin, (short for James Edwin-love that name!) knew what he wanted, her, and he got it, no matter what society thought. He also, from the very beginning, knew who he wanted to be, and he didn't give in to his mother's pushing the opposite direction one iota. (Unlike Cora's first husband- but that's a secret for the reader to discover!) And he gently wooed the quirky divorcee to his side- despite his lack of experience. That is a hero who knows what he wants and goes after it with integrity and that is my definition of worthy alpha male.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of an experienced and older divorcee and younger virgin mortician taking place at beginning of 20th century in Oklahoma.
I’ve enjoyed this book a lot especially the first half. Jedwin (James Edwin) and Cora were so cute together. Their story was so romantic yet at the same time very down to earth and real. Jedwin’s poetry rhymes speak volumes about that.
For sure it ain’t diamonds,
Nor neither ‘tis pearls.
Can a sturdy new fence
Please this swain’s girl?

But I have to admit that the second half of the book I read much faster and with less enthusiasm. I didn’t not appreciate what Cora did towards the end but I really liked the way Jedwin understood it and gave her the talking to. Jedwin turned out to be such a such wise character who was even able to redeem his evil mother whose storyline was not very interesting to me.

It’s a fun book to read. Pamela Morsi is a very kind and smart storyteller.

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pamela Morsi has to be read to be believed and loved.

Her historical/19th century ‘Americana’ sagas with unassuming hs and beta Hs are so heartwarming and fulfilling to the soul. While the hs are usually plain-janes, and at times older than the Hs; the Hs are handsome, wholesome and honorable men. And the small towns and its small-minded people make an interesting background tapestry where no one is unimportant. No one, not even the ‘bad guys’ are really unredeemable. So it is infused with warmth, goodness, resilience, charity and deliverance.

‘Wild Oats’ is no exception.
The premise is so interesting and captivating. The 24 yrs. old virginal H, who is perpetually trying to deflect his domineering mama’s blackmailing ways, gets the gumption of sowing some wild oats. But the question is – who to sow them with? He finally settles on the 29 yrs. old h (his dream woman since boyhood). Surely the scandalous and fallen divorcee would consider his proposition with charity. The h, misjudged and shunned by a town led by his mother, sees a way of avenging herself by leading her nemesis’ son and then humiliating him.
But, of course the big blonde mortician’s gentle and caring ways make her forget everything else and yearn only for his company and love.
A love, which he professes openly and with the help of his clumsy homespun poetry.

You are as fragrant as sweet myrtle
And fair as the roses
I can be more romantic
Than you would ever supposes
Or
"There was a young woman from Dead Dog,
Whose swain was as dumb as a boar hog.
He'd ne'er had a chance
To learn of romance.
So he sat like a knot on a pine log."

He even did odd chores for her..with poems..
For sure it ain't diamonds,
Nor neither 'tis pearls.
Can a sturdy new fence
Please this swain's girl?

Their first assignation in bed was short and well, swift and our H was nothing if not thankful and expressive..
"Thank you, Mrs. Briggs," he murmured. "Oh thank you so much, oh it was so good, it felt so good, oh thank you so much, oh I love you, oh—"
…and fell asleep promptly.
And the h went from stunned to giggly to tenderness.
From here they went to their well deserved hea, impelled by the H's determination to do right by his lady love, and somewhat bogged down by the h's resolve to not drag down this gentle man's name with her.

One thing that stood out was how the author portrayed most mothers in the story as distant, uncaring and un-empathetic towards their children.
It was galling to me that the H’s mother, the woman who had led a single minded crusade (on the h’s ex-MIL’s behest) to malign and make the h’s life such hell for the past 8 yrs., and now tried to heap guilt and blackmail on her son, was given a sweet secondary romance of her own!
But then that is PM’s way. Everyone is given a chance and a redemption.

The most interesting secondary character was of course, the 14 yrs old Tulsa May, the preacher’s plain and unconventional daughter. The H thinks her a practical choice for a future wife – suitable and generous spirited. But all he ever sees in her is a kid sister. Can’t wait to read Tulsa May’s story with the son of this h’s ex-husband, introduced at the end as the handsome Luther ‘Greasy’ Briggs!

[ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...] · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

Wild Oats was a sweet little story which started out with a scandalous proposal from a virgin to the most scandalous woman of the small-town of Dead Dog. What followed should’ve been fun, at least I was hoping for it but it wasn’t. Not all of it. I admit of loving some of the things about this book; some scenes, characters and dialogues and equally disliked some of the characters and their activities. All in all, I’ve enjoyed Wild Oats more than I initially thought I would.

Jedwin’s father was the mortician/undertaker of Dead Dog. His beautiful and ambitious mother, Amelia, married the man thrice her age mostly because she wanted out of the hog farm where she was born and raised. No love was lost between these two and the only special thing this marriage produced was James Edwin or Jedwin in short. From an early age, Jedwin was sort of a momma’s boy but mostly because he never liked what his father’s profession. As he grew up, Jedwin couldn’t really master the stomach for preparing the dead and embalming them. He knew his father was disappointed at him and it didn’t help that his shrewish mother always reminded him of it. It’s not that Amelia doesn’t love her son, it’s just in her nature to always go ‘me me and me’ all day long. I didn’t like her at all in the beginning. She really was self-centered and always pushing Jedwin to do whatever she wanted. It didn’t matter that he’s a grown man of 24. Now, Jedwin hired a man called Haywood, who is his partner, sort of, in this business. Even though Haywood is his employee, Jedwin heavily relies on him in this business. I don’t know why Jedwin was still a virgin. Being with a self-righteous, ambitious and dictatorial mother and his supposed conception of his father’s disappointment, Jedwin had this constant urge to prove himself which probably led him to this. I don’t correctly know but of late, he’s been thinking about ‘sowing some wild oats’, his mother be damned. Some words with the good-humored Haywood, who’s in his late 40’s, has given Jedwin some ideas. He can do it discreetly of course, like many man of his age do and then go off to marry some suitable lady as his mother wishes for him. But for Jedwin, no one but notorious Cora Briggs, the divorcee, will do. With this plan, he goes to Cora’s small, shabbily kept house at the very end of the town. Cora invites him in not knowing what’s on Jedwin’s mind. She knows him to be a nice, hardworking young man, who’s younger than her. But when Jedwin sort of nervously stammers out his intentions, Cora is both annoyed and disappointed and she asks him to leave rudely. Poor guy seemed equally disappointed but he’s a gentleman through and through. And then, as he was leaving, a plan pops into Cora’s mind- why not do something drastic, for which Amelia Sparrow won’t be able to show her face again in the town without shame? Jedwin is young, handsome and inexperienced according to him. Cora can do lot worse! With this plan in mind, Cora changes her demeanor suddenly with inviting looks and asks Jedwin to tea later.

Cora’s story is a bit more convoluted than Jedwin’s. Her family wasn’t financially stable to begin with and her mother died young. Cora’s father became a drunkard and lost whatever they owned. One day, as their life was getting by somehow, her father suddenly dies too. Cora was left all alone in the world. Her neighbors sent her to a Methodist home. Cora didn’t really enjoy being there and so, she was looking for a way out. The ‘way out’ came as the form and face of Luther Briggs when she was around 20. Luther proposed her very soon after they met and they marry. Cora was in seventh heaven thinking such a handsome man and obviously rich, wanted to marry her. She was daydreaming away. Cora thought she loved Luther with all her girlish infatuations and Luther said the words back. Now, I was kinda confused as to why this marriage broke apart in the first place. From Cora’s reminisce of her marriage, which survived only a year, it was certain that Luther was a kind man, quite good as a lover and attentive. But, from her first few musings, I thought she was scared of rough sex and Luther handled her bit rough or something which scared her. I don’t know but she definitely had some reservations about sex. Anyway, whatever the reasons were, Luther leaves her in that small house, never to return again. Cora’s life becomes hell. She has been living like a plague, an untouchable. No one cares for her. She lives on her own, does things on her own. Even though she doesn’t have much money since Luther left her with virtually nothing, Cora goes by. The shopkeeper, Titus, secretly buys her pies, pecans and some other homemade stuff and sells them in some other woman’s name. He doesn’t pay her well but Cora knows without this income she’ll have no respectable means left. The townspeople, especially women, talks about her as if she’s a whore. And, those were so bad! There’s no stopping their mouth; the insinuations and the foulness of their words, words Cora doesn’t deserve at all.

It all started with Amelia, the ambitious viper, who wanted to be in the good graces of the town’s ‘queen’ or owner of sorts, Maimie Briggs. This Maimie is Luther’s mother. She’s an old crone with a vile mouth, who loves to be mean to every single soul (except for her son) there living. Maimie’s so-called princess heritage (I, for the love of me, can’t remember from which country or whatever), which is a bald faced lie about which everyone knows but can’t protest, and money gives her the right to do whatever she wants. She even named the road that leads to the Briggs mansion in Luther’s name! She lives alone since Luther left, in her own big mansion. People go there once a week to pay homage to her and hear her mean words. It was simply horrible, that woman was. Luther married Cora for her and she was in Maimie’s good graces for the duration of her marriage. But, in the course of the story, we get to know that he actually married a Cherokee woman in Cherokee fashion for love and had sons with her but snotty b*tch Maimie of course won’t care for that, or anything that ‘fouls’ her princess blood. And so, she put on conditions for Luther, if he doesn’t marry a genteel woman of good background, he can kiss his inheritance goodbye. Luther desperately needed the money to take care of his family living in another town and so, he married the unsuspecting Cora. Cora kept saying that Luther was a coward but was he? I can’t be so sure. Even though he left Cora, hurt her and responsible for her way of life right now, I saw that he tried to be a husband to her but his heart was with the woman he loved. This whole mess wasn’t entirely his fault. At least, I couldn’t see him that way and straight out hate him. But I could understand Cora’s standing in all these, she was wronged, no denying that. She thought he loved her but he didn’t, as he confessed in the end. So, after the divorce, it was Maimie’s ambition to make Cora’s life hell and the stupidest woman to work for her without a qualm was Amelia. Maimie used that to the fullest, Amelia did everything to ruin Cora’s reputation to the townsfolk. They turned against her and the rest, you know by now. Cora can’t do anything about Maimie as of yet but she plans to slap Amelia.



But, it’s always easier to said than done and Cora was sure she can’t pull it off. Although bitter, she’s never that mean. When Jedwin comes knocking through her backdoor like before, Cora tries to put him off. But Jedwin’s hopes were fueled and he won’t be denied. No, he didn’t force anything. Jedwin would never do that but he plans to put a little romance in this seduction and gets into action. He writes her dumb, yet sweet poems. He fixes her broken fence all night. He gets her flowers. He’s always nice to her no matter what and Cora, she was trying hard to put him off but she was falling for Jedwin’s charm too. They soon began talking and going to picnics, dodging the eyes of the townspeople. It was very hard but the words were spread. Who mend Cora Brigg’s fence? Where did she get the money for it? The latest was, that Rev. Bruder saw a man in Cora’s house with tools. The town goes wild with gossips.

It was also hard for Jedwin to dodge his ever present mother’s eyes. Her continuous nagging about his ‘foolish’ interest in the fields left by his maternal grandfather is pretty grating. Amelia wants Jedwin to take over the undertaker business once and for all. It doesn’t help that Jedwin has a degree on it. I have to say she was very selfish about this. She was blind to all reasons when it came to ambition. The fact that her son can’t stand the sight of the dead was embarrassing to Cora and she berates Jedwin more than once for it. Her continual visitation to Maimie and listening to her insults to be in her good grace was pathetic to say the least. Jedwin didn’t like all these but he loved his mother and never said a word against her wish so far after his father died. Then there’s Haywood, who’s always calling her in a vulgar little name ‘Mellie’, something Amelia couldn’t stand, along with the man himself. But it was Haywood who didn’t give a rat’s ass about Amelia’s ambition and her shrewish mouth. Haywood liked her just the way she was. Amelia also felt these odd feelings when Haywood was near and annoying her to death but she squelched them as best as she could. After all, what use could she have for this vulgar, mannerless man? Trust me, Haywood wasn’t. He was amazing; forthcoming, yes, a bit jaded, yes but vulgar he wasn’t. Well, maybe he was for Amelia’s standards but I found him delish. And their scenes were so much more fun for me to read than Cora and Jedwin’s. I was getting increasingly bored with Jedwin’s poems and slow seduction and Cora’s confused musings about everything when these small but fun scenes between Amelia and Haywood saved the book. He just loves to annoy her and she would sputter and stutter but couldn’t say anything back, mostly because she was in his spell too. I so wish there were more of those but I thoroughly enjoyed these two falling in love when Amelia finally realized that ambitions aren’t everything in life. There are people in this world who love her for for herself.

Then we get to see the town in general and the lives of the people. There are some characters I liked immensely. I think it was Tulsa May, daughter of Rev. Bruder, who impressed me the most. Tulsa is a plain girl, maybe in looks but not at all in her intelligence. What pained me was her ignorant mother’s treatment of her. This woman was so rude to her own daughter that you’d think she’s her stepmother or something! Tulsa is a disappointment to her parents; because she was born a girl, without any other siblings, because she is plain and because she doesn’t waste her time with things ‘genteel ladies’ spend time doing but studying philosophy and art. I adored Tulsa because she knew her parents’ disappointments (her mother never let a moment pass by without letting her know that *b*tchslaps her*!) and even though it hurt her a lot, Tulsa took it all in with a smile and her usual charms. The people in general liked this jolly girl, who despite everything can manage a smile for everyone. There were other characters too and I already talked about the ones I totally disliked.

Anyway, back to Jedwin and Cora. After some times of this faux courtship thing, Cora becomes weak. So far she kept thinking of pushing Jedwin away soon (which never came to pass) but her need for companionship, in both physical and emotional sense, overcomes all the reasons. It didn’t help that Jedwin was actually someone she definitely likes, could possibly adore; who, even after her confessions about her plan, didn’t hate her. He never treated her with anything other than respect and of course, a healthy dose of male desire, if their kisses tell her anything. So, finally one night, as Jedwin was in her house fixing something or the other, Cora asks him to come upstairs. To Jedwin, on the upstairs to this house holds heaven for him. He’s been dreaming of Cora since the day he heard about the divorce and his friends talking about their ‘town’s own whore’. Jedwin was curious but even then, he never gave Cora one foul thought. Just to assuage his curiosity, Jedwin spied on her in this same house 8 yrs. ago and thought she’s the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. I believe, this also played a role with Jedwin’s virginity. Subconsciously, he always wanted Cora but knew he can never have her respectably. He already plans to marry Tulsa May, who’s the most practical choice for him and someone he genuinely likes, when the time is right. But now, he’s stunned as Cora invites him upstairs. It doesn’t stay that way for long though, since he was more than willing. Hehe The love scenes were sweet throughout the book. Jedwin kept on working in his farm and give as much time as he could without rousing the towns’ curiosity to Cora. He has a plan for this farm and shares it all with her. For Cora, it’s like a dream come true. In her first marriage, she wanted something like this and sadly enough, now that she has this sense of happiness, she knows it can never last.

The townspeople of course start a campaign to find out who this man in Cora’s house was. So far, no one knew. They were still shredding her reputation into threads, including the old crone herself. We also see scenes between Amelia and Haywood. Haywood really likes Jedwin and having lost a young family of his own to some disease, he always thought he would’ve wanted his son to be like Jedwin if he was alive. As Amelia was venting her displeasure of Jedwin to him, Haywood resolutely supports Jedwin’s choices. He reminds Amelia of Jedwin’s loyalty to her, of how the poor fellow felt embalming his own father as no one was there to do it and also, that she should be happy to have a son like him. Amelia actually sees reason here, even though every word was like a slap. But she needed this jolting. It was a great scene all over. He even disparages Amelia’s visit to Maimie and makes her realize how that old crone is always ruining her self-confidence. Amelia still kept waving his concerns away but that doesn’t make her daydreaming about Haywood any less. In the meantime, Jedwin was trying to convince Cora to marry him, which she won’t. Cora knows it won’t be pretty for Jedwin if the words are out and she doesn’t want to hurt him or his future. It was plain to see that both were in love. Jedwin spoke the words more than once but Cora held back. She even tried to be hard on him about it. Even though I thought it was logical on her part, I still hated her for trying to hurt Jedwin’s open adoration for her. But he won’t back down from winning his lady, consequences be damned. Then Cora plans something stupid, I don’t wanna talk about it but the sole purpose was to hurt Jedwin so that he goes away. It doesn’t work since Jedwin sees through Cora’s intentions. He goes home and finds his mother in a snit. What happened here was that, a bill came to Amelia’s attention and with some clues, she linked it with the repairman of Cora’s house. To Amelia, it was another slap since she thought the man town was speculating about was surely Haywood. She was mad as a hellcat but Haywood, again, makes her see things clearly (oh he was priceless!) and now Amelia is aware of Jedwin’s affair. The mother and son have a fight over it and this is the first time, I found Jedwin standing his ground on the matter of marrying Cora and working as a farmer, leaving the mortuary to Amelia. Amelia is hurt but she also won’t give in.

I was truly enjoying these last few chapters of the book more than the rest, when things took crazy turns. In between, Diphtheria was threatening to strike for sometimes now, and it finally does. Rev. Bruder has already made some sort of peace with Cora and found out she’s not at all what other’s made her out to be. It was nice to read how he was sorry for all the injustice Cora sufferer and later, helped her in a way by talking positively about her. When diphtheria strikes, Rev. comes to discuss it with Cora, knowing she’s smart enough to help him. With her advice, and much grumble from the other women, they weather it. Tulsa was enthusiastically annoying Maimie since her own servants were ill and Tulsa was helping out. As Jedwin and Amelia was fighting, a buggy comes to the mortuary. They all go outside to find two young boys driven in the dead body of their father and their mother dead for sometimes now; both from diphtheria. As they were taking care of the body, Jedwin discovers who it is... It was Luther. The boys, one teenager and the other, much younger, are his sons. After taking care of the body and the boys, Jedwin goes to Cora to give her the news, since she’s still married to Luther… as in till death do us part. Cora now knows that finally she can marry Jedwin without any trouble. But at Maimie’s, it’s a whole different story. The old b*tch is still as cold and snotty as ever and disowns her grandsons as they have foul blood in them. It shocks Amelia just too much. Surely Maimie can’t send the boys away after all they suffered through? This makes Amelia realize how good her life is, that her son loves her and now, she has another man who loves her all the same. She, for the first time, is truly sorry for all the trouble she’d caused on behalf of Maimie, especially to Cora. Amelia leaves, giving the old woman a piece of her mind, knowing she’ll never be back again.

Rev. Bruder’s family, with much enthusiasm from Tulsa, takes the boys in for the time. The older, Luther Jr. has distinct love for mechanical things. He’s got his father’s dark good looks too. The younger, Arthel, is still too young. I felt something might form between Luther and Tulsa but I had NO IDEA that they actually have a book, Runabout. Going to read it ASAP. Meanwhile, for Wild Oats, 3.75 stars. I wish I enjoyed the first parts of the book as much as the last chapters. I thought, even though Jedwin was honest and sweet, Cora and he lacked the correct chemistry and this didn’t change really. Not even when I finished the book. Alas!

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this after reading Simple Jess, and was fairly disappointed. The characters were all just a bit annoying, their motives not making much sense, their behaviors inconsistent. More than once, I wanted to hit people, and I spent a rather inordinate amount of time rolling my eyes and sighing. I pretty much disliked everyone in it, and by the end I was just glad it was over.

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection!!!! I have yet to read a book by this author that was disappointing.

What I love most about her stories is that you actually feel as if it may have truly happened. ALL of the characters are so beautifully crafted they seem real. So three dimensional, lovable.. I just can't say enough.

The storyline is believable, and this is hard to accomplish having a virgin hero. I have read so many books with such heros, and most just don't seem to cut it. The ones that do usually make the guy to be tomented/tortured ( I guess it's hard to justify a MAN being chaste). Both of Morsi's virgin hero books I have read did not require this. And I applaud her for her imagination and creativity.

Here the hero (Jedwin), is a young, handsome mortician.. yes a mortician! Who wants to sow his oats and decides to approach shunned divorcee Cora, with his proposition. Cora is strong, independent, and honorable. Jedwin is fighting his overbearing mother who is trying desperatly to control his life. Jedwin is a sweet, honorable, hardworking man (not a boy as his mother constantly refers to him as) who has been pushed into the family business which he is not suited for. Needless to say Cora and Jedwins relationship developes slowly, and no matter how much Cora tries to resist him, he will not back down.

As my friends know, I don't like to give away too much (unless I am giving a review and need to point out why I dislike something about the book) about the story, but I will say this... If you like tales about small town gossipers, in rural USA you will love this. If you also love slow, sweet, beautiful, natural romance.. it doesn't get better than this. There are also multiple themes that touch on race issues, rules of society, health, disease, spirituality and class separation.

Lastly, for those who are concerned about sexual content...This is NOT a clean read. It is pretty steamy and detailed, but not hardcore. Most of all it's a real comforting feel-good read.

Highly recommended

[Celestine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have been bored by a romance that didn't have a hint of adventure. I should have been turned off by a virgin hero with thinning hair and mama issues. I should have been disinterested in a story set in a small town in Oklahoma Territory in 1906. I was none of those things. Pamela Morsi has a talent for turning a humdrum location and extraordinarily ordinary people into a wonderful and enjoyable romance. Every time I read one of her books, I walk away learning something, too (embalming practices of the early 20th century anyone?).

This book opens with young mortuary owner Jedwin Sparrow knocking on the door of notorious divorcee Cora Briggs, and politely propositioning her. He has been warned away from prostitutes by his Festus-like employee Haywood Puser. The master-embalmer told Jedwin: "There are decent women, clean women, that just need the slightest little push to go racing headlong off the straight-and-narrow." One of my favorite relationships in the book is the one between Jedwin and the fatherly Haywood, who imparts little nuggets of sage advice like gold (just like Festus).

Jedwin knows right away he wants to knock curvaceous Mrs. Briggs, the subject of every one of his teenage fantasies, right off the path and into his arms. "Cora Briggs had been the first woman to make him experience desire. And his desire for her had colored all his dreams and expectations of women, both decent and indecent, from that day forward." Right there on page 46, the reader realizes Jedwin has always loved Cora, albeit from afar, and things are about to get up close and personal.

As time goes on, Jedwin falls for the beautiful, much-maligned divorcee. One of the wonderful things about Jedwin is that he has learned in his role as undertaker to take people at face value; after all, in the end, everyone whether rich or poor or illiterate or educated, dies. Jedwin is incredibly likable, even in his naivete. Everything about him is honest and forthright and respectful. He also shows a strength of purpose in his pursuit of Cora that is very, very attractive. At first it is in strictly lustful pursuits, and then he is all about convincing Cora to have a future with him. Jedwin knows how to handle people, and he does it well, even his Mama. "I love my mama and I'd defend her to the death if need be. But she's a mite shy of perfect, and I suspect I know that better than anyone." He is wise and quietly commanding, for all that he is just 24 years old.

Just like many couples, Jedwin and Cora do and say stupid things before they are fully committed and before they are sure of their feelings. In this case, what is said is pretty hurtful, and I was a little taken aback at the uncharacteristic callousness of Jedwin and the impulsiveness of Cora. I was so upset I almost put the book down, but then I remembered this is a Pamela Morsi romance, and I kept reading.

Morsi's setting and minor characters are very fully developed. Few people are as talented at completely fleshing out time period and colorful townspeople as Morsi. In this regard, she never fails. Her minor characters are given enough weight that they influence the plot and have the ability to adapt and change. I love how she takes someone you don't really like much and then builds their backstory, reactions and humanity bit by bit so that when they come around you are practically cheering. She can fabricate a vibrant community filled with temperamental curmudgeons out of thin air. Plain and simple, Pamela Morsi is a great storyteller.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 - Questa storia non è solo originale, avulsa dai soliti stereotipi e stessi sviluppi a cui siamo abituati, ma anche scritta (e tradotta) con uno stile fresco, frizzante, che è un piacere godersi in beata solitudine.

Bollenti Spiriti non è un romanzo banale, intendiamoci: io ho trovato notevole l'abilità con cui l'autrice riesce a farci calare in un paesino sperduto nella campagna dell'Oklahoma, agli inizi del '900, dove le persone crescono e vivono in base a ruoli predefiniti, dove c'è ancora una forte spaccatura tra classi sociali e americani whasp e no, e dove la parola "divorziata" è ancora capace di assumere i peso di una condanna senza appello.
Per quanto Cora Briggs sia additata da tutti come la più sfacciata e malfamata donna del paese, lei non è che un ragnetto finito in una tela di ripicche e maldicenze da troppo tempo radicate in paese. Eppure Cora non si fa mica intimidire: lei marcia, anzi pedala a testa alta!! E ha sue idee precise sul proprio benessere e la propria salute.
Ho adorato Cora e la sua grinta. Tanto che quando Jedwin, il cocco di mamma belloccio, pensa di approfittare delle grazie della divorziata (ma in base a un accordo onorevole, ovvio) non sa a cosa sta andando incontro...
All'inizio pensavo che Jed fosse un po' tontolone e viziato, invece anche qui il libro è riuscito a stupirmi, dando vita a un personaggio che si evolve e matura pagina dopo pagina, finendo a divenire un ragazzone dal cuore grande.
Insomma, il tipo perfetto per Cora (anche se lei si ostina a ignorarlo).
Pienamente riusciti anche gli altri personaggi minori, dalla coppia di innamorati bizzosi e più maturi sino alla vecchia matrona che governa la città come fosse sua, ma anche al reverendo e alla formidabile Tulsa May.

Ecco, sono andata a leggermi le trame della serie e ho visto che il prossimo libro sarà dedicato proprio a Tulsa. quindi spero vivamente che possa trovare pubblicazione pure da noi.
In ogni caso, #romance davvero consigliato. Romantico, irriverente, pieno di speranza.
Per quel che mi riguarda, un acquisto più che soddisfacente, e sono già pronta a leggere nuove cose della Morsi.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning, I did not much care for Jedwin. He was such a hypocrite. He "loved" Cora and defended their affair but would not even consider her as potentially good enough to be his wife. I liked Cora. She was a moral woman with a kind and forgiving heart. Even though she had experienced more than her share of tragedy first as an orphan and then as a betrayed wife, she stayed positive and balanced.

However, near the end, my opinions on them completely flipped. Once Jedwin's eyes were open, he became wise and steady and loving. Cora was rediculously foolish. Not only was she trying to cause harm to other relatively innocent women, she was murdering any chance of her own happiness.

I was glad Amelia was redeemed. By the epilogue, even Mrs. Briggs apparently accepted her grandsons before she died. However, all the character changes seemed a little too exteme, like flipping a light switch.

The writing style was good. I appreciated the theme and the lessons. Love can be more important than the rules, but rules are necessary for society to function. People can change. Not allowing others opinions of us to lessen our self worth. Forgiveness rather than bitterness is important for happiness.

[Feminista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

A nice story. The hero pursues the woman just because he wants to sow his wild oats before he gets respectably married. Who better than the divorcee deemed scandalous woman of the town. He ends up falling in love with her.

This story might be more grittier and realistic than other historical romances but it wasn't very flattering.

[Vintage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story with a virginal hero.

Character redemption and a good grovel/apology was nicely done.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oklahoma Territory, c. 1905

Cora Briggs is a 28-year-old divorcee, living in a small cottage on the outskirts of the town of Dead Dog in the Oklahoma Territory. Rumors of her evil temptress ways circulate through the town gossip mill, but in honesty, Cora prefers to keep her head down and keep to herself. Jedwyn Sparrow, owner of the town mortuary, is trying to get out from under his mother's thumb. He's 24, and working to forge his own path - embalming curdles his stomach, so he can't even handle the basics of his trade - and he'd rather be a farmer. He's determined to woo and win Cora, sowing his wild oats, before he'll ultimately settle down and marry someone else. Cora plans to turn Jedwyn down, but he surprises Cora, and she's drawn to his sweet and earnest nature. Their biggest challenges are Jed's mother, who only wants to endear herself the town matriarch (Cora's former mother-in-law), the righteous people of Dead Dog, and an epidemic of diphtheria spreading through the town.

Pamela Morsi writes the most charming romances and she captures an Americana vibe with her worldbuilding. Early 20th century small-town Oklahoma comes with the hardworking and industrial spirit of frontier life, but also the judgment of society the same as further east. Oklahoma is trying to prove itself worthy of statehood, and the town of Dead Dog wants to do its part. Amelia Sparrow, Jedwyn's mother, wants to rename the town Briggstown in honor of its founder and to endear herself to Mimi Briggs and also to spite Cora. People shun Cora for being a divorcee, assuming that she is a jezebel. Even the owner of the town general store who buys her goods, won't say that she's the grower because no one would buy them. The town is also highly segregated - the Black residents and indigenous people live very separately from the white folks central to the story. Mimi Briggs is the stand-in for the bigoted behavior of the townspeople, but Pamela Morsi does a great job at representing fairly standard viewpoints of the era while also demonstrating the wrongness of the bigotry.

I do intend to read Pamela Morsi's full backlist, but picked this up specifically for its infectious disease plot. Jedwyn working at the mortuary means we are privy to death and illness in a way we might not otherwise be. Diphtheria spreading through and crossing over the various segregated communities is one of the terrifying components of Frontier living. The book is light on the details of the disease, but it plays a role in enabling Jedwyn's trysts with Cora and a pivotal role in the B-romance.

The romance between Cora and Jedwyn is sweet and heartfelt. Jedwyn may show up expecting to have an affair, but he quickly realizes that he's delighted to take things slow. As a virgin hero, he's there to learn. Cora also has things to learn about romance, since her ex-husband never loved her (even though he wasn't unkind). There's reluctance on Cora's part and eagerness on Jedwyn's part, but it's a story still careful with consent and pleasure.

[scarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela Morsi, where have you been all my life?

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite old-school romance books. Doubtless a big factor is that it is set in my home state of Oklahoma. Not many historical romances are! Pamela Morsi is herself an Oklahoma native and it shows in the voices of her characters - the rhythm and language are spot on.

I love a rich, handsome duke hero as much as the next woman, but how many romance heroes can you name who are undertakers??? 🤣 Probably just this one. Also, most old-school heroines are heiresses or virgins or virginal heiresses, right? Our heroine here is Cora Briggs, divorcée, which in the very early years of the 20th century, was scandalous indeed.

I particularly love that the H/h are just ordinary people, and that secondary characters are well-fleshed. Even the “villains” turn out not to be so bad after all. In particular, the hero’s mother is an awful, snooty, possessive bitch. It turns out, though, that she feels inferior and insecure and her character is quite redeemed by the end, even getting a(n unconventional) romance of her own.

The ending nicely sets up a sequel, titled Runabout.

One caveat: this book was published in the early 1990s, long before the advent of political correctness. Native Americans are called Indians in this book (and in fact, most here in Oklahoma still call themselves “Indians”), and African-Americans are referred to as “blacks.” Cora is called some pretty derogatory names just because she was divorced. Really charming love story, notwithstanding.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet our hero - a balding, mama's boy mortician that gets physically ill from his job. Meet our heroine - a poor, divorced woman that dares to ride a bicycle through town. An unlikely pair, but when our hero decides he needs a bit of experience, he approaches our heroine and instead of sleeping with him, she asks for romance. Along the way, they fall in love. There's a diphtheria outbreak, a secondary romance, and a town that learns acceptance. Jedwin (hero) is unexpectedly so sweet, you can't help but root for him. Such a sweet story.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet: I think Pamela Morsi has cornered the market on beta heroes that are realistic and competent and hawt ... and it's hard to imagine a book about undertakers would be appealing but it is. Liked the whole small town setting too. If you like Morsi, this is another keeper.

[Karen Darling · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was boring and corny. I stopped reading it after the heroine propositioned another man.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several of Pamela Morsi's historical romances recently and she usually has an underlying theme; the hero is usually much older than the heroine and the townspeople play a big part of the story. What makes WILD OATS a little different is Jedwin Sparrow is younger than Cora Briggs and he is a mortician. The community still intrudes but a secondary blossoming romance comes into play.

Jedwin is a 24 year-old man looking at ending his virginity and he approaches Cora Briggs because, not only does he think she is beautiful, she is a divorcee. I believe the setting takes place in the early 1900's and in this part of Oklahoma the ending of a marriage taints the woman no matter what the reason. Cora's former mother-in-law, Maimie Briggs, controls the town and she is a bigoted and obstinate woman. She is also a wealthy widow with secrets.

At first, Cora is angry with Jedwin's proposal. Then she decides to string him along to get back at his mother, Amelia Sparrow. She is another spiteful woman who has gossiped about Cora. But ever so slowly, Cora and Jedwin feel differently towards one another. They each have one TSTL moment but they never cease communicating with each other. Jedwin has common-sense galore and his character was very refreshing. I enjoyed seeing him grow up over a period of a few months.

There is the usual hokey grammar but Ms. Morsi does a good job of infusing some humor and goofiness into the story. I especially enjoyed when Jedwin ended his virginity. It was an all-together too-true time that most men probably wouldn't admit to happening that way.

I ended the story feeling good about everyone. Ms. Morsi managed to introduce a couple of new characters towards the end and I knew there had to be a sequel. RUNABOUT is the second story concerning the community of Dead Dog and I look forward to reading it.

[D.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wild Oats is not your usual sort of historical romance. Set in the Oklahoma Territory at the beginning of the 20th century, the book has a virgin hero who's an undertaker and a heroine who's the town's infamous divorcee. Given the mores of the time where women were supposed to stay with their husbands even if "he beat her twice a week", our heroine is despised by the community and can barely stay afloat. Jedwin, the good boy hero, decides that he needs to sow some 'wild oats' and who better than the scandalous Mrs. Briggs to scratch his itch?

Thus commences a very sweet romance with some interesting musings about being true to ourselves, doing what we believe in even if we are 'breaking the rules' and parents learning to let go of their kids when they grow up.

One of the most interesting parts of this romance was the relationship between the hero and his mother, who was very controlling. At the beginning I was worried that the hero was going to be a Mama's boy (yikes!) but the author stroke the right balance between loving and decisive. He's a nice guy who loves his mother and tries to be respectful but he was enough of a man that he was able to make his own decisions regardless of his mother's opinion.

Overall, a really good romance that I recommend to anybody looking for something different. I can't wait to read the sequel.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The hero wants to have some adventure and decides to go to the most scandalous lady in town, the heroine, who is scandalous because of her divorce. The heroine is outraged at his indecent proposal and then thinks that the pretense will help her get back at the hero's mother who keeps maligning her reputation. I loved the slow and gradual romance, the heroine has had a tough life, becoming orphaned and then married to a man who was a liar and a cheat and she divorced him eight years back but her mother-in-law insured that the heroine's reputation suffered, so somehow she has survived in the town.

The hero has a mother who keeps trying to control him and turn him into something he is not, a mortician. Honestly, gradually we see the hero's mother change and improve and fall in love as well.

All in all I enjoyed the book. What started off as scratching an itch even if he had to do what the heroine asked, romance her, turns into love with the hero not caring a whit about his mother and the town. Oh and I liked that the hero was a virgin and that their first time was not where the hero came out as a stud.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a wholesome read set in the Oklahoma Territory (the way the book jacket is made out), this probably is not the book for you. If you're tired of historicals set in the glittering world of the London ton and you're looking for a book with enthusiastic consent, complex characters, overalls, long underwear, bad poetry, and sexy household chores, you've come to the right place. For a book written in the 90s this is a gem. Despite some romantic trope missteps, it's a fun and sexy read with an appealing central couple and redeemable secondary characters.

43-Word Reviews:

Laine: Romp in olden times Oklahoma between a balding undertaker and an orphan divorcee. Both are more appealing than their descriptions. Fake precursor to GOOP makes the whole town like her again, plus the good opinion of a man. "Oklahoma" was in my head.

Meg: Dear PlotTrysts: I’m a divorcee in a small, early 20th-Century Oklahoma town. Since my divorce I’ve lived a restrained, conventional life to avoid gossip. But everyone gossips anyway! Would it be wrong of me to embrace my reputation and take a younger lover?

www.linktr.ee/plottrysts

[Allure Van Sanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was the first book I read with an older woman/younger man story line. It appealed to me because there was nothing "perfect" about the hero and heroine. Morsi is really good at the imperfect couple.

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile" · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Morsi book. This one was the first Morsi book I read and I loved it. I have read some of her others but this one remains my favorite.

I love the H and h in this book. Author does a good job with H as part Alpha and part Beta.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars. I really enjoyed how the relationship between Cora and Jedwin progresses, it is heart warming and funny at times. It provides a slight mystery- why the divorce and what were the circumstances. It unfolds as we go.

Why not a 5? I felt the book got really preachy around 80%, the characters were all of a sudden scholars or something, it felt OTT for the times and for the story I had just read.

But definitely give this a try, well written dialogue is my kryptonite :) I read it in 1 day, it flows so easily.

Highlights & Spoilers:
“It appears, however, that he has not been overly generous and that you could benefit from some financial assistance.”
“Financial assistance?”
“I am willing to provide you with a modest stipend for your discretionary use.”
Cora Briggs was sitting stiffly in her chair staring at young Jedwin Sparrow as if he’d suddenly grown two heads. “Why would you be willing to provide this ‘modest stipend,’ Mr. Sparrow?”

This was hysterical, the scene:
"Tentatively Cora reached out a hand and caressed his hair. She suddenly felt the very inappropriate urge to giggle, but she managed to stifle it. She was finally a scarlet woman. But after waiting eight years, the sinful act had lasted less than a minute.
Smiling, she leaned forward to feather a tiny kiss on the smooth brow of the man in her arms."

I HATED this part and had to keep reading to make sure it unfolded correctly:
"Could she do it? Could she betray Jedwin with Titus Penny? She swallowed nausea in the back of her throat. She had learned a long time ago that she could do whatever she had to.
Cora raised her chin and spoke the words aloud, determinedly, defiantly. “You’ve had two men already. One more shouldn’t make much difference.”

And the final scene was wonderful:
His grip loosened on her hands and she wrapped her arms around him. She looked deeply into those intensely brown eyes that she loved and saw his heart.
“Jedwin,” she whispered.
“Yes, my love.”
“Stick to farming. You’ll never make it as a poet.”

[Dixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtful look at small town morals in nineteenth century Oklahoma territory. So much gossip has been taken for gospel and surprises are in store for everyone when the truth comes to light. What begins as a dalliance turns to tenderness as a young man comes to realize his worth and exert his autonomy despite his mother's plans and society's expectations. More than one lonely heart will find a surprising new love.
I enjoyed the Audible narration. At first, I was taken aback by the seeming lack of dramatization in the reading, but came to find the vocal style in keeping with the tone and stoicism of the locale and the time period reflected in the story.

[Heike]

Not happening much but weirdness.
A (virgin) undertaker in a small town has the hots for an older divorcee (who is shunned by society) and offers her money for sex in about 1840 America. What a strange setup for a romance!
It goes on with the female protagonist, orphaned and raised by nuns, following a strict health regimen - weirder. She lives in this town where everyone hates her, instead of moving on. Why doesn't she just sell her house and start a new life somewhere else?
The mystery why she was married to the town prince and later on divorced does not keep me interested enough to follow the story. Abandoned at a quarter in, thus no rating.

[Heather-Lin]

This and Runabout were my favorite romance novels - 25 years ago. I have no idea if they would stand up to my reading tastes now, but I remember them as being sweet, light-hearted, and good-natured. I might want to revisit them, or read something new by this author :)

Plus, the small town this is located in is called Dead Dog, Oklahoma. Irresistible! LOL

[LuvBug · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute romantic read. I enjoyed watching Jedwin romancing Cora so he could sow his wild Oates with her. The love scenes were very hot and the story line was mostly interesting. That’s why I kept reading even though it had a huge pet peeve of mine. Ill admit that I can be pretty shallow when reading my romance novels. I mean it’s fantasy. I need to find the hero physically attractive. Jedwin was attractive in his own way, but I did not like the fact that the he was described as a 24 year old that had noticeably thinning hair (something he was very self conscious about and tried to use onion remedies to cure. Pamela Morsi is a very good story teller because that pet peeve didn’t chase me off, and neither did the dreaded secondary romance which I am never a big fan of. This one did not overshadow or take away from the needed substance between the protagonist. The sweetness of the romance between Cora and Jedwin pushed me along. It was intriguing to step into the world of the hillbillies for a change.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow this book taught me how to embalm a body, how the spread of diphtheria happens, and all about the history of commercial horticulture. Not things I really needed to know, but entertaining nonetheless. I liked this more than I thought I would!