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Born to Be Wild
Dear Reader:
Get yourself ready for Mary Lisa Beverly--a soap-opera phenom who's just won her third Daytime Emmy for her role as Sunday Cavendish on Born to Be Wild. She's fun and lovable and has lots of crazy friends, most of whom hang out at her house in the Colony, the famous gated community in Malibu. Unfortunately, there is one bad thing to poleax her champagne life--someone is trying to kill her.
You'll meet Mary Lisa's family in Goddard Bay, Oregon. She's blessed with her father, cursed with her mother, and betwixt and between with her two nutzoid sisters.
And how about guys? There aren't any hotties in L.A. of interest to Mary Lisa, but in Goddard Bay--there are District Attorney John Goddard and Chief of Police Jack Wolf. And guess what? Even in the boondocks, bad stuff can happen.
Mary Lisa's best friends, Lou Lou Bollinger_and Elizabeth Fargas, become embroiled in the baffling attempts on Mary Lisa's life in L.A., with unexpected results.
I hope you laugh a lot with Born to Be Wild, root for Mary Lisa in all of her roles, and all in all, have a fine time with this book.
Get yourself ready for Mary Lisa Beverly--a soap-opera phenom who's just won her third Daytime Emmy for her role as Sunday Cavendish on Born to Be Wild. She's fun and lovable and has lots of crazy friends, most of whom hang out at her house in the Colony, the famous gated community in Malibu. Unfortunately, there is one bad thing to poleax her champagne life--someone is trying to kill her.
You'll meet Mary Lisa's family in Goddard Bay, Oregon. She's blessed with her father, cursed with her mother, and betwixt and between with her two nutzoid sisters.
And how about guys? There aren't any hotties in L.A. of interest to Mary Lisa, but in Goddard Bay--there are District Attorney John Goddard and Chief of Police Jack Wolf. And guess what? Even in the boondocks, bad stuff can happen.
Mary Lisa's best friends, Lou Lou Bollinger_and Elizabeth Fargas, become embroiled in the baffling attempts on Mary Lisa's life in L.A., with unexpected results.
I hope you laugh a lot with Born to Be Wild, root for Mary Lisa in all of her roles, and all in all, have a fine time with this book.
354 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2006
479 people are currently reading
1314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
September 25, 2010
It was not entertaining and I wished it would be over.
This was my first Catherine Coulter book and will probably be my last. Two stories were happening throughout the book. One was about the actress Mary who had a stalker. The other was what was happening within the tv soap opera with Mary's character. I skipped over most of the soap opera parts due to disinterest. While reading the rest, I was wishing it would be over. I was angry at the author for leaving certain unanswered questions within the story, described below.
CAUTION SPOILERS: Mary goes to visit Jack. They plan to go to bed, but her father shows up for a visit and we never know if the father leaves or if Mary and Jack go to bed (296). Another example is Kelly makes a rude comment about Mary in front of Jack. After Jack left the room, Mary says "What are you up to?" We never hear the answer (309). Another example is throughout the story Mary's mother treats her terribly and hates her. The mother's only friend commits suicide and in the suicide note asks the mother to forgive Mary Later in the story Mary gets a phone call. Jack asks who it was. Mary had some strange expressions and after a moment said "that was my mother." We never learn what was said (342). A couple of the characters were interesting but not enough to make it worth reading. I was disappointed with this author.
Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: current day Los Angeles, Calif and Goddard Bay, Oregon. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense.
This was my first Catherine Coulter book and will probably be my last. Two stories were happening throughout the book. One was about the actress Mary who had a stalker. The other was what was happening within the tv soap opera with Mary's character. I skipped over most of the soap opera parts due to disinterest. While reading the rest, I was wishing it would be over. I was angry at the author for leaving certain unanswered questions within the story, described below.
CAUTION SPOILERS: Mary goes to visit Jack. They plan to go to bed, but her father shows up for a visit and we never know if the father leaves or if Mary and Jack go to bed (296). Another example is Kelly makes a rude comment about Mary in front of Jack. After Jack left the room, Mary says "What are you up to?" We never hear the answer (309). Another example is throughout the story Mary's mother treats her terribly and hates her. The mother's only friend commits suicide and in the suicide note asks the mother to forgive Mary Later in the story Mary gets a phone call. Jack asks who it was. Mary had some strange expressions and after a moment said "that was my mother." We never learn what was said (342). A couple of the characters were interesting but not enough to make it worth reading. I was disappointed with this author.
Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: two. Setting: current day Los Angeles, Calif and Goddard Bay, Oregon. Copyright: 2006. Genre: romantic suspense.
August 2, 2009
Amusing; light-weight summer reading type of book about 3 women living in LA area. Poorly edited.
February 18, 2010
ok. fun quick read. not heavy on tightly woven plot.
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January 4, 2023Hmmm. I remember reading Catherine Coulter in the past...maybe this was one of her earlier books? I forgot to pack a book when I went to a hot springs, and this was on the book shelf, so I borrowed it while I was there. We went back for New Year's, so I had a chance to finish the book. It was fine, but I'm a little disappointed. Maybe I look for a little more from a book these days? I remembered this author fondly...
April 24, 2022
If Coulter wasn't such a good thriller writer, she might not have been able to pull this campy book off. Started out confusing to me with the changes in locations and in characters. I love to giggle when I read and I did it in this book. I loved soaps when I was young (I'm 74 now). Nearest and dearest to my heart is ATWT. For those who know John Dixon, notorious dr. He's my fave. That soap's storyline on his colon cancer was provocative, but informative and consequently made me go to my doctor at age 49 (below the age suggested for those particular cancers) and discovered my tumor. Life is just strange. This book was so cute, funny, heart-tugging, and enjoyable, it was necessary to go to the end. Good soap opera.
November 26, 2018
When I first read the synopsis of this book, was not sure I would like it. Very different from her thrillers and FBI book; I especially love Savich and Sherlock. However, I very much enjoyed this. I never watched soap operas but my Mother really enjoyed them. The little tidbit/piece of trivia at the beginning of each chapter was interesting. A great quick read and keeps your interest throughout.
September 30, 2025
Okay read. I really enjoyed the facts about soap operas at the beginning of each chapter. The story itself was pretty good but not great.
May 28, 2021
this was a fun read, an entertaining read, loved all the soap info at beginnings of chapters . it was fast paced and you raced to finish it. good escapism.
June 19, 2017
This book was really long.
The characters were fun and the storyline stayed interesting enough. I really liked Mary Lisa and the mix of Soap Opera story with the real characters kept things interesting. Although I am curious what happened with Sunday's father... I really liked the tidbits about Soap Operas and different actors that got their start on them.
As for the ending. That was... anti-climatic to be honest. I really didn't like how one character was caught and it was considered all over, but then it wasn't. I mostly didn't like that because I felt the characters didn't believe it as much as the reader. That, and the actual ending was so abrupt.
This was a nice read, but nothing special. I have no reason to read it again, nor tell anyone else to either.
The characters were fun and the storyline stayed interesting enough. I really liked Mary Lisa and the mix of Soap Opera story with the real characters kept things interesting. Although I am curious what happened with Sunday's father... I really liked the tidbits about Soap Operas and different actors that got their start on them.
As for the ending. That was... anti-climatic to be honest. I really didn't like how one character was caught and it was considered all over, but then it wasn't. I mostly didn't like that because I felt the characters didn't believe it as much as the reader. That, and the actual ending was so abrupt.
This was a nice read, but nothing special. I have no reason to read it again, nor tell anyone else to either.
September 26, 2016
Mary Lisa is a three time Emmy winner for Born To Be Wild daytime soap opera. Someone is trying to kill her. She makes a trip home and we get to meet her horrible family and her new love interest. The first half of the book had momentum and was interesting. The last half fell flat. The more characters that were introduced the slower and predictable the story became.
June 16, 2021
When I picked up this book, I was looking for something akin to a beach read, and this filled the bill in spades. I've been reading a lot of intense books lately about death, metaphysics, and deep spirituality. I needed a change. Something light, quick-paced and not stressful. (COVID gives me enough of that already.)
I learned a lot about soap opera history while reading this book. It contains little tidbits in the story and historic quips at the beginning of some paragraphs. Sort of interesting that the shows were called soap operas because originally most of the sponsors were companies who made soap products.
The book was full of good-looking people, except the bad guys, of course. But there was the qualifying condition that it was set in Los Angeles in the entertainment industry. . . although the cops were cute too, so that sort of blows that theory. But I wanted something fun and this was definitely that.
The violence that drove the story was pretty much off screen which was fine with me. Actually, not a lot of the story was realistic. Instead, it was more of a soap opera, but that fit. Mary Lisa, the main character's pathetic relationship with her own family was almost as dysfunctional as her on screen persona's, the semi-wicked, love-to-hate, star of a soap opera, Sunday Cavendish.
I like a book that can laugh at itself. The romantic lead was Jack Wolf, chief of police in a small city. In the story, characters who worked in the daily soap opera industry teased him about his name, asking if he had made it up to sound like a cop.
If you want a romp that not too deep, this book is for you. I might check out more of Catherine Coulter when I need a light read again.
I learned a lot about soap opera history while reading this book. It contains little tidbits in the story and historic quips at the beginning of some paragraphs. Sort of interesting that the shows were called soap operas because originally most of the sponsors were companies who made soap products.
The book was full of good-looking people, except the bad guys, of course. But there was the qualifying condition that it was set in Los Angeles in the entertainment industry. . . although the cops were cute too, so that sort of blows that theory. But I wanted something fun and this was definitely that.
The violence that drove the story was pretty much off screen which was fine with me. Actually, not a lot of the story was realistic. Instead, it was more of a soap opera, but that fit. Mary Lisa, the main character's pathetic relationship with her own family was almost as dysfunctional as her on screen persona's, the semi-wicked, love-to-hate, star of a soap opera, Sunday Cavendish.
I like a book that can laugh at itself. The romantic lead was Jack Wolf, chief of police in a small city. In the story, characters who worked in the daily soap opera industry teased him about his name, asking if he had made it up to sound like a cop.
If you want a romp that not too deep, this book is for you. I might check out more of Catherine Coulter when I need a light read again.
June 9, 2018
I broke one of my cardinal rules when I bought this at a used-bookstore. because it said "Never Before Published" on the cover, I assumed it was a new story and I didn't check the publication date. I've read many Coulter books over the years and liked them quite a bit. However, when I began this story, I thought it wasn't up to par and finally checked that all-important copyright...2006! This is a remarkably well-preserved 12-year-old book! At any rate, the writing here isn't Coulter's best. I believe the thing that bothered me most was her habit of giving readers a mini-cliffhanger at the end of a chapter and then not resolving it. The romance didn't really ring true for me, and the two plots in two different cities was a little distracting and confusing. Still, there were moments when Coulter's talent shown through and there were certainly some colorful peripheral characters, including those in the story within the story, a soap opera. But a more mature Coulter is a better Coulter, so I won't forget to check the publication date again.
October 22, 2020
Born to Be Wild by Catherine Coulter
This is a book about a soap opera star and is probable classified as a romance. I’m being up front here, I use avoid any book that has a male on the cover with a shirt open to his waste throwing a scantily attired female over his brawny shoulder. I just don’t read them. Well the cover didn’t have any of that and I got sucked into reading this, in spite of it being a romance. It is a romance with a thin layer of mystery over it. Mary Lisa is a successful soap opera star who is being stalked. Jack Wolf, who in spite of his name is not in show business, is the chief of police where she grew up. His past experience with a nasty ex-wife and a felony type prank by Mary Lisa tends to make them adversaries.
I enjoyed the book, sad to say, really, but I did enjoy it. There was enough characterization, mystery and plot to make it entertaining. I STILL don’t read romances.
This is a book about a soap opera star and is probable classified as a romance. I’m being up front here, I use avoid any book that has a male on the cover with a shirt open to his waste throwing a scantily attired female over his brawny shoulder. I just don’t read them. Well the cover didn’t have any of that and I got sucked into reading this, in spite of it being a romance. It is a romance with a thin layer of mystery over it. Mary Lisa is a successful soap opera star who is being stalked. Jack Wolf, who in spite of his name is not in show business, is the chief of police where she grew up. His past experience with a nasty ex-wife and a felony type prank by Mary Lisa tends to make them adversaries.
I enjoyed the book, sad to say, really, but I did enjoy it. There was enough characterization, mystery and plot to make it entertaining. I STILL don’t read romances.
March 29, 2021
I love the pace of Cahterine Coulter's FBI Thrillers. This is an early novel, about a soap opera actress who is threatened by an unknown assailant. First, she is knocked down by a car that aimed right at her in a crosswalk not more than three blocks from her home. Then someone takes a shot at her on the beach and begins calling her with threats. Meanwhile, she is being harassed by a paparazzi and, in her hometown, one murder leads to another. The look into the life of a soap star and the making of one of these serials is interesting. Mary Lisa, our heroine, is funny and gutsy and determined to protect herself. There are motorcycles, a kidnapping, small town and big city police action, and a culminating race to defend the actress. Oh, and the murders in her hometown get solved too, although tat was less satisfying. All in all, an absorbing tale and a good precursor to her current crime series.
January 20, 2025
Mary Lisa Beverly was a star on a Soap Opera. Her life gets threaten several times. She goes back home for a visit and for protection. Her mother was not happy to see her but her father was. Her brother-in-law was engaged to her when he slept with her sister. Her sister's deception caused her to leave Goddard Bay for Hollywood. She has won best actress three years in a row. She runs into the sheriff, who arrested her before she left town, which is Jack Wolf. Her younger sister broke up with John Goddard. John Goddard begins to show interest in Mary Lisa. She is only in town for 4 days and her sister is going to run for state office. Upon her return to Hollywood her life gets threatened again. Now Jack Wolf shows up because Mary Lisa's father asked him to. He decides to stay until they can figure out who is trying to harm her.
February 11, 2018
This story is about the filming of a soap opera and the lives of the actors and how they cope with an alter ego. When Mary Lisa Beverly won her third Emmy she thought everything was going to be great but nothing is as it seems when someone deliberately tries to run her down with an old car. Needing a break, Mary Lisa goes home to Goddard Bay, Oregon. This is a great story about Mary Lisa and her friends from a Malibu who try to help her find the guy who is determined to kill her. It is also about her friends and family in Goddard Bay and the drama going on there as they try and solve their own murder. Old flames and new friends are all together in this book that will make you laugh and sad at the same time.
October 15, 2017
Born to be wild. (Contemporary romantic thriller book 4).This is a great day today
This is a great story for romantic thrillers.
I did enjoy it.
I love everything Catherine Coulted has written.
I am Very addicted to all of her FBI series.
They are the Greatest thrillers of all time.
But I will continue reading Her Romantic thrillers until she has published another or more FBI novels.
Mrs Coulter's is Great in creating plots and characters for all of her stories.
All the conclusions have great endings with the Greatest of endings.
This is a great story for romantic thrillers.
I did enjoy it.
I love everything Catherine Coulted has written.
I am Very addicted to all of her FBI series.
They are the Greatest thrillers of all time.
But I will continue reading Her Romantic thrillers until she has published another or more FBI novels.
Mrs Coulter's is Great in creating plots and characters for all of her stories.
All the conclusions have great endings with the Greatest of endings.
January 4, 2021
Mary Lisa Beverly is an Emmy-winning soap opera star and loving her life until someone tries to kill her. While the police investigate, she heads home to Goddard Bay. Her family life there is almost like a soap opera with the dysfunctional members of her own family. Police Chief Jack Wolf finds out about the danger she is in and follows her back to Malibu to help keep her safe. However, he is called back to Goddard Bay to deal with a murder in his town. The two story lines keep this story moving and the attraction too.
September 9, 2021
A fun read, suspense, romance and family drama.
Mary Lisa, fresh off her third consecutive Daytime Emmy, is purposely hit by a hit-and-run-driver. She goes home to relax and recover, meets two possible romantic interests (a cop who has issues with her and her sister's ex), a murder and her personal family drama.
She returns home/work and has someone try to kill her again.
Now the police, her neighbors and her friends are all involved in keeping her safe and alive, but, who wants her dead and why? And then there is the romance, murder and family drama to resolve as well.
Mary Lisa, fresh off her third consecutive Daytime Emmy, is purposely hit by a hit-and-run-driver. She goes home to relax and recover, meets two possible romantic interests (a cop who has issues with her and her sister's ex), a murder and her personal family drama.
She returns home/work and has someone try to kill her again.
Now the police, her neighbors and her friends are all involved in keeping her safe and alive, but, who wants her dead and why? And then there is the romance, murder and family drama to resolve as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, way out of Coulter's usual style. Each chapter started with a snippet of information about soaps and the actors who worked them. Every other chapter was the main character's ongoing story on the soap she starred in, so the book was essentially two stories in one. Very snappy dialogue, good plot, lovable characters. What more could one ask for? Oh, maybe a more tied up ending.
June 30, 2024
Stars and stories
Great thriller with many twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end. Mary Lisa, aka Sunday, is a soap star with a great life that is suddenly shattered by an aggressive paparazzi and stalker. When a young detective and the chief of her hometown police get involved in her case sparks begin to fly. I love Catherine Coulter's novels! They always keep you guessing!
Great thriller with many twists and turns to keep you guessing to the end. Mary Lisa, aka Sunday, is a soap star with a great life that is suddenly shattered by an aggressive paparazzi and stalker. When a young detective and the chief of her hometown police get involved in her case sparks begin to fly. I love Catherine Coulter's novels! They always keep you guessing!
September 26, 2024
This was not as good as other books I have read from this author. It is possible it was the character being a soap opera star, not really interesting. I have to wonder if this was an earlier book as the writing style seems incredibly different. I am glad I did not start with this book or I would not have read others. I have read a lot of her books which have been very interesting and entertaining. I really just wanted to finish this and get it over with.
March 18, 2019
This is NOT an FBI series book and I was skeptical - BUT I LOVED IT!! Characters were well-developed and plot was interesting enough to keep turning the pages. I liked the main character and learned some facts about soap operas!! I'm not a fan - in my younger years I think I watched some episodes of All My Family - who doesn't love Susan Lucci????
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September 5, 2022I haven't read Catherine Coulter in a while, and am not sure how many I did read. It sticks in my mind though that this is "typical Catherine Coulter." It was interesting, kind of light on story and especially light in characters. It was based on "soap operas" and actually pretty much played like a typical mid-day tv soap opera. I will read her again but not really soon.
July 2, 2025
This was a surprisingly light-hearted story (considering I usually read Coulter's FBI thrillers). The facts about soap operas presented at the start of some of the chapters were interesting. I'm a long-time viewer of one soap opera, so I recognized the usual plot twists and character types presented in the fictional soap opera (and its star) this story is centered around.
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December 25, 2017So so for Coulter. Ran on and on with her soap opera story but could have ended her Goddard Bay story with a few more details and closure.
September 21, 2017
I found the characters kind of shallow for their ages and responsibilities. typical intense male and ditzy female, although incredibly successful, rich and smart. nice little filler of a book.
November 7, 2017
So very funny - cute, romantic, a bit of suspense... and laugh out loud moments, too.
June 19, 2018
Easy reading, interesting life led by Mary Lisa, despite her dysfunctional family dynamics. Wondered til it was exposed who the stalker was
September 23, 2018
Nice twist and real life mirroring "tv" ish!
Nice love story and always good to have girl pals!!
Strong women rock
Nice love story and always good to have girl pals!!
Strong women rock
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews