What do you think?
Rate this book
Lovely Wild
From New York Times bestselling author Megan Hart comes a haunting and insightful novel about a woman trying to find her place in the world…
Brought up in the savage captivity of her unstable grandmother's rural Pennsylvania home, Mari Calder once yearned for rescue. Now she struggles every day to function as an adult in the confines of normal society. Left with only a foggy recollection of her childhood, she's consumed with being a dutiful wife to her husband, Ryan, and mother to their two children.
But an unexpected twist of events returns her to that long-forgotten house in the woods. Soon, Mari is greeted with reminders of a past life, the clarified memories only inviting a new level of strangeness into her fragile world. To protect her family, she must find the beautiful, powerful strength hidden in her inner chaos. Because someone is bent on exploiting Mari's trauma, and as normal and wild begin to blend, a string of devastating truths force Mari to question all she thought she knew.
Brought up in the savage captivity of her unstable grandmother's rural Pennsylvania home, Mari Calder once yearned for rescue. Now she struggles every day to function as an adult in the confines of normal society. Left with only a foggy recollection of her childhood, she's consumed with being a dutiful wife to her husband, Ryan, and mother to their two children.
But an unexpected twist of events returns her to that long-forgotten house in the woods. Soon, Mari is greeted with reminders of a past life, the clarified memories only inviting a new level of strangeness into her fragile world. To protect her family, she must find the beautiful, powerful strength hidden in her inner chaos. Because someone is bent on exploiting Mari's trauma, and as normal and wild begin to blend, a string of devastating truths force Mari to question all she thought she knew.
340 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2014
25 people are currently reading
1730 people want to read
About the author
Megan Hart
265 books4,056 followersMegan Hart has written in almost every genre of romantic fiction, including historical, contemporary, romantic suspense, romantic comedy, futuristic, fantasy and perhaps most notably, erotic. She also writes non-erotic fantasy and science fiction, as well as continuing to occasionally dabble in horror.
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
--from the author's website
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
For Megan Hart, the nutritionist, click here
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
November 26, 2014
*4 ~ 4.25 Stars*
”Why did you bring me back here?”
Megan Hart delivered a mysterious read about the Calder family. The story is centered-around Mari, a wonderful mom and a devoted wife who has survived a brutal past. Mari must come to terms with all parts of her forgotten past when her husband, Ryan attempts to capitalize off her trauma without her knowledge. Ryan brings his family to Mari’s Grandmother’s abandoned house out in the woods of Pennsylvania to write a book. Ryan is facing harsh charges at work and feels a book would bring a financial windfall.
”You know what? Let’s go off the grid this summer.” He grinned, excited at the thought, and kissed her again. “It’ll be good for us. Get disconnected. Really just get back to nature.”
This story was a page turner and the writing was just riveting. Since the story is written in the third person we are privy to all characters’ povs. Mari was a fantastic heroine as were her children but I felt that the author’s wrap up especially with Ryan, was too easy of a bandage on his actions and sins. Still, I enjoyed the story and loved how Megan Hart presented the pain and truth of Mari’s past and was in awe of the woman she remains to this day.
”IN HER DREAMS, she is still wild. ”
*Copy of the book was provided by publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 8, 2014
5-what-an-amazing-story-stars
You had me at book summary. There are only two women with ability to leave me in state of infinite haze and awe for days after I read the last page of their books - Melina Marchetta and Megan Hart. I knew that Lovely Wild will be something special. I knew that no matter the fact that I was prepared for to be surprised, she will still manage to make me speechless.
First, I would like to warn you not expect something similar to Broken or Tempted. If you would ask me which genre is this, I would have no clue how to answer that question. Megan Hart did not write romance or erotica, there are elements of suspense and mystery. Family drama? Woman's fiction? Easiest ways is to read it and make conclusions by yourself. In the end, why do we even have to label things? That is what makes Lovely Wild special - it eludes all generalizations and cliches, it refuses to be described as only one thing.
Still, Megan Hart stayed faithful to herself and just like it was a case with her previous novels, main focus is on strong female characters. Told from the perspective of wife, daughter and husband, Lovely Wild deals with murky and complicated subject of human mind and psychology. What is it that makes us humans? Where is that line that divides us from animal behavior? Would you be able to learn language if you were isolated from the rest of the people? How do we raise our children? What is it that we teach them? And how much sins of our parents define us?
Captivating story and masterful narration, something that you can always expect from Megan Hart, combined with family and emotional drama are just few of the reasons not to miss Lovely Wild.
*Copy of the book was provided by publisher, Harlequin, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
November 17, 2016
Mari has two children and a successful husband she loves and adores. They live a normal life in a nicer than average home in the suburbs. Mari is a housewife who loves doting on her two kids. But life wasn’t always this ordinary for Mari and she’s had to work hard to fit into society’s version of “normal”.
Though she doesn’t remember it, Mari's past was filled with extreme neglect, poverty and hunger. She’s a bit different than most of the women in her upper middle class world, she doesn’t really fit in and she doesn’t seem to give a damn. She likes her life and I liked her right away. She’s honest, prefers bare feet and gypsy skirts and has some odd quirks which make her appear a little strange but which turn out to be coping mechanisms. Her past and her ability to come to terms with all of its ugly hidden secrets is the single most captivating thing about this novel. The details are slowly revealed so I’ll try not to spoil it all.
In her dreams, she is still wild.
When the book opens, Mari’s life seems normal and pretty mundane. There were endless pages consisting of the daily routines and mini dramas featuring her teen daughter Kendra, her younger son Ethan and Ryan the husband told from the varying point of views of Mari, Ryan and Kendra. If this were all there was I would have been bored out of my skull within 50 pages but there were odd habits and unraveling secrets and that’s what hooked me and what kept me. I was hoping a dark, creepy underbelly was hiding beneath all of that sickening perfectness and my hopes weren’t shattered. It was fascinating in the way those old VC Andrews books were when I was a kid but it was much better written.
Needless to say, a shift happens and Mari and her family’s perfect lives are upended, Mari’s strange past is revealed, as well as Ryan’s antics. If you can enjoy a unique but sometimes too trusting heroine and a story that is believably strange but remains grounded in reality, this is worth seeking out on audio. Madeleine Maby has a beautiful tone to her voice and does a great job with the characters, especially Mari, and makes you feel a part of Mari’s not at all conventional world.
The rest of this review is best avoided. Please don't click if you don't want to know too much.
Though she doesn’t remember it, Mari's past was filled with extreme neglect, poverty and hunger. She’s a bit different than most of the women in her upper middle class world, she doesn’t really fit in and she doesn’t seem to give a damn. She likes her life and I liked her right away. She’s honest, prefers bare feet and gypsy skirts and has some odd quirks which make her appear a little strange but which turn out to be coping mechanisms. Her past and her ability to come to terms with all of its ugly hidden secrets is the single most captivating thing about this novel. The details are slowly revealed so I’ll try not to spoil it all.
In her dreams, she is still wild.
When the book opens, Mari’s life seems normal and pretty mundane. There were endless pages consisting of the daily routines and mini dramas featuring her teen daughter Kendra, her younger son Ethan and Ryan the husband told from the varying point of views of Mari, Ryan and Kendra. If this were all there was I would have been bored out of my skull within 50 pages but there were odd habits and unraveling secrets and that’s what hooked me and what kept me. I was hoping a dark, creepy underbelly was hiding beneath all of that sickening perfectness and my hopes weren’t shattered. It was fascinating in the way those old VC Andrews books were when I was a kid but it was much better written.
Needless to say, a shift happens and Mari and her family’s perfect lives are upended, Mari’s strange past is revealed, as well as Ryan’s antics. If you can enjoy a unique but sometimes too trusting heroine and a story that is believably strange but remains grounded in reality, this is worth seeking out on audio. Madeleine Maby has a beautiful tone to her voice and does a great job with the characters, especially Mari, and makes you feel a part of Mari’s not at all conventional world.
The rest of this review is best avoided. Please don't click if you don't want to know too much.
July 23, 2016
I finished Lovely Wild in one day because I was so riveted by the story. I wouldn’t call this a romance, there is love in there, but this was a different, darker, compelling story.
On the surface Mari might seem to have a perfect life. She’s a stay at home wife and mother, with a good-looking doctor for a husband, two untroubled kids. And certainly when we begin this story, Mari would whole-heartedly agree with you. But looks can be deceiving, right? When her husband, Ryan, is accused of doctor misconduct and he’s suddenly put on leave, he makes the family pack up for the summer and head to Mari’s childhood home. Ryan plans on working on a book while having the time off, but Mari has no idea she is the subject! Mari’s childhood was far from idyllic, and memories of the past resurface unsettling Mari and her family. And to top it off, strange things start to happen making the woods surrounding them a dangerous place.
There is not a whole lot I can say about Lovely Wild without spoiling the plot, but I will say that I admired Mari so much. She went through abuse and neglect as a child, but still turned out to be a loving mother and a devoted, caring wife. Ryan, in my opinion, did not deserve her even if he did fess up and “repent” for some of his errors. At first, Mari was so trusting and didn’t question anything, but she read people so well she didn’t really need or want to. Don’t ask a question if you don’t want the answer, right? Well, Mari subscribed to that somewhat and only focused on what was important to her: showing her children she loved them, and providing a stable family life. She appreciated Ryan taking care of them financially and showed it by seeing to every household detail, caring for his every need. In her mind, Ryan was the prince charming that rescued her when they married, fulfilling her dreams.
I was thrilled when Mari started to question and show more spine. Not that she was a pushover, but Ryan needed to be accountable for his actions! Planning to take Mari and their kids back to her family home without consulting her was a total dick move! Ryan may not have known the extent of Mari’s trauma, but he did know some of it. The fact he was willing to use her life experience for profit without consulting her ticked me off! What a betrayal!! And that was only one of his sins. Obviously, Ryan thought only about himself and I wanted to deck this guy and string him up by his bits! Thankfully, Mari doesn’t just roll over and take it!
Mari and Ryan’s kids, fifteen year old Kendra and eight year old Ethan, were amazing as well; in fact one of the POV’s is in Kendra’s voice. I loved how she handled her father and paternal grandmother! These children were really a testament to Mari’s love and affection. Something that really starts to resonate with Ryan, thank goodness!
As I said the one of the POV’s was Kendra and the other two were Mari and Ryan, all in the third person. Mari’s POV felt a little stilted and a bit odd, but I thought this may have been purposeful by the author to show how Mari was just a little different due to her unconventional upbringing. Brilliant way to convey something through writing we’d probably only pick up on if we met Mari in real life.
This is the first time I’ve picked up a Megan Hart novel and I was impressed with the way she made me feel for each character, yes, even Ryan (a very little bit for him). The events and reveals had me glued to the pages eager to find out how it would all turn out in this addictive read!
In real life romance is not perfect, marriage is not perfect, and not everyone comes from a healthy, happy family. People are flawed by environment and genes, and I think Megan Hart captured this well. I loved this little family’s story of survival and triumph through adversity!
A copy was kindly provided by Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
On the surface Mari might seem to have a perfect life. She’s a stay at home wife and mother, with a good-looking doctor for a husband, two untroubled kids. And certainly when we begin this story, Mari would whole-heartedly agree with you. But looks can be deceiving, right? When her husband, Ryan, is accused of doctor misconduct and he’s suddenly put on leave, he makes the family pack up for the summer and head to Mari’s childhood home. Ryan plans on working on a book while having the time off, but Mari has no idea she is the subject! Mari’s childhood was far from idyllic, and memories of the past resurface unsettling Mari and her family. And to top it off, strange things start to happen making the woods surrounding them a dangerous place.
There is not a whole lot I can say about Lovely Wild without spoiling the plot, but I will say that I admired Mari so much. She went through abuse and neglect as a child, but still turned out to be a loving mother and a devoted, caring wife. Ryan, in my opinion, did not deserve her even if he did fess up and “repent” for some of his errors. At first, Mari was so trusting and didn’t question anything, but she read people so well she didn’t really need or want to. Don’t ask a question if you don’t want the answer, right? Well, Mari subscribed to that somewhat and only focused on what was important to her: showing her children she loved them, and providing a stable family life. She appreciated Ryan taking care of them financially and showed it by seeing to every household detail, caring for his every need. In her mind, Ryan was the prince charming that rescued her when they married, fulfilling her dreams.
I was thrilled when Mari started to question and show more spine. Not that she was a pushover, but Ryan needed to be accountable for his actions! Planning to take Mari and their kids back to her family home without consulting her was a total dick move! Ryan may not have known the extent of Mari’s trauma, but he did know some of it. The fact he was willing to use her life experience for profit without consulting her ticked me off! What a betrayal!! And that was only one of his sins. Obviously, Ryan thought only about himself and I wanted to deck this guy and string him up by his bits! Thankfully, Mari doesn’t just roll over and take it!
Mari and Ryan’s kids, fifteen year old Kendra and eight year old Ethan, were amazing as well; in fact one of the POV’s is in Kendra’s voice. I loved how she handled her father and paternal grandmother! These children were really a testament to Mari’s love and affection. Something that really starts to resonate with Ryan, thank goodness!
As I said the one of the POV’s was Kendra and the other two were Mari and Ryan, all in the third person. Mari’s POV felt a little stilted and a bit odd, but I thought this may have been purposeful by the author to show how Mari was just a little different due to her unconventional upbringing. Brilliant way to convey something through writing we’d probably only pick up on if we met Mari in real life.
This is the first time I’ve picked up a Megan Hart novel and I was impressed with the way she made me feel for each character, yes, even Ryan (a very little bit for him). The events and reveals had me glued to the pages eager to find out how it would all turn out in this addictive read!
In real life romance is not perfect, marriage is not perfect, and not everyone comes from a healthy, happy family. People are flawed by environment and genes, and I think Megan Hart captured this well. I loved this little family’s story of survival and triumph through adversity!
A copy was kindly provided by Harlequin MIRA via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 27, 2014DNF at 40%
The third person POV bugged me a lot. I have never felt this disconnected from a book before.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The third person POV bugged me a lot. I have never felt this disconnected from a book before.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2015
Well, this was definitely interesting! Not the type of book I normally read, and not something I would search out either but I quite enjoyed it. The heroine survived an extremely odd childhood, one of isolation and neglect to an extreme. She was found while still very young and raised somewhat chaotically via the foster system and eventually adopted by the scientist that dedicates his life to studying her.
Mari is now married with two children and although she will likely never be "normal", she is happy and healthy and a wonderful mother and wife. It is only when her husband makes some poor decisions that lead to the loss of his career that he decides to move his family back to the scene of Mari's horrific childhood.
I was not a fan of Mari's husband. He's a selfish, impulsive man who takes Mari for granted. I do think he loves her in the only way he can, but it wasn't enough for me. The story is told from his point of view along with Mari's and their teenage daughter's. The switching POV kept the plot from stagnating, and I really enjoyed seeing events unfolding from different perspectives.
The books I've read by Megan Hart have all been very different from this. She is an extremely versatile author, and she proves it here with Lovely Wild. The title itself is extremely apt. I'm not usually much for chick lit, and this is very chick-litty. Well planned and executed, though, and I read every page with fascination. Mari was the hero of this story, however unconventional a hero she was. My favorite aspect of the book was how unpredictable it was. There are a couple of twists that pop up out of nowhere, and even while I was preparing myself for some new revelations, I was still surprised and pleased with what happened.
Copy provided by the publisher for review
Mari is now married with two children and although she will likely never be "normal", she is happy and healthy and a wonderful mother and wife. It is only when her husband makes some poor decisions that lead to the loss of his career that he decides to move his family back to the scene of Mari's horrific childhood.
I was not a fan of Mari's husband. He's a selfish, impulsive man who takes Mari for granted. I do think he loves her in the only way he can, but it wasn't enough for me. The story is told from his point of view along with Mari's and their teenage daughter's. The switching POV kept the plot from stagnating, and I really enjoyed seeing events unfolding from different perspectives.
The books I've read by Megan Hart have all been very different from this. She is an extremely versatile author, and she proves it here with Lovely Wild. The title itself is extremely apt. I'm not usually much for chick lit, and this is very chick-litty. Well planned and executed, though, and I read every page with fascination. Mari was the hero of this story, however unconventional a hero she was. My favorite aspect of the book was how unpredictable it was. There are a couple of twists that pop up out of nowhere, and even while I was preparing myself for some new revelations, I was still surprised and pleased with what happened.
Copy provided by the publisher for review
December 5, 2014
Integrating into society is a learned behaviour. This is never more apparent than seeing through the eyes of Mari Calder. Mari is a protagonist who moves me. Her thought patterns and actions make so much sense to me. It's at a base instinctual human level which so many people deny and cover up. It's frustrating because when I think of how Mari responds, this is the kind of person I want to be friends with because there are no lies or falsehoods. It's more than the innocence which draws me. It's the honesty and her appreciation of the simple things in life which makes Mari admirable.
For those who don't understand Mari, they label her as wild or trash. This is abhorant especially as her past is revealed. Ms. Hart always does a lovely job of creating tales which expose the ugly side of humans. She excels this time with the horrors Mari lives through and the truths about her orgins. It is sad and as Mari's daughter screams at Mari's husband - "Mari's story better not end up as a Flowers in the Attic tale". This is about all the spoiler needed.
Lovely Wild is well crafted with nary an erotic scene. There is love in this story, but not as one would expect for a romance. There is the love and devotion of a mother to her child. The love and loyalty of a child to their mother. There is forbidden love of a man and woman. And sadly there is love lost between a husband and wife. This is not a happy tale nor is it a happily ever after. It's a story of heartbreak, unapproved liasons and betrayal. It's a captivating tale of a woman who finally faces her past and finally puts the ghosts to rest. This story reminds us of our human flaws and how cruel humans can be. Yet despite all this adversity, the strong will still overcome and become even stronger. I loved Mari from the beginning to the end of this story. Recommended for realists who love women dancing to their own music.
*provided by NetGalley
dnf
February 13, 2015DNF at 22%
I like Megan Hart’s writing and what I read so far wasn’t bad but nothing to pique my interest either.
This paragraph at the end of chapter 11 convinced me to stop:
”If Ryan says they need to go back, he must have a good reason. And if she trusts him, as she’s always done, then she also has to trust that everything will be all right. When he tells her he’s taking her home, he has no real idea of what that means to her and never has. She doesn’t want him to know. But she trusts Ryan as much as she loves him, and that means Mari will follow him wherever he thinks he needs to go.”
I just don’t buy this complete trust and no questions asked. Books with female characters like Mari are not really my thing. Also, two people married for over 15 years with so many secrets between them - I don’t like where this is going and more importantly I find it difficult to believe.
I wanted to at least get to the part about the mystery of Mari’s past but I can’t do it.
Shelving it as DNF, not sure if I’ll come back to it later.
March 1, 2020
3.5 stars
In her dreams, she is still wild.
What did I know about this book before reading it?
Well, I knew it wasn't an erotic romance as I'm used to from Megan Hart. I knew that opening line which I really liked. And... That's it. Enough for me. As long as it's not horror, I'll read anything Megan Hart writes.
Where on the anything spectrum did Lovely Wild land?
Hmm... Mainstream fiction, suspense, mystery, women's fiction, family drama? All of that, I'd say, and with a hint of horror. Yes, it got spooky in this book with the pretty cover and lovely in its title.
The story's told from three points of view: Mari's, her husband Ryan's, and their daughter Kendra's. Their family life was a good one. Peaceful one. Comfortable. Until everything changed.
Mari seemed like an unusual woman with unusual habits. Kendra seemed like a usual teenager, who seemed to have benefited from her mother's peculiarity. And Ryan? Ryan seemed like a selfish prick, plain and simple.
Ryan's trying to cover up/fix his screw up, brought the family to the place Mari grew up in. Kendra was bored, Ethan, the younger child, was not, Ryan fancied himself to be the author of the next bestseller exploiting Mari's past, and Mari was starting to remember, and find out the facts about her childhood. Those were mostly not happy memories, the facts were not easy to learn, but there was strength that came from knowing the truth.
The story kept me guessing until the very end.
Mari's childhood was surrounded by mystery. It was rough, that was for sure. Mari remembered some bits and pieces. Ryan knew what his father, the psychiatrist who treated Mari as child, wrote. Ryan also saw videotapes of the young Mari. Still, lots of pieces of that puzzle were missing. One by one, those pieces would appear and fall into place.
I don't think I'm doing this book justice. It's hard to write about it without saying too much and wading into spoiler territory. I will say this: Mari, Mariposa had a mostly difficult childhood, her origin was a complicated mess, she grew up nearly wild. Ryan was a psychiatrist who had an ordinary childhood who never had to fight dogs for scraps of food. Yet, of the two of them, Mari seemed to be the kinder, more attentive, just a better parent to their children, and simply a better human being overall. That's something to ponder.
After reading thirty-ish books by Megan Hart, I'm still amazed by the complicated paths her stories take. Those poor characters. It's never easy being the main character in a Megan Hart book.
October 21, 2014
No spoilers here.
Wow. What a roller coaster this book is.
I didn't read the blurb, I just went forth knowing I was reading a Megan Hart, and shortly in to it I was like "Wait. Is this a noir mystery? I assumed this was a Romance but I don't see any romance hero material going on here." A little bit later I was like "I'm thoroughly freaked out right now, is this a Horror novel? What is this book???" I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and I loved it.
I was whisked away by the story of Mari, her kids, and her husband. And thoroughly creeped out. I stayed up waaayyyy too late after starting this and honestly got super scared a few times in the middle of the book.
I immediately felt a connection with the heroine Mari, and this dark sense of dread filled the pages for the majority of the story, that something terrible is going to happen to her. We get narration from Mari, her husband Ryan and her daughter Kendra. The sense that the narration from Mari and Ryan is unreliable really added to the overall feeling that something scary or bad is going to happen. The story that unfolds??? Off the rails. I guess all this boils down to me saying I LOVED this book!
Take a chance on this book. You will be thoroughly creeped out, and it will leave you thinking long after you are done.
Wow. What a roller coaster this book is.
I didn't read the blurb, I just went forth knowing I was reading a Megan Hart, and shortly in to it I was like "Wait. Is this a noir mystery? I assumed this was a Romance but I don't see any romance hero material going on here." A little bit later I was like "I'm thoroughly freaked out right now, is this a Horror novel? What is this book???" I had absolutely no idea what to expect, and I loved it.
I was whisked away by the story of Mari, her kids, and her husband. And thoroughly creeped out. I stayed up waaayyyy too late after starting this and honestly got super scared a few times in the middle of the book.
I immediately felt a connection with the heroine Mari, and this dark sense of dread filled the pages for the majority of the story, that something terrible is going to happen to her. We get narration from Mari, her husband Ryan and her daughter Kendra. The sense that the narration from Mari and Ryan is unreliable really added to the overall feeling that something scary or bad is going to happen. The story that unfolds??? Off the rails. I guess all this boils down to me saying I LOVED this book!
Take a chance on this book. You will be thoroughly creeped out, and it will leave you thinking long after you are done.
November 18, 2014
Wow - this book was dark and twisty and intriguing. Not a romance book. Slightly suspenseful. Very interesting story about Mari's life. Her past and her present. I had a hard time putting it down.
Review to come
Review to come
November 28, 2014
Originally posted at The Bookaholic Cat
4 ½ Stars
For years I have heard wonders about Megan Hart’s books. I even have couple of them on my TBR, but they are all erotic romance and sadly, for a long while I have not enjoyed anything too smexy, so erotica is out of the game for me. When I saw Lovely Wild up for review I thought it was erotica, but after reading Pamela’s review I realized it wasn’t. So here was my chance to jump in the Megan Hart’s train. A chance I took and let me tell you, that train too me on an incredible ride. One that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end and at the end left me days later still thinking about Lovely Wild.
Mari has very little to no recollection of her childhood. Her memories start when she’s almost a teenager and living with her adoptive father, the doctor who rescued from her past.
Years later, Mari married her adoptive father’s son, Ryan. They been together for years and have two children. A fifteen year-old daughter, Kendra and eight year-old son, Ethan.
They live the idyllic suburban life. Ryan is a psychologist with a practice in the city and Mari is the perfect housewife. Their children go to a good school and everything seems perfect from the outside, but everything is far from perfect. Ryan made a huge mistake and his practice license is in peril. Looking for an option in case he loses his license he decides to write a book, he knows his father has a lot of research and he’s planning to use that research to write a book and make money out of it. To save costs, he moves his family to a house in the woods; the house where Mari grew up.
Mari only wants to help Ryan and agrees to the move. Kendra doesn’t like the idea, but has to do what her parents say. The only one happy with the new location is Ethan, who finds the quiet and simple life fascinating. But living in the new house is not easy for Mari, her memories are slowly coming back. Ryan is so focus on writing his new book that he’s not seeing what is going on with his family. Day by day Mari’s past begins to unfold and makes her question what she thought to be true.
I loved this book, I loved it so much I just want to tell you buy it, read it and thank me later, but I know that doesn’t work with you. So, let me try to convince you.
Lovely Wild is told in third person. We get Mari, Ryan and Kendra’s points of view. This made easier to get into the story and to know everything that what’s going on.
Mari is a stupendous heroine. She knows she is not like any other women, she doesn’t understand many behaviors, but she’s aware of this and does her best to look “normal” for the sake of her kids and her husband. She loves her family fiercely and she would rather be in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal for her family than out for lunch with other mothers or getting her nails done. For her, those things are not enjoyable; she simply can’t understand them.
Kendra is old enough to know her mother is different. She sees her friends’ moms and knows Mari is not like them. Still she loves her mother dearly and will do anything to protect her from anyone who wishes her harm.
Ethan is a cute boy, who behaves like an eight year-old. He’s smart and sweet. I loved seeing his interactions with Mari.
Now we come to Ryan. I didn’t like Ryan; I think that year after year he took advantage of Mari and her innocence. He knew about her past and he exploited it for his own convenience. He is selfish, self-centered and very difficult to like. He’s not all bad, but the good things are not enough to make him redeemable in my eyes. And that is my only problem with this book. I think he had it too easy at the end. Maybe I am a little bloodthirsty, but I wish Mari had been a bit harsher with him.
I really don’t know in which genre to categorize Lovely Wild, I would say it is a combination of suspense, mystery and women fiction. What I can say is that Megan Hart left me awed with her talent. She knows how to write, how to get the reader into the story and keep her/him there even after finishing the book.
Lovely Wild was my first book by Megan Hart but I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fascinating story that will stay with you.
4 ½ Stars
For years I have heard wonders about Megan Hart’s books. I even have couple of them on my TBR, but they are all erotic romance and sadly, for a long while I have not enjoyed anything too smexy, so erotica is out of the game for me. When I saw Lovely Wild up for review I thought it was erotica, but after reading Pamela’s review I realized it wasn’t. So here was my chance to jump in the Megan Hart’s train. A chance I took and let me tell you, that train too me on an incredible ride. One that kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end and at the end left me days later still thinking about Lovely Wild.
Mari has very little to no recollection of her childhood. Her memories start when she’s almost a teenager and living with her adoptive father, the doctor who rescued from her past.
Years later, Mari married her adoptive father’s son, Ryan. They been together for years and have two children. A fifteen year-old daughter, Kendra and eight year-old son, Ethan.
They live the idyllic suburban life. Ryan is a psychologist with a practice in the city and Mari is the perfect housewife. Their children go to a good school and everything seems perfect from the outside, but everything is far from perfect. Ryan made a huge mistake and his practice license is in peril. Looking for an option in case he loses his license he decides to write a book, he knows his father has a lot of research and he’s planning to use that research to write a book and make money out of it. To save costs, he moves his family to a house in the woods; the house where Mari grew up.
Mari only wants to help Ryan and agrees to the move. Kendra doesn’t like the idea, but has to do what her parents say. The only one happy with the new location is Ethan, who finds the quiet and simple life fascinating. But living in the new house is not easy for Mari, her memories are slowly coming back. Ryan is so focus on writing his new book that he’s not seeing what is going on with his family. Day by day Mari’s past begins to unfold and makes her question what she thought to be true.
I loved this book, I loved it so much I just want to tell you buy it, read it and thank me later, but I know that doesn’t work with you. So, let me try to convince you.
Lovely Wild is told in third person. We get Mari, Ryan and Kendra’s points of view. This made easier to get into the story and to know everything that what’s going on.
Mari is a stupendous heroine. She knows she is not like any other women, she doesn’t understand many behaviors, but she’s aware of this and does her best to look “normal” for the sake of her kids and her husband. She loves her family fiercely and she would rather be in the kitchen cooking a delicious meal for her family than out for lunch with other mothers or getting her nails done. For her, those things are not enjoyable; she simply can’t understand them.
Kendra is old enough to know her mother is different. She sees her friends’ moms and knows Mari is not like them. Still she loves her mother dearly and will do anything to protect her from anyone who wishes her harm.
Ethan is a cute boy, who behaves like an eight year-old. He’s smart and sweet. I loved seeing his interactions with Mari.
Now we come to Ryan. I didn’t like Ryan; I think that year after year he took advantage of Mari and her innocence. He knew about her past and he exploited it for his own convenience. He is selfish, self-centered and very difficult to like. He’s not all bad, but the good things are not enough to make him redeemable in my eyes. And that is my only problem with this book. I think he had it too easy at the end. Maybe I am a little bloodthirsty, but I wish Mari had been a bit harsher with him.
I really don’t know in which genre to categorize Lovely Wild, I would say it is a combination of suspense, mystery and women fiction. What I can say is that Megan Hart left me awed with her talent. She knows how to write, how to get the reader into the story and keep her/him there even after finishing the book.
Lovely Wild was my first book by Megan Hart but I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fascinating story that will stay with you.
December 24, 2014
Arc provided through Harlequin Mira through Netgalley
I honestly don't know quite what to say about this story...
As a contemporary romance told through three points of view _ Mari's, her husband, and their daughter _ I am afraid that after some time, I became vaguely disconnected from it, and from their daily routines.
Not that there was anything wrong with the characters, or with the plot. Mostly I just felt that the whole thing felt a little too clustered with everything that was going on:
_The husband's professional career on the verge of falling to pieces (due to spoiler(ish) things ..)
_The daughter dealing with the typical ya problems.
_And Mari ( our main character) having to deal with a whole lot of changes, after the husband decides to uproot the four of them into Mari's old house
I liked the idea behind the story: See how someone who during her childhood years, had such a different upbringing, and analysing how she was able of coping with the so called "normal life".
Mari's mental processes, habits, and coping mechanisms felt real considering what she had been through.
Regarding the psychological drama this would get a four star rating, but once we approach the last chapters, the story gets to a whole level of drama that I find more adequate to soap operas (personal taste).
I normally give ratings of four stars to stories that I intend to re-read, and I kind of forced myself to finish this.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup, but that doesn't mean that I won't recognize that it has its worth.
In the end it was necessary for Mari (Mariposa =butterfly) to confront her past in order to finally move on from her stagnant life, and hopefully from her fears.
I honestly don't know quite what to say about this story...
As a contemporary romance told through three points of view _ Mari's, her husband, and their daughter _ I am afraid that after some time, I became vaguely disconnected from it, and from their daily routines.
Not that there was anything wrong with the characters, or with the plot. Mostly I just felt that the whole thing felt a little too clustered with everything that was going on:
_The husband's professional career on the verge of falling to pieces (due to spoiler(ish) things ..)
_The daughter dealing with the typical ya problems.
_And Mari ( our main character) having to deal with a whole lot of changes, after the husband decides to uproot the four of them into Mari's old house
I liked the idea behind the story: See how someone who during her childhood years, had such a different upbringing, and analysing how she was able of coping with the so called "normal life".
Mari's mental processes, habits, and coping mechanisms felt real considering what she had been through.
Regarding the psychological drama this would get a four star rating, but once we approach the last chapters, the story gets to a whole level of drama that I find more adequate to soap operas (personal taste).
I normally give ratings of four stars to stories that I intend to re-read, and I kind of forced myself to finish this.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup, but that doesn't mean that I won't recognize that it has its worth.
In the end it was necessary for Mari (Mariposa =butterfly) to confront her past in order to finally move on from her stagnant life, and hopefully from her fears.
March 16, 2017
WARNINGS:
Tuesday 14th March: Still reading: Just popping in to share this spoiler, then I'm out to continue the book.
Tuesday 14th March: Still reading: Just popping in to share this spoiler, then I'm out to continue the book.
December 1, 2014
Megan Hart is one of my favorite authors. She's so great at immersing you into the world and the characters that she creates and taking you on an unexpected journey. This one, I have to say, while unexpected was a little strange, even for me.
For about the first 80% of the book I was all in. Glued to the pages, anxious to find out what was going to happen. There was something about Mari that was so different and I loved it. She had a rough childhood, but overcame it and was all about her kids and her husband, Ryan.
On all outward appearances, she was a go-with-the-flow type of person, but inside there was a wildness about her and a weird obsession with having a stockpile of food in the house. And a secret stash of snack cakes. Which stemmed from her childhood. She had lived with her grandmother, who wasn't always able to take care of her, until eventually being adopted by her husband's father. It was a strange situation.
Mari saw Ryan as her prince. I can't understand what she saw in him honestly. I couldn't stand him throughout the entire book. He was a selfish, cheater and it felt to me like he took advantage of Mari in so many ways. Facing a malpractice suit, he packs up his family and takes them back to the remote house that Mari grew up in, to write a book, about her childhood. She has no idea what he's planning, but doesn't really question him either. Until strange things start to happen and the whole story comes out.
For me the last 20% was weird. I really enjoyed the book until around the time Andrew entered the story. At first I thought, wow this is sweet. But, boy was I wrong. Not the great ending I was expecting with all the buildup. This book was a page turner and the flow of her writing was great as always, but the ending sort of ruined it for me.
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
For about the first 80% of the book I was all in. Glued to the pages, anxious to find out what was going to happen. There was something about Mari that was so different and I loved it. She had a rough childhood, but overcame it and was all about her kids and her husband, Ryan.
On all outward appearances, she was a go-with-the-flow type of person, but inside there was a wildness about her and a weird obsession with having a stockpile of food in the house. And a secret stash of snack cakes. Which stemmed from her childhood. She had lived with her grandmother, who wasn't always able to take care of her, until eventually being adopted by her husband's father. It was a strange situation.
Mari saw Ryan as her prince. I can't understand what she saw in him honestly. I couldn't stand him throughout the entire book. He was a selfish, cheater and it felt to me like he took advantage of Mari in so many ways. Facing a malpractice suit, he packs up his family and takes them back to the remote house that Mari grew up in, to write a book, about her childhood. She has no idea what he's planning, but doesn't really question him either. Until strange things start to happen and the whole story comes out.
For me the last 20% was weird. I really enjoyed the book until around the time Andrew entered the story. At first I thought, wow this is sweet. But, boy was I wrong. Not the great ending I was expecting with all the buildup. This book was a page turner and the flow of her writing was great as always, but the ending sort of ruined it for me.
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
February 10, 2020
It was a really strange book. I think it the main story could be really great, but how it was told and by adding other storylines along made it really odd. I think it could have been a lot better if the author focused on the main storyline. It was too muddled for me.
November 27, 2014
The book is told from 3 POV's.
The 'main' character: Mari. Her husband Ryan and their teenage daughter Kendra.
Then there's 8-year old son Ethan - he doesn't get to tell his side of the story ☺
Mari had a very unconventional childhood.
She grew up with a grandma who basically kept her away from the world. And not really in a good way. Mari was 'wild' - she couldn't talk and was horribly malnourished and underdeveloped when Ryan's Dad - a phsychologist discovered and 'saved' her. He took her away and put her in a hospital where they did research on her. It wasn't all that horrible, at least she had food and was able to learn new things.
A few years later he adopted her. Which destroyed his marriage and didn't help his already strained relationship with Ryan.
But when Ryan and Mari first meet when she's 15, she falls immediately in love with the young man.
And after Ryan's Dad died only a few years later, Ryan took over the 'responsibility' and married her.
They've been pretty happy with their lives, but a stupid affair with a patient and her suicide some months later and the resulting lawsuit against Ryan are very hard on the family. Even though he doesn't really tell them the whole truth about it all.
Ryan takes them all out of the city, back into the old farmhouse where Mari grew up in.
He finally wants to write the book.
The book his Dad never got to write.
The book about his wife's life.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH MARI & HER FAMILY ???
WILL THERE BE A HORRIBLE CLIFFHANGER??
I'm not telling you that of course ☺
OK, no Cliffhanger - it's standalone Novel ☺
___________________
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Phew. I don't even know what to write right now.
This was such a .... different Megan Hart book.
First of all - there's NO sex in this book!!! Only a little bit of kissing.
But, while I love sex in my books, this one didn't really need it.
LOVELY WILD was a story about a woman.
A woman who used to be a girl. A girl that grew up different than other girls.
And spending the first eight years of her live the way Mari did, turned this girl into the woman Mari is today.
She's constantly checking the fridge and pantry to make sure they're not running out of food. She never wants to be hungry ever again.
She looks at the wealth of this food and knows it's not enough. It can never be enough.
She's sometimes painfully honest and blunt, she just doesn't understand why people feel they have to lie or tell flowery halftruths.
She loves her family - her kids are her everything. And her husband Ryan. That's a different thing - she loves him, but it's complicated. They're whole life together, from the moment they first met could be called weird. Legally they're siblings, since Ryan's father adopted Mari.
After Ryan gets 'fired' from his job he takes the family back to Mari's old house. Because they can't afford to go somewhere else for the summer, and because ..... he doesn't really know or tell us why he wants to go there - maybe to see how she reacts to the place, maybe he can use it for his book.
The reader is not really sure about Ryan. Do we like him? We don't most of the time. But he's just a man after all ;) They make mistakes, and they regret. He loves his family with all his heart and we hope that maybe the family will get their happy end.
Once they're in the old farmhouse things happen.... memories come back - people might show up.... secrets will be revealed...
In her dreams, she is still wild.
Even though I expected something different when I started reading, I really loved the book.
Dawson and I cried a LOT!!!
There were sooo many feels and lots of moving, sad, emotional moments.
I loved that we got to hear the story from those 3 POVs.
The whole book, the story behind it, was something completely different to all those romances we're reading at the moment. Good different though ... I really enjoyed reading it - I couldn't put it down - I HAD to know what would happen to the Calder family!
♥ LOVELY WILD ♥
is an amazingly different kind of book. A look through the eyes of a wild girl & the happily married mom that she's become. Sad & moving & disturbing & beautiful!
Read
August 15, 2019I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up this book. It took a little bit for me to get into, but once I started reading I couldn't put it down. Surprising twists and turns every step of the way. Kept me guessing the entire time.
November 30, 2014
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an e-copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The best way to describe this book is to say that it is different. From reading the synopsis I got a glimpse of what the story was about but it didn't necessarily play out the way I was expecting. This wasn't a bad thing and because of it, I was unable to put it down. I needed to know the whole story. At some points I was confused and angry but mostly I was just plain curious.
The story is told from Mari, her husband and her daughter's perspective. This is a style that I have always liked because I feel you get a better understanding of all of the characters this way. The reader learns that Mari had a pretty traumatic past as a little girl where she was basically left to care for herself in any way she could. She lived in poverty, hiding from "Them" and scrounged for food along with the animals of the house. Years later she is a healthy, somewhat stable mother and wife, living the American dream.
It is through flashbacks and circumstances that things come to light when the family moves to her childhood home for the summer. It is also at this point where things start to get a little strange. Is someone trying to hurt them? Who is the Forest Prince that Mari starts to remember? What the heck is happening?
Without giving anything more away I do feel the need to mention some of the players in the book. I absolutely hated Mari's husband. He was cold and selfish and his motives were less than stellar. I really wish that there had been more consequences to his actions. As far as the "Forest Prince" part of the story went, I can't quite put it in words. At first I was intrigued and wanted to know who he was but as events played out I found that whole part of it odd and creepy. I'm still unsure if I like the way it played out.
In the end, it was a truly unique and entertaining story. Even though some parts left me unable to decipher how I felt, it was what made it a good story. Any time a story leaves me feeling something one way or another I feel it has done its job. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it.
I received an e-copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
The best way to describe this book is to say that it is different. From reading the synopsis I got a glimpse of what the story was about but it didn't necessarily play out the way I was expecting. This wasn't a bad thing and because of it, I was unable to put it down. I needed to know the whole story. At some points I was confused and angry but mostly I was just plain curious.
The story is told from Mari, her husband and her daughter's perspective. This is a style that I have always liked because I feel you get a better understanding of all of the characters this way. The reader learns that Mari had a pretty traumatic past as a little girl where she was basically left to care for herself in any way she could. She lived in poverty, hiding from "Them" and scrounged for food along with the animals of the house. Years later she is a healthy, somewhat stable mother and wife, living the American dream.
It is through flashbacks and circumstances that things come to light when the family moves to her childhood home for the summer. It is also at this point where things start to get a little strange. Is someone trying to hurt them? Who is the Forest Prince that Mari starts to remember? What the heck is happening?
Without giving anything more away I do feel the need to mention some of the players in the book. I absolutely hated Mari's husband. He was cold and selfish and his motives were less than stellar. I really wish that there had been more consequences to his actions. As far as the "Forest Prince" part of the story went, I can't quite put it in words. At first I was intrigued and wanted to know who he was but as events played out I found that whole part of it odd and creepy. I'm still unsure if I like the way it played out.
In the end, it was a truly unique and entertaining story. Even though some parts left me unable to decipher how I felt, it was what made it a good story. Any time a story leaves me feeling something one way or another I feel it has done its job. I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it.
January 5, 2015
Lovely Wild
By
Megan Hart
The main and most important characters in this book...
Ryan and Mari...married with children...Kendra and Ethan...are the central figures in this book...of course there are other players...both present and not present.
My very brief story summary that includes bits and bobs from the beginning, middle and end of this book...
This novel was a bit confusing...if I am going to be perfectly honest...at its beginning. There are mysteries from its onset that were totally confusing. It starts off with Ryan...a psychologist...dealing with something called a DSM-IV...which I had to google to discover that it is manual of mental disorders. Something has happened to one of his patients and he is in serious trouble because of it. His wife...Mari...has had a troubled and dysfunctional childhood...one that has left her not normal...she goes through the motions...and hoards snack cakes...she is the wild thing...beautiful...barefoot...unusual...hates anything ordered outside...loves a wild and wooly natural atmosphere. Her past has much to do with Ryan's father...also a psychologist...there are vast notes on her that Ryan wants to put into a book.
To avoid what is happening at work...Ryan takes his family to a house...a house that belongs to Mari's past...a house in the wild woods...where things begin to unravel...
And this is where I leave you...
My actual most favorite part of this book...
This entire book is a mystery...one little secret after another is opened up. Mari is odd...but circumstances in her past life with her grandmother have made her that way...her motions, her manner, her dress, her food hoarding...her craving for sweet things...there are twists, turns, revelations and an ending that surprised me.
My actual true feelings about this book and whether or not other potential readers will enjoy it...
The book is good and will hold the reader's interest. This family seems typical until their life begins to crack open. Ryan...was the character that I loved to dislike...selfish, adulterous, almost mean...his mother? Well...she was even worse than he was.
I think readers who love this kind of psychological suspense stuff...should love this book.
By
Megan Hart
The main and most important characters in this book...
Ryan and Mari...married with children...Kendra and Ethan...are the central figures in this book...of course there are other players...both present and not present.
My very brief story summary that includes bits and bobs from the beginning, middle and end of this book...
This novel was a bit confusing...if I am going to be perfectly honest...at its beginning. There are mysteries from its onset that were totally confusing. It starts off with Ryan...a psychologist...dealing with something called a DSM-IV...which I had to google to discover that it is manual of mental disorders. Something has happened to one of his patients and he is in serious trouble because of it. His wife...Mari...has had a troubled and dysfunctional childhood...one that has left her not normal...she goes through the motions...and hoards snack cakes...she is the wild thing...beautiful...barefoot...unusual...hates anything ordered outside...loves a wild and wooly natural atmosphere. Her past has much to do with Ryan's father...also a psychologist...there are vast notes on her that Ryan wants to put into a book.
To avoid what is happening at work...Ryan takes his family to a house...a house that belongs to Mari's past...a house in the wild woods...where things begin to unravel...
And this is where I leave you...
My actual most favorite part of this book...
This entire book is a mystery...one little secret after another is opened up. Mari is odd...but circumstances in her past life with her grandmother have made her that way...her motions, her manner, her dress, her food hoarding...her craving for sweet things...there are twists, turns, revelations and an ending that surprised me.
My actual true feelings about this book and whether or not other potential readers will enjoy it...
The book is good and will hold the reader's interest. This family seems typical until their life begins to crack open. Ryan...was the character that I loved to dislike...selfish, adulterous, almost mean...his mother? Well...she was even worse than he was.
I think readers who love this kind of psychological suspense stuff...should love this book.
December 19, 2014
Not erotic romance, as many of Hart's previous titles have been, but instead something that falls between a mystery and a horror novel. The story is told through three points of view. Our primary character, whom we encounter via a third person present tense narration, is Mari, is the wife of a psychiatrist and a mother of two children. The present tense is significant; as we gradually learn, Mari lived like a feral child until the age of eight, and she feels most comfortable in the moment. A smaller number of scenes are from the third person past tense POV of Mari's husband, Ryan, with others in her teen daughter's past tense third person.
Ryan, the son of the psychologist who rescued and then adopted the unsocialized Mari, ended up marrying Mari soon after his father's death. Ryan isn't exactly husband of the year material; when the novel opens, he's the subject of a lawsuit filed by the husband of a former client, one who ended up killing herself after Ryan broke of their affair. Ryan gets the brilliant idea of writing a book about Mari, and how his father ended up helping her to become a socially functional human being. Since he's also short on cash because his partners have suspended him from their practice, he comes up with the idea to rent their house for the summer and return to the home where Mari lived as a child with her insane, abusive grandmother. Needless to say, Ryan gets more than he bargained for when the secrets of Mari's past gradually start to bubble to the surface.
Haunting, creepy, and a touch Gothic, this was a well-crafted and intriguing read, and had its feminist moments as Mari moves from believing in a prince who will come to her rescue to learning to take her own life, and her own decisions, into her own hands. Can't say that I enjoyed it very much, as I'm not a big horror/Gothic fan, but I can see it appealing to others with different tastes than mine.
Ryan, the son of the psychologist who rescued and then adopted the unsocialized Mari, ended up marrying Mari soon after his father's death. Ryan isn't exactly husband of the year material; when the novel opens, he's the subject of a lawsuit filed by the husband of a former client, one who ended up killing herself after Ryan broke of their affair. Ryan gets the brilliant idea of writing a book about Mari, and how his father ended up helping her to become a socially functional human being. Since he's also short on cash because his partners have suspended him from their practice, he comes up with the idea to rent their house for the summer and return to the home where Mari lived as a child with her insane, abusive grandmother. Needless to say, Ryan gets more than he bargained for when the secrets of Mari's past gradually start to bubble to the surface.
Haunting, creepy, and a touch Gothic, this was a well-crafted and intriguing read, and had its feminist moments as Mari moves from believing in a prince who will come to her rescue to learning to take her own life, and her own decisions, into her own hands. Can't say that I enjoyed it very much, as I'm not a big horror/Gothic fan, but I can see it appealing to others with different tastes than mine.
February 3, 2015
I picked this up because it's a Megan Hart story and I'll read anything by her, even a grocery list.
The cover is deceptive because my son saw it and said, "Oh it's a romance." No it isn't. It's a complex, chilling story about a woman finding herself. It was a bit of an uncomfortable read (for me), but it kept me intrigued and reading until I finished the book at 1:45 a.m.
The cover is deceptive because my son saw it and said, "Oh it's a romance." No it isn't. It's a complex, chilling story about a woman finding herself. It was a bit of an uncomfortable read (for me), but it kept me intrigued and reading until I finished the book at 1:45 a.m.
January 1, 2019
This book had an intriguing storyline and was a bit spooky as well. I wished at times it focused more on the main character of Mari then her kids and husband, but it was still a pretty gripping and interesting read.
never-to-read
February 22, 2015
Want to read
July 30, 2015I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13508365
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13508365
March 28, 2020
When I first picked up the book, I didn't think I would be super interested in it. Mari's narrative didn't pull me in at first, but it was a quick read after I seriously got into it. Mari is a dedicated mother, very trusting of her husband, and seems well adjusted to a society she did not grow up in; this is just a facade in some ways. She has survived a horrendous childhood ridden with neglect and struggles to fit within the confines of society. When her husband experiences trouble in the workplace and drags his family to Mari's childhood home for the summer to write a book, all the foggy childhood memories are shoved to the forefront of her mind. Ryan's desire to exploit Mari's troubling childhood for the sake of a book he hopes will help the family financially drives a wedge through their marriage. It's here where Mari must learn to find the person inside her who can face the difficult truths and trauma of her past.
I really enjoyed the book, it's different from what I normally read. The language Mari uses during her "flashbacks" gives the reader a strong image of what Mari remembers of her childhood; the imagery is excellent. Throughout the book, the voices of Kendra, Ryan, and Mari gave engaging perspectives around a place in time and reality that gives the book more depth, in my opinion. Mari's narrative is a little more stilted, than the others, however, showing the reader how her past has influenced her present. Her perception of the world is different from that of Ryan or Kendra, two people whose life experiences are significantly different from hers.
I really enjoyed the book, it's different from what I normally read. The language Mari uses during her "flashbacks" gives the reader a strong image of what Mari remembers of her childhood; the imagery is excellent. Throughout the book, the voices of Kendra, Ryan, and Mari gave engaging perspectives around a place in time and reality that gives the book more depth, in my opinion. Mari's narrative is a little more stilted, than the others, however, showing the reader how her past has influenced her present. Her perception of the world is different from that of Ryan or Kendra, two people whose life experiences are significantly different from hers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2018
Mari is a wife and mother. She leads a simple happy life yet there is always something in her mind that reminds her of her past. Her husband who's choices have basically ruined his career as a psychiatrist, has come to the conclusion that her will write Mari's life story without her knowledge or consent. He takes her and their children to Mari's childhood home hoping that it will trigger some of her memories of her disturbing youth. Memories and so much more come flooding back as Mari fights to remain the woman she is and not the wild child that had little to no supervision, fighting the dogs for scraps of food and running into the forest to find her "Prince". She thought she made him up...but did she?
It was a pretty good read. I like it a lot.
It was a pretty good read. I like it a lot.
October 14, 2024
I fell in love with Mari (and her obsession with snack cakes) and her two children Ethan and Kiki (who adored their mother). Her husband, Ryan, I thought was a very weak man. This book did not turn out the way I expected it too. Mari has some quirky habits due to her upbringing but I think the main reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, was because I think a lot of her more normal behaviors or her emotional maturity, isn't really explained and therefore a little unbelievable. This book deals with complex subjects that I think were kind of glanced over and not really explained, it kind of makes me think that some subjects were chosen to draw people to read the book but not really researched.
November 20, 2020
AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I LOVED this story! I felt so bad for Mari, yet, I didn't. She was a strong and wonderful mother, a great wife. I was not such a huge fan of the relationship between Mari and Ryan. I am glad at the end they had separated and were taking some time. I felt 100% in shock as I read, unwrapping the secret of the forest prince. I was really surprised. I felt elated that they found their lost sibling. I honestly would have loved a sequel. I would love to know what happened to Mari.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2023
I haven’t read a Megan Hart book in a long time. I almost forgot how much I like her writing. This was a different storyline that I’ve ever read before. Since I read so much sometimes I’ll get a recycled storyline with a different spin since I stick to the same genres. But this was a new one for me and it was very interesting. I enjoyed it a lot. I would’ve gotten through it quicker had life not gotten in the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews