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Wild #2
Maverick Wild
Haunted by a promise that he couldn't keep and a past he couldn't forget
Chance Morgan had locked away his heart. Until Cora Mae Tindale crossed half the country to find him. The beguiling creature who insisted on turning his serviceable ranch into a home was hiding something--and Chance was hell-bent on finding out her secrets!
Cora Mae only wanted a place to hide, but her youthful protector had grown into a war-hardened rancher with looks that could tempt a saint. Yet his dark glances were filled with distrust...and unmistakable desire. Cora Mae's childhood crush was rapidly becoming a much more adult craving!
Chance Morgan had locked away his heart. Until Cora Mae Tindale crossed half the country to find him. The beguiling creature who insisted on turning his serviceable ranch into a home was hiding something--and Chance was hell-bent on finding out her secrets!
Cora Mae only wanted a place to hide, but her youthful protector had grown into a war-hardened rancher with looks that could tempt a saint. Yet his dark glances were filled with distrust...and unmistakable desire. Cora Mae's childhood crush was rapidly becoming a much more adult craving!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 2007
18 people are currently reading
692 people want to read
About the author
Stacey Kayne
8 books105 followersStacey Kayne is a new voice in western historical romance. Her debut novel MUSTANG WILD,(Wild Trilogy), was released in March 2007 from Harlequin. BRIDE OF SHADOW CANYON (Bride Series)was released in April 2007. Stacey has since sold eight western romances to Harlequin--watch for new installments in her WILD and BRIDE series. Specializing in the adventurous wild west, Stacey brings her love of the past to vivid life. With a passion for history and flair for storytelling, she strives to weave fact and fiction into a wild ride that can capture the heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 26, 2008
Maverick Wild gave me many hours of entertainment this weekend. It is the second story in the Morgan brothers duo by Stacey Kayne.
Chance Morgan is eager to continue his carefree bachelor existence and not at all eager to get married. However, meeting Cora Mae Tindale again puts a wrench in those plans. Cora is the daughter of his hated stepmother. When they were kids, she was a boon companion who Chance and his brother enjoyed corrupting. Many times they got the young girl in trouble with her mean, overbearing mother, but she never complained about the abuse that she suffered at her mother's hands.
When Chance and Tucker ran away to join the Confederate Army, they knew that they couldn't take little Cora Mae with them. But Chance promised to return for her. However, when they were able to come back, Cora was gone, and their stepmonster had sold their father's farm. Bitter about women and how marrying them destroyed a man's life, Chance vowed never to get married.
Twenty-one years later, they are reunited when Cora Mae arrives in Wyoming to visit her stepbrothers for a short time. When she arrives, she finds that Chance has become a hard, dangerous stranger who only sees a hated Tindale when he looks at her. Little does she know that he sees a beautiful red-head with bewitching curves that make it very difficult to be resistant to her.
He needn't worry that she wants to trap him into marriage. After a painful and harrowing experience with a man that her mother tries to force her to marry, Cora Mae has sworn never to marry. She just wants to feel a sense of family and home that she felt when she tagged along with Chance and Tucker as a girl.
Maverick Wild was an excellent book. It helped to cement my appreciation for Stacey Kayne as a western writer. It's not a copycat of her first book, Maverick Wild. The heroine and hero are different people with different motivations. Yet the elements that made her first novel appeal to me are there in spades: emotion, vivid descriptions of western life, good storytelling, and likable, appealing characters.
Cora Mae is not a rough and ready cowgirl like Skylar. She's more of a homemaker who is very happy knitting and crocheting, and baking goodies. She is a sturdy, curvaceous woman, who has been made to feel that she is unattractive. Although she is self-conscious after years of being put down by her mother, she has an inner strength and spunk that makes her a worthy opponent for Chance. She also has a sweetness and a kindness that makes everyone around her love her. Chance sees this in her, but is determined to resist the pull she has on him, at times showing a suspicious attitude towards her that is hurtful to Cora Mae.
Chance is definitely a western hero. He's very attractive in a hard, sexy way. He's tough and independent, but clearly loves his family and wants to protect them. Although he fights his attraction for Cora Mae fiercely, when he realizes how dangerous her plight is, he steps up to the plate to take measures to keep her safe, even if it means losing his freedom. Of course, deep down, the real reason is that he wants her to stay.
The chemistry between the characters is just as heady and appealing as it was in Mustang Wild, but there is also a poignancy as Cora Mae heals from her fears of men and opens her heart and mind to being loved by Chance.
If you would like to read a western that reinforces the joy of hearth and home, and features characters who are struggling to get over painful pasts to find a happy future, you will love this book.
Chance Morgan is eager to continue his carefree bachelor existence and not at all eager to get married. However, meeting Cora Mae Tindale again puts a wrench in those plans. Cora is the daughter of his hated stepmother. When they were kids, she was a boon companion who Chance and his brother enjoyed corrupting. Many times they got the young girl in trouble with her mean, overbearing mother, but she never complained about the abuse that she suffered at her mother's hands.
When Chance and Tucker ran away to join the Confederate Army, they knew that they couldn't take little Cora Mae with them. But Chance promised to return for her. However, when they were able to come back, Cora was gone, and their stepmonster had sold their father's farm. Bitter about women and how marrying them destroyed a man's life, Chance vowed never to get married.
Twenty-one years later, they are reunited when Cora Mae arrives in Wyoming to visit her stepbrothers for a short time. When she arrives, she finds that Chance has become a hard, dangerous stranger who only sees a hated Tindale when he looks at her. Little does she know that he sees a beautiful red-head with bewitching curves that make it very difficult to be resistant to her.
He needn't worry that she wants to trap him into marriage. After a painful and harrowing experience with a man that her mother tries to force her to marry, Cora Mae has sworn never to marry. She just wants to feel a sense of family and home that she felt when she tagged along with Chance and Tucker as a girl.
Maverick Wild was an excellent book. It helped to cement my appreciation for Stacey Kayne as a western writer. It's not a copycat of her first book, Maverick Wild. The heroine and hero are different people with different motivations. Yet the elements that made her first novel appeal to me are there in spades: emotion, vivid descriptions of western life, good storytelling, and likable, appealing characters.
Cora Mae is not a rough and ready cowgirl like Skylar. She's more of a homemaker who is very happy knitting and crocheting, and baking goodies. She is a sturdy, curvaceous woman, who has been made to feel that she is unattractive. Although she is self-conscious after years of being put down by her mother, she has an inner strength and spunk that makes her a worthy opponent for Chance. She also has a sweetness and a kindness that makes everyone around her love her. Chance sees this in her, but is determined to resist the pull she has on him, at times showing a suspicious attitude towards her that is hurtful to Cora Mae.
Chance is definitely a western hero. He's very attractive in a hard, sexy way. He's tough and independent, but clearly loves his family and wants to protect them. Although he fights his attraction for Cora Mae fiercely, when he realizes how dangerous her plight is, he steps up to the plate to take measures to keep her safe, even if it means losing his freedom. Of course, deep down, the real reason is that he wants her to stay.
The chemistry between the characters is just as heady and appealing as it was in Mustang Wild, but there is also a poignancy as Cora Mae heals from her fears of men and opens her heart and mind to being loved by Chance.
If you would like to read a western that reinforces the joy of hearth and home, and features characters who are struggling to get over painful pasts to find a happy future, you will love this book.
March 26, 2016
This book was ok. I saw the cover and immediately thought "yes please!" I didn't realize it was set in the 1800s. Not that I mind because I love historical but the cover is totally misleading. No Bueno!
Anywho moving on...
The book started off interesting Cora Mae had secrets and Chance was a the biggest asshole. Love books like that. I was getting into it. I was hoping there was a good reason for his foul treatment against Cora Mae and Cora's secret was juicy that I was speed reading just to find out. I was sadly disappointed.
It took way to long for Cora to spill why she came looking for Chance and Tucker. Her reason to runaway I got, it bring a huge hush hush, no that was lame. Cora ran away from mommy because she was forcing her to wed a man she refused to marry. Some Scottish Laird. They never explained why the mom wanted the match badly nor why this Laird wanted Cora. The way her mom pimped her out was sad. Her mom was a piece of work.
Chance was a douche because Cora's mom is a raving bitch. So he treated her badly because he assumed she turned into her mom. I don't know why, everything she did even from the get go seemed genuine. And he stood an ass for most of the book.
Their relationship. I never felt the love. They acted like brother and sister and that's how I viewed them. I didn't feel the passion. I think it's how Cora was written. She was like a dead fish.
Some of the added characters bugged me. I think the neighbor lady who did a bunch of crazy shit got off way to easy.
Towards the last 2-3 chapters Cora annoyed me. I was enjoying her character up until her and Chance started to become more than siblings.
Anywho moving on...
The book started off interesting Cora Mae had secrets and Chance was a the biggest asshole. Love books like that. I was getting into it. I was hoping there was a good reason for his foul treatment against Cora Mae and Cora's secret was juicy that I was speed reading just to find out. I was sadly disappointed.
It took way to long for Cora to spill why she came looking for Chance and Tucker. Her reason to runaway I got, it bring a huge hush hush, no that was lame. Cora ran away from mommy because she was forcing her to wed a man she refused to marry. Some Scottish Laird. They never explained why the mom wanted the match badly nor why this Laird wanted Cora. The way her mom pimped her out was sad. Her mom was a piece of work.
Chance was a douche because Cora's mom is a raving bitch. So he treated her badly because he assumed she turned into her mom. I don't know why, everything she did even from the get go seemed genuine. And he stood an ass for most of the book.
Their relationship. I never felt the love. They acted like brother and sister and that's how I viewed them. I didn't feel the passion. I think it's how Cora was written. She was like a dead fish.
Some of the added characters bugged me. I think the neighbor lady who did a bunch of crazy shit got off way to easy.
Towards the last 2-3 chapters Cora annoyed me. I was enjoying her character up until her and Chance started to become more than siblings.
December 19, 2022
Preface
Explain to me why did we need a POV from the OW in this story? When it should had been used for the romance that definitely needed some brushing up? I feel like we could have had a better emotional impact if things had been more detailed. They barely spent enough time together!
The heroine asked the hero not to call her Cora Mae (just Cora), does he respect her? Lol nope. If he wanted it to be endearing he ought to have explained to her that he loved the sound of it and then let her decide if she would allow him or not. Not simply ignore her wishes ( a big theme in this dumpster fire).
I ended up liking it because of the couple of the previous books. It makes me wow that there are not enough books or movies that deal with the lives of well married couples. It was an adventure and a half- with me just having the sidelines!- can you imagine if I had the whole inside scoop?
————————————————————————————
RATINGS:
Plot : 2 📚📚 Some.
World Building(Immersion): 2.5 🌎🌎💫 Only the head still out even with the current dragging me down. Wyoming is definitely on my bucket list.
Angst : 1 👹 Being bitten by a mosquito.
Funniness: 3 🌝🌝🌝 I laughed out loud.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 2.5 💖💖💫It was there.
Spice: 3 🌶🌶🌶 Explicit, but not a big part of the story.
Goriness: 2 🫀🫀 Somewhat descriptive violence.
Sadness: ❎ No sadness. I don’t weep for the dumb. Nonetheless, I did feel sympathy for Cora Mae. The lack of tears had nothing to do with the lack of tragedy in her life but more with the fact that I was not invested in the story.
Overall star rating : 2.5 ⭐️⭐️💫 It was okay, a lot lacking.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨MILD SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
The Good Place:
▫️ Cora Mae. She was alright, nothing extraordinary. I wished she had given Chance the hell he deserved it. He treated her like crap- she should have treated him like crap back. I’m not about the high road; I’m about the road straight to hell. Give as well as you get. You have to match people’s energies if you want them not to walk all over you.
▫️Skylar and Tuck. I love them even more on this book. 100% salvaged this. Their babies and their affectionate moments were the highlight this unmasterful piece.
The Bad Place:
▪️Chance. He came through in the end, I enjoyed his grow, and even the story. I still don’t like him. He is not my type of Hero. If it were not for the wonderful snippets we get of Skylar and Tuck in this story I would stay it is totally skip-able.
▪️Garret. 🥸 I was pissed with the character assassination the author had to give this boy only to make Cora Mae come across as “desirable”.
▪️The wretched other woman in this story. I felt bad for the guy who got saddled with her…
Romance Safety: Not 100% safe. I’m premising this by saying the hero is an absolute DUMBASS. You have been warned. Okayyy sooooo… the H is experienced; has been celibate for a long while. The h is inexperienced but not a virgin (she has a traumatic past to go with that poor girl). The is OW drama galore in this shit show. We even get her POV’s- from which we can gauge her evil plans along with the fact she has a paramour she cheats on constantly. The H entertain the idea of marriage with her to get the h out of his mind (🙄 gosh I hate when fictional men are just like real life loser men). He kisses her after kissing the h. It’s nothing passionate, he doesn’t feel anything. But still… 🤢. After he officially gets with the h he is completely loyal and devoted. 😀 Bare minimum type of behavior. Happy ending for these two fools. The h is married and pregnant by the epilogue.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌Lord, we thank you for this bounty, for blessing us with a healthy family and hardworking crew. We thank you for bringing Cora Mae back into our lives, which has pleased my wife no end. Help us, Lord, as we struggle with tolerance and humility, and give us the wisdom to choose our battles wisely, so that we may continue to earn your grace. Amen.”
Nothing like some passive aggressive prayer time to get the message across 🤣
📌I believe you misplaced a few of your things around my house.”
😧 what a freaking a-hole
📌He knew she’d been hiding something—he just hadn’t connected it with Wyatt.
This man has to be dumber than dumb
📌 Tucker didn’t deserve to have more bloodshed on his hands. He didn’t deserve to continually suffer because of Chance’s mistakes.
Yeah 🙂.

📌His wide, bronze shoulders shifted, drawing her gaze to the firm planes and sculpted muscle of his chest. A wave of heat rushed through her body, sending a flush into her cheeks.
Homeboy just told he was courting another woman and you are all hot and bothered 😀. I have no faith left in you.
📌Can you forgive me for my actions, the things I’ve said?”
🤓 he hasn’t even had the correct actions to back up his claims and I already know this girl is going to forgive him as quickly as she will take her next breath.
📌The concern in his gaze only increased the chaos raging inside her. “I already have,” she said, her voice barely audible.
😃 somehow this was worse
📌“Go ahead and take shots if it’ll make you feel better. But like you, I was too damn scared to tell Skylar I loved her when I should have. I’ve since wised up. I love my wife. I don’t have any qualms about telling her so. In fact, I make a point of it.”“Not all folks gush like the two of you.”“True,” agreed Tucker. “Just the lucky ones.”
Amen 🙏🏻.
📌His eyes darkened as he leaned and kissed her nose, then her lips. “This is how it will be between us,” he said. “No pain. Only passion.” He kissed her forehead. “And pleasure.” His lips brushed hers. “And trust.”
📌Remember my promise?” He kissed her lips. “Buck-naked on top of me. You say the word, and I’ll stop.
A redeeming quality.
Explain to me why did we need a POV from the OW in this story? When it should had been used for the romance that definitely needed some brushing up? I feel like we could have had a better emotional impact if things had been more detailed. They barely spent enough time together!
The heroine asked the hero not to call her Cora Mae (just Cora), does he respect her? Lol nope. If he wanted it to be endearing he ought to have explained to her that he loved the sound of it and then let her decide if she would allow him or not. Not simply ignore her wishes ( a big theme in this dumpster fire).
I ended up liking it because of the couple of the previous books. It makes me wow that there are not enough books or movies that deal with the lives of well married couples. It was an adventure and a half- with me just having the sidelines!- can you imagine if I had the whole inside scoop?
————————————————————————————
RATINGS:
Plot : 2 📚📚 Some.
World Building(Immersion): 2.5 🌎🌎💫 Only the head still out even with the current dragging me down. Wyoming is definitely on my bucket list.
Angst : 1 👹 Being bitten by a mosquito.
Funniness: 3 🌝🌝🌝 I laughed out loud.
Scariness: ❎ Not scary.
Romance: 2.5 💖💖💫It was there.
Spice: 3 🌶🌶🌶 Explicit, but not a big part of the story.
Goriness: 2 🫀🫀 Somewhat descriptive violence.
Sadness: ❎ No sadness. I don’t weep for the dumb. Nonetheless, I did feel sympathy for Cora Mae. The lack of tears had nothing to do with the lack of tragedy in her life but more with the fact that I was not invested in the story.
Overall star rating : 2.5 ⭐️⭐️💫 It was okay, a lot lacking.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨MILD SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨
The Good Place:
▫️ Cora Mae. She was alright, nothing extraordinary. I wished she had given Chance the hell he deserved it. He treated her like crap- she should have treated him like crap back. I’m not about the high road; I’m about the road straight to hell. Give as well as you get. You have to match people’s energies if you want them not to walk all over you.
▫️Skylar and Tuck. I love them even more on this book. 100% salvaged this. Their babies and their affectionate moments were the highlight this unmasterful piece.
The Bad Place:
▪️Chance. He came through in the end, I enjoyed his grow, and even the story. I still don’t like him. He is not my type of Hero. If it were not for the wonderful snippets we get of Skylar and Tuck in this story I would stay it is totally skip-able.
▪️Garret. 🥸 I was pissed with the character assassination the author had to give this boy only to make Cora Mae come across as “desirable”.
▪️The wretched other woman in this story. I felt bad for the guy who got saddled with her…
Romance Safety: Not 100% safe. I’m premising this by saying the hero is an absolute DUMBASS. You have been warned. Okayyy sooooo… the H is experienced; has been celibate for a long while. The h is inexperienced but not a virgin (she has a traumatic past to go with that poor girl). The is OW drama galore in this shit show. We even get her POV’s- from which we can gauge her evil plans along with the fact she has a paramour she cheats on constantly. The H entertain the idea of marriage with her to get the h out of his mind (🙄 gosh I hate when fictional men are just like real life loser men). He kisses her after kissing the h. It’s nothing passionate, he doesn’t feel anything. But still… 🤢. After he officially gets with the h he is completely loyal and devoted. 😀 Bare minimum type of behavior. Happy ending for these two fools. The h is married and pregnant by the epilogue.
————————————————————————————
🚨🚨🚨🚨 SPOILERS 🚨🚨🚨🚨
Some ( Very Random) Moments of Notice Along With (Sometimes) My Very Live Reactions Straight From My Notes App to You:
📌Lord, we thank you for this bounty, for blessing us with a healthy family and hardworking crew. We thank you for bringing Cora Mae back into our lives, which has pleased my wife no end. Help us, Lord, as we struggle with tolerance and humility, and give us the wisdom to choose our battles wisely, so that we may continue to earn your grace. Amen.”
Nothing like some passive aggressive prayer time to get the message across 🤣
📌I believe you misplaced a few of your things around my house.”
😧 what a freaking a-hole
📌He knew she’d been hiding something—he just hadn’t connected it with Wyatt.
This man has to be dumber than dumb
📌 Tucker didn’t deserve to have more bloodshed on his hands. He didn’t deserve to continually suffer because of Chance’s mistakes.
Yeah 🙂.

📌His wide, bronze shoulders shifted, drawing her gaze to the firm planes and sculpted muscle of his chest. A wave of heat rushed through her body, sending a flush into her cheeks.
Homeboy just told he was courting another woman and you are all hot and bothered 😀. I have no faith left in you.
📌Can you forgive me for my actions, the things I’ve said?”
🤓 he hasn’t even had the correct actions to back up his claims and I already know this girl is going to forgive him as quickly as she will take her next breath.
📌The concern in his gaze only increased the chaos raging inside her. “I already have,” she said, her voice barely audible.
😃 somehow this was worse
📌“Go ahead and take shots if it’ll make you feel better. But like you, I was too damn scared to tell Skylar I loved her when I should have. I’ve since wised up. I love my wife. I don’t have any qualms about telling her so. In fact, I make a point of it.”“Not all folks gush like the two of you.”“True,” agreed Tucker. “Just the lucky ones.”
Amen 🙏🏻.
📌His eyes darkened as he leaned and kissed her nose, then her lips. “This is how it will be between us,” he said. “No pain. Only passion.” He kissed her forehead. “And pleasure.” His lips brushed hers. “And trust.”
📌Remember my promise?” He kissed her lips. “Buck-naked on top of me. You say the word, and I’ll stop.
A redeeming quality.
June 3, 2013
Mmmm... It was good, but not as good as the previous one.
I liked Cora Mae, but I liked Sky better. So my main complaint was Cora Mae.
While Sky was tough and resilient, Cora mae was a little bit broken.
I understand that she's been working for herself, managing a boarding house, but actually I didn't see that strenght and capability. It was just told not shown.
She comes at the ranch to escape her mother, but continues to lie to Chance telling him she died. How stupid is that?
I couldn't get why she cound't tell them her mother was alive and after her? What was the problem?
Obviously the Morgans hate her mother, but that could not be the reason for not telling.
Chance was good and hot, but I was expecting more from him. He knows Cora Mae is lying and hiding something, but does he push to find out the truth? No, he doesn't until the very end! It was frustating.
I don't want to rant too much, because I enjoyed the book, but there were these things that ruined the joy, so thus only 4 stars. :D
I liked Cora Mae, but I liked Sky better. So my main complaint was Cora Mae.
While Sky was tough and resilient, Cora mae was a little bit broken.
I understand that she's been working for herself, managing a boarding house, but actually I didn't see that strenght and capability. It was just told not shown.
She comes at the ranch to escape her mother, but continues to lie to Chance telling him she died. How stupid is that?
I couldn't get why she cound't tell them her mother was alive and after her? What was the problem?
Obviously the Morgans hate her mother, but that could not be the reason for not telling.
Chance was good and hot, but I was expecting more from him. He knows Cora Mae is lying and hiding something, but does he push to find out the truth? No, he doesn't until the very end! It was frustating.
I don't want to rant too much, because I enjoyed the book, but there were these things that ruined the joy, so thus only 4 stars. :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2015
I honestly wanted to like this book, and the setup was great, but I could not stand Chance, the "hero."
Chance and his twin brother Tucker hated their stepmother, who disrupted their home, drove their father away with her bad personality, and frequently had them whipped for no reason. When they were twelve, they ran away to join the war. They left behind their nine year old stepsister, Cora Mae. Chance and Cora Mae were especially close and she made him promise to come back for her when he could. He never came back and she was left with her abusive mother. Twenty one years later, fleeing the engagement her mother is forcing her into, she seeks her brothers out in their successful Wyoming ranch. She's thrilled to see Chance again, but he treats her coldly, bringing her home with him but making it clear she's unwelcome. He doesn't trust anyone anymore and can't forgive her mother and by extension Cora Mae.
I like a cold, hostile hero, but I really just hated Chance. His behavior gradually improved, but I couldn't forgive him for how he treated Cora Mae. Her mother mistreated him when he was a kid and then life got tough when he and his brother ran away. Well, boo-hoo for him. His rudeness to Cora Mae was so unmanly and irrational that the only scenes I enjoyed were the when Cora Mae put him in his place. The first time she saw him, after TWENTY YEARS apart, she hugs him and excitedly tries to tell him about herself, but he just pushes her away. Even though they were close friends as children, now, TWENTY YEARS later, all he can think of his her mother and how her mother's probably sent her to latch onto his successful ranch. Totally out there. I wanted Cora Mae to pack her bags after the first day, tell him to go to hell, and move on.
Chance and his twin brother Tucker hated their stepmother, who disrupted their home, drove their father away with her bad personality, and frequently had them whipped for no reason. When they were twelve, they ran away to join the war. They left behind their nine year old stepsister, Cora Mae. Chance and Cora Mae were especially close and she made him promise to come back for her when he could. He never came back and she was left with her abusive mother. Twenty one years later, fleeing the engagement her mother is forcing her into, she seeks her brothers out in their successful Wyoming ranch. She's thrilled to see Chance again, but he treats her coldly, bringing her home with him but making it clear she's unwelcome. He doesn't trust anyone anymore and can't forgive her mother and by extension Cora Mae.
I like a cold, hostile hero, but I really just hated Chance. His behavior gradually improved, but I couldn't forgive him for how he treated Cora Mae. Her mother mistreated him when he was a kid and then life got tough when he and his brother ran away. Well, boo-hoo for him. His rudeness to Cora Mae was so unmanly and irrational that the only scenes I enjoyed were the when Cora Mae put him in his place. The first time she saw him, after TWENTY YEARS apart, she hugs him and excitedly tries to tell him about herself, but he just pushes her away. Even though they were close friends as children, now, TWENTY YEARS later, all he can think of his her mother and how her mother's probably sent her to latch onto his successful ranch. Totally out there. I wanted Cora Mae to pack her bags after the first day, tell him to go to hell, and move on.
August 6, 2024
I'm not one for historical romances but I've made some exceptions.
I'm so happy I made an exception here. This story was one of the teasing stories where the two characters get close then spring apart, get close, spring apart, etc etc. As the reader we know about the issues plaguing both characters and see when a button has been pushed, but the characters have no idea and are then hurt and confused by the hot and cold game.
It's difficult to pull off one of these types of stories because it can feel (to the reader) like there is no story or progression, it just feels like we're going in circles.
This story was really well executed. There was definately progression with each slight/misunderstanding, and it keeps the reader hooked as we watch these two childhood sweethearts reconnect.
I'm so happy I made an exception here. This story was one of the teasing stories where the two characters get close then spring apart, get close, spring apart, etc etc. As the reader we know about the issues plaguing both characters and see when a button has been pushed, but the characters have no idea and are then hurt and confused by the hot and cold game.
It's difficult to pull off one of these types of stories because it can feel (to the reader) like there is no story or progression, it just feels like we're going in circles.
This story was really well executed. There was definately progression with each slight/misunderstanding, and it keeps the reader hooked as we watch these two childhood sweethearts reconnect.
February 16, 2008
Stacey Kayne writes the best Western stories, with unforgettable characters.
July 16, 2011
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED everything about this Historical romance....Call me WEIRD but LOVED that Tucker (and his twin) were so protective of their little step-sis. LOVED how she, Cora Mae (yuck too the name though)came back. Tuck promised to come back for her. And they ended up falling in LOVE!!! I would DEFINITELY read another book by Stacey Kayne!
August 8, 2011
A nice story that kept my interest. A quick and easy read but probably not something that I'll remember much about for long. Some of the situations just seemed glossed over. So a fairly light read.
February 28, 2018
Chance and Cora have a shared path and shared pain. But when Cora meets up with Chance 20 years after they separated as children, Chance greets her with scepticism and distrust. Cora is as sweet as she can be and has a very sad backstory. I really liked her. Chance treats Cora horribly and is so confused and bewildered that I wanted to smack him a few times.
I do wish that Chase's change of mind/feelings had been more gradual. It felt a little rushed but it was still sweet and satisfying.
Can't wait to read Garrett's book.
I do wish that Chase's change of mind/feelings had been more gradual. It felt a little rushed but it was still sweet and satisfying.
Can't wait to read Garrett's book.
March 12, 2018
This is a cute historical romance. The characters didn't capture my interest like I had hoped, but still enjoyable.
November 16, 2015
Chance Morgan has sworn never to marry and definitely never to give his heart away, the only ones he loves are his twin brother and his brood. He watched his father's life torn apart by his step mother and he won't allow the same to happen to him. His only regret: Cora Mae, his step sister, she was just as caught up in his step mothers cruelty as he was, only when he managed to escape he had to leave her behind. However, Cora Mae has turned up in his life again, no longer an adorable eight year old girl, but a fully grown and curvy woman he can't seem to get his mind off, no matter how much he tries.
So far Maverick Wild has to be my favourite in the series it has everything I love, a surly yet red hot cowboy and a curvy plain Jane type of heroine. Throw this all in together and you get a sexy, sweet type of romance that I devoured in a day and was left wanting more.
Where, in the first book Tucker was charming Chance, despite being his twin, was the complete opposite and was rude and bad tempered with just a tad bit of brooding. I don't know why, but I love the grumpy ones so Chance won me over with his non-charm immediately. Not that he didn't have his fun side, he just kept it well hidden so when it did come out, it made it all the more sweet. I also really liked Cora Mae, she wasn't as fiery as the first heroine but had her own core of quiet inner strength that I found just as likable.
The romance between Cora Mae and Chance was really cute, they have a long history together with shared good and bad memories and I loved seeing them come together and heal old wounds. Stacey Kayne has definitely won me over with Maverick Wild and I am really enjoying this series it's sexy, funny with an underlying sweetness, I can't wait to read the third and final book.
So far Maverick Wild has to be my favourite in the series it has everything I love, a surly yet red hot cowboy and a curvy plain Jane type of heroine. Throw this all in together and you get a sexy, sweet type of romance that I devoured in a day and was left wanting more.
Where, in the first book Tucker was charming Chance, despite being his twin, was the complete opposite and was rude and bad tempered with just a tad bit of brooding. I don't know why, but I love the grumpy ones so Chance won me over with his non-charm immediately. Not that he didn't have his fun side, he just kept it well hidden so when it did come out, it made it all the more sweet. I also really liked Cora Mae, she wasn't as fiery as the first heroine but had her own core of quiet inner strength that I found just as likable.
The romance between Cora Mae and Chance was really cute, they have a long history together with shared good and bad memories and I loved seeing them come together and heal old wounds. Stacey Kayne has definitely won me over with Maverick Wild and I am really enjoying this series it's sexy, funny with an underlying sweetness, I can't wait to read the third and final book.
October 23, 2015
Cora and Chance. I haven't read the first book, but it didn't effect my enjoyment of this one. Chance and his twin brother have bad memories of Cora's mother. When she'd married their father, life had become unbearable. At the age of 13, they ran away to join the rebel forces in the civil war. Twenty years later, Cora shows up at their ranch to a mixed welcome. Chance's brother welcomes her back, but Chance can only seem to think of her as their evil step mom's kid and not as the little red headed girl who tagged along on their crazy shenanigans as kids. Somehow though, no matter how much of a sh*t Chance is to Cora, it didn't ruin the book for me. He knew he was being a jerk and felt lousy about it afterwards, but just couldn't seem to help himself. It doesn't help that Cora is obviously keeping secrets. To someone who already doubts her, it seems all too deceitful. That is until he discovers what those secrets are. Then he finally pulls his head out of his arse and becomes the man Cora needs. Cora's character was sweet yet resilient and took no guff from Chance. I think if it had been a wee bit more fleshed out historically it would have been a 5 star read. The ending was refreshing if a little convenient, but fitting none-the-less. Although there is an OW,
December 19, 2016
3.25 stars
August 16, 2011
Anothr good one. At the beginning I didn't like Cora so much. She seemed to me not sincere but she paid a high price for having such a horrible mother. He was great and so likeable! I love Tucker family.
February 28, 2010
this is a really cool and hot book
February 21, 2012
4.5 stars!!
January 12, 2025
For a mills and boone book, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The setting, the characters a throughly enjoyable read.
June 15, 2024
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Maverick Wild is the second book in Stacy Kayne’s Wild historical western romance series. Chance and Cora Mae became step-siblings and friends when his father married her mother, but his father was away fighting in the Civil War and her mother was abusive. At thirteen, Chance and his twin, Tucker, decided to escape their stepmother’s cruelty by going to join their father in the army, but that meant leaving Cora Mae behind. Chance promised to return for her, a vow he was never able to keep. Twenty years have gone by, during which Chance and Tucker have become successful horse ranchers in Wyoming. Chance is shocked when Cora Mae, now grown with gorgeous red curls and generous curves, shows up one day out of the blue. Cora just wants to reconnect with the step-brothers she adored and hopes to find a soft place to land and regroup after escaping her conniving mother’s marriage plot. Everyone at the ranch seems to welcome her except Chance who senses that she’s keeping secrets and worries that after two decades, she may have turned into her mother and might have ulterior motives for visiting. He’s also frustrated by the fact that he’s deeply attracted to her but has no interest in getting married. Neither does Cora for that matter, but she, too, finds Chance rather irresistible when he isn’t being rude to her. However, any headway they make toward a romantic relationship could be derailed by a neighboring widowed ranch owner who wants Chance for herself and is willing to do almost anything to get him and by Cora’s mother who will stop at nothing to get her back to make good on the marriage deal she made.
Cora Mae idolized Chance and Tucker, her two older step-brothers, and had all sorts of adventures with them during the two years they lived together as kids. But then they left her with her abusive mother. Chance promised to come back for her but never returned, so Cora had to make her own way in life. She finally got free of her mother and found a job running a boarding house for girls who worked at a local mill, something that she loved doing. However, when her mother insisted that she come home, Cora naively thought the woman had finally seen the error of her ways, when in reality she only wanted Cora for the money and prestige she would bring to the family by marrying her off to a Scottish laird. Cora had no interest in marrying the man, but her mother forced the issue by violent means, leaving Cora terrified. She escaped out a window in a desperate bid for freedom and immediately headed for Wyoming where she’d heard Chance and Tucker started a ranch. She’s overjoyed to see them and fits right in with their family, but Chance distrusts her and sometimes treats her rudely. She can’t seem to help feeling all tingly, though, when he’s near. Although she has no real interest in marrying, when her mother shows up, trying to take her back, the protection that marriage to Chance would offer may be her only option. Cora Mae is as sweet as can be. She isn’t afraid of hard work and is absolutely nothing like her selfish, shrewish mother. Underneath the sweet exterior, she’s brave and strong to have escaped her mother’s abuse and traveled all the way to Wyoming alone. Even though she didn’t intend to get married, she doesn’t resist the idea when it’s Chance asking and she blossoms under his tender care. I just adored Cora and thought she was a wonderful heroine.
Chance knows that he was just a youth when he made his promise to Cora Mae and it wasn’t entirely his fault that he wasn’t able to keep it. However, a part of him has never forgotten her and feels guilty about it. He’s since become a successful rancher with many local mamas trying to foist their daughters off on him and their widowed neighbor is beyond eager for an alliance between their ranches, but he has no real interest in marrying. Then Cora Mae shows up out of the blue. She’s grown up into a tempting woman, nothing like the mischievous kid he remembers. He senses that she’s keeping something from them, which instantly puts him on guard, thinking that her mother might have somehow influenced her to come, wanting a piece of their ranch. Everyone else seems to love Cora, though, and Chance slowly begins to warm up to her as well. She tempts him beyond reason until he can barely stand it anymore. And when Cora’s mother comes calling and the truth of why she really ran that night comes out, he doesn’t hesitate to safeguard her the best way he knows how, by giving her his name. But even with him as her defender, the danger still lurks in the shadows. Chance is a typical hyper-protective alpha male who is rather clueless about his feelings in the beginning. Wanting to keep his family safe, he’s a bit of jerk toward Cora at first. Normally I don’t like it much when heroes act like this, but I understood where he was coming from and he has moments where he’s able to let his guard down around her a little. When he decided to deal with his lust for Cora by going to their widowed neighbor, I wanted to smack him until he instantly realized that kissing her didn’t hold a candle to kissing Cora. Once the truth came out, I liked how Chance immediately leapt to Cora’s defense and after that he treated her like a precious jewel. He may have started out being a tad irritating but the man definitely knows how to grovel and treat a lady right in the end.
It’s been a few years since I read the first book of the Wild series. I enjoyed it, but apparently it didn’t make a strong enough impression on me to give the series a high priority status, so Maverick Wild has been languishing on my TBR list. Now I’m wishing I’d bumped it up sooner, because I absolutely loved it. Cora was everything I look for in a romance heroine. She’s sweet but has backbone, and she’s all about family, even extending undeserved kindness to her wretched mother. She melts in Chance’s arms and she doesn’t fight her feelings for him. Chance is stubborn in the beginning but his actions make sense, and once he gives up on fighting his feelings, he’s the ideal husband and lover, gentle, tender and passionate. It was easy to see how perfect these two were for one another right from the start. It just took them both a while to realize it for themselves. There were enough villains working their machinations in the background to keep things a touch suspenseful. I also loved being able to visit with the other characters in the series. Tucker and Skylar (Mustang Wild) add to their family and are there for Chance and Cora in every way. Garrett (Mountain Wild), who’s still just a teenager, goes a little sweet on Cora himself, and unfortunately gets his heart broken, but that’s okay. He’s still young and it looks like his future is with the mountain woman everyone calls “Mad Mags.” I’m rather looking forward to learning what her story is and seeing Garrett get his HEA. I couldn’t have asked for a better read than Maverick Wild. It was practically perfect in every way and I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it. It’s left me eager to finish up the series, so I’ll be trying not to wait so long for the next one.
Maverick Wild is the second book in Stacy Kayne’s Wild historical western romance series. Chance and Cora Mae became step-siblings and friends when his father married her mother, but his father was away fighting in the Civil War and her mother was abusive. At thirteen, Chance and his twin, Tucker, decided to escape their stepmother’s cruelty by going to join their father in the army, but that meant leaving Cora Mae behind. Chance promised to return for her, a vow he was never able to keep. Twenty years have gone by, during which Chance and Tucker have become successful horse ranchers in Wyoming. Chance is shocked when Cora Mae, now grown with gorgeous red curls and generous curves, shows up one day out of the blue. Cora just wants to reconnect with the step-brothers she adored and hopes to find a soft place to land and regroup after escaping her conniving mother’s marriage plot. Everyone at the ranch seems to welcome her except Chance who senses that she’s keeping secrets and worries that after two decades, she may have turned into her mother and might have ulterior motives for visiting. He’s also frustrated by the fact that he’s deeply attracted to her but has no interest in getting married. Neither does Cora for that matter, but she, too, finds Chance rather irresistible when he isn’t being rude to her. However, any headway they make toward a romantic relationship could be derailed by a neighboring widowed ranch owner who wants Chance for herself and is willing to do almost anything to get him and by Cora’s mother who will stop at nothing to get her back to make good on the marriage deal she made.
Cora Mae idolized Chance and Tucker, her two older step-brothers, and had all sorts of adventures with them during the two years they lived together as kids. But then they left her with her abusive mother. Chance promised to come back for her but never returned, so Cora had to make her own way in life. She finally got free of her mother and found a job running a boarding house for girls who worked at a local mill, something that she loved doing. However, when her mother insisted that she come home, Cora naively thought the woman had finally seen the error of her ways, when in reality she only wanted Cora for the money and prestige she would bring to the family by marrying her off to a Scottish laird. Cora had no interest in marrying the man, but her mother forced the issue by violent means, leaving Cora terrified. She escaped out a window in a desperate bid for freedom and immediately headed for Wyoming where she’d heard Chance and Tucker started a ranch. She’s overjoyed to see them and fits right in with their family, but Chance distrusts her and sometimes treats her rudely. She can’t seem to help feeling all tingly, though, when he’s near. Although she has no real interest in marrying, when her mother shows up, trying to take her back, the protection that marriage to Chance would offer may be her only option. Cora Mae is as sweet as can be. She isn’t afraid of hard work and is absolutely nothing like her selfish, shrewish mother. Underneath the sweet exterior, she’s brave and strong to have escaped her mother’s abuse and traveled all the way to Wyoming alone. Even though she didn’t intend to get married, she doesn’t resist the idea when it’s Chance asking and she blossoms under his tender care. I just adored Cora and thought she was a wonderful heroine.
Chance knows that he was just a youth when he made his promise to Cora Mae and it wasn’t entirely his fault that he wasn’t able to keep it. However, a part of him has never forgotten her and feels guilty about it. He’s since become a successful rancher with many local mamas trying to foist their daughters off on him and their widowed neighbor is beyond eager for an alliance between their ranches, but he has no real interest in marrying. Then Cora Mae shows up out of the blue. She’s grown up into a tempting woman, nothing like the mischievous kid he remembers. He senses that she’s keeping something from them, which instantly puts him on guard, thinking that her mother might have somehow influenced her to come, wanting a piece of their ranch. Everyone else seems to love Cora, though, and Chance slowly begins to warm up to her as well. She tempts him beyond reason until he can barely stand it anymore. And when Cora’s mother comes calling and the truth of why she really ran that night comes out, he doesn’t hesitate to safeguard her the best way he knows how, by giving her his name. But even with him as her defender, the danger still lurks in the shadows. Chance is a typical hyper-protective alpha male who is rather clueless about his feelings in the beginning. Wanting to keep his family safe, he’s a bit of jerk toward Cora at first. Normally I don’t like it much when heroes act like this, but I understood where he was coming from and he has moments where he’s able to let his guard down around her a little. When he decided to deal with his lust for Cora by going to their widowed neighbor, I wanted to smack him until he instantly realized that kissing her didn’t hold a candle to kissing Cora. Once the truth came out, I liked how Chance immediately leapt to Cora’s defense and after that he treated her like a precious jewel. He may have started out being a tad irritating but the man definitely knows how to grovel and treat a lady right in the end.
It’s been a few years since I read the first book of the Wild series. I enjoyed it, but apparently it didn’t make a strong enough impression on me to give the series a high priority status, so Maverick Wild has been languishing on my TBR list. Now I’m wishing I’d bumped it up sooner, because I absolutely loved it. Cora was everything I look for in a romance heroine. She’s sweet but has backbone, and she’s all about family, even extending undeserved kindness to her wretched mother. She melts in Chance’s arms and she doesn’t fight her feelings for him. Chance is stubborn in the beginning but his actions make sense, and once he gives up on fighting his feelings, he’s the ideal husband and lover, gentle, tender and passionate. It was easy to see how perfect these two were for one another right from the start. It just took them both a while to realize it for themselves. There were enough villains working their machinations in the background to keep things a touch suspenseful. I also loved being able to visit with the other characters in the series. Tucker and Skylar (Mustang Wild) add to their family and are there for Chance and Cora in every way. Garrett (Mountain Wild), who’s still just a teenager, goes a little sweet on Cora himself, and unfortunately gets his heart broken, but that’s okay. He’s still young and it looks like his future is with the mountain woman everyone calls “Mad Mags.” I’m rather looking forward to learning what her story is and seeing Garrett get his HEA. I couldn’t have asked for a better read than Maverick Wild. It was practically perfect in every way and I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it. It’s left me eager to finish up the series, so I’ll be trying not to wait so long for the next one.
April 16, 2017
I'm sorry, but this book just frustrated me to the point, that I didn't finish it. I really hated Chance in this book, he was such a jerk! I expected something completely different. Something where a new friendship would be built and over time they would fall in love, but that wasn't the case at all (Though that's my fault, I should have read the description.)
So mostly the plot sucked + the two main characters were kinda meh and one rude af.
I still love her writing style though and I loved seeing a little bit of Tucker and Skylar and their family!
So mostly the plot sucked + the two main characters were kinda meh and one rude af.
I still love her writing style though and I loved seeing a little bit of Tucker and Skylar and their family!
December 21, 2018
While it is better than the first book in the series, it isn't so good for me to give it 4 stars. More like 3.5 stars.
Cora and Chance were two interesting characters who found their way to each other after Cora came finding her step-brothers in her attempt to escape her mother. They both spent a lot of time distrusting each other for good reason (eventually) but it was still a good story of finding each other. Not the best childhood friend plot but interesting enough.
Cora and Chance were two interesting characters who found their way to each other after Cora came finding her step-brothers in her attempt to escape her mother. They both spent a lot of time distrusting each other for good reason (eventually) but it was still a good story of finding each other. Not the best childhood friend plot but interesting enough.
July 7, 2023
Did not enjoy this one as much as the other installments by the author.
I was a bit conflicted about the relationship of the MCs ... them being step siblings.
Plus, not really into plump, rounded heroines ... I know, I know ... I'm being superficial - please don't shoot me ... I prefer the tall, lanky - flat chest as opposed to ample bosomed ones.
I loved the heroine's character though.
Story - wise ... so so.
Pleasant enough to pass the time but not angsty enough.
I was a bit conflicted about the relationship of the MCs ... them being step siblings.
Plus, not really into plump, rounded heroines ... I know, I know ... I'm being superficial - please don't shoot me ... I prefer the tall, lanky - flat chest as opposed to ample bosomed ones.
I loved the heroine's character though.
Story - wise ... so so.
Pleasant enough to pass the time but not angsty enough.
March 15, 2018
Maverick Wild
Terrific follow up to Tucker and Skylar's story. Chance missed Cora Mae with a vengeance, although he wouldn't admit it. When she encountered him as she arrived in town, she was surprised and hurt by the way he acted toward her. Chance had learned to trust no one except his brother and Skylar. For a had been raped and trusted no one.
Terrific follow up to Tucker and Skylar's story. Chance missed Cora Mae with a vengeance, although he wouldn't admit it. When she encountered him as she arrived in town, she was surprised and hurt by the way he acted toward her. Chance had learned to trust no one except his brother and Skylar. For a had been raped and trusted no one.
June 30, 2020
Wow! What a western
They are both 12 years old, twins Tucker and Chance Morgan. Their father left to join the Civil War. They had been left with their step-mother. She was physically abusive, beating them bloody and raw. As they escaped their little Wal-Mart begged them to come back and save her. Chance did. A great Western romance. Loved it
They are both 12 years old, twins Tucker and Chance Morgan. Their father left to join the Civil War. They had been left with their step-mother. She was physically abusive, beating them bloody and raw. As they escaped their little Wal-Mart begged them to come back and save her. Chance did. A great Western romance. Loved it
August 24, 2019
A bit dramatic...a bit unrealistic in the details (e.g., the making of a three-tier frosted wedding cake in a matter of hours before electricity). Liked it up till the end which I found a bit rushed.
May 1, 2021
When I tell y'all I loved this book I mean I LOOOOOVE this book. I read the whole thing in literally one day because I just couldn't put the book down. This was the first book from this author that I had read but I most definitely WILL be reading more books by her.
October 2, 2024
Rated 4.5. Liked this book but thought the first one better.
July 29, 2025
Great book.
Love Stacey Kayne. I would like to read more from her. Really good follow up to Mustang Wild. Hope to see more.
Love Stacey Kayne. I would like to read more from her. Really good follow up to Mustang Wild. Hope to see more.
October 14, 2016
Loved it!
Sweet, fun, emotional! This is my first in this series and can't wait to go back and read the first one.
Sweet, fun, emotional! This is my first in this series and can't wait to go back and read the first one.
March 1, 2017
Maverick Wild
Alright, let me start by saying I picked this up somehow not know it was an old western period piece, or whatever you call those. I honestly hate them. I'm a contemporary girl. Nothing wrong with the others they are just not for me. That being said I paid for this so I read it. Although this is not my favorite type of book, it was well written and had some great plot. Would I read more books like this? Probably not. Am I glad I finished it? Yup. It was really good for a type of book I'm. It found of.
Alright, let me start by saying I picked this up somehow not know it was an old western period piece, or whatever you call those. I honestly hate them. I'm a contemporary girl. Nothing wrong with the others they are just not for me. That being said I paid for this so I read it. Although this is not my favorite type of book, it was well written and had some great plot. Would I read more books like this? Probably not. Am I glad I finished it? Yup. It was really good for a type of book I'm. It found of.
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