Ace's Wild

Hell's Eight #7

by Sarah McCarty

When you gamble with desire, be prepared to risk everything… 

Unlike the rest of the Hell's Eight brotherhood, Ace Parker's home isn't on the range. This restless cowboy craves the hustle of Simple, Texas, a lawless town where he can sate his darker appetites without guilt. At least he could, until Petunia Wayfield arrived. The prickly new teacher is insisting that Ace help her rid the town of drunkenness and card playing. For that kind of miracle, Ace demands a reward the spinster schoolmarm will surely never give. 

But Petunia isn't backing down. Not when the intense passion Ace offers shatters her to the core. As soon as she can afford a ticket to California, she'll leave Simple behind for good. Until then, she'll match his sensual challenge with her own, daring him to give up his fiercely guarded self-control. And then real danger claims Petunia, forcing Ace to reveal the man he really is�even if it drives her away forever….

Genres: Historical Romance, Westerns, Historical, Romance, Western Romance, BDSM, Erotic Romance

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
(1)romance author

Sarah has traveled extensively throughout her life, living in other cultures, sometimes in areas where electricity was a concept awaiting fruition and a book was an extreme luxury. While she could easily adjust to the lack of electricity, living without the comfort of a good book was intolerable. To fill the void, she bought pencil and paper and sketched out her own story. In the process, Sarah discovered the joy of writing.

Sarah writes what she loves to read; fast paced stories with vivid dialogue, intense emotion and well developed characters. Her attention to detail in her stories has earned her multiple awards and a reserved spot on Keeper shelves everywhere.

Sarah writes for Ellora's Cave, Harlequin HQN, Harlequin SPICE, Berkley HEAT and Berkley SENSATION.

Reviews

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every time he said: "Ask me nicely" I swear I wanted to kick him in the balls and then bludgeon him to death with something. Seriously. He was so f*cking irritating I couldn't stand him at all. I guess I'm just not for his type though I gotta say I've read a few books with relationships like the MC-s have here and maybe it was written better so I could understand what made them want it. Here I don't understand at all. I just want to bash his head in hahahah yes I'm crazy but I'm still irritated by him. Oh well.

[Hayat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is for those who like their western historical romance with side serving of BDSM.

***Spoiler Alert***
This review is mostly about the hero and all the ways he's managed to reduce this potentially hot and meaningful romance into a 2 star read.

'When you gamble with desire, be prepared to risk everything…...'


I've never read the Hell's Eight series before and it looks like, from all the GR rating, Ace's Wild (book 7) is not the best of them but it was a fun interesting, albeit frustrating and at times annoying, read.

Ace Parker is a restless cowboy, and to the few who know him well he is a ranger, who likes to sate his darker sexual appetite without guilt. It was all going according to plan until Petunia Wayfield arrived to teach at his town and she decided to clean up Texas, introduce new ideas, champion children's education, get rid of drunkenness, gambling and also protect a little boy from his neglectful abusive father. Her nosy attitude gets on Ace's nerve and her demand that Ace help her clean up the town inspires him to come up with his own demands, a reward ...But he never expected her to rise to the challenge and be his match in passion.



This all sounds promising and potentially hot romance but Ace ruined it all by playing hard to get and giving mixed signals. His thoughts, emotions and actions were out of sync for much of the book. His hot and cold, yes and no and 'you are too pure to dirty with my dark needs instead I'll practice on prostitutes' attitude annoyed me and put me off in equal measure and by the time he got his act together, I didn't feel the same about Ace. His sexy cowboy ways lost their spark.



Blurred lines type of cheating

There's also the fact that Ace frequented and even slept at the prostitution establishment aka local whore house, he even had a favourite girl he was intimate with even after meeting, kissing and getting emotionally involved with the heroine. I don't care if he felt nothing for the other woman or if it was his way of avoiding intimacy with the heroine. The fact is, that just crosses the line with me.



In a romance book, I don't like reading about a hero or heroine getting intimate with another character especially if that character means nothing to them. I especially don't like the hero to be surrounded by the women he slept/practices BDSM with. That just reduces the impact of the romance if it doesn't outright ruin it for me. It makes a mockery of the romance and makes it look temporary, a quick sexual attraction that's going to burn itself out.

Character inconsistencies

I didn't like the fact that, for a grown woman, Petunia was an inexperienced never been kissed virgin. It didn't fit her character. For a daring brave woman willing to travel across the wild west alone and without family, start a new life in a new town, challenges dangerous characters and take up the reform of the town and protection and education of children with equal passion and undaunted spirit ...that type of woman is not afraid to experience life and be exactly who she is...passionate and full of life and experience...that doesn't translate to virginity and inexperience in my book. Also, in the second half of the book, Petunia starts to resist Ace when it was her doing all the chasing in the first half...it doesn't make sense.

Ace's controlling personality

Another thing that really bothered me here was the way Ace used his sexual expertise as a means of control in the bedroom and I don't mean BDSM. Trying to manipulate the heroine in the throes of passion (even if the promise being extracted is what needs to happen for the story to progress) is manipulative at best. Holding out on the heroine just because she won't give into your demands is a low and despicable thing to do. There were a few sweet moments where Ace showed his softer side but it's all overshadowed by his controlling, manipulative and overbearing personality.



I read this book a few months ago and I decided to wait a while before doing a review and it was the best decision I ever made. Distance helped me to see things a bit clearer and on reflection, I realised that I don't like Ace and Petunia's pairing, his attitude showed disrespect for Petunia and that was just a big turn off for me.

I'm not ready to give up on this series yet because I've met some of the previous characters/couples whose story I missed and their strong personality, banter and sense of intimacy makes me want to read their story. So I'm willing to give Hell's Eight series another go.

[Sarah (is clearing her shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/11 - 3.5 stars generously rounded up to four because I read it in under 24 hours. Plenty of lust, passion, and sexual tension, but I really didn't feel the LOVE between Ace and Petunia. I can't stand the name Petunia, chosen I think just so Ace can give her the 'pet' name Pet. I didn't like the book's title either, Ace's Wild. Every time I think about it I want to ask "Ace's wild what?", it sounds like the phrase is unfinished, like there needs to be another word - 'dog', 'cat', some kind of animal is usually the first thing that pops into my mind. There seemed a lot less involvement of Hell's Eight as a group in this book compared to the earlier books in the series, book two and three especially, which I thought was a shame. I liked it when the lot of them came together, worked together, and that's one of my favourite parts of the end of a series (or penultimate end) like this, all the characters mingling and interacting with each other. That and updates on all the relationships from the previous books. Without them all getting together as a group (not counting Ace and Petunia's wedding as that was a pretty short scene and the rest of the family barely participated) this didn't feel like it was part of a multi book series. This could definitely be read as a standalone. Will continue to read books from the series as I come across them at the library.

[Keri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has been very uneven for me, some books I liked and some I didn't. I guess this is Ace Parker 2.0, because in prior books, Ace was Hell's Eight's enemy, not one of the core. I liked the book for the most part and at times Ace would say something that would get me to laughing. But other times I was irritated, like when Rose (a lady of the evening that he would use for his proclivities.) started crawling for Ace and in his head he said he didn't need that, but yet he didn't say hey get up we don't need to do that. Ace at times would say how much he liked Pet's sassiness and take charge attitude, but yet he wanted complete domination over her? Maybe because I don't play those Reindeer bondage games, I think there were nuances of that type of relationship that I was missing. For the most part that love scenes worked for me, especially the bathtub scenes...I love bathtub smexy times. Where the book kinda of got spoiled for me what the last page of the book with the Pet's "collar"...I just didn't see the need for that, but again I think it is a nuance that I am missing or what the point was. Also the ambiguity of what Ace's role was in the town escaped me. I know that SM was trying to sell it to me, but by the time it was presented I was ready for the book to be over. Now having said all that, Hester almost stole the show a time or two, so I hope her and Luke's book reflects and keeps her strong personality.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an ARC for review

Hell's Eight is back...yeah!!! This one was much better than Caden's Vow. It was closer to Sam and Caine's HEA, but was still not as good as theirs. Ace was pretty hot and just a bit of a Dom. He talked a lot of talk, but didn't follow through with Petunia. It was nice to see lots of Luke and Caden, but not near enough of the rest of the gang. I'm going to be sad when Luke's story comes out cause that means no more Hell's Eight.

[Laura V. · Rating 2 out of 5]

El mundo sabe que amo a Sarah, y amo esta serie por lo imperfecta que es con sus altos y bajos, porque aunque no esté de acuerdo con muchas de las acciones MANTIENE mi atención y los devoro hasta el final. Porque aunque algún prota no me caiga bien, de vez en cuando siento que de verdad tienen química en algún pequeño momento.

Pero este no es el caso. Esto es una decepción, una locura, un desatino. No me gustó. Me obligué a leer los últimos largos y densos capítulos. Y créanme, no me perdí de nada, por lo que leía por encima, era lo mismo una y otra vez, una y otra vez.

Está bañado en SPOILERS

Empecemos por el principio. Petunia llegó a Simple luego de que sus ahorros fueran robados, y toma un trabajo como maestra de la pequeña escuela de este pueblo. Se hace cargo de mejorar la educación de estos niños, y de los niños de las prostitutas que hasta ese momento solo eran la vergüenza del pueblo y andaban a escondidas, sin ningún tipo de educación. Sus actos son considerados revolucionarios en un pueblo tan retrógrado. Además de esto, tiene fuertes ideas liberales y cree en el derecho de la mujer a votar y tomar decisiones por sí misma. Pero, PERO viene de un hogar acomodado, difícilmente pasó penurias alguna vez en su vida, y tiene sueños MUCHO más grandes que ser maestra de una pequeña escuela local. Quiere ir a California, formar su propia escuela y llegar a mucho más chicos. En Simple solo está de paso.

En los dos meses que lleva ahí, logra hacerse amiga de una panadera, Maddie (prota del libro anterior) y conoce a Ace, amigo de Caden (marido de Maddie). Digamos que ambos no se llevan bien, él le lleva la contraria en todo aún cuando coinciden en que los cambios en Simple son necesarios. blahblahcblah se quieren blahbal se desean. *suspiro*

Y no sucede más que eso. Ella quiere "tocarlo", "meterse en su cama", "sentirse mujer", "probar el fruto prohibido". Él no quiere ni acercársele. Porque es una inocente, porque podría arruinar su reputación, porque ella es virgen, porque ella merece algo mucho mejor que un revolcón por simple deseo. Entonces la rechaza. Y entonces la ayuda a salir de Simple y que se vaya a California a cumplir sus sueños porque parece que el pueblo le queda chico. Y entonces "la tragedia golpea". Su diligencia es atacada por comanches, que se la llevan a su "guarida" donde es traumatizada con tanto "salvajismo y brutalidad". Ace la rescata, por supuesto, con un GRAN sentimiento de culpa de "por qué la dejé ir", "soy un tonto", "tendría que haberme quedado con ella y protegerla". *roll eyes*

Retomando, Petunia queda tan en shock por esta experiencia que Ace tiene que volver al rescate. Petunia, y lo reconozco, esta vez fue idea de ella, no tiene la mejor idea que "reemplazar el feo recuerdo por uno bueno", 24hs después claro. Entonces, lo "seduce", y tienen relaciones. So... Ace, decide hacer lo correcto, y le pide casamiento, pero ella lo rechaza. Porque:

1. No necesita un marido
2. Es una mujer independiente
3. No planea quedarse en Simple tanto tiempo.

Super entendible. El tema es, que charlando con sus amigas al otro día, se entera de que todo el pueblo sabe ya que se acostó con Ace, que su reputación quedó arruinada por eso y porque fue secuestrada por comanches, por lo tanto oficialmente es una puta. Además, repasan el tema de una probabilidad de embarazo, del que ella ni pensó porque no "sabía" que podía quedarse embarazada.

Discusiones van, desaires vienen. Ace quiere hacer lo correcto. ella no quiere casarse. Se entiende.

Y aquí va mi opinión. ES SUMAMENTE ABURRIDO LEERLO. Tienen CERO química. Pensé que sus pullas y discusiones entrañarían un afecto más profundo, pero no va más lejos que eso. Él quiere una cosa, y ella otra completamente diferente. Uno de los dos debe ceder. Ninguno quiere aceptar que se equivoca. Ace ya la había rechazado, ya había aceptado dejarla ir de su vida, pero el trauma los une y una "noche de pasión" los junta irrevocablemente porque no hay otra opción viable que el matrimonio, pero ella no quiere saber nada, solo quiere huir de Simple, dejar la escuela, e ir a California a formar su escuelita.

No me gusta que todo esté armado de forma que a ella no le quede ninguna escapatoria, que él no tuviera intenciones de ir tras ella la primera vez si el interés era tan sincero, que ella quiera formar en otro lado una escuela que perfectamente funciona y atiende a más necesidades ahí en Simple que en California, ya tiene alumnos que la necesitan, pero ella quiere dejarlos tirados en busca de otra cosa, algo más grande. Y esto me molesta de ella. Lo tocante a la educación, un maestro es un maestro con diez alumnos como con veinte. Hay necesidades sinceras en Simple. Niños que realmente necesitan su desfachatez para imponer cambios y alguien que quiera sinceramente involucrarse en su educación, pero ella se lava las manos muy fácilmente y no se hace cargo de nada. No piensa en qué va a ser de esos niños si se va. No piensa que todo lo que pudo haber progresado se convertirá en un retroceso. No piensa. ¿QUE CLASE DE DOCENTE ES? Su sueño en California tiene el mismo alcance ahí. Si me dijeras que quiere revolucionar la educación, vaya y pase, pero solo quiere hacer lo mismo que hace en Simple en otro lugar. Está haciendo exactamente lo que siempre deseó hacer. Pero claro, esos niños no son de California.

En fin, había tan poca chispa que difícilmente prendería un fósforo. Es una relación incompatible. Personas que no creo que sean el uno para el otro. Son aburridos, son planos, son poco interesantes. Ni siquiera el sexo lo salva porque es super duper aburrido. Hasta los besos son largos (quince hojas de cómo se besaban y no se besaban? I_I) y poco emocionantes para tan poca química.

Una decepción. Solo valió la pena por personajes como Hester, una prostistuta retirada, que espero disfrutar leer en el último libro (yuju!) de esta serie con Luke, un tipo que parece bastante nice y sí, habrá un poco de resistencia de ambas partes, pero Hester es mucho más que Petunia, tiene más valor, más sentimiento, es mucho más valiosa.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Ace's Wild
Series: Hell's Eight #7
Author: Sarah McCarty
Genre: Western Historical Romance
Pages: 416
Heat Level: 2 out of 4 flames
Overall Star Level: 2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Naughty Book Snitch Kay

Let me preface this review by saying a few things. I love historical romance. I love western historical romance. I love Sarah McCarty as an author. I love the Hell's Eight series. This book however, didn't work for me at all. I was so disappointed especially after coming off of Caden's Vow that blew me away.

Ace is, of course one of the Hell's Eight men. Texas Rangers, that all suffered through the slaughter of their hometown, leaving eight boys of different races as the only survivors. These boys bonded and grew up together, eventually calling themselves, Hell's Eight. Ace is a gambler and what sounded like to me, a land surveyor of sorts. But basically he's a gambler. He lives at a saloon or brothel. He likes women but he has certain dark tastes that not all women are comfortable with.

Petunia is a schoolteacher and an overall do-gooder. She wants to help all children in the town she lives in to get an education regardless of their parentage. This book takes place in the eighteen hundreds so you can see her wishes might cause an uproar. She wants to start a school where all children can learn. Her plans were never to stay. She's on her way back East, where people are more understanding about these sorts of things. She's was robbed when she came to the town she's at now and has to save money up before she can leave.

These two people couldn't have been more opposite in their thinking. Ace has to have control in all things and Petunia is a free thinker. She won't be bossed around. I liked Petunia a lot. Ace? Not at all. He was overbearing, not in a good way, and selfish. His stubbornness literally was the cause of a tragedy. That's not Hell's Eight to me. I've loved this series for the beginning, even through Shadow's book which I didn't like but this one was a total miss for me. Her Heat level was mediocre and a Dom in the old west? Ugh! Get over that crap already. That ship has sailed. I miss the old Sarah McCarty.

Book given in exchange for a honest review by the author via NetGalley.

[Paranormal Kiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ace’s Wild is the 7th book in the Hell’s Eight series by Sarah McCarty. This is the first book I have read in this series and it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. This one is about Ace and Petunia. Ace is a Hell’s Eight, working as an assayer and gambling in his spare time. Petunia is working as a school teacher, saving money until she can travel to San Francisco. She wants to open a school catering to all children, not just the fortunate ones.

For me, Ace’s Wild was just an okay read. I really didn’t like Ace for the first half of the book and my opinion didn’t change a whole lot by the end. He was very domineering and controlling. His sexual proclivities are of the BDSM variety and it showed that, but it focused mostly on the domination aspect. Ace wanted complete control, not only in the bedroom but all the time.

I don’t have any issues with BDSM, I just didn’t like it in this particular story. I had a hard time picturing that kind of relationship working with the heroine, Petunia, or Pet, as Ace calls her. Petunia is so independent and outspoken that I really couldn’t see how a relationship would work between her and Ace, short of her having a personality change. I think if they had gotten together earlier in the book we could have been shown how it would work between them. The problem is they don’t really get together until the end of the book, so we never see their relationship dynamic put into serious play. The first half, Ace is resistant to getting involved and in the second half, it’s Petunia that is the resistant one. The times that they are together, they are at almost constant odds against each other. I got tired of them rehashing the same arguments over and over again.

In the end, Ace’s Wild just wasn’t for me. It took me awhile to get into it and I lost interest here and there. There were a few good moments and some that had me shaking my head. Some parts I down right didn’t like. The pacing slogged at times and I got tired of the repetitive inner monologues. The romance fell flat for me. I have no desire to continue this series.

*ARC (Advanced Review Copy) received from the publisher, Harlequin - HQN Books, via NetGalley.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Petunia is only in Simple temporarily. As soon as she saves up enough money by taking the post as the towns school teacher, she is going to leave for better things. She has a plan and being stuck in Simple is just a small stumbling block, a stumbling block that seems to get bigger each time she sees Ace Parker. She can't deny that she is attracted to him, that she can't stop thinking about him but that doesn't mean she can stay...no matter how sensually persuasive he can be.

This was another sexy installment in Sarah McCarty's Hell's Eight series and once again I have fallen in lust with one of her gorgeous dominant males. I am starting to feel a bit like a harlot, I would allow any one of the Hell's Eight boys to handcuff and have his way with me. What has Sarah McCarty turned me in to?

If you have enjoyed the other books in this series, then you are bound to like this one, I admit as much as I like them all the books are remarkably similar...something I don't mind too much as I love a dose of my BDSM cowboys. However, normally I like the heroines bit more, I didn't mind Petunia but at time I wanted to reach through the book and give her a reality slap.

If you like your western historical romances steamy with a touch of BDSM - these cowboys love to tie up their women - than this book and this series is definitely for you. Luckily I thoroughly enjoy my kinky cowboys and had fun reading this and can't wait for the next and final book in this series to be released.

[Kame · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

Petunia was on her way to California when her funds were stolen. Fortunately she was able to find employment in Simple Texas and the schoolteacher. Sometimes she needs someone to handle things a lady should not, then she turns to the Ace. It is not really proper to be seen with him, he is a gambler, but he is the one whose look makes her skin tingle.

This is the seventh book in a series and I wonder if I would have found out more about Pet or Ace if I had read the others first. Pet was very close to being considered an old maid, and with her intent on helping others she really didn't see any need for marriage or a man in her life at all. She is from the Northeast and it seems she felt that all proprieties she was held to there must not apply in 1860 Texas. That seemed rather naïve to me. Ace was a gambler but he seemed to be a protector of anyone who meant something to him. He was possessive and demanded complete trust and obedience. It was part of his character I just couldn't figure out, and maybe that is what held me back from truly enjoying his character.

The secondary characters were fun. Luke and Hester seem to be the couple of the final book in the series. I found Luke charming and Hester had a lot of spunk. I would consider reading their story.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ace makes some hard bargains when it comes to Petunia, "if you want me to give up my winnings to a man who doesn't deserve it, I'm going to want more than that quick peck." He's quite cocky as well, "if I bring you into my world, you won't be satisfied with any other man." When these two get together I like watching them tease each other:
"Just because I like what you do in the bed-"
"And in the tub and in the alley..."
She glanced toward the door. "Hush! You have no shame."
He also has high hopes for his girl on their wedding day, "and then," he gritted out, tilting her head back farther. "You're going to stand in front of him, still wet with my seed, and you're going to make an honest man out of me." I really loved Ace and this book.

[GONZA · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Hell's eight, I followed their series from the beginning and I'm fond of the characters, Ace has always been one of my favorite, but I'm glad we got near the end, because somehow the series, over time, has lost its luster and is no longer sizzling as it once was.

Mi piacciono gli Hell's eight, ho seguito la loro serie dall'inizio e mi sono affezionata ai personaggi, Ace é sempre stato anche uno dei miei prefeiti, ma sono contenta che siamo arrivati quasi alla fine, manca solo Luke, perché in qualche modo la serie, con il tempo, ha perso il suo smalto e non é piú frizzante com'era una volta.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW!

[Kelly_Instalove · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first for this series and McCarty. It started out soooo gooooood, and then....*sigh*. The pacing and tension just completely pooped out after some plot drama that happened way too early in the story.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread Feb. 2018 - Just as good the second time around! Loved it! Love the series! A must read for fans of historical western!

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story line. I would have given it 5 stars except all the strong language was really unnecessary. I had forgotten how much foul language was used in the previous books in this series.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a let down. After such a long long period of time with no news from this author and finally the book comes out, I was disappointed. Yes Ace is Hells Eight but this story had NOTHING to do with hells eight!! On top of that the story had no dam point. It was just wasting pages until the end.

Petunia started a school but then nothing became of it. The beginning of the story was all about her trying to get towns people to approve of her providence and that many big named people were going to cause trouble when they found out what she was doing. Which I thought would have been the action of the book but no, the author completely forgot about all of that and moved on to something completely different. Hell the kid Terrance is still what to anyone??? And what of his drunk father who still wants him???

It kept going back and forth with Ace loving control and Petunia not wanting control. It was completely boring. Like the dude wants to have sex with you and that's it. The "worst" he did was tie her. How is Ace controlling thats typical for a guy to want. And all of a sudden in the end there is a collar, like what the hell. I've read way better books about sexual control.

Then the kidnapping with her was like oh yes!! Finally action.... Nope it was led by one other hell eight member Luke and all the dam Indians were piss drunk and died with no fight.

Seriously and on top of that Luke being the last Hell Eight member to not be married. His prospect is going to be Hester a mother of two who's baby daddy refuses to acknowledge They exist. She's a whore and a rough woman. I don't get it, I'm not at all excited for the next book. I miss the action Sam's and Caine's and Tucker's books had. What a complete let down.

[Jonel · Rating 4 out of 5]

McCarty returns to Hell’s Eight with the same flair and style that we’ve come to know her for. The well written, fast paced, adventuresome story was a joy to read. The dialogue really brought the story to life, allowing her characters to provide readers an insight into the town where we find ourselves. This combines easily with McCarty’s vividly picturesque descriptions that bring her world to life.

I thoroughly enjoyed how different these main characters were on the surface, but deep down wanted very similar things. They also complemented each other perfectly, pushing each others’ comfort zones without overstepping them. The utter devotion between the two was also fantastic. And let’s not forget the heat that winds its way through this novel. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable throughout the tale, culminating in some very intense, hot scenes that will leave you sizzling. The rest of the characters by whom they were surrounded brought their relationship into an even sharper focus. Readers get to see all sides of the story, and the impact it has not only on our hero and heroine, but on the town as a whole.

Overall, this was a fantastic addition to the Hell’s Eight series that left me dying for Luke’s story. This is a series I’d definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys hot historical westerns.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have been better if Ace wasn't all about the talk. There was times I want to smack him for being so set in his ways, unbending.
That brings me to the reason why I can't give this book 5 stars.
Dom/Sub, DBSM theme, just didn't work for these two characters in this tim period. I'll give Sarah credit for daring. Even when DBSM involved cowboys, most authors stick with modern day setting.
And I'm glad Sarah's experimenting with her stories. And over all it's still an amazingly written romance with characters that would have been stronger if not trying so hard to fit the Dom/Sub-all-or-nothing mod.
Sarah's characters has always been bigger than the box, complex and lovable. Wish we could have gotten more out of these characters.

Still a fan, and still anticipating more of SM's works~!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had me laughing, I loved all the verbal sparring that went on between Petunia and Ace. What I found interesting was that from day one Ace had been looking out for Petunia, but she didn't have a clue. I liked that Ace did what he could to help Petunia, but not scare her away in the process. I also loved that Petunia was able to stun Ace a couple of times, one in particular when Ace asked a very important question.

Another great aspect to this book was the friendships that Petunia found with Maddie and Hester. Hester had such a way of looking at life, very truthful even as it was sometimes hard to take, but it was what Petunia needed to hear.

I liked the ending to this one, loved that Petunia's father weighed in on things and that Ace let him. Wish we could have gotten the whole story, not just the highlights.

[Kimberly Rocha~ Book Obsessed Chicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 STARS:
Ever since the bristly complicated, school teacher, Petunia Wayfield arrives in Simple, Texas, Hell's Eight Brother and local card hustler, Ace Parker is constantly on a bed of nails when dealing with Petunia. She brings out the best and the worst in the handsome cowboy, but due to his lascivious yearnings, he tosses aside any inclinations towards the pretty Petunia.

Petunia claims she is only in town long enough to save the money she needs to open up her school in California so she can teach, but she lingers because she has developed some deep seeded feelings for the brooding cowboy, Ace. Ace knows that Petunia is out of his league, and when he offers her the deal of a lifetime to take the money and run, Petunia, or Pet and Ace calls her, doesn't know if she truly can leave town.

Sarah McCarty's Ace's Wild is the seventh installment of the Hell's Eight series. A series I have loved since its inception, I was not overly impressed with this one. After such a strong and emotional story like Caden's Vow, I was expecting more. The story itself was well written and I truly enjoyed when Petunia truly see the man that Ace has hidden from her. Petunia and Ace are strong and interesting characters and their resolution is a fine one.

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ace Parker's the only Hell's Eight guy that doesn't live at the compound. The nearby town of Simple works better for him because of his 'tastes'. (Whatever that means!) Petunia Wayfield too proud and determined to not make a go of it once she finds herself stranded in Simple. Luckily there was an opening for a new schoolmarm.

Petunia was a bit righteous for my taste and I thought more modern than she should be given the timeframe. Ace fell into the better in someone else's read but definitely brought the sexy cowboy-ness with him. Somebody had to have a schoolmarm and town is where they keep them but Ace's proclivities didn't seem that dark. She had cowboy fantasies and he had schoolmarm or librarian fantasies.

For this readers taste there were way so many clichés and threads that had potential and seemed to disappear it made the read boring and predictable. I liked but didn't love the read and it was engaging but very much 'the same old thing.'
Rating:3.5stars

[Fabi NEEDS Email Notifications · Rating 2 out of 5]

I LOVE this series. I am so disappointed right now. This was not what I wanted for Ace. Ace and Petunia were so wrong for each other that their story canceled out each other's strengths. It didn't flow, it had disbelieving hiccups, and it tied up with a rushed messy bow. These two characters could have been so much more if not paired with each other. The hint I got of Luke's upcoming story has me debating whether I even want to read it since it sounds like another mismatch.

I'd love to go into details but they would result in spoilers which I absolutely hate. Another thing I hate are editing problems. These are inexcusable in a book from a publishing house. Shame on you Harlequin.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still love the concept of this series - why these guys banded together to form Hell's Eight - but other than mentioning that reason a time or two in the book it just seems the fire has kinda gone out of the series. Best part was seeing all the guys together at the end. I know there is one more book in the series but I'm going to say it now. Its been a good run and if you have never read the series then start at the beginning cause the first books were sooo good. Caine will always be my favorite..

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some things I really liked about this book, and some things I really didn't like.

I'll start with the good :
I think the story is very well written. I really enjoy Ms. McCarty's writing style, and it's very easy to become immersed in the world she creates. I loved the subplot with the school, the kids, and Hester. I did like both Petunia and Ace. They were both strong characters who were interesting to read about. They had really good chemistry, and their sexy times were very steamy.

What I didn't like :
The plot really meanders along with no real direction for too long. Ace and Petunia run so hot and cold that it feels like they just have the same conversation every time they meet. I also disliked the whole "even though we both want each other, I won't have a relationship with you because you deserve someone better" thing.



It was also beyond irritating that as soon as Ace wanted a relationship, suddenly Petunia couldn't handle being with him anymore.



So we had to go through the whole song and dance again in reverse.

The other issue I had is the unresolved BDSM stuff. Apparently Ace is into it, but the most he ever does is tie Petunias hands. He gives her commands a lot, but nothing really shocking. And most of the time, she talks back to him anyway. I just don't get why Petunia kept going on and on about being possessed by Ace and losing her sense of self when there's no indication whatsoever that she has anything to worry about. I don't know. It was like the main focus of their relationship, and it didn't make sense. The only nod to his "dark desires" is him getting it on with a whore at the saloon (which I didn't like because he was already invested in Pet, so it felt a little cheater-ish). Honestly, all of that stuff could have been left out.

My final issue is the whole comanche kidnapping thing. I didn't like how it was the only reason Ace decided to give a relationship with Petunia a chance, and I felt Petunia's reaction to what happened was a bit overdone considering she wasn't raped.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio-Hell's Eight #1-7 1800s Texas Rangers-grew up together after all their families were murdered when they were children. As boys, they buried each other's parents then struggled to survive without starving. As they grew up, raised by the woman who took them in after they tried to steal food from her, they set out to avenge their families. That's how they got their reputation as Hell's Eight. Becoming Texas Rangers made them the law instead of outlaws.

This was a rough, but not false depiction of life for frontier women in the 1800s in Texas, so be prepared. Notice the Award for Caine's Reckoning--All About Romance (AAR) Annual Reader Poll for Best American History/Frontier Romance 2008

I enjoyed the series but was sorry that the last book, Luke's Cut wasn't published in audio. I would definitely have gotten it! One of the audio voices early in the series didn't suit the man to me so I started tweaking it with SmartAudioPlayer. I got it to sound like Sam Elliott!!! Same review added to each book.

[Jacqueline Peyerk · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had so much hope for this book but all it ended up being was a long drawn out disappointment. The other books in this series are wonderful but I was let down by Ace. He believed Petunia was too delicate for his sexual appetite and roughly halfway through the book solicited a prostitute. Meanwhile he's becoming controlling and protective of Petunia at every turn. They've had a few heated kisses and multiple people have hinted and down right stated that she is his woman. And at this point even he has hinted. It felt like cheating. Maybe in the beginning it wouldn't have been so bad but midway through a book that is not a harem or reverse harem novel it just doesnt fit. The first half of this book should have been sprinkled through other Hell's Eight novels. Adding BDSM to a western romance was a nice touch but handled a bit sloppily. For how much I loved the other books, I really wanted to like this one. Honestly I finished it when I wanted to DNF.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Sottomessa e dominatore pure qui.. e bastaaaa mi avete rotto!! Cambiate disco!
Comunque... l’autrice ha un modo di scrivere che adoro, mi piace l’ambientazione e mi piacciono ancora di più i personaggi.
In questo caso, il gioco del Dom ha stonato, non mi è piaciuto per niente ma se cerco con tutte le mie forze di cancellarlo, rimango con un bel libro.

[TinaMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long awaited next installment of Hell's Eight. Ace fancies himself a teacher, with lofty idealism but he doesn't think he's good enough for her. They buttheads, but when they finally start working things through, the never want to fail or lose control school teacher must learn to trust and let go with Ace, who's all about dominating and being in control.

[Kerry Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 7th in a series, there were unexplained references that were unclear. A prologue would have likely cleared some of that up! Also, while I enjoyed the story, there were several grammatical and spelling errors throughout that I found distracting and disappointing. Good for some brain candy/brain break/brain vacation for sure, but otherwise so-so.