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La joven domadora Jovilette Wilder poseía el corazón de un león y el temperamento de un gato salvaje. Cuando Keane Prescott se cruzó por primera vez en su camino, vio algo en él que la hizo ponerse en guardia. Jo era consciente de que su nuevo y desconcertante jefe ponía en peligro todo cuanto le importaba, pero por otro lado no podía resistirse a la atracción arrolladora que ardía entre ellos. Y aunque los besos de Keane la dejaban jadeante de deseo, era la ternura que le demostraba lo que amenazaba con subyugar su corazón indómito.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1983
550 people are currently reading
1783 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.6k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
September 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Which is a complete shock as it's one of her earliest works (published in 1983--Roberts' first book was published in 81) and I generally find her 80s novels a bit hard to take. Before anybody gets too happy about it, though, I have to acknowledge that my enjoyment is probably idiosyncratic and unlikely to match general tastes.
My favorite part of the novel is that although Keane is one of those demanding alpha types, he doesn't get things his way. Jo actually stands up to him when needed and his own sense of honor prevents him from pushing or taking advantage of her when he could very well have done so once she acknowledges her own feelings (to herself). Further, he doesn't even attempt any of the emotional manipulation so common to the era (Hawkeye Pierce playboy stuff, if you know what I mean).
And I liked Jo's personality. She's a great blend of fierce, open, and naïve that makes sense to her background. She's brave (as opposed to fearless) both physically and emotionally and loyal to a fault.
And this is where I'm going to diverge from popular opinion, but it's all about the ending, so, sadly, it's spoiler time.
So yeah, revoke my feminist card (if I can find it), but I found the ending not only reasonable, but a strong choice.
There is enough melodrama to keep this from an unqualified five stars, but it's a pretty solid four.
A note about Steamy: Note, there is no steamy tag on this review. That's because there is no steam. Well, there's a passionate grope or two, but nothing to signify.
My favorite part of the novel is that although Keane is one of those demanding alpha types, he doesn't get things his way. Jo actually stands up to him when needed and his own sense of honor prevents him from pushing or taking advantage of her when he could very well have done so once she acknowledges her own feelings (to herself). Further, he doesn't even attempt any of the emotional manipulation so common to the era (Hawkeye Pierce playboy stuff, if you know what I mean).
And I liked Jo's personality. She's a great blend of fierce, open, and naïve that makes sense to her background. She's brave (as opposed to fearless) both physically and emotionally and loyal to a fault.
And this is where I'm going to diverge from popular opinion, but it's all about the ending, so, sadly, it's spoiler time.
So yeah, revoke my feminist card (if I can find it), but I found the ending not only reasonable, but a strong choice.
There is enough melodrama to keep this from an unqualified five stars, but it's a pretty solid four.
A note about Steamy: Note, there is no steamy tag on this review. That's because there is no steam. Well, there's a passionate grope or two, but nothing to signify.
February 20, 2025
"Memories were the reward for growing old."
March 18, 2020
"Untamed" is the story of Jovilette and Keane.
This passionate story is a lustful dance between a fierce lion tamer, and a defense lawyer. Our h is a circus performer who spends her days training lions, and her evenings keeping the troop afloat. When the owner passes away, handing over the reins of the circus to his estranged son, she instantly dislikes the unknown man. However, she finds herself attracted to him when they eventually meet, and the attraction is mutual. Thus begins a watchful courting between a possessive H and a vivacious h.
I think this would have been a GREAT romance if it was longer. I cried buckets at Ari's death, and absolutely loved the h for her strength. That being said, I felt that the end was very rushed and out of the blue- I wanted to see the ends tied up much more neatly before the HEA. Nevertheless, a great read!
Safe
4/5
This passionate story is a lustful dance between a fierce lion tamer, and a defense lawyer. Our h is a circus performer who spends her days training lions, and her evenings keeping the troop afloat. When the owner passes away, handing over the reins of the circus to his estranged son, she instantly dislikes the unknown man. However, she finds herself attracted to him when they eventually meet, and the attraction is mutual. Thus begins a watchful courting between a possessive H and a vivacious h.
I think this would have been a GREAT romance if it was longer. I cried buckets at Ari's death, and absolutely loved the h for her strength. That being said, I felt that the end was very rushed and out of the blue- I wanted to see the ends tied up much more neatly before the HEA. Nevertheless, a great read!
Safe
4/5
March 4, 2025
Este libro no está mal narra cómo es la vida en el circo. Es de los primeros de Nora pero es un harlequin antiguo y no tiene nada de sexo. Para mi gusto es pasable lo leí cuando empezé con la romántica.
November 30, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Es el primer libro que leo de Nora Roberts y me gustó, estuvo muy entretenido y la personalidad de Joe es genial pero siento que todo paso muy rápido, al final me dejó un poco 🤡
Es el primer libro que leo de Nora Roberts y me gustó, estuvo muy entretenido y la personalidad de Joe es genial pero siento que todo paso muy rápido, al final me dejó un poco 🤡
December 31, 2014
2.5 stars
God, grant me the serenity to finish reading this Nora Roberts collection without wanting to kill somebody.
I've wanted lighter reads lately because I'm having to stop reading so often to deal with the baby. So these earlier Nora Roberts books have been kinda perfect. It's a straight-up romance with flowery prose and melodramatic statements. It's very clear to me that Nora Roberts has improved, polished, and explored her writing - her recent romantic suspense novels are gritty and intense. I wouldn't have believed the writer that wrote this book would be able to also write novels like The Witness or The Search.
Anyway, this one was pretty alright. Maybe it's just bad luck, but the last couple female lead characters I've read have been ridiculous. The stories, fine. The male lead characters, so-so. The females... sweet baby Christ, stop. I'm so tired of these women now.
I've got a few more in this Nora Roberts collection and then I'm trading them for something else. Something violent. Maybe something paranormal. I must cleanse the palate of this sugary sweet romance and stupid females.
God, grant me the serenity to finish reading this Nora Roberts collection without wanting to kill somebody.
I've wanted lighter reads lately because I'm having to stop reading so often to deal with the baby. So these earlier Nora Roberts books have been kinda perfect. It's a straight-up romance with flowery prose and melodramatic statements. It's very clear to me that Nora Roberts has improved, polished, and explored her writing - her recent romantic suspense novels are gritty and intense. I wouldn't have believed the writer that wrote this book would be able to also write novels like The Witness or The Search.
Anyway, this one was pretty alright. Maybe it's just bad luck, but the last couple female lead characters I've read have been ridiculous. The stories, fine. The male lead characters, so-so. The females... sweet baby Christ, stop. I'm so tired of these women now.
I've got a few more in this Nora Roberts collection and then I'm trading them for something else. Something violent. Maybe something paranormal. I must cleanse the palate of this sugary sweet romance and stupid females.
February 15, 2021
Though this was set in a circus this was not what I had hoped. It wasn't a bad book but it definitely wasn't my favorite Nora Roberts. I'm going to add that those who read this will need to be prepared for the death of a lion cat. This was also romance light. Girl meets guy, falls hard, light conflict, plenty of kissing but nothing super intimate past that.
I was aware that this was published back in 1983. It's lightly dated, lacking in real heavy plot, but I adored the lions. I also liked a few smaller romance scenes, but overall? Not impressed as a whole and I'm glad that this wasn't my first Nora Roberts book.
Final Rating: 3 ⭐
I was aware that this was published back in 1983. It's lightly dated, lacking in real heavy plot, but I adored the lions. I also liked a few smaller romance scenes, but overall? Not impressed as a whole and I'm glad that this wasn't my first Nora Roberts book.
Final Rating: 3 ⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2021
Το contemporary romance σίγουρα δεν είναι το αγαπημένο μου είδος. Διαβάζω επιλεκτικά λίγα μόνο βιβλία που ανήκουν σε αυτό - κάποια που το στόρυ τους μου εξάπτει ιδιαίτερα το ενδιαφέρον, κάποια των οποίων οι συγγραφείς είναι φίλες ή γνωστές μου και οτιδήποτε έχει γράψει η Nora Roberts. Η "Αδάμαστη", λοιπόν, είναι ένα από τα βιβλία της αγαπημένης μου συγγραφέα και γι' αυτό δεν θα μπορούσε να λείπει από τη λίστα μου, εφόσον έπεσε στα χέρια μου.
Από την αρχή, φαινόταν πως δεν θα ταιριάξουν οι... αύρες μας. Εξηγούμαι: δεν με ενόχλησε το κάπως... "παλιακό" -όχι παλαιομοδίτικο, "παλιακό", έτσι όπως το γράφω- ρομάντζο ανάμεσα στους δύο ήρωες, δεν με ενόχλησε η απουσία χημείας, κατά την προσωπική μου άποψη, δεν με ενόχλησε το ότι γενικά απουσίαζε η σπίθα και η έξαψη. Με ενόχλησε όμως πάρα πολύ το επάγγελμα της ηρωίδας: θηριοδαμάστρια σε περιοδεύον τσίρκο.
Πιάστηκε η ψυχή μου διαβάζοντας για εκπαιδευμένους ελέφαντες που εκτελούν χορευτικά και με ένα νεύμα πετούν νερό από τις προβοσκίδες τους σε ανυποψίαστους βοηθούς "για πλάκα". Πιάστηκε η καρδιά μου διαβάζοντας για εκπαιδευμένα λιοντάρια που περπατάνε σηκωμένα όρθια στα πισινά τους πόδια, ενώ λυγίζουν κομψά τα μπροστινά τους, που πηδάνε από βάθρο σε βάθρο με πιρουέτες και κυλάνε στο έδαφος σχηματίζοντας 'βαρελάκια'. Δεν με νοιάζει η προσπάθεια ωραιοποίησης από τα λεγόμενα της ηρωίδας, που επισημαίνει ότι η εκπαίδευσή τους δεν έγινε με βάναυσο τρόπο και το μαστίγιο χρησιμοποιείται μόνο για να παράγει ήχους. Ότι η εκπαίδευση έγινε με ανταλλαγή βλεμμάτων και παντομίμα και φωνητικές εντολές, μέχρι να μάθουν τα λιοντάρια. Μπορεί αυτά να λέγονται χάριν λογοτεχνικής αδείας, αλλά δεν γίνονται πιστευτά ούτε από παιδιά δημοτικού. Προσωπικά, είμαι εντελώς αντίθετη στην ύπαρξη ζώων σε τσίρκο. Δεν έχω θέμα με ακροβάτες, κλόουν, ζογκλέρ, όσους καταπίνουν πρόκες/σπαθιά/φωτιές/το σάλιο τους. Όχι ζώα, όμως.
Το διάβασα διεκπεραιωτικά και με ένα μικρό σφίξιμο. Το παράτησα και το ξανάπιασα, ανυπομονώντας να τελειώσει. Και εννοείται δεν με κέρδισε. Κυρίως για όσα ανέφερα παραπάνω, αλλά και γιατί αντικειμενικά το βρήκα γενικά άγευστο και άχρωμο, αδιάφορο. Το διάβασα, το έσβησα από τη λίστα μου και ευελπιστώ να το ξεχάσω το συντομότερο. Δεν θα μου λείψει.
Από την αρχή, φαινόταν πως δεν θα ταιριάξουν οι... αύρες μας. Εξηγούμαι: δεν με ενόχλησε το κάπως... "παλιακό" -όχι παλαιομοδίτικο, "παλιακό", έτσι όπως το γράφω- ρομάντζο ανάμεσα στους δύο ήρωες, δεν με ενόχλησε η απουσία χημείας, κατά την προσωπική μου άποψη, δεν με ενόχλησε το ότι γενικά απουσίαζε η σπίθα και η έξαψη. Με ενόχλησε όμως πάρα πολύ το επάγγελμα της ηρωίδας: θηριοδαμάστρια σε περιοδεύον τσίρκο.
Πιάστηκε η ψυχή μου διαβάζοντας για εκπαιδευμένους ελέφαντες που εκτελούν χορευτικά και με ένα νεύμα πετούν νερό από τις προβοσκίδες τους σε ανυποψίαστους βοηθούς "για πλάκα". Πιάστηκε η καρδιά μου διαβάζοντας για εκπαιδευμένα λιοντάρια που περπατάνε σηκωμένα όρθια στα πισινά τους πόδια, ενώ λυγίζουν κομψά τα μπροστινά τους, που πηδάνε από βάθρο σε βάθρο με πιρουέτες και κυλάνε στο έδαφος σχηματίζοντας 'βαρελάκια'. Δεν με νοιάζει η προσπάθεια ωραιοποίησης από τα λεγόμενα της ηρωίδας, που επισημαίνει ότι η εκπαίδευσή τους δεν έγινε με βάναυσο τρόπο και το μαστίγιο χρησιμοποιείται μόνο για να παράγει ήχους. Ότι η εκπαίδευση έγινε με ανταλλαγή βλεμμάτων και παντομίμα και φωνητικές εντολές, μέχρι να μάθουν τα λιοντάρια. Μπορεί αυτά να λέγονται χάριν λογοτεχνικής αδείας, αλλά δεν γίνονται πιστευτά ούτε από παιδιά δημοτικού. Προσωπικά, είμαι εντελώς αντίθετη στην ύπαρξη ζώων σε τσίρκο. Δεν έχω θέμα με ακροβάτες, κλόουν, ζογκλέρ, όσους καταπίνουν πρόκες/σπαθιά/φωτιές/το σάλιο τους. Όχι ζώα, όμως.
Το διάβασα διεκπεραιωτικά και με ένα μικρό σφίξιμο. Το παράτησα και το ξανάπιασα, ανυπομονώντας να τελειώσει. Και εννοείται δεν με κέρδισε. Κυρίως για όσα ανέφερα παραπάνω, αλλά και γιατί αντικειμενικά το βρήκα γενικά άγευστο και άχρωμο, αδιάφορο. Το διάβασα, το έσβησα από τη λίστα μου και ευελπιστώ να το ξεχάσω το συντομότερο. Δεν θα μου λείψει.
January 19, 2018
The audiobook narrator, Lauren Davis, did not fit the story at all. She sounded extremely young. Like early teens young.
October 29, 2011
★★½✩✩ Audiobook was well narrated by Kate Rudd.
I was debating whether to give this book 3 or 3 ½ stars and then came the ending. **blows raspberry** I see why I didn’t read NR way back when. She is much improved, so much so that I'm seeking out her new stuff.
I was debating whether to give this book 3 or 3 ½ stars and then came the ending. **blows raspberry** I see why I didn’t read NR way back when. She is much improved, so much so that I'm seeking out her new stuff.
September 15, 2016
It was just well crap
February 13, 2019
I've lost count of how many books I've read by Nora... but I feel like I've only really loved one of them so far.
Untamed was another book that was on my audible romance package. Color me shocked guys. It was a pretty short and quick audio - which is the main reason why I picked it. It also worked for a certain challenge, so eh - two birds one stone. In this, you will meet Keane and Jo. They were an okay couple.. but nothing really wowed me.
Jo was an okay character. She kind of annoyed me every now and then. Especially when she would just randomly start talking about nothing. She was also a bit weird too - which I kind of like in characters but she was just rubbing me the wrong way the entire time.
Besides her, Keane was eh. Again, I felt nothing for these characters or their relationship. It didn't matter to me if they ended up happily ever after or if a random dragon came into the picture and ate them. I just went with the flow and waited for this audio to end.
Overall, it was eh. More meh but hey - I listened to the entire thing.
Untamed was another book that was on my audible romance package. Color me shocked guys. It was a pretty short and quick audio - which is the main reason why I picked it. It also worked for a certain challenge, so eh - two birds one stone. In this, you will meet Keane and Jo. They were an okay couple.. but nothing really wowed me.
Jo was an okay character. She kind of annoyed me every now and then. Especially when she would just randomly start talking about nothing. She was also a bit weird too - which I kind of like in characters but she was just rubbing me the wrong way the entire time.
Besides her, Keane was eh. Again, I felt nothing for these characters or their relationship. It didn't matter to me if they ended up happily ever after or if a random dragon came into the picture and ate them. I just went with the flow and waited for this audio to end.
Overall, it was eh. More meh but hey - I listened to the entire thing.
November 23, 2014
The book started out pretty well. It takes place in a traveling circus - the heroine Jovilette is a lion trainer and Keane has just inherited the circus from a father he never knew. There are plenty of misconceptions and assumptions that get in the way of these two to start and they overcome them pretty well. The hero goes through what seems an irrational asshole phrase (since we don't get his POV we have no idea why he's acting like that) but we get to experience the angst through the heroine. And it all goes pretty well. The insights to the circus were interesting and the characters were likeable enough (even Keane, because we just know he's being an asshole for a good reason, right?) Then the ending. All I could think was, WTF? That's not how to end it. It was rather unsatisfying. And I'll give a spoiler ending...just in case you'd like to know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2019
Estava um bocado reticente com esta leitura pelo facto de se passar no mundo circense e meter uma domadora de leões mas tendo em linha de conta que foi escrito em 1983 acho que está um romance engraçado mas engonhou muito até os protagonistas ficarem juntos...e o Keane irritou-me imenso ao longo do livro!
September 27, 2013
It is indeed a short book, even for an Harlequin. For such a short format, it was not so bad. Characters disclosed themselves progressively, well mostly the hero. The storyline was compact but well managed around the encounters between Keane and Jo. What I liked more than I thought was the rather realistic view of the way a circus works and tours.
Honestly the main problem was Jo's character. First I hated her first name, Jolivette, until I realized it was the name of a birth control pill. Her character did not seem real to me: she started as a blabbermouth telling everything to Keane, as if she were a young kid of 5 or 6 trying to impress an adult. Then there's a scene in which she spoke her mind in very harsh terms to Keane - I read the scene 3 times to try to understand why she kept flogging herself about how she had been unfair and cruel to him. I did not get it, nothing she said there was over the top to me, the tone might have been too hard, the words were not. And this is just the perfect introduction for the horrible and to my opinion totally unrealistic ending .
Honestly the main problem was Jo's character. First I hated her first name, Jolivette, until I realized it was the name of a birth control pill. Her character did not seem real to me: she started as a blabbermouth telling everything to Keane, as if she were a young kid of 5 or 6 trying to impress an adult. Then there's a scene in which she spoke her mind in very harsh terms to Keane - I read the scene 3 times to try to understand why she kept flogging herself about how she had been unfair and cruel to him. I did not get it, nothing she said there was over the top to me, the tone might have been too hard, the words were not. And this is just the perfect introduction for the horrible and to my opinion totally unrealistic ending .
September 11, 2022
If the story hadn’t taken place in a circus where animals are used and one of the main characters was an animal handler, then the story would’ve been a lot more enjoyable.
Despite Robert’s skill of being able to write such dreamy and lovely settings and characters, I just couldn’t manage enough suspension of disbelief to fully immerse myself in the story.
Jo is a well crafted character and her personality and feelings are quite easy to understand and root for, through her eyes we fall in love with her passion of big feline training and the nomadic life of circus performing.
Keane was a bit too mercurial for my liking, he went through so many moods and masks during the story that it’s hard to describe his personality in short sentences. The romance was too rocky for my liking as well: because of Jo’s inexperience, it felt unbalanced from the get go, add in the overuse of drama and it completely lost any spark of interest I could’ve felt, and the ending felt too rushed and not as satisfactory as I would’ve liked.
Despite Robert’s skill of being able to write such dreamy and lovely settings and characters, I just couldn’t manage enough suspension of disbelief to fully immerse myself in the story.
Jo is a well crafted character and her personality and feelings are quite easy to understand and root for, through her eyes we fall in love with her passion of big feline training and the nomadic life of circus performing.
Keane was a bit too mercurial for my liking, he went through so many moods and masks during the story that it’s hard to describe his personality in short sentences. The romance was too rocky for my liking as well: because of Jo’s inexperience, it felt unbalanced from the get go, add in the overuse of drama and it completely lost any spark of interest I could’ve felt, and the ending felt too rushed and not as satisfactory as I would’ve liked.
June 17, 2019
Awhile ago I got a book that collected 2 older Nora Roberts romances. (The book was Spotlight: Untamed\Dance of Dreams but I'm logging each book separately because I have an ambitious reading goal to meet!)
Anywayyy I love Nora but this was originally published in 1983 and it shows! This is about a badass lady who grew up in the circus and LOVES being a lion trainer sooooo much and then like, almost immediately gives it up when a handsome man appears who wants her not to do lion stuff anymore because he's worried about her. >:( Also there are a lot of contrived arguments that got on my nerves. Nowhere near as good as her more recent stuff!!
Anywayyy I love Nora but this was originally published in 1983 and it shows! This is about a badass lady who grew up in the circus and LOVES being a lion trainer sooooo much and then like, almost immediately gives it up when a handsome man appears who wants her not to do lion stuff anymore because he's worried about her. >:( Also there are a lot of contrived arguments that got on my nerves. Nowhere near as good as her more recent stuff!!
April 11, 2024
Nora Roberts is the perfect palate cleanser in between historical romance, sci-fi, thrillers and fanstasy romance reads.
This particular book is good for it's short, sweet, and dreamy. Our heroine, Jovilette Wilder or Jo for short, is a lion tamer who grew up in the circus. She is close to the owner, Frank Prescott, who recently died and gave the circus to his estranged son, Keane.
As per usual NR flare, both the MMCs are almost perfect. Beautiful, strong, mysterious and brave Jo, and cynical, handsome, successful and witty lawyer, Keane. Add to this the magic of circus life and a few circus jargons that I've learned along the way, this book is a solid 3.5 star read for anyone who is looking for a short and easy ride.
Thank you, NR!
This particular book is good for it's short, sweet, and dreamy. Our heroine, Jovilette Wilder or Jo for short, is a lion tamer who grew up in the circus. She is close to the owner, Frank Prescott, who recently died and gave the circus to his estranged son, Keane.
As per usual NR flare, both the MMCs are almost perfect. Beautiful, strong, mysterious and brave Jo, and cynical, handsome, successful and witty lawyer, Keane. Add to this the magic of circus life and a few circus jargons that I've learned along the way, this book is a solid 3.5 star read for anyone who is looking for a short and easy ride.
Thank you, NR!
June 9, 2022
I love reading Nora Roberts books. They're absolutely perfectly romantic, fast yet steady 🥰
I was a bit peeved in the beginning. It seemed as though the relationship was too fast and there wasn't much angst but then it levelled out and I loved every word and scene. The ending was amazing. I would have loved to have an epilogue but it seemed fitting. Going to start Less of a Stranger now 💫
I was a bit peeved in the beginning. It seemed as though the relationship was too fast and there wasn't much angst but then it levelled out and I loved every word and scene. The ending was amazing. I would have loved to have an epilogue but it seemed fitting. Going to start Less of a Stranger now 💫
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April 11, 2023Another unintended romance. Keane Prescott never knew his father and resented him all his life for being absent. Frank Prescott loved the circus more than being married, and left it to his only son. This hardly makes up for anything and when Keane goes to check out his inheritance, he meets Jo Wilder, another woman full of resentment. Towards him. Why? Because she thinks he knows nothing about the life and will shut them down. Another hostile woman, at least after she finds out who he is. Before that, well some sparks were flying.
December 5, 2024
Roman très léger - feel good - de cirque, d’amour et de lions 🎪💛🦁
November 28, 2025
I liked the circus setting and the battle of wills between the main characters, as well as between Jo and the felines.
June 8, 2024
Nora, your work in the early 80s, woof.
May 21, 2011
You have to hand it to the marketing folks at Harlequin/Silhouette; they know a cash cow when they see it. Nora Roberts started out with the thin, cheap paperback bodice ripper genre, and once she became the huge bestselling author that she is now, they started rereleasing her catalog of out-of-print romance novels, which is how I ended up with Untamed in a pile of books given to me by my sister.
::: Three Rings Too Many :::
Untamed tells the story of the orphaned Jovilette Wilder, a lion tamer raised in the circus, first by her parents, then by Frank Prescott, the owner of the circus. After Frank's death, Jo learns that he left the traveling circus to his son, Keane, a man who had never been around the circus, and was a successful Chicago lawyer by all accounts. Jo can't help feeling bitter that the only home and family she has ever known will probably now be sold off piecemeal, and tries as hard as she can to convince Keane not to sell the circus.
Keane, meanwhile, is learning a bit about the life his estranged father led, a life as foreign to him as if he was visiting another planet. He's also intrigued by Jo, who reads classic fiction in the original language it was written in, and who faces danger with her lions night after night without seeming to think about it.
::: Something Is Missing :::
Untamed was originally published in 1983, and I found myself wishing that Roberts had waited a while before writing this story. Her penchant for serious research about a topic before writing about it is evident even in this short novel, but the characters and plot are under-developed. The reader is left with the feeling that Roberts could have done a lot more with not only the romance between Jo and Keane, but also with some of the other characters she introduces, such as Rose the snake charmer and Jamie the clown. Everything seems rushed, and you end up feeling like you weren't given the time to get to know any of the characters, or understand their motivations, leaving you lost as Roberts begins to tie up all the loose ends at the end of the novel.
Still, Untamed is better than a lot of the books you'll find in the short romance genre, and is an interesting read, even if it isn't quite as filling as her meatier books.
This review previously published at Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Untame...
::: Three Rings Too Many :::
Untamed tells the story of the orphaned Jovilette Wilder, a lion tamer raised in the circus, first by her parents, then by Frank Prescott, the owner of the circus. After Frank's death, Jo learns that he left the traveling circus to his son, Keane, a man who had never been around the circus, and was a successful Chicago lawyer by all accounts. Jo can't help feeling bitter that the only home and family she has ever known will probably now be sold off piecemeal, and tries as hard as she can to convince Keane not to sell the circus.
Keane, meanwhile, is learning a bit about the life his estranged father led, a life as foreign to him as if he was visiting another planet. He's also intrigued by Jo, who reads classic fiction in the original language it was written in, and who faces danger with her lions night after night without seeming to think about it.
::: Something Is Missing :::
Untamed was originally published in 1983, and I found myself wishing that Roberts had waited a while before writing this story. Her penchant for serious research about a topic before writing about it is evident even in this short novel, but the characters and plot are under-developed. The reader is left with the feeling that Roberts could have done a lot more with not only the romance between Jo and Keane, but also with some of the other characters she introduces, such as Rose the snake charmer and Jamie the clown. Everything seems rushed, and you end up feeling like you weren't given the time to get to know any of the characters, or understand their motivations, leaving you lost as Roberts begins to tie up all the loose ends at the end of the novel.
Still, Untamed is better than a lot of the books you'll find in the short romance genre, and is an interesting read, even if it isn't quite as filling as her meatier books.
This review previously published at Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/Untame...
October 25, 2015
Quando li a sinopse não fiquei nada entusiasmada pois o mundo circense desagrada-me mesmo muito. No entanto, Nora Roberts é Nora Roberts que é o mesmo que dizer, um vício que não dá para ignorar e lancei-me a este pequeno.
Acabou por ser melhor do que esperava, sim. Até dei por mim interessada no dia-a-dia do circo Colossal, os seus personagens - humanos e animais e as peripécias.
Acho interessante como Nora Roberts consegue escrever sobre tantas profissões pouco usuais e sempre com um tom de quem sabe do que fala.
O romance: foi engraçadito. Desenvolveu-se durante várias semanas, não de um momento para o outro e foi complicado chegaram ao seu final feliz devido aos estilos de vida tão diferentes de Jo e Keane.
Acabou por ser melhor do que esperava, sim. Até dei por mim interessada no dia-a-dia do circo Colossal, os seus personagens - humanos e animais e as peripécias.
Acho interessante como Nora Roberts consegue escrever sobre tantas profissões pouco usuais e sempre com um tom de quem sabe do que fala.
O romance: foi engraçadito. Desenvolveu-se durante várias semanas, não de um momento para o outro e foi complicado chegaram ao seu final feliz devido aos estilos de vida tão diferentes de Jo e Keane.
October 8, 2009
This one was pretty pitiful for NR. One of her very first, and how did I hate it? Let me count the ways...
A hero/boss committing blatant sexual harrassment.
A heroine who wimped out in the end and gave up everything for him.
Enough said. I didn't like it.
A hero/boss committing blatant sexual harrassment.
A heroine who wimped out in the end and gave up everything for him.
Enough said. I didn't like it.
August 24, 2019
Het verhaal neemt een trage start om daarna als een sneltrein een climax te vormen. Heerlijke lectuur!
July 17, 2017
This is the first time that I read about the writings of Ms. Nora Roberts! I must say that I am very disappointed with her writings in the novel entitled "Untamed." I think I expected too much of her potentials as a writer but it turned out unexpected as a great disappointment.
The plot in the story is very flat, no twist, no surprises and it is very predictable to the point that it becomes very boring to read! ( I think I only finished reading it because it's not my hobby to abandon a unfinished book...)
In this novel, I think Jo is the one who captured the heart of Keane and made his heart become soft and change it from untamed to tamed heart. that the both them compromises so that they will find their road to forever and they will leave happy ever after because of the magic and power of love.
I think the only good thing about this novel is it depicts the real life setting that we should break the norms that society have created. For instance, in this novel it shows that the women can now ask for marriage proposal to the men. Also, it gives us a glimpse in the real world most especially about now that we are now leaving in the 21st century that is full of challenges and changes.
Overall, I did like the book. It was so boring, very predictable that makes the story very flat and no surprises and twist. It's lousy and such a waste of time to read a boring and very predictable book from her that have no twist and surprises. It's disgusting!
However it will not discourage me to read some of her writings but it will just give the persistance to explore more of her writings and read some of them.
The plot in the story is very flat, no twist, no surprises and it is very predictable to the point that it becomes very boring to read! ( I think I only finished reading it because it's not my hobby to abandon a unfinished book...)
In this novel, I think Jo is the one who captured the heart of Keane and made his heart become soft and change it from untamed to tamed heart. that the both them compromises so that they will find their road to forever and they will leave happy ever after because of the magic and power of love.
I think the only good thing about this novel is it depicts the real life setting that we should break the norms that society have created. For instance, in this novel it shows that the women can now ask for marriage proposal to the men. Also, it gives us a glimpse in the real world most especially about now that we are now leaving in the 21st century that is full of challenges and changes.
Overall, I did like the book. It was so boring, very predictable that makes the story very flat and no surprises and twist. It's lousy and such a waste of time to read a boring and very predictable book from her that have no twist and surprises. It's disgusting!
However it will not discourage me to read some of her writings but it will just give the persistance to explore more of her writings and read some of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2019
Early Roberts, and I'm glad it wasn't the first I ever read. Pretty standard 80s romance. Kisses taken by masterful man, woman carried away - basic romantic rape story when looked at from the perspective of 2019 culture.
Jo is a lion trainer in a traveling circus. That part, by the way, is fascinating. Nora Roberts makes it very real. The lions and circus life aren't just window dressing. I wouldn't be surprised if she travelled and worked in a circus for a time.
Jo grew up there. Has spent her entire life there. Her parent died Wed when she was a baby, and she was raised by the circus owner, Frank. As the book opens, he has been dead for about 6 months and his son, a hotshot lawyer from Chicago, is coming to decide what to do with the show. Frank's wife had left shortly after the boy was born, and neither has had any contact with Frank or the circus since. Jo is beautiful, Keane handsome. Different worlds, attraction and repulsion. Romance. Of course we know where it's going.
The more I think about it, the more huge, ragged holes I see, but they weren't apparent as I was reading it. It's a short read, and as I say, as a first step into Roberts it probably won't draw you like her later books. The cultural perspective on acceptable male behavior toward a woman is a little unnerving. But putting that aside, it's good. Quite good.
Jo is a lion trainer in a traveling circus. That part, by the way, is fascinating. Nora Roberts makes it very real. The lions and circus life aren't just window dressing. I wouldn't be surprised if she travelled and worked in a circus for a time.
Jo grew up there. Has spent her entire life there. Her parent died Wed when she was a baby, and she was raised by the circus owner, Frank. As the book opens, he has been dead for about 6 months and his son, a hotshot lawyer from Chicago, is coming to decide what to do with the show. Frank's wife had left shortly after the boy was born, and neither has had any contact with Frank or the circus since. Jo is beautiful, Keane handsome. Different worlds, attraction and repulsion. Romance. Of course we know where it's going.
The more I think about it, the more huge, ragged holes I see, but they weren't apparent as I was reading it. It's a short read, and as I say, as a first step into Roberts it probably won't draw you like her later books. The cultural perspective on acceptable male behavior toward a woman is a little unnerving. But putting that aside, it's good. Quite good.
July 6, 2023
Read as part of the Every Nora Roberts Book in Publishing Order book club. Notes pasted below exactly as written while reading.
Untamed
- Circuses are animal abuse full stop
- This is both stupid AND dangerous. These are wild animals and intelligent creatures who deserve better.
- Slender and delicate what a surprise
- Elephants deserve better than this too.
- Maybe you could not fuck with lions like they’re toy cars and then you wouldn’t have to be worried about getting hurt
- Thirteen lions trapped in that hellhole Jesus Christ
- Jovilette is such a stupid name
- This is just like the race car one but in a circus
- Keane is rude and grabby and Jo is being a dick for no reason. So yeah. Just like the race car one from ‘82.
- Jo literally tells him no CONSTANTLY and he never respects it
- A drunk rapey stranger, cool cool cool
- Keane immediately goes to beat down mode on this guy, which… he’s already down and clearly drunk, kid. Call it a day.
- Maybe leave the cats alone Jo. Then you wouldn’t have to blame them for rightfully taking swipes at you or your understudy.
- Everyone here is a dickbag
- She got the circus and asked him to marry her for some reason the end
- Zero stars for animal abusers
Untamed
- Circuses are animal abuse full stop
- This is both stupid AND dangerous. These are wild animals and intelligent creatures who deserve better.
- Slender and delicate what a surprise
- Elephants deserve better than this too.
- Maybe you could not fuck with lions like they’re toy cars and then you wouldn’t have to be worried about getting hurt
- Thirteen lions trapped in that hellhole Jesus Christ
- Jovilette is such a stupid name
- This is just like the race car one but in a circus
- Keane is rude and grabby and Jo is being a dick for no reason. So yeah. Just like the race car one from ‘82.
- Jo literally tells him no CONSTANTLY and he never respects it
- A drunk rapey stranger, cool cool cool
- Keane immediately goes to beat down mode on this guy, which… he’s already down and clearly drunk, kid. Call it a day.
- Maybe leave the cats alone Jo. Then you wouldn’t have to blame them for rightfully taking swipes at you or your understudy.
- Everyone here is a dickbag
- She got the circus and asked him to marry her for some reason the end
- Zero stars for animal abusers
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews