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Wild #1
Wild Heart
Wanton. . .
Leo Roberts is next in line for an earldom and the power and fortune that come with it, but he is uncultured, unrefined--and completely untamed. . . until governess Ella Finch arrives upon the scene. Can so young and inexperienced a woman tutor him in the manners and mores of his class? Leo's mysterious past has rendered him an outsider, too wild for polite society. But he finds her innocence most intriguing. . .
Willing. . .
What manner of man he may be, Ella does not know. Yet he fascinates her and she must know more. Capturing Leo's reckless heart is about to free her in ways she never dreamed of. . . and his sensual touch releases the deepest yearnings of her body and soul . . .
Leo Roberts is next in line for an earldom and the power and fortune that come with it, but he is uncultured, unrefined--and completely untamed. . . until governess Ella Finch arrives upon the scene. Can so young and inexperienced a woman tutor him in the manners and mores of his class? Leo's mysterious past has rendered him an outsider, too wild for polite society. But he finds her innocence most intriguing. . .
Willing. . .
What manner of man he may be, Ella does not know. Yet he fascinates her and she must know more. Capturing Leo's reckless heart is about to free her in ways she never dreamed of. . . and his sensual touch releases the deepest yearnings of her body and soul . . .
408 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
11 people are currently reading
755 people want to read
About the author
Lori Brighton
26 books722 followersAs a child, thoughts of far-off places and adventure consistently kept Lori up late at night. After graduating high school, she came to the conclusion that there was no better way to seek adventure and nourish her love of history than to become an archaeologist. She went on to receive a degree in anthropology, but digging in the dirt during humid Midwestern summers wasn’t exactly as fun as she thought it would be.
Instead, she went to work in an air conditioned museum where she spent her days surrounded by creepy Victorian animal mounts. Still, she wasn’t satisfied.
Deciding the people in her imagination were slightly more exciting than the dead things in a museum basement, she set out to write her first romance novel. That book was soundly rejected. As was the next. Years went by and she began to wonder if she’d ever see her dream fulfilled. Until one day she came up with an idea for a book that brought together her love of history and adventure: a book now titled Wild Heart. Since Wild Heart's release, Lori has written Historical Romance, Contemporary Paranormal Romance and Young Adult.
Lori currently resides in the Southern U.S., where she juggles her time between a husband, a son, a golden retriever, a cat and the many, many people in her imagination.
Instead, she went to work in an air conditioned museum where she spent her days surrounded by creepy Victorian animal mounts. Still, she wasn’t satisfied.
Deciding the people in her imagination were slightly more exciting than the dead things in a museum basement, she set out to write her first romance novel. That book was soundly rejected. As was the next. Years went by and she began to wonder if she’d ever see her dream fulfilled. Until one day she came up with an idea for a book that brought together her love of history and adventure: a book now titled Wild Heart. Since Wild Heart's release, Lori has written Historical Romance, Contemporary Paranormal Romance and Young Adult.
Lori currently resides in the Southern U.S., where she juggles her time between a husband, a son, a golden retriever, a cat and the many, many people in her imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
February 10, 2010
***4 1/2***
Wild Heart was an engrossing read featuring two very interesting leads. Ella Finch arrives at the manor of Lord Roberts thinking she will become a governess to a young boy and finds that she had been hired to teach a grown man instead. Ella is supposed to teach Lord Roberts's grandson Leo how to be a proper gentleman if she wants freedom for her and her sickly friend from her former employer who treated her badly.
Leo Roberts grew up in the jungles of India alone with his Indian friend for years after his English parents are betrayed and killed. After years of living in the wild, they first made their way to Italy where Leo learned the basics of civilized life and how to paint. He then came to England to find his parents' murderers and lives with his grandfather, Lord Roberts.
Ella has a secret gift that she has never told people about - she can "feel" the thoughts of animals. When she arrives at Lord Roberts manor, she feels the intense emotional pain from what she thinks is an animal but realizes is actually Leo. She feels his emotions for some reason so she knows he has nightmares from his time in the jungle and he has a lot of trouble trying to fit into English life. Ella strikes a deal with Leo's grandfather - she will teach Leo how to be a gentleman for six months if he provides a cottage by the sea for her and her friend.
Leo and Ella have a special connection from their first meeting. Leo appears kind of savage at first - he won't talk to her and runs into the forest by himself often. Ella is able to understand Leo better than anyone because she can sense his feelings. She manages to break through Leo's gruff exterior and makes him actually talk to her and allow her to teach him to be a gentleman (which he actually already knew how to be but enjoys teasing Ella to get a rise out of her). Meanwhile, he tries to tempt Ella to act a little less properly and relish her freedom. Leo really sees no reason to follow "proper" English customs - he says what he wants and does what he wants because he is sick of the English gentry looking at him like he is a savage. The only thing Leo cares about is finding his parents' murderers - until Ella warms her way into his life and his heart.
I really enjoyed this book! The hero was so interesting, he was rough but he was a good person. His early life in the jungle haunted him but also made him very strong. Ella was a great heroine, she fought for the hero when no one else would and believed in him. Their chemisty is red hot, sparks flew every time they interacted. The paranormal aspects were very light, they just added to the storyline in a good way. There was a big mystery going on in the storyline that was a little too prominent toward the end but the suspense was really good. The storyline grabbed my attention from the beggining and had me reading non-stop to see what happened.
Read this book if you want to read about a very different and interesting hero, a strong and compassionate heroine and a story that keeps you engaged and wondering what happens next. I was very impressed with the author's writing ability, especially for a debut novel.
Wild Heart was an engrossing read featuring two very interesting leads. Ella Finch arrives at the manor of Lord Roberts thinking she will become a governess to a young boy and finds that she had been hired to teach a grown man instead. Ella is supposed to teach Lord Roberts's grandson Leo how to be a proper gentleman if she wants freedom for her and her sickly friend from her former employer who treated her badly.
Leo Roberts grew up in the jungles of India alone with his Indian friend for years after his English parents are betrayed and killed. After years of living in the wild, they first made their way to Italy where Leo learned the basics of civilized life and how to paint. He then came to England to find his parents' murderers and lives with his grandfather, Lord Roberts.
Ella has a secret gift that she has never told people about - she can "feel" the thoughts of animals. When she arrives at Lord Roberts manor, she feels the intense emotional pain from what she thinks is an animal but realizes is actually Leo. She feels his emotions for some reason so she knows he has nightmares from his time in the jungle and he has a lot of trouble trying to fit into English life. Ella strikes a deal with Leo's grandfather - she will teach Leo how to be a gentleman for six months if he provides a cottage by the sea for her and her friend.
Leo and Ella have a special connection from their first meeting. Leo appears kind of savage at first - he won't talk to her and runs into the forest by himself often. Ella is able to understand Leo better than anyone because she can sense his feelings. She manages to break through Leo's gruff exterior and makes him actually talk to her and allow her to teach him to be a gentleman (which he actually already knew how to be but enjoys teasing Ella to get a rise out of her). Meanwhile, he tries to tempt Ella to act a little less properly and relish her freedom. Leo really sees no reason to follow "proper" English customs - he says what he wants and does what he wants because he is sick of the English gentry looking at him like he is a savage. The only thing Leo cares about is finding his parents' murderers - until Ella warms her way into his life and his heart.
I really enjoyed this book! The hero was so interesting, he was rough but he was a good person. His early life in the jungle haunted him but also made him very strong. Ella was a great heroine, she fought for the hero when no one else would and believed in him. Their chemisty is red hot, sparks flew every time they interacted. The paranormal aspects were very light, they just added to the storyline in a good way. There was a big mystery going on in the storyline that was a little too prominent toward the end but the suspense was really good. The storyline grabbed my attention from the beggining and had me reading non-stop to see what happened.
Read this book if you want to read about a very different and interesting hero, a strong and compassionate heroine and a story that keeps you engaged and wondering what happens next. I was very impressed with the author's writing ability, especially for a debut novel.
November 6, 2010
This book is brilliant, thrilling and hot. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, I had to find out who was behind it all and why. I loved the way the author brings everything together it leaves you satisfied. This is an historical with a touch of paranormal. There is a nice happy ever after, but there is so much more to the story and I cant wait for the next book to read more about this adventure. You get a hot sexual tension, romance, mystery, excitement, and great characters, even the villains and non stop adventure once it starts.
I am not going to spoil much because this is such a great book you need to try it yourself. Ella’s different, she has a special gift that no one knows, her parents died while she was young. Now she has been hired to help refine Leo. The thing is Leo doesn’t want to be refined, he wants to find out who killed his parents.
Leo is damaged after living in the jungle of India at such a young age for so long. He still wants to catch his parents killer and now he has to deal with a woman that turns him on in ways he doesn’t want. How is he going to get through this with out compromising her innocence.
The paranormal part is Ella special gift even though it a focus part of the book it’s a part that sometimes you don’t even relies its there.
I loved both Leo and Ella. They both fit so well together and are destined to be together. I suggest this book to anyone who loves historical and paranormal romance.
I am not going to spoil much because this is such a great book you need to try it yourself. Ella’s different, she has a special gift that no one knows, her parents died while she was young. Now she has been hired to help refine Leo. The thing is Leo doesn’t want to be refined, he wants to find out who killed his parents.
Leo is damaged after living in the jungle of India at such a young age for so long. He still wants to catch his parents killer and now he has to deal with a woman that turns him on in ways he doesn’t want. How is he going to get through this with out compromising her innocence.
The paranormal part is Ella special gift even though it a focus part of the book it’s a part that sometimes you don’t even relies its there.
I loved both Leo and Ella. They both fit so well together and are destined to be together. I suggest this book to anyone who loves historical and paranormal romance.
February 16, 2010
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!! What a story. I'm glad I picked this book up instead of leaving it sit in my TBR pile. I must thank AJ and MelissaB for getting me to pick this book up.
It's hard to believe this book was a debut. The story and characters in this book are what great romance books are made of.
I read that Colin's story will be next but that we have to wait until 2011 before it's out. I for one do not mind the wait if it means that the next book will be as good as this one was.
It's hard to believe this book was a debut. The story and characters in this book are what great romance books are made of.
I read that Colin's story will be next but that we have to wait until 2011 before it's out. I for one do not mind the wait if it means that the next book will be as good as this one was.
February 9, 2010
Ella, who spent her younger years at an orphanage, is hired as a governess for Leo Roberts. Now, don’t get confused – Leo is a fully grown man, and his problem isn't that he doesn’t know his lessons. He needs help behaving in polite English society. When Leo was young, he witnessed his parents murder in India. For years, he lived on his own in the jungle, having to perform horrendous things to stay alive. Now he is back in England, determined to find his parent’s killers. His grandfather wants him to take over his estate and duties, and Leo is there just to go through the motions. But Leo is a very broken, tortured soul. He rarely speaks to anyone and often has violent temper tantrums and outbursts of anger.
When Ella meets him, she is overwhelmed with his feelings of anger and desperation. Ella is an empath, she can feel human and animal emotion. With the promise of freedom in six months if she can make it that long with Leo, she is determined to get through to him. Soon, her calming influence takes hold, and Leo starts realize he may have an ally and someone he can trust. With that, an attraction develops and together they try to untangle the web of lies and bring closure to Leo’s tortuous past.
Wild Heart has one of my favorite types of heroes – the broken, tortured man. Leo is very damaged. When I first started the book I mentioned to a friend that I hope he stays tortured throughout most of the book – and he does. Not that I like to see a hero suffer, but Leo is so broken to begin with, I didn’t want an overnight miracle. Lori Brighton makes Leo work in this book. He starts barely able to suppress his anger enough to talk, and by the end there is a very believable love story between him and Ella.
It works so well because Ella has no other life to return to at first. She forces herself to six months with Leo, and then she can be on her own. Yet, she soon sees a different side of Leo. He is still quick to anger, and hides behind a mask, but once she gets a quick glimpse of the real him, she knows he is something to work for. For Leo’s part, many times he plays the arrogant ass, full well knowing it gets under Ella’s skin. He is no dummy, and knows how to play her. But foremost on his mind is finding his parents murderer and that rage is what drives him in this story. The mystery plays a big role in this book and I liked the twists and turns it takes. There are a few times Ella puts herself in danger for silly reasons, but for the most part, I liked how Leo and Ella work together.
Wild Heart is billed as a paranormal romance, yet the paranormal aspect in very light and in my opinion is weak and I think this book would have been just as good, maybe better, if the paranormal is taken out. Her ability factors into the plot and mystery of the book, but for most of the story I forgot she had this ability.
Wild Heart has a very intense, lustful romantic feel. Terrific tension builds throughout this story, and Leo brings his wild, dark life into the bedroom as well. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read more from Lori Brighton.
When Ella meets him, she is overwhelmed with his feelings of anger and desperation. Ella is an empath, she can feel human and animal emotion. With the promise of freedom in six months if she can make it that long with Leo, she is determined to get through to him. Soon, her calming influence takes hold, and Leo starts realize he may have an ally and someone he can trust. With that, an attraction develops and together they try to untangle the web of lies and bring closure to Leo’s tortuous past.
Wild Heart has one of my favorite types of heroes – the broken, tortured man. Leo is very damaged. When I first started the book I mentioned to a friend that I hope he stays tortured throughout most of the book – and he does. Not that I like to see a hero suffer, but Leo is so broken to begin with, I didn’t want an overnight miracle. Lori Brighton makes Leo work in this book. He starts barely able to suppress his anger enough to talk, and by the end there is a very believable love story between him and Ella.
It works so well because Ella has no other life to return to at first. She forces herself to six months with Leo, and then she can be on her own. Yet, she soon sees a different side of Leo. He is still quick to anger, and hides behind a mask, but once she gets a quick glimpse of the real him, she knows he is something to work for. For Leo’s part, many times he plays the arrogant ass, full well knowing it gets under Ella’s skin. He is no dummy, and knows how to play her. But foremost on his mind is finding his parents murderer and that rage is what drives him in this story. The mystery plays a big role in this book and I liked the twists and turns it takes. There are a few times Ella puts herself in danger for silly reasons, but for the most part, I liked how Leo and Ella work together.
Wild Heart is billed as a paranormal romance, yet the paranormal aspect in very light and in my opinion is weak and I think this book would have been just as good, maybe better, if the paranormal is taken out. Her ability factors into the plot and mystery of the book, but for most of the story I forgot she had this ability.
Wild Heart has a very intense, lustful romantic feel. Terrific tension builds throughout this story, and Leo brings his wild, dark life into the bedroom as well. I really enjoyed this one and hope to read more from Lori Brighton.
January 23, 2011
I feel like a read a different book than everyone else here.
This book had great potential but it didn't live up to it. There was too much going on. I kind of felt like I was listening to one of my sons telling a story. "And then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened..." Practically everyone in the book turned out to be an enemy of the main couple. The revenge plot didn't make any sense. The way that the hero chose to pretend to be a wild man when he really wasn't just didn't make sense. How was that supposed to help anything? It was a ludicrous idea. Just FYI, fighting at a ball will not make anyone think you're insane. Most of the scenes were very short and there were just too many of them. (again, and then this happened, and then this happened) The plot wandered all over. It was RIFE with coincidence after coincidence. When the lady who raised her turned out to be in on this 20 year old plot I couldn't take it anymore. I finally got disgusted with the level of coincidence and skimmed the last two chapters.
There were good moments. I wish the book had concentrated on the psychic ability of the heroine and having her actually help heal a man who didn't fit in with society to overcome his anger and wildness etc. That's the story I thought I was going to be reading. The scenes with the two of them swimming and things like that were very nice.
Thanks melissaB for loaning it to me even though it didn't work for me.
This book had great potential but it didn't live up to it. There was too much going on. I kind of felt like I was listening to one of my sons telling a story. "And then this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened..." Practically everyone in the book turned out to be an enemy of the main couple. The revenge plot didn't make any sense. The way that the hero chose to pretend to be a wild man when he really wasn't just didn't make sense. How was that supposed to help anything? It was a ludicrous idea. Just FYI, fighting at a ball will not make anyone think you're insane. Most of the scenes were very short and there were just too many of them. (again, and then this happened, and then this happened) The plot wandered all over. It was RIFE with coincidence after coincidence. When the lady who raised her turned out to be in on this 20 year old plot I couldn't take it anymore. I finally got disgusted with the level of coincidence and skimmed the last two chapters.
There were good moments. I wish the book had concentrated on the psychic ability of the heroine and having her actually help heal a man who didn't fit in with society to overcome his anger and wildness etc. That's the story I thought I was going to be reading. The scenes with the two of them swimming and things like that were very nice.
Thanks melissaB for loaning it to me even though it didn't work for me.
December 6, 2010
WILD HEART
On first impressions this book reminds me very much of ‘ The madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie’. The way Leo is withdrawn, ‘crazy and wild. But at the same time a very passionate man.
I will not go into plot dissection because if your reading this then you more than likely know the plot summary. I will however thrill everyone with my many likes and dislikes of this novel.
I loved the stolen kisses between Ella and Leo. But found it beyond frustrating that every time Leo had Ella all to his self he was conveniently interrupted.
I loved the mystery aspect to the plot. It wasn’t forced into the story line but seemlessly worked in. The way there was always a man in the background, the flash back of memories. All worked perfectly.
Thought in wonderful that Leo wasn’t willing to budge on his attitude. And that Ella fell in love with him for who he was and not who he was meant to be.
The paranormal aspect, that I wasn’t expecting was a nice little feature in the novel.
I would have like more of an explanation as to what the map and statues were, and what exactly was the purpose of Ella’s powers
Where Leo and Ella linked somehow?
Are they going to search for the necklace and Henry?
All in all this was a first class debut novel, with passion, willingness and a love to rival the ages. Beautiful.
On first impressions this book reminds me very much of ‘ The madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie’. The way Leo is withdrawn, ‘crazy and wild. But at the same time a very passionate man.
I will not go into plot dissection because if your reading this then you more than likely know the plot summary. I will however thrill everyone with my many likes and dislikes of this novel.
I loved the stolen kisses between Ella and Leo. But found it beyond frustrating that every time Leo had Ella all to his self he was conveniently interrupted.
I loved the mystery aspect to the plot. It wasn’t forced into the story line but seemlessly worked in. The way there was always a man in the background, the flash back of memories. All worked perfectly.
Thought in wonderful that Leo wasn’t willing to budge on his attitude. And that Ella fell in love with him for who he was and not who he was meant to be.
The paranormal aspect, that I wasn’t expecting was a nice little feature in the novel.
I would have like more of an explanation as to what the map and statues were, and what exactly was the purpose of Ella’s powers
Where Leo and Ella linked somehow?
Are they going to search for the necklace and Henry?
All in all this was a first class debut novel, with passion, willingness and a love to rival the ages. Beautiful.
December 17, 2009
This one kept my interest and I read it pretty quickly. The mystery was interesting and I loved that though she was supposed to teach him he was the one who ended up doing the teaching. I thought they were compatible. I am hoping that LB might make Colin, a long lost cousin of Ella's, the hero in the next one. No info so far but I will keep an eye out!
November 23, 2009
I would have to say over four stars but not quite a five star for me. Really different story with good twists and turns. Looks like a new author who has a lot of talent. I'm looking forward to her next book!
July 12, 2010
THis is a great book! I love the alpha male lead, Leo, and the writing is so fluid and great.
A definitely must read!
A definitely must read!
December 4, 2015
That was so good! Some mystery, some magic and a super sweet romance, perfect!
July 9, 2015
This book was just alright. I felt like it was trying to do too much and it never really resolved itself. It had paranormal aspects and also romance and frankly, I wasn't really convinced of either. I felt like it would have done better if they were separated.
I was intrigued in the beginning since the hero was interesting. He lived outside of civilization in order to have safety. His parents and a whole village were killed when he was young and he had to go into hiding. Years later, he returned to find justice. However, his return wasn't welcomed. His grandfather, while relieved to have his kin come back alive, despaired of his lack of manners. He stood out since he wouldn't pander to frivolous English customs. He earned a reputation for being wild and he was often dismissed as insane. Therefore, Ella was hired to look after him. His cousin was openly antagonistic to him because he was the rightful heir. He made a lot of effort to take back the property including attempting to kill him and trying to paint him as mentally ill. He had a story but I was really disappointed with him. He didn't really do much to investigate and even when he did, he had no power to act. What did he expect to come out of his endeavour. He might be smart enough to play around and appear the fool but in the end, he was really powerless. I was just boggled at what his end goal was. He didn't really seemed to have any direction. So as a reader, I was forced to conclude that he was just talk. Granted, the battle wasn't over yet since the cousin escaped so not everything is resolved. I didn't really want to take the series in consideration though and so I'm judging it as a stand alone. It doesn't fare well in my opinion.
Another thing that bugged me was Ella. This girl was exasperating. She was so naive and was convinced of the goodness of others. What I didn't get was her reasoning. Why would you deprive Leo's certainty that he was right when you are also convinced that you are right. Time and time again, she dismisses his suspicions. What does she know? She wasn't there when his parents were killed. She had only been in the employ of the Roberts' household for a short amount of time and she suddenly was an expert in their family dynamic? I got tired of her condescending attitude when she was painfully ignorant. I couldn't understand the romance that blossomed. It felt forced to me. There was no chemistry between the characters. It was weird. I don't get why he felt the need to get her validation when she was essentially a stranger.
Anyways, this book was weird because it felt like it couldn't decide between paranormal and romance. Both could work together but in this book, it felt like it clashed. The first half of the book felt like it was a big yawn. Leo was planning on going back to Italy anyways and I don't know what he was doing to further his goals. The second half became an intrigue surrounding her necklace. Suddenly, there were forces at work to harvest this godlike power. While it is an interesting concept, I felt it could have done better when it is elaborated upon and not crammed in the final chapters.
I wasn't fond of the book. It was a weird read for me mainly because I had the impression that the book couldn't find its identity. I didn't have a grasp of the character's romance and I didn't really have a grasp over the secret power. It felt like the author was throwing out grand ideas without resolving the kinks in the foundation, mainly that of the main characters.
The story revolves around Leo and Ella. Ella was hired to be his governess, to teach him about English manners. Leo was a bit wild and suddenly he started speaking. He was fully aware, he just didn't want to condescend to people's stupid customs. However, for her, he will, as long as she poses naked for him. Anyways, he has a bigger story, which is his parent's death. They were killed and he was able to survive. He waited for rescue but none came. He returned years later and it was a problem for his grandfather and his cousin. His cousin was displaced as the heir. His grandfather didn't want to hand over all he worked for to someone who will destroy it. Numerous attempts at his life had been made and he escaped them. He also had to contend with London society, which believes him a madman thanks to his cousin's rumours. At the same time, there is this group looking for a treasure map. It turns out that Leo is the other half of that since he had the key to Ella's lock. Ella was the only one who can open it and so she was part of the scheme all along and she remains painfully ignorant of much of it. Anyways, he gets captured and his cousin reveals that his grandfather had been in his schemes all along, which is why the grandfather dismissed Leo's suspicions. Ella escaped briefly but was captured when she returned to her evil caretaker. I don't know why she even went there after everything she found out. She didn't even heed the dog's warning. You'd think she'd clue in at any time but no, she doesn't. She starts being interrogated but since she doesn't know anything, she comes away with more information than she gives away. A fire erupts and Leo saves her. He was able to locate her because they could speak telepathically.
I don't know.
It ends with a surprise wedding. She comes out and a vicar is there waiting with Leo.
Oh yeah, the plug for the next book came when a character comes out of nowhere and saves their asses. He frees Leo from prison and heals Ella from certain death.
I was intrigued in the beginning since the hero was interesting. He lived outside of civilization in order to have safety. His parents and a whole village were killed when he was young and he had to go into hiding. Years later, he returned to find justice. However, his return wasn't welcomed. His grandfather, while relieved to have his kin come back alive, despaired of his lack of manners. He stood out since he wouldn't pander to frivolous English customs. He earned a reputation for being wild and he was often dismissed as insane. Therefore, Ella was hired to look after him. His cousin was openly antagonistic to him because he was the rightful heir. He made a lot of effort to take back the property including attempting to kill him and trying to paint him as mentally ill. He had a story but I was really disappointed with him. He didn't really do much to investigate and even when he did, he had no power to act. What did he expect to come out of his endeavour. He might be smart enough to play around and appear the fool but in the end, he was really powerless. I was just boggled at what his end goal was. He didn't really seemed to have any direction. So as a reader, I was forced to conclude that he was just talk. Granted, the battle wasn't over yet since the cousin escaped so not everything is resolved. I didn't really want to take the series in consideration though and so I'm judging it as a stand alone. It doesn't fare well in my opinion.
Another thing that bugged me was Ella. This girl was exasperating. She was so naive and was convinced of the goodness of others. What I didn't get was her reasoning. Why would you deprive Leo's certainty that he was right when you are also convinced that you are right. Time and time again, she dismisses his suspicions. What does she know? She wasn't there when his parents were killed. She had only been in the employ of the Roberts' household for a short amount of time and she suddenly was an expert in their family dynamic? I got tired of her condescending attitude when she was painfully ignorant. I couldn't understand the romance that blossomed. It felt forced to me. There was no chemistry between the characters. It was weird. I don't get why he felt the need to get her validation when she was essentially a stranger.
Anyways, this book was weird because it felt like it couldn't decide between paranormal and romance. Both could work together but in this book, it felt like it clashed. The first half of the book felt like it was a big yawn. Leo was planning on going back to Italy anyways and I don't know what he was doing to further his goals. The second half became an intrigue surrounding her necklace. Suddenly, there were forces at work to harvest this godlike power. While it is an interesting concept, I felt it could have done better when it is elaborated upon and not crammed in the final chapters.
I wasn't fond of the book. It was a weird read for me mainly because I had the impression that the book couldn't find its identity. I didn't have a grasp of the character's romance and I didn't really have a grasp over the secret power. It felt like the author was throwing out grand ideas without resolving the kinks in the foundation, mainly that of the main characters.
The story revolves around Leo and Ella. Ella was hired to be his governess, to teach him about English manners. Leo was a bit wild and suddenly he started speaking. He was fully aware, he just didn't want to condescend to people's stupid customs. However, for her, he will, as long as she poses naked for him. Anyways, he has a bigger story, which is his parent's death. They were killed and he was able to survive. He waited for rescue but none came. He returned years later and it was a problem for his grandfather and his cousin. His cousin was displaced as the heir. His grandfather didn't want to hand over all he worked for to someone who will destroy it. Numerous attempts at his life had been made and he escaped them. He also had to contend with London society, which believes him a madman thanks to his cousin's rumours. At the same time, there is this group looking for a treasure map. It turns out that Leo is the other half of that since he had the key to Ella's lock. Ella was the only one who can open it and so she was part of the scheme all along and she remains painfully ignorant of much of it. Anyways, he gets captured and his cousin reveals that his grandfather had been in his schemes all along, which is why the grandfather dismissed Leo's suspicions. Ella escaped briefly but was captured when she returned to her evil caretaker. I don't know why she even went there after everything she found out. She didn't even heed the dog's warning. You'd think she'd clue in at any time but no, she doesn't. She starts being interrogated but since she doesn't know anything, she comes away with more information than she gives away. A fire erupts and Leo saves her. He was able to locate her because they could speak telepathically.
I don't know.
It ends with a surprise wedding. She comes out and a vicar is there waiting with Leo.
Oh yeah, the plug for the next book came when a character comes out of nowhere and saves their asses. He frees Leo from prison and heals Ella from certain death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2020
This is the first Lori Brighton book I have read/listened to and I only gave it a try because of the narrator but I am so glad I did what a great book! I couldn't stop listening to this book and the narrator did an excellent job telling this story. I already downloaded the next book in the series and I can't wait to get started!
From the beginning the author hooked me. The characters are great both the good and the bad. There are a few twists I didn't see coming.
I recommend reading this series in order for maximum enjoyment.
From the beginning the author hooked me. The characters are great both the good and the bad. There are a few twists I didn't see coming.
I recommend reading this series in order for maximum enjoyment.
October 31, 2009
"A Paranormal Historical Romance"(with a mystery thrown in)! If that doesn't catch your attention, read on! When Lori asked me if I would be interested in reviewing her debut book, Wild Heart, I was very interested and intrigued. When she mentioned that it had paranormal aspects weaved throughout, I was excited and without hesitation answered a very firm "Yes!!". So onto my little Blackberry went Wild Heart and off my imagination flew on wings of days gone by.
Years ago, Historical Romance was a genre that I constantly read. Those covers of the ravishingly handsome men grasping the elegant and desire-ridden females where ones that graced my nightstand, coffee table and was seen held within my grasp on several occasions. After a time, I moved onto a broader range of genres including suspense, paranormal, non-fiction, and many more. Swimming in the literary sea of books, it has been a while since I have read much in the way of Historical Romance. There has been one here and there, but nothing such as Wild Heart. This story caught me from the very beginning; the paranormal and mystery aspects reeled me in for the long nights and the fact that my Blackberry never wanted to leave my hands (or rather I never wanted it to leave mine, so that I could continue my adventure within the story).
Ms. Brighton introduces readers to Ella Finch, a very timid, yet ambitious and strong-minded woman. Ella grew up in an orphanage with a very strict and unkind overseer. It is when she is hired as governess, for what she believes to be a young boy, that she escapes the confines of her current inhabitants and travels to a regal castle. It is not long until she learns that there is no young boy to be governess to, but rather a very viral and, at first glance, wild man. Ella is not sure what to think when she meets the stubborn Leo, she only knows that there is some kind of strange connection between the two.
Leo Roberts is a man who has come home after years of hiding and learning the art of self-preservation. As a young boy, Leo's parents were killed, brutally, within in the jungle, while he went to get help. It is Leo's one goal to avenge his parents' murderers by finding them and claiming justice. However, his grandfather has other ideas and wants Leo to become Earl and take his place. Thus, Ella is hired to "tame" Leo and make him "good enough" for society.
All of her life, Ella has had to deal with a special power that she beholds. It is the power to connect with animals, know their feelings and tame them with her mind and thoughts. This is a power that she has felt she has had to hide and one that is evil. What will Leo think if he knew the true Ella? What would Ella think if she knew that Leo's main goal and plan was to hunt his parents' killers down? As sparks fly between the two, tension builds and lives begin to hang in the balance. Will Leo and Ella be able to fully trust one another and allow their hearts to soar, or with death find them before it is too late?
Wild Heart is such an enormously pleasurable read. The romance between Leo and Ella is pulsating and pure, sensuously seductive from the start and never lets up - even as they try to deny it. In all honesty, there was just something about this story that grabbed me and held strong. I absolutely adored the characters of Leo and Ella. Ms. Brighton does a phenomenal job bringing their characters and personalities to life and really making the reader care for them. The mystery aspect keeps the reader in utter suspense, not wanting to leave the story until the scenes are fully played out. There are also a few excellent twists and turns that will bring a bit of surprise to the reader.
In addition to a great story, I wanted to also mention that I found Lori Brighton's writing style to be wonderfully done and incredibly flowing. I wanted to share a couple of passages that I highlighted while reading that I particularly enjoyed:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ella choked on a sob and dared to open her eyes. Gray dawn‟s boney fingers crept through the cracks in the drapes, warning of daylights imminent arrival. Nothing else remained… no bodies lying in pools of blood, no men fighting, merely a richly furnished room. Her head ached with exhaustion. No wild animal had provided her with such painful memories. Only a human could store such grief, such horror…horror that frightened her as much as it tore at her gut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ridiculous, yet lovely. Her body floated as if she danced on clouds and only Leo‟s solid presence anchored her to earth. She closed her eyes and allowed him to sweep heracross the floor. He pulled her closer, yet she didn‟t protest, didn‟t even bother to open her eyes, but merely took in the feel of his form."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed Wild Heart and can't wait to read more by Lori Brighton (there is a sequel to Wild Hearts coming up!!)!! I urge everyone to grab a copy of this book and truly lose themselves within its words!
I have an interview coming up with Lori and also a way to win 1 of 3 copies of this awesome book! So please be one the lookout for those!
Years ago, Historical Romance was a genre that I constantly read. Those covers of the ravishingly handsome men grasping the elegant and desire-ridden females where ones that graced my nightstand, coffee table and was seen held within my grasp on several occasions. After a time, I moved onto a broader range of genres including suspense, paranormal, non-fiction, and many more. Swimming in the literary sea of books, it has been a while since I have read much in the way of Historical Romance. There has been one here and there, but nothing such as Wild Heart. This story caught me from the very beginning; the paranormal and mystery aspects reeled me in for the long nights and the fact that my Blackberry never wanted to leave my hands (or rather I never wanted it to leave mine, so that I could continue my adventure within the story).
Ms. Brighton introduces readers to Ella Finch, a very timid, yet ambitious and strong-minded woman. Ella grew up in an orphanage with a very strict and unkind overseer. It is when she is hired as governess, for what she believes to be a young boy, that she escapes the confines of her current inhabitants and travels to a regal castle. It is not long until she learns that there is no young boy to be governess to, but rather a very viral and, at first glance, wild man. Ella is not sure what to think when she meets the stubborn Leo, she only knows that there is some kind of strange connection between the two.
Leo Roberts is a man who has come home after years of hiding and learning the art of self-preservation. As a young boy, Leo's parents were killed, brutally, within in the jungle, while he went to get help. It is Leo's one goal to avenge his parents' murderers by finding them and claiming justice. However, his grandfather has other ideas and wants Leo to become Earl and take his place. Thus, Ella is hired to "tame" Leo and make him "good enough" for society.
All of her life, Ella has had to deal with a special power that she beholds. It is the power to connect with animals, know their feelings and tame them with her mind and thoughts. This is a power that she has felt she has had to hide and one that is evil. What will Leo think if he knew the true Ella? What would Ella think if she knew that Leo's main goal and plan was to hunt his parents' killers down? As sparks fly between the two, tension builds and lives begin to hang in the balance. Will Leo and Ella be able to fully trust one another and allow their hearts to soar, or with death find them before it is too late?
Wild Heart is such an enormously pleasurable read. The romance between Leo and Ella is pulsating and pure, sensuously seductive from the start and never lets up - even as they try to deny it. In all honesty, there was just something about this story that grabbed me and held strong. I absolutely adored the characters of Leo and Ella. Ms. Brighton does a phenomenal job bringing their characters and personalities to life and really making the reader care for them. The mystery aspect keeps the reader in utter suspense, not wanting to leave the story until the scenes are fully played out. There are also a few excellent twists and turns that will bring a bit of surprise to the reader.
In addition to a great story, I wanted to also mention that I found Lori Brighton's writing style to be wonderfully done and incredibly flowing. I wanted to share a couple of passages that I highlighted while reading that I particularly enjoyed:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ella choked on a sob and dared to open her eyes. Gray dawn‟s boney fingers crept through the cracks in the drapes, warning of daylights imminent arrival. Nothing else remained… no bodies lying in pools of blood, no men fighting, merely a richly furnished room. Her head ached with exhaustion. No wild animal had provided her with such painful memories. Only a human could store such grief, such horror…horror that frightened her as much as it tore at her gut.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ridiculous, yet lovely. Her body floated as if she danced on clouds and only Leo‟s solid presence anchored her to earth. She closed her eyes and allowed him to sweep heracross the floor. He pulled her closer, yet she didn‟t protest, didn‟t even bother to open her eyes, but merely took in the feel of his form."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed Wild Heart and can't wait to read more by Lori Brighton (there is a sequel to Wild Hearts coming up!!)!! I urge everyone to grab a copy of this book and truly lose themselves within its words!
I have an interview coming up with Lori and also a way to win 1 of 3 copies of this awesome book! So please be one the lookout for those!
February 29, 2012
After his parents were brutally murdered, Leo Roberts raised himself in the jungle of India. His family in England thought he was dead, but now he is back and he is next in line for the family title. His stay in India did not teach him to be a fine and cultured gentleman, he is the complete opposite, his manners appear to be more animal than human. To be ready for the title his grandfather has hired a governess, Ella Finch, to tutor him in the manners and mores of his class. In the past Leo has chased away every employee his grandfather had hired to make him more civil for they did not fit in with his hidden agenda but he finds Ella captivating and lets her stay. This innocent governess messes with his head, she is a sweet distraction he cannot use for he needs to stay focused on his goal…
After her sudden dismissal as a companion for Lady Buckley’s daughters, Ella Finch has no choice then to accept a post as a governess. She is in shock when she finds out that she will not be tutoring a lovely young boy, but a handsome, virile and very wild man. Somehow she knows that he will not hurt her and she is determined to help him take his place in society, after all, his grandfather is paying her a king’s ransom to educate him. This might be her only chance to gain her freedom and independence. But she soon finds out that there is more to Leo than meets the eye, he fascinates her. In no time he stirs up all these feelings inside her, make her do things she normally would not do, she craves him body, mind and soul. For the first time in her life she really feels free…
With Wild Heart Lori Brighton has made a grand debut in the world of romance. It is an impressive debut, I found myself captivated by her characters, and the storyline was so addictive that once I started I couldn’t stop. I felt this compelling need to understand Leo and Ella better and needed to know how they would fare, therefore I could not put the book down. The story is refreshing, unique and has this dark and mysterious vibe. Wild Heart is marketed as a historical paranormal romance, but the paranormal aspect of this story is confined to Ella’s special gift. Although, towards the end there are certain developments in the arc storyline that have some paranormal aspects.
Lori Brighton’s writing is easy, smooth and rich in detail. The setting for this story is the estate of Leo’s grandfather and I could easily picture every inch of this lovely estate. The fabulous characters come alive and tear themselves from the pages thanks to Lori’s writing. At the start of this story Leo is quite an enigma, in public he appears to be daft. He hardly speaks and his manners are nonexistent. He is exactly what society expects him to be after years of solitude in the jungle, an animal. This is precisely what he wants them to think, but under this façade there is also this artistic, gentle and honest man who has to deal with his inner turmoil for he has suffered greatly and therefore has a very dark side that makes him unreadable for others. He has only come back to seek the truth, he needs answers and closure otherwise the past will never set him free. Leo truly radiates from the pages, he is a very strong character and I fell head over heels in love with him.
Now Ella’s background is completely different, she was raised in an orphanage after her uncle never returned from his trip. Now she is a governess who has to tame the beast inside this handsome, older man and make him acceptable for society. Her whole life has revolved around others; she wants to be free of the responsibility to everyone but herself. Although she appears to be a meek person she really has a strong spirit, she is persistent yet nice and likeable. Leo makes her less stiff; he makes her bend the rules of society a little so she actually has some fun. The attraction between them is instant, it smolders a long time before it finally erupts. Their sex is hot, loving and sensual. The development of their characters and romance is stunning and it vibrates throughout the book. It moved me and pulled at all my heartstrings. I was so wrapped up in their romance that I almost forgot the darker side of this story.
The first part of Wild Heart revolves around the relationship between Leo and Ella, then the pace of the story accelerates as the suspense plotline develops and dominates the last part of the story. It is a captivating and surprising plotline, interlacing the paranormal aspects with the suspense and the romance. The end is satisfying and took me by surprise. I did not expect this ending and it was quite shocking to be so surprised. The secondary characters are interesting, the villains are bad to the bone and the true friends of Ella and Leo are loyal and interesting, all these characters spice up the story but the spotlight stays mainly on Ella and Leo.
Lori Brighton could not have written a better or more impressive debut. Wild Heart is seductive, dark and mysterious. The romance is scorching hot, the characters are well-developed and appealing, and the suspense is captivating, fresh and surprising. Wild Heart is a must-read for every romance reader out there.
After her sudden dismissal as a companion for Lady Buckley’s daughters, Ella Finch has no choice then to accept a post as a governess. She is in shock when she finds out that she will not be tutoring a lovely young boy, but a handsome, virile and very wild man. Somehow she knows that he will not hurt her and she is determined to help him take his place in society, after all, his grandfather is paying her a king’s ransom to educate him. This might be her only chance to gain her freedom and independence. But she soon finds out that there is more to Leo than meets the eye, he fascinates her. In no time he stirs up all these feelings inside her, make her do things she normally would not do, she craves him body, mind and soul. For the first time in her life she really feels free…
With Wild Heart Lori Brighton has made a grand debut in the world of romance. It is an impressive debut, I found myself captivated by her characters, and the storyline was so addictive that once I started I couldn’t stop. I felt this compelling need to understand Leo and Ella better and needed to know how they would fare, therefore I could not put the book down. The story is refreshing, unique and has this dark and mysterious vibe. Wild Heart is marketed as a historical paranormal romance, but the paranormal aspect of this story is confined to Ella’s special gift. Although, towards the end there are certain developments in the arc storyline that have some paranormal aspects.
Lori Brighton’s writing is easy, smooth and rich in detail. The setting for this story is the estate of Leo’s grandfather and I could easily picture every inch of this lovely estate. The fabulous characters come alive and tear themselves from the pages thanks to Lori’s writing. At the start of this story Leo is quite an enigma, in public he appears to be daft. He hardly speaks and his manners are nonexistent. He is exactly what society expects him to be after years of solitude in the jungle, an animal. This is precisely what he wants them to think, but under this façade there is also this artistic, gentle and honest man who has to deal with his inner turmoil for he has suffered greatly and therefore has a very dark side that makes him unreadable for others. He has only come back to seek the truth, he needs answers and closure otherwise the past will never set him free. Leo truly radiates from the pages, he is a very strong character and I fell head over heels in love with him.
Now Ella’s background is completely different, she was raised in an orphanage after her uncle never returned from his trip. Now she is a governess who has to tame the beast inside this handsome, older man and make him acceptable for society. Her whole life has revolved around others; she wants to be free of the responsibility to everyone but herself. Although she appears to be a meek person she really has a strong spirit, she is persistent yet nice and likeable. Leo makes her less stiff; he makes her bend the rules of society a little so she actually has some fun. The attraction between them is instant, it smolders a long time before it finally erupts. Their sex is hot, loving and sensual. The development of their characters and romance is stunning and it vibrates throughout the book. It moved me and pulled at all my heartstrings. I was so wrapped up in their romance that I almost forgot the darker side of this story.
The first part of Wild Heart revolves around the relationship between Leo and Ella, then the pace of the story accelerates as the suspense plotline develops and dominates the last part of the story. It is a captivating and surprising plotline, interlacing the paranormal aspects with the suspense and the romance. The end is satisfying and took me by surprise. I did not expect this ending and it was quite shocking to be so surprised. The secondary characters are interesting, the villains are bad to the bone and the true friends of Ella and Leo are loyal and interesting, all these characters spice up the story but the spotlight stays mainly on Ella and Leo.
Lori Brighton could not have written a better or more impressive debut. Wild Heart is seductive, dark and mysterious. The romance is scorching hot, the characters are well-developed and appealing, and the suspense is captivating, fresh and surprising. Wild Heart is a must-read for every romance reader out there.
October 14, 2023
3.5
Jumped right in with the story, quick easy read. Plot was farfetched.
Jumped right in with the story, quick easy read. Plot was farfetched.
June 5, 2010
Ella Finch is an orphan making her way in the world as a governess. Now that scary Lady Buckley's children are grown, she is sent to Lord Roberts to tutor his grandson Leo - who turns out to be a man grown, a wild man whose parents were murdered in India and he was left to grow up in the jungle with just his friend, Akshay, for company.
There is more to Leo than he wants people to know. Determined to find the men who killed his parents, and sure that his uncle and his cousin Henry were involved, Leo intends to stay only long enough to uncover the truth - and being groomed as heir to the Earldom isn't part of his plan. Neither is the beautiful and innocent Ella Finch, who soon cottons onto the fact that Leo can be the perfect gentleman when he chooses - he just doesn't wish to be one.
Soon Ella is drawn into the mystery of Leo's past as well as to the man himself. But she has her own secret to hide: gifted with the ability to feel what animals feel and to reach out to them, she's been taught by Lady Buckley that it's the devil's gift, and to hide it. For the first time in her life, her gift connects her to Leo in the same way, as if he were a wounded, angry, frightened animal. And he is. He's a man on a mission, and when he learns that Ella could be part of the mystery - or her uncle is - he's not sure just how dangerous it would be to let her get under his skin, and into his heart.
I liked the premise of this debut novel, set in 1855 - a period not commonly used in historical romance, which also appealed to me. But prose and skill counts for a great deal with me when I read popular fiction, more so than with literature for example. Brighton shows promise, but this book was so bogged down with Romance genre formulaic cliches that it quite ruined the story. So much Romance is badly written, and it only serves to aid the cynic's smug derision of the genre. What's so wrong with writing well? Stop copying each other and reproducing all the worst mistakes!
There are too many plot holes, often things that could have been easily explained and made not to be holes at all. There is inconsistency, especially in regards to feminine clothing, how much of it there is, whether it's on or off, and how easily it comes off. The 1850s was the period of the crinolin, and the chest was completely covered. Like too many historical romance authors, Brighton makes the mistake of completely disregarding attire when it would simply get in the way of the action of a scene. There were some scenes, like when Leo and Ella take shelter from the rain in the folly and, well, get warm and dry, Ella's clothes seemed to simply disappear. They weren't taken into account. Sometimes Leo's clothes conveniently disappeared, between one paragraph and the next. Like with all good genre fiction, there has to be realism in the details to make the world and the story itself believable. That's the key to Fantasy, but it applies to Romance just as much.
I also got pretty tired of Ella and Leo fairly quickly. Ella was soon reduced to a sweet "thing", who was constantly "taking her lower lip between her teeth" - sometimes it was a "trembling lower lip" but she never "bit her lip", she always, always "took it between her teeth", sometimes twice on one page. Lip-nibbling is one of the banes of Romance books. Christine Feehan is notorious at it. I can just imagine a list somewhere, for Romance writers, of mannerisms they can give their characters to make them "real" - lip-nibbling would be at the top. It's something I would expect to see from a writer's workshop student in grade 12, if then, as they learn to write and consciously experiment. Not from published fiction.
Ella was also one of those breathy, gasping women, so sweet and "good" they're saccharine, though that doesn't stop them from giving in to their desires out of wedlock (something I like, actually). Leo was actually a more grating character than Ella. I liked him at times but he had such a ... schtick. Is that the right word? He was like a little boy - the real Leo, that is, not the one he put on. I just got so tired of him and his righteousness and his grim jaw and so on.
There's an underlying theme of mysticism and magic, very popular in Victorian England. Ella's gift and what she learns about her family is one part of it; the hunt for a map that leads to great power another - it was all a bit kitsch though. The book is long, filled with too much introspection and the main characters questioning each other, themselves, their feelings, with great repetition. Yes, I know, you already said that! *yawn* The ending is open, implying a sequel, but I'm not interested enough to read more. Perhaps, if she ditches the cliches, her fifth book will be worth reading. I like an author who writes Romance but who isn't afraid of a complicated plot.
There is more to Leo than he wants people to know. Determined to find the men who killed his parents, and sure that his uncle and his cousin Henry were involved, Leo intends to stay only long enough to uncover the truth - and being groomed as heir to the Earldom isn't part of his plan. Neither is the beautiful and innocent Ella Finch, who soon cottons onto the fact that Leo can be the perfect gentleman when he chooses - he just doesn't wish to be one.
Soon Ella is drawn into the mystery of Leo's past as well as to the man himself. But she has her own secret to hide: gifted with the ability to feel what animals feel and to reach out to them, she's been taught by Lady Buckley that it's the devil's gift, and to hide it. For the first time in her life, her gift connects her to Leo in the same way, as if he were a wounded, angry, frightened animal. And he is. He's a man on a mission, and when he learns that Ella could be part of the mystery - or her uncle is - he's not sure just how dangerous it would be to let her get under his skin, and into his heart.
I liked the premise of this debut novel, set in 1855 - a period not commonly used in historical romance, which also appealed to me. But prose and skill counts for a great deal with me when I read popular fiction, more so than with literature for example. Brighton shows promise, but this book was so bogged down with Romance genre formulaic cliches that it quite ruined the story. So much Romance is badly written, and it only serves to aid the cynic's smug derision of the genre. What's so wrong with writing well? Stop copying each other and reproducing all the worst mistakes!
There are too many plot holes, often things that could have been easily explained and made not to be holes at all. There is inconsistency, especially in regards to feminine clothing, how much of it there is, whether it's on or off, and how easily it comes off. The 1850s was the period of the crinolin, and the chest was completely covered. Like too many historical romance authors, Brighton makes the mistake of completely disregarding attire when it would simply get in the way of the action of a scene. There were some scenes, like when Leo and Ella take shelter from the rain in the folly and, well, get warm and dry, Ella's clothes seemed to simply disappear. They weren't taken into account. Sometimes Leo's clothes conveniently disappeared, between one paragraph and the next. Like with all good genre fiction, there has to be realism in the details to make the world and the story itself believable. That's the key to Fantasy, but it applies to Romance just as much.
I also got pretty tired of Ella and Leo fairly quickly. Ella was soon reduced to a sweet "thing", who was constantly "taking her lower lip between her teeth" - sometimes it was a "trembling lower lip" but she never "bit her lip", she always, always "took it between her teeth", sometimes twice on one page. Lip-nibbling is one of the banes of Romance books. Christine Feehan is notorious at it. I can just imagine a list somewhere, for Romance writers, of mannerisms they can give their characters to make them "real" - lip-nibbling would be at the top. It's something I would expect to see from a writer's workshop student in grade 12, if then, as they learn to write and consciously experiment. Not from published fiction.
Ella was also one of those breathy, gasping women, so sweet and "good" they're saccharine, though that doesn't stop them from giving in to their desires out of wedlock (something I like, actually). Leo was actually a more grating character than Ella. I liked him at times but he had such a ... schtick. Is that the right word? He was like a little boy - the real Leo, that is, not the one he put on. I just got so tired of him and his righteousness and his grim jaw and so on.
There's an underlying theme of mysticism and magic, very popular in Victorian England. Ella's gift and what she learns about her family is one part of it; the hunt for a map that leads to great power another - it was all a bit kitsch though. The book is long, filled with too much introspection and the main characters questioning each other, themselves, their feelings, with great repetition. Yes, I know, you already said that! *yawn* The ending is open, implying a sequel, but I'm not interested enough to read more. Perhaps, if she ditches the cliches, her fifth book will be worth reading. I like an author who writes Romance but who isn't afraid of a complicated plot.
December 17, 2010
After falling completely in love with The GhostHunter, I was giddy when I found out that Lori Brighton had also written a historical novel and just HAD TO read it. I’ll tell you this, when I finished reading WILD HEART, I was FLOORED. What an amazing book!! Straight away, the author took me away from my bedroom and dropped me smack in the middle of intrigue and romance. This was a book I DIDN’T want to finish because Ella and Leo were so believable, so intense, so sigh worthy that the book could have gone on forever and I would have been perfectly happy. I was buzzing for days after and just ask my husband, I was walking around with a goofy grin on my face. I’d say it was a surprise but with Lori, I think it’s a given now that she’s a great author.
WILD HEART told the story of Ella Finch who finds herself becoming the governess of Lord Robert’s grandson. Hired to teach him the proper etiquette of society and become a gentleman fitting his station, Ella is shocked to find it was no mere child she was tutoring but the wild and savage OLDER grandson, Leo. From the moment she lays eyes on him, she’s intrigued and the moment he lays eyes on her, try as hard as he could, he couldn’t shake the attraction. The story shares the developing of their relationship, the challenges they face and of Leo’s overwhelming drive to avenge the death of his parents. Having witnessed it as a small boy in India, he was forced to spend time in the jungle, turning him wild and savage. Now his sole goal is to find out who was part of the massacre so he can have his revenge. Through Ella’s own empathic gifts, she reaches out to help and it isn’t long before they are swept up in murder and mayhem. Mystery shrouds both Leo and Ella and it leads to shock after shock for them as they discover how their lives are connected and linked with a society seeking power. Lori writes a beautiful story filled with emotions that it didn’t take long before my heart was racing, my mind sighing, my body tingling from holding my breath and gasping. I really liked the way she was able to capture each scene and deliver it in a way that as it unfolded, I stopped seeing the pages.
I loved the lead characters, Ella and Leo. Separately, they were compelling characters as they each had their own strength and weaknesses but when brought together, they really made the story for me. I loved how Ella, even though Leo exasperated her to no end when he was being defiant, never gave up and was always trying to find ways to help him. She took a lot of risks with him as he showed her a more sensual side of living but I admired her courage and her willingness to do what she could for the man she was growing to love. She was incredibly innocent and it proved to be a nice balance for Leo who was her opposite in being slightly jaded through his experiences and incredibly rough around the edges. He was an AMAZINGLY alpha male who had this driving intensity to him that made him sizzle on the pages. I could totally sit for days and just stare at him because he brought so much passion to everything. He was broody, borderline rude at times but at the same time could be devilish in his manners. I loved watching him fight his attraction to Ella, his uncertainty but most of all his blatant seductiveness when it came to her. I never knew what I was going to get with him and I reveled in it. They were both great characters to read and their interaction with each other really made the story worth reading.
This is an impressive book, one that shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone who shares a love for the historical. I was completely addicted to it and it’s a guaranteed keeper for me. It’s a story I’ll never get tired of and one that I’ll reach for time and time again when I want to feel some excitement. Definitely get yourself a copy as soon as you can because this is a great addition to the genre. Happy reading !!
WILD HEART told the story of Ella Finch who finds herself becoming the governess of Lord Robert’s grandson. Hired to teach him the proper etiquette of society and become a gentleman fitting his station, Ella is shocked to find it was no mere child she was tutoring but the wild and savage OLDER grandson, Leo. From the moment she lays eyes on him, she’s intrigued and the moment he lays eyes on her, try as hard as he could, he couldn’t shake the attraction. The story shares the developing of their relationship, the challenges they face and of Leo’s overwhelming drive to avenge the death of his parents. Having witnessed it as a small boy in India, he was forced to spend time in the jungle, turning him wild and savage. Now his sole goal is to find out who was part of the massacre so he can have his revenge. Through Ella’s own empathic gifts, she reaches out to help and it isn’t long before they are swept up in murder and mayhem. Mystery shrouds both Leo and Ella and it leads to shock after shock for them as they discover how their lives are connected and linked with a society seeking power. Lori writes a beautiful story filled with emotions that it didn’t take long before my heart was racing, my mind sighing, my body tingling from holding my breath and gasping. I really liked the way she was able to capture each scene and deliver it in a way that as it unfolded, I stopped seeing the pages.
I loved the lead characters, Ella and Leo. Separately, they were compelling characters as they each had their own strength and weaknesses but when brought together, they really made the story for me. I loved how Ella, even though Leo exasperated her to no end when he was being defiant, never gave up and was always trying to find ways to help him. She took a lot of risks with him as he showed her a more sensual side of living but I admired her courage and her willingness to do what she could for the man she was growing to love. She was incredibly innocent and it proved to be a nice balance for Leo who was her opposite in being slightly jaded through his experiences and incredibly rough around the edges. He was an AMAZINGLY alpha male who had this driving intensity to him that made him sizzle on the pages. I could totally sit for days and just stare at him because he brought so much passion to everything. He was broody, borderline rude at times but at the same time could be devilish in his manners. I loved watching him fight his attraction to Ella, his uncertainty but most of all his blatant seductiveness when it came to her. I never knew what I was going to get with him and I reveled in it. They were both great characters to read and their interaction with each other really made the story worth reading.
This is an impressive book, one that shouldn’t be overlooked by anyone who shares a love for the historical. I was completely addicted to it and it’s a guaranteed keeper for me. It’s a story I’ll never get tired of and one that I’ll reach for time and time again when I want to feel some excitement. Definitely get yourself a copy as soon as you can because this is a great addition to the genre. Happy reading !!
November 14, 2010
Once again Lori has managed to draw me into a world of her making. The onslaught of feelings I felt while completely ignoring everything around me by reading all day long was simply amazing.
Ella wants nothing more than to be a proper functioning member of English society. Her life has been far from easy though. Swept from a orphanage at a young age and raised to be a governess by the cruel, unfeeling Lady Buckley, Ella has known nothing but servitude. When she is basically sold to the Lord Roberts to be a governess to his grown grandson Leo, she isn’t sure how to respond. Manners win out in the end of course and she agrees to stay, if the Lord is willing to grant her a cottage by the sea and her freedom at the end of her tenure. Thrilled at the prospect of finally being free of society’s binding hands she sets out to do the best with the uncultured Leo.
Seeing your family murdered and then being left in the jungle for years haven’t made Leo simply uncultured. It has left him feral and watchful. Never letting anyone get close. He doesn’t need or want a distraction from his sole mission…finding out who killed his family. His honed instincts scream at his own family for the murderous upheaval, and he will stop at nothing to get his man. The arrival of the lovely Ella not only un-nerves him but tempts him to finally let his guard down.
Can Leo afford to let this petite, wide-eyed, innocent into his life? Ella is hiding a secret of her own, he can sense it. Did she play a role somehow in the demise of his family? The strange incidents that happen in her presence with animals and the mysterious necklace she wears all point toward deception.
Wild Heart is set in the serene seaside fields of England. The smell of the salty air and the cool breeze will play with your senses. Whispering over your skin like a lovers caress. The waves lapping at the shore and the neighs of the bareback horses will assault your ears. Lori will set you down right in the middle of a field filled with flowers and you will smell their sweet fragrance.
The main characters heat scorched my skin with every page turn. I totally connected with these people so unlike me. I wanted to cry with Ella and felt her emotional rollercoaster as strongly as if it were my own. My heart beat frantically with her turmoil and the climax of not only the mystery but of the love scenes. Leo is so Alpha, so untamed and wild. Completely at her side every time someone dared come to close. Who doesn’t want a white knight? Even if the armor he carries is a bit tarnished. Every woman wants to tame the beast. To be the one that soothes the pains and makes the nightmares recede. True, Leo was a bit gruff and downright mean at times. Ella was sometimes meek and she blushed a whole hell of a lot. I did not care. If the book was set today, maybe, but the period of the piece was totally done justice.
The secondary characters of Fran and Akshay were delightful as well as the late arrival of Ella’s long-lost cousin Colin. The villains were underhanded and dark, just the way I like them. Unwilling to stop or be bested.
My favorite aspect was the slight paranormal ability by Ella to feel the emotions of animals and control them. And somehow to feel Leo as well, allowing her a look at the person he truly was underneath the rough facade. It fit into the story line perfectly and when the ending unfolded I was eager to learn more of her abilities and that of her families line. It isn’t often a historical romance weaves in some paranormal activity. The voice is uniquely Lori Brighton.
Favorite quote: “Your cousin and his friends left last night”
“That is unfortunate. I would have loved to smash my fist into his face”
Ella wants nothing more than to be a proper functioning member of English society. Her life has been far from easy though. Swept from a orphanage at a young age and raised to be a governess by the cruel, unfeeling Lady Buckley, Ella has known nothing but servitude. When she is basically sold to the Lord Roberts to be a governess to his grown grandson Leo, she isn’t sure how to respond. Manners win out in the end of course and she agrees to stay, if the Lord is willing to grant her a cottage by the sea and her freedom at the end of her tenure. Thrilled at the prospect of finally being free of society’s binding hands she sets out to do the best with the uncultured Leo.
Seeing your family murdered and then being left in the jungle for years haven’t made Leo simply uncultured. It has left him feral and watchful. Never letting anyone get close. He doesn’t need or want a distraction from his sole mission…finding out who killed his family. His honed instincts scream at his own family for the murderous upheaval, and he will stop at nothing to get his man. The arrival of the lovely Ella not only un-nerves him but tempts him to finally let his guard down.
Can Leo afford to let this petite, wide-eyed, innocent into his life? Ella is hiding a secret of her own, he can sense it. Did she play a role somehow in the demise of his family? The strange incidents that happen in her presence with animals and the mysterious necklace she wears all point toward deception.
Wild Heart is set in the serene seaside fields of England. The smell of the salty air and the cool breeze will play with your senses. Whispering over your skin like a lovers caress. The waves lapping at the shore and the neighs of the bareback horses will assault your ears. Lori will set you down right in the middle of a field filled with flowers and you will smell their sweet fragrance.
The main characters heat scorched my skin with every page turn. I totally connected with these people so unlike me. I wanted to cry with Ella and felt her emotional rollercoaster as strongly as if it were my own. My heart beat frantically with her turmoil and the climax of not only the mystery but of the love scenes. Leo is so Alpha, so untamed and wild. Completely at her side every time someone dared come to close. Who doesn’t want a white knight? Even if the armor he carries is a bit tarnished. Every woman wants to tame the beast. To be the one that soothes the pains and makes the nightmares recede. True, Leo was a bit gruff and downright mean at times. Ella was sometimes meek and she blushed a whole hell of a lot. I did not care. If the book was set today, maybe, but the period of the piece was totally done justice.
The secondary characters of Fran and Akshay were delightful as well as the late arrival of Ella’s long-lost cousin Colin. The villains were underhanded and dark, just the way I like them. Unwilling to stop or be bested.
My favorite aspect was the slight paranormal ability by Ella to feel the emotions of animals and control them. And somehow to feel Leo as well, allowing her a look at the person he truly was underneath the rough facade. It fit into the story line perfectly and when the ending unfolded I was eager to learn more of her abilities and that of her families line. It isn’t often a historical romance weaves in some paranormal activity. The voice is uniquely Lori Brighton.
Favorite quote: “Your cousin and his friends left last night”
“That is unfortunate. I would have loved to smash my fist into his face”
February 1, 2014
***สปอย***
เรื่องเริ่มจาก เอลล่า—นางเอกซึ่งมีความสามารถพิเศษหยั่งรู้ความรู้สึกของสัตว์—ตกลงรับงานเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยงให้หลานชายของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตผู้ชรา โดยมีเงื่อนไขว่าเธอและเพื่อนจะได้เงินจำนวนมากและบ้านหลังหนึ่งเป็นค่าตอบแทน
ปรากฏว่า แทนที่หลานชายของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตจะเป็นเด็กผู้ชาย เขากลับเป็นผู้ชายที่โตเต็มตัวคนหนึ่ง! แถมเป็นผู้ชายอารมณ์ร้ายเยี่ยงสัตว์ป่าอีกด้วย เอลล่าตกใจมาก เธอเริ่มรู้ตัวว่าตัวเองถูกหลอ��
ลีโอ เป็นคนกระด้างดุดัน ตอนเป็นเด็กเขากับพ่อแม่ไปตั้งแคมป์ในป่าอินเดีย พ่อแม่ของเขาถูกฆ่าอย่างโหดร้ายจากคนที่รู้จักพวกเขาเป็นอย่างดี เขากับเพื่อนอีกคนหนีรอดมาได้แต่ต้องใช้ชีวิตหลบซ่อนหากินอยู่ในป่ามานานหลายปีเพราะไม่อาจไว้ใจใครได้ นาน...จนเขาลืมไปแล้วว่าความศิวิไลซ์เป็นอย่างไร เขารู้สึกผ่อนคลายมากกว่าเมื่ออยู่ในป่า เขาเลี้ยงเสือดำขาด้วนไว้ตัวหนึ่ง มันเป็นเพื่อนเพียงตัวเดียวที่เขามีตั้งแต่กลับมาลอนดอน
เนื้อเรื่องสนุกในระดับหนึ่งค่ะ ภาษาอ่านง่าย แต่ก็มีหลายส่วนที่มิมไม่ค่อยเข้าใจ ทั้งเรื่องสร้อยคอของเอลล่า บันทึกที่ลุงของเอลล่าส่งมาให้เธอ ความสามารถในการอ่านใจสัตว์ของเอลล่า คือเอลล่าไม่ได้อ่านใจลีโอได้นะคะ เพียงแต่รู้สึกถึงอารมณ์ของเขาได้ ซึ่งก็ไม่รู้ว่าเพราะอะไร เหมือนคนเขียนผูกปมไม่แน่น ทิ้งปริศนาไว้ให้ค้นหาต่อในเล่มสอง
พระเอกขรึมๆ ดุดัน แต่ก็ขี้แกล้งค่ะ มีอยู่ฉากหนึ่ง ลีโอหนีเรียนมาวาดรูปที่ทุ่งดอกไม้(ต๊าย หว๊านหวาน) เอลล่าตามมาเจอแล้วพยายามขอร้องให้ลีโอกลับไปเรียน ลีโอเลยบอกว่าถ้าเอลล่ายอมเป็นแบบให้เขาวาดเขาจะไปเรียนมารยาทต่อ เอลล่าตกลง พอหญิงสาวเอนตัวนอนเขาก็บอกว่า ที่บอกว่าให้เป็นแบบน่ะแบบนู้ดนะ เอลล่าก็เอ๋อสิคะ ตกลงไปแล้วด้วย
นางเอกเป็นนางเอ๊กนางเอกค่ะ เธอยอมตกลงทำงานนี้ก็เพื่ออยากช่วยเพื่อนที่ป่วยให้ได้อยู่สบาย มิมชอบที่เอลล่าตื้อเก่ง เธอตื้อให้พระเอกไปเรียน แต่กลับถูกทำให้ไขว้เขวเองซะหลายครั้ง มีครั้งหนึ่งพระเอกบอกให้ลงมาว่ายน้ำแล่นกันในคูน้ำก่อนแล้วตัวเองจะกลับไปเรียน เอลล่าก็กระโจนลงน้ำเลยค่ะ แต่ตัวเองกลับว่ายน้ำไม่เป็นเลยต้องให้ลีโอสอนว่ายน้ำให้ซะแทน
ฉากเลิฟซีนอ่อนหวานค่ะ มิมชอบที่ลีโอซึ่งเถื่อนมาตลอดทั้งเรื่องกลับร่วมรักกับเอลล่าอย่างอ่อนหวาน แถมฉากก็โอเค ฉากหนึ่งเป็นในวิหารกรีกกลางสวนตอนฝนตกพรำๆ อีกฉากหลังจากหนีรอดผู้ร้ายมาได้ ลีโอสะเดาะกลอนหน้าต่างบ้านใครก็ไม่รู้เพื่อให้เอลล่าได้พัก ทั้งสองหลับนอนด้วยกัน ลีโอตระหนักตอนนั้นเองว่าเขารักเอลล่า และหลังจากนั้นเขาก็ทำตัวอ่อนหวานปกป้องเอลล่าสุดชีวิต
สรุปเรื่องนี้หักมุม ลูกพี่ลูกน้องของลีโอเป็นสมาชิกในกลุ่มที่ตามล่าผู้มีพรสวรรค์ เขากับพ่อของเขา(อาของลีโอ)นี่แหละที่ตามไปฆ่าพ่อแม่ของลีโอถึงอินเดียเพื่อชิงแหวนที่เป็นของพ่อลีโอ ลุงของเอลล่าก็อยู่ที่นั่นด้วย (ซึ่งจะมีบทบาทในเล่ม2) ส่วนลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตเองก็จ้างคนให้มาลอบฆ่าลีโอ เพราะอยากให้ลูกพี่ลูกน้องของลีโอรับบรรดาศักดิ์แทนเขา ไม่ใช่เด็กป่าเถื่อนแบบลีโอ
องค์กรลึกลับนี้นี่แหละอยู่เบื้องหลังการทำให้ลีโอกับเอลล่ามาเจอกัน เพราะคิดว่าแหวนของลีโอกับสร้อยคอของเอลล่าเป็นแผนที่นำไปสู่พลังเหนือธรรมชาติอันยิ่งใหญ่ ที่สามารถเปลี่ยนโลกได้ และสายเลือดของลีโอและพลังจิตของเอลล่าเป็นตัวเปิดแผนที่นั้น
ตอนจบเอลล่าแอบไปได้ยินลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตวางแผนจะฆ่าลีโอ แต่กลับถูกจับได้ เธอถูกทำให้สลบเพื่อส่งมอบตัวให้องค์กรลึกลับนี้ แต่หญิงสาวสู้สุดฤทธิ์จนทำให้ตะเกียงตก ไฟไฟม้คฤหาสน์ของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตแทบมอด ลีโอฝ่าไฟเข้าไปช่วยแต่เอลล่าหมดลมหายใจแล้ว แต่มีตัวละครหนึ่งตัวโผล่มาค่ะ เขาคือคอลลิน เป็นลูกพี่ลูกน้องของเอลล่า เขามีพลังแห่งการรักษาและช่วยเอลล่าให้ฟื้นจากความตาย คอลลินจะเป็นพระเอกในเล่มสองด้วยนะเออ
เรื่องเริ่มจาก เอลล่า—นางเอกซึ่งมีความสามารถพิเศษหยั่งรู้ความรู้สึกของสัตว์—ตกลงรับงานเป็นครูพี่เลี้ยงให้หลานชายของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตผู้ชรา โดยมีเงื่อนไขว่าเธอและเพื่อนจะได้เงินจำนวนมากและบ้านหลังหนึ่งเป็นค่าตอบแทน
ปรากฏว่า แทนที่หลานชายของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตจะเป็นเด็กผู้ชาย เขากลับเป็นผู้ชายที่โตเต็มตัวคนหนึ่ง! แถมเป็นผู้ชายอารมณ์ร้ายเยี่ยงสัตว์ป่าอีกด้วย เอลล่าตกใจมาก เธอเริ่มรู้ตัวว่าตัวเองถูกหลอ��
ลีโอ เป็นคนกระด้างดุดัน ตอนเป็นเด็กเขากับพ่อแม่ไปตั้งแคมป์ในป่าอินเดีย พ่อแม่ของเขาถูกฆ่าอย่างโหดร้ายจากคนที่รู้จักพวกเขาเป็นอย่างดี เขากับเพื่อนอีกคนหนีรอดมาได้แต่ต้องใช้ชีวิตหลบซ่อนหากินอยู่ในป่ามานานหลายปีเพราะไม่อาจไว้ใจใครได้ นาน...จนเขาลืมไปแล้วว่าความศิวิไลซ์เป็นอย่างไร เขารู้สึกผ่อนคลายมากกว่าเมื่ออยู่ในป่า เขาเลี้ยงเสือดำขาด้วนไว้ตัวหนึ่ง มันเป็นเพื่อนเพียงตัวเดียวที่เขามีตั้งแต่กลับมาลอนดอน
เนื้อเรื่องสนุกในระดับหนึ่งค่ะ ภาษาอ่านง่าย แต่ก็มีหลายส่วนที่มิมไม่ค่อยเข้าใจ ทั้งเรื่องสร้อยคอของเอลล่า บันทึกที่ลุงของเอลล่าส่งมาให้เธอ ความสามารถในการอ่านใจสัตว์ของเอลล่า คือเอลล่าไม่ได้อ่านใจลีโอได้นะคะ เพียงแต่รู้สึกถึงอารมณ์ของเขาได้ ซึ่งก็ไม่รู้ว่าเพราะอะไร เหมือนคนเขียนผูกปมไม่แน่น ทิ้งปริศนาไว้ให้ค้นหาต่อในเล่มสอง
พระเอกขรึมๆ ดุดัน แต่ก็ขี้แกล้งค่ะ มีอยู่ฉากหนึ่ง ลีโอหนีเรียนมาวาดรูปที่ทุ่งดอกไม้(ต๊าย หว๊านหวาน) เอลล่าตามมาเจอแล้วพยายามขอร้องให้ลีโอกลับไปเรียน ลีโอเลยบอกว่าถ้าเอลล่ายอมเป็นแบบให้เขาวาดเขาจะไปเรียนมารยาทต่อ เอลล่าตกลง พอหญิงสาวเอนตัวนอนเขาก็บอกว่า ที่บอกว่าให้เป็นแบบน่ะแบบนู้ดนะ เอลล่าก็เอ๋อสิคะ ตกลงไปแล้วด้วย
นางเอกเป็นนางเอ๊กนางเอกค่ะ เธอยอมตกลงทำงานนี้ก็เพื่ออยากช่วยเพื่อนที่ป่วยให้ได้อยู่สบาย มิมชอบที่เอลล่าตื้อเก่ง เธอตื้อให้พระเอกไปเรียน แต่กลับถูกทำให้ไขว้เขวเองซะหลายครั้ง มีครั้งหนึ่งพระเอกบอกให้ลงมาว่ายน้ำแล่นกันในคูน้ำก่อนแล้วตัวเองจะกลับไปเรียน เอลล่าก็กระโจนลงน้ำเลยค่ะ แต่ตัวเองกลับว่ายน้ำไม่เป็นเลยต้องให้ลีโอสอนว่ายน้ำให้ซะแทน
ฉากเลิฟซีนอ่อนหวานค่ะ มิมชอบที่ลีโอซึ่งเถื่อนมาตลอดทั้งเรื่องกลับร่วมรักกับเอลล่าอย่างอ่อนหวาน แถมฉากก็โอเค ฉากหนึ่งเป็นในวิหารกรีกกลางสวนตอนฝนตกพรำๆ อีกฉากหลังจากหนีรอดผู้ร้ายมาได้ ลีโอสะเดาะกลอนหน้าต่างบ้านใครก็ไม่รู้เพื่อให้เอลล่าได้พัก ทั้งสองหลับนอนด้วยกัน ลีโอตระหนักตอนนั้นเองว่าเขารักเอลล่า และหลังจากนั้นเขาก็ทำตัวอ่อนหวานปกป้องเอลล่าสุดชีวิต
สรุปเรื่องนี้หักมุม ลูกพี่ลูกน้องของลีโอเป็นสมาชิกในกลุ่มที่ตามล่าผู้มีพรสวรรค์ เขากับพ่อของเขา(อาของลีโอ)นี่แหละที่ตามไปฆ่าพ่อแม่ของลีโอถึงอินเดียเพื่อชิงแหวนที่เป็นของพ่อลีโอ ลุงของเอลล่าก็อยู่ที่นั่นด้วย (ซึ่งจะมีบทบาทในเล่ม2) ส่วนลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตเองก็จ้างคนให้มาลอบฆ่าลีโอ เพราะอยากให้ลูกพี่ลูกน้องของลีโอรับบรรดาศักดิ์แทนเขา ไม่ใช่เด็กป่าเถื่อนแบบลีโอ
องค์กรลึกลับนี้นี่แหละอยู่เบื้องหลังการทำให้ลีโอกับเอลล่ามาเจอกัน เพราะคิดว่าแหวนของลีโอกับสร้อยคอของเอลล่าเป็นแผนที่นำไปสู่พลังเหนือธรรมชาติอันยิ่งใหญ่ ที่สามารถเปลี่ยนโลกได้ และสายเลือดของลีโอและพลังจิตของเอลล่าเป็นตัวเปิดแผนที่นั้น
ตอนจบเอลล่าแอบไปได้ยินลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตวางแผนจะฆ่าลีโอ แต่กลับถูกจับได้ เธอถูกทำให้สลบเพื่อส่งมอบตัวให้องค์กรลึกลับนี้ แต่หญิงสาวสู้สุดฤทธิ์จนทำให้ตะเกียงตก ไฟไฟม้คฤหาสน์ของลอร์ดโรเบิร์ตแทบมอด ลีโอฝ่าไฟเข้าไปช่วยแต่เอลล่าหมดลมหายใจแล้ว แต่มีตัวละครหนึ่งตัวโผล่มาค่ะ เขาคือคอลลิน เป็นลูกพี่ลูกน้องของเอลล่า เขามีพลังแห่งการรักษาและช่วยเอลล่าให้ฟื้นจากความตาย คอลลินจะเป็นพระเอกในเล่มสองด้วยนะเออ
November 22, 2010
Usually, I like a more aggressive heroine, but in Ella's case, I made an exception. Although timid, she was just a really likeable character. You know, a person that people cannot help but like? Animals liked her as well, probably because she was empathic to them. Wild Heart, began with Elle's previous employer no longer needing a companion. So, Ella went to work, as a governess for Lord Roberts. She was under the impression, her charge would be a young boy. Imagine her surprise, when she realized that Lord Roberts's grandson was a grown man.
After spending many years surviving the harsh jungles, Leo Roberts, grandson to Lord Roberts, heir to the earldom, had returned home behaving like a wild animal. Lord Roberts hired Ella, with the hope, to teach his grandson, to talk and act like an english gentleman with the proper etiquette, so he might re-enter and fit in with English society. But, Leo wasn't as unpolished as he would have people believe. In truth, it was a ruse, to give him the freedom, to search for the ones responsible for his parent's murder.
I loved the animalistic chemistry between Leo and Elle. Leo acted like an alpha animal claiming his mate and Elle couldn't seem to resist his animal magnatism. Teehee...get it? Elle saw through the facade of his beastly behavior and into the heart of the man. I had hoped with the paranormal element added to the story, there would have been some part of him, that was beastly. So, I was a little disappointed and in some ways I felt misled. However, the book left the story open to the possiblity. It was revealed, Elle and Leo have always been each others destiny, when they find themselves at the center, of what can only be described as an occult - like conspiracy.
Although, it wasn't what I expected, I really enjoyed this book. The original and dynamic plot was well thoughtout and executed. The author filled the pages with suspense, romance, and intrigue, that I couldn't help but be compelled to keep reading. It was a fun 'who done it' and I had to know!!! In truth, it kept me guessing. Everytime, I thought I had something or someone figured out, I was wrong. I often found myself thinking, "I didn't see that coming!" or "Well, I be damned!". Overall, the Elle and Leo were complex and engaging characters and the supporting characters were deliciously deceiving. Filled with conspiracies, deceptions, myths, magic and sizzling romance, this historical romance with a paranormal edge was a wonderful and original read.
After spending many years surviving the harsh jungles, Leo Roberts, grandson to Lord Roberts, heir to the earldom, had returned home behaving like a wild animal. Lord Roberts hired Ella, with the hope, to teach his grandson, to talk and act like an english gentleman with the proper etiquette, so he might re-enter and fit in with English society. But, Leo wasn't as unpolished as he would have people believe. In truth, it was a ruse, to give him the freedom, to search for the ones responsible for his parent's murder.
I loved the animalistic chemistry between Leo and Elle. Leo acted like an alpha animal claiming his mate and Elle couldn't seem to resist his animal magnatism. Teehee...get it? Elle saw through the facade of his beastly behavior and into the heart of the man. I had hoped with the paranormal element added to the story, there would have been some part of him, that was beastly. So, I was a little disappointed and in some ways I felt misled. However, the book left the story open to the possiblity. It was revealed, Elle and Leo have always been each others destiny, when they find themselves at the center, of what can only be described as an occult - like conspiracy.
Although, it wasn't what I expected, I really enjoyed this book. The original and dynamic plot was well thoughtout and executed. The author filled the pages with suspense, romance, and intrigue, that I couldn't help but be compelled to keep reading. It was a fun 'who done it' and I had to know!!! In truth, it kept me guessing. Everytime, I thought I had something or someone figured out, I was wrong. I often found myself thinking, "I didn't see that coming!" or "Well, I be damned!". Overall, the Elle and Leo were complex and engaging characters and the supporting characters were deliciously deceiving. Filled with conspiracies, deceptions, myths, magic and sizzling romance, this historical romance with a paranormal edge was a wonderful and original read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2015
Wild Heart is an historical romance novel by debut author Lori Brighton. There is a subtle vein of supernatural to the story in that the heroine, Ella Fitch, has the gift of being able to "communicate" with animals by picking up on their emotions and soothing them with calming thoughts. The characterizations are loosely based on the tale of Tarzan as the male protagonist in Wild Heart, Leo Roberts, was the sole survivor of a deadly attack on a camp in the jungles of India when we has a child accompanying his parents on an exploration. Not only was the experience traumatic because of the act itself, but the understanding that the attack was an act of betrayal by someone his father trusted and the fact that Leo was not searched for or rescued for a very long time, has made Leo the wild, uncouth, outsider he is now.
Leo is now next in line for Earldom of his Grandfather's estate and Ella Fitch is hired as Leo's governess in order to educate and refine him in the manners and habits of a cultured member of society. It turns out, however, that Leo is not the only one with a mysterious and dark past as both of their pasts catch up to them and they are one or the other the object of a series of attacks. As they try to figure out exactly what is going on without revealing their secrets to each other, they end up learning about love, trust, and understanding like neither have ever known or dared hope for.
Wild Heart is a wonderfully suspenseful and mysterious adventure and a romantic tale of two lost and lonely souls who are brought together under some unusual, albeit possibly fateful circumstances. The mystery surrounding the attacks on them and the estate is intricate and multilayered, and kept me guessing at the possibilities until the very end. The love between Leo and Ella is built not only with passion, but also with compassion, trust and the kind of emotional connection you share with someone who simply believes in you.
I enjoyed witnessing the mystery of these characters and their love for each other unfold on the pages of Wild Heart, and I celebrated in their much deserved happily ever after.
Leo is now next in line for Earldom of his Grandfather's estate and Ella Fitch is hired as Leo's governess in order to educate and refine him in the manners and habits of a cultured member of society. It turns out, however, that Leo is not the only one with a mysterious and dark past as both of their pasts catch up to them and they are one or the other the object of a series of attacks. As they try to figure out exactly what is going on without revealing their secrets to each other, they end up learning about love, trust, and understanding like neither have ever known or dared hope for.
Wild Heart is a wonderfully suspenseful and mysterious adventure and a romantic tale of two lost and lonely souls who are brought together under some unusual, albeit possibly fateful circumstances. The mystery surrounding the attacks on them and the estate is intricate and multilayered, and kept me guessing at the possibilities until the very end. The love between Leo and Ella is built not only with passion, but also with compassion, trust and the kind of emotional connection you share with someone who simply believes in you.
I enjoyed witnessing the mystery of these characters and their love for each other unfold on the pages of Wild Heart, and I celebrated in their much deserved happily ever after.
March 4, 2010
Confession: I have a weakness for historical romances where the hero is a long lost earl or duke, and has to fight for his title. This book pulled me in with that story line, but it is so much more. This is one of the best historicals I've read in a long time. The basic storyline is one that is used in historicals all the time, but Lori Brighton put a twist on it by adding a touch of the paranormal and to it, but she did it in such a way where it didn't take away from anything and just added more substance to the story. Aside from the romance, there is also a mystery to be solved-which also added more allure to the story.
There is so much I liked about the story I'm not sure where to begin. I'll start with the romance part of the book-there was the usual "OMG, I love him, but I'm not supposed to love him" going on from Ella, but I liked how it didn't take over the character, and that she turned out to be strong & independent and not afraid to do her own thing to protect those she loved. Leo is one of my favorite types of historical romance heroes. His past haunts him, and has a lot of demons to work out before he comes to realize that it's ok for him to admit he's in love. Even though I solved the mystery part of the story pretty early on in the book, it didn't take away form the story-and it had a few twists to it that I didn't (but should have) seen coming.
The only weak part of the story was the side characters, Fran and Ashkay. One of the reasons that Ella takes this post is because of her friend Fran who is sick. However, Fran isn't mentioned again until halfway through the book and I'd honestly almost forgotten all about her by the time she was mentioned again. She did end up having more of a role in the latter part of the book, but I hate it when characters just disappear for almost no reason..Ashkay was the exact opposite of Fran-he was around a lot in the beginning, then kind of faded out at the end. However, it didn't take away from the story at all. I have to say this has gotten me wanting to read more historical romances. :)
There is so much I liked about the story I'm not sure where to begin. I'll start with the romance part of the book-there was the usual "OMG, I love him, but I'm not supposed to love him" going on from Ella, but I liked how it didn't take over the character, and that she turned out to be strong & independent and not afraid to do her own thing to protect those she loved. Leo is one of my favorite types of historical romance heroes. His past haunts him, and has a lot of demons to work out before he comes to realize that it's ok for him to admit he's in love. Even though I solved the mystery part of the story pretty early on in the book, it didn't take away form the story-and it had a few twists to it that I didn't (but should have) seen coming.
The only weak part of the story was the side characters, Fran and Ashkay. One of the reasons that Ella takes this post is because of her friend Fran who is sick. However, Fran isn't mentioned again until halfway through the book and I'd honestly almost forgotten all about her by the time she was mentioned again. She did end up having more of a role in the latter part of the book, but I hate it when characters just disappear for almost no reason..Ashkay was the exact opposite of Fran-he was around a lot in the beginning, then kind of faded out at the end. However, it didn't take away from the story at all. I have to say this has gotten me wanting to read more historical romances. :)
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February 25, 2011
It has been a long time since I read a book where the hero got on my nerves for the longest time, and then surprised my in the end by being someone I enjoy. Leo, with his glaring ways (I honestly felt like he glared at me through the first third of the book), made me a little uncomfortable - he was indeed quite "wild." But as both the reader and Ella learned more about him - what he enjoyed doing, and the fact that he is not as wild as he seemed, just had an agenda - the more he started growing on me. And as I said, by the end he was someone I enjoyed, even liked. Ella was adorable and selfless, a freespirit in a time when women were expected to adhere to so many rules. Though there was a time or two I thought she might be a little too free, but I'll admit it, I liked it.
The storyline starts off a little slow, as the characters and history needs some lead-in. Leo has a dark past, and it haunts him to this day, so he returns home to find the people that killed his parents. However, this is not proving to be an easy task. Ella ends up joining him on the search, and several plot-lines and histories diverge into something so complex and fascinating, you'll be grateful for the gentle lead in. A good read that will keep you entertained for hours, fans of Historical Romance should definitely check out "Wild Heart" by Lori Brighton!
Cover Loving: I like it - I think they look suitably enough like Leo and Ella.
Recommendation: Fans of Historical Romance will enjoy "Wild Heart" by Lori Brighton. Plenty of action, and quite the steamy hero.
Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Enjoyable read, I liked the characters, and the story was fascinating.
The storyline starts off a little slow, as the characters and history needs some lead-in. Leo has a dark past, and it haunts him to this day, so he returns home to find the people that killed his parents. However, this is not proving to be an easy task. Ella ends up joining him on the search, and several plot-lines and histories diverge into something so complex and fascinating, you'll be grateful for the gentle lead in. A good read that will keep you entertained for hours, fans of Historical Romance should definitely check out "Wild Heart" by Lori Brighton!
Cover Loving: I like it - I think they look suitably enough like Leo and Ella.
Recommendation: Fans of Historical Romance will enjoy "Wild Heart" by Lori Brighton. Plenty of action, and quite the steamy hero.
Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5). Enjoyable read, I liked the characters, and the story was fascinating.
July 19, 2012
"I'll teach you how to swim."
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Well, not terrible but nothing great. I expected more.
High Points.
The era. The general plot, not how it panned out though. Charlie. Governess for a man. Titanic painting. Painting. India. Dark past. Leo wasn't the only one with a story.
Low Points.
Holes in the plot. Erratic dialog. Contradictory actions. Paranormal in a historical romance. Inconsistent behaviour.
Heroine.
I just wish she would grow a va-jay-jay and get angry at Leo's fickleness. I wanted to punch both of them. She wasn't memorable but at least she had a little something going for her.
Love Interest.
Ah, Leo. The dark and noble steed in the novel, I think. He was a little too emo for me and kept flip-flopping moods.
Theme Tune.
Awaken - Dario Marianelli - Jane Eyre OST (2011)
Angst Level.
3/10. The climax was so predictable and entirely anti-climactic. It seemed forced.
Recommended For.
People who love the era. People who are looking for something light and fluffy. People who like bickering. People who like getting both sides of the story. People who like emo boys.
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
Well, not terrible but nothing great. I expected more.
High Points.
The era. The general plot, not how it panned out though. Charlie. Governess for a man. Titanic painting. Painting. India. Dark past. Leo wasn't the only one with a story.
Low Points.
Holes in the plot. Erratic dialog. Contradictory actions. Paranormal in a historical romance. Inconsistent behaviour.
Heroine.
I just wish she would grow a va-jay-jay and get angry at Leo's fickleness. I wanted to punch both of them. She wasn't memorable but at least she had a little something going for her.
Love Interest.
Ah, Leo. The dark and noble steed in the novel, I think. He was a little too emo for me and kept flip-flopping moods.
Theme Tune.
Awaken - Dario Marianelli - Jane Eyre OST (2011)
Angst Level.
3/10. The climax was so predictable and entirely anti-climactic. It seemed forced.
Recommended For.
People who love the era. People who are looking for something light and fluffy. People who like bickering. People who like getting both sides of the story. People who like emo boys.
January 21, 2011
I feel like such a pariah for not laying down and worshiping at this book's feet. So many people who enjoy the same books as me just *loved* this book. I thought it was OK. It was like paranormal romance lite. Diet PNR- great taste, a little disappointing. Some bits were great, but overall, I wish there had either been a better balance of romance and paranormal or just completely do away with one or the other.
Also, the book ended quite abruptly. It was like Brighton pulled a Rowling ("Oh, crap, I only have 20 pages to wrap this up. ...'And they lived happily ever after'... There, I did it!"). It just didn't flow- good depth, good depth, good depth, and then we ran screaming out of the pool in a hissy fit.
Also, the book ended quite abruptly. It was like Brighton pulled a Rowling ("Oh, crap, I only have 20 pages to wrap this up. ...'And they lived happily ever after'... There, I did it!"). It just didn't flow- good depth, good depth, good depth, and then we ran screaming out of the pool in a hissy fit.
December 30, 2010
Orphaned Ella has been brought to $creepy_estate to become governess to the heir to an earldom, a wild man raised by wolves in the jungle or some such. Well, actually not so much raised by wolves as hiding from the human variety of wolf trying to kill him. As the governess becomes attracted to the hero (who isn't half as wild as he comes across), it becomes obvious that they are still being stalked by human predators seeking a map to a clue to some mysterious magical McGuffin! There are a few surprising twists in this historical book of romantic suspense, but the ending seems inconclusive unless this is the first of a series.
July 5, 2017
Ella is a special girl, ever since she was a little girl she could talk to animals. Ella is going on a journey of self discovery when she meets her new charge Leo. And Leo is afraid to trust anyone beyond his friend Akshay. Tension runs high when they meet for the first time and danger is at every corner. But sometimes that is all it takes to come together, a few dangerous situations. Leo changes as the story moves even deeper towards Ella because her feels like he can trust her. But when will Ella tell him that she has the power to talk to animals? I hope she doesn't tell him when its too late.
May 19, 2020
OMGWTFBBQ!!! Let me repeat, OMGWTFBBQ!!!
I thought I was reading a historical with some paranormal elements. Not so much. But I guess if it's categorized as a paranormal, the mistorical parts don't matter so much?
From the beginning, I could not connect with the heroine. Then, as I read on, I alternated between "hmm, this is intriguing" and "WTF!" I was prepared to like it somewhat, but at the end, the WTFery got to be way too weird and I could not suspend disbelief any longer. But yeah, YMMV.
I thought I was reading a historical with some paranormal elements. Not so much. But I guess if it's categorized as a paranormal, the mistorical parts don't matter so much?
From the beginning, I could not connect with the heroine. Then, as I read on, I alternated between "hmm, this is intriguing" and "WTF!" I was prepared to like it somewhat, but at the end, the WTFery got to be way too weird and I could not suspend disbelief any longer. But yeah, YMMV.
March 13, 2013
Hmmm... this novel was a little unbalanced. We have this mysterious man raised in the jungles of India. We have this woman who can communicate with animals. She becomes his governess and tries to teach him to be a gentlemen in society so he can inherit his family's estate. Meanwhile, he's on a quest to discover who killed him parents in India. Then, towards 80% into the book it gets all weird, and there is talk of a statue with unlimited power. (blank stare)
Overall, tolerable, but I would not say it was good.
Overall, tolerable, but I would not say it was good.
April 22, 2010
This book is marked as a historical romance - but it's so much more than that! This book contains a mystery that kept me guessing until the very last pages, fascinating life stories, some paranormal bits, and great character development. The story is told from the two main characters', Leo & Ella's (love their names), point of view, which offers a great insight in these two strong characters hearts and minds. An impressing debut book, I got so much more than I expected!
Rating: 4.5 of 5 :)
Rating: 4.5 of 5 :)
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