Wild Sonata

by Susan Barrie

Melanie has been the ward of Sir James and called the estate of Wroxford Priory her home. When Sir James dies and the new heir – his nephew – arrives, things are not off to a great start. Thinking that Melanie is the maid, Sir Luke gives out orders and causes Melanie to move out. Yet their relationship soon changes as Sir Luke does his best to woo Melanie, whose feelings also begin to heat up. Enticing her to move back in, things soon take a different turn for the two. The novel written under one of Ida Pollock's pseudonym, Susan Barrie, provides a classic memorable Pollock love tale.A must-read for fans of literary romance and surprising twists of fate.-

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Romance

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

One of many pseudonyms used by Ida Julia Pollock, née Crowe.

Mrs. Pollack was a British writer of several short-stories and 125 romance novels that were published under her married name and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen; Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. She has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.

Ida and her husband, Lt Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war and Winston Churchill's collaborator and editor, had a daughter, Rosemary Pollock, who is also a romance writer.

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I re-read this and now think it was a much nicer romance than I did upon first read. Yes, the H was a stuffed shirt at first, but his actions and words showed he really liked her. His claim that he was in love with her from the beginning was credible.

I feel like the piano and the puppy were more important to her at first than the H, and based on his behavior, her priorities were in the right order. I too, would be happier right now if someone presented me with a piano and a puppy named Sherry than with a pompous, handsome landowner.

In general this was typical Susan Barrie fare -- the H was initially a jerk and the h was a really friendly, competent person with interests of her own. (Susan Barrie H's really like competent h's, it seems.)

[Bookaddict · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was annoying the way everyone, friends of his mind you called the H Sir Luke. I felt like I was reading a regency! It was also like a house party so maybe Susan Barrie really wanted to write a historical romance!!

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melanie was Sir James ward and when he died the place and almost all possessions, exempt a few left to Melanie, were given to Sir James' nephew Sir Luke. When Luke came to reside over the property, he met a girl there and didn't realize she was the late Sir James' ward. He thought her a maid at first and was barking orders at her.

Melanie wasn't too happy Sir Luke was early, he had appalling guests who kicked her out of her childhood bedroom. She decided to move into The Rose Cottage, which was left to her from her guardian Sir James'. While trying to fix up the place, she fell off of a step ladder and seriously injured her ankle. Sir Luke demanded she stay with him. Soon enough Luke is giving her presents such as a puppy and trying to win her love but will she feel the same?

I thought this book was brilliant, I love guardian and ward books, especially when they fall in love at the end. For being such an older book, it was a joy to read. I really enjoyed Melanie's character, it was well written with quite a bit of information. However we never got any background information from her really, just her mother was dead and Sir James took over when her father died. It was perplexing.

[Rongbu]

Did not believe H was in love with h though.