A Little Bit Wild [Mass Market Paperback]

Victoria Dahl (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 1, 2010

Jude Bertrand is not an excellent dancer. Nor does he wear the most fashionable coats. But when Marissa York's brother approaches him, desperate to preserve Marissa's tenuous reputation, Jude does prove heroic enough to offer to marry the girl. In fact, the union should more than make up for his lack of social graces - and his own scandalous past...Marissa knows that betrothal to the son of a duke - even one as raw and masculine as Jude - will save her from ruin, but that doesn't mean she's happy about it. Soon, though, she finds that Jude has a surprisingly gentle touch - and plans to use it to persuade Marissa that their wedding day cannot come soon enough...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The classic Beauty and the Beast tale is twisted into something new in Dahl's latest historical romance. Marissa York is no demure debutante. She's 22 years old, stubborn, and very curious about sex. But after losing her virtue to a disappointing suitor, Marisa is doomed to ruin. To save her reputation, her family enlists Jude Bertrand, a duke's heir, to marry her. But Marissa is appalled at the idea of marrying the unattractive Jude. Slowly, however, Marisa and Jude grow extremely passionate about each other. It's not all pleasure, as there is also a blackmailer threatening to expose the scandal. Marissa's relatives, rash and overly dramatic, are entertaining and likeable. Though it's clear why the beast wants to marry the beauty, it's mind-boggling that he loves her. Marissa starts out shallow and remains so. Still, it's good beach reading: funny and unlike the others just enough to be worthwhile. (Aug.) (c)
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From Booklist

Victoria Dahl (Lead Me On, 2010) returns to historical romances after a foray in contemporaries. At 22, bored, flighty, aristocratic Marissa York wants to know all about sex. To satisfy her curiosity, she engages in the act with one of her beaux only to be caught by her brother, who decrees that since she might now be with child, she must marry. When she discovers that her brother is just after her yearly income, she refuses to marry the man who compromised her, but forms a fake engagement with a friend of the family, Jude Bertrand. The illegitimate but recognized son of a duke, Jude has admired Marissa for years and decides to woo her with passion, a plan bringing them closer than anyone would have imagined. Despite some modern jargon and occasional plot holes, Dahl’s Regency beautifully showcases two people who must strip away their preconceived notions of each other and grow up in order to find love. Dahl’s quirky sense of humor, interspersed with her depiction of significant personal problems, makes her characters memorable. --Pat Henshaw

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra; 1 edition (August 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1420104837
• ISBN-13: 978-1420104837
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Victoria Dahl lives with her family in a small town high in the Utah mountains. During the summer, she hikes and drinks margaritas (usually not at the same time.) During the winter she likes to curl up with a book and a cup of hot cocoa and think about all those poor, freezing skiers working so hard out in the snow. Victoria has published over eighteen books and novellas, including three USA Today bestsellers, and several of her books have been nominated for the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in the romance genre.

Find out more about Victoria and her books at www.VictoriaDahl.com or write to her at [e-mail].

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So Enjoyable! September 6, 2010

By Catherine

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I'm so pleased that I ended up loving this book so much. The first two chapters showed a very unattractive side of the heroine, Marissa, and I actually stopped reading to go clean something! I was so nervous that this book would be the one that broke my lucky streak with this author. I have enjoyed every book that I have read by this author, and I believe I've read them all barring the novellas, and I live in fear of breaking that pattern. But I got some reassurance that the book didn't disappoint, so I picked it back up and quickly found myself sucked in.

Marissa begins the story at a disadvantage with the reader. She comes off as extremely spoiled, thoughtless, and selfish. I also originally thought she was rather stupid, but I can excuse that because of the liquor involved in the scene. But she comes off as whiny and immature. She wants her way and doesn't understand why everything has to change. Well, she does understand, but she would rather just ignore it.

I was afraid that I would dislike her for a while, but she actually grew on me pretty quickly. She quickly realizes that there are more people impacted by her actions than just herself and decides to suck it up and deal. Unfortunately for her, she has to deal with Jude, who is not at all her type. Marissa is attracted to the pretty boys. She likes the pretty, thin, graceful, rather effeminate men who dress well and look nice on her arm. Jude is large, and muscular, and not pretty at all. She has to learn to see past all her preconceptions and learn where the true value of a person lies and the difference between lust and love.

The author made a bold choice starting the book out where she did. I really appreciated getting to see a character make a genuine mistake and have to deal with the consequences. Marissa was vain and way too caught up in appearances, but she was still a nice person. She slowly learned to value Jude for his true self. Her lust was much more easily engaged than her heart. Speaking of lust; I am so pleased to actually see a female character lusting after men. She didn't let her hormones rule her, but she appreciated a pretty man and a nice show of leg. She knew there was pleasure to be had, and she wanted to embrace it. It was nice to see a female finding many men attractive and not only being blind to it all until the hero came along.

Jude was such an excellent hero. He was self confident, and he knew who he was. He was also an excellent judge of character. He had Marissa pegged shortly after meeting her. He didn't want to change her though; he wanted to revel in her enjoyment of pleasure and please them both. He was extremely hard to insult. Most of the time he just shrugged off irritating comments thrown his way, but when a comment from Marissa found its mark, it had impeccable aim. I loved watching Jude discover more about himself, but I was so sorry for him too. It's hard caring about someone who's quick to lash out because she won't admit, or doesn't recognize, her true feelings.

Their relationship was a lot of fun to watch develop. They actually seemed like they became quite good friends. I value that quite highly in my romances. This book had some pretty hot moments. Jude had quite a way with foreplay, and he could sure draw out the tension between them.

I liked getting to see Marissa's friends and family. I wonder if this will turn into a loosely connected series like her other historicals did. I see potential between her friend and another character after that awkward moment toward the end. I'd also really like to learn more about Aidan and see him overcome his crankiness. I hope we get to see more about them!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book, because it explored the question of a young woman's burgeoning sensuality in a historical context August 3, 2010

By Bookaholics Reviewer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
Historical Romance -Aug. 3, 2010
4 1/2 stars

Marissa York let curiosity and a little too much wine go to her head, and she disgraced herself with a fashionable young man in her family's sewing room. Now she has to marry! But Marissa has refused the offer of the young man who `helped' her get into this catastrophe. (Unfortunately, his fumbling about was so disappointing she did not want a repeat performance!) So her brother is determined to find her a replacement.

Fortunately, her brother's good friend, Jude Bertrand, (the bastard son of a Duke), steps into the breech and offers to `save' her. For years, Jude has recognized Marissa's adventurous nature but he felt her youth forbade his pursuit. But now that she's older and in a fix Jude feels this is just the time to play the hero.

I really enjoyed this book, because it explored the question of a young woman's burgeoning sensuality in a historical context when sensuality was hardly acknowledged. She has these feelings that she can't discuss with anyone, but they won't go away. Though the story is largely about sensuality, it isn't erotica, and descriptions of sex are not the point of the story. The book does a nice job of capturing that confused time in young adulthood when many conflicting ideas scramble for a toehold in a person's consciousness: looks versus character, words versus action, family versus society. Both characters are interesting and have real depth. I immediately liked them and became invested in their growing realtionship.

This was a charming and absorbing read that I highly recommend!

Reviewed by Adrienne from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Utterly horrible April 13, 2013

By Christine Kovalcik

Format:Mass Market Paperback

A Little Bit Wild would be better titled A Little Nasty Skank; Miss Dahl has no concept Victorian values and virtues (sadly) and deposits a completely unlikable heroine into the story who has no self-respect or honor; she did a much better job with the hero, who is endearing and likable, but one questons his sense that he would settle so low. He deserves so much more than a woman who senselessly lets some pig rut away on her. In a word the book left me feeling BLECH!