Customer Reviews

Love Wild and Fair

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The best Bertrice Small book I have read so far. Her storytelling has never been better. Catriona is an extraordinary heroine - intelligent, brave, and beautiful. Francis could have been a little stronger, but otherwise a wonderful hero. The ending was touching and sad. I thought Francis was a bit insensitive to conduct an affair while Catriona was in such deep depression, especially knowing the pain and betrayal she had already suffered at the hands of the men she loved. Despite this, I still give it 5 stars, for it introduced me to the most interesting and beautiful of Ms. Small's heroines, Catriona.

This is my first Bertrice Small book and I must say it isn't for the women who tend to like loving caring men who treat their women like gold.Do not get me wrong I liked this book but with all the reviews I read about this book including the 1 stars I wasn't warned (enough) and I think I should include everything good including the bad if you are not familiar with this author.
Catriona is a strong willed woman who tends to be treated like a piece of meat. If you do not like (bodice ripper) type of books do not read it. This poor girl must of got raped at least 15 times!!Also Bertrice uses very crude language in the book like Fu**, Ti**, and Co**, a lot.But what really bothered me about this book was Bertrice language like Ye,wi'out,yer, drove me insane. The words are pronounce you, without and your and in my mind I was trying to read the words correctly rather the way she spelled them..

Okay Cat was a strong person in the beginning but in all reality towards the end she was really broken down towards all the men in her life.Personally I am surprize she didn't try to commit sucide.. Patrick which is her husband in the beginning treats her like a piece of property rather than a person. I liked him up to the part he rapes her all night with that pig of a king James.The king is a pig and I hated him more than ever also she was a slave and with that guy forgot his name treated her like a animal when it came to sex, (Cats words).Francis I believe she really loved I won't get into for those of you who wants to read the book..The sex scenes if I had to rate them between rated R or NC17 it will be NC17, most definitely!!!

I can say that I'm a Beatrice Small fan. Only, I don't care for this particular book. There were too many despicable situations that Catriona could have gotten herself out of. I understand that women didn't have much of a choice back in this era, but if there is a will, there is a way. First off, if I'm that beautiful and remotely think that the king would use his position to lure me into his bed, I would never go to court despite the laird's objections. That alone would save a whole lot of trouble. I think what really set me off on this book is that both the king and her husband rape her at her home. TOO MUCH VIOLATION!

I first read this book when I was about 12. I loved the passion and intruige and it captured my imagination. My sister loaned it to me. Her copy was battered and the cover hanging off. I read it and read it until she demanded to have it back - then it got lost!

How pleased I was to find it again and a brand new copy - we cannot get them here in the UK and a booksearch found me a used copy (possibly first edition) for which they wanted [price]! I think next I shall try The Kadin - the prequel so I can find out all about Cat's grandmother, whom she resembled so much.

Thank you Amazon, keep it there!

I picked up this book out of boredom over 10 years ago, and was intstantly entranced by the story and the characters. It is more than a typical "romance" novel, as there is a good story, and much historical detail as well. I have re-read it many times since, and consider it to be the best of Ms. Small's books, even better than the first "Skye O'Malley" books! I highly recommend it.

My second Bertrice Small book read, and this one threw me over a cliff. The main character Cat, had me so fustrated in her choices that it left little sympathy for what she suffers.The male characters deserved even less.
What a mess. It was full of lot of sex, and little else. I advise one get this book from the library , instead of paying for it otherwise it would be a poor choice of monies well spent.
N.

what a lucky girl cat was! all her men are very different from each other. patrick is like a lot of men,(dumb about women)he truly don't understand this unique women. she also experience's the great and sensual love of pasha, and then there is francis...his personality and character is of a very normale man, he is almost boring with his love for cat. But it is a very true love so therefor is the greatest love of all. I personaly love patrick the best, and i wept with him for his lost love, what a stupid guy, oh well its his own fault! I would love to see ms. small pickup patrick in the america's and try on this type of setting for the proud scots'man! I love all ms. smalls books so far this is my favorite! ......I still love patrick!

This was my first exposure to Bertrice Small, over 10 years ago, and today this book packs as much of a punch as it did back then. Catriona is extremely well-rounded as a character, physically AND mentally, while the story of royalty betrayal is engrossing and at times, heartbreaking. The scenery is beautifully set, as if you are THERE. Incredible. Do NOT miss this one.

Love Wild and Fair captures the feel of the scottish mist and love that lingered between 2 people who through trail and danger found love in each others arms. Amongst enemies throughout the court they escaped to fulfil their dreams amonst the heather! Read it, live it, love it.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I usually adore Bertrice Small's books...but not this one! I truly don't understand my fellow readers who thought this was such a terrific read.

I found Patrick to be a true man of the times (me Tarzan, you Jane) and so detested him immediately. But I was completely disappointed with Francis. What a wimpy name for a hero...FRANCIS. I found him rather boring, since Cat had him totally whipped. If he was soooooooo in love with her, why was he sleeping with any woman he could find? His affair with Angela was directly responsible for Cat's enslavement! Even after marrying Cat and helping her out of her depression, he was on the prowl the entire time, satisfying his "manly needs". What a jerk!

I challenge any of you who found this book so "wonderful" to find another Small book with such disgusting and frequent rape scenes. Patrick rapes Cat after many years of marriage because he finds the king raping her...yeah, what an understandable reaction to your wife's rape. Then Cica rapes Cat's body, but not her emotions...ho hum, how many times have Small readers heard that old story? Even Cat's poor maid didn't miss out on the action, being raped 9 times in one day when Cat was captured, then again by the Turks towards the end of the book. Disgusting.