Maverick Heart [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 5, 1995

Years after she is driven from England to the new world frontier, Lady Verity Talbot reencounters her lost love, the vengeful Miles Broderick, who is unaware that Verity desperately seeks their missing child.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With her newest offering, veteran historical romance author Johnston (The Inheritance) tells two linked but separate love stories?one of Lady Verity Talbot, countess of Rushland, and the other of Lady Verity's illegitimate son, Rand. As a young woman, Verity was forced into marriage to the earl of Rushland to save the life of her lover, Miles. Twenty-two years later, the earl is dead and Verity has left England with Rand and his fiancee, Freddy, to take up residence on the Wyoming ranch the earl purchased before his death. Unbeknownst to Verity, the ranch actually belongs to Miles, who is planning a kind of revenge against Verity (forced marriage again) for rebuffing him all those years ago. Before the travelers reach their destination, they are nearly trampled in a buffalo stampede, then attacked by a band of Indians. Rand and Freddy are taken captive by Hawk, a Sioux warrior who intends to make Freddy his bride. If humdrum narrative isn't enough to turn readers off, the uninvolving plot surely will be. Worse are distracting analogies such as this one describing the sunrise: "Dawn's pinkened fingertips steadily crawled their way over the windowsill." Reading this novel, one gets the feeling one is picking through a valise overstuffed with odds and ends.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Dell (November 5, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440217628
• ISBN-13: 978-0440217626
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #6 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( J ) > Johnston, Joan

More About the Author

Joan Johnston, the New York Times bestselling author of the Bitter Creek novels A STRANGER'S GAME, THE NEXT MRS. BLACKTHORNE, THE RIVALS, THE PRICE, THE LONER, THE TEXAN, THE COWBOY, and the historicals NO LONGER A STRANGER and COLTER'S WIFE, has written more than forty award-winning historical and contemporary romance novels. She received a master of arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. Joan Johnston lives in Colorado and South Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 stars...Romance and Adventure Abound, May 7, 2007

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Maverick Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

If you like your romances mixed with lots of adventure,as I do, "Maverick Heart" by Joan Johnston is for you . Although it is the second in the Maverick Heart series, you do not have to have read the 1st in the series, a romance set in England 100 years ago, "The Inheritance". There are 2 couples followed in "Maverick Heart", Lord and Lady Linden(Miles and Verity), who we met just briefly in Inheritance, and their son Rand, now 21, and his fiance Lady Winifred.

The story of Miles and Verity goes back to London of 1853. The young lovers are star crossed as a rich suitor, Lord Talbot, blackmails Verity into marriage by threatening the life of her true love Miles. Miles doesn't know the circumstances behind the reason Verity dumped him and carries the bitterness with him for more then 20 years. He also doesn't know that Verity gave birth to his son, after her marriage to Lord Talbot, who shunned his wife and step-son throughout the 20 years.

Flash forward to the Wyoming Territory of 1875. Verity and son Rand are making the trek across the treacherous terrain along with Rand's fiance, the young and feisty Freddie(Lady Winifred), to make anew life at the only thing Talbot left them, a ranch. It's not long before one adventure after another, buffalo stampedes, Indians, the harsh weather, and other bad guys, have them fighting for their lives. It's also not long before Lady Talbot is rescued by her former love Miles, who fled England 20 years earlier and made his home Wyoming and has become a full fledged cowboy. A cowboy with a plan. Revenge on Verity.

With plenty of steamy romance, and terrifying adventures, this full length novel will have you turning the pages. The stories of both couples is equally captivating. Ms. Johnston as always will take you away to another time and place and get you involved with the character's stories as their love grows,and they develop wonderfully . She also seems to do her research well to bring an authentic look at the time and place. This one is no exception, although I was kind of surprised that the Sioux Indian was portrayed as such a villain, without giving us much of their side of the story and their life. In some of her other stories("Comanche Woman"), that I've read involving American Indians, I felt she gave a better look at the the life they led in the old west. Other then that I thought this was a great western/romance/adventure.

I haven't figured out yet which is the next up in this series (if there is a next), but when I do, I will edit this review and/or leave a comment in the comment section. If anyone out there knows, please leave a comment...thanks

Meanwhile I will be continuing with the Hawk's Way novellas, the historical novels, and plan to delve into the Captive Heart series soon.
See my Joan Johnston listmania or So you'd like to Guide(listing by series) for many more of her books.(click onto my profile to get to them)

For more contemporary adventure romances, try the 'Bittercreek seriesCowboy,The Texan,The Loner and others.

Enjoy the read....Laurie

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars great storyline, April 16, 2005

By 

stacey renee (rochester new york) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maverick Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

potential for really great book but it never quite got there. Turned out to be pretty standard fare.The characters however were really great that I wish they had been more developed. The only part of the book which I thoroughly disliked was that after "freddy" was raped, her new husband Rand sought to "cure" her by persisting in his wedding night. None of that dialogue reflected any understanding of how to treat a rape victim. shame on you, ms johnston.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Great Read", October 26, 2001

By 

"sfrl52" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Maverick Heart (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading previous reviews on this book I was very sorry I had bought it. But since I had it, I thought I would give it a shot. I am so glad I did! I throughly enjoyed this story. Not only was the story about the two main characters, but their son and his fiancee. She made me laugh throughout the book. This was money well spent!