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The Wild Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Defiant Daughter [Paperback]

Mary Hart Perry
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 31, 2012
The astronomical success of the historical novels of Phillipa Gregory and Christine Trent prove that readers simply can’t get enough of the British royals—and now Mary Hart Perry enters the fray with an exciting, deliciously sensual novel of Queen Victoria’s “wild child” daughter, the Princess Louise. The Wild Princess transports us back to Victorian England and plunges us into the intrigues of the royal court, where the impetuous Louise brazenly followed no one’s rules but her own—even marrying a commoner, which no one of royal blood had done in the previous three centuries. Filled with rich period deal, The Wild Princess is an exciting, enthralling read. The Tudors have gotten the lion’s share of attention in historical fiction; it’s high time Queen Victoria and her family got their due!

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Romantic, exciting, historically accurate and deliciously imaginative, THE WILD PRINCESS is a lush and entertaining read. I look forward to more from Mary Hart Perry!” (Susan Fraser King, author of Lady Macbeth and Queen Hereafter )

THE WILD PRINCESS is a fascinating, intriguing glimpse into a royal household. There is the public image and then there is the reality that Mary Hart Perry brilliant brings to life. (Cathy Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author of Lyon's Bride )

The Wild Princess is a wild ride, artfully told and overflowing with lavish Victorian detail. Perry’s Louise is equal parts fearless and vulnerable, admirable but also approachable. Perry walks the line between fact and invention with ease, weaving a fictional tale that nevertheless feels real. (Shelf Awareness for Readers )

Lots of action, compassion, mystery, and romance. Definitely a must read for those who love a great romance. (A Date with a Book )

[A] marvelous tale about the life of the real Princess Louise, Queen Victoria’s most unconventional daughter-and the fascinating events that might have taken place between the cracks of recorded history. Full of romance and suspense …. a masterly historical novel. (Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of No Longer a Gentleman, and Dark Destiny as M. J. Putney. )

I love historical fiction and I’m a huge fan of Philippa Gregory’s work, and now I am also a fan of Mary Hart Perry. This novel has mystery, romance and historical elements...it’s just wonderful. Rating: 4.2 Stars! (For the Love of Film and Novels )

“A rollicking adventure about Queen Victoria’s bold artist daughter who finds herself ensnared in a plot involving expert bombers, a murderous pimp, and the former undercover guard to Abraham Lincoln, one of which vies for her heart.” (Heather Webb, Between the Sheets )

From the Back Cover

Four of the five daughters of England's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were regal, genteel, and everything a princess should be. But one was rebellious, scandalous, and untamed.

This is her story. . . .

To the court and subjects of Queen Victoria, young Princess Louise—later the Duchess of Argyll—was the "Wild One." Proud and impetuous, she fought the constraints placed on her and her brothers and sisters, dreamed of becoming an artist, and broke with a three-hundred-year-old tradition by marrying outside of the privileged circle of European royals. Some said she wed for love. Others whispered of a scandal covered up by the Crown. It will take a handsome American, recruited by the queen's elite Secret Service, to discover the truth. But even as Stephen Byrne—code name the Raven—vows to risk his life to protect the royal family from violent Irish radicals, he tempts Louise with a forbidden love that could prove just as dangerous.

In the vein of Philippa Gregory, Mary Hart Perry tells the riveting story of an extraordinary woman—a princess who refused to give up on her dreams, including her right to true love.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Original edition (July 31, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0062123467
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062123466
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Hart Perry lives in Maryland with her two cats and her husband--who graciously shares litter box duties. Miranda, a calico born to be a writer's muse, sits at the author's left typing hand, periodically nudging it toward a next word. Smoky-gray Tempest purrs when being read to and helps with revisions. When not writing, Mary speaks across the U.S., teaching the exciting craft of writing fiction, and in support of teen and adult literacy.

As Kathryn Johnson, she also teaches fiction writing at The Writer's Center in Washington, DC. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, The Historical Novel Society, Sisters in Crime, and Novelists Inc. Her appearances and inspiring lectures for universities, the Library of Congress, and other organizations across the U.S. have drawn enthusiastic audiences.

Customer Reviews

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. FranJessca [at] Book Lovin' Mamas  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
As always, when reading historical fiction, fiction is weaved with fact. Great Historicals  |  6 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for the sequel!! July 31, 2012
Format:Paperback
Victorian times are normally considered particularly prudish, a setback in the more relaxed morals of the Age of Enlightenment. But in The Wild Princess, Mary Hart Perry shows us the romantic, passionate side of the Victorian Era, in Princess Louise, Victoria's fourth child. Louise is headstrong and independent, both traits that were not popular in female royalty at the time. Victoria tries to tame her "wild" daughter by marrying her to the Marques of Lorne, the first time since 1515 that a royal had married a British subject. Historically there has been much speculation about Louise's marriage to Lorne and why the couple never had children. This book explores those reasons and also how Louise might have handled a potentially "loveless" marriage.

The description in this book is so vivid and expansive I felt like I could actually see the beautiful clothes and exquisite furnishings of the time period. Perry's historical facts are all spot-on and she uses some of the innuendo and suppositions from historians of the present and writers of the time to flesh out the main characters and make them more identifiable.

But The Wild Princess is historical fiction, and with that license, the author is able to embellish on the story with her own characters, who although not present in actual history, serve to further the story by making the real characters more approachable.

I am in love with this book. I think I will save my second read for a nice long soak in a bubble bath with a box of chocolates by my side and my third read for a day when I'm not feeling well and I need something comfortable yet exciting to keep me company. Mary Hart Perry is already writing the second book in the series, The Bashful Princess, about Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria's youngest child. I can't wait.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purposes of review. All opinions are 100% my own.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Interested in history? Don't read this book August 15, 2012
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before the story even begins, this book has a disclaimer stating that "This is a novel. That means it is fiction, fantasy, make-believe -- not a true historical account."

All that is fine; if authors of historical fiction stuck to only the known facts, novels would not only be a bit dry but give us little sense of the characters we want to see come to life.

That being said, if you're writing a book about one of Queen Victoria's children, I find it extremely annoying and distracting when simple facts about the family are botched. For example, Victoria's son did not become George IV (p. 411), he became Edward VII. Victoria did not have six daughters (p. 318), she had five. Additionally, it's hard to appreciate the "delicious tingle" that Louise experiences when Donovan says her name for the first time (p. 135)... when he said it five page earlier (p. 130). These mistakes either represent bad research or bad editing, both of which diminish the reader's experience.

Ultimately, this book is a predictable soap opera unworthy of the woman whose story it purports to tell. If you're actually interested in reading about Princess Louise and her sisters, I'd highly recommend Jerrold Packard's "Victoria's Daughters" -- a fascinating, personal, very readable nonfiction account of their lives.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Awesomeness! August 18, 2012
By anaavu
Format:Paperback
Overview
Let me just say that The Wild Princess was one of those books that's really hard to rate - it's not amazing enough to earn that elusive 5 stars but it really doesn't have any negative points to fall back into the 4 star trap, know what I mean? Overall, I'd say The Wild Princess is a wonderfully entertaining quick read and I definitely recommend it to every reader out there!

Plot
The novel is a fairly slow-paced one, but it makes sense since much of it is romance. The pace speeds up as needed though; some parts (especially the end) are quick and really fun to read. Princess Louise has had some indiscretions as a young girl which now makes her ineligible for a high marriage like her sisters. She is married to a Lorne who turns out to be gay and has married her only to protect himself from the wrath of people who think men like him should be tortured and executed. Louise is crestfallen - she had been looking forward to having children with a loving husband, nevertheless, she agrees to keep his secret. Starved for affection, she meets the handsome, dangerous-looking secret agent the Queen has just employed from America and the story begins. There are two main plots at once - the romance between her and Stephen, as well as the numerous attacks being made on the Queen's family to get Ireland's independence. There is one very unexpected twist in the story that you just have to read and enjoy!

Characters
The superb characterization is what really drives this novel. Even the minor characters are given 3 dimensions - they each have their own personalities and understandable motivations for their actions, whether good or bad. Louise is everything you could want in a historical fiction protagonist - beautiful, headstrong, flawed - a rebel against the system. Following the legend of Princess Louise's wild nature and the rumors of the circumstances around her marriage, Mary Hart Perry created this amazing character haunted by her past and stifled by the constraints of being royalty. Her romantic interest, Stephen Byrne is super hot but also very intelligent and caring - so awesome! Lorne seemed to be the only one-dimensional character - every time he's mentioned, he talks about his fear of going to prison and so warns Louise off other men. Come on!

Narration/Tone
The story is told through alternating POVs, most often from Louise and Stephen's point of view. The author really used that to her advantage to fully elaborate on their feelings for each other when they're together and show what's happening with each while they're apart. The vivid descriptions let you easily get lost in whatever's happening - tension between Stephen and Louise, fights, or just another day at Louise's women's store. Hard to believe this is Mary Hart Perry's debut novel, it's just so good!

World
Since this is historical fiction, a review would be incomplete without describing the setting and customs of the time. Princess Louise's personality is so unique at that time because she refuses conform to society's rules. She isn't necessarily as wild as...curious. And determined. Most females were not spoken of in such terms during that period and that is what intrigued Stephen about her because he was an outsider too. He was American and he refused to wear a gentleman's clothes or act gentlemanly since that wasn't who he was.
Wow, I'm rambling aren't I? This book just brings that out in me. Another reason why you should read this book!

Extra Thoughts that don't Deserve a Separate Category:
The Wild Princess is an engaging, quick read that has a strong main character and an imaginative plot. It is based very loosely on the rumors of the real Louise's marriage and childhood indiscretions, but overall it's a fictional account as the author herself points out. The historical aspects combined with the mystery, romance and suspense Perry has created makes for a very entertaining read. It reminded me a lot of Their Eyes Were Watching God because it is about a woman way ahead of time, looking for love who finds three men, the third of whom is absolutely perfect for her. This is the first of a planned series of 5 books each involving one of 5 daughters Queen Victoria had. The second will be called The Bashful Princess and will be about Louise's younger sister, Beatrice.

Here is Perry says about her next novel (which I am already excited about):
For more royal intrigue and Victorian romance, look for Princess Louise and Stephen Byrne when they return for guest roles in The Bashful Princess, by Mary Hart Perry, the next novel in the "Novels of Queen Victoria's Daughters" series. Youngest of all of Victoria's children, Beatrice is destined to remain forever her mother's companion in her declining years, and if the queen gets her way, Bea will remain "pure" and never marry. But attending a royal wedding on the Continent exposes shy Beatrice to temptation in the form of not one but two charming suitors--Prince Henry of Battenberg (one of four famously handsome brothers) and a charismatic Highlander who claims to be the nephew of the recently deceased John Brown, favorite of the queen. Will Beatrice remain meekly loyal to her mother, or fall in love and into a political trap meant to draw England into war?

KIDNAPS AND KISSES, I say.

*ARC provided as part of blog tour in exchange for an honest review.*
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun Light Reading
Charming work of historical fiction about one of Queen Victoria's most intriguing daughters. Fast paced and well done with lots of satisfying period detail.
Published 12 days ago by S. Herlihy
4.0 out of 5 stars A Lovely Read
Mary Hart Perry had created a lively princess we can all relate to in a book a reader can slip into and disappear in, waking in Victorian England to intrigue and romance,... Read more
Published 1 month ago by memried
4.0 out of 5 stars The princess so badly treated by her queen
The Wild Princess wasn't wild enough for me. I so hoped she would talk back to her queen AND let her know that Louise's life was her own and not to be constrained by the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kathleen G. Auerbach
4.0 out of 5 stars Pop Culture Breakdown
The Good: Royals were definitely scandalous back in their days, and Princess Louise is a prime example of that. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jennifer Sicurella
5.0 out of 5 stars Victorian Age Historical Novel
This was not a story I'd heard before and I thought it was well written; kept my attention every moment and I really thought the plot was well written and constantly interesting.
Published 3 months ago by Therin
1.0 out of 5 stars Dull
I couldn't really see anything wild about her. Of course, it's a novel, and quite a bit of it was spun from speculation. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mary in Seattle
2.0 out of 5 stars The Wild Princes
It is more like a soap opera than a historical novel. Moreover compared with other historical novels I read it is really poorly written.
Published 4 months ago by Tami Spilo
4.0 out of 5 stars This book was vary good
This was a book that I could not stop reading. It kept me thinking and I still didn't see what was coming.
Published 4 months ago by Taylar Wickman
5.0 out of 5 stars Princess Diana is the modern day Princess Louise
This book is a historical fiction account of Princess Louise, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during the conservative period of Victorian England. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Joyce
4.0 out of 5 stars Victorian England vs Princess Louise
This book is wonderful on so many different levels. If you're interested in history, there is plenty of real life people and events to keep you on your toes. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Eprov
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