Wild [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill Barnett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

Shunned by superstitious villagers, Teleri of the Woods learned early that the world is a frightening place. For years she has lived hidden away in a dark forest, where her only friends are the creatures of the woods. But when she finds a gravely wounded knight, her sanctuary is safe no more.

With his legendary skills in war and diplomacy, Roger FitzAlan had been sent to establish a stronghold on the Welsh borderlands. Ambushed and left to die by an unknown enemy, Roger must now battle for more than his life -- he must win the trust and love of the wild young woman who has every reason to fear him.

Roger knows he cannot live in Teleri's world, and she is afraid of his. Once he recovers, Roger is determined to find the one who tried to kill him. And Teleri must choose whether to stay secluded with a broken heart -- or to trust this powerful warrior who has threatened all she holds dear. Together they journey to a place where duty is everything, where a man's honor -- not his heart -- must guide him. There, amid the dangerous secrets of the past, they will risk everything in search of a love that is forever.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Wales is a wild place in 1280. Sir Roger FitzAlan is there by order of the King, commanded to build a mighty walled castle to defend England's borders. But the site the King has chosen has a strange circle of massive blue stones and when Sir Roger and his men arrive, a beautiful young woman is praying within the ancient circle. Even more arresting, the young woman flees from Roger's men astride a sleek black Arab stallion stolen from Roger's best friend nearly five years before. Roger gives chase and before long, the black Arab and Roger's mount leave his men-at-arms far behind. When the woman disappears into a thick wood, Roger follows her alone and quickly loses her. But someone else is in the deep woods, and that someone is intent on killing Roger.

Teleri of the Woods is delighted to have lost her pursuer and it isn't until the following day, when she returns to search for her lost pouch, that she discovers Roger, barely alive, and struggles to rescue him. Roger awakens in her bed, cranky, furious, and too ill to leave. Forced to remain with the beautiful young woman, he slowly becomes aware of the world about him in a way he has never known. Despite Teleri's lack of gold and possessions, she is rich in knowledge and appreciation of life. As Teleri teaches Roger about her life, he's forced to confront his lust for her and his prior beliefs about love. But their time together in the magic woods must come to an end and when it does, what will Roger do about the forbidden love that once ruled him? How will Teleri cope with life beyond her enchanted woods? And how will they solve the dark mysteries that swirl around Roger and threaten both their lives? Filled with Barnett's trademark humor, wit, and wonderfully warm writing style, readers everywhere who have anxiously awaited Wild won't be disappointed. --Loise Faye Dyer

About the Author

Since her first book, Jill Barnett has been acclaimed as a fresh and witty voice in romantic fiction. Set apart by her unique humor and whimsical view of the world, she creates delightfully original novels with characters who, according to Romantic Times, "seem so real they are like close friends. Pure magic!"

She is the recipient of a National Waldenbooks Award and a four-time RITA and Golden Choice finalist. Her work has been critically acclaimed as some of the very best by the Detroit Free Press, The Dallas Morning News, and Publishers Weekly.

Jill currently lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she is working on her next book, Wicked, which Pocket Books will publish in 1999. Readers may write to her at P.O. Box 8166, Fremont, CA 94537-8166.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671004131
• ISBN-13: 978-0671004132
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #479,671 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a native Californian, a baby boomer who grew up in a very idyllic place at a very idyllic time--on the coast of Southern California in the 60's, although I spent many childhood summers before that on my grandparents' farm in Texas.

So I'm a West Coast girl raised by Southern parents, who grew up in a place where you spent your free time playing volleyball on the beach and weekends dancing to local bands like Beach Boys, Dion, and the Righteous Brothers.

My husband and I met in high school, and I never knew I wanted to be a writer until I was in my thirties and back in college again. I had been an art major the first time around--it was the 60's--quit to make some kind of mark in the world, but I got married instead.

My love of history and reading and art all came together for me when I quit school again, after working toward my history degree and then becoming a mother--something we were told couldn't happen. (The child not the degree.) So with the miracle gift of my daughter, came a new career for me.

I knew then I wanted to write a book, had an idea and more importantly a vision of the kind of stories I wanted to tell. I told myself I could always go back to school.

Funny thing the way life works. Almost two years to the day I quit school, I sold my first book on 50 pages to Pocket Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. That was over eighteen years ago and many books later.

So the road I traveled to become an author had many twists and turns, joys and disappointments. Yet I'm doing something I really love. In so many ways I'm a very lucky woman.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and Touching Love Story..., March 14, 2004

By 

"klpepsi" (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild (Mass Market Paperback)

Ridiculed and stoned by villagers who think she's a witch, Teleri of the Woods has lived for years alone and secluded deep in the forest. Roger FitzAlan, a knight for King Edward, has been sent to the Welsh borderlands to view the site for a new castle stronghold. Catching site of Teleri riding an Arab stallion stolen five years ago from his best friend, he chases her into the woods. Ambushed, hung from a tree and left to die, Roger's only hope for survival is when Teleri finds him barely alive. She takes him into her home to care for him as she does the ill and wounded animals of her forest home. Roger needs to eventually return to his world, and Teleri will be forced to decide if she has the courage to go with him.

This is the second installment in a trilogy all set in medieval times. The trilogy is as follows: "Wonderful", "Wild", "Wicked". Unfortunately, I wasn't aware these were a series and now I'm reading them backwards. I really enjoyed this story. Roger and Teleri were both strong, well-developed characters. Most of the book is just the two of them and how their relationship grows. Teleri was a refreshing character, because living outside the constraints of society gave her an innocence, mixed with few inhibitions. And Teleri wanted her relationship with Roger to progress faster than he did. This sheltered young woman ends up teaching him about love, and the simple beauty of things around them so easily taken for granted. I didn't think this book contained quite the humor Ms. Barnett does so well, but I found this story wonderful regardless. Ms. Barnett tends to include something from the paranormal realm in her books, and this story was no exception. All I will say is there's a huge question to whom Teleri's father was.

I would really recommend reading this series in order if you think you'll be reading all three. "Wicked" and "Wild" have divulged some of the story in Wonderful, which I've yet to read. I'm a huge fan of Ms. Barnett's work and I've now read most of it. I've yet to be disappointed, so I definitely recommend this book. It's on my keeper shelf, along with all her other books.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank goodness I have this book!!!!, March 9, 2003

By 

"amykaren" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read this book over and over again. It doesn't grow old on you! It follows Roger FitzAlan, who we were introduced to in Jill's book Wonderful. Don't worry, you don't have to read Wonderful first to enjoy this book. (I read Wild first by accident.)

Wild was the first book I read by Jill Barnett, and I was blown away by how real the story and charachters were. Teleri is such a genuine good soul, who lives in the woods and cares for animals because they don't hurt you like humans do. Shunned by her town, she isolates herself in her little house. Roger FitzAlan is almost killed, left to hang in the woods. Teleri finds him and drags him back to her house. She doesn't like him because the last time they met he was chasing her, thinking she stole his friend's horse. But, she knew she had to save him.

Roger is quite sick, and thrashes about as Teleri trys to care for him. She binds his hands and legs to keep him from hurting himself or her. When he wakes up, he doesn't know who killed him and doesn't know where he is. He sees animals in cages (animals she resuced and is nursing back to health) and thinks Teleri is holding him hostage. Thus sets the stage for the tug of war between these two. Can they overcome everything and fall in love? Will Roger find out who tried to kill him, even if it means he has to leave Teleri and risk his life to do so?

This book gets five stars because you don't feel like you are reading fiction. I feel like I'm reading a story of love from long ago, and it touches me every time I read it. Just writing this makes me want to go read it again now...hmmm..think I will!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect historical romance, August 25, 2002

By 

Ram Sam "bookbrowser" (utah, Ut United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild (Mass Market Paperback)

Let's face it, when you pick up a historical romance you want to be swept away. You want to read it while the world swirls around you and not have to think too much. You want the sex to be hot and not too unbelievable or strangely described, and you want the characters to have actual chemistry. You will get all of that here.

While I usually read more 'book club' type fiction I found I needed the carefree fun of a romance this summer. I got exactly what I wanted when I read this! The chemistry is wonderful, Teleri is interesting and unafraid, and Roger is the smitten, changed man that I will fall for every time. One super positive note; I hate it when in typical romances as soon as the couple realizes they are in love some "conflict" has to tear them apart for at least 50-100 pages. I am happy to report Jill chooses a different path in the book, and I feel it kept in line with the upbeat, fun, lilting pace of the rest of her book.

What a deal if you buy it used, but even if you love to crack open the spine of a brand new book, and slip away into good, sexy fun, you will enjoy this book. I give it 5 stars because for it's genre, this is a great read, touching and funny and just dabbled with the right sexiness.

I have more Jill Barnett books on my list!