Customer Reviews

Wild and Wicked (Historical Romance, Signet)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the first historical I have read from Ms. Jackson. Its a medieval tale set in Wales during 1283. Classic tale about a brother set on revenge and uses his sister as bait. It begins fast-paced and soars through, never letting up, always interesting, but it seems to end abruptly. I wasn't ready for the ending so soon when it seemed like some of the major conflicts were yet to be resolved.
I was a bit disappointed. I was disappointed mainly because the entire book was set on betrayal and backstabbing and who was backstabbing whom. Questions were continuously raised throughout the novel about who has caused the mess and continued to be the Judas. But when we get to the crucial section of the person or persons responsible, we are left wondering if we missed something important because I was never satisfied with the answers. It doesn't make much sense. The reasons aren't clear. Some of the character development seems choppy and a few characters we never get to know too well.
In all, if you have this bit of info, just sit back and enjoy a fast-paced read that is entertaining and spans a total of 3 days with loads of action.

Lady Apryll is forced to help her brother scheme Lord Devlynn of Black Thorn to get what theirs at one time by using her mother's wedding gown and appearing as if out of nowhere at his castle during revels.
What begins as a simple distraction to steal jewels, turns into a nightmare of gigantic proportions. Apryll's brother has more on his mind than jewels, he wants the Baron's son as a hostage.
Now Apryll must flee before she is drawn and quartered for her deceit and find out why her brother lied. If she gets out alive that is.
Devlynn's plan to punish the witch who duped him and took his only son finds his heart isnt into it and has a hard time taking her in hand when she seems to be telling him the truth about her brother's deception.
Can she persuade him to trust her when all she's done is lie thus far? Will her brother destroy the fragile hold she has left on her life if he harms the Baron's son? Who helped her brother in the castle and who is still healing him and his men?
Many betrayals and backstabbers among Devlynn cause him to question everything and everyone. Who would hate him so much that he or she would help her brother to do this???

Tracy Talley~@

The book reads like a roller coaster ride, one exciting scene after another. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I agree with the other reviewer that the story ended abruptly. I would have liked to see the resolution of conflicts drawn out a little more. And a little more hoochie koochie in the bedroom. But overall, it was a fine story, well told. A fun read.

In 1283 England, her half brother Payton assigns Lady Apryll to obtain the means of gaining needed goods for the cold winter. When Apryll arrives for a holiday feast at the castle of Lord Devlynn, everyone cannot help notice how beautiful she looks. Devlynn, a single father since his wife died in a failed childbirth, cannot resist Apryll's lure. The next morning, Devlynn learns that his enchantress has vanished abducting his son Yale with her.

Frantic, Devlynn gives chase and quickly finds the abandoned Apryll. Payton lied to the extent of his scheme and no longer needs her, but has taken Yale as a pawn in a bigger plot. Devlynn wants to kill Apryll, but instead makes her his prisoner. As they work together to free Yale, they fall in love, but he rejects her protestation of innocence.

WILD AND WICKED is an exciting medieval romance filled with drama and several delightful twists and turns. The cast is fully developed so that the audience understands the essence of the key players especially the lead couple. The hero struggles with his feelings of love and distrust while the heroine tries to atone for her inadvertent role in Yale's kidnapping. Lisa Jackson writes a jewel of a novel that makes the thirteenth century seem so darkly real.

Harriet Klausner

Very drawn out. The characters were not well developed, and the sex scenes were boring and formulatic. A medieval setting and long dresses does not a romance make.

This is a *mildly* scathing review (so don't read on if you can't accept something in that nature). I guess I still feel cheated out of a few hours of what should have been good reading time...

Unoriginal premise: one keep is cursed and redemption is to be sourced (of course) by revenge on a powerful and feared lord;

Stilted twists and subplots: accused and subsequently apprehended 'heroine' escapes *all the time*(apparently hinting at her sharp wits) and yet she cannot foresee how much closer to home betrayal is; interspersed with subplots involving unexplained treachery from within the other side, a suspected witch whose apparent hand in the plot of revenge remains sketchy and underdeveloped, an underrated blind priest walking about conveniently stumbling upon revealing clues to the 'evil plot', and an awkward elimination of a 'mastermind' villain (just so that the story concludes in time for the happy ending);

Predictable yet unsatisfactory ending: of course said powerful 'enemy' lord ends up with the heroine (as they can't keep their hands off each other [the author makes it patently, if wearily, clear]), the emotional and moral dilemma of the lord's sister (regarding her husband and a lover) comes off as a superfluous subplot that never achieves closure, this lord's people's unsavory reaction towards the 'enemy' woman is hardly given attention (even when it's obvious that she's going to be their new mistress), and the treachery that fermented within this keep becomes the biggest unsolved bit.

After this book, I really can't say as of now if I will ever read another Lisa Jackson. I *am* hoping that I will be forced to, one day. And that other story redeems her in my eyes.

Disdainful much?

Hell yeah. There's only so much bad writing a reader can take.