Customer Reviews

In A Wild Wood

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Blinded by jealousy and convinced his wife betrayed their vows, the Earl of Kirkcaldy sows the seeds of his family's turmoil the night she gives birth to twin sons. Banishing the countess, the earl also separates the twins and decrees that he and his wife will each raise a son, setting the stage for the bitter rivalry to come nearly three decades later.

A young hellion, Matalia McTaver is the eldest daughter of Ronin, Laird of the Clan McTaver, and Kalial, princess of a mystical forest kingdom. Pressured to marry by her parents, who worry about her wild ways, Matalia refuses to settle down but yearns for a taste of the intimacy between men and women. So when she finds a brawny, handsome stranger trussed up in the woods near her home, Matalia figures she's found the perfect partner. Unfortunately, her captive is no tame shepherd to be seduced, but a warrior on a mission of his own.

Having spent the last fifteen years amassing a fortune and gaining a fierce reputation in battle, Brogan O'Bannon knows the time has finally come to return to Kirkcaldy and be declared his father's heir. Unfortunately, two things stand in his way. The first is Xanthier, Brogan's identical twin. Raised by their father, Xanthier is his rival and nemesis, but forever connected to Brogan in that special way only twins know. The other problem is the beautiful young woman who rescues him from Xanthier's men only to capture him for use as a stud. Try as he might to resist her allure, Brogan and Matalia give in to desire only to be caught by her father. Bedded then wedded, this fiery pair must now find a way to deal with each other as they journey to Kirkcaldy for the ultimate confrontation with Brogan's father and brother.

Back in the 1980's historical romances had a certain tone and texture. They were larger than life, gritty dramas filled with passionate characters who bled, cried, and did things that made readers simultaneously cringe and shiver. Those stories disappeared in the next decade as historicals became kinder, gentler, and more politically correct. Well, guess what? A new age has dawned and everything old is new again, and Sasha Lord's IN A WILD WOOD leads the pack. The story swirls with classic elements like betrayal, rivalry, and regret, topped off with a healthy dose of good, old-fashioned lust. Brogan is very much a man of his time, while Matalia starts off as a young, spoiled girl who matures into a force to be reckoned with. Add in the varied cast of secondary characters and the result is a tale which is intense, believable, and electrifying.

The second in the Wild series (the first story, UNDER A WILD SKY, is Ronin and Kalial's story), IN A WILD WOOD can be read apart. But do you really want to miss the rest of this unique family? I highly recommend this book and series for a thrilling romance and an unforgettable adventure.

TheSchemer

In the much-anticipated sequel to UNDER A WILD SKY, this new and promising author, delivers another scorchingly sensual action adventure featuring Matalia McTaver, the eldest daughter of Ronin and Kalial. Taught from childhood to wield a sword to protect herself and the forest of Loch Nidean she comes upon a traveler being set upon by a band of outsiders. Matalia, and the trio of wolves who travel with her, beat off the outsiders and save the traveler, Brogan O'Bannon. Rather than sending him on his way, the exquisitely beautiful and independent Matalia decides to keep the very handsome traveler to help her in her experiment to discover the secrets of the marriage bed. She thought that if she were experienced and could tell her mother that she knew what marriage was all about then she would not have to endure any more of their efforts to marry her off and be controlled by a husband.

Brogan O'Bannon was a fierce embittered warrior, traveling over the world to amass fortune and return home to satisfy the demands of his father to prove he was the stronger of two twins who were separated at birth. Waking up tied to a tree, he was infuriated at the attempts of this beautiful forest `faerie' who was conducting her `experiment' on him. Brogan later escaped his bonds, and showed her exactly what carnal pleasure was all about in a most wild and unrelenting way. Caught in her own experimental trap, Matalia would be forced by her parents into marriage and a bond with a man who would introduce her to an ecstasy far beyond her imagination if they could only both survive the danger, treachery and betrayal they would discover on his journey home.

Double WOW! If you like them hot, seat squirming sensual - along with a stellar love story, then this sequel to UNDER A WILD SKY is most definitely the book for you. The basic plot of identical twins, and the mistake of marking the eldest, who were separated at birth and raised with the ultimate goal of besting one another for an inheritance was a powerful story in itself. Combining it with a superbly drawn heroine who would teach the embittered man to love was both touching and poignant. In examining the fantasy aspect, this one was minimal in scope to the first book. Matalia's `gift' was more in `taming' wild animals with song rather then the mind link and talking to them which her mother did. The human relationships, the mind link between the twins, and the fully robust secondary characters all worked together to provide the reader with a monumental and fascinating page-turner. If this new author continues to deliver the quality I've seen in these first two books I predict another star in the making! Both books are exceptional examples of their sub-genre and are finding their way onto my keeper shelves! --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

IN A WILD WOOD brought together all the elements I look for a book- fantastic action, memorable characters, passion, and cliff-hanging plot twists. After reading Ms. Lord's first book, I wasn't sure she could keep up the pace, but boy has she! In fact, she has surpassed herself, and she is my new, favorite author.

IN A WILD WOOD is a story of brothers that are pitted against each other due to a terrible mistake. Their agony is clearly felt and cleverly developed, and when Matalia, the heroine, comes in and throws their obsessive fighting into turmoil, you don't know who to feel for the most. A woman like her is a powerful force, and I was enchanted! I couldn't put the book down, and now am panting to get the next one.

If you want a book thatll surprise, shock, and amuse you, you have found it. With a very bold, juvenile heroine (she is only 16) and a rather rough, and at times, cruel hero, this book has everything from lust, revenge, sibling rivalry, jealousy, and ofcourse..love. It is not as sappy as other romance novels sometimes are. I actually cannot stand those, but this was highly entertaining because of the hero and heroine. If you want a book to put you in a good mood, this is it.

In a Wild Wood is sensuous, passionate, and romantic with a brave heroine and an honorable but troubled hero. Medieval Scotland really comes alive in this novel.

Heroine Matalia McTaver is impetuous and bold and definitely does not want her parents deciding her fate when it comes to marriage and the marriage bed. She takes it upon herself to find the perfect bed partner, someone who does not know her or her powerful family. She gets her wish when she finds a bruised beaten Brogan O'Bannon. She mistakenly believes he is only a wanderer but he is instead the son of the powerful Earl of Kirkcaldy. She literally ties him up and plans to have her wicked way with him in a nearby abandoned cottage.

Brogan is simply furious over his predicament. He must return soon to his home as he and his twin brother are in a battle for the Earldom and the lands. Brogan is attracted to Matalia, she is beautiful. They become lovers and are discovered by her family and once Brogan's identity is revealed, honor forces him to marry Matalia.

Matalia is incensed over her fate but she does something amazingly mature; she accepts her destiny and decides to make the very best of her situation. Matalia is gifted with the ability to soothe animals with her musical, magical voice and there are beautiful moments she does so with her small pack of wolves and she even calms her husband's troubled soul when she sings.

When Matalia and Brogan reach Kirkcaldy there are plots hatched by Brogan's brother and his wife to gain control of the lands. Brogan's brother, Xanthier, shares a special telepathic emotional bond with his brother and the sadness and at times love that flows between them is beautifully written too.

What sets this book apart from so many other romances is the emotional depth between the protagonists. Matalia is so pure of heart that she is almost an unknown entity to Brogan and his family. She radically transforms from an arrogant, imperious young woman into a selfless lady. Her desire for a special bond with her husband is admirable. Brogan undergoes a radical change from the angry man that opens this story. Matalia teaches him about the sheer joy of love and devotion. The leads also have a blazing physical romance. Even the simple act of kissing becomes a healing and joyous occurrence. Ms. Lord pens some truly memorable trysts. Her leads are interesting apart but when they are together something magical happens and that is the essence of a fantastic romance novel.

This is the second book I have read by Sasha Lord and I am so glad I have discovered her books. She is an amazing writer. I loved this book, it ahs everything I look for in a book, romance, passion, action, and drama.

I love Matalia's character, but she can be a bit too stubborn. Brogan is alot like Ronin's character in "Under a Wild Sky." He can be severly violent and angry to the point that you hate him and then he can be sweet and caring to the point that you love him.

Definatly read "Under a Wild Sky" before you read this book.

At a time he should feel euphoric for the birth of his heir, the embittered Earl feels anger at his wife because he believes she cheated on him though she denies his accusations. Worse, he learns that twins are born and that the midwife failed to identify which child came first. He informs his spouse that he will raise one child and she the other. The stronger lad will inherit the estate.

Years later, Xanthier has the inside path to the inheritance because his father raised him while Brogan was in exile with his mother. Although they were friends as lads without their parents' awareness, the siblings are now rivals. Xanthier's men tie up Brogan in the woods warning him to leave or die. Matalia McTaver sees Brogan and decides he is the answer to two questions: how to avoid marriage and what sex is all about. She teases and arouses her prisoner until he escapes. They share fleshly pleasures, but her father Lord Ronin catches them and forces Matalia and Brogan to marry. They fall in love as the brotherly rivalry, encouraged by Xanthier's avariciouse wife, heats up and threatens both their lives.

This exciting medieval romance is an intriguing historical relationship drama as the story line focuses on a dysfunctional family. The cleverly developed support cast either enhances the understanding of the two prime couples or moves forward the plot. Although Matalia is out character by keeping Brogan tied up and explanation for why the Earl thought he was cuckold is not clear enough, fans will appreciate this deep look at medieval relationships, several of which are failing.

Harriet Klausner