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Wild Heart
Author: Lori Brighton
Publisher: Kensington
Pub. Date: November 3, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1420108651
Retail: $4.99
352 pages

Wanton. . .

Leo Roberts is next in line for an earldom and the power and fortune that come with it, but he is uncultured, unrefined–and completely untamed. . .until governess Ella Finch arrives upon the scene. Can so young and inexperienced a woman tutor him in the manners and mores of his class? Leo’s mysterious past has rendered him an outsider, too wild for polite society. But he finds her innocence most intriguing. . .

Willing

What manner of man he may be, Ella does not know. Yet he fascinates her and she must know more. Capturing Leo’s reckless heart is about to free her in ways she never dreamed of. . .and his sensual touch releases the deepest yearnings of her body and soul. . .

~*~*~

Ella Finch is a governess hired by Lord Roberts to teach his grandson, and future Earl, Leo how to behave in polite society. Ella is surprised to learn that Leo is not a child but a full-grown man. When he was a child living in India, Leo witnessed the murder of his parents. He spent years in the wild trying to survive but now he is back in England and looking for revenge against the people who killed his parents. He’s wild and “uncivilized” according to his family, and Ella must try to tame his wild ways.

Ella is not some ordinary miss. She has had a rough life growing up. Her parents died when she was young and she went to live with her grandfather. When he died she was sent to an orphanage. Ella also has a special gift. She can feel animals’ emotions and uses her ability to calm them. She has never been able to read the emotions of humans until she meets Leo. She feels a connection to him and is determined to help him any way she can. Ella is innocent and at times naïve but also there are some times when she throws that prim and proper demeanor away and allows Leo to unleash her wild side.

Leo is my favorite kind of hero. He’s tortured and broken. He witnessed a terrible tragedy as a child and was forced to do things that disgusted him to survive. When you first meet Leo, all you see is this wild man who doesn’t speak. He has already sent countless others fleeing with his uncontrollable ways and wants nothing to do with learning proper behavior. As far as he’s concerned the only reason he is back is to find the people responsible for killing his parents. He has no plans to stay and he sees Ella as a hindrance to his mission but he can’t seem to let her go.

I fell in love with Leo almost from the beginning. Although there were times when I wanted to throw something at his head and then there were times when I just wanted to hug him. He’s been through so much and his family couldn’t seem to understand that. I liked that Ella wasn’t a quick fix for Leo. It wasn’t like he woke up one day and everything was better. He struggled with his anger and his past throughout the whole book. Leo is broken and while it appeard  he knows what fork to use and how to dance, he is not a true gentleman as Ella thinks.

I like that Ella did not give up on him when it seemed that everyone else had. No matter what, she was there for him even when he didn’t want her there. When she discovers he really doesn’t need her help on how to behave like a gentleman, she decides to help him find the people who killed his parents. Through the twist and turns, she remains loyal to him no matter what they uncover.

Wild Heart is categorized as a paranormal historical romance. Reading it I found the paranormal aspect to be light, in a good way. It wasn’t in your face and it didn’t take away from the characters or the romance. While it plays an integral part in the plot, it is woven perfectly into the story without being overpowering. You are able to focus on the relationship between Leo and Ella without being overwhelmed with the supernatural aspect. If you’re not a fan of the kind of  paranormal that is ‘ in your face’ , I recommend giving Wild Heart a try.

Wild Heart had me on the edge the whole time. There are twist and turns that kept me reading well into the night. There is romance, suspense and mystery. Also, one must comment on the sexual tension throughout the book. The anticipation gave me butterflies in my stomach. I will not give it all away, you must read the book for that, but I will say one of my favorite scenes takes place in a field of wild flowers where Leo is painting Ella.

We are introduced to some noteworthy secondary characters throughout the book including Akshay, Leo’s friend and confidant from India, and Colin, Ella’s cousin who has a special gift of is own. Colin will be getting his own book next, Wild Desire, but won’t be out until March 2011. *sigh*

Wild Heart is a brilliant debut from Lori Brighton. She has a voice all her own and I cannot wait to read her next book.

Rating: 8 (Very Good) ~ A must read for someone who likes a little mystery thrown in with their romance.

Heat-Level: 4: (Hot) ~ One must love an untamed man in the bedroom and Leo does not disappoint.

Buy Links: Book Depository ~ $4.98 | Amazon Kindle ~ $3.19