In a Wild Wood

Rating:
Summary: exciting medieval romance
Review: 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


Rating:
Summary: This is what romance is all about!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Superbly SENSUAL and Exciting!
Review: 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 ---