Reviews for Wild Heart

The average rating for Wild Heart based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2010-02-09 00:00:00 Roland Bokan ***4 1/2*** Wild Heart was an engrossing read featuring two very interesting leads. Ella Finch arrives at the manor of Lord Roberts thinking she will become a governess to a young boy and finds that she had been hired to teach a grown man instead. Ella is supposed to teach Lord Roberts's grandson Leo how to be a proper gentleman if she wants freedom for her and her sickly friend from her former employer who treated her badly. Leo Roberts grew up in the jungles of India alone with his Indian friend for years after his English parents are betrayed and killed. After years of living in the wild, they first made their way to Italy where Leo learned the basics of civilized life and how to paint. He then came to England to find his parents' murderers and lives with his grandfather, Lord Roberts. Ella has a secret gift that she has never told people about - she can "feel" the thoughts of animals. When she arrives at Lord Roberts manor, she feels the intense emotional pain from what she thinks is an animal but realizes is actually Leo. She feels his emotions for some reason so she knows he has nightmares from his time in the jungle and he has a lot of trouble trying to fit into English life. Ella strikes a deal with Leo's grandfather - she will teach Leo how to be a gentleman for six months if he provides a cottage by the sea for her and her friend. Leo and Ella have a special connection from their first meeting. Leo appears kind of savage at first - he won't talk to her and runs into the forest by himself often. Ella is able to understand Leo better than anyone because she can sense his feelings. She manages to break through Leo's gruff exterior and makes him actually talk to her and allow her to teach him to be a gentleman (which he actually already knew how to be but enjoys teasing Ella to get a rise out of her). Meanwhile, he tries to tempt Ella to act a little less properly and relish her freedom. Leo really sees no reason to follow "proper" English customs - he says what he wants and does what he wants because he is sick of the English gentry looking at him like he is a savage. The only thing Leo cares about is finding his parents' murderers - until Ella warms her way into his life and his heart. I really enjoyed this book! The hero was so interesting, he was rough but he was a good person. His early life in the jungle haunted him but also made him very strong. Ella was a great heroine, she fought for the hero when no one else would and believed in him. Their chemisty is red hot, sparks flew every time they interacted. The paranormal aspects were very light, they just added to the storyline in a good way. There was a big mystery going on in the storyline that was a little too prominent toward the end but the suspense was really good. The storyline grabbed my attention from the beggining and had me reading non-stop to see what happened. Read this book if you want to read about a very different and interesting hero, a strong and compassionate heroine and a story that keeps you engaged and wondering what happens next. I was very impressed with the author's writing ability, especially for a debut novel.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-12-17 00:00:00 Ben Stokes Ella Finch is hired she thought to be taking care of a child, she didn't think she be helping a man whose uncultured and very much untamed: Leo Roberts, next in line for a old earldom. As Ella uncovers more behind Leo's wild heart, Leo starts to free Ella from the clutches of society's rules, As their love for one another starts to grow an old mystery that connects their family threatens not only their love but their very lives... When it comes to historical paranormal, I for one, want a little a dash of paranormal that it won't overrun the historical setting of the book. Wild Heart did an wonderful job of keeping the historical setting without it being run over by the paranormal aspects. Ella has was born with the gift to feel animals feelings and emotions, even able to calm them when they are trouble or hurt. When she's hired , more of less forced, she thinks she will be taking care of a young boy, she's shocked when it's a man and oddly drawn to the heir of a great earldom Leo Roberts. Ella is able to pick up of Leo's feelings and through those emotions she's able to better understand him, being able to open his heart again. Ella was one of those leads that has a great head on her shoulders and very smart, but what drew me to her even more was her love and understanding of animals and people, even through the hardships she was still able to see the hope and innocence around her. One the other hand we have Leo who saw the death of his parents by the hands of his own father's family. Leo along with his only friend lives the harsh life in the jungle which taught him his tough but later useful skills. Leo wasn't like your Tarzan whom has to be taught about society but remember much from his childhood and later his life in Italy. He gets a kick out of teasing Ella but enjoys her company and pulls a deep pull toward her. I didn't care for Leo sometimes, with his push and pull attitude toward Ella and everyone or anyone. While it was understandable why he acted the way he did (he went through a living hell as kid!) I felt if he stop thinking about himself he wouldn't have dug his own grave in some situations and fallen into some very easy traps. There was a few scenes with Leo and Ella that reminded me of kids "Anything you can do I can do better" that made me wanna roll my eyes at them, but was cute if not annoying. The story did have it's ups and downs (example above) but the growing mystery about whom killed Leo's parents and how it connected to Ella had me reading fast, and just when you think you know who it is, Lori Brighton throws you for a loop and will have you wide eyed and thinking "I didn't see that coming!" Overall: a wonderful debut for Lori Brighton, with her dash of paranormal in this historical it makes for a truly magical and fun read!