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Note:
Originally printed in 1985.
Spend
some time in the Scottish Highlands with The Rogue and the woman he
kidnapped.
A
wealthy scoundrel, a man who makes a habit of “purchasing” male
children, is about to marry Tabby Lamont. Paris Cockburn, Laird of the
Clan Cockburn, decides to kidnap her for ransom on her wedding night. As
Paris is known for taking whatever he wishes, a kidnapping seems par for
the course for his large family.
Is
she a prisoner or not? Mrs. Hall, her maid, thinks they should be as
cooperative as possible, in order to make things easier for them. Is
Paris good or evil? As comfortable as Tabby is with Paris’s siblings,
four brothers and two sisters, she doesn’t like or trust Paris; whereas
Paris likes Tabby, too much, perhaps. For one thing, he’s not certain
whether or not she is one of his father’s bastards. After all, why would
his father provide for her, via donations to orphanage over a period of
ten years, until he died? Another reason Paris needs to keep his
attraction to himself: He intends on offering her for a ransom, and if
she is not a virgin, he will not reap much for her, when it comes to the
amount of gold he expects.
As
time goes on, Paris’s feelings for Tabby grow. However, Tabby discovers
that Paris is married, and that he keeps his wife in a tower. Despite
this, Tabby is filled with conflicting feelings, alternately hating
Paris, and then responding to him, even to the point her heart is
involved.
It
was a bit difficult not to be dismayed by Tabby’s naiveté. While a
certain amount of fear, well, a lot of fear, should be displayed when
one is abducted, she didn’t show it. She also knew nothing of her new
husband – that he prefers young boys, and that he only married her
because it is rumored sleeping with a virgin will cure him of the pox –
syphilis. Fortunately, Tabby grew as the novel progressed.
The
large Cockburn family is thoroughly enchanting. Paris’s four sisters
reminded me of a tight-knit family and their arguments and discussions
seemed quite real. WILD HEARTS has romance, passion, murder, deceit and
betrayal. It was interesting to see how a romance would be successful
between Paris and Tabby, as they both were married to other people. I
believe readers will be pleased on the circumstances leading to this
conclusion. For an enjoyable evening read, pick up a copy of this
entertaining novel.
Reviewed by Robin Taylor for The Road to Romance
December 15, 2003 |
