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Only #2
Only Mine
The bastard son of a viscount and a Cheyenne shaman′s daughter, Wolfe Lonetree agrees to rescue the pampered Lady Jessica from an unwanted impending wedding -- but only if she will be his wife.
Naive and shockingly innocent, Lady Jessica Charteris tricked a rugged, handsome stranger into a marriage in name only in order to escape a union with a vile British lord. Totally unprepared for the hardships awaiting her in America, she is terrified by the prospect of life in the harsh and magnificent land at the edge of the Rockies. But even more frightening is Wolfe himself -- a man whose raw sensuality leaves her breathless. Her proud, virile new "husband" is not one to be trifled with, nor will he be denied what his heart fervently desires -- for only in Wolfe Lonetree′s arms can Jessica truly learn the unparalleled joy of becoming the right man′s woman.
Naive and shockingly innocent, Lady Jessica Charteris tricked a rugged, handsome stranger into a marriage in name only in order to escape a union with a vile British lord. Totally unprepared for the hardships awaiting her in America, she is terrified by the prospect of life in the harsh and magnificent land at the edge of the Rockies. But even more frightening is Wolfe himself -- a man whose raw sensuality leaves her breathless. Her proud, virile new "husband" is not one to be trifled with, nor will he be denied what his heart fervently desires -- for only in Wolfe Lonetree′s arms can Jessica truly learn the unparalleled joy of becoming the right man′s woman.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1992
About the author
Elizabeth Lowell
213 books1,858 followersIndividually and with co-author/husband Evan, Ann Maxwell has written over 60 novels and one work of non-fiction. There are 30 million copies of these books in print, as well as reprints in 30 foreign languages. Her novels range from science fiction to historical fiction, from romance to mystery. After working in contemporary and historical romance, she became an innovator in the genre of romantic suspense.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
In 1982, Ann began publishing as Elizabeth Lowell. Under that name she has received numerous professional awards in the romance field, including a Lifetime Achievement award from the Romance Writers of America (1994).
Since July of 1992, she has had over 30 novels on the New York Times bestseller list. In 1998 she began writing suspense with a passionate twist, capturing a new audience and generation of readers. Her new romance novel Perfect Touch will be available in July of 2015.
To get a full list of titles as well as read excerpts from her novels, visit www.elizabethlowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
May 15, 2018
3,5 estrellas. Tenía muchas ganas de conocer la historia de Wolfe y Jessi. Como ya ocurrió con el primer libro de esta serie me gusta mucho el pasado que la autora crea para sus protagonistas: un vaquero mestizo mitad cheyenne mitad lord inglés y una joven escocesa acogida por la familia de su padre, con un pasado difícil y un presente que transcurre entre algodones. Lo que ya no me gusta tanto es lo cruel que puede llegar a ser el protagonista para librarse de ese matrimonio impuesto ni tampoco ese final precipitado, aunque se lo perdono a la autora por crear unas escenas de sexo tan sensuales. ¡¡Ese baño!!
#RetoRita2 #RitaLowell
#RetoRita2 #RitaLowell
March 16, 2020
3.5
I enjoyed my “ride” through the American West— accompanied by an elfin (minus a half-star for how many times the petite heroine was described this way) English aristocratic lady and her “half-breed” bastard son of a Regency Lord who could melt the heart of most nuns.
The descriptions of the 19th century Wild West were gorgeous and certainly compelled me to keep reading despite the sometimes silly posturing of our “lone” man, torn between the love of his life and his home on the range. They both spend a lot of time avoiding the inevitable.... each other!
And I got what I really wanted on this beautiful blue sky Sunday with the low hum of this viral pandemic touching every aspect of real life. A beautifully written happy ending!!
I enjoyed my “ride” through the American West— accompanied by an elfin (minus a half-star for how many times the petite heroine was described this way) English aristocratic lady and her “half-breed” bastard son of a Regency Lord who could melt the heart of most nuns.
The descriptions of the 19th century Wild West were gorgeous and certainly compelled me to keep reading despite the sometimes silly posturing of our “lone” man, torn between the love of his life and his home on the range. They both spend a lot of time avoiding the inevitable.... each other!
And I got what I really wanted on this beautiful blue sky Sunday with the low hum of this viral pandemic touching every aspect of real life. A beautifully written happy ending!!
January 1, 2021
He was needlesley cruel but she was needlessly pathetic.
January 21, 2020
The main reason I decided to read this book - although maybe it could be considered a bit dated - is that I read somewhere that it is J.R. Wards' favourite romance story of all times. And since she is my favourite paranormal romance author, I had to read this book!
And I have to say that I truly enjoyed it.
The action starts in England where Lady Jessica Charteris begs and later tricks the bastard son of a viscount, Wolfe Lonetree, to marry her.
Later on the action moves in America and Far West where now married Jessica tries to convince her half Cheyenne husband that she is the right wife for him.
The story is mainly a romance western. The story is captivating, the pages fly without stopping. And if you think that Wolfe is a true jerk and Jessica is truly naive and they need someone to knock their heads together, you will be absolutely right. But it doesn't matter. In the end love conquers everything and everyone.
And as an honest and true romance book, there is a lovely happy ending.
And I have to say that I truly enjoyed it.
The action starts in England where Lady Jessica Charteris begs and later tricks the bastard son of a viscount, Wolfe Lonetree, to marry her.
Later on the action moves in America and Far West where now married Jessica tries to convince her half Cheyenne husband that she is the right wife for him.
The story is mainly a romance western. The story is captivating, the pages fly without stopping. And if you think that Wolfe is a true jerk and Jessica is truly naive and they need someone to knock their heads together, you will be absolutely right. But it doesn't matter. In the end love conquers everything and everyone.
And as an honest and true romance book, there is a lovely happy ending.
April 27, 2018
Leí por primera vez este libro hace más de diez años, cuando el mercado de la literatura romántica todavía era escaso en España para las que leemos mucho y te pasabas constantemente por la FNAC para ver si salía algo nuevo. Como cada vez que releo un libro comencé con mucho miedo, diez años de diferencia suponen una evolución importante como lectora después de cientos y cientos de libros, pero el recuerdo que tenía de Solo Mía era bueno y me decidí por él para el Reto Rita.
Solo Mía es una novela del oeste, segundo en la serie Only, los personajes del primer libro aparecen, pero no es necesario leerlo para disfrutar éste. Hay muchas cosas comunes en todos los libros de la serie, fundamentalmente el carácter de los protagonistas masculinos, a veces estando en el límite de provocar en esta lectora cierto ataque de nervios por mostrarse siempre reluctante a la relación amorosa, el toque machista aunque no excesivo para el momento en el que fue escrito y totalmente acorde a la época, esa manía de ver en la protagonista como un enemigo en ciertos tramos... Pero a pesar de esto, Wolfe también se presenta como un personaje duro pero tierno, y fundamentalmente con mucho sentido del humor. Sentido del humor que comparte con Jessi y que probablemente sea el mayor acierto del libro, es imposible que no te saquen ambos varias sonrisas con sus acciones, sobre todo de ella, y sus conversaciones.
El libro combina amor, aventura, humor, sentido de la amistad, cierta tragedia. Una lectura ligera y muy entretenida aunque ciertos diálogos y situaciones a veces parezcan excesivos en el drama. Le mantengo las cuatro estrellas que le di en su momento, puro entretenimiento.
Solo Mía es una novela del oeste, segundo en la serie Only, los personajes del primer libro aparecen, pero no es necesario leerlo para disfrutar éste. Hay muchas cosas comunes en todos los libros de la serie, fundamentalmente el carácter de los protagonistas masculinos, a veces estando en el límite de provocar en esta lectora cierto ataque de nervios por mostrarse siempre reluctante a la relación amorosa, el toque machista aunque no excesivo para el momento en el que fue escrito y totalmente acorde a la época, esa manía de ver en la protagonista como un enemigo en ciertos tramos... Pero a pesar de esto, Wolfe también se presenta como un personaje duro pero tierno, y fundamentalmente con mucho sentido del humor. Sentido del humor que comparte con Jessi y que probablemente sea el mayor acierto del libro, es imposible que no te saquen ambos varias sonrisas con sus acciones, sobre todo de ella, y sus conversaciones.
El libro combina amor, aventura, humor, sentido de la amistad, cierta tragedia. Una lectura ligera y muy entretenida aunque ciertos diálogos y situaciones a veces parezcan excesivos en el drama. Le mantengo las cuatro estrellas que le di en su momento, puro entretenimiento.
July 7, 2016
I thought I was re-reading the first in the series, but I was one off. :) Anywho, I read this series long ago in the heyday of my hist-rom reading. I actually liked Only Mine, but not as much as I’m sure I did the first time around.
Lady Jessica Charteris is about to be forced into an appalling marriage to a moneyed Lord full of drink and age. She wants none of it. So she forces Wolfe Lonetree, her oldest and dearest friend into marriage instead. (Really? You didn't like it, why would he??) Wolfe, the half native American son of a British viscount doesn’t believe she will be able to endure the American frontier which is his life, but he also cannot leave her alone forced to married the revolting British Lord who attacked her. So he agrees to a marriage in name only, sure he’ll be able to run off the lovely but spoiled friend of his youth and get an annulment later down the road.
Naïve though she is about the marriage bed, (She tells him she wants the marriage in name only because the idea of sex is disgusting and frightening to her), Lady Jessica is not one to back down from a challenge. Stronger than Wolfe could imagine, he will still test her limits, for she will have to be stronger than his prejudice and misconceptions.
Love wins in the end of course, but not before you want to bang their heads together. I had to look past a lot of their eye roll worthy behavior toward each other to get there. Most reviewers have a hard time with Wolfe- for me it was Jessica. BUT the author at least gave Lady Jess motivations behind her silliness. I would have given up without it.
I know I know, so why would I recommend it? Because, Honestly, I truly did like the book- even on this long later re-read. The pages flew by and I totally got lost in their story once again. And I mean really, isn’t that why we read trashy romance novels?
Lady Jessica Charteris is about to be forced into an appalling marriage to a moneyed Lord full of drink and age. She wants none of it. So she forces Wolfe Lonetree, her oldest and dearest friend into marriage instead. (Really? You didn't like it, why would he??) Wolfe, the half native American son of a British viscount doesn’t believe she will be able to endure the American frontier which is his life, but he also cannot leave her alone forced to married the revolting British Lord who attacked her. So he agrees to a marriage in name only, sure he’ll be able to run off the lovely but spoiled friend of his youth and get an annulment later down the road.
Naïve though she is about the marriage bed, (She tells him she wants the marriage in name only because the idea of sex is disgusting and frightening to her), Lady Jessica is not one to back down from a challenge. Stronger than Wolfe could imagine, he will still test her limits, for she will have to be stronger than his prejudice and misconceptions.
Love wins in the end of course, but not before you want to bang their heads together. I had to look past a lot of their eye roll worthy behavior toward each other to get there. Most reviewers have a hard time with Wolfe- for me it was Jessica. BUT the author at least gave Lady Jess motivations behind her silliness. I would have given up without it.
I know I know, so why would I recommend it? Because, Honestly, I truly did like the book- even on this long later re-read. The pages flew by and I totally got lost in their story once again. And I mean really, isn’t that why we read trashy romance novels?
April 19, 2018
4-4'5 estrellitas. Aaaaaaaaaaaay, qué bien me lo he pasado leyéndolo
April 27, 2018
4/5
Muy entretenido. Una lectura fácil con la que me lo he pasado muy bien. Y es que los protagonistas tienen unos diálogos llenos de un humor chispeante.
Wolfe es un amor.
Muy recomendable aunque alguna parte me haya parecido un poco excesiva en el drama
Muy entretenido. Una lectura fácil con la que me lo he pasado muy bien. Y es que los protagonistas tienen unos diálogos llenos de un humor chispeante.
Wolfe es un amor.
Muy recomendable aunque alguna parte me haya parecido un poco excesiva en el drama
May 30, 2022
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I like the opposites attract aspect and the banter was pretty fun! I ate this up and was fully engaged throughout. My biggest gripe is the last 5ish%! The conflict was resolved so close to the end and then we get thrown into a very vague and unsatisfying epilogue. Super frustrating! I also wanted to shake the H more than a few times for his assumptions and often cruel words towards the h, who was obviously trying really hard. It didn’t feel like there was nearly enough time given for his character to recover (in my mind) from his bad behavior and words. Otherwise, it was a fun historical western romance.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jessica and Wolfe’s story. Jessica is about to married off to an elderly aristocrat and she begs her longtime friend, Wolfe, to marry her instead. When he refuses because of their vast differences, Jessica traps him into a marriage. Wolfe knows that Jessica isn’t made to live in the wild of America and banks on the idea that she’ll be begging for an annulment in no time. Only Jessica is more stubborn and fearful of her future back in England than he thought. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sweet moments, and some sexy times…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Jessica and Wolfe in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the very end (see above). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, but they’ve cared for one another before the story begins.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Wolfe. He was alright. I wanted him to stop being so stubborn about his assumptions regarding the h.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jessica. I liked her. I appreciated her tenacity and willingness to face her fears.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with what I would call a HEA, but it was much too rushed and not nearly enough closure for me.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable. I like the opposites attract aspect and the banter was pretty fun! I ate this up and was fully engaged throughout. My biggest gripe is the last 5ish%! The conflict was resolved so close to the end and then we get thrown into a very vague and unsatisfying epilogue. Super frustrating! I also wanted to shake the H more than a few times for his assumptions and often cruel words towards the h, who was obviously trying really hard. It didn’t feel like there was nearly enough time given for his character to recover (in my mind) from his bad behavior and words. Otherwise, it was a fun historical western romance.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Jessica and Wolfe’s story. Jessica is about to married off to an elderly aristocrat and she begs her longtime friend, Wolfe, to marry her instead. When he refuses because of their vast differences, Jessica traps him into a marriage. Wolfe knows that Jessica isn’t made to live in the wild of America and banks on the idea that she’ll be begging for an annulment in no time. Only Jessica is more stubborn and fearful of her future back in England than he thought. There are some suspenseful scenes, some sweet moments, and some sexy times…and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing on Jessica and Wolfe in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the very end (see above). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well otherwise.
Instalove: No, but they’ve cared for one another before the story begins.
H (Hero) rating: 3 stars. Wolfe. He was alright. I wanted him to stop being so stubborn about his assumptions regarding the h.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Jessica. I liked her. I appreciated her tenacity and willingness to face her fears.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I shed a few tears but never needed any tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends with what I would call a HEA, but it was much too rushed and not nearly enough closure for me.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
April 30, 2018
(3.5 estrellas)
Toda una sorpresa esta novela cuyo único hilo argumental prácticamente es la relación de los dos protagonistas y su camino hasta darse cuenta de que su amor está por encima de todo. A esto le añadimos las diferencias claras entre la Inglaterra y el lejano Oeste del siglo XIX, entre la aristocracia y un "bastardo" mestizo, y entre una chica muy, muy inocente de 20 años, con un gran bagaje vital dramático, y un guapísimo "lord salvaje" medio cheyene que siempre la ha protegido de todos sus fantasmas, incluso sin saberlo, y al que detestas un poco por la brusquedad de sus actos.
El centro de la novela es la enorme tensión sexual que hay entre ellos que cuando llega a su culminación lo hace de una manera bastante ahogada, explosiva, vibrante y, lo confieso, liberadora. Aunque a veces puede llegar a cansar la tirantez entre ellos a lo largo de la novela, solo por llegar a ese momento apoteósico merece la pena leerla.
Es una lectura romántica muy entretenida, que consigue, además de centrarte en ellos, que se te queden unas ganas enormes de conocer en profundidad a los hermanos Morgan.
Opinión completa en el blog
Toda una sorpresa esta novela cuyo único hilo argumental prácticamente es la relación de los dos protagonistas y su camino hasta darse cuenta de que su amor está por encima de todo. A esto le añadimos las diferencias claras entre la Inglaterra y el lejano Oeste del siglo XIX, entre la aristocracia y un "bastardo" mestizo, y entre una chica muy, muy inocente de 20 años, con un gran bagaje vital dramático, y un guapísimo "lord salvaje" medio cheyene que siempre la ha protegido de todos sus fantasmas, incluso sin saberlo, y al que detestas un poco por la brusquedad de sus actos.
El centro de la novela es la enorme tensión sexual que hay entre ellos que cuando llega a su culminación lo hace de una manera bastante ahogada, explosiva, vibrante y, lo confieso, liberadora. Aunque a veces puede llegar a cansar la tirantez entre ellos a lo largo de la novela, solo por llegar a ese momento apoteósico merece la pena leerla.
Es una lectura romántica muy entretenida, que consigue, además de centrarte en ellos, que se te queden unas ganas enormes de conocer en profundidad a los hermanos Morgan.
Opinión completa en el blog
April 18, 2018
*3'5-4*
Me ha gustado más que el primero, lee más "cómodamente".
Wolfe es un personaje que ya en el primer libro atrapa la curiosidad. Me gusta mucho pero hubo momentos que le hubiera dado 2 tortas por su comportamiento y manera de juzgar a Jessie. No hay más ciego que quien no quiere ver.
Me da que a esta autora le gustan los protagonistas machotes combinados con algo de pichotismo en determinados momentos → michotes.
Jessie es una buena protagonista muy inocente pero cero pichote, tiene miedo y hace lo necesario para superarlo pensando que el "embrollo" tendrá final feliz. Y a pesar delos obstáculos no deja de luchar y demostrar que es muy capaz de sobrevivir en el Oeste y a su marido.
Los hermanos Moran son tremendos y prometen, más Rafe, jiji.
Me ha gustado más que el primero, lee más "cómodamente".
Wolfe es un personaje que ya en el primer libro atrapa la curiosidad. Me gusta mucho pero hubo momentos que le hubiera dado 2 tortas por su comportamiento y manera de juzgar a Jessie. No hay más ciego que quien no quiere ver.
Me da que a esta autora le gustan los protagonistas machotes combinados con algo de pichotismo en determinados momentos → michotes.
Jessie es una buena protagonista muy inocente pero cero pichote, tiene miedo y hace lo necesario para superarlo pensando que el "embrollo" tendrá final feliz. Y a pesar delos obstáculos no deja de luchar y demostrar que es muy capaz de sobrevivir en el Oeste y a su marido.
Los hermanos Moran son tremendos y prometen, más Rafe, jiji.
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February 25, 2024
Well-written, but the hero deserved to be slapped upside the head and the heroine deserved MUCH better.
Lady Jessica is a young Scottish aristocrat who has known Wolfe, illegitimate half-Native son of a viscount, from childhood and been in love with him for just as long. When her guardians plan to marry her off to an aged lecher, she traps Wolfe into marriage instead, figuring that being the American wife to a Wild West frontiersman is preferable. And she's sort of right - but he's understandably not thrilled.
Wolfe was never abusive to Jessica, which I suppose is down to their childhood acquaintanceship, but he definitely didn't deserve her. Even though she knew nothing about being a wife, she was enthusiastic and eager to learn; meanwhile, he spent all his time comparing her unfavourably to the heroine of the previous book. This culminates in a frankly unforgivable scene where he humiliates her before a gathering of people who like her. We're told he apologises, but we don't see it, and after that Jessica really should have ridden out without looking back.
Lady Jessica is a young Scottish aristocrat who has known Wolfe, illegitimate half-Native son of a viscount, from childhood and been in love with him for just as long. When her guardians plan to marry her off to an aged lecher, she traps Wolfe into marriage instead, figuring that being the American wife to a Wild West frontiersman is preferable. And she's sort of right - but he's understandably not thrilled.
Wolfe was never abusive to Jessica, which I suppose is down to their childhood acquaintanceship, but he definitely didn't deserve her. Even though she knew nothing about being a wife, she was enthusiastic and eager to learn; meanwhile, he spent all his time comparing her unfavourably to the heroine of the previous book. This culminates in a frankly unforgivable scene where he humiliates her before a gathering of people who like her. We're told he apologises, but we don't see it, and after that Jessica really should have ridden out without looking back.
January 23, 2015
OMG so good, just so good, in love, love love with Ms. Lowell. Saw her once while she was on a panel at RWA and nearly fainted just from being in the same room with the woman!
December 14, 2009
This book had more cheese than a wine tasting party...
Lucky for me, I like cheese ;)
It's a kind of cliche story about how an English girl, about to be married off to some disgustingly old (and drunk and lecherous of course) British Lord, ends up married to her childhood best friend instead to avoid a scandal (in name only of course, because she's disgusted by the thought of smexin').. And to sprinkle in a couple more cliches, said childhood best friend is also the bastard son of a Viscount. Did I mention he's also a "half-breed"? As if being a bastard son isn't enough, we have to have the additional social stigma of having had a Native American mother.. Add to that the name of "Wolf Lonetree" and you almost have a parody of romance novels lol
Our heroine isn't much better. Spoiled to the extreme (chick can't even brush her own hair. Srsly.), but not cruel, our sweet little (red-headed of course) flower has a heart of gold and a spine of steel (once you get past the fact she can't even button up her own dress)...
Our delightful (*sarcasm!*) hero is convinced that she is the absolute worst possible wife for him, and resents being forced to marry her, so he's a complete and total @#$% to her for the first solid half of the book.
Add on top of that constant comparisons to his best friend's wife (whom our heroine dubs "the Paragon" lol), and you've got a whole lotta angstin going on.
Our Big Misunderstanding is twofold -- first that Wolfe is completely and utterly convinced that Jessi will make a sh*t wife yet the girl is trying (really, really trying).. No matter how hard she tries, she's constantly compared to Willow (our heroine from the previous book) and Wolfe is determined to force an annulment so she can go back to England like the pampered little princess he's convinced she is. What's so frustrating about this is he constantly chooses to believe the absolute worst about Jessi, even berating her in public. *blech*
Second, she's freaked out about the idea of sex and pregnancy because her father repeatedly beat and violently raped her mother in pursuit of a male heir... Her mother, as a result, had multiple miscarriages and stillbirths. As a young child, our poor heroine was stuck tending to her mother after the brutal beatings and rapes, as well as the violent illness that accompanied pregnancy and the horrific births which always ended with dead babies. o_O Yeah. No wonder she's freaked out at the thought of being with a man, huh? So our Jessi thinks that in marrying Wolfe (whom she cherishes as a friend), she won't have to worry about any of that because he doesn't own land and therefore won't desire/require an heir. *doh*
And of course, Wolfe, being our stereotypical DENSE hero, thinks that she's disgusted by him because he's a *gasp* Half-Breed Bastard and reacts accordingly *facepalm*
In reading the last chapter, I was hit with a very intense sense of deja vu that hadn't been present for the rest of the novel.. So, either I've read this before (distinct possibility), or the last chapter reads very similar to another book.. I'm not really sure which to be honest lol Perhaps even a mixture of both ;)
But it still gets a solid three stars from me. Why? Well, because sometimes a good old fashioned cliche filled romance novel is what a girl needs to take her mind off the doldrums of everyday life ;)
Lucky for me, I like cheese ;)
It's a kind of cliche story about how an English girl, about to be married off to some disgustingly old (and drunk and lecherous of course) British Lord, ends up married to her childhood best friend instead to avoid a scandal (in name only of course, because she's disgusted by the thought of smexin').. And to sprinkle in a couple more cliches, said childhood best friend is also the bastard son of a Viscount. Did I mention he's also a "half-breed"? As if being a bastard son isn't enough, we have to have the additional social stigma of having had a Native American mother.. Add to that the name of "Wolf Lonetree" and you almost have a parody of romance novels lol
Our heroine isn't much better. Spoiled to the extreme (chick can't even brush her own hair. Srsly.), but not cruel, our sweet little (red-headed of course) flower has a heart of gold and a spine of steel (once you get past the fact she can't even button up her own dress)...
Our delightful (*sarcasm!*) hero is convinced that she is the absolute worst possible wife for him, and resents being forced to marry her, so he's a complete and total @#$% to her for the first solid half of the book.
Add on top of that constant comparisons to his best friend's wife (whom our heroine dubs "the Paragon" lol), and you've got a whole lotta angstin going on.
Our Big Misunderstanding is twofold -- first that Wolfe is completely and utterly convinced that Jessi will make a sh*t wife yet the girl is trying (really, really trying).. No matter how hard she tries, she's constantly compared to Willow (our heroine from the previous book) and Wolfe is determined to force an annulment so she can go back to England like the pampered little princess he's convinced she is. What's so frustrating about this is he constantly chooses to believe the absolute worst about Jessi, even berating her in public. *blech*
Second, she's freaked out about the idea of sex and pregnancy because her father repeatedly beat and violently raped her mother in pursuit of a male heir... Her mother, as a result, had multiple miscarriages and stillbirths. As a young child, our poor heroine was stuck tending to her mother after the brutal beatings and rapes, as well as the violent illness that accompanied pregnancy and the horrific births which always ended with dead babies. o_O Yeah. No wonder she's freaked out at the thought of being with a man, huh? So our Jessi thinks that in marrying Wolfe (whom she cherishes as a friend), she won't have to worry about any of that because he doesn't own land and therefore won't desire/require an heir. *doh*
And of course, Wolfe, being our stereotypical DENSE hero, thinks that she's disgusted by him because he's a *gasp* Half-Breed Bastard and reacts accordingly *facepalm*
In reading the last chapter, I was hit with a very intense sense of deja vu that hadn't been present for the rest of the novel.. So, either I've read this before (distinct possibility), or the last chapter reads very similar to another book.. I'm not really sure which to be honest lol Perhaps even a mixture of both ;)
But it still gets a solid three stars from me. Why? Well, because sometimes a good old fashioned cliche filled romance novel is what a girl needs to take her mind off the doldrums of everyday life ;)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2018
3,5*
Confieso que al principio las idas y venidas de esta pareja se me hacían pesadas. Tenían siempre la misma dinámica entre ellos. Admiro la valentía y fortaleza de Jessica, pero oye hay cosas que debería haber explicado antes, aunque la comprendo. Wolfe otras veces muy cabezón y bastante cruel, aunque lo compensa más tarde. Pero debo decir que el final tan rápido es lo que menos me ha gustado. Esperaba que Wolfe nos mostrara mejor lo que siente. Cierto es que todo es más o menos predecible, pero a Wolfe lo he disfrutado mucho.
Ahora me ha picado el gusanillo por los hermanos Morán...
Confieso que al principio las idas y venidas de esta pareja se me hacían pesadas. Tenían siempre la misma dinámica entre ellos. Admiro la valentía y fortaleza de Jessica, pero oye hay cosas que debería haber explicado antes, aunque la comprendo. Wolfe otras veces muy cabezón y bastante cruel, aunque lo compensa más tarde. Pero debo decir que el final tan rápido es lo que menos me ha gustado. Esperaba que Wolfe nos mostrara mejor lo que siente. Cierto es que todo es más o menos predecible, pero a Wolfe lo he disfrutado mucho.
Ahora me ha picado el gusanillo por los hermanos Morán...
April 20, 2018
4.5 ☆
Pues me ha gustado muchísimo más aún que el primero de la serie!
Wolfe y Jessi son unos personajes geniales, he disfrutado de lo lindo con su historia y además, se agradece que la narración no sea tan descriptiva con los paisajes y terrenos como lo fue en el anterior.
Lo que más he disfrutado, claro está, son los momentos íntimos entre los dos protas porque son 😍🔥😍🔥😍🔥sobre todo Wolfe!!!
Y como me ha encantado pues me apetece mucho seguir con las demás historias, las de los hermanos Moran, Matt y Rafe . En especial la de éste último, ya que en este libro se nos da unas pinceladitas de lo maravillosamente bien que maneja el látigo 😂 No le doy las 5 ☆ porque el epílogo fue tan breve y me pareció tan apresurado que me dejó con ganas de más.
Pues me ha gustado muchísimo más aún que el primero de la serie!
Wolfe y Jessi son unos personajes geniales, he disfrutado de lo lindo con su historia y además, se agradece que la narración no sea tan descriptiva con los paisajes y terrenos como lo fue en el anterior.
Lo que más he disfrutado, claro está, son los momentos íntimos entre los dos protas porque son 😍🔥😍🔥😍🔥sobre todo Wolfe!!!
Y como me ha encantado pues me apetece mucho seguir con las demás historias, las de los hermanos Moran, Matt y Rafe . En especial la de éste último, ya que en este libro se nos da unas pinceladitas de lo maravillosamente bien que maneja el látigo 😂 No le doy las 5 ☆ porque el epílogo fue tan breve y me pareció tan apresurado que me dejó con ganas de más.
April 25, 2018
Decepcionada con esta lectura. Quizás me esperaba demasiado y pasada la sorpresa del primero, este me ha sabido a muy poco.
Wolfe tenía una pinta genial, pero admito que me han faltado más matices. Muchos frentes abiertos que juegan como un supuesto misterio que al final se desvelan tal cual te has imaginado. Sorpresa cero. la verdad y cando una novela es tan tan tan predecible me aburro.
Lo dicho, la primera parte muy repetitiva con una protagonista que no me ha convencido porque me parecía de todo menos real. Por esa relación tan forzada entre ambos. Por esa transformación de ella, vamos, que ni a una plebeya londinense le resultaría tan tan tan fácil.
Todo se da por hecho y a mí es lo que no me ha convencido.
Para luego, culminar con una escena que es rapidísima. Vamos,.... tanto hacerme sufrir y darle vueltas al tema para luego YA!
No.
Una pena, la verdad, me esperaba mucho de esta novela y se ha quedado en poco. Eso sí, las escenas de fuego están muy logradas... a este hombre le deberían dar una MEDALLA por su autocontrol
Wolfe tenía una pinta genial, pero admito que me han faltado más matices. Muchos frentes abiertos que juegan como un supuesto misterio que al final se desvelan tal cual te has imaginado. Sorpresa cero. la verdad y cando una novela es tan tan tan predecible me aburro.
Lo dicho, la primera parte muy repetitiva con una protagonista que no me ha convencido porque me parecía de todo menos real. Por esa relación tan forzada entre ambos. Por esa transformación de ella, vamos, que ni a una plebeya londinense le resultaría tan tan tan fácil.
Todo se da por hecho y a mí es lo que no me ha convencido.
Para luego, culminar con una escena que es rapidísima. Vamos,.... tanto hacerme sufrir y darle vueltas al tema para luego YA!
No.
Una pena, la verdad, me esperaba mucho de esta novela y se ha quedado en poco. Eso sí, las escenas de fuego están muy logradas... a este hombre le deberían dar una MEDALLA por su autocontrol
August 3, 2023
This book was hard to get through, and packed full of some of the most frustrating romance tropes. The heroine was extremely unlikable without a strong redemption arc to balance it; naïve to the point of extreme unbelievability and completely spoiled. She had never even brushed her own hair before she got married. She tricks the hero into marriage and then refuses to let him touch her. Not only refuses to let him touch her, but calls him hateful things when he tries. She picked him to marry for the following ridiculous reason: since he has common blood and wasn't an aristocrat with an important bloodline to preserve he wouldn't need kids and shouldn't want to have sex with his wife. Of course, she still thinks that his home in the Rocky Mountains will still have servants to care for her and the whole shabang, so I guess she wanted to have her cake and eat it too (marry a commoner and still be treated like an aristocrat). I don't think there is anyone on the face of the planet that is actually that naïve. Plus what a horrible reason to marry someone: slumming it for a husband who she thinks doesn't need kids. Yeesh.
She also goes on about the agony and terror of childbirth to a couple who is pregnant with their first child. The heroine lost all sympathy she had any chance at getting from me at that point in the book.
Of course it takes the heroine over two-thirds of the book to finally tell her husband the reasons she is afraid of sex (her parents had a disaster of a relationship), and by that time I was so annoyed with the girl that it was impossible to sympathize with her. I should have quit the book after reading her insulting reason for marrying the hero, but I just couldn't seem to take my eyes off this train-wreck.
She also goes on about the agony and terror of childbirth to a couple who is pregnant with their first child. The heroine lost all sympathy she had any chance at getting from me at that point in the book.
Of course it takes the heroine over two-thirds of the book to finally tell her husband the reasons she is afraid of sex (her parents had a disaster of a relationship), and by that time I was so annoyed with the girl that it was impossible to sympathize with her. I should have quit the book after reading her insulting reason for marrying the hero, but I just couldn't seem to take my eyes off this train-wreck.
March 28, 2013
2.5 stars
My sympathy in this book ended up almost entirely with Wolfe, and almost not at all with Jessica. I'm not sure why. She did deserve an ounce of sympathy after the author (finally) revealed the full truth about her issues, but perhaps only an ounce in light of what she did to WOlfe -- trapping her "best friend" into marriage. I found that to be a horribly selfish, childish, and conniving thing to do. And I never got past it, even though she proved herself in other ways.
Jessica apparently witnessed her father raping ("rutting on") her mother when she was a child (younger than 9). She was also present when her mother got sick during pregnancy, had multiple miscarriages, and 6 stillbirths. As a result, she has determined that she never wants sex or babies under any circumstances, and she has some pretty weird ideas about marriage.
She traps Wolfe into marriage because he's an American with no need for heirs, as opposed to a titled lord. She's his friend, so she knows he won't force her. She plans to just continue to be friends and hang out together for the rest of their lives.
Some people may not mind that kind of marriage. I assume they discuss it and agree upon it first, though.
It never occurs to bratty, lives-in-her-own-selfish-world Jessica that a man might WANT to have children for any other reason than because he has a title and lands to pass on.
I found this concept difficult to swallow as well as selfish. We're in 1867, still in sheltered regency times, but still...has she never met anyone outside the nobility, even briefly? Aren't there farmers or servants or tradesman or anyone nearby? And don't they have babies? (I have to assume so, since that is, you know, how new people are made.)
Like I said...an ounce of sympathy...but I couldn't muster more than that because she took it to such a weird, exaggerated, and ultimately selfish level.
The book was okay. I'm 2 and 2 on Elizabeth Lowell right now, so I'll seek out more of her books.
My sympathy in this book ended up almost entirely with Wolfe, and almost not at all with Jessica. I'm not sure why. She did deserve an ounce of sympathy after the author (finally) revealed the full truth about her issues, but perhaps only an ounce in light of what she did to WOlfe -- trapping her "best friend" into marriage. I found that to be a horribly selfish, childish, and conniving thing to do. And I never got past it, even though she proved herself in other ways.
Jessica apparently witnessed her father raping ("rutting on") her mother when she was a child (younger than 9). She was also present when her mother got sick during pregnancy, had multiple miscarriages, and 6 stillbirths. As a result, she has determined that she never wants sex or babies under any circumstances, and she has some pretty weird ideas about marriage.
She traps Wolfe into marriage because he's an American with no need for heirs, as opposed to a titled lord. She's his friend, so she knows he won't force her. She plans to just continue to be friends and hang out together for the rest of their lives.
Some people may not mind that kind of marriage. I assume they discuss it and agree upon it first, though.
It never occurs to bratty, lives-in-her-own-selfish-world Jessica that a man might WANT to have children for any other reason than because he has a title and lands to pass on.
I found this concept difficult to swallow as well as selfish. We're in 1867, still in sheltered regency times, but still...has she never met anyone outside the nobility, even briefly? Aren't there farmers or servants or tradesman or anyone nearby? And don't they have babies? (I have to assume so, since that is, you know, how new people are made.)
Like I said...an ounce of sympathy...but I couldn't muster more than that because she took it to such a weird, exaggerated, and ultimately selfish level.
The book was okay. I'm 2 and 2 on Elizabeth Lowell right now, so I'll seek out more of her books.
July 30, 2019
Did a little reread of this one last night. I'm such a sucker for it. Always have been.
August 29, 2015
Aaarggh. Someone here on GR has a shelf called "asshat hero". Well, Wolfe could take pride of place on that shelf.
This book could have been so good, but for some reason Lowell decided to make the hero a real "asshat".
We were first introduced to Wolfe Lonetree in Only His, and I was really looking forward to reading his story. Wolfe was born to an English father and Cheyenne mother. His character in Only His was honorable and kind, and we learned about his special friendship over the years with Lady Jessica Charteris, an orphaned ward of his father.
Cut to Only Mine, and Jessica, desperate to avoid an arranged marriage to an old, drunken and lecherous lord, has taken advantage of a situation not of her design and coerced Wolfe into marrying her against his will.
Due to her childhood experiences, Jessica has an overwhelming terror of what she refers to (all the freaking time mind you) as 'rutting'. Wolfe was her only friend and she trusts him not to hurt her or 'rut on her'.
For his part, Wolfe is determined that Jessica is not the right wife for him, nor he the right husband for her. His reasons for this are never really fully explained, other than it appears he is biased against Jessica due to her birth as an aristocrat. This coming from someone who resents being referred to as 'the Earl's bastard savage' and discriminated against due to being a 'half-breed'. Yup.
He then spends the rest of the book being a complete and utter "asshat" (love that word!) in an effort to have Jessica seek an annulment.
These two are supposed to have had a special connection as Jessica was growing up, yet the asshat has had such a compete lobotomy from the previous book that he treats Jessica like something he stepped in.
The issues that arise due to Jessica's fear of intimacy could have been resolved through Wolfe actually, gee, I don't know, asking a freaking question? The complete and unrealistic absence of any form of communication from Wolfe is beyond frustrating.
There are also minor but irritating continuity issues and some poor editing to complete the experience.
Yes, this could have been a really good book if only Wolfe was half the man we originally met and Lowell found some other way to fill the pages.
This book could have been so good, but for some reason Lowell decided to make the hero a real "asshat".
We were first introduced to Wolfe Lonetree in Only His, and I was really looking forward to reading his story. Wolfe was born to an English father and Cheyenne mother. His character in Only His was honorable and kind, and we learned about his special friendship over the years with Lady Jessica Charteris, an orphaned ward of his father.
Cut to Only Mine, and Jessica, desperate to avoid an arranged marriage to an old, drunken and lecherous lord, has taken advantage of a situation not of her design and coerced Wolfe into marrying her against his will.
Due to her childhood experiences, Jessica has an overwhelming terror of what she refers to (all the freaking time mind you) as 'rutting'. Wolfe was her only friend and she trusts him not to hurt her or 'rut on her'.
For his part, Wolfe is determined that Jessica is not the right wife for him, nor he the right husband for her. His reasons for this are never really fully explained, other than it appears he is biased against Jessica due to her birth as an aristocrat. This coming from someone who resents being referred to as 'the Earl's bastard savage' and discriminated against due to being a 'half-breed'. Yup.
He then spends the rest of the book being a complete and utter "asshat" (love that word!) in an effort to have Jessica seek an annulment.
These two are supposed to have had a special connection as Jessica was growing up, yet the asshat has had such a compete lobotomy from the previous book that he treats Jessica like something he stepped in.
The issues that arise due to Jessica's fear of intimacy could have been resolved through Wolfe actually, gee, I don't know, asking a freaking question? The complete and unrealistic absence of any form of communication from Wolfe is beyond frustrating.
There are also minor but irritating continuity issues and some poor editing to complete the experience.
Yes, this could have been a really good book if only Wolfe was half the man we originally met and Lowell found some other way to fill the pages.
January 4, 2021
“Damn! You have a gift for scandal, son.”
“It doesn’t come from my mother’s side,” Wolfe said coolly. “Scandal is a civilized notion.”
Through no fault of his own, the indomitable Wolf Lonetree - son of a Cheyenne woman and an English Earl - is forced to marry Lady Jessica Charteris. And where else would a man shunned and belittled by much of England live, but the wilds of America.
“She would be bound for life to a halfbreed mustang hunter, and he would be bound for life to a girl who was afraid of being a woman.”
The story is a tumultuous journey both physically and emotionally for these strong-willed characters. The backdrop of the untamed west in 1867 requiring a doggedness and strength from two people determined to grasp their freedom
“It doesn’t come from my mother’s side,” Wolfe said coolly. “Scandal is a civilized notion.”
Through no fault of his own, the indomitable Wolf Lonetree - son of a Cheyenne woman and an English Earl - is forced to marry Lady Jessica Charteris. And where else would a man shunned and belittled by much of England live, but the wilds of America.
“She would be bound for life to a halfbreed mustang hunter, and he would be bound for life to a girl who was afraid of being a woman.”
The story is a tumultuous journey both physically and emotionally for these strong-willed characters. The backdrop of the untamed west in 1867 requiring a doggedness and strength from two people determined to grasp their freedom
December 5, 2018
4.5 - Voto
.
"Il vento gemette con la promessa del gelo della dannazione e fece risvegliare gli incubi nell’animo di Jessica. Quando la diligenza si muoveva, almeno c’era interminabile clamore delle ruote che soffocava l’urlo del vento. Ma adesso la diligenza era ferma e i morsi erano vuoti mentre i cavalli venivano cambiati. Adesso la vettura ondeggiava e rabbrividiva sotto la sferza crudele del vento. Jessica sapeva che, se si fosse seduta in quel fragile involucro e avesse udito il vento ululare, si sarebbe messa a urlare anche lei. Eppure non osava mostrare una simile debolezza a Wolfe. Se lui avesse compreso quanta paura lei aveva del vento, l’avrebbe usata contro di lei, riportandola in Inghilterra a un matrimonio e annessi con Lord Gore."
.
Jessica vive con i suoi tutori che hanno preparato per lei un fastoso matrimonio. Ma lei non intende sposarsi e avere figli, e per scampare a quello che per lei è l’incubo peggiore, chiede aiuto al figlio illegittimo del suo tutore, un uomo che vive a cavallo di due mondi immensamente distanti l’uno dall’altro. Da una parte, è figlio di un Visconte inglese e dall’altro sua madre era una pellerossa.
Wolfe, da quando è diventato adulto, raramente va in Inghilterra, perché lì viene guardato con disprezzo e appena tollerato. Lui e Jessi sono diventati amici nei periodi che il giovane ha passato nella casa del padre, ma il suo posto è il selvaggio West dove la sua mira e la sua bravura gli hanno permesso di crearsi amici ed avere una libertà enorme, che per lui vale più di ogni cosa. Quando una Jessica disperata gli chiede di sposarla e portarla via, rifiuta, ma la ragazza è disposta a tutto pur di farsi credere compromessa, anche mentire. Wolfe si vede così costretto a sposarla, ma giura che farà in modo che la donna si renda conto di non essere in grado di vivere in un posto così inospitale, e tutto finirà con un annullamento.
Inizia in questo modo un matrimonio che si trasforma in una lotta continua, fra una donna determinata a rimanere una moglie, nonostante l’odio e il rancore che le dimostra il giovane, e un uomo che si è visto privare di ciò che amava di più e intende riprenderselo.
Per gran parte del libro odierete e ammirerete, nello stesso tempo, Jessica per la sua determinazione. È una ragazza che nasconde dei segreti, ama, ama davvero quello che ritiene il suo unico amico, ma non vuole, e non può, ridargli la sua libertà. È decisa a imparare tutto quello che deve fare una moglie, ma nello stesso tempo per lei il matrimonio non dovrebbe contemplare nessun contatto fisico, ed è per questo che si è rivolta a Wolfe. La sua infanzia le ha dato infatti l’assurda impressione che un uomo, che non ha patrimoni e titoli da tramandare, non abbia bisogno di avere dei figli, il suo terrore più grande.
Man mano che si prosegue però, diventerà sempre più chiaro quanto siano orribili gli incubi continui e spaventosi, che hanno reso la sua infanzia terribile e traumatica. Wolfe, d’altro canto, è fermamente convinto che la giovane donna non sia in grado di resistere alla dura vita della prateria, e si rende odioso oltre ogni limite, anche per nascondere l’attrazione che ha sempre provato per lei, considerandola un frutto proibito. Eppure, nel momento che scoprirà cosa si cela dietro le paure del temporale e del vento, che Jessi ha sempre dimostrato, capirà anche che per lei, lui era l’unica ancora di salvezza per non rischiare di morire. E che nonostante i suoi timori, lei lo ha sempre amato davvero.
È un romanzo molto particolare, all’inizio è ben difficile amare la protagonista femminile, e tutte le simpatie vanno a Wolfe, che però si comporta davvero in modo odioso, portandole sempre come paragone Willow, la moglie di Caleb che abbiamo conosciuto in “Romantico inganno”. Li rivediamo in questo libro in attesa di un figlio, e saranno proprio loro ad aiutare Jessi, facendole vedere un matrimonio felice e sedando in parte le sue angosce e le sue paure. Infatti, una notte in cui infuria il vento, verrà fuori tutto il dolore che si è sempre tenuta nascosto nel cuore.
.
"Tu eri il mio talismano contro il vento. Io ti portavo dentro il mio cuore, ma poi tu hai cominciato ad odiarmi e non era rimasto nient’altro che il vento"
.
Il romanticismo è limitato alla parte finale, ma anche qui, saranno molte le incomprensioni che continuano a minare il rapporto dei protagonisti, e nell’intento di fare l’uno la felicità dell’altro rischieranno di perdersi.
La scrittura della Lowell è davvero molto bella, e il libro presenta una trama ricca, sia di personaggi che di accadimenti, mentre le poche scene passionali sono davvero ben fatte e intense. Non è uno storico che possa piacere a tutti, ma ogni volta che lo prendo in mano non posso che sfogliarlo pagina dopo pagina per gustarmi i battibecchi di Wolfe e Jessi, assistere alle prove di una donna che non si arrende, e arrivare infine al momento in cui tutte le tessere cominciano ad andare al loro posto. L’ho riletto tante volte, eppure riesce ancora a emozionarmi, e questo avviene con ben pochi libri. La Lowell è una delle autrici che mi piacciono di più e non posso che consigliarvi di leggere questo libro per farvi una vostra opinione personale.
.
Lucia63 - per RFS
.
"Il vento gemette con la promessa del gelo della dannazione e fece risvegliare gli incubi nell’animo di Jessica. Quando la diligenza si muoveva, almeno c’era interminabile clamore delle ruote che soffocava l’urlo del vento. Ma adesso la diligenza era ferma e i morsi erano vuoti mentre i cavalli venivano cambiati. Adesso la vettura ondeggiava e rabbrividiva sotto la sferza crudele del vento. Jessica sapeva che, se si fosse seduta in quel fragile involucro e avesse udito il vento ululare, si sarebbe messa a urlare anche lei. Eppure non osava mostrare una simile debolezza a Wolfe. Se lui avesse compreso quanta paura lei aveva del vento, l’avrebbe usata contro di lei, riportandola in Inghilterra a un matrimonio e annessi con Lord Gore."
.
Jessica vive con i suoi tutori che hanno preparato per lei un fastoso matrimonio. Ma lei non intende sposarsi e avere figli, e per scampare a quello che per lei è l’incubo peggiore, chiede aiuto al figlio illegittimo del suo tutore, un uomo che vive a cavallo di due mondi immensamente distanti l’uno dall’altro. Da una parte, è figlio di un Visconte inglese e dall’altro sua madre era una pellerossa.
Wolfe, da quando è diventato adulto, raramente va in Inghilterra, perché lì viene guardato con disprezzo e appena tollerato. Lui e Jessi sono diventati amici nei periodi che il giovane ha passato nella casa del padre, ma il suo posto è il selvaggio West dove la sua mira e la sua bravura gli hanno permesso di crearsi amici ed avere una libertà enorme, che per lui vale più di ogni cosa. Quando una Jessica disperata gli chiede di sposarla e portarla via, rifiuta, ma la ragazza è disposta a tutto pur di farsi credere compromessa, anche mentire. Wolfe si vede così costretto a sposarla, ma giura che farà in modo che la donna si renda conto di non essere in grado di vivere in un posto così inospitale, e tutto finirà con un annullamento.
Inizia in questo modo un matrimonio che si trasforma in una lotta continua, fra una donna determinata a rimanere una moglie, nonostante l’odio e il rancore che le dimostra il giovane, e un uomo che si è visto privare di ciò che amava di più e intende riprenderselo.
Per gran parte del libro odierete e ammirerete, nello stesso tempo, Jessica per la sua determinazione. È una ragazza che nasconde dei segreti, ama, ama davvero quello che ritiene il suo unico amico, ma non vuole, e non può, ridargli la sua libertà. È decisa a imparare tutto quello che deve fare una moglie, ma nello stesso tempo per lei il matrimonio non dovrebbe contemplare nessun contatto fisico, ed è per questo che si è rivolta a Wolfe. La sua infanzia le ha dato infatti l’assurda impressione che un uomo, che non ha patrimoni e titoli da tramandare, non abbia bisogno di avere dei figli, il suo terrore più grande.
Man mano che si prosegue però, diventerà sempre più chiaro quanto siano orribili gli incubi continui e spaventosi, che hanno reso la sua infanzia terribile e traumatica. Wolfe, d’altro canto, è fermamente convinto che la giovane donna non sia in grado di resistere alla dura vita della prateria, e si rende odioso oltre ogni limite, anche per nascondere l’attrazione che ha sempre provato per lei, considerandola un frutto proibito. Eppure, nel momento che scoprirà cosa si cela dietro le paure del temporale e del vento, che Jessi ha sempre dimostrato, capirà anche che per lei, lui era l’unica ancora di salvezza per non rischiare di morire. E che nonostante i suoi timori, lei lo ha sempre amato davvero.
È un romanzo molto particolare, all’inizio è ben difficile amare la protagonista femminile, e tutte le simpatie vanno a Wolfe, che però si comporta davvero in modo odioso, portandole sempre come paragone Willow, la moglie di Caleb che abbiamo conosciuto in “Romantico inganno”. Li rivediamo in questo libro in attesa di un figlio, e saranno proprio loro ad aiutare Jessi, facendole vedere un matrimonio felice e sedando in parte le sue angosce e le sue paure. Infatti, una notte in cui infuria il vento, verrà fuori tutto il dolore che si è sempre tenuta nascosto nel cuore.
.
"Tu eri il mio talismano contro il vento. Io ti portavo dentro il mio cuore, ma poi tu hai cominciato ad odiarmi e non era rimasto nient’altro che il vento"
.
Il romanticismo è limitato alla parte finale, ma anche qui, saranno molte le incomprensioni che continuano a minare il rapporto dei protagonisti, e nell’intento di fare l’uno la felicità dell’altro rischieranno di perdersi.
La scrittura della Lowell è davvero molto bella, e il libro presenta una trama ricca, sia di personaggi che di accadimenti, mentre le poche scene passionali sono davvero ben fatte e intense. Non è uno storico che possa piacere a tutti, ma ogni volta che lo prendo in mano non posso che sfogliarlo pagina dopo pagina per gustarmi i battibecchi di Wolfe e Jessi, assistere alle prove di una donna che non si arrende, e arrivare infine al momento in cui tutte le tessere cominciano ad andare al loro posto. L’ho riletto tante volte, eppure riesce ancora a emozionarmi, e questo avviene con ben pochi libri. La Lowell è una delle autrici che mi piacciono di più e non posso che consigliarvi di leggere questo libro per farvi una vostra opinione personale.
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Lucia63 - per RFS
December 16, 2018
"Stai con me, Jessi Lonetree," le sussurrò, "condividi la terra selvaggia con me. Amami come ti amo io".
Il primo volume di questa serie è stata l'apoteosi, ma anche Wolfe Lonetree non scherza.
Dopo un inizio assolutamente tradizionale e in ambiente inglese, con tanto di balli e tentativi di combinare matrimoni o per obbligo familiare o compromettendo il bellissimo malcapitato, la storia si sposta finalmente nel West, in quegli scenari favolosi che già avevamo amato in precedenza grazie a una Lowell in stato di grazia, che riesce a essere convincente sia quando parla di sentimenti che quando descrive risse con la frusta, inseguimenti e lotte contro i lupi per salvare il bestiame.
Quindi di nuovo panorami mozzafiato e uomini tutti d'un pezzo, maestosi, protettivi e senza paura.
Però devo dire che le loro donne non sfigurano per niente.
Se già Willow, la donna di Caleb Black, mi era piaciuta un sacco, anche lady Jessica, il folletto dalle chiome rosse, è cocciuta e infaticabile, nel suo trasformarsi da nobildonna a proprietaria di ranch e compagna di un mezzosangue.
Che dire di Wolfe? Bloccato tra due mondi, non accettato da nessuno, è perfetto, granitico, coraggioso ed eroico nel suo resistere alle lusinghe del folletto.
Secondo libro che mi ha lasciato appagata (anche se un filo inferiore al primo) e che consiglio senza dubbio.
Sto proprio pensando di recuperare le serie della Lowell che mi sono persa, perché mi piace davvero come scrive e come imposta la narrazione.
Un introvabile che DOVEVA essere ristampato!
Il primo volume di questa serie è stata l'apoteosi, ma anche Wolfe Lonetree non scherza.
Dopo un inizio assolutamente tradizionale e in ambiente inglese, con tanto di balli e tentativi di combinare matrimoni o per obbligo familiare o compromettendo il bellissimo malcapitato, la storia si sposta finalmente nel West, in quegli scenari favolosi che già avevamo amato in precedenza grazie a una Lowell in stato di grazia, che riesce a essere convincente sia quando parla di sentimenti che quando descrive risse con la frusta, inseguimenti e lotte contro i lupi per salvare il bestiame.
Quindi di nuovo panorami mozzafiato e uomini tutti d'un pezzo, maestosi, protettivi e senza paura.
Però devo dire che le loro donne non sfigurano per niente.
Se già Willow, la donna di Caleb Black, mi era piaciuta un sacco, anche lady Jessica, il folletto dalle chiome rosse, è cocciuta e infaticabile, nel suo trasformarsi da nobildonna a proprietaria di ranch e compagna di un mezzosangue.
Che dire di Wolfe? Bloccato tra due mondi, non accettato da nessuno, è perfetto, granitico, coraggioso ed eroico nel suo resistere alle lusinghe del folletto.
Secondo libro che mi ha lasciato appagata (anche se un filo inferiore al primo) e che consiglio senza dubbio.
Sto proprio pensando di recuperare le serie della Lowell che mi sono persa, perché mi piace davvero come scrive e come imposta la narrazione.
Un introvabile che DOVEVA essere ristampato!
September 27, 2009
Another 3 1/2 star book. Really liked this story except that the hero's "resistance" to their marriage dragged on way too long. I almost got to the point where I wanted to say "who cares anymore." Other than that it would have been a keeper.
November 8, 2020
No fue una de mis historias favoritas tanto desplante y comparación con otra persona, como que harta y lastima, muy cabezotas y orgullosos...
January 2, 2018
leído en Nov 2012
December 22, 2022
This was the best historical romance I have read in a while!!!! It is also my first time reading a western HR and omg. I want more. Now I need to read the entire series because the characters were all magnificent.
Of course it is old school HR so expect the hero to be cold and sometimes cruel. But this is my jam when it comes to HR so it did not bother me in the least.
I love Jessi. In her own way she was so resilient and strong. Wolfe needed a good slap on the head for his actions but the ending was so worth it.
So, we have forced marriage, age gap and slow burn. Oh and the spice!!! Omg.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Of course it is old school HR so expect the hero to be cold and sometimes cruel. But this is my jam when it comes to HR so it did not bother me in the least.
I love Jessi. In her own way she was so resilient and strong. Wolfe needed a good slap on the head for his actions but the ending was so worth it.
So, we have forced marriage, age gap and slow burn. Oh and the spice!!! Omg.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 17, 2020
2020
It's been a long time since I've read this book and I have to say, it didn't live up to my memories of it. Not that it's the worst story of all time, but it did have several flaws that I was not happy with.
For one, the fact that Jessica flat out tricks Wolfe into marrying her and then expects him to just roll over and be all happy about it. Honestly, she doesn't think much more than five seconds ahead of time with any of her schemes. Also, as an adult woman how does she not realize that there is more to marriage than just "rutting."? That seems to be a very flawed outlook.
Secondly, Wolfe annoys the s*** out of me the entire book. He treats Jessica like garbage. Which, like, I sort of get because she did full on trick him into marrying her, but he was honestly straight up a**h*** to her the entire time. She can't do anything right and by god she better try harder. Even making her ride across the mountains in a side saddle was way too aggressive for me. Plus, that makes it harder on the horse, too, but apparently he didn't care about that. Then, whenever someone would try to praise Jessica he'd flat out be like, "you're making things up." It was exhausting.
Third, Wolfe never listened. Literally. Never. Listened. To anybody. He didn't listen to his friends when they were all like, "maybe you are being a little bit too hard on Jessica. I'm not sure she deserves all this hate." And he would just be like, whatever, you guys don't know. And then it was frustrating when he realized where her fears were stemming from (rape and stillbirths) and he's still like, "wow we need to ship you right back to England." God, I hated it.
Of course, he ends up all apologetic in the end and was like, "wow I was super wrong. You don't belong in England. Even though you weren't born here, I guess you belong to the land, too." Without much growth at all, it seemed. Just one minute he was all heat up to get her to England and then the next he was like, "wow changed my mind."
It's been a long time since I've read this book and I have to say, it didn't live up to my memories of it. Not that it's the worst story of all time, but it did have several flaws that I was not happy with.
For one, the fact that Jessica flat out tricks Wolfe into marrying her and then expects him to just roll over and be all happy about it. Honestly, she doesn't think much more than five seconds ahead of time with any of her schemes. Also, as an adult woman how does she not realize that there is more to marriage than just "rutting."? That seems to be a very flawed outlook.
Secondly, Wolfe annoys the s*** out of me the entire book. He treats Jessica like garbage. Which, like, I sort of get because she did full on trick him into marrying her, but he was honestly straight up a**h*** to her the entire time. She can't do anything right and by god she better try harder. Even making her ride across the mountains in a side saddle was way too aggressive for me. Plus, that makes it harder on the horse, too, but apparently he didn't care about that. Then, whenever someone would try to praise Jessica he'd flat out be like, "you're making things up." It was exhausting.
Third, Wolfe never listened. Literally. Never. Listened. To anybody. He didn't listen to his friends when they were all like, "maybe you are being a little bit too hard on Jessica. I'm not sure she deserves all this hate." And he would just be like, whatever, you guys don't know. And then it was frustrating when he realized where her fears were stemming from (rape and stillbirths) and he's still like, "wow we need to ship you right back to England." God, I hated it.
Of course, he ends up all apologetic in the end and was like, "wow I was super wrong. You don't belong in England. Even though you weren't born here, I guess you belong to the land, too." Without much growth at all, it seemed. Just one minute he was all heat up to get her to England and then the next he was like, "wow changed my mind."
April 30, 2016
Jessie is a Scottish born, society miss and Wolfe is Native American/English. They have been friends since childhood. To escape an unwanted marriage, Jessie proposes to Wolfe, who laughingly refuses her. Unfortunate circumstances place them in a compromising position and they are forced to marry anyway. Wolfe is angry about the situation but Jessie is glade. To punish Jessie, Wolfe takes her to the American wild west, forcing her to work from morning to night scrubbing floors and cooking. Jessie is determined to be a good wife so she suffers in silence, doing her best to learn. At first the set up was funny and I liked Jessie's tenacity, unfortunately a pattern had been set. Wolfe refuses to acknowledge Jessie as his wife and an adult, who knows what she wants. He keeps insisting she is a spoiled child, and she doesn't belong in the west so he says mean things to her and works her like a servant. At 45% I was sick of his terrible attitude and his behavior, and more irritating was Jessie's silence. They travel to Colorado to meet Wolfe's friends, Willow and Caleb. Jessie sees a loving couple and wants the same. Wolfe acts like a douch, calling her a tease in front of Jessie's new friends and he couldn't even blame it on alcohol. Instead of apologizing for his behavior, he offers her a sex only relationship and promises not to take her maidenhead so she can save it for her next husband. I was ready to scream. Wolfe was absolutely awful and Jessie was a doormat.
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