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Title: The Wild Child
ISBN: 0449005844
Author:
Mary Jo Putney
Publicate Date: 2000-07-05
Publish: 2000-07-05
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $0.01
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Amazon Merchant Price: $6.99
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1: Years later, this novel is still fresh!
The Wild Child is surprisingly "outside the box" from what we normally see in historical romance these days. Oh we've seen the hero before- a sexy but wastrel rake who isn't as much of a wastrel as what we first believe- but the heroine in The Wild Child is all together different.
The story begins for us when the heroine's uncles come to India to collect her after a viscous uprising kills her parents and everyone around her. Meriel has retreated into a world of her own, unresponsive except to the flowers and animals she keeps close to her. Years later, back in England- she is still in that same world.
Becoming something of a legend she has not left Warfield, her enclosed home and sanctuary, for all this time. Her uncles could not bare the thought of her in an insane asylum but by allowing her to run wild and do as she has pleases for so long, she might have otherwise been able to get over her past. In her stubbornness, she has remained safely ensconced in her own little world, fey, beautiful and mute.
But one Uncle is determined to secure her safety and has set up an arranged bethrothel with Lord Maxwell, with the one caveat- that she must accept him.
Kyle, has set in his mind that he will indeed marry her, but there is one thing he must do before he does so. So when an arranged time is set up for he and Meriel to get to know each other better at Warfield ... he sends his identical twin brother Dominic instead.
Dominic is appalled at his brother's suggestion. The second son, he has been living a life of parties and nights on the town even though his heart is to manage his father's property- property that will go to the real Heir, Lord Maxwell. He and Kyle have long been estranged, ever since his father separated them as children, sending them to different schools. But he cannot resist his normally cold brother's heated plea for help this one last time.
When Dominic arrives at Warfield, Meriel is the only one to realize that Dominic is not the same man who came to visit before. She senses this man is far more dangerous despite the fact he exudes a peaceful strength, unlike the man who came before him. Dangerous because she knows this one will be the one who to tear down the walls that's kept her safe for so long ...
Even though this has been out for almost ten years, TWC has more to offer than many of the newer historical romances coming out of late. At first I couldn't see how on earth Putney could pair this heroine with a hero in any kind of sexual way because of Meriel's seeming lost child innocence. But she does so and makes it believable! (The scene where Meriel paints mendhi on Dominic's upper body is so sensual it caught my breath.)
The Secondary plot involving the cause of the battle that destroyed Meriel's loved ones as well as her sanity fits well into the story and I found the resolution worked well.
The next layer of the plot that Putney throws into the mix involving Dominic's twin Kyle, was a good set up for the next novel, The China Bride, without being obtrusive and I'm looking forward to reading it!
TWC is fresh and different enough to remain so for some time, imo.
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2: HO-HUM
This is the first book I have read by Mary Jo Putney and I don't think I would buy another. This book was OK. It started out with a really good premise where the hero is switching places with his twin brother to meet up with his betrothed. The heroine does not speak and is a free spirit. Sounds like a great set up. It was until about half-way through. I think it started to go downhill for me once the heroine started talking. Then it turned out to be just a formula story and wasn't unique anymore. I had about 30 pages to go in the book and it took about 2 weeks to finish it. That is not a good sign.
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3: Overwrought heroine
This tale is bulging with plot and drama, not to mention characters.
Dominic Renbourne agrees to switch places with his twin brother, Kyle, who is supposed to be wooing Lady Meriel Grahame. Fine start, but there's more. Meriel is believed to be mad. As a child, she witnessed the brutal massacre of her parents in India and was imprisoned there for some time, before being returned to her family. Now she wanders in her own world and talks to no one.
Naturally Dominic finds her fascinating and alluring etc. etc. and is caught in dilemmas and plot galore. Quite frankly there was far too much of the galore of me.
Far too much of Lady Meriel and her painfulness. She was so very picturesquely possibly mad. There is some reference to the Keats poem "La Belle Dame Sans Merci"(hence the title) and it seems the picturesque attitudinizing and dressing up of Meriel owed a lot to some of the famous paintings of the said merciless faery lady. She was not an appealing character, more an appalling one. A self-centred weaver of webs, a manipulator of people and her environment. Her behaviour is far too often inexcusable and almost vicious.
At one memorable point, Dominic accuses her of this selfishness, "You accept it all, and give back nothing.". Alas, this moment of truth does not induce Dominic to wake up and leave, no he remains and is sucked further into the vortex.
The heroine's character killed the story, it overpowered all the natural sympathy one ought to have felt for her.
The plot is indeed melodramatic, if a tad obvious. The best part was the presentation of the brothers and their fraught relationship through the years. It shows Dominic putting aside resentment and intelligently looking at himself and his whole family, consciously becoming a mature man. Except he's been sucked into the Meriel whirlpool, poor fool.
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4: A breathtaking and suspenseful tale
There is some patience that is required to read this story. It's a delicate tale that is beautifully woven and its voice reflects the exquisite nature of its heroine, Meriel. As a child of five, she witnessed the devastating attack that led to the death of both her parents. She was captured and about to be betrothed to a distant prince when the maharajah who owned her decided to return her to an English encampment. She was quickly returned to her family but the damage was already done. Traumatized, Meriel withdrew into her mind and lost her desire to speak.
Eighteen years later, Meriel is the mistress of Warfield, her home and entire world. She still doesn't speak but her sanity and level of intelligence twinkles through in other ways like light through the chinks of an armor. She has built a garden that is arguably the most beautiful in England and draws intricate designs using henna.
Kyle Renbourne is unofficially betrothed to Meriel. The only way the betrothal will become official is if Meriel agrees to it. Kyle, however, is in a desperate situation. The only woman he has ever loved is dying and he wants to take her away to Spain but Kyle is also expected to spend a few weeks at Warfield to get to know Meriel. The only solution is to bribe his twin brother to take his place at Warfield. Dominic is reluctant but agrees to the task.
There is no doubt that Dominic is perfect for Meriel. He is patient with her, taking the time for her to get used to him and for him to draw her out. Meriel blossoms under Dominic's gentle care and before he realizes it, he's fallen in love with her. Although she knows that Dominic is her perfect mate, Meriel has no desire to marry. She is content to live at Warfield, in the reclusive world she's created for herself.
Circumstances, however, will force her out of her seclusion and compel her to put her trust in Dominic. Because the terror that robbed her of her parents now threatens to destroy everything in her life.
As I said before, this is not a story you want to rush through. There is much backstory involved and it plays a major role in the ending when the plot is resolved. I love the author's voice. There is such a simplicity and delicacy to it; easy to read and very appealing.
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5: Extraordinary Story!
If you love historical romance, Mary Jo Putney is an author you must read. I love this story! The characters are so rich and endearing, you can't help but fall into the story. From the first page to the last, you will not be able to put down this book.
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