A Love So Wild

by Deborah Chester

Book Overview

She bought her freedom by posing as a lady. From the terrible depths of Newgate Prison to the dazzling world of London society to a web of international intrigue, here is the story of charming,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0698110072
• ISBN13: 9780698110076
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: Coward McCann
• Length: 270 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Old School High Drama Regency Romance....

Synopsis: Charming, high-spirited Mary Clampton - jailed in Newgate Prison on false charges - had no idea why the mysterious Lord Menton chose her for his scheme. But a marriage of convenience and lessons in how to become a lady at ease in the dazzling world of London society seemed to be a small price to pay for her release from prison. Soon Mary discovered that the stakes were much higher than she supposed. Caught in a web of international intrigue, she found Menton's price to be very high indeed. But by then she had fallen in love .... My Review: Deborah Chester, who is now a well known Science Fiction and Fantasy writer, started her career in Regency Romance. A Love So Wild was her first published novel, way back in 1979. A Love So Wild is very good for a first novel-with an unusual premise, of a genteel but poverty stricken woman, jailed falsely in Newgate, but given a sort of reprieve by carrying on a false courtship and marriage with her rescuer, Lord Menton. The story is very much written in the old school Regency format-very high drama, intrigue, hysterics, misunderstandings, secrets, duels and the like. The heroine, is overall good but a bit too flighty. Her constant fear and hysterics did grate on the nerves. The hero, in true old school mold, is dark, brooding, arrogant, and condescending. Menton, who is a horses rear for most of the story, his moodiness makes Mr. Darcy look like an optimist. Though both the hero and heroine do mature and learn from their mistakes, I just wish it was sooner rather than later in this longer (282 page) Regency. The villains are "ultra bad", the matrons are dragons and the mothers are true tabbies. Almost no passion, in the modern Historical Romance sense, but still romantic in it's own old fashioned way. The publisher gets points for the glorious cover illustration as well. It may be too "bodice ripper" for more modern readers, but if you're looking for a bit of nostalgic, emotional fun then check out A Love So Wild. 3.5 stars.

A gem

I would have to totally agree with the other reviewers, this book is wonderful. I read it years ago and many books since but this story has always stuck out in my mind. The relationship between the hero and heroine is one of the best!You should REALLY read this book. It's great!

Excellent book

Mary Clampton is living in the depths of despair in Newgate prison. Lord Menton offers her a chance at release if she agrees to learn to become a lady and use her skill at theft to engage in intrigue. She is horrified that he seems to be preparing her to commit treason, but his threats to return her to prison if she does not comply with his wishes terrify her into submission.

One of my favorites

Ok, I absolutely love this book. I can't tell you why, but I just adore the story. It's one of those books you can't put down and you really just wish you were living it with them, in the heroine's place, with the guy, and you finish the book with a silly grin on your face. The dialogue is slightly cheesy sometimes and you pretty much know what's going to happen, but it's worth the ride. One of those guilty little pleasures. I'm not crazy about the title, makes it sound like a Harlequin romance novel, which it isn't. Read it, it's great fun.