So Wild a Heart (Paperback)

There are so many things I loved about "So Wild a Heart". I loved both Miranda and Devin, the h/h in this book. Seldom have I fallen so hard for both h/h, and seldom have I seen a more well-matched pair. First, of course, there is Miranda. Unlike other novels, where the heroine is considered "spunky" if she talks nastily and snipes at everyone - not to mention things being thrown here and there - in this book Miranda is simply goal-oriented - she knows what she wants, and she plans how to get it - all while being quite nice and polite, if a bit plain-spoken. Miranda is my heroine through and through. I also like that her personality is not contrived - Ms. Camp does not simply take a modern woman and transplant her in olde England - rather, there is a realistic explanation for Miranda's personality. First, she is an American - and she does indeed talk in the English perception of Americans of the time - plus, since she was always wealthy, and her father's right-hand man (or is it woman?) in business, she WOULD be somewhat more plain spoken and confident than the average English miss.

Second, there is Devin. Although the opening scenes with Devin start off rather rotten, actually, and I almost hated him, the books goes steadily upwards from there, making Devin a more and more likeable hero the further we read. Devin is actually a very credible "rake" who is really "good" underneath - Candace Camp describes Devin in a way that reminds me of many men like him that I know - men (rather boys) who are simply lost and unhappy, but decent, really, underneath. And Devin is VERY decent underneath. By the end of the book, I actually felt that Devin was really too good to be true!

Third, there is the plot. There are so many twists and turns that this is a book that is hard to put down. I have to admit, there are parts to the plot that do suspend credibility - but this is a made-up story after all, it's all alot of fun, and besides - look, it COULD have happened! And it sure was interesting reading! This book is a lot of fun in other ways too - the dialogue is snappy and witty, there are some really funny scenes (as in hold-your-breath-then-laugh) and the characters are VERY likeable and well drawn. It is so refreshing to see such mature, likeable characters, so different from almost all other romance novels I have read.

And then there is Leona. The bad, evil woman. This is such an old fashioned concept - the concept of the bad woman leading the guy astray - and a very rare concept in today's novels. (This reminds me of Jezebel and Ahab of the Bible - perhaps the original source for this concept). In this case, this being a romance novel, it is goodness that ultimately triumphs. Old fashioned - yet, an unusual story-line.

One small problem, however, which would make me give this book four and a half stars if I could - this book is not as well written as I would like. I suspect that the cause is sloppy editing, yet it grated slightly. I am definitely not the world's leading expert on grammar - so if I feel that the sentence would have been better off a little differently . . . but I am sure that this was an editing mistake.

Second problem I have . . . I simply cannot believe that a girl like Miranda would be so aware of the concepts of married love. I don't want to give away the storyline - but somewhere in middle of the novel, she says to herself - I don't want to get involved physically because then I will be more involved emotionally. And in general, her whole plan . . . it's hard to imagine a virgin in that day and age - where these concepts were not discussed publicly - would have such an awareness of herself, and of the married state, in general. So that part of the novel is not totally realistic. However, it does make a really good story, and it especially makes Miranda into a WONDERFUL heroine! Isn't Miranda the woman we all secretly wish we were? So, even though, even though . . . I LOVED it!

I loved this book! I have to thank Amazon reviewers for pointing this book out to me, and I am sure to buy more of Candace Camp in the future!

Miranda is absolutely wonderful! I can't recall ever reading about a heroine as strong, bold and confident as Miranda. She keeps the reader interested.

Overall, this is a humorous book w/ a pretty good storyline. I hate the "coincidence" and connection of some of the characters in the end--it was just entirely too far fetched in my opinion. BUT, this is a good read that I'd suggest other give a chance.