14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well-done historical, 31 Oct 2006
By Kathy Kaiser - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Untamed Heiress (Mass Market Paperback)
The heroine of "The Untamed Heiress" is an interesting character. Justiss does a good job of making her different from the run-of-the-mill heroine in that she's been physically abused by her father and cut off from the outside world since the age of 10. So, by the age of twenty she is wild and wary, but has retained some of the refinement that she gained from her mother before her mother is taken away. Helena, this heroine, is a unique mix of cultured bluestocking and untutored child. The hero, Darnell, is also a well-drawn character. He has compassion for her and honorable intentions while trying to fight his attraction for the beautiful woman she becomes. The plot moves along nicely and the dialogue is witty and true to the period. The only negative is the slightly sappy tone in the last few chapters. I could almost hear the violins playing and often wanted to roll my eyes. The two protagonists turn a bit mushy, and that's hard to take after watching their internal and outward struggles up to that point. Other than that, this is a very good offering by Julia Justiss.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Untamed Heiress-A Joyfully Recommended Title!, 20 Feb 2007
By M. Nix - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Untamed Heiress (Mass Market Paperback)
Helena Lambarth is celebrating the death of her father. She was a virtual prisoner in Lambarth Castle. Helena was abused by her father and separated from her beloved mother. Now that he is gone, Helena has traveled to London to meet with her mother's friend, Lady Lillian Darnell.
Lord Adam Darnell needs to marry a wealthy woman. His father did not take care of the estate and his stepmother Lady Darnell spends excessively. As Adam contemplates this, he heads to retrieve poor orphaned Helena. Expecting a child, he is shocked to find Helena a woman who has clearly been mistreated.
While Adam continues with his plans to marry the wealthy Lady Priscilla Standish, he is slowly coming to admire and respect Helena, who's beauty is also becoming a fierce temptation for him. Now, Adam's increasing desire for Helena is waging a war against his feelings of duty.
In The Untamed Heiress, Helena is magnificent. She is beautiful, honorable, intelligent, innocent, unconventional and sensual, and I really enjoyed watching Adam fall for her. As the story progressed I was captivated by Adam and Helena's plight. Each character in The Untamed Heiress contributes to its dramatic storyline, but it's Adam and Helena who enchanted me in this incredibly moving and romantic story.
Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely her BEST!, 4 Sep 2007
By Cali - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Untamed Heiress (Mass Market Paperback)
While this is only my 2nd book by Ms. Justiss (the 1st being "The Courtesan") I thought it was absolutely wonderful! "The Courtesan" was OK, but "The Untamed Heiress" kept me turning page after page.
I admit I thought certain things, such as the physical aspects of Adam's and Helena's relationship moved a bit slow, and Helena's continual lust for freedom cost those who truly loved her a bit to much heartache, but her plight from what she endured through her childhood to her growth of strength and independence, was very touching. Maybe I simply was able to relate to some of Helena's ordeals but this story definitely touched my emotions. And I much prefer the slow passionate old fashioned unveiling of love to the crude lust so many authors employ today.
The secondary characters were just as good! I would really like to see Priscilla redeem herself with her own story and return to the girl of her childhood and the one Adam remembered and was initially attracted to. I think Priscilla has a lot of Helena-like qualities and with the right man, perhaps, Dixon (*gRiN*), would make just as good a read as "The Untamed Heiress."
"The Untamed Heiress" was a beautiful love story! If you like charachters such as "Rhett and Scarlett" you won't be disappointed!