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The Wild Swan
You're going to get what you deserve!"
Ryan Langton's smooth taunt set Kylie's teeth on edge. She hated Ryan with a passion. She would hate him forever. After all, hadn't Ryan been responsible for her father's death?
But Ryan was tired of her childish accusations and futile plans for revenge -- and Kylie knew that she was no match for a powerful Australian cattle baron.
"You'll hurt yourself more than you'll hurt me," Ryan had warned. And Kylie soon learned that he was right!
Ryan Langton's smooth taunt set Kylie's teeth on edge. She hated Ryan with a passion. She would hate him forever. After all, hadn't Ryan been responsible for her father's death?
But Ryan was tired of her childish accusations and futile plans for revenge -- and Kylie knew that she was no match for a powerful Australian cattle baron.
"You'll hurt yourself more than you'll hurt me," Ryan had warned. And Kylie soon learned that he was right!
189 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1978
About the author
Margaret Way
625 books165 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 20, 2015
2 1/2 Stars ~ Kylie was very young when her mother died in child birth taking the child too. Her father clung to Kylie and the two faced the rough Australian Outback together. Her father was a horse trainer, the wild stallions he and his boss tamed had made the Langston name one to be respected. At 15, home for school vacation, Kylie witnessed one of those brilliant stallion's trample her father to death, and she called the young Langston now in charge, a murderer. Kylie couldn't face a life without her father, and so she took off into the bush, where she planned to just disappear. Ryan had other thoughts, and he doggedly trailed after, saving her from a fall that could have been her own death. And as he held her tight to protect her, Kylie knew her life would never be the same.
It's now 5 years later and Kylie has completed teacher's college and she and her best friend have been assured jobs at a prestigious girls school. Ryan's come to collect her, he's acted as her guardian, seeing to her needs and education, claiming to have invested her father's money, seeing it grow to support Kylie. Now he wants her back on the ranch for his sister's 21st birthday. Kylie doesn't want to go, for over the years since her father died, she's always felt unwelcome by the female Langstons, Ryan and her brothers, however, enjoyed the way she shook everything, and one, up. Ryan's mother was using Claudia's age of majority party, to entice Ryan with eligible young women, as she insisted it was time he married and produced an heir. Kylie's very presence on the ranch threatened the peace, and though she loved the land with all her heart, she never forgave Ryan for her father's death. Everytime they faced each other, sparks flew. Ryan enjoyed the sparks but not the animosity, so he set out to teach Kylie that she really didn't hate him at all.
This is a strange coming of age story of a young girl who has to face her demons in order to find her true happiness. It's obvious right from the start that Ryan adores her, and has been patiently waiting for her to grow up. Kylie matches wits with Ryan constantly, keeping the tension between them high. While the writing is not Ms. Way's best, she created an intensity that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
It's now 5 years later and Kylie has completed teacher's college and she and her best friend have been assured jobs at a prestigious girls school. Ryan's come to collect her, he's acted as her guardian, seeing to her needs and education, claiming to have invested her father's money, seeing it grow to support Kylie. Now he wants her back on the ranch for his sister's 21st birthday. Kylie doesn't want to go, for over the years since her father died, she's always felt unwelcome by the female Langstons, Ryan and her brothers, however, enjoyed the way she shook everything, and one, up. Ryan's mother was using Claudia's age of majority party, to entice Ryan with eligible young women, as she insisted it was time he married and produced an heir. Kylie's very presence on the ranch threatened the peace, and though she loved the land with all her heart, she never forgave Ryan for her father's death. Everytime they faced each other, sparks flew. Ryan enjoyed the sparks but not the animosity, so he set out to teach Kylie that she really didn't hate him at all.
This is a strange coming of age story of a young girl who has to face her demons in order to find her true happiness. It's obvious right from the start that Ryan adores her, and has been patiently waiting for her to grow up. Kylie matches wits with Ryan constantly, keeping the tension between them high. While the writing is not Ms. Way's best, she created an intensity that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next.
December 6, 2018
It's the typical poor girl-rich boy Margaret Way set-up on a majestic Australian ranch-empire but less entertaining than usual because it was bogged down by so many overlong, repetitive dialogues, and not a lot of action. The author simply didn't make me care enough about the protagonists although, as usual, she succeeded in providing a vibrant, lively, gorgeous setting of the Australian Outback.
April 9, 2012
In the usual dramatic style that is synonymous to most of the writings of Ms Way
September 28, 2025
Heroine witnessed her father's death at age 15 and she went a little crazy. She blames the hero because her father was taming a horse and hero told him to leave the paddock, but he didn't. Hero shot the horse, but it was too late.
The story opens with the 15 year-old heroine running away into the Outback and the hero finding her. Hero manages to tell the heroine that he's sexually attracted to her before she passes out in the cave where they are sheltering. Heroine was hysterical, so it really didn't sink in and - ew- hero was 29 at the time.
Fast forward five years. Hero has paid for boarding school and clothes, etc. . . Heroine is brittle and beautiful. She travels to the hero's mansion in the Outback for his snobby sister's 21st birthday. There are two OWs, a crazy mother, a crazy cousin who wants to rape the heroine, two of the hero's brothers and - who knows? None of them were important, really.
Heroine finally comes around to the hero when he leaves her alone for six months and she realizes she loves him.
Typical MW vintage except heroine was too traumatized to be interesting.
The story opens with the 15 year-old heroine running away into the Outback and the hero finding her. Hero manages to tell the heroine that he's sexually attracted to her before she passes out in the cave where they are sheltering. Heroine was hysterical, so it really didn't sink in and - ew- hero was 29 at the time.
Fast forward five years. Hero has paid for boarding school and clothes, etc. . . Heroine is brittle and beautiful. She travels to the hero's mansion in the Outback for his snobby sister's 21st birthday. There are two OWs, a crazy mother, a crazy cousin who wants to rape the heroine, two of the hero's brothers and - who knows? None of them were important, really.
Heroine finally comes around to the hero when he leaves her alone for six months and she realizes she loves him.
Typical MW vintage except heroine was too traumatized to be interesting.
September 16, 2021
It’s an okay, vintage read from the ‘70’s.
All through the book we read what a stunning beauty the h is. All the men are in love with her, all the women are jealous of her. 🙄
I didn’t like the h. She wallows in self-pity, she has a really big mouth to the H’s mother, she pretends to be independent but doesn’t mind taking the H’s money for a dress or for a holiday.
She kisses the H, the H’s cousin, the H’s brother.
All through the book we read what a stunning beauty the h is. All the men are in love with her, all the women are jealous of her. 🙄
I didn’t like the h. She wallows in self-pity, she has a really big mouth to the H’s mother, she pretends to be independent but doesn’t mind taking the H’s money for a dress or for a holiday.
She kisses the H, the H’s cousin, the H’s brother.
pback-to-read
April 2, 2023You're going to get what you deserve!"
Ryan Langton's smooth taunt set Kylie's teeth on edge. She hated Ryan with a passion. She would hate him forever. After all, hadn't Ryan been responsible for her father's death?
But Ryan was tired of her childish accusations and futile plans for revenge -- and Kylie knew that she was no match for a powerful Australian cattle baron.
"You'll hurt yourself more than you'll hurt me," Ryan had warned. And Kylie soon learned that he was right!
Ryan Langton's smooth taunt set Kylie's teeth on edge. She hated Ryan with a passion. She would hate him forever. After all, hadn't Ryan been responsible for her father's death?
But Ryan was tired of her childish accusations and futile plans for revenge -- and Kylie knew that she was no match for a powerful Australian cattle baron.
"You'll hurt yourself more than you'll hurt me," Ryan had warned. And Kylie soon learned that he was right!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews