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Wild Bells to the Wild Sky
Lily Christian was just an enchantingly innocent child of paradise when she fell in love with the sun-bronzed captain who came to take her home to England. But shamed by the resplendent ladies of the court, she bitterly despaired of ever being loved in return.
As the years passed, and fortune's cruelty forced her into a life of adventure, the girl once forgotten became a ravishing beauty who tormented Valentine Whitelaw's heart. And as the royal treachery that had destroyed her family now threatened her, he became her champion.
Drawn together into perilous adventure and intrigue, they crossed the world, won glorious renown in the service of the Queen... and found their love's destiny past the ends of desire.
As the years passed, and fortune's cruelty forced her into a life of adventure, the girl once forgotten became a ravishing beauty who tormented Valentine Whitelaw's heart. And as the royal treachery that had destroyed her family now threatened her, he became her champion.
Drawn together into perilous adventure and intrigue, they crossed the world, won glorious renown in the service of the Queen... and found their love's destiny past the ends of desire.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
63 people are currently reading
813 people want to read
About the author
Laurie McBain
17 books156 followersLaurie McBain was born on October 15, 1949. She was always passionate about art and history, and her father encouraged her and helped her write her first historical romance. At twenty-six, Laurie became a publishing phenomenon with her first historical romance. Her first novels "Devil's Desire" and "Moonstruck Madness" each sold over a million copies. She was one of the pioners of the new romance style with Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. But, after the death of her father, she decided to retire from the publishing world in 1985, with only seven romances written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 6, 2016
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky took me by surprise. I hadn’t read anything by Laurie McBain prior to Wild Bells but, from reviews I had seen, I knew this wouldn’t be a run-of-the-mill historical romance. Even so, I wasn’t expecting the epic adventure spanning decades and continents which took me on a journey that had me holding my breath, afraid to read on but unable to put it down.
Blurb...I had seen a review calling this a ‘bodice-ripper’, but I’m not sure that’s accurate as there was no actual bodice-ripping, no rape…not even an unwanted fondling or groping. Still, I could definitely ‘feel’ the 80’s writing, the kind of storytelling that came before authors were expected to keep page count to a minimum... and I loved every word!
West Indies, 1571. Shipwrecked on an island for most of her young life, Lily Christian is rescued by the dashing sea captain, Valentine Whitelaw. On the voyage back to England, Lily falls hard for the sun-bronzed man, but her love is not returned.
Back among the glittering halls of court, Valentine tries to forget the young beauty he plucked from the Caribbean. But when he discovers innocent Lily is caught up in a treacherous plot to murder the queen, he will do everything in his power to protect Lily and save his liege. Thrust together into perilous adventure, Valentine and Lily have only each other to trust...and to love.
Filled with richly detailed period apparel, elaborate coiffures, architecture, landscapes, and accurate (though fictionalized) political maneuverings and machinations, I felt as though I was there in Elizabethan England! I could imagine myself walking along the decks of the Arion and the Madrigal at sea, living on a Caribbean island paradise, visiting the royal courts of Elizabeth, The Virgin Queen, traveling with gypsies, escaping danger… I could go on and on but suffice it to say - what a wonderful reading experience this was!
There’s no doubt about it – I will be reading everything Laurie McBain has written. And, thankfully, it appears that her stories are being re-released in e-book (if they aren’t all already) and this makes me very happy!
The bottom line…Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is so much more than a historical romance - it's an intriguing, exciting, poignant, romantic adventure!
An ARC was provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and in appreciation I’m giving them an honest review!
March 23, 2023
Read:3/23/23
RtC
RtC
September 22, 2011
3.5 stars
This is one of those books that is too hard to recap the plot without giving it all away, but I will try to do my best...
Lily is the daughter of English privateer Geoffrey Christian and Spanish noblewoman Magdalena Montevares (he'd taken one look, fell in love and snatched her whilst raiding her father's ship). Years later, Magdalena returns to the West Indies with her husband and seven-year old daughter to see her mother before she dies. Also on board ship is Sir Basil, who is a spy of sorts on the trail of evil baddies conspiring against Queen Elizabeth.
Magdalena patches things up with her father, but her brother-in-law still holds a grudge against Geoffrey and he ambushes Geoffrey's ship on the return voyage - the ship is sunk and all are presumed lost. Or are they? Years later Sir Basil's brother Valentine Whitelaw hears rumors that Geoffrey had sent Magdalena, Lily and Sir Basil to an island close by for safety and they might still be alive...
And the hunt is on and that's all I'm going to tell. This is definitely one of those 80's romances with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in - stranded on a desert island, a jaguar a monkey and a saucy parrot (!!), privateers, lost treasure, spies, gypsies, and an evil grasping guardian all tied into plots to murder the queen. While I liked this a lot, and as much as I like to hear the smaller historical details about clothing, food, etc., I think McBain got a bit carried away with it all. I think that was partly aggravated by the length of time (and book!!) it took to get to the *meat* of the story - yes things were always happening, but at the same time you don't get a grown up Lily until halfway through the book and you will not get your first searing kiss until around page 400 - and you'll be waiting even longer for the payola - and for that I'm knocking off a half star and rating it 3.5 rounded up to four.
This is one of those books that is too hard to recap the plot without giving it all away, but I will try to do my best...
Lily is the daughter of English privateer Geoffrey Christian and Spanish noblewoman Magdalena Montevares (he'd taken one look, fell in love and snatched her whilst raiding her father's ship). Years later, Magdalena returns to the West Indies with her husband and seven-year old daughter to see her mother before she dies. Also on board ship is Sir Basil, who is a spy of sorts on the trail of evil baddies conspiring against Queen Elizabeth.
Magdalena patches things up with her father, but her brother-in-law still holds a grudge against Geoffrey and he ambushes Geoffrey's ship on the return voyage - the ship is sunk and all are presumed lost. Or are they? Years later Sir Basil's brother Valentine Whitelaw hears rumors that Geoffrey had sent Magdalena, Lily and Sir Basil to an island close by for safety and they might still be alive...
And the hunt is on and that's all I'm going to tell. This is definitely one of those 80's romances with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in - stranded on a desert island, a jaguar a monkey and a saucy parrot (!!), privateers, lost treasure, spies, gypsies, and an evil grasping guardian all tied into plots to murder the queen. While I liked this a lot, and as much as I like to hear the smaller historical details about clothing, food, etc., I think McBain got a bit carried away with it all. I think that was partly aggravated by the length of time (and book!!) it took to get to the *meat* of the story - yes things were always happening, but at the same time you don't get a grown up Lily until halfway through the book and you will not get your first searing kiss until around page 400 - and you'll be waiting even longer for the payola - and for that I'm knocking off a half star and rating it 3.5 rounded up to four.
May 10, 2012
I really couldn't put this book down, it was great!! Not quite a typical trashy "romance novel" that I was expecting.... leans much more to historical fiction with a little bit of romance thrown in, but SUCH a good book.
April 20, 2013
Enthralling Tale of Queen Elizabeth’s Sea Dogs–a Great Love Story--a Keeper!
Few authors can come close to the masterful storytelling of Laurie McBain which is why I am one of her fans. With an amazingly complex plot, this one features prejudice, treachery, threats to the queen, spies, gypsies and high seas adventure making it one of her best. I highly recommend it.
Lily Christian was the product of a marriage between her English father, a privateer for Queen Elizabeth I, and her aristocratic Spanish mother who met Lily’s father when he captured a Spanish galleon on which the Spanish beauty was traveling with her family. Like her mother before her, Lily is beautiful with dark auburn hair, but she has her father’s green eyes and his love of adventure. Even as a child Lily was climbing with him the rigging of his ship. When treachery results in her father’s death and his ship being sunk by a vengeful Spanish uncle, Lily and her mother and their father’s friend Basil Whitelaw escape to become castaways on an island in the West Indies. Seven years later, at 14, Valentine Whitelaw, Basil’s younger brother and one of the queen’s favorite privateers, rescues Lily. And she falls in love with the dashing captain who, she overhears confiding to his mistress, thinks of Lily as only the daughter of a friend.
McBain’s style is to build the story slowly with layer upon layer of meticulous detail as she carefully weaves together many disparate threads. This tale from Elizabethan England (and the West Indies) is incredibly well crafted, with endearing characters (including real persons like Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare and Lily’s siblings and a pet monkey and parrot), and rich in historic detail. Oh yes, and a surprise at the end!
Lily is a special heroine, always unselfishly caring for others and sacrificing her own desires for them. Valentine is a noble hero who will take most of the story to recognize the woman destined for him.
You may have to purchase it used, as I did, but it will be worth it, I promise!
Few authors can come close to the masterful storytelling of Laurie McBain which is why I am one of her fans. With an amazingly complex plot, this one features prejudice, treachery, threats to the queen, spies, gypsies and high seas adventure making it one of her best. I highly recommend it.
Lily Christian was the product of a marriage between her English father, a privateer for Queen Elizabeth I, and her aristocratic Spanish mother who met Lily’s father when he captured a Spanish galleon on which the Spanish beauty was traveling with her family. Like her mother before her, Lily is beautiful with dark auburn hair, but she has her father’s green eyes and his love of adventure. Even as a child Lily was climbing with him the rigging of his ship. When treachery results in her father’s death and his ship being sunk by a vengeful Spanish uncle, Lily and her mother and their father’s friend Basil Whitelaw escape to become castaways on an island in the West Indies. Seven years later, at 14, Valentine Whitelaw, Basil’s younger brother and one of the queen’s favorite privateers, rescues Lily. And she falls in love with the dashing captain who, she overhears confiding to his mistress, thinks of Lily as only the daughter of a friend.
McBain’s style is to build the story slowly with layer upon layer of meticulous detail as she carefully weaves together many disparate threads. This tale from Elizabethan England (and the West Indies) is incredibly well crafted, with endearing characters (including real persons like Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare and Lily’s siblings and a pet monkey and parrot), and rich in historic detail. Oh yes, and a surprise at the end!
Lily is a special heroine, always unselfishly caring for others and sacrificing her own desires for them. Valentine is a noble hero who will take most of the story to recognize the woman destined for him.
You may have to purchase it used, as I did, but it will be worth it, I promise!
August 15, 2007
A glorious romp through England and the Caribbean. This is an all inclusive novel with pirates, royal, adventure, romance, treason, and damsel in distress elements. I stumbled across this book because of the cheesy cover of a woman embracing a man with a panther lurking in the bushes.
There is a lot of detail, but overall, this is one of the best romance escape novels that I have ever read. It is only mildly trashy. Very solidly described scenes with beautiful, well-written chapters. Also, the plot is rather intricate and will keep you guessing.
I freaking love this book!
There is a lot of detail, but overall, this is one of the best romance escape novels that I have ever read. It is only mildly trashy. Very solidly described scenes with beautiful, well-written chapters. Also, the plot is rather intricate and will keep you guessing.
I freaking love this book!
July 23, 2023
За любителките на умерената романтика това е доста добро предложение, макар че всичките приключения между Англия от епохата на географските открития и островите от новия свят може да им дойде множко. Всъщност е по-скоро приключенски роман, с добре поднесена екзотика и доста испанско злато и галеони от 16-ти век.
June 18, 2017
Lily and her family were attacked on the high seas, shipwrecked, and left for dead. Years past and they are finally rescued by a family friend, Valentine, who had been searching all this time. But only the children are alive as all the adults perished in the attacked or by illness. The children having grown a little wild now have some exotic pets (a bird and a monkey that they take, and a panther that they have to leave behind) to take back to England. Their wildness and pets cause mayham in strict England. Lily developes a crush on the handsome Valentine.
Trying to adjust to life in England and wearing shoes is tough. Lily longs to be refined and beautiful so Valentine will notice her. She does grow into a very beautiful young woman so someone else wants to claim her too and of course he is an evil guy. Lily ends up getting Valentine to help her and they discover that there is murder and treason afoot. Danger stalks them on land and sea as they try to solve the mystery while falling in love.
A well written read full of lush and lavish details, adventure, treason, and romance.
Trying to adjust to life in England and wearing shoes is tough. Lily longs to be refined and beautiful so Valentine will notice her. She does grow into a very beautiful young woman so someone else wants to claim her too and of course he is an evil guy. Lily ends up getting Valentine to help her and they discover that there is murder and treason afoot. Danger stalks them on land and sea as they try to solve the mystery while falling in love.
A well written read full of lush and lavish details, adventure, treason, and romance.
February 26, 2016
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Laurie McBain is the best when it comes to writing sweeping, epic historical-romance. I first read this book when it was first published in 1983. After 30 years, I didn't remember much of the story, but it was very much like falling in love all over again.
Upon sailing from the bustling port of Santo Domingo, the ship Arion is set upon by Spanish galleons bent on revenge. Lily is torn from the arms of her father, Geoffrey Christian, and set ashore on a deserted island with her mother, Magdalena, and family friend, Basil, who has information vital to the safety of Queen Elizabeth. The battle is lost and the Arion sunk. The trio are now castaways on the deserted island.
Intrigue, betrayals and treachery, the Court of Queen Elizabeth I is not a friendly place for many. Valentine Whitehall, younger brother of Basil, is a young, ambitious, privateer who has been taking his share of King Philip of Spain's treasure ships to enrich himself and his Queen. When a survivor of the Arion makes contact and tells him his brother, Basil, Magdalena and Lily survived, he is off to rescue them and bring them home. But, home to what? Intrigue, betrayals and treachery.
Laurie McBain is the best when it comes to writing sweeping, epic historical-romance. I first read this book when it was first published in 1983. After 30 years, I didn't remember much of the story, but it was very much like falling in love all over again.
Upon sailing from the bustling port of Santo Domingo, the ship Arion is set upon by Spanish galleons bent on revenge. Lily is torn from the arms of her father, Geoffrey Christian, and set ashore on a deserted island with her mother, Magdalena, and family friend, Basil, who has information vital to the safety of Queen Elizabeth. The battle is lost and the Arion sunk. The trio are now castaways on the deserted island.
Intrigue, betrayals and treachery, the Court of Queen Elizabeth I is not a friendly place for many. Valentine Whitehall, younger brother of Basil, is a young, ambitious, privateer who has been taking his share of King Philip of Spain's treasure ships to enrich himself and his Queen. When a survivor of the Arion makes contact and tells him his brother, Basil, Magdalena and Lily survived, he is off to rescue them and bring them home. But, home to what? Intrigue, betrayals and treachery.
February 4, 2016
I read this many years ago and my reading taste have changed I've learned.
The writing was good. I just found the story lacking in some areas and found it difficult to finish.
The writing was good. I just found the story lacking in some areas and found it difficult to finish.
October 6, 2019
Лори Макбейн има страхотен висок стил на писане, разказва истории с красив език типичен за времето за което се разказва.Това не е типичен роман,а епична сага, исторически фикшън в периода на Елизабет първа,като тя също има участие в сюжета. история за капери,войната на Англия с Испания за морските маршрути.Страничните герои играят огромна роля за вплитането на много теми ,проблеми ,събития ,места в която фабулата на книгата се развива съвсем естествено.Описанията на места , битовизмът и героите придават живот на всичко .Това не е книга ,в която любителите на сладки романи ще получат просто лек роман .Книгата разказва за главната героиня Лили и нейния живот на 7 г. след това за живота й на 14г. и вече почти на 18г.Авторката се е отнесла сериозно към книгата си и личи ,че има познания за пиратството, морските търговски пътища, битовизма и суеверията на хората през 16век.Ще преживеете корабни битки,корабокрушение,екзотични острови,заговори,кроежи,много приключения, религиозни борби.
Развива теми за отношението брат- сестра, животните, оцеляването, адаптирането,приятелството,загубата,предателството,любовта.
Толкова теми, обрати и житейския съдби ,че авторките от този жанр биха написали поне 15книги като на преден план ще поставят любовната история.
Малък спойлер******
Главните герои ще се срещнат около 170стр.,но романтичната им линия ще стартира около 350срт.Като до тогава само малката Лили ще е влюбена в него тайно. ****Край на спойлера.
Лори Макбейн е сериозна авторка за жанра си и ще изчета всичко нейно.
Развива теми за отношението брат- сестра, животните, оцеляването, адаптирането,приятелството,загубата,предателството,любовта.
Толкова теми, обрати и житейския съдби ,че авторките от този жанр биха написали поне 15книги като на преден план ще поставят любовната история.
Малък спойлер******
Главните герои ще се срещнат около 170стр.,но романтичната им линия ще стартира около 350срт.Като до тогава само малката Лили ще е влюбена в него тайно. ****Край на спойлера.
Лори Макбейн е сериозна авторка за жанра си и ще изчета всичко нейно.
September 19, 2017
4.75/5
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is one of my 'romance tester' picks. Meaning, I grabbed a whole bunch of different books categorized as romances in order to see what all of the hype is around the genre and if it can, in fact, appeal to me.
Well, let me tell you: I was very, very surprised and pleased with Laurie McBain's privateer 'romance'. I think mainly because, in comparison with the awful Viking Warrior Rising --which was essentially just soft core porn in novel format-- Wild Bells has depth ; it has substance .
McBain writes a fiction that takes place in the historical time of Queen Elizabeth's reign and amoungst the protestant revolution and reformation of England. The backdrop for the novel is that of an ongoing religious war between the English and the Spanish, with many of the male characters favorites in the Queen's court and privateers to boot. Instead of the book starting off with love-at-first-sight, readers are introduced to two future parents of the main protagonist (Lily), giving the novel a generational scope. We learn about how Lily and her siblings were orphaned and left for dead due to political scheming, only later to be rescued from their tropical oasis and brought back to England. There, we follow Lily through her teenage years into her young adult years and the subsequent exploits associated with her survival and rescue. I think it takes about 400/600 pages until the readers get any of the "bodice ripping" romance that one would have expected from a novel dubbed as such. EVEN THEN: it's not a bodice ripper! It's somewhat tasteful!
As much as I enjoyed this novel -- it was fun, different, historically accurate; an epic -- It lost some points for me when some character traits were revealed and the introduction of a frivolous, unnecessary historical figure: .
I would definitely recommend this to those who love pirate/privateer stories and English history that is a *touch* too fanciful to be real -- as all good escapist fiction should be.
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is one of my 'romance tester' picks. Meaning, I grabbed a whole bunch of different books categorized as romances in order to see what all of the hype is around the genre and if it can, in fact, appeal to me.
Well, let me tell you: I was very, very surprised and pleased with Laurie McBain's privateer 'romance'. I think mainly because, in comparison with the awful Viking Warrior Rising --which was essentially just soft core porn in novel format-- Wild Bells has depth ; it has substance .
McBain writes a fiction that takes place in the historical time of Queen Elizabeth's reign and amoungst the protestant revolution and reformation of England. The backdrop for the novel is that of an ongoing religious war between the English and the Spanish, with many of the male characters favorites in the Queen's court and privateers to boot. Instead of the book starting off with love-at-first-sight, readers are introduced to two future parents of the main protagonist (Lily), giving the novel a generational scope. We learn about how Lily and her siblings were orphaned and left for dead due to political scheming, only later to be rescued from their tropical oasis and brought back to England. There, we follow Lily through her teenage years into her young adult years and the subsequent exploits associated with her survival and rescue. I think it takes about 400/600 pages until the readers get any of the "bodice ripping" romance that one would have expected from a novel dubbed as such. EVEN THEN: it's not a bodice ripper! It's somewhat tasteful!
As much as I enjoyed this novel -- it was fun, different, historically accurate; an epic -- It lost some points for me when some character traits were revealed and the introduction of a frivolous, unnecessary historical figure: .
I would definitely recommend this to those who love pirate/privateer stories and English history that is a *touch* too fanciful to be real -- as all good escapist fiction should be.
November 1, 2016
I moved into my house five years ago. Before then, my husband and I lived in a cute condo. We had so many books that we couldn't fit them (and our two kids) all into our old place, so we boxed most of them up and stored them in his family's barn. Archival boxes filled with books then stored in big rubbermaind bins. About 22 big rubbermaid bins. The 'must have at hand' books we kept on shelves.
Fast forward to 2010 we bought a big ass house with a LOT of space. So we could finally get our books back. We have started unpacking those bins at a painstakingly slow pace, mainly because everytime we crack open one we find books we just need to flip through!
Fast forward to 2016, we are on bin 10 (i am not even lying) and bin 10 is full of old skool, 80s romances. I pull this one out, it is not mass market size, it is TRADE size. The cover is GORGEOUS, all vivid reds, and yellows and greens. And because my husband insisted on archival level storage, the book is in excellent condition. And because I am not a spine cracker when I read, it looks brand new.
I vaguely remembered the story and promptly pulled it out to read.
Oh man, this book was hella fun. About 500 pages, set in Elizabethan era, complete with orphans, stranded on a desert island, Spanish Armada ships, sunken treasure, pirates and privateers, talking parrots, a jaguar, larger than life heroes, feisty heroines, a murderous plot, an all important diary with deadly secrets, kids running away to join a Gypsy camp, Queen Elizabeth herself, spies, shady uncles trying to steal inheritances, heartbreaking betrayals and a center-of-it-all epic romance.
Sigh.
They just don't write books like this anymore.
Fast forward to 2010 we bought a big ass house with a LOT of space. So we could finally get our books back. We have started unpacking those bins at a painstakingly slow pace, mainly because everytime we crack open one we find books we just need to flip through!
Fast forward to 2016, we are on bin 10 (i am not even lying) and bin 10 is full of old skool, 80s romances. I pull this one out, it is not mass market size, it is TRADE size. The cover is GORGEOUS, all vivid reds, and yellows and greens. And because my husband insisted on archival level storage, the book is in excellent condition. And because I am not a spine cracker when I read, it looks brand new.
I vaguely remembered the story and promptly pulled it out to read.
Oh man, this book was hella fun. About 500 pages, set in Elizabethan era, complete with orphans, stranded on a desert island, Spanish Armada ships, sunken treasure, pirates and privateers, talking parrots, a jaguar, larger than life heroes, feisty heroines, a murderous plot, an all important diary with deadly secrets, kids running away to join a Gypsy camp, Queen Elizabeth herself, spies, shady uncles trying to steal inheritances, heartbreaking betrayals and a center-of-it-all epic romance.
Sigh.
They just don't write books like this anymore.
June 12, 2020
This was a good romance, however I found it to drag in places.
I wish it was a quicker-paced in the beginning.
I wish it was a quicker-paced in the beginning.
May 17, 2008
Re-read this one last year and I'm happy to find that it held up. Alas, so many of my romance favorites from the 70' and 80's have NOT stood the test of time.
Warning to all--sometimes it is better to remember fondly a book than to re-read and destroy that memory.
Warning to all--sometimes it is better to remember fondly a book than to re-read and destroy that memory.
October 6, 2024
Fantastic read, started this at 4 am and finished it at 7 pm. It held me captive the whole day wanting to see what would happen next !
August 19, 2021
This book was so fun to read! I don’t really read romance novels but I was enticed by the Pirates of Caribbean-esque novel cover and synopsis. It didn’t disappoint! I felt totally transporting to the times of daring pirate adventures with a sprinkle of British high court drama. Surprisingly, I would have enjoyed even more romance in this novel. I also would have liked more chapters dedicated to the main protagonists time together and less on other characters. This may have awaken in me a desire to read more pirate romance novels!
January 29, 2016
Full review posted at Bambi Unbridled
I recommend that you read this story when you have time to sit back and savor it. Don't read it in a rush. It's elaborately detailed and meanders through the life our our heroine, starting before she was even a twinkle in her parents' eye. Indeed, by the time I got to 12%, I felt like I had already read an entire book. Those who only read the latest releases may complain that the story is long-winded... but that is why I love it! I don't know of any authors that write like this today... but if you know someone I am missing, please send me some recs!
This story takes place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is packed full of court intrigue and treachery. This is not a historical where you will see the bon ton at Almack's with marriage-minded mamas trying to foist their cow-footed daughter off on the most eligible man with a title. Don't get me wrong, Regency and Victorian romances are all well and good and I read a lot of them. But there is just something captivating in these darker stories set during the Tudor and Elizabethan eras. They tend to be filled with espionage, betrayal, plots, court vipers and royal assassination attempts. I really admire the amount of research the author had to put into the story, even with regard to the elaborately described costumes, landscapes and buildings. And this was done before we had the internet! Phew.
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is a somewhat familial saga that focuses heavily on the coming-of-age of our heroine, Lily Francisca Christian. Lily's father was one of the Queen's sea dogs out harassing the Spanish fleet in the New World. He falls in love with Dona Magdalena when he plucks her (and her family) off one of the ships he captures. So you really get Lily's story from the way back, before she was ever conceived. She was a great heroine! Despite surviving terrible tragedies that we don't even dream of today, Lily always perserveres. When many would have given up hope, Lily remains strong to take care of her family. She is such a strong character that you really forget how young this girl is... I don't think we even see her reach her 18th birthday in this book. I loved her.
While our hero is technically Valentine Whitelaw, we don't meet him until much later in the book. The earlier focus is on Lily's father, George Christian, and his good friend Basil Whitelaw. All of the men in this story are wonderful. George Christian was a loving husband and father, and a capable and dangerous sea captain privateer. Basil was a loving friend and surrogate to the children when they needed him most. And though he was not a dashing and dangerous hero, he fit perfectly into the story to bridge the gap between the familial hero and the romantic hero.
As for Valentine, he first meets Lily as a child and has no romantic inclinations toward her. This of course causes some heartbreak to our young heroine who falls quickly for the dashing sea captain, who is handsome and so like the father she lost. Needless to say, this book does not have a grand passion between Valentine and Lily, as she is a child for much of the book. By the time their paths cross again and she is older, Valentine is conflicted by his romantic interests and his feelings of duty. This was not an easy romance and attraction for either party. Lily always feels slighted or despondent that she will never be what Valen wants... and Valentine is thinking of his friend, Lily's father, and his duty as rescuer and caretaker of the children.
In sum, this was a wonderful saga and I am happy that I received an advanced copy of the re-release in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars / 2 flames.
I recommend that you read this story when you have time to sit back and savor it. Don't read it in a rush. It's elaborately detailed and meanders through the life our our heroine, starting before she was even a twinkle in her parents' eye. Indeed, by the time I got to 12%, I felt like I had already read an entire book. Those who only read the latest releases may complain that the story is long-winded... but that is why I love it! I don't know of any authors that write like this today... but if you know someone I am missing, please send me some recs!
This story takes place during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It is packed full of court intrigue and treachery. This is not a historical where you will see the bon ton at Almack's with marriage-minded mamas trying to foist their cow-footed daughter off on the most eligible man with a title. Don't get me wrong, Regency and Victorian romances are all well and good and I read a lot of them. But there is just something captivating in these darker stories set during the Tudor and Elizabethan eras. They tend to be filled with espionage, betrayal, plots, court vipers and royal assassination attempts. I really admire the amount of research the author had to put into the story, even with regard to the elaborately described costumes, landscapes and buildings. And this was done before we had the internet! Phew.
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is a somewhat familial saga that focuses heavily on the coming-of-age of our heroine, Lily Francisca Christian. Lily's father was one of the Queen's sea dogs out harassing the Spanish fleet in the New World. He falls in love with Dona Magdalena when he plucks her (and her family) off one of the ships he captures. So you really get Lily's story from the way back, before she was ever conceived. She was a great heroine! Despite surviving terrible tragedies that we don't even dream of today, Lily always perserveres. When many would have given up hope, Lily remains strong to take care of her family. She is such a strong character that you really forget how young this girl is... I don't think we even see her reach her 18th birthday in this book. I loved her.
While our hero is technically Valentine Whitelaw, we don't meet him until much later in the book. The earlier focus is on Lily's father, George Christian, and his good friend Basil Whitelaw. All of the men in this story are wonderful. George Christian was a loving husband and father, and a capable and dangerous sea captain privateer. Basil was a loving friend and surrogate to the children when they needed him most. And though he was not a dashing and dangerous hero, he fit perfectly into the story to bridge the gap between the familial hero and the romantic hero.
As for Valentine, he first meets Lily as a child and has no romantic inclinations toward her. This of course causes some heartbreak to our young heroine who falls quickly for the dashing sea captain, who is handsome and so like the father she lost. Needless to say, this book does not have a grand passion between Valentine and Lily, as she is a child for much of the book. By the time their paths cross again and she is older, Valentine is conflicted by his romantic interests and his feelings of duty. This was not an easy romance and attraction for either party. Lily always feels slighted or despondent that she will never be what Valen wants... and Valentine is thinking of his friend, Lily's father, and his duty as rescuer and caretaker of the children.
In sum, this was a wonderful saga and I am happy that I received an advanced copy of the re-release in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 stars / 2 flames.
July 30, 2016
Ugh finally finished 3.5 stars I feel like I've just run a marathon! There were so many characters and so many different pov's all taking about 10-20 page or so it seemed to set the scene before getting to point and following the characters. Don't get me I appreciate a good detailed description to help me get into the book but there was just too much detail about mind-numbingly boring things I found it quite difficult to keep trudging along to the next interesting part of the story buried beneath pages and pages of endless descriptions of the setting. The author also had this annoying tendency to time jump to random scene in the future then backtrack and describe what happened in the past to get to that point in the future. I found this quite jarring, the first time I could overlook it but it happened repeatedly throughout the book and much prefer being in the present with the characters for the majority of the book rather than skipping ahead then being told what happened in the past. As a result of the many different pov's I didn't get a chance to really connect with my main characters instead I felt more like an observer in the book instead of getting drawn into the book. Whilst I did enjoy the diversity of the many different characters we followed throughout the book I didn't feel particularly attached to any of them any more than a passing amusement. Also disappointingly the main characters spent hardly anytime together before deciding they were in love and even after that they only spent a few scenes together and we were told rather shown or experienced the supposed many conversations they had together in which they discovered each other's attributes. Although this was technically I suppose a well written book I didn't feel very whilst reading it, it was much more heavily plot-driven than character-driven which I found very disappointing, the predominant genre of this book is definitely not romance and there was very little pertaining to the high seas and sailing which I had expected considering both the main character's father and romantic lead were privateers and captains.
August 7, 2015
There's a lot of useless information in the first 250 pages. It serves no other import than to discuss how important and perfect the heroine, the first daughter of an adventurous, landed-gent with a penchant for exotic European women, is. Did I forget to mention how this important man, father of our Heroine, also happens to be well connected and in the confidence of the Queen of England?
And how she traveled with a caravan of Gypsies, immersing herself in their culture and lifestyle, despite her 'royal connections' and wealth? If it wasn't for the vomit of information beforehand, I wouldn't had known the 'romance' took place in... 1940s? 1800? 1750s? Well, you certainly don't find yourself immersed in the 'adventure.' So, you're really just a point among an infinite amount of points floating in the Time Warp plane.
The romance is nonexistent, boring and bland. There's nothing compelling or sensual about the H/h relationship. Its a PG book with not even a hint of passion, much less bodice-ripping. For that matter, the Hero was there for only about one fourth of the book.
Do yourself a favor, skip this book.
And how she traveled with a caravan of Gypsies, immersing herself in their culture and lifestyle, despite her 'royal connections' and wealth? If it wasn't for the vomit of information beforehand, I wouldn't had known the 'romance' took place in... 1940s? 1800? 1750s? Well, you certainly don't find yourself immersed in the 'adventure.' So, you're really just a point among an infinite amount of points floating in the Time Warp plane.
The romance is nonexistent, boring and bland. There's nothing compelling or sensual about the H/h relationship. Its a PG book with not even a hint of passion, much less bodice-ripping. For that matter, the Hero was there for only about one fourth of the book.
Do yourself a favor, skip this book.
September 23, 2024
2.5 stars
*This is a #TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion.
TL;DR - More sedate Bodice Ripper, more like historical fiction saga, very little romance
"Now, that is what I call a fateful sighting," Valentine murmured, his gaze narrowed as he stared at the shore. "Do you see what I do, Mustafa, or have I been misled by the mists? Is she mortal, or a Nereid sent to bewitch a weary sailor?" The Turk followed his captain's gaze to the riverbank. Sitting astride a white horse galloping along the shore was the most beautiful woman either man had ever seen. Dressed in green velvet, like the tall grasses growing along the river, her red hair flowing out behind her like a wild flame, she raced the wind with innocent abandon. She would disappear, then reappear almost magically out of the mists rising from the river. Only once did she seem to pause, and then she sat staring at the river, as if searching the clutter of masts for a certain ship. "I wonder who she is," Valentine murmured, vowing he would find out.
'Sdeath! It's Bodice Ripper time! When the TBRChallenge theme for September was Drama!, I knew immediately I had to pick one of the Bodice Rippers on my tbr. Published in 1983 (what a great year ;) and with a parrot AND a jaguar on the cover, I knew this just had to be the one. Surprisingly, while the cover fits in to what is commonly thought of for this period in romance, this is what I would call a more sedate one. In fact, I don't think I would call this a Bodice Ripper but a historical fiction saga with romantic element. I think if you've always wanted to try a Bodice Ripper but, understandably, stayed away because of the many content and trigger warnings that abound in these, this could be the one you'd feel safer trying, if you wanted to experience some of that sweeping epic feeling readers talk about in this romance era. There were a few lines discussing slave routes/trading, a quick, don't really see though, attempted rape, “gypsy” hate (not so much from author's pov as she breathes life into them like any other secondary character, but from English characters), and that old go to of the male main character saved the life of a “Turk”, so he follows him in devotion (Mustafa got an at least shaded in backstory), that I would point out if you're a no go on anything.
Broken up into three parts, the first part starts in 1558 Tudor England. It's the time of Elizabeth and you'll get a history lesson (not footnotes though, lol) on the Catholics and Protestants and why there's bad blood and Reformation. I'm aware and decently versed in this time period, so I could take in all the names as I already knew the whos, whats, and whys. If this is brand new information, you're probably going to get lost in all the names and want to bounce when you showed up for romance. Along with taking extra time to set the reader in the story, we get the background romance, on who our female main character is eventually going to be, parents. That's right, this starts before our FMC is even a glint in an eye. Her father was an English privateer and her mother the daughter of a Spanish Don. The Drama! Spanish and English aren't exactly besties at this time and in 1571 when Geoffrey Christian captures the ship of Don Pedro, a Don's daughter's, Magdelena, intended they are brought onto Geoffrey Christian's ship. Clashing and Passion ignites! This is all told in flashback form and, yes, I was hoping at this time that the book was about the parent's romance. Daddy Don is not happy to say the least and disowns Magdalena in typical male hysteria, the intended Don Pedro vows revenge, even though he ends up marrying Magdalena's sister. Geoff and Mag live happily in England and have a daughter named Lily Francisca.
When Magdalena gets word that her mother is dying, Daddy Don works on his emotional outbursts and agrees to let her come see her mother one last time. Family trip! But our ol' gal Queen Elizabeth is up to her wily ways and sees an opportunity to send a spy with the Christians to see what the Spanish are up to. A friend of the Christian's, Sir Basil joins the trip, along with a seven year old Lily Francisca. At Santo Domingo, Magdalena gets to say goodbye to her mother, Daddy Don is now a Grandpa Don and delights in precocious Lily Francisca, so, most, is forgiven. It's not all sunshine and roses though, Lily Francisca sees a man with two different colored eyes and overhears something that she can't quite make sense of but knows is wrong, Sir Basil also overhears and sees things that make the spying trip worth it. Englishman Valchamps, the man with two different colored eyes and another man, never named to the readers but known by Basil and written in his journal, are found to be traitors. Knowing they've been outed, they team up with revenge seeking Don Pedro and devise a plan to sink Geoffrey Christian's ship. Geoffrey is mortally wounded but before he goes down with his ship, he manages to get Magdalena, Basil, Lily Francisca, and a seaman to row them to one of the many islands around to try and save their lives. When the seaman sees the ship going down, he panics and takes the boat out alone to try to save lives, only to never return.
This is all in the first 15%, then to Part Two and seven years later. With more flashback form, Lily Francisca, who is now fourteen, relays to readers what seven years stranded on an island was like. Her mother was pregnant, just told Geoffrey the night before, and had a son, Tristram. And after five years of loneliness, Magdalena and Basil find love and have a daughter named Dulcie. This is where we also meet the book cover's parrot Cisco and the jaguar Choco, who Lily took care of when he was baby. There's also a monkey called Capabells and I'm very affronted on his behalf that he didn't get cover billing like the other two. A storm brings a Spanish shipwreck to their shores, where no crew survived but they're able to salvage some trunks full of gold and squirrel them away in a hidden cove, along with Basil's and Geoffrey's journals. Then tragedy strikes when a small boat of a few passengers finds their island. Magdalena and Basil send the kids away as they try to nurse the fever ridden passengers. Magdalena dies first and as he's sickening, Basil makes Lily promise to always take care of her siblings and not to forget the fable he taught her about wild white horses, a different colored eyes witch, and trying to save a Queen. Basil dies soon after and the flashback being told by Lily ends as we're brought two years forward for the Part Two seven years jump.
As this was all happening on the island, Valentine, Basil's late twenties sea adventuring (he name drops sailing with Drake) brother learns of his death. Basil's wife and son mourns until she remarries a family friend named William and Valentine vows revenge on Don Pedro and contemplates marrying his lover Cordelia. Cordelia was the beautiful social climber well known in this type of story.
I feel like I could be losing some people, I get it, the book almost lost me too.
Re-hydrate, bookmark, nap, or DNF, these types of stories are A LOT
It's when the seaman who initially rowed Mags, Bas, and Lil to the island finally escapes the ship he was imprisoned on and makes his way to England that Valentine learns his brother might still be alive, that the story gets moving again. With a crudely drawn map from the dying seaman, Valentine sets sail for the island, only to find that, yes, his brother may have initially lived but is now truly dead. There's mistrust from Lily as Basil enforced to her the need to be cautious but eventually Valentine, with some trickery, get her and the other two kid's on his ship back to England. Lily cautiously? forgets to tell Valentine about the treasure cove and Basil's journal. So at this time, the readers know of one traitor, Valchamps, and are trying to figure out from some redherrings who the other could be, infusing some mystery/thriller into the story.
Lily's fourteen, so we get major hero-worship love from her towards Valentine but overhears him talking to a jealous Cordelia and says he could never look at Lily in a romantic love way because she's just a child. Lily vows to never reveal her love to him. There's some Drama! over Dulcie being the love child of Mags and Bas, and questions if Tristram really was Geoffrey Christian's or Basil. The cousin who inherited Geoff's estate is of course horrible and by default becomes the kids' guardian, until either it's believed Tristram really is the true heir or Lily comes of age and gets the estate. There's some Valentine leaving for his adventures but promising Lily he'll always be there for them, always can ask him for help and Lily and the kid's suffering having to live with their guardian.
Part Three!
Jumps three years and we have a seventeen year old Lily. She's too brass and beautiful for the small village and when her guardian decides one night to rape her to make her have to marry him so he can inherit the estate, he actually almost rapes their maid and she screams thinking she killed him. Ten year old Tristram is no help at all and amps everyone up claiming the townspeople will call Lily a witch and burn her at the stake. So, Lily, Tristram, Dulcie, the maid, and two of the stablehands they're friends with, take off to find their nursemaid in the north to help them. Totally best plan. Why no one else? Valentine's off adventuring, Dulcie's halfbrother, from Basil's side is only a couple years older than Lily, and Dulcie's aunts are something something busy. As the group is trying to get away, they run into Romney. A twenties something half-Romani, who has the hots for Lily. He hides them away, goes to the estate to learn what's happening and with some selfishness and good intentions, takes them to his wandering band of Romani and our island kids are now traveling puppeteers. With some bad luck, Valchamps sees the puppet show, based on the fable Basil told Lily, and figures out that Lily may remember more than he wants her too. Valentine also runs into the Romani camp and sees a woman who takes his breath away. Y'all. I know it's been three years and I had quite the glow-up myself from 14 to 17 but, come on. He doesn't recognize Lily. He kisses her and can't wait to get her to his ship but is drawn away for an important meeting. Lily is crushed and more mad at him. Valchamp burns the Romani camp trying to kill Lily, Romney dies, our little group is on the run again. Valentine learns of the children on the run from Simon (Basil's son and who also loves Lily) and they're off to find the nursemaid thinking the kids are going to her.
William Shakespeare gives shortcut directions (the randomness of this had me laughing for a good five minutes, it was so wildly out of nowhere) to Valentine and they surreptitiously run into the kids and Valentine saves Lily from drowning, she saw Valchamps club her on the head before she fell into the water.
It may feel like I'm long-winded in this review, but this was 600pgs and when I tell you the numerous side-stories and characters I'm leaving out.
This is around 66% where Valentine and Lily meet back-up. What's your alls problem, have some patience, my gosh, wanting the romance to start earlier than 50%??
Valentine is mad Lily didn't tell him who she was, Lily's mad he didn't recognize her. There's a Drama! slap Lily gives Valentine. This is around 80% and when I would say (Finally!) the romance feels like it starts up.
Lily tells Valentine about Basil's journal, gets him to promise her she can go along to get it and they set sail but the other traitor isn't known and being in their trusted circle, alerts Don Pedro about their sailing plans.
They get to the island, Spanish attack, Choco saves the day!, Lily and Valentine get captured only to escape and hide out in the hidden cove. We get our first sex scene between the two at 92%(!!!) and Valentine reads Basil journal to learn who the other traitor is. Val's also a wily one and brought along some other English ships, defeating the Spanish, so they get rescued and head back to England.
The cove sex had Val and Lil admitting their love for each other but it's all save the reputation distance until the traitor is dealt with back in England. The traitor is revealed and I kind of guessed it because of how secret the author was keeping it, kind of impactful and kind of, 'kay, moving on.
Ends with Val and Lil getting married. If you made it through all that epic journey, you'll realize, not much romance at all and I was kind of disappointed in it all. But, like I said, if you've been afraid of Bodice Rippers, you could safely get a taste of them with this one but just know it's more historical fiction saga than anything else.
*This is a #TBRChallenge review, there will be spoilers, I don't spoil everything but enough, because I treat these reviews as a bookclub discussion.
TL;DR - More sedate Bodice Ripper, more like historical fiction saga, very little romance
"Now, that is what I call a fateful sighting," Valentine murmured, his gaze narrowed as he stared at the shore. "Do you see what I do, Mustafa, or have I been misled by the mists? Is she mortal, or a Nereid sent to bewitch a weary sailor?" The Turk followed his captain's gaze to the riverbank. Sitting astride a white horse galloping along the shore was the most beautiful woman either man had ever seen. Dressed in green velvet, like the tall grasses growing along the river, her red hair flowing out behind her like a wild flame, she raced the wind with innocent abandon. She would disappear, then reappear almost magically out of the mists rising from the river. Only once did she seem to pause, and then she sat staring at the river, as if searching the clutter of masts for a certain ship. "I wonder who she is," Valentine murmured, vowing he would find out.
'Sdeath! It's Bodice Ripper time! When the TBRChallenge theme for September was Drama!, I knew immediately I had to pick one of the Bodice Rippers on my tbr. Published in 1983 (what a great year ;) and with a parrot AND a jaguar on the cover, I knew this just had to be the one. Surprisingly, while the cover fits in to what is commonly thought of for this period in romance, this is what I would call a more sedate one. In fact, I don't think I would call this a Bodice Ripper but a historical fiction saga with romantic element. I think if you've always wanted to try a Bodice Ripper but, understandably, stayed away because of the many content and trigger warnings that abound in these, this could be the one you'd feel safer trying, if you wanted to experience some of that sweeping epic feeling readers talk about in this romance era. There were a few lines discussing slave routes/trading, a quick, don't really see though, attempted rape, “gypsy” hate (not so much from author's pov as she breathes life into them like any other secondary character, but from English characters), and that old go to of the male main character saved the life of a “Turk”, so he follows him in devotion (Mustafa got an at least shaded in backstory), that I would point out if you're a no go on anything.
Broken up into three parts, the first part starts in 1558 Tudor England. It's the time of Elizabeth and you'll get a history lesson (not footnotes though, lol) on the Catholics and Protestants and why there's bad blood and Reformation. I'm aware and decently versed in this time period, so I could take in all the names as I already knew the whos, whats, and whys. If this is brand new information, you're probably going to get lost in all the names and want to bounce when you showed up for romance. Along with taking extra time to set the reader in the story, we get the background romance, on who our female main character is eventually going to be, parents. That's right, this starts before our FMC is even a glint in an eye. Her father was an English privateer and her mother the daughter of a Spanish Don. The Drama! Spanish and English aren't exactly besties at this time and in 1571 when Geoffrey Christian captures the ship of Don Pedro, a Don's daughter's, Magdelena, intended they are brought onto Geoffrey Christian's ship. Clashing and Passion ignites! This is all told in flashback form and, yes, I was hoping at this time that the book was about the parent's romance. Daddy Don is not happy to say the least and disowns Magdalena in typical male hysteria, the intended Don Pedro vows revenge, even though he ends up marrying Magdalena's sister. Geoff and Mag live happily in England and have a daughter named Lily Francisca.
When Magdalena gets word that her mother is dying, Daddy Don works on his emotional outbursts and agrees to let her come see her mother one last time. Family trip! But our ol' gal Queen Elizabeth is up to her wily ways and sees an opportunity to send a spy with the Christians to see what the Spanish are up to. A friend of the Christian's, Sir Basil joins the trip, along with a seven year old Lily Francisca. At Santo Domingo, Magdalena gets to say goodbye to her mother, Daddy Don is now a Grandpa Don and delights in precocious Lily Francisca, so, most, is forgiven. It's not all sunshine and roses though, Lily Francisca sees a man with two different colored eyes and overhears something that she can't quite make sense of but knows is wrong, Sir Basil also overhears and sees things that make the spying trip worth it. Englishman Valchamps, the man with two different colored eyes and another man, never named to the readers but known by Basil and written in his journal, are found to be traitors. Knowing they've been outed, they team up with revenge seeking Don Pedro and devise a plan to sink Geoffrey Christian's ship. Geoffrey is mortally wounded but before he goes down with his ship, he manages to get Magdalena, Basil, Lily Francisca, and a seaman to row them to one of the many islands around to try and save their lives. When the seaman sees the ship going down, he panics and takes the boat out alone to try to save lives, only to never return.
This is all in the first 15%, then to Part Two and seven years later. With more flashback form, Lily Francisca, who is now fourteen, relays to readers what seven years stranded on an island was like. Her mother was pregnant, just told Geoffrey the night before, and had a son, Tristram. And after five years of loneliness, Magdalena and Basil find love and have a daughter named Dulcie. This is where we also meet the book cover's parrot Cisco and the jaguar Choco, who Lily took care of when he was baby. There's also a monkey called Capabells and I'm very affronted on his behalf that he didn't get cover billing like the other two. A storm brings a Spanish shipwreck to their shores, where no crew survived but they're able to salvage some trunks full of gold and squirrel them away in a hidden cove, along with Basil's and Geoffrey's journals. Then tragedy strikes when a small boat of a few passengers finds their island. Magdalena and Basil send the kids away as they try to nurse the fever ridden passengers. Magdalena dies first and as he's sickening, Basil makes Lily promise to always take care of her siblings and not to forget the fable he taught her about wild white horses, a different colored eyes witch, and trying to save a Queen. Basil dies soon after and the flashback being told by Lily ends as we're brought two years forward for the Part Two seven years jump.
As this was all happening on the island, Valentine, Basil's late twenties sea adventuring (he name drops sailing with Drake) brother learns of his death. Basil's wife and son mourns until she remarries a family friend named William and Valentine vows revenge on Don Pedro and contemplates marrying his lover Cordelia. Cordelia was the beautiful social climber well known in this type of story.
I feel like I could be losing some people, I get it, the book almost lost me too.
Re-hydrate, bookmark, nap, or DNF, these types of stories are A LOT
It's when the seaman who initially rowed Mags, Bas, and Lil to the island finally escapes the ship he was imprisoned on and makes his way to England that Valentine learns his brother might still be alive, that the story gets moving again. With a crudely drawn map from the dying seaman, Valentine sets sail for the island, only to find that, yes, his brother may have initially lived but is now truly dead. There's mistrust from Lily as Basil enforced to her the need to be cautious but eventually Valentine, with some trickery, get her and the other two kid's on his ship back to England. Lily cautiously? forgets to tell Valentine about the treasure cove and Basil's journal. So at this time, the readers know of one traitor, Valchamps, and are trying to figure out from some redherrings who the other could be, infusing some mystery/thriller into the story.
Lily's fourteen, so we get major hero-worship love from her towards Valentine but overhears him talking to a jealous Cordelia and says he could never look at Lily in a romantic love way because she's just a child. Lily vows to never reveal her love to him. There's some Drama! over Dulcie being the love child of Mags and Bas, and questions if Tristram really was Geoffrey Christian's or Basil. The cousin who inherited Geoff's estate is of course horrible and by default becomes the kids' guardian, until either it's believed Tristram really is the true heir or Lily comes of age and gets the estate. There's some Valentine leaving for his adventures but promising Lily he'll always be there for them, always can ask him for help and Lily and the kid's suffering having to live with their guardian.
Part Three!
Jumps three years and we have a seventeen year old Lily. She's too brass and beautiful for the small village and when her guardian decides one night to rape her to make her have to marry him so he can inherit the estate, he actually almost rapes their maid and she screams thinking she killed him. Ten year old Tristram is no help at all and amps everyone up claiming the townspeople will call Lily a witch and burn her at the stake. So, Lily, Tristram, Dulcie, the maid, and two of the stablehands they're friends with, take off to find their nursemaid in the north to help them. Totally best plan. Why no one else? Valentine's off adventuring, Dulcie's halfbrother, from Basil's side is only a couple years older than Lily, and Dulcie's aunts are something something busy. As the group is trying to get away, they run into Romney. A twenties something half-Romani, who has the hots for Lily. He hides them away, goes to the estate to learn what's happening and with some selfishness and good intentions, takes them to his wandering band of Romani and our island kids are now traveling puppeteers. With some bad luck, Valchamps sees the puppet show, based on the fable Basil told Lily, and figures out that Lily may remember more than he wants her too. Valentine also runs into the Romani camp and sees a woman who takes his breath away. Y'all. I know it's been three years and I had quite the glow-up myself from 14 to 17 but, come on. He doesn't recognize Lily. He kisses her and can't wait to get her to his ship but is drawn away for an important meeting. Lily is crushed and more mad at him. Valchamp burns the Romani camp trying to kill Lily, Romney dies, our little group is on the run again. Valentine learns of the children on the run from Simon (Basil's son and who also loves Lily) and they're off to find the nursemaid thinking the kids are going to her.
William Shakespeare gives shortcut directions (the randomness of this had me laughing for a good five minutes, it was so wildly out of nowhere) to Valentine and they surreptitiously run into the kids and Valentine saves Lily from drowning, she saw Valchamps club her on the head before she fell into the water.
It may feel like I'm long-winded in this review, but this was 600pgs and when I tell you the numerous side-stories and characters I'm leaving out.
This is around 66% where Valentine and Lily meet back-up. What's your alls problem, have some patience, my gosh, wanting the romance to start earlier than 50%??
Valentine is mad Lily didn't tell him who she was, Lily's mad he didn't recognize her. There's a Drama! slap Lily gives Valentine. This is around 80% and when I would say (Finally!) the romance feels like it starts up.
Lily tells Valentine about Basil's journal, gets him to promise her she can go along to get it and they set sail but the other traitor isn't known and being in their trusted circle, alerts Don Pedro about their sailing plans.
They get to the island, Spanish attack, Choco saves the day!, Lily and Valentine get captured only to escape and hide out in the hidden cove. We get our first sex scene between the two at 92%(!!!) and Valentine reads Basil journal to learn who the other traitor is. Val's also a wily one and brought along some other English ships, defeating the Spanish, so they get rescued and head back to England.
The cove sex had Val and Lil admitting their love for each other but it's all save the reputation distance until the traitor is dealt with back in England. The traitor is revealed and I kind of guessed it because of how secret the author was keeping it, kind of impactful and kind of, 'kay, moving on.
Ends with Val and Lil getting married. If you made it through all that epic journey, you'll realize, not much romance at all and I was kind of disappointed in it all. But, like I said, if you've been afraid of Bodice Rippers, you could safely get a taste of them with this one but just know it's more historical fiction saga than anything else.
February 16, 2016
Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
As we age our taste in books change, of course as the Romance Genre has aged, so too has it's styles, requirements and quality. Some of the books from the 70's and 80's that we may have loved at the time are not what we expect. Fortunately for all of us, Laurie McBain was way ahead of her time. Sure she wrote those epic novels, sagas, that took place over time never a short romance. No these were tales of life and romance. An entire world we would only see in her books.
I am so thrilled to see Laurie's books being re released and for kindle as well. I have always loved her books. Each one holds a special place in my heart and Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is one of her best.
This book begins when our heroine Lily Christian is a mere child of around 8 and our hero is barely a man (16ish). Their families are important in the Elizabethian court and active in the fight against Spain. Of course they have no contact initially but over time, Lily Christian and Valentine Whitelaw come together to fight against an evil that could destroy the very throne.
Lily Christian is the beloved daughter of a Spanish heiress and an English privateer. Her father is larger than life and her mother is graciousness personified.. a love that defied their families and countries but it wasn't to last and traitors destroyed them. Lily and her mother were stranded on a tropical island for several years along with Valentine's brother.. life went on for the survivors and it was years before a rescue happened. When it did Lily was a gangly child just emerging into womanhood but suceptable to a handsome captain.. who rightly saw her for what she was, a child.
Valentine Whitelaw was the adventurer in the family. His brother Basil had been the studious one, the quiet one. But he had been sent on a doomed mission and had been missing for years. When word came that he might have survived Valentine rushed to the rescue.. only to discover.. well that would be telling. But he did find Lily Christian.. Returning her to England and yes there were others that returned with them... where they became caught up once again in the politics of the English Court.
Lily grows as the story unfolds and Valentine discovers a woman he can love forever but their lives remain at risk by the traitor who had betrayed Basil and Geoffrey Christian. No one was safe, least of all the Queen, until this traitor or traitors are caught. And Lily's life will always be in danger if they are not stopped.
A beautiful, powerful love story. A story that tells of life in a time we can only imagine, of growing up and falling in love.. Just wonderful..
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Wild Bells to the Wild Sky, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be re released on March 1, 2016
As we age our taste in books change, of course as the Romance Genre has aged, so too has it's styles, requirements and quality. Some of the books from the 70's and 80's that we may have loved at the time are not what we expect. Fortunately for all of us, Laurie McBain was way ahead of her time. Sure she wrote those epic novels, sagas, that took place over time never a short romance. No these were tales of life and romance. An entire world we would only see in her books.
I am so thrilled to see Laurie's books being re released and for kindle as well. I have always loved her books. Each one holds a special place in my heart and Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is one of her best.
This book begins when our heroine Lily Christian is a mere child of around 8 and our hero is barely a man (16ish). Their families are important in the Elizabethian court and active in the fight against Spain. Of course they have no contact initially but over time, Lily Christian and Valentine Whitelaw come together to fight against an evil that could destroy the very throne.
Lily Christian is the beloved daughter of a Spanish heiress and an English privateer. Her father is larger than life and her mother is graciousness personified.. a love that defied their families and countries but it wasn't to last and traitors destroyed them. Lily and her mother were stranded on a tropical island for several years along with Valentine's brother.. life went on for the survivors and it was years before a rescue happened. When it did Lily was a gangly child just emerging into womanhood but suceptable to a handsome captain.. who rightly saw her for what she was, a child.
Valentine Whitelaw was the adventurer in the family. His brother Basil had been the studious one, the quiet one. But he had been sent on a doomed mission and had been missing for years. When word came that he might have survived Valentine rushed to the rescue.. only to discover.. well that would be telling. But he did find Lily Christian.. Returning her to England and yes there were others that returned with them... where they became caught up once again in the politics of the English Court.
Lily grows as the story unfolds and Valentine discovers a woman he can love forever but their lives remain at risk by the traitor who had betrayed Basil and Geoffrey Christian. No one was safe, least of all the Queen, until this traitor or traitors are caught. And Lily's life will always be in danger if they are not stopped.
A beautiful, powerful love story. A story that tells of life in a time we can only imagine, of growing up and falling in love.. Just wonderful..
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of Wild Bells to the Wild Sky, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be re released on March 1, 2016
March 15, 2016
This is a partial review! For a full review, visit All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
It’s been a long time since I’ve read any romances published in the 1980s. The purple prose that seems to have been so abundant in 80s historicals gets on my ever-loving last nerve. Luckily for me, Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is definitely not a bodice-ripper, nor is it like your typical 80s romance. Instead, I just finished a richly described historical with realistic characters, a storyline that takes a decade, and a romantic couple that, while I’m not in love with them, intrigues me.
Lily Christian, her mother Magdalena, and family friend Basil Whitelaw were stranded on a deserted island after their ship, captained by Lily’s father, was brutally attacked by a fleet of Spanish ships. After seven years, the birth of her younger brother Tristram, and her half-sister Dulcie, followed by the tragic deaths of their mother and Basil, have left Lily in charge of their little family. When a ship appears, captained by Basil’s brother, Valentine Whitelaw, her first reaction is to hide, but that only works for so long. Taken back to England by Valentine, Lily quickly falls for the handsome man, even if he only sees her as a child.
But then, as Lily grows up, the secret behind the Spanish attack comes to light, and there’s treason and espionage afoot. Lily, with Valentine’s help, must unravel secrets from a children’s story, locate an old journal on the long-left island, and bring the real traitors to light.
First of all, the spy game in this was top-notch. Scholarly Basil is asked by Queen Elizabeth herself to pay attention when he travels with his good friends, the Christians, to the Carribean to visit Magdalena’s family. What he discovers leads to the attack on their ship, and decade-long consequences. The premise and much of the story is surprisingly dark (being hunted across the country for murder and witchcraft, for example), but told in a way that feels more like a fairy tale.
I love the whole lost-at-sea premise (I basically grew up watching and re-watching Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson), and Wild Bells combines all the best things of the Robinsons with a hint of The Blue Lagoon (just without, you know, the incest). It’s unsurprising but still sweet when Lily falls in love with Valentine when he arrives, rescuing her and her siblings.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read any romances published in the 1980s. The purple prose that seems to have been so abundant in 80s historicals gets on my ever-loving last nerve. Luckily for me, Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is definitely not a bodice-ripper, nor is it like your typical 80s romance. Instead, I just finished a richly described historical with realistic characters, a storyline that takes a decade, and a romantic couple that, while I’m not in love with them, intrigues me.
Lily Christian, her mother Magdalena, and family friend Basil Whitelaw were stranded on a deserted island after their ship, captained by Lily’s father, was brutally attacked by a fleet of Spanish ships. After seven years, the birth of her younger brother Tristram, and her half-sister Dulcie, followed by the tragic deaths of their mother and Basil, have left Lily in charge of their little family. When a ship appears, captained by Basil’s brother, Valentine Whitelaw, her first reaction is to hide, but that only works for so long. Taken back to England by Valentine, Lily quickly falls for the handsome man, even if he only sees her as a child.
But then, as Lily grows up, the secret behind the Spanish attack comes to light, and there’s treason and espionage afoot. Lily, with Valentine’s help, must unravel secrets from a children’s story, locate an old journal on the long-left island, and bring the real traitors to light.
First of all, the spy game in this was top-notch. Scholarly Basil is asked by Queen Elizabeth herself to pay attention when he travels with his good friends, the Christians, to the Carribean to visit Magdalena’s family. What he discovers leads to the attack on their ship, and decade-long consequences. The premise and much of the story is surprisingly dark (being hunted across the country for murder and witchcraft, for example), but told in a way that feels more like a fairy tale.
I love the whole lost-at-sea premise (I basically grew up watching and re-watching Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson), and Wild Bells combines all the best things of the Robinsons with a hint of The Blue Lagoon (just without, you know, the incest). It’s unsurprising but still sweet when Lily falls in love with Valentine when he arrives, rescuing her and her siblings.
March 5, 2016
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky by Laurie McBain, is a fabulous read. Ms. McBain builds the story slowly with layer upon layer to give us an in-depth story line. Lily Christian as a young girl of seven is stranded on an island with her Mother and her father’s best friend, Sir Basil Whitelaw, as her father goes to fight his Spanish enemy. They end up stranded on the island in the West Indies for seven years, where Lily’s brother and her half-sister are born. They rescued seven years later by Valentine Whitelaw who is looking for his brother only to find Sir Basil and Lily’s mother have both died. Sir Basil had come across some very valuable information for Queen Elizabeth, information he has passed along to the children as fables and in his secret journal with notations about the plot against Queen Elizabeth. Three years later Lily becomes a target of the traitors when they learn she knows something and Valen becomes her hero and vows to protect her at all costs. Lily is a sweet caring young women, always putting the needs of other first before her own. Lily falls in love with the dashing captain, but she overhears him confiding to his mistress that he thinks of Lily as only the daughter of a friend. Valen has known Lily all her life and thinks of her as his friend little girl until one day he realizes she has grown into to a beautiful sensual women. This adventure has it all stranded on a desert island, a monkey and a cheeky parrot who loves to talk. Privateers, lost treasure, spies, gypsies, and of course we cannot forget an evil grasping guardian all tied into plots to murder the queen. A great story to read and enjoy!!!
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2017
Captivating! I think only a phenomenal writer like Laurie McBain could write novels like these. Even though this is my first time reading her work, she is an exceptional writer! I wish I had come across this book years ago! The story was absolutely wonderful, the plots, the characters, the turn of events, I wouldn't change anything. I fell in love with the story from page 1. I have to admit the 1st part of the story was very depressing, I felt a lot of sympathy for Lily when her father, Geoffrey Christian died. Later when Magdalena and Sir Basil also passed away, I almost broke into tears and I've never felt that way with any other novel before, even if it had upsetting events, such as this one.
This is definitely an 80s bodice-ripper! It's a shame more novels like these weren't written.
This is definitely an 80s bodice-ripper! It's a shame more novels like these weren't written.
July 22, 2014
From England to the Caribbean, set in the times of Elizabeth I. I read this way back in the early 90s and I remember really liking it a lot. Not sure how it would stand today. Maybe I'll see about rereading it sometime.
February 8, 2014
I remember finding this in some out of the way second hand book shop, in my early 20s. Love those old covers and epic 80s style romances. Remember enjoying this quite a bit and I still have it in pb.
September 8, 2011
i love this book i can read it over and over
February 14, 2015
Fabulous, well written an great read for the historical romance fan.
January 30, 2018
This book brought some mixed feelings. I typically don’t read Elizabethian era romances but decided to give this one a chance because the synopsis intrigued me. While the synopsis isn’t entirely correct, it reveals the main point of the story rather well.
This novel follows Lily Francisca Christian, through a rough and awe-inspiring childhood. Lily becomes an orphaned and somewhat untamed castaway, because of a certain Spaniard who had a penchant for getting even. She spends seven years on the island, becoming its Captain…and learning secrets told through a cherished loved one. Little does she know that those secrets told could be deadly.
Dashing rogue and sea Captain, Valentine Whitelaw has lost a lot to the sea…or so he thought, until news comes along, sending him to a certain island, looking for clues. While there, he finds not only Lily, the young daughter of his close friend, now 14 years old…but, more than he thought he would find…and less.
Lily becomes enamored by Valen, but, is heartbroken when he doesn’t stick to his promise, leaving her and her siblings fending for themselves. Years later, an all-grown-up Lily, who’s been through traumatic experience after traumatic experience, bumps into Valen again…only they might not recognize each other. Once being reacquainted, they solve deadly secrets in an attempt to not only save themselves…but, Queen Elizabeth, the first of her name, as well!
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is definitely a great read with a rich history! And that’s why I love and dislike this book. The plot is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve read, the characters and their backstories are well-defined, there is a ton of suspense and heartfelt emotion…my eyes watered when a certain ship and her Captain went down…and the mystery of the traitors kept me turning the page to figure out who they were! I absolutely adored those parts of the book.
The parts of the book that didn’t really capture my attention are the romance between Valen and Lily; There was no heat, no fire, no spark between them really. Another part I didn’t care for, was the dialogue. Many times, I found myself thinking, ‘Wow, this person sure does have a lot to say’. Some of the characters gave long-winded speeches when short and simple would’ve been better. There was so much that was left unsaid and many questions at the end of this book.
Overall, I liked this book and I would love to read the rest if there is a series…which I couldn’t find. But, I would’ve wanted to read about the younger siblings, Tristram and Dulcie, the cousin, Simon, and even Mustafa.
I know it’s a long review, but I felt the need to say it! I liked this book 85% of the time and would recommend to historical romance readers.
This novel follows Lily Francisca Christian, through a rough and awe-inspiring childhood. Lily becomes an orphaned and somewhat untamed castaway, because of a certain Spaniard who had a penchant for getting even. She spends seven years on the island, becoming its Captain…and learning secrets told through a cherished loved one. Little does she know that those secrets told could be deadly.
Dashing rogue and sea Captain, Valentine Whitelaw has lost a lot to the sea…or so he thought, until news comes along, sending him to a certain island, looking for clues. While there, he finds not only Lily, the young daughter of his close friend, now 14 years old…but, more than he thought he would find…and less.
Lily becomes enamored by Valen, but, is heartbroken when he doesn’t stick to his promise, leaving her and her siblings fending for themselves. Years later, an all-grown-up Lily, who’s been through traumatic experience after traumatic experience, bumps into Valen again…only they might not recognize each other. Once being reacquainted, they solve deadly secrets in an attempt to not only save themselves…but, Queen Elizabeth, the first of her name, as well!
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is definitely a great read with a rich history! And that’s why I love and dislike this book. The plot is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve read, the characters and their backstories are well-defined, there is a ton of suspense and heartfelt emotion…my eyes watered when a certain ship and her Captain went down…and the mystery of the traitors kept me turning the page to figure out who they were! I absolutely adored those parts of the book.
The parts of the book that didn’t really capture my attention are the romance between Valen and Lily; There was no heat, no fire, no spark between them really. Another part I didn’t care for, was the dialogue. Many times, I found myself thinking, ‘Wow, this person sure does have a lot to say’. Some of the characters gave long-winded speeches when short and simple would’ve been better. There was so much that was left unsaid and many questions at the end of this book.
Overall, I liked this book and I would love to read the rest if there is a series…which I couldn’t find. But, I would’ve wanted to read about the younger siblings, Tristram and Dulcie, the cousin, Simon, and even Mustafa.
I know it’s a long review, but I felt the need to say it! I liked this book 85% of the time and would recommend to historical romance readers.
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