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Untamed #1
Riding West
To win the woman of his dreams, Parker takes matters into his own hands. And finds out the West is wilder than he ever imagined!
Just take her.
The advice seems radical, but Parker West is desperate. Try as he might, he cannot convince Celia Evans to marry him in the usual way, even after five years of courtship. Kidnapping her is drastic and rash, but he figures he has little left to lose.
Even though Celia is furious at being summarily tied up and carried off to the mountains, she finds she likes the sparks that fly when the normally cool Parker shows his more assertive side. At his secluded cabin, she finds out exactly what it means to be a woman, and that what she fought against all along is true: Under his normally reserved exterior, Parker is the lover of her dreams.
And when riled, he can give a girl a very wild, intensely pleasurable ride.
But there’s a range war simmering, and the threat on the horizon takes the form of one very vindictive, crooked rancher. He wants Celia all to himself—and will stop at nothing to get her…
Just take her.
The advice seems radical, but Parker West is desperate. Try as he might, he cannot convince Celia Evans to marry him in the usual way, even after five years of courtship. Kidnapping her is drastic and rash, but he figures he has little left to lose.
Even though Celia is furious at being summarily tied up and carried off to the mountains, she finds she likes the sparks that fly when the normally cool Parker shows his more assertive side. At his secluded cabin, she finds out exactly what it means to be a woman, and that what she fought against all along is true: Under his normally reserved exterior, Parker is the lover of her dreams.
And when riled, he can give a girl a very wild, intensely pleasurable ride.
But there’s a range war simmering, and the threat on the horizon takes the form of one very vindictive, crooked rancher. He wants Celia all to himself—and will stop at nothing to get her…
129 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 25, 2007
8 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Emma Wildes
105 books367 followersEmma was born in Minnesota and she lives in the Midwest, though she grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She attended Illinois State University where she majored in geology, and there she met her husband, Chris. They have three children, a temperamental cat named Poot, and are lucky enough to live on a beautiful lake. On warm days, she does enjoy a glass of wine on the dock now and then, and always loves to sit at her desk, winter or summer, and tap at her keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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April 4, 2022
I first read this one YEARS ago - it must have been one of the first erotic romances I ever read. It's stuck with me because a) it's surprisingly well-written, and remains so even on a reread; and b) it contains the perfect exemplar of one of my favourite tropes, a good-boy hero who's pushed so far by the bad-girl heroine that he just snaps and goes for her.
19-year-old Celia Evans is a smart, sassy, blonde little spitfire. Her next-door neighbour, 24-year-old Parker West, has been courting her for the past five years. (This is a historical romance, so the fact that would make her 15 is quite irrelevant). He's a staid, buttoned-up, straight-laced good guy, while Celia is everything dazzling and passionate. So when he finally proposes, she turns him down - because even though he's in love with her and vice versa, his proposal was all about 'duty'.
Inspired by a suggestion from Celia's mother, Parkier decides to throw caution to the wind and kidnap Celia. Once she's thoroughly compromised, he'll bring her back as his bride. She's absolutely gobsmacked that her perfect suitor has just ridden up, thrown her over his horse, and borne her forcibly off, but she's definitely enjoying seeing this new side of Parker.
The two are such a great, well-matched couple. Parker is a real good guy: he's besotted with Celia, and while he's not a virgin, he's definitely no manwhore (plus there have been no women since he started courting her). As for Celia, she can ride, shoot, and has a brain in her head. She's strong-willed but not TSTL. I also liked that both sets of parents are still alive and very much in love. No tortured characters here!
About halfway through the plot transitions from purely relationship stuff into an action-type thing featuring a disgruntled ex-suitor of Celia's. This, I could have done without.
19-year-old Celia Evans is a smart, sassy, blonde little spitfire. Her next-door neighbour, 24-year-old Parker West, has been courting her for the past five years. (This is a historical romance, so the fact that would make her 15 is quite irrelevant). He's a staid, buttoned-up, straight-laced good guy, while Celia is everything dazzling and passionate. So when he finally proposes, she turns him down - because even though he's in love with her and vice versa, his proposal was all about 'duty'.
Inspired by a suggestion from Celia's mother, Parkier decides to throw caution to the wind and kidnap Celia. Once she's thoroughly compromised, he'll bring her back as his bride. She's absolutely gobsmacked that her perfect suitor has just ridden up, thrown her over his horse, and borne her forcibly off, but she's definitely enjoying seeing this new side of Parker.
The two are such a great, well-matched couple. Parker is a real good guy: he's besotted with Celia, and while he's not a virgin, he's definitely no manwhore (plus there have been no women since he started courting her). As for Celia, she can ride, shoot, and has a brain in her head. She's strong-willed but not TSTL. I also liked that both sets of parents are still alive and very much in love. No tortured characters here!
About halfway through the plot transitions from purely relationship stuff into an action-type thing featuring a disgruntled ex-suitor of Celia's. This, I could have done without.
May 7, 2016
So glad Melissa told me about this one and she loaned it to me. I couldn't put it down. Love a man who claims and keeps..
Parker would have me giggling because he just fumbled everything he wanted to say. Celia was not the typical shy mannered lady. She gave back and loved fiercely. These two were some kind of combustible force.
So sexy and sweet and funny too . The side romance was heartbreaking and bittersweet then I had tears for John and Alice when it all came together. I love this authors style.
Absolutely Safe for me.
Safety Notes.
They grew up basically right next door. He always had an affection for her but it didn't turn romantic till he was 20. He pursued her for 5 years and was celibate. There was only one discussion about his past and she forced it. He had respect for sex and didn't use women. But after realizing he loved her.. It all stopped.
She was a virgin after all it was the west a long time ago.
Parker would have me giggling because he just fumbled everything he wanted to say. Celia was not the typical shy mannered lady. She gave back and loved fiercely. These two were some kind of combustible force.
So sexy and sweet and funny too . The side romance was heartbreaking and bittersweet then I had tears for John and Alice when it all came together. I love this authors style.
Absolutely Safe for me.
Safety Notes.
They grew up basically right next door. He always had an affection for her but it didn't turn romantic till he was 20. He pursued her for 5 years and was celibate. There was only one discussion about his past and she forced it. He had respect for sex and didn't use women. But after realizing he loved her.. It all stopped.
She was a virgin after all it was the west a long time ago.
August 11, 2016
3.5 stars!
March 29, 2024
Just an an okay read, not bad. The steam is on the high side. The characters aren't very memorable.
May 25, 2015
3.5 stars, good but it's not exactly my favorite.
Why? Mostly because Parker is a bit too "pushy" for me. I know, I know it's kinda adorable but the change in him is too fast and I don't feel the chemistry. It's almost like he's forcing his way and I don't really like that.
But overall I enjoyed it. The ending is a bit too rushed but I liked it anyway. Look forward to read the next installment of this series.
Why? Mostly because Parker is a bit too "pushy" for me. I know, I know it's kinda adorable but the change in him is too fast and I don't feel the chemistry. It's almost like he's forcing his way and I don't really like that.
But overall I enjoyed it. The ending is a bit too rushed but I liked it anyway. Look forward to read the next installment of this series.
May 29, 2011
This was a nice story, but in comparison to some of the reads I have had the pleasure to get my hands on lately, it just didn't excite me a huge amount.
It was sweet, sexy and well written, but just not enough wow for me.
It was sweet, sexy and well written, but just not enough wow for me.
November 8, 2010
Got bored. Did not finish.
August 27, 2011
My honest opinion is that I just didn't care what happened. DNF.
June 27, 2022
dnfed in june 22 | by the second chapter, they've already slept together (very vanilla i hate to say) and admitted that they both know they are in love and will end up together. tell me for why i would read on
rec | namera
rec | namera
May 16, 2014
Another great story with Emma Wildes' trademark sizzling romance with a touch of action and mystery. Although this was more of a novella than a full-length book, it was just as good for its short length. The two main characters are already in love at the start of the book, but the heroine has refused to marry the hero of the story because she believes that he only sees her as good wife material and feels nothing for her at all. Long story short, the main characters manage to work things out and then they get married. However, a previous suitor of the female lead's hates this development and he causes a bunch of problems in their lives incluidng kidnapping and almost raping the female lead. The only "problem" that I had with this story was that I wished that the loose ends with some of the secondary characters' romance were tied up. I would definitely recommend Emma Wildes for any serious romance lover!
April 13, 2014
That was so good - I loved it!
Our heroine mistakenly thinks our hero is the sweet, boy next door and fails to see what else he possesses until she pushes him too far! Luckily, he is the boy for her, and she has always known it, but was waiting for him to make his move. When he finally does, she is more than willing to meet him half-way!
Our hero has had it with the little tease, he stumbles over words and actions until he can't take it anymore. She pushes all his buttons, and is acutely aware of that fact, so he let her have her away enough to get her where he wants her
Not a simpering female anywhere in this book, but lots of alpha men to keep them safe, perfect!
Our heroine mistakenly thinks our hero is the sweet, boy next door and fails to see what else he possesses until she pushes him too far! Luckily, he is the boy for her, and she has always known it, but was waiting for him to make his move. When he finally does, she is more than willing to meet him half-way!
Our hero has had it with the little tease, he stumbles over words and actions until he can't take it anymore. She pushes all his buttons, and is acutely aware of that fact, so he let her have her away enough to get her where he wants her
Not a simpering female anywhere in this book, but lots of alpha men to keep them safe, perfect!
January 4, 2011
I absolutely loved the way Celia saved a horse. And boy, did she ever saved a horse... Being a bad girl that she was, she liked riling up Parker by cussing and using crude words. Very hilarious. A fast paced western-suspense-romance, I loved every single pages it.
April 10, 2013
it was a beautiful ranch love story with so much hot erotic scenes and it wasn't just a erotic story but with a good story line. i totally loved the fight which happens at the end of the book. i love Emma wildes. she write historical stories so well.
October 15, 2013
The plot had some potential but all of the dramatic action parts were raced over, and one of the subplots barely concluded, which was slightly disappointing, so all in all it was between meh and alright, but not stellar
Want to read
January 4, 2015Story featured/found in the anthology Untamed.
May 24, 2010
part of series grat story!
October 22, 2015
His name was West. Not what I expected but a great book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews