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Baron #1
The Wild Baron
Catherine Coulter introduces the dashing Carrington brothers with the story of Rohan, a man with a rakish reputation but a heart of pure gold...
Rohan Carrington, Baron Mountvale, proud scion of a family renowned for its philandering and charm, is bewildered. He has received a letter stating that his late, younger brother, George, ruined a young lady. But how could this be possible? George was a scholar, a serious young man; without mincing words, he was a prude and a stick. Whereas Rohan enjoys the reputation of being a womanizer, George had the reputation of cold porridge.
Enter the ruined young lady, Susannah, who claims she wasn't ruined. She claims she's a Carrington, but George didn't leave her in fine fettle. She has a three-year-old daughter, very little money, a younger brother, and a wastrel father. In short, she's not in very fine fettle. She and her daughter are also in danger.
When Rohan and Susannah team up, they find themselves on the trail of a legendary treasure somehow connected to MacBeth, eleventh century king of Scotland--a fantastic legacy of ancient good and evil.
There are also cats to be trained for the races, limericks to be sung to the heroes, a murder to be solved, a vicar with more secrets than a wizard's wand, and a man and a woman who are linked by magic as old as time.
Rohan Carrington, Baron Mountvale, proud scion of a family renowned for its philandering and charm, is bewildered. He has received a letter stating that his late, younger brother, George, ruined a young lady. But how could this be possible? George was a scholar, a serious young man; without mincing words, he was a prude and a stick. Whereas Rohan enjoys the reputation of being a womanizer, George had the reputation of cold porridge.
Enter the ruined young lady, Susannah, who claims she wasn't ruined. She claims she's a Carrington, but George didn't leave her in fine fettle. She has a three-year-old daughter, very little money, a younger brother, and a wastrel father. In short, she's not in very fine fettle. She and her daughter are also in danger.
When Rohan and Susannah team up, they find themselves on the trail of a legendary treasure somehow connected to MacBeth, eleventh century king of Scotland--a fantastic legacy of ancient good and evil.
There are also cats to be trained for the races, limericks to be sung to the heroes, a murder to be solved, a vicar with more secrets than a wizard's wand, and a man and a woman who are linked by magic as old as time.
370 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 19, 2026
3 Adventurous and a Little Crazy! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Are you in the mood for some wild HR entertainment? Look no further.
The story follows Susannah, who lives in a broken down manor with her two year old daughter, her eight year old brother, and her alcoholic, gambling opportunist of a father.
When her father tries to blackmail Rohan, a wealthy Baron, by claiming Rohan's late brother ruined his daughter, it sets off a bizarre chain of events. Even though his brother has been dead for a year, a curious Rohan decides to investigate.
Upon arrival, Rohan is immediately attracted to Susannah. When she provides proof that she was actually married to his younger brother, he decides to move the entire family to his estate to provide for them.
As they settle in, a friendship slowly develops. However, Susannah's world shatters when she discovers her marriage was entirely fake, the priest was a fraud, and the late brother had pulled this exact scam on two other girls.
Not only is her child considered illegitimate by society's standards, but memories of her cruel late husband have left Susannah traumatized and distrustful of men.
To save her and her daughter from social ruin, Rohan invents a story claiming the child is actually his from a secret marriage years ago. He then marries her in secret.
Susannah reluctantly agrees, terrified that Rohan will break her heart just like his brother did.
From there, the plot takes a sharp turn into a treasure hunt for the Holy Grail. It felt eerily similar to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, though it's worth noting Catherine Coulter’s book was actually published four years earlier!
For me, the first half was a solid 5-star read, but the second half dropped to a 3-star. I stayed there because of:
Too many elements just didn’t make sense. Rohan’s parents openly discuss sex and non monogamy as their preferred lifestyle, In fact, sex is so highly prioritized in this family that Rohan apparently pretended to be a rake just to be accepted by his parents! It was too farfetched.
Furthermore, Rohan has a major Oedipus complex; he constantly describes his mother as "delicious," and she has been actively encouraging his sexual exploits since he was 14. It felt over the top, silly, and detracted from an otherwise great story.
Less would have definitely been more.
Should you read it? Yes, it’s a wild, fun ride!
Chance of divorce: 0%. I kept thinking the brother wasn't actually dead and would return to stir up trouble, but alas, he didn't. Once this couple is together, they are locked in. ❤️
Are you in the mood for some wild HR entertainment? Look no further.
The story follows Susannah, who lives in a broken down manor with her two year old daughter, her eight year old brother, and her alcoholic, gambling opportunist of a father.
When her father tries to blackmail Rohan, a wealthy Baron, by claiming Rohan's late brother ruined his daughter, it sets off a bizarre chain of events. Even though his brother has been dead for a year, a curious Rohan decides to investigate.
Upon arrival, Rohan is immediately attracted to Susannah. When she provides proof that she was actually married to his younger brother, he decides to move the entire family to his estate to provide for them.
As they settle in, a friendship slowly develops. However, Susannah's world shatters when she discovers her marriage was entirely fake, the priest was a fraud, and the late brother had pulled this exact scam on two other girls.
Not only is her child considered illegitimate by society's standards, but memories of her cruel late husband have left Susannah traumatized and distrustful of men.
To save her and her daughter from social ruin, Rohan invents a story claiming the child is actually his from a secret marriage years ago. He then marries her in secret.
Susannah reluctantly agrees, terrified that Rohan will break her heart just like his brother did.
From there, the plot takes a sharp turn into a treasure hunt for the Holy Grail. It felt eerily similar to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, though it's worth noting Catherine Coulter’s book was actually published four years earlier!
For me, the first half was a solid 5-star read, but the second half dropped to a 3-star. I stayed there because of:
Too many elements just didn’t make sense. Rohan’s parents openly discuss sex and non monogamy as their preferred lifestyle, In fact, sex is so highly prioritized in this family that Rohan apparently pretended to be a rake just to be accepted by his parents! It was too farfetched.
Furthermore, Rohan has a major Oedipus complex; he constantly describes his mother as "delicious," and she has been actively encouraging his sexual exploits since he was 14. It felt over the top, silly, and detracted from an otherwise great story.
Less would have definitely been more.
Should you read it? Yes, it’s a wild, fun ride!
Chance of divorce: 0%. I kept thinking the brother wasn't actually dead and would return to stir up trouble, but alas, he didn't. Once this couple is together, they are locked in. ❤️
September 26, 2009
This is one of my favorite Catherine Coulter novels. The hero is an original. The product of 2 feckless rakish parents, Rohan dutifully fakes the rake reputation expected of him by society and his doting Mama, while secretly living a modest life caring for his plants and grounds. He's really an endearing hero, no jerk moments at all. The heroine is no virgin, she claims to be the widow of Rohan's allegedly sober and straight-laced brother. There's yet another brother and it turns out none of the 3 are what they seem. There's a diverting mystery to stir things up. Things get a bit fantastical for my taste towards the end but it's an enjoyable romp overall.
August 26, 2014
The thing that really annoyed me was that the wild baron was about as wild as a diet coke ----
The only good thing coming out of reading this was that I get to use the word "misnomer" for the first time ever....
The the whole plot was implausible at best (that is NOT counting the Holy Grail stuff, I mean I didn't enjoy it but it was just an event in the book)
The characters were poorly constructed and their attractions were forced..
The only good thing coming out of reading this was that I get to use the word "misnomer" for the first time ever....
The the whole plot was implausible at best (that is NOT counting the Holy Grail stuff, I mean I didn't enjoy it but it was just an event in the book)
The characters were poorly constructed and their attractions were forced..
May 3, 2018
Fun!
Sometimes you just need an ease, predictable romance. Or, maybe a mystery or a comedy. This was just plain fun.
Sometimes you just need an ease, predictable romance. Or, maybe a mystery or a comedy. This was just plain fun.
August 24, 2011
This is the first book of a series...I am really liking it. Of course, Catherine Coulter is one of my favorites authors in this genre. It ties into the Sherbrooke series, Sinjun and Colin appear as do the racing cats. The story has a little bit of romance, lust, love, mystery and intrigue with a little magic thrown in to spice it up a bit. I am already starting on the next book, "The Offer". For once you don't have to wait for the happy ending...part of it appears in the middle. That is not to say there is still a lot waiting to hold you in suspense until the end.
December 31, 2025
Not bad.
June 14, 2013
After reading Devil´s Embrace one of my favourite novel ever, and Devil's Embrace and other CC trilogies I was expecting a much more enthralling story from this author, I was very disappointed with the story that I found rather boring to read, I thought of not reading the other 2 books on this "Baron trilogy" also because I noticed that they are not very much connected. Here in Goodreads this book is mentioned as being nº2 in the Baron trilogy but in Catherine Coulter's official site this is the first in the series followed by the Offer (Philip Mercerault story - I rather liked Philip's character in the Wild Baron - he helps Rohan and Susannah in the chalice quest). Maybe I'll read his story after all. The final book is The Deception.
The Offer can never be the 1st in the series because here in the Wild Baron - Philip Mercerault is very much a bachelor.
The Offer can never be the 1st in the series because here in the Wild Baron - Philip Mercerault is very much a bachelor.
June 16, 2022
The start of the Baron series, this book takes me back to when Ms. Coulter was mostly a historical romance writer. This one is a bit of misdirection between Rohan Carrington and Susannah. Susannah's claim of ruin is not all that it seems. When these two team up, they are able to uncover a mystery. I found this new series to be in line with her other historical romances and enjoyed it.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
May 14, 2014
Not a favorite
I liked the beginning, and then it fell to pieces in the end. Holy Grail! Puh! That killed the book.
I liked the beginning, and then it fell to pieces in the end. Holy Grail! Puh! That killed the book.
November 16, 2023
Rohan Carrington is noted for his wild ways, the only one of three sons who lives up to his eccentric parents' hopes. When Susannah shows up with her daughter, he's confused that she claims to be the wife of his stuffy, dead younger brother. The two soon set off on an adventure to find a treasure hidden by King MacBeth.
I enjoyed the romance and the unraveling of the mystery of Susannah's marriage as well as the reveal of Rohan's true character. The treasure hunt was fun in a popcorn movie type of way, little substance but historically far-fetched. I always enjoy Ms. Coulter's stories though it was the romance part that carried this book for me.
I enjoyed the romance and the unraveling of the mystery of Susannah's marriage as well as the reveal of Rohan's true character. The treasure hunt was fun in a popcorn movie type of way, little substance but historically far-fetched. I always enjoy Ms. Coulter's stories though it was the romance part that carried this book for me.
March 30, 2024
Great premise, but I found the hero's family over-the-top in more ways than one, and never got a satisfactory explanation for the heroine's original relationship with his brother. There were lots of surprises, twists, and reversals, to the point that I stopped trusting much of what I read and became annoyed by all the loose ends. The suspense subplot drives the story well, but eventually takes over from the romance and veers wildly into fantasy territory. Lots of amazing scenes and entertaining characters, but it didn't come together for me. With different expectations, perhaps from a different blurb or prologue, I might have enjoyed it more as a steamy ripping yarn.
January 16, 2026
Lusty Love Story with Substance
I though this would be just another lusty love story. Oh, it was, but there was mystery where you didn’t expect it & angles I didn’t see coming. It was a pleasant read and surprising exciting ending. My first Catherine Coulter read that will have me coming back to read another by her for sure!
I though this would be just another lusty love story. Oh, it was, but there was mystery where you didn’t expect it & angles I didn’t see coming. It was a pleasant read and surprising exciting ending. My first Catherine Coulter read that will have me coming back to read another by her for sure!
June 21, 2018
Different and Interesting
This was a very well written book. Even though it was a regency romance it had a completely different story line than the normal plots. Definitely recommend!!
This was a very well written book. Even though it was a regency romance it had a completely different story line than the normal plots. Definitely recommend!!
December 23, 2022
What did I just read? I thought it was a Regency romance, but it jerked into an Indiana Jonesish action book the last third. I like a little intrigue, but action and adventure is not my genre, so I didn't love that turn it took.
October 11, 2017
Ohhhhh my God, a wonderful story,I never expected the twist at the end.The writing was so excellent i expected him to be a total rake............
April 28, 2019
The story was interesting but the stilted language really ruined it for me.
Read
August 21, 2019Oldie but Goody
March 10, 2020
Fun easy listen
March 25, 2020
Rubbish.
November 3, 2020
I read this some years ago and liked it but this reread made me realize the story didn’t age well. Writing is stilted and characters are one dimensional.
April 8, 2021
Wonderful romance novel!
July 6, 2021
The limericks were genius and the rest of the book wasn’t bad either 😁
One extra star just for the limericks!
One extra star just for the limericks!
February 5, 2022
2.5 stars
this was clearly written in the '90s but it was okay.
this was clearly written in the '90s but it was okay.
June 25, 2023
The obsession of his mother’s beauty was uncomfortable and weird. Then when he and Susanna got closer it had some hope but the last third of the book got boring and bizarre with the Holy Grail.
July 5, 2023
Loved this story! So many angles of interest and not the same old story line with a different setting and different names. Great read!
October 6, 2024
He should just sleep with his mom. He clearly wanted to.
April 14, 2025
The book went in an unexpected but exciting direction.
April 18, 2026
Did you know an angel falls from heaven every time you read the word "reputation" from the book?
November 3, 2016
This book was severely interestings. See I like to read everything an author has written before I move on to another... This book had not really enticed me with its blurb but as I do I would read it. This to me was very interesting. Most of the time I can see the flow chart of most everything I read... Boring you are thinking... No see I love to see the flow chart... it is like good bones in architecture. It is the way the story is woven I like to see the end the adventure is in how the road is twisted to get there, adventure in the path and all that. So this one the deeper I got the more interesting it got and the more you learned... Especially how complicated the webs of Rohan. At best the least complicated was his mother who seemed just a glass window with a pretty curtin. And all the complicated twists and turns some you saw up ahead and some you had to look behind you and then saw the bread crumbs that had been in plain sight but failed to fall into the light as you might have passed by and not given them a second thought. So I really enjoyed this book which surprised me and then was so moved that I had to wright about it. This book proves that you can never judge a book by the cover on many levels... can't wait for Phillip's story as he was a character that begs for a story. Him and of course Toby with his mini adult demeanor but then again... a boy of his age at that point of time would have been expected to be in a different mindset than a boy of that age in current time.
April 19, 2023
The blurb's got me hooked by the time it mentioned "cats to be trained for the races, limericks to be sung to the heroes, a murder to be solved..." And true to this spirit, the book offers such comical settings, fun characters, scandalous affairs, and the most quirky (and handsome) hero in historical romance. The sheer absurdity was what brought me joy in reading Historical Romance these days.
Somehow Rohan reminds me of Ryder in Deception by Amanda Quick. Because Rohan is the opposite kind of misdirection. While Ryder was believed by his family as the most sadly boring man in a wild buccaneer family but turned out to be a really cool man of action, Rohan was believed by all family and Society as the most lascivious rake who would ravish 2 women a day. But what kind of rakes could sooth a screaming 3yo little pumpkin, rescued an 8yo boy who ripped his pants, enjoyed a stable lad's singing, carried a sleeping kitten on his shoulder, and planting marigolds.
The writing is very strange to me, so much dialogue to the point that there's hardly any narration of characters' movements, gesture, or facial expression. But the dialogue managed to convey all of that and I love the cleverness of it!
Somehow Rohan reminds me of Ryder in Deception by Amanda Quick. Because Rohan is the opposite kind of misdirection. While Ryder was believed by his family as the most sadly boring man in a wild buccaneer family but turned out to be a really cool man of action, Rohan was believed by all family and Society as the most lascivious rake who would ravish 2 women a day. But what kind of rakes could sooth a screaming 3yo little pumpkin, rescued an 8yo boy who ripped his pants, enjoyed a stable lad's singing, carried a sleeping kitten on his shoulder, and planting marigolds.
The writing is very strange to me, so much dialogue to the point that there's hardly any narration of characters' movements, gesture, or facial expression. But the dialogue managed to convey all of that and I love the cleverness of it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews