Title: The Wild Ones
Author: M. Leighton
Series: The Wild Ones
Genre: Contemporary Romance/New Adult
Rating: 3.5 stars
Source: self purchase
from Goodreads…
Passion as hot as midnight in the South and love as wild as the horses they tame.
Camille “Cami” Hines is the darling daughter of the South’s champion thoroughbred breeder, Jack Hines. She has a pedigree that rivals some of her father’s best horses. Other than feeling a little suffocated at times, Cami thought she was pretty happy with her boyfriend, her life and her future.
But that was before she met Patrick Henley.
“Trick” blurs the lines between what Cami wants and what is expected of her. He’s considered the “help,” which is forbidden fruit as far as her father is concerned, not to mention that Trick would be fired if he ever laid a hand on her. And Trick needs his job. Desperately. His family depends on him.
The heart wants what the heart wants, though, and Trick and Cami are drawn to each other despite the obstacles. At least the ones they know of.
When Trick stumbles upon a note from his father, it triggers a series of revelations that could ruin what he and Cami have worked so hard to overcome. It turns out there’s more to Trick’s presence at the ranch than either of them knew, secrets that could tear them apart.
I wanted to love this story as hard as I loved Down To You but sadly, I couldn’t. You know I try not to compare books when I read them…new book, new outlook on life but I read this one right after Cash’s story and it just didn’t heat me up like his did. Don’t get me wrong, Trick is so fucking scandalicious it’s insane. And Cami, she’s got some spunk, especially when dealing with her dad. I lived in Kentucky horse country for a while, I could totally picture Cami’s dad, and her mom.
Speaking of Cami’s mom, I’ll just get it the parts that confounded me out of the way, then we can get back to talking about how sexy Trick is and other things I love. Let’s start with Cami’s mom. I thought she was dead, or left or was out of the picture for the first half of the book and then BA-Bam! there she is lurking by the barn spying on young love. Not gonna lie, I had to go back and skim a bit to make sure I didn’t miss some other mention of her. Another thing that bothered me was how long the misunderstanding/break up went on. It went on for a VERY long time and then, BA-Bam! it was resolved…just like that. It felt rushed to me, I would’ve preferred more detail and a shorter timespan maybe? Did it read that way for you or am I just being a finicky bitch? Also, I was worried Trick was developing some sort of drinking problem, and my immediate thought was it was a genetic thing thus linking his dad’s death to the bottle. Did anyone else feel that implication? Anyone? Bueller?
Something I did love, other than the visual of a wet Trick washing down a horse, or a greasy Trick working on his car, or a Trick going commando under his jeans is the books POV shifts. I really enjoy the chapter changes, it feels like I’m getting in the characters head a little more, learning how they think. I dig that shit. It’s fun. The Wild Ones isn’t exactly a Romeo and Juliet scenario, Romeo and Juliet came from the same “class” or caste if you will. Trick and Cami are more of a rich girl falling for the help sort of thing, with a twist. I big fucking twist. I love a big fucking twist. And since I thought Cami’s mom was dead or whatever, that twist totally caught me off guard. Did not see that shit coming. I love when a book surprises me like that. Well done Ms. Leighton you clever little writer woman.
So basically, Trick is sex on legs. I’m surprised Cami could keep her wits about herself as long as she did. I would’ve been helpless to his smirky half smile thing long before she gave up the goods. Good Goddess that Trick is happy trouble on the girlie bits. AmIRight?!!? I’m assuming Trick is 22-ish…so, if you use the Cougar theory of half your age plus seven then sadly, I’m well into Demi Moore territory and I should hang my head in shame. Sorry to be a quiver killer bitch like that, but hey, at least I wouldn’t go to jail, right?!!? Always a silver lining…if it’s out there I’ll find it. If you’ve read The Wild Ones, tell me what you think…if you’ve not read it yet, give it a shot, and “pick Treat.”
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Leighton’s heroines consistently piss me off. Cami…..I’d like to slap the taste out of her mouth. Now Trick….oh, Lord. “Pick Trick.” Sure, darling. Anything you say…..
Trick is mighty fine…mighty, mighty fine and I don’t care if it puts me in Demi Moore territory or not!
Let’s use Jlo. Casper is 18 years younger than her and she ain’t eat up with crazy a la Demi.
HAHA!!! I like your thinking Linnik – I don’t think Chris Hansen is knocking on JLos door…is he?
you always surprises me! i just got this book and I see your review in facebook!!!! as soon as i finish with Painted Faces and Back to you Im going straight to The wild ones!
let me know what you think Laura!
I agree with you 100% on the issues you had with the book. I thought cami’s mom was dead form most of the book too. I don’t think the bad took away from the good as much as you did though, I’d give it 4 stars. I don’t think it was meant to be as ‘hot’ as down to you/up to you, so maybe that’s why, i think that way.
I see what you’re saying Nicki – maybe the timing of my reading of this book is what did me in? That whole Cami’s mom thing coming out of nowhere really threw me for a loop.
Cami’s Mom! I totally thought she was dead too or maybe divorced because the way Cami talked about her it was like she wasn’t present so when she showed up i was like WTH! I thought you were dead woman. The build up to the secret was totally out of left feild and I did not see that coming. I mean I love a good twist but at least give me a little hint of what it might have been since it dealth with family history stuff. That’s one of the reasons I gave this a 3-3.5 stars too on GR b/c I was just confused with that plot twist.
I seriously went back and read the lead up to that encounter by the barn, twice – at first I thought we were going to get some sort of paranormal spin and it was the mom’s ghost lurking about. Actually, now that I think about it, that would be a cool twist!
Did anyone else feel that implication? Anyone? Bueller? LOL
Ha- everything you said in this review mirrored my exact thoughts- especially ghost mom & sex on legs, Trick. You are so right about that.
crazy, right?!!?
We really need to rewrite this definition of cougar. This old lady is feeling very left out of drooling over lots of hot guys.
/end vent
I agree Charms…we need to noodle out a new metric if these writers insist on making these way too young guys way too sexy!