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A review by melissad75
A Wild Yearning by Penelope Williamson
3.0
I love finding a historical romance that really immerses me in the world in which the story is set, and I got that with this book. The sights, smells, dangers, and overall culture of colonial Maine were a big part of the story and gave me an "I feel like I'm really there" experience that I enjoyed a lot. So many of today's historical romances are of the wallpaper variety, with the historical setting being little more than an excuse for the characters to wear old-fashioned clothing. A Wild Yearning isn't that at all. It's a truly historical historical romance, and I appreciate that about it.
The story itself was on the cliched side, especially during the first 25% or so, and leaned more on typical romance novel tropes of the time period in which it was written than later books by the author. The hero, with his jackass behavior, man-pain, and nonstop focus on his lust for the heroine, needed slapped upside the head for most of the book. And the plot twists became belabored toward the end -- it was about 50 pages too long, I think. I loved and admired the heroine, however, and as usual Williamson created multi-dimensional characters not only in the hero and heroine, but in the supporting characters as well.
I had a good time reading this story, even if it wasn't perfect. It's an old-school melodramatic rollercoaster ride, and I have to admit to loving a good soap opera now and then.
3.5 stars
The story itself was on the cliched side, especially during the first 25% or so, and leaned more on typical romance novel tropes of the time period in which it was written than later books by the author. The hero, with his jackass behavior, man-pain, and nonstop focus on his lust for the heroine, needed slapped upside the head for most of the book. And the plot twists became belabored toward the end -- it was about 50 pages too long, I think. I loved and admired the heroine, however, and as usual Williamson created multi-dimensional characters not only in the hero and heroine, but in the supporting characters as well.
I had a good time reading this story, even if it wasn't perfect. It's an old-school melodramatic rollercoaster ride, and I have to admit to loving a good soap opera now and then.
3.5 stars