This series has been a mixed bag. I loved book 1, book 2 was infuriating, and book 3 was good. I approached this one with trepidation, unsure what to expect but I'd been wanting Eden's story since book one. I didn't love but I did enjoy it and its second my favorite of the series.

Eden still lives on the ranch with her parents. She helps them run the ranch, has her own business breaking wild mustangs, and has a sideline of creating custom leather works. She's not happy, at all, when her parents agree to allow a movie to film on the ranch. We actually met Blake, the movie's male star, in book 1, when he was filming a different movie. Another character from that book, Ramon, appears in this book too. If you didn't read the first book, no worries, this one works as a stand alone though you might have some moments of confusion.

I liked Blake, a lot. He was smart, funny, kind, determined, compassionate, loyal, and generous. He's attracted to Eden and she's attracted to him. However, she has major reservations about getting involved with him when her heart and life are on the ranch and he's a big movie star whose life is in Malibu, California. She, like her brothers, sucks at compromise. It's a familial flaw. So many times I wanted to smack her and tell her to be more flexible and make a serious effort. She does, eventually, but only after Blake makes some changes to accommodate her. He's much more willing to put in the necessary work than she is; it helps that he's feeling restless in his life and looking for a change, while she's all no, our lives are too different, it'll never work, we're doomed, blah blah blah. She could be a real downer at times. And yet, she's a deeply loyal, committed woman who takes crap from no one. She just sometimes needs a good kick in the butt to get out of her own head and see things from someone else's perspective.

The mystery of who was behind the attacks was, to me anyway, obvious. Gallant was able to temporarily distract me, partly because the guilty party seemed too obvious and I thought the obviousness was a red herring. In fact, it was just really that obvious. I also have trouble with the fact that all four siblings in this family have been the subject of attacks and murder attempts. I know this is fiction, but it was just so unlikely and I had trouble suspending my disbelief. It's like there's a black cloud or a curse following these siblings and their loved ones, everywhere they go.

The book had witty banter, hot chemistry between Blake and Eden, interesting characters, and appearances from Eden's brothers and their significant others. I liked catching up with her brothers and I really enjoyed her interactions with their girlfriends. Once Eden stopped her whining and actually put some thought and effort into their relationship, it was fun watching them together. I rooted for them and hoped that they would find a way to keep their relationship going. The story got a little dark towards the end but everything worked out fine and the end was a solidly happy ending. "Wilde Horses" was entertaining, fast-paced, and while it was pretty predictable, it had some exciting moments. It was a good ending to the series.

So I really wanted to love this book, which sounds silly, after all who starts a book hoping they’ll hate it (and if they do, would you really want to read a review by them?)? But, you know, when you read a lot, it’s exciting to find new authors and series and I was hoping that this would be one because the blurb certainly sounded interesting, not to mention all of the high ratings.

Unfortunately I struggled to get through Wilde Horses. Most of the text is dialogue, which would be fine, even great, if it were funny, snappy, or contributed to the overall story. It didn’t. It was lumbering and unbelievable. The twenty-seven year old, Eden, sounded like a middle-aged woman, except for one instance where she actually says: “I know, right” and I had to blink because that did sound like a twenty-seven year old. And Eden and Blake, our Hollywood hero, frequently sounded alike: lots of “you bets” between the two of them.

Two other female characters, Kara and Pris, who I presume are supposed to be foils for Eden are both described as needy, which I found sad as it raised neither character above a stereotype in proximity to Eden who is supposed to be spirited and independent. (No go stereotypes!) And let’s just say that there’s a fine line between spunky and bratty and at the beginning I found Eden to be more of the latter, but her personality did become more ingratiating later.

The action doesn’t really pick up until 40-odd% into the novel (yes, the Kindle app deals out those fine details) and if I hadn’t been so determined to finish the book, I doubt I would have made it that far. Unfortunately, it comes too late for this reader as you just can’t have next to nothing happen for the first half of a romantic suspense.

What would have saved it? If Eden and Blake had chemistry. If their dialogue exchanges were funny and sexy. If there were some spark somewhere. If events weren’t so predictable.

So that’s my take on Wilde Horses. Many reviewers loved it. Will your mileage vary?

I hate giving bad reviews. 😦

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is so much packed into this story...romance, intrigue, mystery, insanity, movie making, a sexy film star, and rounding it all out, the saving of wild horses...the story is very paced.

The chemistry between Blake and Eden has you rooting for their HEA, even though there are forces at work to keep them apart. Though they are the most unlikely of pairs, you're drawn to them instantly.

With so much going on in this story, it definitely holds your interest through to the the unexpected heart pounding end. Even though this is the fourth book in this series, it works perfectly as a stand alone. You won't be disappointed with Blake and Eden's story...it just may pull at your heartstrings.

This ARC book was complimentary and provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I voluntarily providing my honest review.

Sorry I could not get to read this one due to college exams.

Eden finds her peace and ranch invaded by Hollywood however finds a kindred spirit in Blake. This is the first book I've read by this author however will be looking up the rest of this series to enjoy. Good characters and suspense with storyline.

Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

I wouldn’t have thought that Eden Wilde’s life could become so thrilling and suspenseful there on a Wyoming ranch. Her brothers had been to such exciting place while she loved the peaceful and calmness of the ranch. All that changes as the film crew shows up with Blake Benedict in Wilde Horses by Jannine Gallant.

This story is just as riveting as any of the Wilde brothers’ stories. I may like it more since the Wilde is a feisty, spirited female. Great characters with witty, engaging dialogue and great chemistry between Eden and Blake. The suspense and action is right up there with the romance. This is a keeper.

Eden Wilde is the youngest of the Wilde siblings and the only girl. She is known as the horse whisperer. She tames wild horses and adopts them out. She also hand tools leather as a side business. The ranch is her safe haven and anchor. She is independent, tough, speaks her mind, and doesn’t suffer fools at all. Eden is not happy about the disruption from the production company on the ranch or the effects it has on her horses. Even though she is attracted to Blake, she refuses to be taken in by the man she believes will be an egotistical Hollywood star.

Blake Bennett is a mega movie star with humble beginnings. He has no ego, is down to earth, generous and a nice guy. He’d met two of Eden’s brothers on a previous film shoot. When the need for a ranch setting came up on his current film, he suggests their ranch.

The more time these two spend together, the more they realize they could have something lasting. It will take compromising from both of them to make it work. Blake and Eden discuss the roadblocks to their relationship like responsible/respectable adults. No unnecessary tantrums, melt downs, blow-ups or ridiculous outbursts. While trying to figure this out, the set is plagued by “accidents.”

Even though the plot was predictable and I was able to guess the villain right away, it was an enjoyable read. An epilogue would have been nice. This is the last book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

4.5 Stars. Wilde Horses is the 4th book in the Born to Be Wilde Series but can easily be read as a stand alone. In fact, this is my favorite of the series and I really enjoyed the characters, the romance and although the villain was obvious to me I did enjoy the suspense as well.

Both Eden and Blake are wonderful characters with great chemistry! I LOVED that this couple actually communicated with each other and they trusted each other. No silly relationship drama but two mature characters who were realistic and likable. Eden and Blake come from very different worlds so the author kept me wondering how they would make everything work out. The suspense (although I thought the villain was obvious from the beginning) was done well and there were a few other suspects thrown in to keep things interesting and to add some drama to the plot.

The pace of this book kept me engrossed reading from one situation to the next with the perfect amount of action, tension, and romance. Overall, a very enjoyable and entertaining book that I recommend!

4 - "I'm dating a cowgirl." Stars!

The fourth book in Jannine Gallant’s Born to Be Wilde series; Wilde Horses gives us horse trainer Eden Wilde’s story.

"When two hearts collide, it makes quite an impact…"

I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, and it in no way impacted my enjoyment of Eden and Blake’s story, so you can absolutely read Wilde Horses as a standalone.

Well written, with easily likeable characters, although the plot was a tad predictable in regards to the ‘who-dunnit’ part of the plot, I liked the contrast between Eden’s wholesome, likeable country-girl persona and Blake; the big-time film star. He initially comes to Eden’s families ranch in Wyoming to film the outside scenes for his current project, and it doesn’t take long for them both to realize that they have more than a little chemistry going on between them.

"I’m interested in more than a quick fling…"

Eden’s initial reluctance to date Blake and stay in the friend-zone dims extremely quickly and as their feelings for each other grow, it also becomes apparent that someone on the ranch is trying to harm Blake, with accidents and unplanned incidents occurring regularly, as the filming progresses. And although the author put a number of people in the frame, all with their own different reasons, for me it was pretty obvious who the villain was from their introduction.

"we’re missing something. The whole situation just feels off."

But I enjoyed seeing that part of the story play out around the relationship Eden and Blake were building, the odds of it having any longevity initially seem slim, what with his filming schedule and her reluctance to leave the ranch but as they work through the issues, it proved all is not lost for them.

"I can wait… I have a lot of patience when I want something."

Easy-going, low-drama, light on the sexy-times this was an enjoyable read, I would happily go back and read the three previous books that focus on the Wilde brothers meeting their women, as well as look forward to seeing what the author has in store for her readers in the future.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

Mature characters, steady pace, and well-crafted plot

I would like to thank Jannine Gallant, Lyrical Press, Kensington Publishing Corp., and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Hollywood invades Eden Wilde’s peaceful existence on her family’s ranch in Wyoming, she grits her teeth and gathers all the patience in her possession. The director’s a selfish ass, the crew makes a racket that disturbs her horses, and the star of the western film, Blake Benedict, knocks her off balance every time he aims his baby blues her way. He’s too handsome by half, and his charm and surprising lack of ego tempt her to make her well-ordered life a little messy.

While not mind-blowing, this was a solid piece of work that I enjoyed reading. I made a few notes, but erased them one by one as they were resolved or addressed. All I’m left with are a few bits of grammar and style that weren’t written as smoothly as they could have been, in my opinion. Not typos, just tiny subjective things like oddly-placed question marks and some breaks that could have been new chapters.

I liked Eden and Blake quite a bit. They were both mature and kind and didn’t try to hide their vulnerabilities. I connected with Eden, we had a lot in common, and I understood Blake. I liked that they really grappled with what to do about their attraction to one another, not just once, but a few times as the situation changed. And they communicated and trusted each other, which is so much nicer to witness than petty jealousy and double-guessing. I admire Gallant for creating intellectual characters who use reason and not dumbing them down to instigate cheap drama.

The large picture of the plot wasn’t original—lovers from very different “worlds,” a crazy person fixated on an idol—but it was put together in a neat little puzzle that, I have to admit, kept me guessing. I wasn’t quite sure how Eden and Blake would make their relationship work, and I couldn’t guess who the psycho was—until about halfway through, when it became pretty clear. But even when I knew who it was, I still couldn’t pin down the psycho’s ultimate goal and motivations.

I was a little nervous toward the end, wondering if Gallant would go there and the heretofore lighthearted tone would nosedive into darkness. She threw me last time, but this time she only implied and let us decide how dark we wanted our imaginations to go.

The story was well-paced, moving right along from one plot point to another, never rushing or dragging; that was largely due to the right combination of action scenes, exposition, and dialogue. Also, all the events and reactions seemed organic, no deus ex machina jumping out for shock value and convenience.

I wish I’d had some crackers to go with the cheesefest at the end, but it’s a romance not only concluding this tale but wrapping up the series, so I cut it some slack. Cheese comes with the territory.

Overall, as I said above, it was a solid, enjoyable piece of work.

noapologybookreviews.com

The fourth and final book in the Wilde sibling series is the story of the sister, Eden Wilde, the firecracker who has appeared in the previous stories where her brothers find their destiny. The story is a mixture of ranch life and Hollywood glamor supplemented by a dash of danger and spoonful of love.
Eden Wilde is a prickly character, filled with sass and toughness. She has a gentle side that she shows to the horses she train, an artistic side when she works with her leather accessories, yet her interactions with others around her are often testy. She generally sees problems instead of solutions and making, and accepting, compromises don't come easily to her.
Blake Benedict, the Hollywood heartthrob, turns out to be just a regular guy from a small town farm who has made a success in the career of his choice. He is kind, considerate, generous, and attentive. His honesty, loyalty, and dignity are refreshing, his straightforward attitude just what Eden needs.
While Blake's feelings and attraction towards Eden are obvious and his desire for her palpable, Eden hides her emotions behind the tough exterior and tries to keep her distance from Blake, and that push-pull started to wear me out after a while.
The accidents, that keep happening every time Blake and Eden are together, were puzzling. There are several secondary characters who could have a motive for trying to harm either Blake or Eden. The mystery of the incidents gives the romance story suspenseful elements but is not focus on the tale.
I had a little hard time connecting to this story or getting the feel for it. It is well-written with an intriguing plot and filled with snappy dialog, and I did stay up late just to find out what happens, yet some kind of spark or attachment to the story was missing in my mind. The ranch life with the wild horses was appealing, yet the tale was not the sweet kind of cowboy romance, the accidents happening were frightful at the moment they happen but the intensity and constant fear of a suspense story weren't there. What we had were two people who were living the opposite lifestyles, who seemingly were contrary to each other, falling in love and working out their road to happiness, finding out the compromises they needed to make without losing themselves in the process. It is an interesting journey with many roadblocks and few dangers, but as the desire and deep feelings grow the concessions are easier to make, and the understanding effortless to find.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

It’s often sad to see a series end, but Jannine Gallant has done a wonderful job of wrapping things up while once again providing a fabulous story with engaging characters and a good-paced, intriguing storyline.

I look forward to the authors next offering as I’m sure it will be amazing!

This is the first book I have read by Ms Gallant, and I have to say, I was pleased to have found another talented author. for my to read list. WIlde Horses is part of the author’s series titled Born to Be Wilde, but know, it can be read as a stand alone.
The main characters are Eden Wilde, and Blake Benedict. Eden loves and dedicates her time breaking the wild horses . The ranch is her sanctuary and her life. Love isn’t in the horizon. Blake is an actor who has had his share of personal tragedy and has come to the ranch to film a movie. The scenery of Wyoming calms him, but Eden is not happy with the invasion and the feelings she is starting to have for Blake.
Accidents start to occur on the ranch, but are they really accidents or deliberate attacks to both Blake and Eden?
If you like suspense, a beautiful countryside, a strong female character, a hunky male character with his own internal scars, the likelihood of romance and a happy ending, this one is for you.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Wilde Horses by Jannine Gallant
Born To Be Wilde #4

Eden Wilde is the only sister of four siblings that grew up on and wants to stay on the family ranch. She is an equestrian, leather-worker, rancher, horse whisperer, brilliant and also a wonderful friend, sister and daughter. She is compassionate and has a heart of gold. When she finds out that a movie is going to be filmed on the ranch she is not thrilled but makes the best of it. When her preconceptions about leading man Blake Benedict blow up in her face – almost literally – she is not sure what to think. The fact that Eden and Blake are drawn to one another and may want a relationship, a real and enduring one, does not mean that there will be easy sailing into a HEA for the two of them. They have many issues to contemplate and find solutions to for that HEA to be able to happen even though the chemistry and communication between them is almost perfection. Throw into the story someone out to cause trouble and the need to find out who is doing so and you have a story that was quick paced and a whole lot of fun to read. With the last Wilde’s story told I am wondering what this author will write next…and want to make sure that I am in line to read it when it has been written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books-Lyrical Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.

4 Stars

An excellent book with some amazing characters and a great story. This is the fourth and I believe final book in the Born to Be Wilde series and while I would recommend you read all of them it's not necessary to have read the others to enjoy this one. This is Eden Wilde's story. She's the Wilde sibling that loves the ranch. The land and the horses are what she lives for so when a Hollywood production company wants to film a movie on the property she wants no part of it. The family has a couple of financial issues it's dealing with and the money they will be paid for the filming will take care of those issues so Eden will just have to suck it up and play nice. Blake Benedict may be a Hollywood star but he finds himself finally relaxing on the Wyoming ranch and in the company of Eden. Then crazy incidents begin happening on the film set and the peace and tranquility of the ranch is blown away as Blake and Eden try to figure out what's happening.

Definitely a book I recommend.

Eden Wilde loves her wild horses and loves her life on the family ranch. She is perfectly happy until a movie crew decides to shoot a movie at her ranch and the lead role is none other than the handsome and famous star, Blake Benedict. Blake is restless and hungry for a change of venue. He loves the peace and tranquility of the beautiful Wyoming landscape. Blake is also charmed by Eden and is mesmerized by her independent, resilient character. I really enjoyed this romance/mystery story. It was full of suspenseful moments, as well as loving and sweet relationships. Recommended with 4 stars for contemporary romance/mystery readers.

Wilde Horses by Jannine Gallant will be available May 23, 2017 by Kensington Books. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

I loved this romance. I found it to be well written with a good plot and believable characters. I enjoyed the Wyoming ranch setting.

The wait was definitely worth it. I loved, Wilde Horses. It was just as suspenseful as the other three books in the Wilde series. At one point I had five suspects, so I guess you can say that it kept me guessing.

Gallant did an awesome job with Wild Horses and yes it was my first by her but will not be my last.

Loved this installment of the Wilde siblings. I don't know if more will be in the future, but if there are, I definitely look forward to it.