This is the final installment to the Wild Swan Trilogy. I have enjoyed this trilogy so much. You can read each book as a stand-alone but I think it would be best to read it as a series starting with the first book A Wild Hope, then A Wild Heart and finally finishing with this one, A Wild Legacy.

Lexy Culhane’s father packs up the family and moves them from England to Maryland after deciding its the best thing for the family. Because Lexy’s mother committed murder, they had to leave behind the only life they have ever known. As they begin their new life in America, they bring with them the family secrets from England. Then Lexy meets the mysterious Hawk MacKenna she feels that he is the love of her life, her soulmate. But, Hawk has a secret past of his own and Lexy struggles to trust him. As Lexy’s life unfolds she is torn between her new life in America and returning to face her past in England. The connection to the characters is so amazing, and you feel as if you are watching the story unfold before your very eyes.

As the story comes to an end, the author does a fantastic job of leaving no loose ends. You will be totally satisfied with the ending. This story hits all your emotions and has all the feels. What a powerful series. I can’t recommend it enough and is one to stay with you for a very long time, one of the best.

Master storyteller Celeste de Blasis concludes her Wild Swans trilogy with a heartfelt, emotional and beguiling tale of love, loss and hope: A Wild Legacy.

Lexy Culhane’s life changed forever when she had witnessed her gentle and kind-hearted mother shoot a man in cold blood. Her desperate father had bundled her and her brothers onto a train in the middle of the night where they had gone to live at Wild Swans, their grandmother’s grand horse farm in Maryland. Lexy – just like her grandmother Alexandria – is a young lady of great courage and ambition. Fiery and impulsive, she is by no means quiet or biddable and has had a rebellious streak deep within her for as far back as she can remember. A young girl who always chafed at the stifling conventions that decree that a woman’s place is in the home, Lexy dreams of broadening her horizons and seeing the world and it is this desire that leads her headlong into a world rich in adventure, intrigue and danger when she becomes a reporter during the last few days of the frontier war. Lexy’s life will be forever altered by this decision – especially as it propels her into the path of enigmatic reporter, Hawk McKenna…

The mysterious Hawk McKenna is a man Lexy finds herself unable to stop thinking about, but still haunted by her mother’s actions from so long ago, Lexy has always found it difficult to trust a man. Hawk is a man tormented by old sins and past ghosts and it is Lexy’s insatiable curiosity about his secrets that compels him to leave her behind and go to the battlefields in the West, leaving her with no other choice but to try and put him behind her once and for all by accepting an invitation from her relatives in England. However, Lexy soon realizes that regardless of how far you go, the truth will always find you – even on the other side of the world. When she is given the opportunity of settling in England, Lexy wonders whether she might make a new life for herself for good in this foreign land…or whether she will go back home and be constantly reminded of the love she had left behind.

Celeste de Blasis is an exceptional writer who had this marvellous gift for sweeping the reader back in time and creating full-bodied emotional dramas where the pages simply turn themselves. In A Wild Legacy, she wrote a captivating and poignant historical tale full of romance, action, intrigue and adventure that has at its centre a bold, courageous and brave heroine who was strong, valiant and simply inspirational.

A fantastic page-turner epic romance fans will not want to miss, Celeste de Blasis’s A Wild Legacy is perfect for losing oneself in on a cold winter day.

"A Wild Legacy" continues the story of Alex and Rane Falconer and their family. The bulk of the book, and it's a long one at approximately 900 pages, focuses on Alex and Rane's great-granddaughter Lexy. Like her great-grandmother Alex, Lexy is stubborn, passionate, intelligent, and independent. We see her grow from a girl into a woman. She knows as a youngster that she wants to be a reporter and she achieves that goal. Lexy is both journalist and crusader, reporting on worker woes and strikes, women's rights, and conditions at a mental hospital, to name a few topics she covers. She struggles with juggling being a full-time journalist, a wife, and potentially a mother. Her husband is also a journalist and they both travel extensively. Most of the Carrington Falconer women are working women, whether at home or out of the home. They run their homes, a business, fight for social justice, and their families, and just like modern women struggle to balance it all. They are eminently relatable if at times overwhelming with all they do and are.

The book also spotlights Lexy's parents, Gincie and Travis, her brothers Tay and Kace, and various other family members. It meanders, and takes side roads, introduces characters, focuses on them for a bit then forgets about them for hundreds of pages. It lacked focus and could have been shorter and tighter. Are sagas like this even still published? One advantage to sagas, including this one, is how close you become with the characters. I felt like I was spending time with friends and the little side trips helped me catch up with everyone and their families. One of the things I love about Lexy's family is how open they are to new members. So many members are found family, casually or formally adopted, and loved as much as if they were blood. The Carringotn Falconers make no distinction between blood family, adopted, or in-laws; family is family and I loved that so much. The story was dramatic and emotional and I was brought to tears several times.

"A Wild Legacy" left me wanting to know more about Lexy and Hawk's life and the next generation of Carrington Falconers. Sadly, there will be no more books as the author is dead. I am glad I had the chance to re-read these books and can read them again.

A Wild Legacy (Wild Swan Trilogy Book 3)
Celeste De Blasis

I have enjoyed all the books in this epic Wild Swan trilogy and family saga. This was the perfect end of the series. My heart is quenching, swooning and everything else in between.

What I loved about this book is the readability and how De Blasis draws you in to every character in the story and feel so immersed into the details of their lives. De Blasis certainly knows how to write a dramatic and epic family story with all the characters you will love and some you will love to hate. I also love the historical references of the time and I love reading about all that turbulence that affect families I also love that the women are strong, and do carry out the legacy of the family. But most of all, I enjoyed this series for the emotional and heartwarming feel I get after reading each of the books.

If you say you enjoy reading historical fiction, you absolutely cannot miss this amazing series.

A Wild Heart, the previous book, ended with Alex and Rane Falconer saying goodbye to granddaughter Gincie, her husband Travis Culhane and their baby girl, Lexy, as they leave Wild Swan, the family farm and thoroughbred stud in Maryland, for a new beginning in California following the end of the Civil War.

A Wild Legacy continues the story five years later when the Culhanes and their three children, Lexy and her twin brothers Kace and Tay, flee to Wild Swan when Gincie shoots and kills a man.

The next fifteen years focuses on Gincie and Travis, and the repercussions of Gincie's actions. At first, Travis finds it hard to adjust to the loss of his dreams and having to leave the Californian ranch he loves so much. But once again, the tranquility of Wild Swan and the support of a loving and non-judgemental family works its magic and he comes to love Wild Swan as much as Gincie. A decision by an ageing Alex and Rane to hand over the responsibility of Wild Swan to the Culhanes is welcomed by all concerned.

With Wild Swan in good hands, the focus shifts from Gincie and Travis to their three children, Lexy, Kace and Tay, now young adults. However, it is Lexy's story that dominates the next ten years. With no plans for marriage or motherhood, she pursues her journalistic career and, like Hawk MacKenna, is witness to some of the most sigificant events in American history.

At first, given her background, Lexy reports on horse racing, but then writes pieces that she feels most passionately about: women's rights and “the injustices suffered by the poor and helpless”. Her determination to expose the plight of so many sees her go undercover undertaking low paid jobs with appalling conditions and, to help a friend, even infiltrating a lunatic asylum for women. She is also present in Pullman, Chicago, during the strike and riots of 1894.

When Lexy's interference in Hawk's personal business causes a rift between them, Lexy goes to visit relatives in England and Hawk heads West to report on the decimation of the 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn and its repercussions. The plight of the Indians and their treatment by the U.S. Government is of personal interest to Hawk and he continues to follow the dissolution of the Sioux and other Indian tribes. Years later, in 1890, he interviews Sitting Bull a few days before the Chief's death and the massacre at Wounded Knee. Both of which events have a profound effect on him.

And throughout the years, Wild Swan still remains the place where minds and bodies heal.

Like the previous two books, A Wild Legacy is an emotional roller coaster ride, spectacularly weaving together the lives of the Carrington-Falconers and American history. It has the added sadness of Alex and Rane's love story finally coming to an end. Although the manner of their deaths is tragic, it is also poignant and fitting.

The following generations continue to make their mark on an ever changing world, especially the women of the family, who balance their careers with being wives and mothers. For Lexy comes the realisation that she too can overcome her fears to strike the same balance and embrace whatever life brings her way.

A Wild Legacy brings to a satisfactory close this epic trilogy and, as the first two books, it is a powerful story of sacrifice, resilience, loss and love. This is one of the best family sagas I've ever read and, with its re-release, I'm sure many other readers will now get to enjoy the amazing talent of Celeste De Blasis.

Another delightful book for lovers of historical fiction, this book is set in post-colonial US and carries on the story of the descendants of Alexandria Carrington Falconer.

With Lexy Culhane’s mother having shot a man, her father decides to move the family from England to Maryland, US. Leaving behind their life and hiding their family secrets, they attempt to start life anew.

Given her traumatic past, although Lexy feels deeply for Hawk MacKenna, she has a hard time trusting him. Hawk too is hiding secrets of his own. Lexy has some hard choices to make between choosing the land of her ancestors and the man she loves.

The author’s ability to create circumstances, settings and characters of such depth is truly remarkable. I love how the stories flow from one generation to the other through the books. What truly stands out for me in this trilogy is the women who loved deeply, and despite difficult circumstances took charge of their lives and chartered the course of their family through it all.

The Wild Legacy is a great finish to this trilogy that I will remember for a long time.

What a stupendous Continuation of the Falconer-Culhane Family! The Legacy of this family is so impactful and passionate that there is no way it’s UNPUTDOWNABLE!
Lexy Culhane is the granddaughter of the Matriarch of the Falconer family and she is just as independent and spirited. Lexy and her family leaves California under a black cloud due to her mothers half brothers questionable death.
Lexy becomes a hard nosed reporter and gains a reputation for being fair and knowing the racing world due to her families ties. Lexy has a relationship with another reporter Hawk MacKenna who has his own ghosts to deal with before he can totally relate to Lexy.
The author has created real life scenarios throughout the book that brings the characters right into your world! The family dynamics are so intertwined that you will be immersed and kept so fulfilled with the branch of stories of the family!

I hope that there is a book four to tell the story of some of the other family members! This family is truly a remarkable storyline! They should make a series of this Trilogy!

If I could give it more stars I would give it more! I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions!

I have followed this incredible series from the start, so it is safe to say that I have been eagerly anticipating this final instalment. One thing I have always really admired about this author is the way in which she so seamlessly blends these stories together, with each book flowing seamlessly into the next.
As we catch up with Alex and Rane Falconer, the story shifts its focus on to their granddaughter Gincie, her husband and their three children. They are now happily settled in California, so when a surprise return from Gincie's past shows up, she finds herself making an extremely drastic move that is followed by many consequences. These events force the Culhane family to leave California and return to their old farm back in Maryland. As the family adjusts to their lives and resettle in Maryland, the aging Alex and Rane make the decision to hand over the running of the farm along with the raising of the Thoroughbreds to the Culhanes. From this point, the story changes its focus once more to the Culhane children as they all approach adulthood and make their own ways in life.
This book was everything I could have possibly hoped for and more. I loved being reacquainted with the characters in which I have come to know and love throughout this series. The various love stories that we are allowed to witness throughout these books is truly heart warming, and it really allows you to connect with the characters on a much deeper level. The storyline is perfectly constructed, full of drama, romance and intrigue. I could talk about this story all day long! however I refuse to give away too many spoilers. All I will say is that this series is without a doubt one of my all time favourites, and if you haven't dived in to this beautiful world, you really must!.
Beautifully written, captivating, and the perfect ending to what I can only describe as an outstanding series. I adored everything about this book!.

The books in the "Wild Swan Trilogy" are among my favourites-of-all-time, and not just in the historical fiction category. I love the stories, the writing, the characters, the settings. You can't ask for more. "A Wild Heart" is the third and final book in the series and lives up to the expectations of the first two. It makes me sad that the series is over... but I can always read them again - and I probably will, over and over!

My thanks to the author (RIP), publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

A wonderful ending to a brilliant family saga. This time focusing on Lexy and her choices, relationships and family ties. I really enjoyed her story as she continuously fought for women’s rights backed up completely by the strong women in her family. Full of historical facts this is a fascinating read and one that tugs at all the emotions.

This was a fitting conclusion to this epic family saga. It was another long book full of historical facts stuck in with the family life. There’s a lot of characters to keep straight. I enjoyed the story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

A very well written historical romance. Great plot and character dynamics. If you enjoy historical fiction you would enjoy this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Thank you to Bookouture and Net Galley for the ARC of A Wild Legacy. Celeste De Blasis is an amazing author with a graceful style that flows seamlessly and draws you in quickly. This is Book 3 of a Trilogy and I wish I would have read the first two before I read this one. I understand they are standalone, but it takes quite a bit of patience to get through the initial chapters with all the character history and background descriptions. I found it difficult to keep track of who was who, and it became tedious and dragged in several spots. I was struck by the impression that it reads somewhat like a letter to a cherished friend, and am undecided if I like that style. That said, the author has a knack for encapsulating her characters in the turbulent history of the era, the frontier wars, and the beautiful east coast and the horses....oh yes, the horses! This book follows Lexy Culhane from a young girl caught in the aftermath of a murder her mother committed, to her blossoming into a rebellious and independent woman, falling in love and facing some very difficult choices. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who loves emotional and sweeping historicals but do yourself a favor and read the first two in the Trilogy beforehand. You will thank yourself!

My thanks to Celeste De Blasis, Bookouture and Net Galley for the ARC of A WILD LEGACY. I understand that this book is part of a series but I wish authors wouldn't parade a list of characters that appeared in all the other books and give us their whole back story. I couldn't get to grips with this one at all, though I tried a number of times. There were just too many characters, and I got to about 20% and hadn't got to the main story that I believe was the purpose of the book. I'm afraid I got totally confused and just couldn't remember who the all were.