Melanie Morganfield Young is the central character of the book. When you first meet her she is married to her husband Simon. They are very much in love but he dies on a voyage home from the Orient. During the voyage you are introducted to the very obnoxious Captain Worth - he is totally rude, crude and loves to thwart his power over Melanie. Melanie tries to be nice but eventually gets fed up and gives it as good as she is getting it. Well Captain Worth starts falling under her spell. One night shortly after her husbands death he visits her cabin and they have a serious night of steamy sex. Except she thinks it was her husband and finds out that it really was the rude Captain Worth. I'm not letting things out of the bag. But this is a definitely great read.

I always enjoy books by Elaine Barbieri and this one didn't disappoint me. I liked the way it didn't take the whole book for the main characters to admit they loved each other. The hero, Reed, was masculine, but able to express his feelings. If you like Elaine Barbieri, you'll like this one. She tied all the loose ends with the 3 sisters very neatly at the end.

It was a very good book. You won't be able to put it down wondering if she will be all right & be able to find her sisters. It gets pretty complicated when Wes Howell shows up in town investigating the banker & on the trail of an outlaw gang. It gets really good & you don't know what's gonna happen from chapter to chapter, can't hardly put the book down it gets suspensful. If you get a chance to read this book, go for it & also Purity & Chastity, they're good to.

Get some clothes on man (From a librarian)

You will not be disappointed reading this book. I checked it out of the library and will now go and buy the book. I absolutely loved this book. Instead of it being a story about two people, it is a story about three couples. There is suspense throughout the whole book and you won't want to put it down. You will fall in love with all three couples. I wish there was sequel to it.

This book is another keeper for my bookshelf! I loved how deeply Elaine Barbeiri actually went into the setting of the coal fields of Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. The people, the politics, the hardship and the feelings of those in the village. I truely felt as though I were right there watching it all happen right around me.

I personally feel in love with David, the main character. He was so completely and utterly devoted to Meg that it broke my heart so see him suffer. He was willing to give up everything just to be with her, but was instead forced to sit and watch her be decieved by the two men in her life and emotionally torn in two by her brother who was set on revenge.

I didn't want their story to end, it was wonderful!

Thanks Elaine for such a great adventure!!

Absolutely amazing how 4 different authors could construct such a well-written, 4 part series that maintains continuity and quality! It's a credit to the authors Elaine Barbieri, Bobbi Smith, Constance O'Banyon, and Evelyn Rogers.

"The Wild One" starts off the "Secret Fires" series with Tanner McBride returning home to Sidewinder Texas, at the request of his dying father, Tom McBride. The McBride Family had been split apart 4 years ago, after the father remarried 1 week after his wife's death. The scheming stepmother/wife, Clare, drove a wedge between the entire family - the 3 children fled the Circle M ranch & Tom McBride's tyrannical rule. Four years later, the McBride heirs are summonsed home.

Tanner's story is unique and touching. He has grown up enough to realize that he must confront his past, his father and himself, before he can go forward. Callie has traveled to Sidewinder Texas with a different agenda in mind - she plans on killing Tanner.

As the plot unravels, you become entrenched in the McBride family saga.

This is a great start to an enjoyable 4 part series. Definitely read them in order:
The Wild One
The Half Breed
The Agreement
The Loner

Enjoy!

I am a working mother and don't have a lot of time to read. However, I am taking the time to return to something I love. What a wonderful book THE WILD ONE is. Tanner and Callie are wonderful creations and the story caught me right away. When I found out it was the first of the series, I quickly got all four books. I am so hooked on these four aughors, but Mrs. Barbieri is my favorite. I have just become her number one fan. I am now reading Hawk and loving it.

I enjoyed every book in this series and this last one was no different. I ended up feeling like I knew and cared about these people. Now, I'm going to miss them. What amazed me was that 4 different authors could write a 4-book series so seamlessly. I rarely write reviews, but felt compelled this time. Don't read these book out of order. Start with The Wild One, then the Half Breed, the Agreement and lastly the Loner. I can't say enough - great reading and I'm picky.

This is the first book I have read of Elaine Barbieri and I thought it was very well written. I enjoyed that it covered a long space of time. It made you feel like you was a part of the story. I plan to read more of her books.

Prepare to laugh, cry, prepare to be moved as never before, prepare to be totally and utterly enchanted with this amazing, beautiful, moving story..

When 10yr-old Allie Pearce's mom dies, she's whisked off to a children's home, and given the chance to travel with a group of other children across America in order to find new homes. In the train ride, she's terrified, that is until she spots a locket that has the picture of Virgin Mary engraved on, and is on a chain around 15 yr old Delaney Marsh's neck. She was scared..Delany was rumoured to have just gotten out of jail, and she had seen the hard look on his face, in those bright eyes that seem to see right through her, when he was fighting with that boy the other day. But she had to try...

"Allie took a deep breath. She carefully reached towards the locket..Suddenly Delany woke up. He reached and grabbed her wrist "What do you think you are doing?" ..."I wasnt trying to steal it..i just wanted to borrow it for a while..I wish I could buy it. If I had it, God would hear my prayers" Delaney's mocking laughter made Allie forget her fear and lifting her chin with pride. "My mom used to say that God would always hear her prayers when she was holding a locket like this in her hands.."
Delaney hesitated and then led her hand towards the locket..Allie reached towards the locket..she closed her eyes and prayed. She was tired but felt oddly at peace. For the first time after many months she felt close to God and her mom.
Delany turned and looked at the face of the litle girl that was sleeping beside him. She was a pale, weak little creature. He looked at her hand that was still loosely holding his locket. He tried to choke the forgotten sorrow that suddenly woke up inside him..."

This was the start of a wonderful friendship. Although tough, strong, rough Delaney didnt want to, the little girl that crawled up against him and gave him her trust, had crawled in his soul forever. Without wanting to, he had made a silent promise to always protect her. He didn't know but Allie had made the same promise too..

After they are both adopted by the same family, their friendship grows through the years. Delaney does not get along with the rest of the family but he stays for Allie's sake. He doesn't know what the future holds, and neither does Allie. But they both know they need each other..

This was my first ever romance book and I was captivated. I've read it more than 10 times already, and everytime I read it I'm swamped with the same emotions, the same intensity of the novel.

This is beautiful, captivating, enhancing story of two orphans that grow up together, and come across friendship, love, hardship, pain, bitterness, sorrow and finally...well u just have to read the book don't u?

The books takes us through almost a decade and a half. It's written so good, that you feel Allie's and Delany's need for each other, you hurt with them, you want to see them happy. It's more real than a lot of other romance books that I've read, and believe me I've read a LOT! You will think about it long after you finish reading it...

Allie and Delany were meant for each other..and they were united by a special locket. A locket that send their prayers for each other, for love, happiness up above on the Wings of a Dove..

The story made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy, it made me angry. Quite brilliant writing. I recommend you read it.

This is my first book by this author. She's very good! Thea and Quinn were meant for each other. I think they wanted to be together intimately every time they saw each other because they were in love.
Sheffield was a refreshing change. She was great, smart, beautiful, and very brave. Perry, her love, was the same. In fact, these two nearly stole the show!
This book lacks one star because of the bland relationship between Thea and her aunt, Victoria. They were virtual strangers and had only an I-love-you-because-you're-my-relative relationship, because they certainly didn't know each other, didn't know anything about each other. I thought their relationship rather cold and merely polite. Both women had ample oportunity to share their fears and dreams with each other, but each declined, most often telling a lie to avoid conversation. Where was this supposed affection?

I have read every book Elaine Barbieri has ever written, and she always finds a fresh twist, something new and exciting to surprise us. This book is no exception. To me, nothing could be more romantic than the notion that a woman's first, true love, killed on their wedding night, could return to her. Barbieri carries out this idea as only she could. Woven into the tale of Thea, our heroine, and Quinn, the outlaw (is he or isn't he her first love?), are the stories of two other couples that add further interest to this book and keep us turning the pages. I won't tell you how the book ends because I don't want to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say it sent wonderful shivers up my spine and gave me goose bumps. READ THIS WONDERFUL BOOK! You won't be sorry.

When Thea's Husdband to be Wade Randolph Preston, was murder at the altar, When she was about to said I Do,He die in her arms her wedding dress was full of his blood, She was devasteted,Them her aunt Veronica, her only relative a Doctor ask her to come to Wyoming to live with her,on the way her stagecoach was held up she could not beliver her eyes, She thoug she was looking at Wade the stage robber was had Wade's face body eyes and even talk with Wade's voice,it was like looking at Wade allover again, but this thief was Federal agent under cover possing as a thief, his name is Quinn Robert Banning. Thea though she was going crazy. I love miss Barbieri's book I gave it 5 Stars because she deserve it.

I was not sure if I would have enjoyed this type of book but I took a chance. From the very start of this book you felt the emotions of the characters. I had tears in my eyes during the release of people from the fort and the devastation they went through. I found myself again with tears during Amanda's and Chingue's escape later and the results of it. It was very interesting how the author wrote in Chingue's language and put the meanings at the bottom of every page when it was used so you understood what was said. This book definitely pulled on my emotions more than I liked. The only thing I did not like was Amanda's lack of compassion to any of the men that were in love with her. I just wanted her to make up her mind and stick to it. She seemed so cold and didn't even once display the kind of emotion you see in Chingue, Robert or Adam. It started to get on my nerves that she appeared selfish at times and never fully opened up no matter how good Chingue was to her or Adam was to her. But She does get better in the book and I won't spoil the story. The author does make you feel as though you are experiencing their pain and that surprised me. I believe I will go check out more of Elaine Barbieri's books.

I have never reviewed a book ever. but this book is the only one I've ever read more than once of this genre. it has everything. unrequited love, heartbreak, anguish and all those other goodies we women like to read about. this is one I will never trade ore sell, except by mistake.

This is my favorite book by Elaine Barbieri. I have lost count of how many times I have read CAPTIVE ECSTASY, and I'm sure I'll read it again. Ms. Barbieri has a way of making you love her characters. My only problem is that she does not write them fast enough. Give me more, Ms. Barbieri!!