Very entertaining book. Great villains and lots of historic events and outlaws tied into the book. Felt as if Lynx and Calinda really did love each other. Although, he could have came clean about a lot of things sooner in the book. But then, don't misunderstandings drive the plot of most romance books?

i never thought i'd say this about a romance novel, but this one, to put it simply, was dry. the angst and heart-twisting horror was so over-the-top that eventually it didn't even register anymore: just another barrier between me and the end of this book.

This is a classic romance novel full of heart, depth, suspense, history and steamy love scenes. :)

very sexual

Possibly the world's worst book.

Calinda Braxton's father had sent her and her mother back to England when the civil war broke out in the states. She was 4 years old. Her mother died suddenly when she was 11. Her father stopped writing and her uncle didn't want her anymore because she wouldn't agree to let him choose her a wealthy husband. Her uncle took her back to the states and Calinda headed toward Ft. Worth in hopes of finding her father. The last she had heard from him was that he was partners in a ranch nearby.
Sam Bass chose to hold up the stage she was on. He was amused by Calinda's refusal to give up her belongings. He tore her dress as he forcibly took her purse. She fell down and was knocked out when her head hit the wagon wheel. She woke up to find the other passengers angry at her for standing up to the outlaws. They blamed her for their driver being shot and killed by the outlaws.
Calinda arrived in town to find no one would help her. The owner of the saloon gave her a room to stay in for the night after hearing about her from her niece, Callie, who was traveling with Calinda. She was put in a room that was rented to a Texas Ranger who was out of town and not expected back. She was given laudanum to help her sleep.
The ranger, who she was later told was Cole Richards, came to his room and found her in his bed. He thought she was the saloon keeper's neice, Callie, and thought she had been waiting for him. He decided to take advantage when he saw how attractive she was. She was too exhausted & drugged to realize that she was being made love to. She thought she was dreaming and didn't realize what had happened until the drugs started to wear off. She told the Ranger to find somewhere else to sleep and he found himself out in the rain going to sleep in the stable.
In the morning, Calinda sent a note to Rankin Cardone asking about her father. He was curious and came to meet her. He invited her to come stay with him at his ranch and she accepted. He wanted to find out just how much she knew of the history between himself and her father. He took the opportunity to find out more about her. Rankin often mentioned his son and that he was coming home soon to visit.
Lynx had gone back to the saloon to find Calinda, thinking she was Callie. He was angry when he found out that Callie had stolen money from her aunt and taken off with an outlaw. He then went home and was surprised to find Calinda there. He was angry with her from what he had heard about her in town. Calinda was confused and first but then figured out that he had Callie and her mixed up. She explained the mixup to Lynx. He seemed to accept her story but later checked it out to discover she was telling the truth.
Rankin grew fond of Calinda and believed that she knew nothing of her father. The Cardone's housekeeper and cook, Salina, told Calinda that Rankin and her father had a falling out and he had left after stealing a large amount of money from him. Calinda was told that his wife had died the day 'Brax' had left. She wasn't told that Laura Cardone had actually run off her father. Calinda wanted to find out the truth of what happened between them but knew she'd get no answers from Rankin. She tried Lynx and got a little more of the story but not yet the entire truth. Calinda felt like Lynx and Rankin didn't trust her and maybe had reasons for keeping her at the ranch. Salina was vicious to her and kept her thinking that Calinda was being kept at the ranch as some sort of revenge for her father's treatment of the Cardone's. Lynx was given plenty of opportunity to explain himself to Calinda but he never took the time. This made Calinda trust him less too.
The housekeeper, Salina, wanted Lynx for herself and was jealous of Calinda. She attempted many times to get rid of Calinda. She snuck a letter to Calinda which stated that someone wanted to meet her in Lampassas to tell her where her father was. Salina had actually arranged for Calinda to go to a town full of outlaws and for a gunfighter, Clint Deavers, to find her there. Salina had hoped that Clint would prevent her from returning to the ranch. Lynx ended up returning home to find her gone and tried to find her. He was sent on an assignment that took him through Lampassas where he arrived just in time to prevent the gunfighter from having his way with her. Calinda became suspicious of Lynx's reasons for being there and upon returning home, Salina made her feel like it might have been Lynx that had her go there in an attempt to see her harmed.
Lynx knew that he cared for her more than he had for any other woman. Calinda had told him that she had fallen for him. Lynx also knew his father wanted him to marry and settle down and he liked Calinda. He decided to ask her to marry him to keep her at the ranch, safe and waiting for him. They married upon their return to the ranch.
Lynx then explained to his father that he was gone so much because he was a Texas Ranger. His father hadn't known and resented Lynx being gone so much. Lynx told him that he had two more assignments and then he planned on retiring from his job as a Ranger. He would then return home to help his father on the ranch. Rankin was surprised and happy.
Salina was furious Calinda was brought back to the ranch and continued to pester her. She put doubts in her mind as to the reason Lynx married her. He left to go on a job early the morning after they were married. Salina continued to say things to Calinda and she grew weary missing Lynx and not knowing where she stood with him. She decided to take a trip into town one day and she was kidnapped. Word got to Lynx and he left his assignment to return home and rescue Calinda. Lynx learned later that Callie and her outlaw boyfriend were the pair who instigated the kidnapping and he saw them arrested when they attempted a robbery. Calinda had told them about the plans for the theft because she had overheard the outlaws talking while she was being held by them. She told Lynx, not knowing he was a Ranger.
Lynx spent a week at home with Calinda and worked at the ranch with his father during that time. They were trying to catch some cattle rustlers who always seemed to evade them. Lynx became suspicious of his ranch hands and Salina. He was reluctant to blame Salina outright but the thought was in his head. He warned Salina of her attitude toward Calinda and told her to be careful or she would find herself no longer working on the ranch.
Calinda managed to form what she thought was a truce between her and Salina. Salina found a letter and gave it to Calinda that was from an attorney who wanted to give her something from her father. Calinda snuck out and met with the lawyer. She was surprised to be given the ranch deed that her father had stolen from Rankin. The letter told her that Elliot and Laura had fallen in love. Laura had become pregnant and told him the child was his. They stole the money from Rankin to start a new life with his family. Rankin and Laura hadn't married out of love. Rankin had loved her but the marriage was arranged. Laura never loved Rankin.
Lynx came home after he caught the Bass gang and Sam Bass was shot and killed. There were pictures in the papers and Salina showed them to Calinda. By now, Calinda was thinking that Lynx might be an outlaw. The pictures caused even more distrust. Lynx came home and Rankin had not told Calinda that he was on his way. She began to be distrustful of both of them. After she had met with the lawyer and found out that she owned half their ranch and should anything happen to her, the ownership would become Lynx's, she felt really bad.
She went out riding one day and stopped at the grave they had put out for show that was supposed to be Laura's, Calinda was shot in the shoulder. She couldn't mount her horse but got blood on it and sent it home. It took awhile but one of the hands found her at the grave, unconscious. Lynx was frightened when he saw how much blood she had lost. He took her home and she remained unconscious for few days but slowly healed. Lynx stayed with her for three weeks and remained by her side. She left the letter from the lawyer for Lynx to find but he still wouldn't talk to her about the past. Calinda wanted him to talk to her about it but he never would. He spoke to his father and told him that Laura had been pregnant when she left. Rankin was curious about what had happened to the child and if it might have been his.
Lynx had to go to Austin to testify at the trial of two of the members of the Bass gang and stopped by to talk to the lawyer Calinda had met with. He found out everything that Calinda had been told. He then went home to find that Calinda had run away. She left the deed signed over to Clint and headed toward Georgia. She wasn't convinced that Clint loved her but rather married her for the ranch.
Calinda found herself nauseous and dizzy most of the time. Her shoulder was hurting. She was hot & thirsty. She felt like she might be running a fever too. She found herself almost falling off her horse. She was stopped by an outlaw who was surprised to find her falling into his arms. He knew she was a beauty who was ill. He took her money and guns while helping her lie down and get some rest. She woke up to find herself with Billy the Kid. He was ticked off when she didn't recognize who he was.
In the meantime, Rankin discovered Calinda had left and sent a telegram to Lynx in Austin. He came home to search for her. Another Ranger told Lynx he thought he had seen her on the road to Wichita Falls so Lynx headed that direction.
He ran into Salina with Clint Deavers and found out that Salina had asked her cousin who worked at the ranch for the Cardone's, to shoot and kill Calinda. Clint had used Salina to tip off the rustlers on his ranch. Clint found out from Lynx that Salina had taken her clothes off and tried to get into bed with Lynx but was discovered by Calinda. Lynx had woke up at Calinda's screaming and sent a naked Salina out of his room and ordered her off the ranch property. That was when Salina left to be with Clint. Clint told him about the letters that Salina had left for Calinda to find which had her go to Lampasas to be found by Clint. Salina didn't expect Clint to have developed feelings for Calinda. Clint then offered to fight for her. Salina found herself being hit by Clint when she attempted to pull a gun on Lynx. Lynx refused to fight Clint but shot him when Clint tried to shoot him in the back with his rifle. Lynx left town to find Calinda but sent a telegram to have Salina, Clint and Manuel all arrested for their crimes. They were picked up in the next town the arrived in.
Lynx found Calinda with Billy the Kid and Lynx knew who he was. Billy soon learned Lynx was the infamous, unknown Ranger and decided to let him take Calinda rather than tangle with the Texas Rangers. He didn't think his life would be worth the trade for killing Lynx. He let them go on their way.
It was a rough, fast ride for Calinda and Lynx. They stopped for the night and Calinda asked him about the star he wore. She thought that he had stolen it. He explained to her that he was a Texas Ranger and the Unknown Ranger at that. He convinced her that he really was and they slept. They had more talking to do in the morning and she allowed that. He told her in the morning more about the past with her father and told her that he would sign the ranch back over to her if she would return home with him. He convinced her that he married her because he loved her. He was also curious about her sickness. He asked her about it and she told him all she was feeling. He then told her that she was pregnant. She never suspected. She went home happy to be there. Lynx had told her about all that Salina had done too.
Two years later, Calinda and Lynx had a son named Travis, after Colonel William Barrett Travis. He was one of the Rangers who lost his life at the Alamo. Rankin and Lynx took a trip to San Francisco after a telegram arrived. They learned that Laura had died in childbirth and Elliot had died a few months later. They left behind an 8 yr old daughter, Carlotta "Lottie". It was obvious that she was Rankin's from her resemblance to him. She was a willful child who the won over by proving to her that she was loved. Rankin had been seeing a widowed neighbor and they soon married. Lynx and Calinda decided it was time to build another house for themselves because Lynx felt that Calinda looked like she was expecting again.

I've been on a historical romance kick lately. Sadly, this one was boring. For a book set in the wild west I was bored to tears. Not to mention how absolutely annoying I found Lynx and Calinda. With the amount of arguing they were constantly doing how in the world did they fall in love. I rolled my eyes far too many times reading this one.

Book was way too long and didn’t hold my attention at all. It certainly wasn’t worth 609 pages long. I finally gave up and just skipped to the end to find out what happened

Rating this book with 4.5 because I loved how the romance/love story between the hero and heroine is played out. It’s the first time that I didn’t get cringe, frustrated, or angry while reading a romance book, especially a historical romance genre. Lynx and Calinda are now one of my fave couples in the romancelandia. I just love sensible characters. And their chemistry is just hot hot hot. Haha.

P.S. The purple prose in the writing of the love scenes is too much?

It dragged on a bit in the middle but it was good still.

This review is of "First Love, Wild Love" by Janelle Taylor.

The book begins in Texas, where Calinda Braxton, the heroine of the book, has come from England to investigate the disappearance of her father, Elliott "Brax" Braxton. Her arrival in Texas is not welcoming, as the stagecoach she's on is robbed, the stagecoach guard is killed, and the other passengers blame her because she fought back. Disconsolate and penniless, Calinda is taken in by the madam of a house of ill repute and given a room. What happens here sets the tone for the rest of the book.

Calinda is given laudanum by the madam (not for nefarious purposes, but to help her sleep). Into the room comes the owner, Lynx Cardone, the hero of the book. Thinking that Calinda either was sent to his room or heard about him and decided to come on her own, Lynx has dubious consent sex with Calinda (she agrees to have sex with him, but she's under the influence of the drug). Afterward, they argue and vow never to see each other again.

Later, Calinda is visited by Rankin Cardone, Brax's former partner in their ranch, and, unknown to her at the time, Lynx's father. Rankin invites Calinda to come to the ranch (not entirely for altruistic reasons; he also wants to know what happened to Brax and he's hoping to match Calinda and Lynx, not knowing they already know each other in the biblical sense). When Lynx comes home, he sees Calinda and thinks she's a gold-digger out to trap him, which is not the case. Once that issue is resolved, Calinda and Lynx fall in love and marry. Calinda's happy, Lynx is happy, Rankin's happy.

One person who is definitely NOT happy is Salina Mendoza, the Cardone's housekeeper, who fancied herself the future Mrs. Lynx Cardone. She tries various tactics to get rid of Calinda, from defiance to trying to seduce Lynx to kidnapping to conspiracy to commit murder. None of these efforts ultimately succeed, but they do drive a wedge between Calinda and Lynx.

Another issue between Calinda and Lynx is his frequent absences from home. Eventually, the reasons behind this are explained.

By the end of the book, the reasons for Brax's disappearance are explained as well, and Calinda and Lynx have their Happily Ever After.

Upside: Calinda is a strong character. She has to deal with a lot of heartache, pain-physical and emotional-as well as various forms of danger, but she survives.

Downside: Some of Calinda's dangerous situations occur due to her naievete, and she finds herself in trouble and relies on Lynx to save her.

Lynx is too perfect a hero. He finds himself in dangerous situations, and always comes out scot-free without a scratch. I found this unrealistic.

What I REALLY didn't like, however, is the way Mrs. Taylor resolved the Brax issue. Rather than having Brax explain in his own words, there are hints throughout the book and a summary at the end.
I feel the book would have been better if Brax-and the others involved-could have spoken in their own words about what happened and why it happened. I found the ending very unsatisfying.

Sex: Lots of love scenes with lots of euphemisms and purple prose. That's how Mrs. Taylor writes her love scenes.

Violence: In addition to the stagecoach guard being killed, Calinda is shot in the shoulder, but survives. Plus other scenes of shootings, assault and batteries. The violence is not graphic.

Bottom Line: Books like "First Love, Wild Love" are the reason I wish Goodreads would give gradients of stars. Although I'm giving the book 5 stars, it's not really a 5 star book; more like 4.25 or 4.5 stars. There are no gradients, however, so I give "First Love, Wild Love" a reluctant 5 stars.

"Lynx felt she would relent is he ardently tempted her, but that wasn't fair" #Respect.
I love this man so much for just saying those words. That's the first time for me to read in this genre where a man thought it won't be fair if he seduced her when she didn't want to. Like finally !!

I love this book. I love the author who wrote this book because for the first time in my life I didn't get infuriated while reading a book.

I love how Callie stood her ground, she didn't melt just cause he saved or touched her.

I love how when she felt wronged she left with no hesitation even though she loved him dearly.

I loved her spitfire personality & I love how gentle & caring he is with her. Never hurting her with a word. How I wish to find a respectable man like him <3

Thank you Janelle Taylor for finally giving me what I have been looking for in all these heroines.