A Great Book

This is a book written with hope that readers will appreciate all the the that was involved in writing it. I truly enjoyed reading the story of many characters and the history included. The descriptions of various landscapes made it seem real!

I don't even know where to start regarding how much I absolutely adore this book.

I'm happy to see the work of the late, beloved Celeste De Blasis finally available in digital format. I'm curious to know if this small publisher, Bookouture, will attract any new readers or if they'll rely on people like me, who still have our hard copies of this book from 1984, but are happy to pick up an e-version that we can read without our glasses (thank goodness for adjustable font size settings).

Frankly I doubt that anyone has the time or patience these days for a 700 page historical novel that, in addition to the main narrative, devotes pages and pages to describing horse breeding, the Missouri Compromise of 1819, and the election of John Quincy Adams over Andrew Jackson. But if you skim through all of that detail, you will get to the heart of the story, the indomitable Alexandria Thaine Carrington Falconer. De Blasis was ahead of her time in featuring strong-willed female characters who didn't take shit from their men, and who found a way to make their mark despite the restrictions of their era. She may still seem old-fashioned to today's readers; she's younger than both of the heroes in the book, and her sexual awakening comes about at the hands (and lips) of the more experienced men. But compared to many of the more traditionally passive or flighty female characters in 1980s historical fiction, she was a breath of fresh air and an inspiration to a young woman like me. De Blasis' singular heroines were the reason why I purchased all seven of her books in hardcover and why they are still on my keeper shelves more than 35 years later.

I'm not sure why the publisher had to change the name of the book from its original Wild Swan, or why they had to add the ridiculous qualifying description. Yes this book is epic, spanning 18 years and two continents. I guess it's heartbreaking - characters die and are separated from their true loves, but by the end of the book Alex is happily married to the man you know she belongs with. There are two more books in the "Swan" series, Swan's Chance and A Season of Swans that focus on Alex's children and grandchildren through the Civil War and several decades beyond. I hope Bookouture publishes them as well because I'd love to add them to the digital shelves. I doubt that there is much of a new audience out there for this author's books, but I could be wrong. In the coming pandemic winter of 2020-21, maybe a long, dense, sweeping historical that takes weeks to read will be just what the doctor ordered. Either way, I'm thankful for the blast from the past.

ARC received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

4,5 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover

Celeste de Blasis is een rasvertelster die heel boeiend de geschiedenis van Alex en haar familie in beeld brengt.

De cover doet vermoeden dat het hier om een soort bouquetreeks-achtig boek, maar dat is absoluut niet het geval.

Het is het verhaal van een sterke vrouw, die we als jong meisje in Engeland aantreffen. Ze heeft een moeilijke jeugd, gaat naar verre familie, vind de liefde maar gaat uit plichtsbesef tegenover de kinderen van haar zus terug, trouwt de vader van de kinderen maar de oude liefde blijft roepen. Ze vind na veel omzwervingen het geluk in Amerika. Waar nogmaals de tragedie toeslaat. De historische context vond ik ook ook zeer indrukwekkend. Het verhaal begint in 1812 dacht ik. Dus we komt een heel scala aan historische feiten voorbij binnen het verhaal. Het is een trilogie.

Dit boek vind zijn vervolg in de andere twee delen waarin het verdere leven van Alex en haar kinderen wordt gevolgd. Mooie romans!

I read this to fulfil a challenge requirement for a romance novel and it definitely fit that task perfectly. One previous review I read of this book called it a "lusty romance novel" and that also fits somewhat, but it was really so much more than a mere "bodice ripper". It was a quite good historical fiction. Set in the first half of the 19th century in both England and Maryland, it confronts issues of the day in both places including free trading, Napoleonic Wars, immigration, nobility, horse racing, child bearing, familly issues of all types, slavery and the growing tide of sectional issues between the North and the South as well conflicts in love, war and marriage.

The horse racing part was quite fascinating as I was not familiar with this world especially from the viewpoint of 19th century standards. And I fell in love with the characters enough so I will definitely read the other two books of the triolgy.

It's been awhile since I read a sweeping saga and since this was copywrited (copywritten??) in 1984 I didn't have huge expectations. WOW! I loved it from the minute I started reading it. Alex and Rane are amazing characters and I have a very soft spot for Sinje. I have already ordered the rest of the series and am going to savor reading them, picking just the right time to dive in to the world of Wild Swan again.

A First Class Read.

What a story, gripping, full of romance and suspense and so beautifully written. This book is without doubt a keeper ..... I suggest you keep a box of tissues close by, they will be needed!

I was thrilled when I found that a beloved favorite from my youth is now available on audio! This is a true romance novel but with such detailed research and beloved well written characters that you become immersed in the settings from England to Maryland.
I have read and reread this series (formerly called Wild Swan) and love every word. Not precious or sappy, but wonderfully balanced with both joy and sorrow, humorous and serious topics and with a backdrop of lovely descriptions of both city and farm scenery. The historical events are exquisitely well researched and are seamless interwoven with the delightful fiction.
I can't wait to hear the next one in the series and I hope that all of Celeste DeBlasis books become available on audio.

I had this series and read it OVER and OVER. I read it so much the pages were falling out. Then during one of my moves, I lost the books. I miss them as I would like to reread them right now. I just searched my library's online catalog and of course they have books 2 and 3 but not the first. I read this book the first time when I was in high school. My Mom had read it and gave it to me to read. I ended up buying the 2nd and 3rd books when they came out as I just enjoyed Wild Swan so much. It was the first time I read historical-romance/fiction. And it became a favorite of mine.

This books starts out in the early 19th century and ends in 1892. A beautiful saga of a family who move to Maryland from England, become involved with horse breeding, racing and ship building.

Very good historical romance. Part of a trilogy. It would make a great movie!

One of my favorite series

I read these books years ago, long before amazon. What I wholeheartedly disagree with is the capitalization of the "b" in black when speaking of slaves. It is not necessary and was not in Ms DeBlasis' original books. If you want to capitalize the "b", stop being hypocrites and also capitalize the "w".

As to the claim of one reviewer regarding the very descriptive sex, that's not the case with this book at all. Obviously that prude has not read many romance novels!

● First reread December 2-22nd, I am in so much pain because of this book, send help.

Original review:

I can not even begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I was on while reading this book.

I read all of it in one day (yes, you read that right), it was too good to put down and very welcome after several weeks of studying for (and passing!) university exams.

I've never read anything by Celeste De Blasis but I have read a couple of books from Bookouture recently and I loved all of them so I was certain I'd love this one too. Gut feeling - correct.

The book blurb doesn't do the book justice, it's so much more amazing than words could ever describe. That's why You, the person reading this review, should pick this book up if you haven't already and see for yourself.

A Wild Hope is gripping from the get go, and it's a gift that never stops giving.

The descriptions were so vivid, I actually felt like I was there with our herioine Alexandria every step of the way. From her dull hometown to the magical village and developing America, she didn't have it easy.

In a way I wish she could've just stayed in the village, but it turned out alright in the end.

It's a long book but I didn't feel like it. In fact, I wish it was even longer, I haven't had enough of this story. The pacing was fast and the scenes always changed so there were no dull moments.

The characters were all so loving and warm (save a few exceptions, you know which), and in turn I felt that way towards them too. Still, I lean more towards Rane than St. John, he and Alexandria are more matched in spirit.

My favourite motherly figures were Virginia, the grandma, and Gweneth, Rane's mother. Actually, I think the two of them are my favourite characters in the book, along with Morgan.

I'm not sure how the author pulled it off, but there's a wealth of information about...well everything! She has a real talent to not make even the strangest subject dull.

To say I'm excited about the next two books would be an understatement. I do hope Bookouture will re-publish them as well. In the meantime I think I'll go ahead and look for hard copies, this series is worth having.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*