A Conspiratorial Courting

by Martha Keyes

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**Previously published as My Wild Heart

Can a ruse turn to romance?

No one stands in doubt of Edith Donne's opinion on marriage—or of her ability to ward it off using nothing but her stinging wit. With the fortune her aunt has left her, Edith has no reason to marry and certainly no intention of it. When she inadvertently overhears that her lifelong archrival is in love with her, she is stunned, but she has no compunction in setting him straight.

Elias Abram trusts no woman, but he can bandy words with the best of them—and Edith Donne is undoubtedly the best. Her razor-sharp tongue has been a constant companion and a welcome challenge since their prank-filled childhood days. But when Elias is given to believe that Edith is secretly in love with him, his world is flipped on its head, forcing him to reconsider everything he thought he knew.

Soon realizing they have been duped by their conspiring friends, Edith and Elias resolve to turn the tables on them in the most shocking manner they can concoct—the ultimate revenge. But what's to be done when the lines between charade and reality begin to blur?

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Book Details

Genre

Historical Romance

Subgenre

Regency (1811–1820), General Historical, Georgian (1714–1837)

Series

Romance Retold • Book 2

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

2 Mild

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

2 Mild

Publication Date

June 14, 2020

Language Versions

English

Narration Type

Human

Fiction Form

Novel

Fantastic Regency Shakespeare

Edith Donne is known for her sharp tongue and wit. She’s also adamant about not marrying, for why would she wish for a life where love has faded and all that remains is a man who controls and demands?

Elias Abram is happy in his bachelorhood and very content to engage in verbal spars with Edith. But when he catches wind that the woman is in love with him, he finds his own feelings becoming engaged in a different sort of battle.

When the two of them discover their friends have set them up to believe each other enamored, there is nothing for it but to get revenge. And what better way than to carry on with the ruse of their fake feelings. But an unforeseen storm turns their ruse into a dilemma, and Edith and Elias realize there is more to their relationship than battles of words.

Oh my goodness did I love this book! Edith and Elias are so much fun. And that first kiss 🔥WOW there was no stopping after that. I really enjoy when a ruse turns into to more and this story had that perfect balance of frienamies to lovers. Another fantastic read!

Bantering Galore

No one stands in doubt of Edith’s opinion on marriage or of her ability to ward it off using nothing but her stinging wit. With the fortune her aunt left her, Edith has no reason to marry and no intention of it. When she inadvertently overhears that her lifelong archrival is in love with her, she is stunned but has no compunction in setting him straight. Elias trusts no woman, but he can bandy words with the best of them. Edith is undoubtedly the best. Her razor-sharp tongue has been a constant companion and a welcome challenge since t heir prank-filled childhood days. Elias is given to believe that Edith is secretly in love with him Soon realizing they have been duped y their conspiring friends, Edith and Elias resolve to turn the tables on them in the most shocking manner they can concoct. – I did not like this initially, but it got better. Some of the arguments between Edith and Elias were funny, but some were silly or carried too far. The book includes interesting characters and a good story. You will like Edith and Elias more as they story unfolds.

A Delightful Experience!

When I first read that the author planned on retelling Shakespeare plays in a regency setting, I had my doubts of how that would work out. I am happy to say after reading My Wild Heart, that the idea was not only well executed but completely engaging.
You don’t need to be a Shakespeare expert to enjoy this story, you don’t even need to try and recall the story from reading it in school. The author seamlessly takes the original idea of Shakespeare’s and molds it into a delicious tale set in the regency time period. Very clever.
The characters are smart and witty. The plot is fast moving and satisfying. I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh look at a regency romance and a cozy read for an afternoon’s escape.

loved!

Probably one of my favorites of Keyes. I don't know what it was about this one that just got me. I loved that these two were enemies turned lover. I loved how they had to figure it all out. Nothing was easy for these two. I loved all the good advice at the end about love. I liked how she changed up the retelling. Shakespeare is not a favorite of mine because his stuff is so raw and in your face. I like this version better:}
This is a proper romance with a couple of very nice kisses:}

“It is not your responsibility to make him happy. It is your opportunity, rather, to love him.”

SETTING: A wonderfully sensitive look at the tender affections of BOTH a young man and a young woman, coming to realize the potential for a marriage between the two of them. Each has significant reservations about the potential for a marriage to bring peace and happiness, as they have seen the opposite in those around them. We watch as they wrestle with their conflicting emotions and thoughts, and endure a potential scandal. Despite how they have perceived even their own parents’ marriages to be disasters, in terms of love, they begin to discern the underlying love that had drawn the couples together in the first place. How can they marry and hope to have a happy relationship? Good advice comes from Edith’s cousin Viola:
“It is not your responsibility to make him happy. It is your opportunity, rather, to love him.”

CRITIQUE: A well written story that allows the reader to experience the hopes and fears of both the Hero and the heroine. Their emotions and fears are realistic and sensitively displayed. There is one incident that seems a bit contrived, but overall the book rang true. The H and h were upright individuals, imperfect, but struggling to be good people, good role models in a clean story that can be enjoyed by all ages.