TEST
Where the Wind Blows is a pleasant Western romance and reading it was a nice change of pace from all the paranormals out there. I used to love Western romances (Maggie Osborne, I really miss you), and it’s been a long time since I’ve read a really good one. While I can’t say this was outstanding, it helped me pass a few hours.
Jessie Strong grew up in an orphanage and was adopted as a teen by a family who wanted her to help take care of their children. She worked hard and loved the children, but the father turned out to be a bully who beat his wife to death for getting pregnant again. When he began to look at Jessie in “that way”, she ran off to try and find a job. No one would hire her, and in desperation, she ended up in a saloon, as a prostitute. Her first customer was an older man named Nathan Strong who took pity on her and married her. They live on a small farm outside of town and were about to adopt a little girl from the orphanage. As the story begins, Jessie is expecting Nathan back from a temporary job at the Bar T Ranch. When she hears a knock on the door, it isn’t Nathan there, but a young man who calls himself Chase Logan. Chase informs Jessie that Nathan has been killed.
Chase is a loner and a wanderer, moving from job to job. He owns a small ranch, but hasn’t lived on it much since he feels confined if he stays in one place for too long. While he’s at Jessie’s house, the superintendent of the orphanage comes by with the little girl for Jessie and a young teenage boy named Gabe. The superintendent thinks that Chase is Nathan and since Jessie is bent on adopting Sarah (and Gabe), Chase pretends to be Jessie’s husband and signs the adoption papers.
Jessie wants Chase to stay around for awhile, just so that the superintendent won’t get suspicious, and he agrees. He finds other reasons to stay around as well, and when Mrs. Hollyhock (a nice, but nosy woman from town) gets wind of him at Jessie’s house, Chase ends up marrying Jessie to save her reputation.
Jessie was a sweet woman who had the amazing ability to keep her golden blond hair sweet and shiny and untangled even though she spent a large part of the book with it flowing down her back and she never seemed to wash it. She’s very kind, loves children and animals and is a pretty resourceful character. She’s a virgin widow, for no good reason that I could see except to keep her for Chase. I liked her well enough, but she’s a pastel character.
Chase is more colorful. He’s a very good example of a rootless, wandering man who finds stability and community in love. He’s been on his own since he was a young teen, and due to a botched love affair several years ago, has decided he will never settle down. But, in the words of the song by Bill Monroe:
I was a rover, on land and on sea
’til a good woman’s love made a new man of me
Life had no meaning, it was so incomplete
’til a good woman’s love put me back on my feet
That pretty well sums up Where the Wind Blows. Fans of Western romances will probably enjoy this sweet and touching version of an oft told tale.
Buy Now on Amazon
Grade: B
Book Type: American Historical Romance
Sensuality: Subtle
Review Date: 29/08/09
Publication Date: 11/2009
Related Reviews
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.