Windswept

This is another of Sabrina Jeffries’ reissues from her days writing as Deborah Martin. These books aren’t as light and humorous as her later works but still retain her unique writing style and delightful love and passion.This is the second book in the Wales series, after Stormswept, but each book does stand alone. Evan featured in the first book as a young boy, and the couple from Stormswept - Rhys and Juliana - feature in Windswept albeit slightly older.I’m already a huge fan of Sabrina Jeffries so immediately the writing style appealed to me. It’s descriptive without being flowery and pulls you into the story from the first page.I also adored Catrin from the very first page. I could hugely relate to her and I loved the way that she was portrayed as very strong but also shy and a little bit geeky. It also made me laugh that she often cried throughout the story (but not in an annoying, weak way) as I am also a complete watering pot on occasion. Okay, all the time!Now, don’t get me wrong with what I’m about to say next but I didn’t really like Evan quite as much as I did Catrin. I did like him, but there were times that he annoyed the socks off me. I don’t mind that he had a temper and I understood why he jumped to conclusions at times. I just really didn’t like the ultimatums he kept giving Catrin - for good things as well as bad. She can do this or she can do that. Um - how about she can do whatever she wants?! It just irked me some, if I’m honest.I honestly did like him and I liked the pair together. It was nice the way that each thought they were unworthy of the other for the same reasons - it was cute and I was happy when they got their happily ever after. And that first scene at the lake - oooft!The mystery element was also a nice touch. There was a small cast of characters to play with but I honestly wasn’t sure who was the ‘big bad’ until it was revealed at the end. It’s not a whodunnit as such but it was a nice gentle mystery that only added to the love story as a whole.I did really enjoy this book and would recommend it to fans of historical romances, Sabrina Jeffries or who just want to read a love story with a little something extra.

Great book

Welsh widow Catrin Price is haunted by a family death curse. Any man whom she marries without first drinking from an ancient Druid chalice sold by her ancestor long ago is unquestionably doomed to die within three years of marrying her. But when she hunts it down to purchase it, the chalice’s former owner Justin, Lord Mansfield ends up dead. Evan Newcome (who we met in the first book 'Stormswept ' as a young boy), a scholar struggling to overcome a difficult past as he was abused by his father, travels to Wales to find the mysterious woman last seen with his murdered friend Justin. So when the lady proves to be a beautiful yet shy creature who shares his love of Welsh mythology, he’s torn between believing her guilty and trusting the passion blazing between them. But as unscrupulous men seek the chalice for their own devious purposes, can Catrin and Evan let their wall of mistrust stand between them.Another page turning novel from the author, this is a re release of the book & I’m so glad to be able to read it. The attraction between Evan & Catlin simmers from their first meeting whilst she is swimming. Both of them have sworn not to marry but can’t stop themselves from falling in love. A very enjoyable read with a murder that needs to be solved & then the chalice once again is taken. Misunderstandings & mistrust need to be resolved before they can hope to have a happy ever after. The Vaughans from Stormswept also feature & it was good to catch up with them. I’d recommend this book with no hesitationI voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

This is a reissue of a novel originally written under the name Deborah Martin and has been revised by the author. I really loved this book, the heroine Catrin became a widow on her wedding day and a year later discovered that unless the women in her line drank from a particular chalice on their wedding day, their marriage would last less than three years and any sons born to the union would be unable to father children. Ever since she has been left with the guilt that she was the cause of her husband’s death; moving on another four years, she locates the chalice sold by her great-great-grandfather in the C17th but her mission to recover her family’s heirloom sets unseen evil afoot.Enjoyed the sexual tension between Catrin and Evan. Liked how the curse was resolved. Recommended read.I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

"If any woman of thy lineage doth not drink of the cup at her wedding, her husband shall die within three years of her wedding."FINAL DECISION: The book has an elegance and a more serious tone than other books by Jeffries. I really enjoyed these characters and the journey they took because while there are many secrets and deceptions between them, there is a joy and lightness that surrounds this couple.THE STORY: Catrin Price is a Welsh widow with a family death curse. If she does not drink from a druid cup at her wedding, her husband will die within three years. That has already happened to Catrin and she knows that if she wants to fulfill her desire for a husband and family, she must recover the cup. She manages to track it down but when she gets it, the man from whom she purchased it is murdered. Evan Newcome is a scholar who is looking for the woman last seen with his friend. He believes that she might have something to do with his death and is determined to find out the truth.OPINION: This book has two elements that I really liked: the characters connection to one another and the ending which pushes the characters into an uneasy situation where love must overcome fear.These two characters have a difficult road. Catrin and Evan come to one another with lies and deceptions. Both are lying and concealing information. As they begin to build their relationship, these lies threaten the possibility of any true connection between them. Catrin is a woman determined to overcome the notorious legacy of her family. She takes risks which stretch her understanding of who she is. She makes choices which take her close to the line of doing wrong. Evan is also on a mission. He is determined to avenge his friend's death. He is willing to do whatever it takes -- lies are just the beginning. But he doesn't count on falling for Catrin. Just when it seems that the two might have untangled their lives, the external threats arise.I found this story very exciting and liked that it operated to push the two main characters into revealing more about themselves and to grow closer to one another. In the best twist of the book, the plot devise strips the main characters of the expected resolution to the story. As the final chapter closes, the characters have to put their faith in love and one another and trust that life will be good to them. There are no guarantees for these characters, but don't worry my friends, things work out very well for them in the end.WORTH MENTIONING: This is a revised and reissued version of the book by the same name originally written by this author under the name of Deborah Martin. Make sure you don't already have it in your collection before buying it!CONNECTED BOOKS: WINDSWEPT is the second book in the Welsh series. It is not necessary to read the other book first (I didn't!). This book can operate as a standalone.STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I am normally a fan of Sabrina Jeffries, but I just could not get into this book. I didn't really like Evan, and it generally doesn't bode well for a book if I can't like or connect with the main characters. The writing wasn't up to par for a Sabrina Jeffries book, so I'm really glad I got this one at a bargain rate. I kept trying to get into it and like it, but by the time I got about 70% finished with it, I just started skimming pages to hurry up and get it over with. Definitely not a book I'll ever read again.

I found this read just okay. I'm a big fan of Jeffries and intend to read all she's ever written. However, I wasn't drawn to these characters as I am to her current books. It was a good plot but I wasn't crazy about the characters. I will always look forward to her next book.

Love all of her romances. Interesting characters and storylines. Never boring.

3.5*Carting PriceEvan NewcomerI enjoyed this book. It was fun to see that Evan Newcome grew to be an intelligent and interesting young man. I liked his character a great deal and he and Catrin Price had good chemistry and they made a good and believable couple.Catrin is the current Lady of the Mist. She has land and tenets and a future to take care of and she feels totally inadequate to fully do it. There's a curse that has ended the lives of all men who marry the Lady of the Mist for the last five generations. Catrin husband died on their wedding day and if she can't break the curse she will be alone and her lands and people will be lost.Evan comes from a farming family and his father was very abusive. If it had not been for Lord Rhys and Lady Julianna who saw what an intelligent boy he was and gave him a chance at a life that was out of his grasp. He may of been a abusive man like his father and he feared he just might be.After the death of his best friend Justin who was to meet the Lady of the Mist the night be died Evan goes in search of her. Instead of an old woman he finds Catrin a young beautiful woman he suspects to be a murderer. Catrin fears Evan is a constable from London to investigate the mans murder after meeting with her. Neither Evan or Catrin can be truthful with each other and spin lies. As their relationship blossoms their lies unravel and threaten any future possible.My only problem with the story is that the author went back and forth with Catrin's strengths and weaknesses. I felt she was far stronger then the author gave her credit for.