Rising Wind

This is certainly the best romance novel that I have read in ages. It actually has a story and doesn't follow that boring formula that has become the standard for romance today. Basically, if you love Last of the Mohicans, you will love this book. It takes place in the 1770's on the frontier. Being a native West Virginian, I was so happy to read about places I've been to and I am familiar with in the book. I also loved the fact that the hero in the book wasn't brooding or a rake. He's a nice guy that is willing to die for the woman he loves. I think I've found a new favorite author.

If you are a dyed in the wool fan of historical romance this series is for you. Cindy Holby writes well and her characters are interesting. Lots of action, great characters and happy endings!

At ten years old,Connor Duncan came to America as an orphan bond servant. He lost his mother and father in Scotland. He was lucky enough to be bonded to a man who raised him and cared for him in his own way. He meets our heroine at the Governor's ball. Carrie is the Governor's niece. Known as the "Virgin Widow", all of her suitor's seem to die before she can marry them. She decides to accompany Connor, her brother John and a few others on a trip to see her father. Well...the adventure begins!! And what an adventure it turns out to be. There's so much packed into this story. There are family conflicts, brutal indian attacks, blood, sweat and tears. It's an excellent portrait of life on the frontier. No sugar coating here! I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. Go get it!! I'm off to find Cindy Holby's backlist.

April 16, 1746 (Calloden) Scotland Connor James Duncan was born, on the same day his father had died out on the field in bloody battle. From war, violence, and starvation Connor was taken, then a boy of ten, to the new world (as a bondservant). Connor has seen things a small boy shouldn't see. He carries deep wounds and scars, and not just of the physical sort, but of the heart and soul as well. Now 28 years old, he has survived a lot. He is living in peace at last, having a little cottage of his own and a dream of one day turning it into a big farm. But his peace would not last, for he is summoned to meet with the governor. Connor knew nothing good would come out of the meeting, for April never brought him anything good. And after all it was that time of year again, April once more. Catherine Murray "Carrie", had been betrothed by her mother, three times to men who died, hence the nickname "the virgin widow" (her mother was very anxious to marry her off to anyone with good money, due to the family`s financial straits). Carrie has come to the continent from England to live with her uncle who is the governor. She longs to explore this new land, but is practically a prisoner in her uncle's palace. She can't even go to town by herself, she is always accompanied by guards. Carrie is inexperienced in life, and she just wants to live for once. And she has come to the decision that she will marry the man she chooses for love. Both Catherine and Connor meet at a party in the governor's (her uncle) house. What follows is quite hilarious, I found myself laughing out loud. Funny, lighthearted and tender. And then the adventure starts as Catherine insists in accompanying her brother and his regiment to the fort to see her father, with Connor as their scout and lead into the wilderness, since he knows the roads and paths, because he has had previous experience with the Indians (the ruthless Shawnees) who had kidnapped him several years before. This is a love in a time of war story. Connor is such a great character, and Catherine's character is great as well. They are made for each other. And we the readers get to witness their coming together, their love shining like a beacon of hope, light, and strength in the darkness that surrounds them. The secondary characters were well drawn out as well. However, this story is brutal, because the author portrays the horrors of war during that time. I thought that the author could and should have toned that down. It was too violent for me at some parts, so I want to warn other readers about that. (My one gripe with this book) In conclusion, this is a story about love overcoming all obstacles, fast paced, suspenseful, adventurous, romantic, humorous, tender (the love between Connor and Catherine), and brutal (the war). I would have given this "4" stars because it was too violent at some parts, but the love story between Connor and Catherine is so great, and all the characters are multi dimensional and real, that

In 1746 ten years old Connor Duncan fled the Highlands after Culloden. He quickly adjusted to the New World environs and now years later as a scout leads the arrogant stupid British soldiers through the wilderness to Fort Savannah. However, putting up with boorish military behavior seems easy to Connor when he thinks about his other traveler. He wants the "Virgin Widow" Carrie Murray, the colonial governor's niece, but knows the gentle woman is off limits to a frontier ruffian like him; as he believes she is better off with the inane aristocratic officers. However, Carrie is attracted to the rugged outdoorsman whose wilderness skills have kept them alive even when held prisoner by Indians. As each step seems increasingly more dangerous and the British behave foolishly, Carrie knows she must convince Duncan they belong together before they reach the fort as he will probably vanish back into the woods soon after they reach their destination. The latest Wind Colonial romance (see WIND OF THE WOLF, CROSSWINDS, WINDFALL and FORGIVE THE WIND, etc.) is the best historical in the series as the audience will feel the danger while trekking the wilderness with the lead couple. The story line is action-packed and Carrie and Connor are wonderful heroes, but it is the vivid colonial Georgia setting filled with wild beauty and deadly graphic violence that makes the tale such a strong entry as the audience will feel they have traveled back to the mid eighteenth century to a world where as H. Rap Brown said: "violence is American as cherry pie" (aside not apple pie). Harriet Klausner