The Wind Comes Sweeping

I first discovered Marcia Preston with THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE, and since then I've bought and read all her books. THE WIND COMES SWEEPING is probably my favorite and I competely disagree with the featured review saying the story is told too distantly and that the protagonist is not affecting. Marik Youngblood is complicated. She's not the kind of person who shows her emotions, therefore she's not easily understood. She was profoundly affected by the decision she made to give her child up for adoption and when the story begins, eight years after the birth of her daughter took place, she is still questioning whether she did the right thing. In fact, she's questioning everything in her life. Marik is lonely. She's reached that point in life where she wonders what her life would have been like had she taken a different path. Preston is a marvelously gifted writer, and in her capable hands Marik's story is told against the desolate beauty of an Oklahoma ranch where wind turbines play an important role. There's not a single false note, even though Preston juggles several different threads that include romance, murder, and suspense. I really loved this book and intend to recommend it to my book club. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Oklahoma (where the wind comes sweeping down the plain) is a great candidate for wind technology projects, and this newest novel by Marcia Preston explores the conflict between the proponents of wind energy and those violently opposed to it, while weaving in strong characters, a murder mystery, romance and intrigue. The Prologue "The legend of Silk Mountain" left me puzzled at first, the tragic suicide of a young frontier wife, but later in the book the author ties the legend to the storyline. Main character Marik Youngblood, a strong single woman, became a ranchowner after the death of her father. She gave up her dream of being an artist to operate the ranch, now run-down with piles of debt, and barely staying ahead of the bank loans. She turns to an old love for help, and naturally he turns into a heel. There is a deep secret about the baby girl Marik gave up for adoption, and she feels a haunting need to find the child. Leasing out the land for wind towers brings needed cash and solves one problem but creates another--the hostility of her neighbors, Burt and Lena Gurdman. When the bones of a child are found buried on Marik's ranch, Burt Gurdman strikes out at Marik by telling her secret and accusing her of killing the baby. All the mysteries and problems are solved in the final chapter. [...]

When I bought this book I thought It would be about pioneer women. I was totally surprised and pleased at the storyline and found that I woke up in the middle of the night just to continue reading the story. This book is a winner and I have found a new author to love. Can't wait to read more of her work!

The main character in The Wind Comes Sweeping is mysterious and intriguing. Also memorable. So thoughtfully portrayed, the image of Marik Youngblood lingered in my thoughts long after I closed the book for the night--something I found difficult to do. Already curious about Marik's mysterious past, Preston skillfully draws us readers into the windswept Oklahoma landscape with almost lyrical prose--a Marcia Preston trademark I've come to expect, and I wasn't disappointed here. I found that as I became more intrigued with the characters and I was enjoying the scenery of the Killdeer Ridge Ranch, she ramped up the excitement and mystery. Vintage Marcia Preston--she grabs the reader and doesn't let go--a story you can't forget yet at the same time don't want to put down. A solid winner. Loved this one and look forward to Marcia Preston's next book!

This started out as a mystery, so I was shocked when halfway through we were told who dunnit. But then the story morphed into a literary romance. All the while I kept reading because the words were beautiful, the characters solid and believable. It was a unique mixture of genres, a great read.