I adored STORMSWEPT, so I was excited to read this. However, it's just not pulling me in. I didn't like how the leads first met and the overemphasis on the heroine's physical attractiveness. Not only that, she is a VIRGIN WIDOW, a trope I severely detest. I don't find the plot itself all that interesting, so I've decided not to finish this one.

Book two in Sabrina Jeffries Wales series follows Evan who has grown into a very successful scholar thanks to the kindness and love of his friends Juliana and Rhys, who we met in Stormswept. He is no longer the abused farm hand's son, though he still carries the concerns that he won't be worthy of any woman because of his past. He is out to avenge his friend Justin's murder which leads him to Catrin's doorstep. She was the last to reportedly see his friend and he suspects that she might have had a hand in his murder. What he doesn't expect is a beautiful and enchanting, yet shy woman, who swims in a fabled loch in only her shift. She has been on the hunt for a chalice that a great-great-grandfather sold a few generations ago. She believes that she is cursed and cannot marry until she finds this chalice. She also fears that someone will come looking for her in connection with Justin's death. What she doesn't expect is a well-known scholar seeking her out for assistance with a new book. Sparks fly quickly between the two and both tell lies to protect their secrets. When those lies are discovered they have to work to win the other's trust once more. It was enjoyable. The villain wasn't revealed until the end and the conflict was emotionally tense at times. Evan sometimes came off as a bit too overzealous in his desires for her but as the story progressed the plot strengthened and the book was an enjoyable read. I liked Stormswept more but this was fun and passionate and I liked it.

I normally like Sabrina Jeffries' books, but this one not so much.
I don't know what it was about this book, but I was not interested what so ever in the story. I mean the story line itself was good, I guess it was the way it was told.

'Windswept' by Sabrina Jeffries (Deborah Martin) is book Two in the "Wales" series. This is the story is the story of Catrin and Evan. Please note that this was originally written under the pseudonym name Deborah Martin and released in 1996. Ms. Jeffries has now re-released under her current name.
I have not had the chance to read the book on its earlier release so I was happy to have it back in circulation with a beautiful new cover. This book is surround with a mystery that there is a curse on Catrin family. Where the women who marry that do not drink from an ancient chalice at her wedding is doomed to be a widow within three years. Evans who we met in the first book 'Stormswept ' is out to find out what happened to his friend. We start to see Evan and Catrin come together along with solving the mystery that is on going. "My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."

This was a pretty good book. It was a delightful romp through Wales and Celtic/Druidic myths. I liked it but was kinda turned off by how timid the main heroine was. She did redeem herself and got her happy ending. I was happy with the ending and would recommend it for someone looking for something light.

Review for the Second Edition

It pains me to say this, but I don't particularly like this book. The writings is what's expected of the author's, whatever pen-name she writes under; I don't find fault in that. I just can't seem to like the characters in the story!

As much as I get the difficulties for both hero and heroine presented by the storyline, the necessity to be truly frank and suspect the other of something, I couldn't get pass the bully and timid, weak-minded impressions they depicted in my head.

I don't mean Evan physically forced the heroine (he did show some volatile temper later on, but that's beside the point) but his endless coercion didn't feel fine to me. And Catrin... she really failed to impress me with her ever evasive ways to deal with things.

Also grated on my nerves the implication that since the heroine was a widow, her being a virgin was mute anyway so why not deflower her anyway.. wait, what!?!?! That's the most unromantic things a hero could say to his intended!!

I guess the barely intriguing part to follow was the chalice and the curse. Barely. It could've been more interesting if the mystery and how it was solved taken more pages instead of on bedding the virgin than shown here. At least it's good to see how Lady Juliana and Rhys fare after the previous book ended. As far as the current story though, it didn't work that well for me.


Advanced copy is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have so many Books by Sabrina J. ANYTHING that she write a. I have to read .. She truly is an amazing author. Thank Sabrina for your talented writing skills...

**NOTE** This review is for the revised, re-released 2017 version of Windswept by Sabrina Jeffries - the original was published under her pseudonym of Deborah Martin. I have not read the original book, so I have no idea what has changed from that edition to this one.

I liked this book, but not nearly as much as the first book Stormswept. This book features Evan Newcome, who was a child in the previous book and Catrin Price aka The Lady of the Mists.

Catrin is a widow and has recently learned of a curse on her family. Any woman of the line that marries without drinking from an ancient chalice at her wedding is doomed to be a widow within three years. The problem is her great-grandfather sold the chalice years ago and since that time, all the women who married, have lost their husbands, including Catrin. Catrin tracks down the chalice and travels to London to buy it. She later learns that the man she bought it from was murdered. Worried that she will be accused of the murder, she tells no one of her meeting and returns to Wales.

Evan is all grown up now and a professor at Cambridge. When his best friend is murdered, he returns to Wales to track down the Lady of Mists as she was the last person Justin was supposed to meet that night. Enroute he stops at his village and visits his father's grave, this is where he runs into Lady Juliana and she convinces him to come to lunch with her and Rhys. Evan asks the Vaughan's about the Lady of the Mists, but doesn't tell them exactly why he is looking for her.

Evan sets out to track down Mrs. Price and based on the information from Juliana & Rhys, he assumes that she is an old woman. On his way to her home, he sees a young woman swimming in the lake and is captivated and convinces her to show him the way to the house. At first Catrin is willing to help him, but when she realizes that it is her he is looking for, she panics.

From here there are a lot of lies told, by both of them, and even though there is a connection, the reader has to wonder how in the world these two are going to get a HEA.

Personally, I really didn't like Catrin, she is not your typical HR heroine, she is very timid and shy. I also had a hard time understanding her need to lie, repeatedly. Evan wasn't much better and I had a hard time reconciling the sweet, bright boy from the previous book with the angry, judgmental young man in this book.

The villain was pretty obvious to me from the start, but Ms. Jeffries did a good job of keeping his motivations secret until the very end.

In closing, the story was good, but not as good as I had hoped. But it is well written, flows well, has a couple of steamy love scenes, life or death moments and it was great catching up with Juliana and Rhys.

This is part of the Wales series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone title.

A good read. It was a definite change to read such a book. One that was not all sex but had a story. I enjoyed the characters but would of liked more action. I was driven to read each and every page waiting for the plot to unfold. I would of liked more about the curse but was engaged in the story line. I sincerely enjoyed the characters and looked forward to more in depth interaction. The writer shows her talent with every page and every line you read. A romance with silly human errors and mistakes, one with a plot that keeps you wondering what is happening next. Chilling and gripping in emotions. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

What happens when a druid “princess” needs a special chalice to break a curse or anyone she marries will dies within 3 years? That is Catrin Price’s problem. She’s already been married once and her husband didn’t live long enough to make it to the Marriage Breakfast. Four generations of women in her family have lost their husband’s due to the curse. The chalice had been in the family until a male ancestor had sold it – bringing on the curse.
When Catrin travels to London to buy the chalice she becomes embroiled in a murder mystery. After completing her purchase, the Lord she bought it from is found dead. His friend, Evan Newcombe has now come to Wales to investigate the murder.
Using his position as a Cambridge professor who is a known scholar on Welsh history and tradition, he gets acquainted with Catrin and they begin to have feelings for each other. The problem is they are each hiding behind their secrets. Will their relationship be able to withstand the unveiling of their secrets? Are they strong enough to trust their hearts to another? And if Catrin didn’t kill Evan’s friend then who did and are they now in danger themselves?
Sabrina Jefferies does a wonderful job of combining romance, secrets, and danger to reach the Happily Ever After that they both deserve. My one complaint about this book is the many Welsh names and places that make reading hard going at times. Given the fact that the story takes place in Wales, it cannot be helped but it does make reading harder when you have no idea how to pronounce things.
First published under the author’s name Deborah Martin, Sabrina Jefferies is releasing these books under her own name. I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I'm not sure why this book is titled Windswept. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and the story behind it. I like when a little curse can reek so much havoc.