This story wasn’t easy to read, but in the end I have to say that I thought it good. Not better than ‘Lady Lightfingers’ but close enough. The reason I had a hard time reading it is probably the pace and an overabundance of characters coming in and out of scenes for no apparent reason.

As for the main characters, I kept changing my mind liking them and not, and in the end I was left somewhere in the middle. They were definitely three dimensional and complex, yet the chemistry was somewhat off.

What I thoroughly enjoyed were some of the secondary characters and the dialogue throughout the book.

If you’re a fan of second chance at love stories and authors like Carla Kelly and Georgette Heyer, I think you’ll like this story.

Melanie for b2b

Winter - 1816

Ryder Madigan, age 29, and his friend, Hal Stover, served in the war together and are awaiting their discharge. Returning to Ryder’s home as the new Earl, they come upon a young woman nearly frozen in the snow. Ryder rescues her and takes her to his home where she is nursed back to health. Her stepdaughter, Sarah, was rescued too and is also staying with him. As Ryder’s home has been vacant for a number of years, he is working hard to hire people to staff and clean it.

Years ago, Ryder was left at the altar by the love of his life, Adele. He remains very bitter about it but knows that he will have to find someone to marry even though it is repellent to him. But he busies himself getting his estate back in order.

When he realizes that the malnourished and ill woman is none other that Adele Pelham who spurned him, he is shocked. Her husband was a tyrant and is now dead. As she regains her strength, she is ready to return to her family home, Duck Pond Cottage that her mother had left to her. Her two aunts live there and Sarah will also join them.

There are problems afoot because Luke Ashburn, the nephew of the Reverend Bryson, claims he bought the Cottage and is trying to turn Adele out. But she says she has the deed to the cottage and will thwart his claim. But he is not about to give it up easily and mischief abounds.

Ryder and Adele had a loving past but what happened to make her leave him? Even though they try to regain some sort of friendship, Ryder has been hurt very deeply. Is there hope for them?

This is a love story and a mystery. I found it to be very “busy” and, at times, somewhat confusing. In addition, I had difficult time connecting with the characters as they just weren’t made real enough.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

December 1865, Mrs Adele Pelham and her step-daughter have returned to Dorset believing the man she had years previously jilted at the altar was dead. Captain Ryder also known as Lord Madigan has returned to his estate from the wars not knowing that Adele has returned.
Can these two have a chance of happiness or are there too many secrets keeping them apart. Or do their changing feeling towards each other threaten to pull them apart.
I enjoyable this well written story. An easy to read tale with some decent characters.

I wanted to enjoy this book and in some parts I did but I found both characters,at times, to be frustrating. I knew that they both cared for each other but all their issues took too long to resolve.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

Adele was separated from the love of her life the night before her wedding and spent 6 years being treated as a slave by a cruel bully of a man until his death frees her to have a life of her own. Ryder has never forgotten Adele, but neither has he forgiven her, for breaking his heart and leaving him waiting at the church altar. It is clear that they both still have feelings for each other but there are dark secrets and issues of abandonment and trust that have to be addressed before they can find their HEA. I wanted to enjoy this book but didn't find it engrossing.
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.

What a wonderful story. True.... I downgraded this one for a silly reason. It has emotional changes that are fast. However, in real life it is the same. One minute you can hate someone (or fool yourself that you do) and the next you have this overwhelming love. Many would say that is impossible, but perhaps those that do this , never really know the changing life and situations that cause these type of emotional rollercoasters. The author shows great talent in their writing and the heart of the story captures you and keeps you. Getting past the emotional turbulence was easy, then settling in and reading this story of pathos, betrayal, and love was wonderful. It is a truly great read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

I really wanted to like this book. I've read several other Regency tales with a similar premise (jilted lover/love found again) and found them most enjoyable. There was nothing wrong with the plot in Whispers in the Wind. The issue was with the two lead characters. I simply couldn't make sense of them or like them. Adele was so weak and flighty at times, I wanted to yell at her, but that was nothing compared to Ryder. He vacillated between hating Adele and lusting after her throughout the entire book. I could understand if he'd been angry and vengeful until her presence rekindled his former love. However, his interest in her never felt like love to me. When he wasn't declaiming his intention to punish her, he acted like a complete churl, making inappropriate comments and overly familiar advances. I know they had a history together, but his actions didn't seem right for the period, especially given his position and upbringing. I wanted to groan several times when he pawed at her. In some scenes he was noble and kind, but alone with Adele he came across as lascivious, mocking, and generally unpleasant. Considering this was an historical romance, the problems with the two leads were a major issue.

It's not all bad. As I said earlier, the plot was interesting and the action moved at a good pace. I also enjoyed the portrayal of some of the secondary characters, who came across as better rounded and more likeable than the pair of lovers, despite how little time we got to spend with them. Had Ryder not been such an unfathomable character, I might have been giving this book three stars or more. As it is, I don't think I can award more than 2.5, and that is mostly for the plot and pacing.

I really wanted to like this book the premise caught my eye and had me requesting an ARC from Netgalley, unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

Firstly the main characters drove me mad, Ryder went from one end of the love scale to the other in about 5 seconds flat. One minute he wanted revenge for the past the next minute he was madly in love and nobody else would do, then it would be back to revenge again and had me doing my fruit (my granddads favourite saying). Then there was Adele now she could have been a strong woman but I just found her flighty with her mostly wanting to run away after what happened on the way back from Boston but rather than explain to Ryder why, she just kept bottling it up. Mind you I would if he was swinging hot & cold every 5 minutes.

For me the best part of the book was the secondary characters Hal, Sarah & the aunts they managed to keep me reading, specially the aunts with their banter. If Hal & Sarah had their own story I would probably give it a read but this one just wasn't for me.

3.5 Stars - ARC Received from Netgalley for an honest review