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jeannethinks's review
3.0
This one took some time for me to wrap my head around a few of the things that happened. Getting past the Druids was okay, but the quick changes in behavior of some of the characters left me scratching my head. Overall the loose ends were tied up quickly, albeit strangely.
sassysmutlover's review
5.0
*I received a copy from the author via NetGalley
This story will make you want to read up on Wales and Welsh mythology. The opening was perfect and hooked me from the start with the tale of the chalice. I loved the mystery and had absolutely no clue who the murderer was or why and was taken by surprise when it was revealed. Catrin and Evan are perfect for each other and definitely have instant chemistry. I loved their first meeting and how they are kind of opposites in many things. The ending was AMAZING! So much happened that made non-believers into believers.
Catrin is so shy but so strong too. She has had so much happen to her that it's easy to understand why she believes in the curse and doesn't trust strangers. I loved her personality and her name. When she needs to take action and protect someone she loves she is powerful. I loved her with the gun.
Evan is not shy at all and is very smart. His past is heartbreaking and has convinced him to never marry, but he is not his past. I loved how he didn't hide what he felt and the way he went about getting her to listen. He did have a bit of an inner battle and didn't see what others saw in him which affected him in many ways.
I wanted to dislike Catrin's father in law, but he proved himself to be a good man in the end. I was so excited to see Juliana and Rhys and how they played into the story.
This story will make you want to read up on Wales and Welsh mythology. The opening was perfect and hooked me from the start with the tale of the chalice. I loved the mystery and had absolutely no clue who the murderer was or why and was taken by surprise when it was revealed. Catrin and Evan are perfect for each other and definitely have instant chemistry. I loved their first meeting and how they are kind of opposites in many things. The ending was AMAZING! So much happened that made non-believers into believers.
Catrin is so shy but so strong too. She has had so much happen to her that it's easy to understand why she believes in the curse and doesn't trust strangers. I loved her personality and her name. When she needs to take action and protect someone she loves she is powerful. I loved her with the gun.
Evan is not shy at all and is very smart. His past is heartbreaking and has convinced him to never marry, but he is not his past. I loved how he didn't hide what he felt and the way he went about getting her to listen. He did have a bit of an inner battle and didn't see what others saw in him which affected him in many ways.
I wanted to dislike Catrin's father in law, but he proved himself to be a good man in the end. I was so excited to see Juliana and Rhys and how they played into the story.
alotte's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
joreadsromance's review
4.0
A romance with something extra
4 stars
This is another of [a:Sabrina Jeffries|50886|Sabrina Jeffries|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1344970230p2/50886.jpg]’ reissues from her days writing as [a:Deborah Martin|79143|Deborah Martin|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]. 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 [b:Stormswept|16088187|Stormswept|Deborah Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467226146l/16088187._SY75_.jpg|21890963], but each book does stand alone. Evan featured in the first book as a young boy, and the couple from [b:Stormswept|16088187|Stormswept|Deborah Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1467226146l/16088187._SY75_.jpg|21890963] - Rhys and Juliana - feature in Windswept albeit slightly older.
I’m already a huge fan of [a:Sabrina Jeffries|50886|Sabrina Jeffries|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1344970230p2/50886.jpg] 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, [a:Sabrina Jeffries|50886|Sabrina Jeffries|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1344970230p2/50886.jpg] or who just want to read a love story with a little something extra.
wastelanderone's review
4.0
Thank GOD for Juliana, she is the only sensible person in this whole book! I just want a book entirely about her!
Thanks to Netgalley for the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the read.
amym84's review
3.0
3.5
Scholar Evan Newcome is looking into the murder of his best friend. To start, he travels to Wales to find the mysterious woman his friend was supposed to be meeting with on the night of his murder. But when he actually meets Mrs. Catrin Price, she's not what he expected.
Catrin has been plagued by the family curse her entire life. Before any of them can marry, the women of the family must first drink from an ancient Druid chalice. By not doing so the groom is fated to die within three years of the marriage. Catrin Price has experienced this curse firsthand when she lost her husband on their wedding day. In order to move on and marry again to keep her family going, Catrin has determined to track down the chalice. And after traveling to London to acquire it back for her family, she finds out that the man who sold it to her wound up dead. In order to avoid any false accusations she hides the fact that she has the chalice. So when Evan Newcome shows up asking about it, Catrin does the only thing she can think of: she lies.
I did not read Windswept when it was first published so I'm not sure of any changes / updates that have been made to the story. I wavered back and forth while reading this one. Just when I would start to think that there was no way the storyline could continue for the amount of page time left, Sabrina Jeffries would introduce a new layer / element that would quickly renew my interest.
There's quite a bit of intrigue surrounding the chalice. I enjoyed this part the most and honestly would have loved more development in this area of the storyline.
Instead, since this is first and foremost romance, the attraction between Evan and Catrin is the main focus. While, yes, the chalice was a factor in bringing them together, and for causing the inevitable conflict between them, by the end the misunderstandings and misrepresentations became a bit too repetitive for my tastes.
While the outside problems that arise from the chalice (not revolving around the relationship between Evan and Catrin) were far more interesting to me.
I loved Catrin's sweet demeanor and shyness, yet in the face of trouble she'd protect what was important to her and wouldn't back down. Evan was just ok for me as far as a hero goes and I think this is just because I felt like we only learn the base fundamentals of who he is. He falls for Catrin almost immediately, yet he feels like there's no chance for them to be together because of the way he grew up. I felt like his turnaround just sort of happens. I didn't really feel like we saw the transformation of him learning to accept who he is / was.
Overall, though, the story was a pretty good read. Regardless of anything I found fault with, I kept being drawn back into the story again and again. This is a testament to the wonderful writing of Sabrina Jeffries.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for and honest review.
Scholar Evan Newcome is looking into the murder of his best friend. To start, he travels to Wales to find the mysterious woman his friend was supposed to be meeting with on the night of his murder. But when he actually meets Mrs. Catrin Price, she's not what he expected.
Catrin has been plagued by the family curse her entire life. Before any of them can marry, the women of the family must first drink from an ancient Druid chalice. By not doing so the groom is fated to die within three years of the marriage. Catrin Price has experienced this curse firsthand when she lost her husband on their wedding day. In order to move on and marry again to keep her family going, Catrin has determined to track down the chalice. And after traveling to London to acquire it back for her family, she finds out that the man who sold it to her wound up dead. In order to avoid any false accusations she hides the fact that she has the chalice. So when Evan Newcome shows up asking about it, Catrin does the only thing she can think of: she lies.
I did not read Windswept when it was first published so I'm not sure of any changes / updates that have been made to the story. I wavered back and forth while reading this one. Just when I would start to think that there was no way the storyline could continue for the amount of page time left, Sabrina Jeffries would introduce a new layer / element that would quickly renew my interest.
There's quite a bit of intrigue surrounding the chalice. I enjoyed this part the most and honestly would have loved more development in this area of the storyline.
Instead, since this is first and foremost romance, the attraction between Evan and Catrin is the main focus. While, yes, the chalice was a factor in bringing them together, and for causing the inevitable conflict between them, by the end the misunderstandings and misrepresentations became a bit too repetitive for my tastes.
While the outside problems that arise from the chalice (not revolving around the relationship between Evan and Catrin) were far more interesting to me.
I loved Catrin's sweet demeanor and shyness, yet in the face of trouble she'd protect what was important to her and wouldn't back down. Evan was just ok for me as far as a hero goes and I think this is just because I felt like we only learn the base fundamentals of who he is. He falls for Catrin almost immediately, yet he feels like there's no chance for them to be together because of the way he grew up. I felt like his turnaround just sort of happens. I didn't really feel like we saw the transformation of him learning to accept who he is / was.
Overall, though, the story was a pretty good read. Regardless of anything I found fault with, I kept being drawn back into the story again and again. This is a testament to the wonderful writing of Sabrina Jeffries.
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for and honest review.
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