Winds of Glory

Winds of Glory is set mostly in Newport, Rhode Island and begins when things are really heating up between the crown and the colonies. Bethany’s family is wealthy and loyal to the crown, and as the book opens she’s just come home from her stint at getting a female education – all grown up and beautiful – ‘natch. She’s always been fond of Ashton Markham, son of her father’s horseman, and now that she’s all grown up sparks start flying between the two, but not much hope for anything more than a few stolen kisses – her parents have better matches in mind for Bethany.

A tad bit spoilerish below:

Events happen that put Ashton in the crosshairs of the British soldiers (mistaken identity), and to stop his hanging Bethany claims he’s compromised her and got her pregnant and the judge lets Ashton off as long as he does right by Bethany and marries her. Well, poor Ashton knows he didn’t sully Bethany’s virtue and assumes she really was sullied by this nasty British officer and Bethany’s carrying his child. Worse yet, Bethany’s parents aren’t exactly thrilled since she was supposed to be engaged to said British officer and her father pulls some old indentured contract with Ashton’s father (it’s too complicated to explain), but Ashton is now indentured to Bethany’s father for seven years.

Not the best start for a marriage, and of course the two don’t talk to each other ever (lots of hot sex at night, big misunderstandings during the day), and it isn’t helped because horse-riding Bethany didn’t have a hymen to break on the ‘wedding night’. This up-and-down scenario goes on and on and on and on and on and on for the entire war, with a bit of spying and whatnot to *cough* spice up the action *cough*.

I have enjoyed most of Wiggs’ historical novels, but this one just didn’t work for me. Not the most likeable hero and heroine, no real sexual chemistry and way too much info dumping on historical events and battles away from the main characters.

This is romance with a bit of history thrown in to make an excellent story.
Fort George, Rhode Island, December 1774, summoned to serve in King George’s Army, private Ashton Markham is wounded
Newport, Rhode Island, May 1775, Bethany Winslow is returning from her schooling in New York and considers herself a staunch Englishwoman – at 18 [grin]– She has a twin brother, Harry and an older brother, William.
Her father, Sinclair Winslow and mother, Lillian are very upset that Harry has been kicked out of Rhode Island College. Harry wishes to marry a young lady named Felicia and he leaves home to do so, also to follow his patriotic leanings.
Ashton Markham works for Winslow as horse trainer and breeder of Winslow’s thoroughbreds. His particular favorite is a black stallion named Corsair. The stallion has several high points through out the story.
Bethany’s father informs her that it is high time that she considers a man to marry. He wishes to see her safe under the protection of a husband in these up and coming trying times.
The Tories/or Englishman of Rhode Island expect to be the winning side in the war with the patriots/or Americans.
The Englishman, Dorian Tanner, wishes to court Bethany to procure her inheritance of her father’s estate, Seastone and its horses and of course the money involved.
Look for the characters, Finley Piper and his son, Chapin – printer and agitator for the colonies cause. Carrie Markham, Ashton’s sister, who will do anything to gain her own ends. Miss Abigail Primrose, Bethany’s head mistress and school teacher, who definitely has other fish to fry.
Now the tantilizing event that leads to all of the marital confusion is that the Redcoats come to arrest Harry and get Ashton instead. So Bethany in her misguided enthusiasum to save Ashton from certain death claims to be pregnant by him. Ashton believes the babe to be by Dorian Tanner. [you must read all of the events that lead up to his conclusion].
By the time they all live through the Declaration of Independance and final peace – well, you will not believe all the strife and misunderstanding and torment that they have had to live with. This is a story of how Englishmen, bondsmen and slaves live through treason, spying and war to the bonding of the American people.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED [if you can find it] you will enjoy the change of a spoiled and indulged young beauty into an American wife & mother and her maturing & growth in dealing with the man she loves.

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