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Heed the Wind:
She lost her entire family, he destroyed his. Now the battle for redemption begins.
After her family and friends have all been lost, 18-year-old Staletta Burns struggles to survive on the streets of Victorian London. Her violin is her only tether to a world that has failed her. She finds work in a textile factory under the ownership of a cruel man known for beating his workers to the very brink of death. Upon first sight of him, she knows she has met this man before, and if he recognizes her, he will surely kill her. Fighting her fear of him, she must confront him. But when she does so, she realizes they are not so different. Both have fallen farther than they would have liked. Can either find redemption in this unforgiving world?
After her family and friends have all been lost, 18-year-old Staletta Burns struggles to survive on the streets of Victorian London. Her violin is her only tether to a world that has failed her. She finds work in a textile factory under the ownership of a cruel man known for beating his workers to the very brink of death. Upon first sight of him, she knows she has met this man before, and if he recognizes her, he will surely kill her. Fighting her fear of him, she must confront him. But when she does so, she realizes they are not so different. Both have fallen farther than they would have liked. Can either find redemption in this unforgiving world?
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2020
38 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Dolch
4 books15 followersWendy Dolch is a Midwest-based author of historical fiction adventure stories. She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in creative writing. Together with her husband, she now resides on an acreage in Iowa where she spends her days working full-time, gardening, sewing, cooking, and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 4, 2023
The book is a compilation of sadness and happiness I was way too curious to know the end the mystery which was in the book couldn't have been written better
Lastly I hope the author continues the series with stories of the brothers next and I get to read it first
Lastly I hope the author continues the series with stories of the brothers next and I get to read it first
March 5, 2024
The story was really good! I really enjoyed it, and I cannot wait to see how it continues. The writing style was not fully my thing, though. I felt it wasn't really written for a more mature audience. I also had trouble connecting with the characters, but all in all it was good!
December 29, 2023
Hier hat mich das Cover angemacht, das sieht irgendwie sehr romantisch-mysteriös-düster aus, und ich fand es irgendwie cool Ich habe den Klappentext überflogen, und hab eine abenteuerliche Lovestory erwartet. Hm, und das war es dann irgendwie nicht.
Der Klappentext gibt eigentlich schon recht gut den Inhalt, respektive die Ausgangsposition wieder, aber ich habe trotzdem was anderes erwartet. Fangen wir mal mit der Hauptperson, Staletta, an. Ich dachte, hier haben wir eine erwachsene Violinistin, die durch irgendein Unglück momentan obdachlos ist. Hm, und wir haben aber ein junges Mädel, Teeniealter, die schon ihr ganz Leben auf der Straße lebt, und die daher komplett durch den Wind ist. Pubertär trotzig und geprägt eben durch ihr hartes Leben. Also keine junge Frau, die jetzt ein Abenteuer erlebt, sondern ein junges Mädel, das halt von einer Scheiße in die nächste tritt, und jetzt von dem jungen Handwerkergesellen Daniel aufgegabelt wird, der ihr eine Unterkunft bietet und sie versucht, zu resozialisieren. Findet Staletta uncool, aber da ihr ansonsten aber das Gefängnis droht, macht sie gezwungenermaßen mit. Das Ganze hat mich ziemlich an „My fair Lady“ erinnert, wo Professor Higgins das Blumenmädchen Eliza ebenso auf den Pfad der Tugend zurückgeführt hat.
Ja, was soll ich sagen, ich fand es sehr stereotyp.
Mich konnten die Protagonisten auch null überzeugen. Daniel, der ewig gute und Lächelnde, Staletta, der kaputte Teenie, den doch alle ins Herz schließen, weil sie natürlich auch das Herz auf dem rechten Fleck hat, und all die anderen merkwürdigen Leute. Ich erinnere mich an die Tochter des bösen Fabrikbesitzers, die gegen ihren Vater die armen Arbeiterinnen unterstützt und für das Gute kämpft – ja klar, absolut glaubwürdig. Nicht.
Ich habe nach etwa der Hälfte des glücklicherweise relativ kurzen Romans nur noch quergelesen, und habe, denke ich, nichts verpasst.
Eins muss man der Autorin aber zugutehalten, ihr Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und flüssig. Und wie gesagt, das Cover ist echt gut. Daher 2 Sterne. Die Story war nix. Zumindest nicht für mich. Wie ich aber an anderen Rezensionen sehe, sind durchaus einige Leser berührt und begeistert – ist also Geschmackssache. Aber meiner war es halt nicht.
Trotzdem herzlichen Dank an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Der Klappentext gibt eigentlich schon recht gut den Inhalt, respektive die Ausgangsposition wieder, aber ich habe trotzdem was anderes erwartet. Fangen wir mal mit der Hauptperson, Staletta, an. Ich dachte, hier haben wir eine erwachsene Violinistin, die durch irgendein Unglück momentan obdachlos ist. Hm, und wir haben aber ein junges Mädel, Teeniealter, die schon ihr ganz Leben auf der Straße lebt, und die daher komplett durch den Wind ist. Pubertär trotzig und geprägt eben durch ihr hartes Leben. Also keine junge Frau, die jetzt ein Abenteuer erlebt, sondern ein junges Mädel, das halt von einer Scheiße in die nächste tritt, und jetzt von dem jungen Handwerkergesellen Daniel aufgegabelt wird, der ihr eine Unterkunft bietet und sie versucht, zu resozialisieren. Findet Staletta uncool, aber da ihr ansonsten aber das Gefängnis droht, macht sie gezwungenermaßen mit. Das Ganze hat mich ziemlich an „My fair Lady“ erinnert, wo Professor Higgins das Blumenmädchen Eliza ebenso auf den Pfad der Tugend zurückgeführt hat.
Ja, was soll ich sagen, ich fand es sehr stereotyp.
Mich konnten die Protagonisten auch null überzeugen. Daniel, der ewig gute und Lächelnde, Staletta, der kaputte Teenie, den doch alle ins Herz schließen, weil sie natürlich auch das Herz auf dem rechten Fleck hat, und all die anderen merkwürdigen Leute. Ich erinnere mich an die Tochter des bösen Fabrikbesitzers, die gegen ihren Vater die armen Arbeiterinnen unterstützt und für das Gute kämpft – ja klar, absolut glaubwürdig. Nicht.
Ich habe nach etwa der Hälfte des glücklicherweise relativ kurzen Romans nur noch quergelesen, und habe, denke ich, nichts verpasst.
Eins muss man der Autorin aber zugutehalten, ihr Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und flüssig. Und wie gesagt, das Cover ist echt gut. Daher 2 Sterne. Die Story war nix. Zumindest nicht für mich. Wie ich aber an anderen Rezensionen sehe, sind durchaus einige Leser berührt und begeistert – ist also Geschmackssache. Aber meiner war es halt nicht.
Trotzdem herzlichen Dank an Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar!
April 25, 2025
Heed the Wind is an emotional and beautifully written novel that completely pulled me in from the first page. Set in Victorian London, it follows Staletta Burns, a young violinist who has lost everything and is trying to survive against impossible odds. The story weaves themes of resilience, redemption, and faith in a way that feels both raw and deeply moving.
What really stood out to me was the depth of the characters. Staletta is not your typical heroine—she’s broken, stubborn, and at times makes choices that made me want to knock her upside the head, but that’s what makes her journey so powerful. Daniel May, the man who tries to help her, isn’t some perfect savior either. He has his own struggles, and watching their dynamic evolve was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Rogers does an amazing job at bringing Victorian London to life, from the grittiness of the streets to the contrast between wealth and poverty. The writing is immersive, though I will say that some parts were pretty intense—certain scenes are heavy, both emotionally and thematically. But I think that was the point. This isn’t a lighthearted read; it’s about broken people finding grace and healing, even when they don’t believe they deserve it.
If you enjoy historical fiction with deep emotional layers, flawed but compelling characters, and a strong message of hope, Heed the Wind is worth reading. Just be prepared for an emotional ride—you’ll feel frustration, heartbreak, and ultimately, a sense of redemption by the end. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series
What really stood out to me was the depth of the characters. Staletta is not your typical heroine—she’s broken, stubborn, and at times makes choices that made me want to knock her upside the head, but that’s what makes her journey so powerful. Daniel May, the man who tries to help her, isn’t some perfect savior either. He has his own struggles, and watching their dynamic evolve was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Rogers does an amazing job at bringing Victorian London to life, from the grittiness of the streets to the contrast between wealth and poverty. The writing is immersive, though I will say that some parts were pretty intense—certain scenes are heavy, both emotionally and thematically. But I think that was the point. This isn’t a lighthearted read; it’s about broken people finding grace and healing, even when they don’t believe they deserve it.
If you enjoy historical fiction with deep emotional layers, flawed but compelling characters, and a strong message of hope, Heed the Wind is worth reading. Just be prepared for an emotional ride—you’ll feel frustration, heartbreak, and ultimately, a sense of redemption by the end. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series
March 16, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and author Wendy Dolch for the copy in exchange of my honest review.
"She lost her entire family, he destroyed his. Now the battle for redemption begins.
After her family and friends have all been lost, 18-year-old Staletta Burns struggles to survive on the streets of Victorian London. Her violin is her only tether to a world that has failed her. She finds work in a textile factory under the ownership of a cruel man known for beating his workers to the very brink of death. Upon first sight of him, she knows she has met this man before, and if he recognizes her, he will surely kill her. Fighting her fear of him, she must confront him. But when she does so, she realizes they are not so different. Both have fallen farther than they would have liked. Can either find redemption in this unforgiving world?"
It is a quick and easy read. I felt a roller coaster of emotions reading this. I devoured this in one sitting.
"She lost her entire family, he destroyed his. Now the battle for redemption begins.
After her family and friends have all been lost, 18-year-old Staletta Burns struggles to survive on the streets of Victorian London. Her violin is her only tether to a world that has failed her. She finds work in a textile factory under the ownership of a cruel man known for beating his workers to the very brink of death. Upon first sight of him, she knows she has met this man before, and if he recognizes her, he will surely kill her. Fighting her fear of him, she must confront him. But when she does so, she realizes they are not so different. Both have fallen farther than they would have liked. Can either find redemption in this unforgiving world?"
It is a quick and easy read. I felt a roller coaster of emotions reading this. I devoured this in one sitting.
December 13, 2023
I was intrigued by the cover of this book so I decided to read it. Being as Wendy Dolch is a new author, I have not read any of her books before. I am conflicted about Heed the Wind. On the one hand I was totally engrossed in the book and I could not put it down. But on the other hand the imagery in the book was a little bit too graphic. The story line is rivating. It is like riding a roller coaster with all of its ups and downs. You just have to hang on and wonder what comes next. This book is an inspirational book and it does offer Spiritual guidance, but it is weighed down by "sinful" scenes. The graphic scenes may keep me from reading more books by this author even though I enjoyed the overall story.
February 6, 2024
This is a story filled with the struggles we all, as humans, can relate to....the shame and trouble accepting grace and forgiveness...as well as the gospel weaved in such a way that it brought me near tears. There was a part incorporated that I didn't like in the story (not sharing for spoilers) that was a visual representation of of the enemy's attacks on our mind and heart. I thought it would impact my review because I came close to not finishing the book because of the vividness of it. As I sit and reflect on the book and write the review I am realizing how powerful that word picture was to the overall story. If you find that part of the book difficult, PUSH THROUGH! It definitely worth it! I can't wait to dig into the next book in the series.
January 6, 2024
This book was not what I expected, in a good way. It pulled me in from the start and I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen to Staletta, then what would happen to Daniel, and then what would happen to Bobs. There were many tough subjects tackled and the rough parts of life were written in a truthful yet tactful way. A great faith-filled story, with hard life lessons and some difficult subjects written in a redemptive and strong way. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
April 16, 2024
Sadness, regret, joy....and redemption.
I would say this is written in a language and writing style for a target age of younger readers. Even so, I found it to be an enjoyable read, as well as a tear-jerker. And I am a sucker for books that evoke strong emotions - maybe because sometimes I just need an excuse to cry instead of holding it all in.
This book deals very tackfully with some heavy and weighty things that are common to the human experience - I think that is why it worked.
I am hoping to see more of each character - let us see their stories as well. Looking forward to more.
Thank you NetGalley and author Wendy Dolch for the copy in exchange of my honest review.
I would say this is written in a language and writing style for a target age of younger readers. Even so, I found it to be an enjoyable read, as well as a tear-jerker. And I am a sucker for books that evoke strong emotions - maybe because sometimes I just need an excuse to cry instead of holding it all in.
This book deals very tackfully with some heavy and weighty things that are common to the human experience - I think that is why it worked.
I am hoping to see more of each character - let us see their stories as well. Looking forward to more.
Thank you NetGalley and author Wendy Dolch for the copy in exchange of my honest review.
February 24, 2022
Heed the Wind is a touching story. It is definitely on the sad side of things, but that's Victorian era London for you, especially when it comes to orphaned immigrants.
It ends happy though, which is a must for me haha.
It is exciting, and was able to keep me awake at night, wanting to find out what happens next.
Heed the Wind is full of beautiful yet broody poetry, spunky adventure, and a message that there is hope and forgiveness for the worst of us.
It ends happy though, which is a must for me haha.
It is exciting, and was able to keep me awake at night, wanting to find out what happens next.
Heed the Wind is full of beautiful yet broody poetry, spunky adventure, and a message that there is hope and forgiveness for the worst of us.
December 6, 2023
Loved reading the enthralling and engaging story. After Staletta Burns loses her two brothers, she tries to survive on the streets playing her violin for money handouts, but when Staletta is arrested, Daniel comes to her rescue. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting and captivating story. Can't to read the next story in the series!
December 13, 2023
Heed the Wind is the first book in Ms. Dolchs Heed the Wind Series. The main character has lost her family and is living on the streets of London playing her violin to get by. After an unfortunate encounter with a drunk she meets Daniel who "rescues" her and tried to "rehabilitate" her into society. Working conditions are poor and dangerous for women. I found that this book was just okay for me, there wasn't anything that made me want to really root for either character.
December 19, 2023
This was a random find - and I am so glad a did!
An absolute roller coaster of dragging someone through redemption. Esther and Job overtones.
A wonderful soy of a young woman who felt she was broken with nothing to live for and was able to be guided back to reality and a family.
So now I have to read the next book as the search continues in book 2..
An absolute roller coaster of dragging someone through redemption. Esther and Job overtones.
A wonderful soy of a young woman who felt she was broken with nothing to live for and was able to be guided back to reality and a family.
So now I have to read the next book as the search continues in book 2..
January 12, 2024
Potato famine, homeless kids in London, horrendous factory conditions are all encompassed in Wendy Dolch's Heed the Wind. Some rather graphic scenes resulted in lower than a 5-star rating. Excellent character development. A review was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.
March 22, 2024
I'm still not sure what I think about this one. Not my typical story. It was ok but not a series I will continue reading.
February 27, 2024
I want to thank Netgalley for an advanced ARC of this book
This book is beautifully written I think, showing the life of a poor young lady who's had a hard life and finds it hard to connect as well as feel that she deserves anything, the main character star has had such a bad life that she is haunted by it and clings on to the only thing she knows death and lose.... the complexities of her as a character is she expects death or worse to come to anyone she connects with making her to come off as rude and being willfully disobedient to the ones around her helping her and many see her as mysterious and a project but then come to realise their is so much more to this girl that she has hidden for years and taking a glimpse into what she has had to suffer for years makes everyone think she is made but she is not because trauma cannot be formed in one way and we all have different ways to deal.
It's a heart touching story I would gladly read again
Read on Feb 18th
This book is beautifully written I think, showing the life of a poor young lady who's had a hard life and finds it hard to connect as well as feel that she deserves anything, the main character star has had such a bad life that she is haunted by it and clings on to the only thing she knows death and lose.... the complexities of her as a character is she expects death or worse to come to anyone she connects with making her to come off as rude and being willfully disobedient to the ones around her helping her and many see her as mysterious and a project but then come to realise their is so much more to this girl that she has hidden for years and taking a glimpse into what she has had to suffer for years makes everyone think she is made but she is not because trauma cannot be formed in one way and we all have different ways to deal.
It's a heart touching story I would gladly read again
Read on Feb 18th
November 23, 2025
What a sad life for this gal. But such a gifted one. I like the songs she sings and dances as she plays. When she goes to work for the factory her past comes up to smack her in the face. Now she has a cause. She wants to help the workers have better working conditions. Daniel has taken her on as a project to help her improve her own life. She finds that there are people out there willing to help her. Not a bad story, kept me interested
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews