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Winds of Time #1

Across the Winds of Time by Bess McBride

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While on a genealogical research journey through the Midwest, Molly Hamilton impulsively buys a 100-year-old Victorian house in the middle of a cornfield, and falls in love with the house’s owner...the original owner, that is. Can he be a ghost? The handsome, intriguing attorney certainly feels solid—and somehow her soul knows she has always loved him. Darius Ferguson has no idea how he has come to present-day Iowa. The last thing he knew, the year was 1880, and he had just buried his fiancée, who happens to look exactly like Molly. He cannot separate the two women in his heart—to him, they are one. In spite of being drawn to him, Molly thinks Darius is unhinged. Darius wonders if he has joined his fiancée in purgatory. If time travel is possible, will love be enough to build a future together?

Paperback

First published September 15, 2011

47 people are currently reading
134 people want to read

About the author

Bess McBride

55 books147 followers
I've been writing romance fiction since 2006 and have published 20 books. I write time travel romances, contemporary romances, romantic suspense, and light paranormal romances (lovelorn ghosty stuff).

A gypsy at heart, I've lived in Aruba, Venezuela, Arizona and California (thanks to my parents, and in Guam, Wyoming, Washington State, Belgium, Washington D.C., Maryland, Montana, Turkey and Alaska (thanks to my time in the U.S. Air Force. Since then, I've lived in Idaho, Nebraska and Alabama in addition to visiting many more countries and states, and I'm determined to Goodreads friend everyone from all those places plus many more!

Please stop by visit my website at www.bessmcbride.com and my blog at http://willtravelforromance.blogspot.com

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5 stars
179 (54%)
4 stars
89 (26%)
3 stars
45 (13%)
2 stars
10 (3%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Lorraine.
1,161 reviews87 followers
January 11, 2019
I had quite a bit of fun with this book. Bess McBide’s Across The Winds of Time (Winds of Time #1) is a different type of time-travel book than others I have read. Molly and her sister, Sara, are visiting cemeteries looking for some of their ancestors. The site of the cemetery in Lilium, Iowa, is a lovely spot and Molly just loves the sun and the breezes that are blowing. All of a sudden Molly hears her name being called. Is it the wind? Is her sister calling her? She turns and sees a a man whose name she appears to know, but his clothes seem to be 19th century. Just what is going on? Molly then falls in love with an old Victorian house in Lilium and buys it! Why is she doing this? She lives 2000 miles away in the city of Seattle. As Molly is moving into her new home in Iowa, she keeps looking out the windows towards the cemetery - hoping she will see Darius, the man she saw in the cemetery. A quick, fun read, but there are a great deal of intriguing situations to be uncovered! 4.25 stars.
Profile Image for April Kaulaity.
1 review
September 12, 2012
I purchased this book at a yard sale for a dollar. Just to buy it, but as we rode home i started to read it. Amazingly it pulled me into it. I couldnt stop reading it after that i finished it within the day. My conclusion is, im in love with this book, and would read it again and again. It has simple simplicity that i admire. I love the era where the handsome man, Darius came from. I think i acutally fell in love with his character as well, he was a gentleman, well mannered, and obviously very charming.
I havent been reading for quite some time, and this was a good book to throw me back out there again, and get my imagination flowing. Thank you Bess McBride. :-)
Profile Image for Romancing the Book.
4,420 reviews221 followers
November 20, 2011
Review by Robin: I have to say that I really enjoyed this book and will read it again. I love allot of the old classic black and white movies and one of my favorites is ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’. This story by Ms. McBride reminded me of that movie. I know want it to come on AMC or TBS so that I can once again enjoy that ageless classic.

On an adventure to find family history Molly Hamilton and her sister Sara head out for Genealogical research to the Midwest. Molly finds a Victorian Home in the middle of a cornfield in Iowa. Sound familiar. Not sure why but she is drawn to this house and decides to impulse buy. Most of us would impulse by with clothes or another pair of shoes that we don’t need. But not Molly she wants this house.

In comes Darius Ferguson the original owner of the house. Now remember this is a 100 year old house. He shouldn’t be around but yet he is. Baffled how this handsome ghost shows up and Molly knows that she has always loved him.

Darius, an attorney in his previous life, deals with facts. Here he is transported to modern day Iowa and facing Molly who happens to look an awful lot like his dead fiancé. He just doesn’t have an explanation as to how he came from the 1880’s to the present. But there is a reason and he will find out. He thinks that maybe he is stuck in purgatory.

Molly thinks that Darius is simply crazy although she is drawn to him in a very strong way.

It starts in the graveyard, Molly having been there is drawn back and there she runs into Darius.

Having found my soul mate, I am a sucker for the kind of story that takes you on a journey into the depths and magic of what love can really be.

Who wouldn’t want someone that fights their way across time just to be with that special someone that will share their life forever? The type of love that truly stands the tests of time.

Ghost or real who cares?

The way Ms. McBride describes both eras has you feeling as if you actually were there in both times and that you may have done some time traveling yourself. The description of the home made me want to go find that cornfield so that I might be able to buy that home for myself.

A beautiful love story that takes us from one era to another…
Profile Image for Boundless Book Reviews.
2,242 reviews77 followers
April 4, 2016
I have been on a historical romance/time travel kick lately and I came upon Across the Winds of Time as a suggestion while reading another book. I am so glad I chose this book and this author. Across the Winds of Time is one of those books that you can read 100 times and love it a little more each time!

Molly is looking for ancestors with her sister by checking graveyards. One of the graveyards really pulls her in and while visiting this place she sees a man who knows her. She doesn't know how or why, but she knows they shared love. She ends up buying an old Victorian home close by and the story of their love continues. Is he a ghost or is he real?

This book was a slow building romance and it was awesome, it had time travel and romance! It was funny, sad, and romantic all wrapped into one! I have always loved history and anything really in this era of the 1800's. I have always loved the old houses, pictures, books and etc. Across the Winds of Time really was a book that spoke to me. I loved it!

I haven't read any other books by Bess McBride, but this one stole my heart and I plan to read many more in the future....Stormi


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Profile Image for KyBunnies.
1,207 reviews9 followers
October 26, 2012
Okay I admit it, I am crazy for historical romance books. I will drop everything to read historical romance. I have wondered why and the only reason I come up with is because it was a simpler time. Well this book is not really a historical romance, but it does has the simpler times with a historical gentleman.

I guess readers could say that this book has a twist. The twist is time-travel with a love that has lasted centuries. I know you are porbably wondering what I thought about this book. Well, IT WAS AMAZING! There I said it. I loved the flow with the characters.

One wanting to believe but skeptical, the other believing. One always questioning the other, one always trying to reassure the other. One that keeps saying it is not possible, while the other believes everything is possible.

Yes, this was an amazing book. I sit down to read it and before I knew anything else I was at the end of the book. I got lost between the pages.

Thanks for an amazing read Bess

The bunnies and I give this book 5 carrots.
Profile Image for Debi Emerson.
844 reviews4 followers
March 30, 2019
It is rare that I don't finish a book, but I just couldn't get into this one. Way too much "romance genre" type description and not enough story. Romance lovers will probably like it, but it just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Kathy Danheim.
252 reviews6 followers
January 16, 2020
A Love So Great

Wow! I had no idea what to expect from this story. It started grabbing me in just a few page’s. Your in for a ride with this story. If you are a fan of “Somewhere In Time”, you will love this one.
Profile Image for Holly.
1,470 reviews10 followers
April 27, 2020
I loved this story of Darius and Molly. Well done!
Profile Image for Sanderella.
512 reviews
May 7, 2020
Wowzer!! I loved this time travel story!! Molly and Darius are the perfect couple. He from 130 years ago and her from the present. Wonderful!!
383 reviews
September 9, 2020
Am not reading this book. Goodreads has listed this. Actually reading Across the Winding River
Profile Image for Stephanie Burkhart.
Author 44 books417 followers
October 26, 2012
McBride pens an intriguing tale of love that resonates through time with "Across the Winds of Time." Molly Hamilton discovers an old Victorian house in Lilliam, Iowa and buys it. Upon inspecting the property she encounters one of the previous owners, Darius Ferguson. Dare she believe he's from 1880? Is he a ghost or a man? And why does she feel so strongly about him?

Set in the present day, Molly is driven by an unknown force to Lilliam, Iowa where she falls in love with an old Victorian house and buys it. To her surprise, a very handsome man, Darius Ferguson steps out of the winds of time. Their attraction is immediate, their love powerful. However, trying to get Darius to fit into the modern world is a challenge. As Molly uncovers secrets, there's a new set of questions. Does Molly belong to the future or the past? Will the winds of love bring Molly and Darius together or keep them apart?

McBride's writing style is easy to read. She paints lovely visuals of the setting with an easy brush, using a good economy of words.

The characters in the story shine. Molly is driven by that unknown force (love). She's sweet, kind, and caring. Darius is loyal, honorable, and noble. His speech is more old fashioned, Molly's more modern. Both characters have their quirks and nuances which make them so very human.

The paranormal ability that allows Darius and Molly to travel through time isn't clearly defined and its left for the reader to come up to their own conclusions. Did the power of love truly direct the winds of time? Was there a more naturalistic force at work? If anything, I would have preferred to have this element a bit more defined.

The story is sweet with Molly and Darius exchanging kisses and meaningful embraces. The romance in "Across the Winds of Time," promises to tug on the reader's heartstrings. I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Patricia.
2,958 reviews17 followers
November 2, 2017
My rating 2.5, rounded up.

I have read other time travel books by this author and really enjoyed them (the series about the laird). This one I did not like a great deal, but it was OK enough. First, I have to admit to several likes and dislikes that I think played into my rating.

One, I generally dislike ghost love stories. I struggled to read this book for at least the first one fourth to one third of the book.

Two, I like time travel books most of the time. One of the things I enjoy about them is the world or place history contrast against the perceptions of the time traveler. This story was not really like that, unless you considered the history of the house or yard. Plus, it was not clear for most of the book whether this was a time travel book at all, even though it was billed as such.

Three, I like amnesia books. This was not truly an amnesia book. This had only some amnesia-like overtones, and I did not like that aspect of this story. Molly's back-and-forth: kiss, shrink back, kiss, shrink back, got old.

Four, although I have never read one before now, I do not believe I like reincarnation stories.

Fifth, I normally will not read a book that does not have a summary on Goodreads (this one does not). If it is not worth it to the author or whomever to summarize the story as an invitation to readers, why should I try the book?

Darius was a bit too good to be true, which made him seem like he was trying to make restitution or doing penance.

This seems to be a series and I am not sure I want to read On. However, book 2 is only a 52 page novella (I dislike novellas). I may try this, despite everything. I read fast. Plus, I will try others by this author, though.
Profile Image for SirenBookReviews.
327 reviews14 followers
March 13, 2013
Across the Winds of Time is one of those stunning time travel stories that makes the reader believe in magic. The laws of reality have been challenged, as Molly and Darius find their paths to love.
Intriguing and fast paced, I enjoyed this book greatly. I didn't want to do anything else. My mind came racing back to this book, needing to know what would happen next. Bess McBride created such lively characters and a plot that is full of twists and turns. The book is in first person, featuring the heroine, Molly. With a cast of characters that are unforgettable, this book stole my heart, left me with a smile on my face.
If you're a fan of time travel romances, then I'd suggest getting a copy of Across the Winds of Time. I want to know what else Ms. McBride has to offer. I'm a new fan!
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,701 reviews
November 14, 2016
Molly and her sister Sara are on a quest for their ancestors. They are in a cemetery in Lilium, Iowa.
It is a hill and Molly has become interested at the wind on top of the hill. She is up there with her arms above her head twirling in the wind. She hears a voice call her name and sees a man standing under an oak tree. As he comes closer shes feels like she knows him but how? When he reaches her he takes her in his arms and kisses her and she wraps her arms around him returning his kiss and saying his name, Darius. The story of their love and how it survived is a wonderful time travel novel.
If you believe in an everlasting love and hope that it could survive through time you will love this story.
Profile Image for Marilyn.
586 reviews1 follower
July 2, 2014
I found out that time travel romance novels aren't for me. I enjoyed the story of a young girl finding the perfect Victorian home and Victorian man for her. I just couldn't get past traveling in time.
Profile Image for Diane Horne.
682 reviews6 followers
August 5, 2015
Across the Wind of Time by Bess McBride

Of affairs of her books that have read, this has to be one of the best. Beautiful full storyline and characters. Capsized me from the beginning to the very end!
Profile Image for Linda.
51 reviews
Read
January 15, 2025
LB

I thought the book moved too slow. I stopped reading after the 3rd chapter because it became tedious and repetitive. II didn't want to know these people. gave it 1 star because I couldn't submit the review without a star rating.
Profile Image for Karen Barnes.
110 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2016
I really liked this book. It was my first read by this author and I enjoyed it very much. The characters are well developed and the plot has enough twist and turns to keep me very interested. I would recommend it if you're looking for a sweet getaway book with a cemetery and Victorian house.
608 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2022
Wonderful Time Travel

This is a very good time travel story. A young woman meets a man from the past who is looking for his lost love. She is unsure of him. Is he a ghost or what? It turns out she is the same as his lost love; same name and same age. Great love story.
4 reviews
August 20, 2015
Most romantic time travel ever.

I did not want this to end but I had to know. I could have read more about their life to come.
Profile Image for shannon  Stubbs.
1,954 reviews12 followers
December 7, 2015
Really well written

I liked this book. It was well written and very clever. It wasn't quite the usual time travel story. It was cut and romantic also.
Profile Image for Karla Farrington.
35 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2016
Good Googlie Mooglie

This book had so many heart stopping moments if you have cardiovascular problems clear it with your Dr before reading!
13 reviews
April 18, 2017
Excellent

I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns of this story. I particularly liked the setting. I love Bess McBride's time travel romances.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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