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Windswept
En route to marry the fiance handpicked by her father, Virginia Ames gets shipwrecked off the coast of the beautiful Florida Keys. Her rescuer, the dashing Captain Slader, is a wrecker who specializes in salvaging cargo from sunken vessels. As a native New Englander, Virginia grew up in wealth but felt most comfortable on the docks, among the ships. This special connection to the sea is one of the few things the privileged heiress and the rugged captain share. But mixed with the captain's handsome looks, could this passion be enough to drive Virginia's marriage plans off course? Captain John Slader is no stranger to the winds of change himself. He?d once lost the thing he held most dear: his family. But now that those same winds have sent him the lovely Virginia, will he risk his heart yet again? Virginia's fiance, an up-and-coming politician, may be able to offer her a world of wealth and comfort ? but could he cherish her as John would, with a love as boundless as the ocean itself?
204 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2012
29 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Fran McNabb
27 books53 followersFran McNabb grew up along the beaches and islands of the Gulf Coast. After spending the first years of marriage in Germany, she and her husband returned to the coastline to raise their two sons. Today they live on a quiet bayou harbor and spend much of the year boating and fishing.
Fran earned both her B.S. and her M.E. from the University of Southern Mississippi, and over the years taught English and journalism as well as presided over writing workshops for various organizations. This love of the English language prompted her to write engaging romances, many of which are set along her native coastline.
She'd love to hear from her readers at http://www.FranNabb.com
Fran earned both her B.S. and her M.E. from the University of Southern Mississippi, and over the years taught English and journalism as well as presided over writing workshops for various organizations. This love of the English language prompted her to write engaging romances, many of which are set along her native coastline.
She'd love to hear from her readers at http://www.FranNabb.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 20, 2015
Wow. This was my first book by Fran McNabb and I was IMPRESSED to say the least. When I bought it there were no reviews but the synopsis sounded like my cup of tea.
The book opens with a shipwreck. An emotional tug of war follows: on one side we have the ship owner's daughter. She is both attracted and yet repelled by the wrecker who saves her life and yet profits from her loss.
On the other side, the wrecker is torn by the connection he feels for this unusual, stubborn woman and guilt over his dead wife's memory.
Added to the cast of characters is a disapproving father, a suspicious housekeeper and a happy go lucky orphan boy who I guarantee will pull at your heartstrings til they snap.
Ms McNabb paints a vivid portrait of the Florida keys. I've never been but I feel as though I have. In few, well chosen words she places the reader right in the midst of every storm and mist shrouded morning. From the first page I was immersed in her story telling. Well done!
Why only 4 stars? Its difficult to say...
There was a lot of time spent agonizing over "do I love him? Do I hate him?" ..." I love her. I cant have her..I failed my wife" etc and I did get a little frustrated with them, wanting to knock both their heads together at times. But for the most part I thought their interaction was realistic. They disappointed each other, said the wrong things, got mad, and stomped out..but that added to the dramatic tension and made the characters believable.
I also would have liked a few more twists and turns; a bit more excitement. However, I did make myself slow down and savor this book over several days (I normally devour a book in one long bug eyed evening) and enjoyed every minute. So a good story doesn't HAVE to make you hold your breath; its not a hard and fast rule. But it's a good rule. :)
The writing was clean and would cause no offense to the most conservative of readers. No sex. No violence.
I bought Ms McNabb's other book "on the crest of a wave" and am already engrossed in it. Keep writing, Fran!!
The book opens with a shipwreck. An emotional tug of war follows: on one side we have the ship owner's daughter. She is both attracted and yet repelled by the wrecker who saves her life and yet profits from her loss.
On the other side, the wrecker is torn by the connection he feels for this unusual, stubborn woman and guilt over his dead wife's memory.
Added to the cast of characters is a disapproving father, a suspicious housekeeper and a happy go lucky orphan boy who I guarantee will pull at your heartstrings til they snap.
Ms McNabb paints a vivid portrait of the Florida keys. I've never been but I feel as though I have. In few, well chosen words she places the reader right in the midst of every storm and mist shrouded morning. From the first page I was immersed in her story telling. Well done!
Why only 4 stars? Its difficult to say...
There was a lot of time spent agonizing over "do I love him? Do I hate him?" ..." I love her. I cant have her..I failed my wife" etc and I did get a little frustrated with them, wanting to knock both their heads together at times. But for the most part I thought their interaction was realistic. They disappointed each other, said the wrong things, got mad, and stomped out..but that added to the dramatic tension and made the characters believable.
I also would have liked a few more twists and turns; a bit more excitement. However, I did make myself slow down and savor this book over several days (I normally devour a book in one long bug eyed evening) and enjoyed every minute. So a good story doesn't HAVE to make you hold your breath; its not a hard and fast rule. But it's a good rule. :)
The writing was clean and would cause no offense to the most conservative of readers. No sex. No violence.
I bought Ms McNabb's other book "on the crest of a wave" and am already engrossed in it. Keep writing, Fran!!
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September 3, 2021My Perfect Novel
Read September 2, 2021
Yes five stars. I loved this book. Just my perfect novel. Historical information intertwined with the developing plot set in Key West Florida plus the economy supporting that community during the early 1800s. Hint: Sailing ships, hazards and the shoals surrounding the Florida Keys. All th Lastly, for m y e central characters were fully described creating an adventurous, endearing community. To this mix the author adds protagonists with a page turning conundrum and a delightful eleven-year-old orphan. My perfect novel is absent boring inside the bedroom details yet the growing affection between the protagonists is deftly and beautifully written.
Read September 2, 2021
Yes five stars. I loved this book. Just my perfect novel. Historical information intertwined with the developing plot set in Key West Florida plus the economy supporting that community during the early 1800s. Hint: Sailing ships, hazards and the shoals surrounding the Florida Keys. All th Lastly, for m y e central characters were fully described creating an adventurous, endearing community. To this mix the author adds protagonists with a page turning conundrum and a delightful eleven-year-old orphan. My perfect novel is absent boring inside the bedroom details yet the growing affection between the protagonists is deftly and beautifully written.
April 16, 2020
Absolutely loved this book . Set in the 1800's . A story of chooses people have to make from the heart. I really hated when the book ended, I wanted it to just continue.
May 17, 2021
This was a cute little love story, but it was a bit cheesy and boring at parts. I would have liked more character development. Still this was a quickly easy read.
November 5, 2015
I really love novels set in the 1800's (this novel is set in 1838). I also really love stories that take place on the sea. It's such a different life than the mainland. Novels that combine those two elements are just magical to me. Thus, I was interested in this book. Although it was mostly concerning a love story (which most novels of the above settings will), I really enjoyed how much the author seemed to know about ships. I loved the scene where they had to beach the large ship! At some points, however, I felt as though the author would let slip that this was in the late 1800's. Sometimes it had a very modern tone to it. I mean, the ships were always wooden (which, granted, would change very shortly, considering iron ships were already starting to be used), and they always used horse-drawn carriages. But sometimes it had a very 20th century feel. I can't quite explain it. Otherwise, it was a very enjoyable story.
December 1, 2014
I wanted to like it. But ended up skim reading it because, although the setting and story was different and I wanted to see what the author did with it, the emotional engagement of the characters was lacking. There wasn't a lot of depth to any of the characterisations, and the requisite 'misunderstandings' and 'misreadings' came out of nowhere a lot of the time rather than feeling natural. I began to wonder if all the characters weren't just a little stupid in terms of social interaction and self-awareness. Virginia was just downright rude on occasion, John's emotional state not terribly believable and the assorted parents and suitors both difficult to sympathise with and always on the verge of leaving. Which is all a bit of a shame because it was easy to see that the basic plot, characters and settings could have combined to make something special in the hands of another author....
December 19, 2014
Poorly written
Read this if you like books with clunky prose, an abundance of cliches, and generally awful character development. The dialogue is also very awkward and not very temporally accurate.
Read this if you like books with clunky prose, an abundance of cliches, and generally awful character development. The dialogue is also very awkward and not very temporally accurate.
January 25, 2016
3 1/2 stars.
October 14, 2013
sweet. a little slow.
March 11, 2017
I have no idea what in my browsing history would have made Amazon suggest this book. At least I didn't pay for it.
March 17, 2015
First book I've read from this author and such a cute love story. Nice quick read with mystery, adventure, helping others and love.
January 31, 2017
Shipwrecked lady, meets scavenger man. Falls in love.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews