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Windswept
When husband David is unfaithful and commits the ultimate betrayal by bringing his mistress on board WINDSWEPT, Caroline’s world is shattered. He leaves her, and she is forced to rely solely on herself for the first time in her life. She has to be a single parent to her daughter, Lily, and must decide if she can forgive David for tearing her family apart.
As David and Caroline work to put their marriage back together, events and other people conspire against them. As their relationship begins to heal, the couple is caught in a horrific storm on the Chesapeake Bay. They want a chance to love again, but Mother Nature might have other ideas.
As David and Caroline work to put their marriage back together, events and other people conspire against them. As their relationship begins to heal, the couple is caught in a horrific storm on the Chesapeake Bay. They want a chance to love again, but Mother Nature might have other ideas.
- GenresRomanceSecond Chance
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2012
3 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2017
h discovers H had a 6-8mo affair while out of town on a case (H a lawyer.) H tried to explain affair was over but OW had moved to H/h hometown. h kicks H out of the family home. h does not take H back immediately and does try to carry on with their 14-yr old daughter. I do like that the h found some of her inner strength. h does try to assume a little too much responsibility for the distancing of H/h during the marriage that led to H's affair. 3-3.5 stars
May 24, 2020
One of the stupidest books I’ve ever read about cheating!
There is no character to root for. They are all annoying and pathetic.
First the wife. She has got to be one of the most pathetic female characters I’ve ever read. She’s the Jon Snow of this story and knows nothing. She doesn’t know if she wants her husband back. She doesn’t know if she wants to move on with the other man. She doesn’t know how to work things with her daughter or what her daughter is up to. And when she gets laid off she doesn’t know if she wants to start looking for a job again. She knows nothing! She has a quote later how everything came easy to her and she had taken everything for granted. I think that she was too lazy and stupid to go out there and actually make a life. Instead she just wanted to stick with the familiar. Down to still being in denial about being laid off.
The husband. The asshole cheats and yet HE is the one that needs time to reflect on his poor decisions. Meanwhile leaves the pathetic wife to deal with their pathetic daughter. Poor him. He felt ignored. Same story and pathetic excuse for his ongoing affair. At the end he can’t even tell the pathetic wife why he did it. Just that he didn’t think he’d get caught and he THINKS he’s partly responsible for their failed marriage. You kidding? You’re MOSTLY responsible. Your wife also felt the same way yet she didn’t stray! Ugh. I can’t even.
The daughter. Takes her anger out on her mother instead of the asshole dad who is responsible. She also feels neglected and starts seeing some guy behind their backs. Acts rebellious and shit as per every teen in these type of novels. For once can’t there be a teen who is supportive of the mother who got cheated on? Is every teenager this self absorbed. I know I wasn’t! Her mother was in pain and she’s giving her attitude?! Ugh. Again!
The other man. Pathetically in love with the female (god know why? If this would have been a NA or something and we would have been given his POV maybe he would have gone on and on about how hot she was? Cuz god knows it wasn’t her personality or her character). Let’s himself be used and begs her like a puppy every time to give him a chance. Got married and had a kid but eventually divorced his wife because he could never forget the female character. Also kept being BFFs with the pathetic husband?! I can’t even.
Even the minor characters like the OM’s sister, who despite the fact that the female was leading her brother on for a while, was going to “kill her brother” for loving the female instead of telling the female to get over herself and make a fucking decision. Idk about you but I’d been pissed if my friend did that shot to my brother.
The OW who is so pathetic she moves 100s of miles from her home to chase the pathetic male that she had an affair with. She also calls him every day, leaves messages, and stalks the pathetic wife to rub the affair in her face. Then suddenly disappears (who knows what happens to her, who cares?)
The therapist who conducted the lames session in the history of marriage counseling sessions. It informed the reader nothing new and she gave no useful advise either. There was like one session that was shown. It went like this:
Wife: My husband cheated
Therapist to husband: Is that true?
Husband: Yes.
Therapist: Okay let’s meet in two weeks again.
Seriously. Even in the worst of books there’s at least one sympathetic character. Here even the most insignificant of characters where lame, stupid, pathetic and unrealistic.
Not to mention the storyline. Just because you have a good partner that you sail with doesn’t mean you’re meant to be. Otherwise I’d seriously be concerned about most friendships. Honestly I couldn’t find one reason to cheer for them as a couple, because the author failed miserably in showing us why we should care for (if not for the characters) their relationship. This is due to the fact that we rarely saw them together other than the opening scene.
There wasn’t even a financial reason or 10 little kids to speak of that allows me to understand why this marriage was worth saving. The only daughter was 15. No sign of wanting more kids and in a couple of years (3 to be exact) she would have been an adult and out of their house. Even now all she wanted to do was spend time with the bf.
Also I don’t get why the female needed to be laid off... except to make her more pathetic. Maybe she’ll now become a housewife that does nothing but put her husband first so that he doesn’t stray again. I guess the husband did manage to turn back time. To the 1950s and he didn’t even have to ask her to give up her career. The author took care of all of that for him.
There is no character to root for. They are all annoying and pathetic.
First the wife. She has got to be one of the most pathetic female characters I’ve ever read. She’s the Jon Snow of this story and knows nothing. She doesn’t know if she wants her husband back. She doesn’t know if she wants to move on with the other man. She doesn’t know how to work things with her daughter or what her daughter is up to. And when she gets laid off she doesn’t know if she wants to start looking for a job again. She knows nothing! She has a quote later how everything came easy to her and she had taken everything for granted. I think that she was too lazy and stupid to go out there and actually make a life. Instead she just wanted to stick with the familiar. Down to still being in denial about being laid off.
The husband. The asshole cheats and yet HE is the one that needs time to reflect on his poor decisions. Meanwhile leaves the pathetic wife to deal with their pathetic daughter. Poor him. He felt ignored. Same story and pathetic excuse for his ongoing affair. At the end he can’t even tell the pathetic wife why he did it. Just that he didn’t think he’d get caught and he THINKS he’s partly responsible for their failed marriage. You kidding? You’re MOSTLY responsible. Your wife also felt the same way yet she didn’t stray! Ugh. I can’t even.
The daughter. Takes her anger out on her mother instead of the asshole dad who is responsible. She also feels neglected and starts seeing some guy behind their backs. Acts rebellious and shit as per every teen in these type of novels. For once can’t there be a teen who is supportive of the mother who got cheated on? Is every teenager this self absorbed. I know I wasn’t! Her mother was in pain and she’s giving her attitude?! Ugh. Again!
The other man. Pathetically in love with the female (god know why? If this would have been a NA or something and we would have been given his POV maybe he would have gone on and on about how hot she was? Cuz god knows it wasn’t her personality or her character). Let’s himself be used and begs her like a puppy every time to give him a chance. Got married and had a kid but eventually divorced his wife because he could never forget the female character. Also kept being BFFs with the pathetic husband?! I can’t even.
Even the minor characters like the OM’s sister, who despite the fact that the female was leading her brother on for a while, was going to “kill her brother” for loving the female instead of telling the female to get over herself and make a fucking decision. Idk about you but I’d been pissed if my friend did that shot to my brother.
The OW who is so pathetic she moves 100s of miles from her home to chase the pathetic male that she had an affair with. She also calls him every day, leaves messages, and stalks the pathetic wife to rub the affair in her face. Then suddenly disappears (who knows what happens to her, who cares?)
The therapist who conducted the lames session in the history of marriage counseling sessions. It informed the reader nothing new and she gave no useful advise either. There was like one session that was shown. It went like this:
Wife: My husband cheated
Therapist to husband: Is that true?
Husband: Yes.
Therapist: Okay let’s meet in two weeks again.
Seriously. Even in the worst of books there’s at least one sympathetic character. Here even the most insignificant of characters where lame, stupid, pathetic and unrealistic.
Not to mention the storyline. Just because you have a good partner that you sail with doesn’t mean you’re meant to be. Otherwise I’d seriously be concerned about most friendships. Honestly I couldn’t find one reason to cheer for them as a couple, because the author failed miserably in showing us why we should care for (if not for the characters) their relationship. This is due to the fact that we rarely saw them together other than the opening scene.
There wasn’t even a financial reason or 10 little kids to speak of that allows me to understand why this marriage was worth saving. The only daughter was 15. No sign of wanting more kids and in a couple of years (3 to be exact) she would have been an adult and out of their house. Even now all she wanted to do was spend time with the bf.
Also I don’t get why the female needed to be laid off... except to make her more pathetic. Maybe she’ll now become a housewife that does nothing but put her husband first so that he doesn’t stray again. I guess the husband did manage to turn back time. To the 1950s and he didn’t even have to ask her to give up her career. The author took care of all of that for him.
February 11, 2015
cheater
September 10, 2012
Please note: This is an interview style review. Originally posted on Daydrmzzz.blogspot.com
Q: So Lola, I see you just finished Cynthia Racette’s (Contemporary Romance/Women's Literature) debut book Windswept. The title sounds interesting… Can you tell me how it ties into the book?
A: Windswept is the perfect title for this book. Not only does it relate to the circumstances in which this books revolves, but it is also the name of David and Caroline’s sailboat—the one thing the couple still has passion for in their marriage.
Q: What do you mean by the only thing they have passion for?
A: After many years of marriage, raising their daughter Lily and their careers, the spark in their marriage has fizzled out without either one realizing.
Q: So what happens??
A: Well, Dawn, it’s sad to say but David sought attention from another woman.
Q: An affair…Yikes! What happens?
A: What doesn’t happen is more like it! With the cat out of the bag and David out of the house, Caroline has to try to make it on her own. She’s parenting Lily on her own (for the most part) and is facing some serious problems at work. Thankfully she has Windswept, the one place she can go to find some peace. Her biggest hurdle isn’t David having an affair, not even the single parenting or career issues… It’s the huge, unexpected bomb Matt—a mutual college buddy—drops on her. The story really starts heating up at this point with the choices Caroline must make.
"This is a story about a couple which has drifted apart, braved the choppy sea, and came out of the storm for some smooth sailing."
Q: So Lola, I see you just finished Cynthia Racette’s (Contemporary Romance/Women's Literature) debut book Windswept. The title sounds interesting… Can you tell me how it ties into the book?
A: Windswept is the perfect title for this book. Not only does it relate to the circumstances in which this books revolves, but it is also the name of David and Caroline’s sailboat—the one thing the couple still has passion for in their marriage.
Q: What do you mean by the only thing they have passion for?
A: After many years of marriage, raising their daughter Lily and their careers, the spark in their marriage has fizzled out without either one realizing.
Q: So what happens??
A: Well, Dawn, it’s sad to say but David sought attention from another woman.
Q: An affair…Yikes! What happens?
A: What doesn’t happen is more like it! With the cat out of the bag and David out of the house, Caroline has to try to make it on her own. She’s parenting Lily on her own (for the most part) and is facing some serious problems at work. Thankfully she has Windswept, the one place she can go to find some peace. Her biggest hurdle isn’t David having an affair, not even the single parenting or career issues… It’s the huge, unexpected bomb Matt—a mutual college buddy—drops on her. The story really starts heating up at this point with the choices Caroline must make.
"This is a story about a couple which has drifted apart, braved the choppy sea, and came out of the storm for some smooth sailing."
July 2, 2018
I read this book when I was on a boat and it was a good book and kept me entertained while in the boat.
December 5, 2012
3 3/4 stars
“Windswept” by Cynthia Racette is the lovely contemporary romance about Caroline as she is blindsided by her husband’s infidelity. The ship that they purchased together and spent so much time and effort on epitomizes their happy times and the betrayal that Caroline feels is exacerbated when she discovers that even that haven has been sulllied. Caroline must cope with her own emotions as well as those of her bewildered daughter, faces an unexpected development with a family friend and even worse, endures unwelcome contact with the ‘other woman’ but she and ‘Windswept’ must find a way to weather the storms that are sent their way.
This charming debut novel is an enjoyable modern tale of a woman who unfortunately faces an unexpected crisis in her marriage. The beautiful lyrical imagery evokes the alluring experience of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and offers a stark counterpoint between the calm waters and the turbulence of the heroine’s relationship with her husband. The anguish and doubt experienced by both partners is exquisitely depicted even as the tale gets more entangled while each tries to reconcile to the damage and decide whether it is irrevocable. There are quite a few dangling threads that aren’t quite resolved adequately by the end of the tale so perhaps there is a sequel in the works but overall this was an entertaining light read.
Submitted to Night Owl Reviews
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
“Windswept” by Cynthia Racette is the lovely contemporary romance about Caroline as she is blindsided by her husband’s infidelity. The ship that they purchased together and spent so much time and effort on epitomizes their happy times and the betrayal that Caroline feels is exacerbated when she discovers that even that haven has been sulllied. Caroline must cope with her own emotions as well as those of her bewildered daughter, faces an unexpected development with a family friend and even worse, endures unwelcome contact with the ‘other woman’ but she and ‘Windswept’ must find a way to weather the storms that are sent their way.
This charming debut novel is an enjoyable modern tale of a woman who unfortunately faces an unexpected crisis in her marriage. The beautiful lyrical imagery evokes the alluring experience of sailing on the Chesapeake Bay and offers a stark counterpoint between the calm waters and the turbulence of the heroine’s relationship with her husband. The anguish and doubt experienced by both partners is exquisitely depicted even as the tale gets more entangled while each tries to reconcile to the damage and decide whether it is irrevocable. There are quite a few dangling threads that aren’t quite resolved adequately by the end of the tale so perhaps there is a sequel in the works but overall this was an entertaining light read.
Submitted to Night Owl Reviews
A copy of this title was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
August 31, 2013
Windswept by author Cynthia Racette swept me away with this emotional story about love, betrayal, forgiveness and survival. It captured my attention from the very beginning and I could not wait to finish reading so I would know the ending. Caroline finds out that her husband, David has been having an affair and now must deal with the repercussion to their marriage. David's act of betrayal has destroyed his family and his guilt consumes him, so he moves out to figure out why he did something so uncharacteristic of him. Caroline and their daughter, Lily must cope with not having David living with them and try to survive. I liked Caroline's close relationship with Lily. Adding tension to this situation is David's best friend, Matt who offers his support to Caroline and possibly something more that could destroy a longtime friendship. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the friendships and interactions throughout the book. The author did a great job describing all the emotions that one would go through in this situation. I actually enjoyed Matt and Caroline's relationship and was torn between wanting her to move on with him or to work on saving her marriage with David. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books by this author.
April 17, 2014
Windswept is a different romance. David and Caroline start off already married but hit rough waters and yes a sailing term because the boat turns into an integral part of the story. The characters written are true to life adults with concerns, fears and doubts that all readers will understand.
The emotions that David and Caroline display make this seem like more than fiction. They both work through the emotional effects of love, betrayal and forgiveness. Perhaps this would make for good reading for couples when they first marry to see how their actions affect each other. A simple primer of what to watch for in their marriage to keep it strong.
While not the typical romance with action and adventure the book is well worth the time it takes to read.
The emotions that David and Caroline display make this seem like more than fiction. They both work through the emotional effects of love, betrayal and forgiveness. Perhaps this would make for good reading for couples when they first marry to see how their actions affect each other. A simple primer of what to watch for in their marriage to keep it strong.
While not the typical romance with action and adventure the book is well worth the time it takes to read.
September 4, 2012
Windswept, the debut novel from Cynthia Racette, is an emotional tale of the turmoil a family faces when the husband is unfaithful. Ms. Racette makes flawed characters that are true to life, and throws them into the story to find their way through it. Overall, readers of women's fiction will be sucked into the plot and characterization as David and Caroline fight for their marriage.
September 16, 2015
Review on Amazon Books.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews