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Kingsley Family #2
Wishes in the Wind
Will wishing on a star save her life...and bring her love?
Die, Aldridge. The painted threat oozes down the stable’s walls. Nicole Aldridge, the only child of England’s finest jockey, is driven by one goal: to protect her father from merciless blackmailers. To make ends meet, she disguises herself as a boy to compete in a celebrated derby. But her new employer is Dustin Kingsley, the marquis of Tyreham, a devastatingly attractive nobleman who soon ensnares Nicole in his sensual thrall.
London’s most eligible bachelor, Dustin has despaired of finding a woman who can be his equal in every way. When he discovers that his new jockey and the restless beauty he meets under a starlit sky are one and the same, he uses his seductive wiles to coax out Nicole’s deepest secrets. But their passion spirals out of control, plunging Dustin and Nicole into a world of shadow and mystery. With enemies all around and hope fading fast, destiny grants the desperate lovers one last wish.
Die, Aldridge. The painted threat oozes down the stable’s walls. Nicole Aldridge, the only child of England’s finest jockey, is driven by one goal: to protect her father from merciless blackmailers. To make ends meet, she disguises herself as a boy to compete in a celebrated derby. But her new employer is Dustin Kingsley, the marquis of Tyreham, a devastatingly attractive nobleman who soon ensnares Nicole in his sensual thrall.
London’s most eligible bachelor, Dustin has despaired of finding a woman who can be his equal in every way. When he discovers that his new jockey and the restless beauty he meets under a starlit sky are one and the same, he uses his seductive wiles to coax out Nicole’s deepest secrets. But their passion spirals out of control, plunging Dustin and Nicole into a world of shadow and mystery. With enemies all around and hope fading fast, destiny grants the desperate lovers one last wish.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1996
22 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Kane
48 books834 followersComing in March 2019 from Andrea Kane: DEAD IN A WEEK.
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including fifteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller. She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted, and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Dead in a Week, adds the Zermatt Group into the mix—a covert team of former military and spy agency operatives. With a week to save a young woman from ruthless kidnappers, this globe-spanning chase, from the beerhalls of Germany, to the tech gardens of California, to the skyscrapers of China, and finally the farmlands of Croatia will keep readers guessing until the very end. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence that Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, and A Face to Die For.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan. Otherwise, she’s either writing or playing with her Pomeranian, Mischief, who does his best to keep her from writing.
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including fifteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller. She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted, and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Dead in a Week, adds the Zermatt Group into the mix—a covert team of former military and spy agency operatives. With a week to save a young woman from ruthless kidnappers, this globe-spanning chase, from the beerhalls of Germany, to the tech gardens of California, to the skyscrapers of China, and finally the farmlands of Croatia will keep readers guessing until the very end. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence that Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, and A Face to Die For.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan. Otherwise, she’s either writing or playing with her Pomeranian, Mischief, who does his best to keep her from writing.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 16, 2021
My least favorite Andrea Kane book - romance is boring and dialogue is sickeningly sweet
(1875, England)
I did not like Wishes in the Wind at all. I didn't hate it - I've read worse historical romances - but I am definitely never rereading this book and will probably sell my copy. Frankly I was surprised that I disliked this book so intensely, since there are some Andrea Kane books that I absolutely love (the most recent example being My Heart's Desire). The romance and characters did not engage my interest and Kane's writing, far from being able to save the book, only made the experience of reading it worse: her dialogue was often too lengthy, aspects of the unfolding mystery subplot were over-explained and repeated by the characters when they didn't need to be, and the exchanges between Dustin and Nicole were *way* too sappy for me.
PROBLEMS WITH THE ROMANCE
Andrea Kane's books are often sweeter than other authors' and this is usually a change that I appreciate - she never employs those horrible misunderstandings that overtake the book where neither the hero nor heroine is being honest; also, her heroines are never immature, bratty, or arrogant/conceited. Wishes in the Wind includes Kane's usual mystery subplot and villains (who are easily guessed at before their unveiling), the nickname-given-to-the-heroine-by-the-hero (in this case it's "Derby"), and the sweet romance, but in this book I found this last to be terribly boring and tepid - I literally had to drag myself through this book, for although I had no interest in getting to the end I am literally incapable of leaving a book unfinished.
Nicole cries far too much and I wanted to yank the handkerchiefs out of her father and Dustin's hands when they're constantly wiping away her tears (if she insists on weeping all the time can't she at least dry her own face?!?!). She and Dustin's exchanges were sickeningly sweet (all the talk about wishing lockets, them being each other's "miracle," the stars winking down at them and looking down on them, fate and love, and on and on) - Ex: "Teardrops glistened on Nicole's lashes. 'I suppose once you've been given a miracle, it's far easier to believe they exist.' 'That's true,' Dustin concurred softly. 'I'm discovering as much myself. Right here, right now.' Their gazes locked. 'My beautiful miracle.' Dustin drew her against him ..." (p.150).
And the above passage occurs not even halfway through the book, which leads me to another complaint ... Dustin and Nicole got together far too quickly. I'm not saying I wanted a relationship that encounters problem after problem, but that they instantly fall in love when they meet by the Thames in London - I hate "love at first sight" books and this comes dangerously close to that. When they say they love each other (p.200 - out of 335) I felt like they still barely knew each other and regardless of when they verbalize the feelings, they act in love practically since their first encounter. This makes it so that the whole book is basically about only resolving the mystery subplot, since their relationship doesn't have any problems (Nicole harps on about certain "obstacles" until she suddenly decides to dismiss them - instead, they should have either been eliminated or explored and dealt with more fully, since her worries seem to have only been included to make their love story not a hurtle-free path - though it still is for all intents and purposes).
THE KINGSLEYS SERIES
Echoes in the Mist is the first of Andrea Kane's Kingsleys book and features Ariana Caldwell and Trenton Kingsley, the Duke of Broddington (Dustin's older brother). It's followed by Wishes in the Wind, which tells the story of Nicole Aldridge and Dustin Kingsley, the Marquis of Tyreham. I hadn't read the first book but had no problem following this one, though those who read and enjoyed Trenton and Ariana's story will appreciate seeing them often again in Dustin and Nicole's.
BOTTOM LINE and RECOMMENDATIONS
If you like extremely sentimental books with sappy/corny romance, this is the book for you. If you want to read a better Andrea Kane book (IMO), then buy My Heart's Desire (The Barretts, Book 1) or The Silver Coin (Coin Series, Book 2) instead.
(1875, England)
I did not like Wishes in the Wind at all. I didn't hate it - I've read worse historical romances - but I am definitely never rereading this book and will probably sell my copy. Frankly I was surprised that I disliked this book so intensely, since there are some Andrea Kane books that I absolutely love (the most recent example being My Heart's Desire). The romance and characters did not engage my interest and Kane's writing, far from being able to save the book, only made the experience of reading it worse: her dialogue was often too lengthy, aspects of the unfolding mystery subplot were over-explained and repeated by the characters when they didn't need to be, and the exchanges between Dustin and Nicole were *way* too sappy for me.
PROBLEMS WITH THE ROMANCE
Andrea Kane's books are often sweeter than other authors' and this is usually a change that I appreciate - she never employs those horrible misunderstandings that overtake the book where neither the hero nor heroine is being honest; also, her heroines are never immature, bratty, or arrogant/conceited. Wishes in the Wind includes Kane's usual mystery subplot and villains (who are easily guessed at before their unveiling), the nickname-given-to-the-heroine-by-the-hero (in this case it's "Derby"), and the sweet romance, but in this book I found this last to be terribly boring and tepid - I literally had to drag myself through this book, for although I had no interest in getting to the end I am literally incapable of leaving a book unfinished.
Nicole cries far too much and I wanted to yank the handkerchiefs out of her father and Dustin's hands when they're constantly wiping away her tears (if she insists on weeping all the time can't she at least dry her own face?!?!). She and Dustin's exchanges were sickeningly sweet (all the talk about wishing lockets, them being each other's "miracle," the stars winking down at them and looking down on them, fate and love, and on and on) - Ex: "Teardrops glistened on Nicole's lashes. 'I suppose once you've been given a miracle, it's far easier to believe they exist.' 'That's true,' Dustin concurred softly. 'I'm discovering as much myself. Right here, right now.' Their gazes locked. 'My beautiful miracle.' Dustin drew her against him ..." (p.150).
And the above passage occurs not even halfway through the book, which leads me to another complaint ... Dustin and Nicole got together far too quickly. I'm not saying I wanted a relationship that encounters problem after problem, but that they instantly fall in love when they meet by the Thames in London - I hate "love at first sight" books and this comes dangerously close to that. When they say they love each other (p.200 - out of 335) I felt like they still barely knew each other and regardless of when they verbalize the feelings, they act in love practically since their first encounter. This makes it so that the whole book is basically about only resolving the mystery subplot, since their relationship doesn't have any problems (Nicole harps on about certain "obstacles" until she suddenly decides to dismiss them - instead, they should have either been eliminated or explored and dealt with more fully, since her worries seem to have only been included to make their love story not a hurtle-free path - though it still is for all intents and purposes).
THE KINGSLEYS SERIES
Echoes in the Mist is the first of Andrea Kane's Kingsleys book and features Ariana Caldwell and Trenton Kingsley, the Duke of Broddington (Dustin's older brother). It's followed by Wishes in the Wind, which tells the story of Nicole Aldridge and Dustin Kingsley, the Marquis of Tyreham. I hadn't read the first book but had no problem following this one, though those who read and enjoyed Trenton and Ariana's story will appreciate seeing them often again in Dustin and Nicole's.
BOTTOM LINE and RECOMMENDATIONS
If you like extremely sentimental books with sappy/corny romance, this is the book for you. If you want to read a better Andrea Kane book (IMO), then buy My Heart's Desire (The Barretts, Book 1) or The Silver Coin (Coin Series, Book 2) instead.
December 13, 2017
Great enjoyable storyline but the romance was not as hot as in the first novel, Echoes In The Mist. In fact, it was the presence of the MC's from the first novel that made this one better. I loved seeing Trenton and his beautiful duchess Ariana and it was an absolute joy to see their 8 month old son Alexander. That cute little mischievous baby added a lot of laughs with his antics; he was always crawling and trying to wrench off Dustin's moustache. He reminded me of the toddler from the movie Baby's Day Out. I liked Dustin and Nicole a lot but they weren't as captivating as Trenton and Ariana. The whole horse racing suspense storyline was fun though.
The hero is Dustin ( the name really threw me off because how many aristrocrats will give their kids a name like that? This is the 1870's after all and it's in England ). Dustin is the younger brother of Trenton the Duke of Broddington ( the H from Echoes in The Mist ). Dustin is also a Marquess because he had saved Queen Victoria's life and she rewarded him by giving him the title. The Kingsley brothers are on really friendly terms with Queen Victoria. In this novel Dustin breeds racehorses but he has recently been losing a few races and can't understand why. Actually it's because there's a corrupt group of criminals, led by the main villain The Earl of Langston, who bribe jockeys, murder people who get in their way and fix horse races.
The heroine Nicole is a commoner and her father Nick is the best jockey around. He's also being threatened by the villains so he is forced to go into hiding with his daughter. Nicole soon decides that they need to earn money so she decides to dress like a boy and seek a job as a jockey. She gets hired by Dustin, who recognizes her from an earlier encounter when she had been dressed as a girl. Actually, the insta-love had hit Dustin so hard that he committed her face to memory so that's why her disguise fools everyone except him. Dustin soon becomes embroiled in trying to help Nicole and Nick solve their problems. He is also involved personally because the villains have threatened to harm his baby nephew Alexander ( the toddler of the the H and h from Echoes In The Mist ) if he ever hired Nick as a jockey. The eventual unveiling of the top villain was wonderful ! There was so much excitement during the scenes at the races where the villain thinks he will be the one to win it all. Of course he doesn't and his pathetic behaviour after he is arrested was so funny. It was awesome to see Nicole win the Derby horse race ( dressed as a boy of course ).
I would have given the novel a full 5 stars but not enough attention was given to the romance between Nicole and Dustin. A little too much time was spent on the story line with the villains and the killers, but it was wonderful to see Trenton, Ariana and their toddler play such significant parts in Dustin and Nicole's story. Dustin was a more gentle and laid back hero when compared to his brother Trenton and there is less angst between Dustin and Nicole. There's also no OW drama since the insta-love that Dustin experienced meant that he had given up on other women. In fact Dustin had pretty much become cynical about gold diggers and wanted a relationship like the one his brother and sister in law shared. I wished the epilogue had shown Dustin and Nicole with their own baby. They adored Alexander so much and had often said how much they wanted a baby like him. It is hinted though, that they will be having their own baby, in the final scene with Nicole's "wishing locket" that had been given to her by her late mother.
The hero is Dustin ( the name really threw me off because how many aristrocrats will give their kids a name like that? This is the 1870's after all and it's in England ). Dustin is the younger brother of Trenton the Duke of Broddington ( the H from Echoes in The Mist ). Dustin is also a Marquess because he had saved Queen Victoria's life and she rewarded him by giving him the title. The Kingsley brothers are on really friendly terms with Queen Victoria. In this novel Dustin breeds racehorses but he has recently been losing a few races and can't understand why. Actually it's because there's a corrupt group of criminals, led by the main villain The Earl of Langston, who bribe jockeys, murder people who get in their way and fix horse races.
The heroine Nicole is a commoner and her father Nick is the best jockey around. He's also being threatened by the villains so he is forced to go into hiding with his daughter. Nicole soon decides that they need to earn money so she decides to dress like a boy and seek a job as a jockey. She gets hired by Dustin, who recognizes her from an earlier encounter when she had been dressed as a girl. Actually, the insta-love had hit Dustin so hard that he committed her face to memory so that's why her disguise fools everyone except him. Dustin soon becomes embroiled in trying to help Nicole and Nick solve their problems. He is also involved personally because the villains have threatened to harm his baby nephew Alexander ( the toddler of the the H and h from Echoes In The Mist ) if he ever hired Nick as a jockey. The eventual unveiling of the top villain was wonderful ! There was so much excitement during the scenes at the races where the villain thinks he will be the one to win it all. Of course he doesn't and his pathetic behaviour after he is arrested was so funny. It was awesome to see Nicole win the Derby horse race ( dressed as a boy of course ).
I would have given the novel a full 5 stars but not enough attention was given to the romance between Nicole and Dustin. A little too much time was spent on the story line with the villains and the killers, but it was wonderful to see Trenton, Ariana and their toddler play such significant parts in Dustin and Nicole's story. Dustin was a more gentle and laid back hero when compared to his brother Trenton and there is less angst between Dustin and Nicole. There's also no OW drama since the insta-love that Dustin experienced meant that he had given up on other women. In fact Dustin had pretty much become cynical about gold diggers and wanted a relationship like the one his brother and sister in law shared. I wished the epilogue had shown Dustin and Nicole with their own baby. They adored Alexander so much and had often said how much they wanted a baby like him. It is hinted though, that they will be having their own baby, in the final scene with Nicole's "wishing locket" that had been given to her by her late mother.
August 10, 2021
I enjoyed this book until the ending which totally dismissed Nicole's concerns about her relationship with Dustin. The relationship happened too quickly but the mystery was good (although I guessed the villain very early in the book). I won't reread this book again because the ending was such a disappointment.
SPOILER ALERT NOW:
The ending dismisses Nicole's love of riding. Will she never ride astride again? It seemed like she was going to totally give up riding, wearing pants, etc. and become a totally different person. Not my idea of a happy ending.
Up-date 2021 - Well, I did read it again. I think this book could have been 4 stars if it was shorter and left out all the angst from both H and h. I found it tedious to read in those parts. And I hated that she was going to concede to be his mistress. That was totally out of character as was her willingness to have sex (does no one think about getting pregnant?)
SPOILER ALERT NOW:
The ending dismisses Nicole's love of riding. Will she never ride astride again? It seemed like she was going to totally give up riding, wearing pants, etc. and become a totally different person. Not my idea of a happy ending.
Up-date 2021 - Well, I did read it again. I think this book could have been 4 stars if it was shorter and left out all the angst from both H and h. I found it tedious to read in those parts. And I hated that she was going to concede to be his mistress. That was totally out of character as was her willingness to have sex (does no one think about getting pregnant?)
April 18, 2018
Someone is threatening her father's life, because the renowned jockey wouldn't throw a race, so Nicole Aldridge, willing to do anything to save her father's life, masquerades as a boy in order to seek employ with the Marquis of Tyrenham.
Little does she know, Dustin Kingsley would recognize her for the woman who's stolen his heart during a short conversation on the bank of the Thames and that the aristocrat will do anything to keep her father and her safe.
Unfortunately, this doesn't hold a candle to its predecessor. Not in characterization, romance (if you want to call it that), nor suspense.
The characters were unfortunately mere sketches, not truly developed beyond the initial story needs, the romance was rushed, hasty, and too instantaneous to be plausible, even less believable, and while the suspense could've been the saving grace of this novel, it was pushed into the background, playing second fiddle to the "romance". There was no real intrigue or intensity, and no real feel of peril.
I feel Dustin deserved more.
Little does she know, Dustin Kingsley would recognize her for the woman who's stolen his heart during a short conversation on the bank of the Thames and that the aristocrat will do anything to keep her father and her safe.
Unfortunately, this doesn't hold a candle to its predecessor. Not in characterization, romance (if you want to call it that), nor suspense.
The characters were unfortunately mere sketches, not truly developed beyond the initial story needs, the romance was rushed, hasty, and too instantaneous to be plausible, even less believable, and while the suspense could've been the saving grace of this novel, it was pushed into the background, playing second fiddle to the "romance". There was no real intrigue or intensity, and no real feel of peril.
I feel Dustin deserved more.
April 18, 2022
Another great story from Andrea Kane. Dustin did not disappoint in his open and honest way. He is a fun loving guy who definitely deserves a good woman like Nicole, who is just amazing! I’m glad we learned how he became a marquis because that puzzled me in the first novel. I didn’t mind the lack of sex scenes because the H&H were bound by their hearts before their bodies.
June 30, 2018
Read this one years ago and just did a reread in the past few days.
March 4, 2017
This is fairly standard Andrea Kane fare - not her best though. This is the sequel to another book - this time, the brother, Dustin has his romance. It's all about the world of horse racing. Nick Aldridge is a jockey in trouble and Dustin is trying to hire him. Trying to stay hidden from those who would kill him, Nick sends his daughter, Nicole, posing as a boy, to become Dustin's new jockey. Dustin recognizes her, having met her before, and they all team up to solve the mystery of who is trying to fix races and kill jockeys.
Andrea Kane's weakness is angst. Not being critical, just saying that in most of her romances, there is very little tension beyond the initial get together between the characters. They are usually exchanging their "I Love Yous" before the halfway point in the book and the rest of it focuses on the mystery. This is true here as well. In this case, it's practically insta-love but then we have to work out the details of the future. Sometimes I wish for a bit more tension and draw out of the romance culmination, but this way is refreshing as well. The characters and the plot or somewhat Mary Sue, all of them sweet, not too cynical and even the villain's aren't 100% evil. The mystery is the best part. It really does drive the majority of the story.
One little nitpick is the historical inaccuracies, which come at the price of a feel-good romance. Servants are more like family, men in general don't bat an eyelash at a woman who wears breeches and despises feminine garments (only owning 2 gowns), there's no doubt at the potential success of a female jockey, etc. I don't mind it so much myself, but some people might.
Andrea Kane's weakness is angst. Not being critical, just saying that in most of her romances, there is very little tension beyond the initial get together between the characters. They are usually exchanging their "I Love Yous" before the halfway point in the book and the rest of it focuses on the mystery. This is true here as well. In this case, it's practically insta-love but then we have to work out the details of the future. Sometimes I wish for a bit more tension and draw out of the romance culmination, but this way is refreshing as well. The characters and the plot or somewhat Mary Sue, all of them sweet, not too cynical and even the villain's aren't 100% evil. The mystery is the best part. It really does drive the majority of the story.
One little nitpick is the historical inaccuracies, which come at the price of a feel-good romance. Servants are more like family, men in general don't bat an eyelash at a woman who wears breeches and despises feminine garments (only owning 2 gowns), there's no doubt at the potential success of a female jockey, etc. I don't mind it so much myself, but some people might.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2013
It was okay. I'm a tough grader, so two stars from me is like three stars from a normal person. It was a historical romance from the 90's, so yeah, of course it had sexy parts and was cheesy. I don't mind those things so long as I like the characters or the plot or whatever, but Ariana was driving me crazy and her brother was such a loser and it REALLY worked out well for them that there was that owl and the maid who saw the future. This was the first I've read from this author. Apparently her more recent books are more mystery/crime/thrillers. This one had a hint of crime and a twist, but it was predictable. I think a lot could have been improved. It wasn't among the best romance novels I've read, but I would be open to reading more from Andrea Kane.
February 3, 2022
I love this story. It's one of my "comfort" reads. It's a sweet love story between Nicole Aldridge, a jockey's daughter, and Dustin, the Marquis of Tyreham. Though they both feel an instant attraction when they meet, Nicole must overcome her fears of them being too different, from two different worlds. While Dustin tries to convince her that rank and station don't matter, he must also help her solve the mystery of who is threatening jockeys and specifically her father. A fun, lighthearted romance with just the right amount of mystery and intrigue.
January 24, 2012
While it had a distinct tinge of the nineties about it that I didn't really care for (you can always tell), the plot was great and the characters were great. Nicole is an A+ example of an intelligent, independent and cocky heroine; she is very believable, very likable, and you don't immediately want to punch in the teeth. The mystery was not so mysterious, but then I'm not sure if it was meant to be.
November 12, 2018
my other top favorite by andrea kane!!
January 5, 2014
1.5, Poor; ridiculous plot, poorly executed drivel.
May 9, 2014
1.5 star
November 19, 2015
A good historical romance, that was more than brain candy.
April 15, 2018
Typical harlequine romance with lots of stereotypes, dialogues and clichés. I just skimmed it because I was curious about the villain who turned out to be .
July 30, 2016
Finished 1st Reading: 05/25/2010
Finished 2nd Reading: 12/22//2015 11:11a Tuesday
Purchased New - Paperback
ISBN 0-671-53483-1
Finished 2nd Reading: 12/22//2015 11:11a Tuesday
Purchased New - Paperback
ISBN 0-671-53483-1
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews