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Spread Your Wings
Richard Saracen felt that he owed young Gael Cassella something; after all, he had persuaded her to sell him the horse on which he had set his heart. So when she confided that what she longed for most of all was to go to 'swinging London' he arranged for her to have a winter there. Certainly it was all a far cry from the quiet country life Gael had longed to get away from - but would it make her any happier? For she had to admit that she didn't really fit in with the smart society people with whom she was now mixing. And worse, she had fallen in love with Richard - who was more than a little involved with the sophisticated Sally Vayle....
- GenresHarlequin Romance
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
About the author
Sara Seale
74 books23 followersSara Seale was the pseudonym used by Mary Jane MacPherson (d. 11 March 1974) and/or A.D.L. MacPherson (d. 30 October 1978), a British writing team who published over 45 romance novels from 1932 to 1971. Seale was one of the first Mills & Boon's authors published in Germany and the Netherlands, and reached the pinnacle of her career in the 1940s and 1950s, when they earning over £3,000/year. Many of Seale's novels revisited a theme of an orphaned heroine who finds happiness, and also employed blind or disfigured (but still handsome) heroes as standard characters.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews
April 9, 2018
Completely forgot I had read this.
Destitute, Irish country lass sells beloved horse to arrogant, waste of hair spray, English hero in exchange for him hosting her for a season in London amongst the "beautiful people." Well, those beautiful people, including hero's mistress, are shallow, corrupt, horrorshows, each worse than the other.
While heroine had no problem ditching her fiance the minute she laid eyes on the hero, the hero remains obsessed with his mistress until he loses all his money and finally shows up back in Ireland to live the destitute life with the heroine, her brothers, and their horses.
Fin.
Destitute, Irish country lass sells beloved horse to arrogant, waste of hair spray, English hero in exchange for him hosting her for a season in London amongst the "beautiful people." Well, those beautiful people, including hero's mistress, are shallow, corrupt, horrorshows, each worse than the other.
While heroine had no problem ditching her fiance the minute she laid eyes on the hero, the hero remains obsessed with his mistress until he loses all his money and finally shows up back in Ireland to live the destitute life with the heroine, her brothers, and their horses.
Fin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2018
Gael is one of the most appealing and also credible of Sara Seale's heroines. She's only eighteen but a real "old soul". There's the usual unpalatable Seale guff to present her as even younger than that - the endless references to her child like form, and her being a "thin little girl". But she knows her own mind, she's brilliant with horses, and an amazing gambler.
The problem in this book is Richard. He's profoundly irritating. First, he's a completely useless dilettante who has spent his life living on a private income and shagging various women. He's also useless with money/business: all his wealth is invested in a single shareholding! It's not even a family company or anything. Then, when the shit starts to hit the fan, he simply leaves his money there. Most people would sell out, but oh no! Not Richard. When it's all gone, he puts his last few hundred on horse (it loses). Finally, only when he's completely broke, does he head back to Gael and propose. With some insane notion of farming in Ireland.
We've already been told the land is poor. We've already seen Gael's family on the breadline having to sell their only asset because they can't make ends meet. We've also seen their neighbour/Gael's ex fiancée quit Ireland for Canada, because the land is just too shitty to make a go of farming. What exactly are Richard's plans for the future? We never find out.
Despite Richard never being described as particularly attractive, and being a useless idle arse when it comes to business and work, every woman in the book is fawning over him - even his teenage (or near teenage) cousin. Why?
Most mystifyingly, when he first stays with Gael, she gets him to take her to a local country dance. Despite the fact she has a fiancé next door who could easily take her. Who does that? What 18-year-old asks a strange, unattractive man twice her age to take her to a village dance? How come she's never been to a dance before? The whole thing is just odd, and Richard's thoughts are all fairly unpleasant and critical of her dress and the dance and how "cheap" it all is. Most people would just regard it as charmingly rustic, but not our lazy International Playboy, oh no. Plus he's totally hung up on his mistress (who has refused to marry him).
There is a kiss... make the most of it, because it's pretty much all you'll get:
This comes right after he has been mentally whingeing about wanting his mistress there, and right before he starts calling her "child" again.
Ultimately an interesting and appealing heroine is wasted here on a truly unappealing "hero".
The problem in this book is Richard. He's profoundly irritating. First, he's a completely useless dilettante who has spent his life living on a private income and shagging various women. He's also useless with money/business: all his wealth is invested in a single shareholding! It's not even a family company or anything. Then, when the shit starts to hit the fan, he simply leaves his money there. Most people would sell out, but oh no! Not Richard. When it's all gone, he puts his last few hundred on horse (it loses). Finally, only when he's completely broke, does he head back to Gael and propose. With some insane notion of farming in Ireland.
We've already been told the land is poor. We've already seen Gael's family on the breadline having to sell their only asset because they can't make ends meet. We've also seen their neighbour/Gael's ex fiancée quit Ireland for Canada, because the land is just too shitty to make a go of farming. What exactly are Richard's plans for the future? We never find out.
Despite Richard never being described as particularly attractive, and being a useless idle arse when it comes to business and work, every woman in the book is fawning over him - even his teenage (or near teenage) cousin. Why?
Most mystifyingly, when he first stays with Gael, she gets him to take her to a local country dance. Despite the fact she has a fiancé next door who could easily take her. Who does that? What 18-year-old asks a strange, unattractive man twice her age to take her to a village dance? How come she's never been to a dance before? The whole thing is just odd, and Richard's thoughts are all fairly unpleasant and critical of her dress and the dance and how "cheap" it all is. Most people would just regard it as charmingly rustic, but not our lazy International Playboy, oh no. Plus he's totally hung up on his mistress (who has refused to marry him).
There is a kiss... make the most of it, because it's pretty much all you'll get:
He didn't know what impulse made him take her in his arms and kiss her. Perhaps he had still felt the enchantment of that moment when he had come upon her dancing; perhaps it was only kindly remorse for having spoilt her evening. She looked up at him in a dazed fashion, then put her arms round his neck and kissed him with an ardency which took him by surprise."
This comes right after he has been mentally whingeing about wanting his mistress there, and right before he starts calling her "child" again.
Ultimately an interesting and appealing heroine is wasted here on a truly unappealing "hero".
July 14, 2016
Oh, she is my favorite author without a doubt. Most of her stories barely have one kiss that too as an afterthought. But in today's world of instant gratification, I find her slow and simmering romances endearing. Difficult to move on to another tale without savoring this one enough.
Hero finds the girl rather sexually unattractive for the most part, but he is succumbing to her inherent innocence and charm right from the start, albeit without his knowledge.
Here the premise is rather thread bare. English hero , man of the world, travels to dreamy Ireland in search of a race horse. Owner is a young but level headed, rather plain looking girl whose biggest yearning in life is to live it up in London !
So that's a deal, I buy the horse and you get to live for a few months in London. This household in London is full of women who seem to have a crush on him. He doesn't care of course.
Disillusioned with city life but enchanted by the hero. The girl gets back home. The hero realizes her honesty and integrity towards life and love has rubbed on him after all. He goes after her, after he loses all his money in the stock market.
Penniless, he is at her door in Ireland, she doesn't care a damn. All is well, HEA.
Sweet girl, rather world weary but charming hero. Good old story. Left me content. 4 stars.
Hero finds the girl rather sexually unattractive for the most part, but he is succumbing to her inherent innocence and charm right from the start, albeit without his knowledge.
Here the premise is rather thread bare. English hero , man of the world, travels to dreamy Ireland in search of a race horse. Owner is a young but level headed, rather plain looking girl whose biggest yearning in life is to live it up in London !
So that's a deal, I buy the horse and you get to live for a few months in London. This household in London is full of women who seem to have a crush on him. He doesn't care of course.
Disillusioned with city life but enchanted by the hero. The girl gets back home. The hero realizes her honesty and integrity towards life and love has rubbed on him after all. He goes after her, after he loses all his money in the stock market.
Penniless, he is at her door in Ireland, she doesn't care a damn. All is well, HEA.
Sweet girl, rather world weary but charming hero. Good old story. Left me content. 4 stars.
January 29, 2014
this was very nice. not the hot-scorching romance type which i prefer but it works as well. they shared a very platonic relationship n it was really very honourable of richard, too sweet ! in fact he was not attracted 2 her at all !not at first sight ! not even on 2nd sights ! richard just was very sympathetic as gael was such an adorable child. naive, honest, not beautiful nor pretty, even trendy clothes cud not improve her appearance much !! it was her personality, her honesty n her warmth n witty character which drew people. ders nthng extraordinary der but it's very pleasant 4 the mind. u have a feel-good feeling after reading the book !:-)gud one !
March 20, 2021
The h a classic Seale heroine is eighteen with the wisdom of a 40 yo.
The H is beta minus at best. I lost all my money, I guess it was for the best.
Sally I dated you for many years. I don’t know why.
The h wants to know why the H didn’t defend he says he didn’t think it would make a difference. Well okay but marry me and I’ll feel better.
The H is beta minus at best. I lost all my money, I guess it was for the best.
Sally I dated you for many years. I don’t know why.
The h wants to know why the H didn’t defend he says he didn’t think it would make a difference. Well okay but marry me and I’ll feel better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2020
originally published in 1950s as My Heart's Desire
March 9, 2025
Richard Saracen felt that he owed young Gael Cassella something; after all, he had persuaded her to sell him the horse on which he had set his heart. So when she confided that what she longed for most of all was to go to 'swinging London' he arranged for her to have a winter there. Certainly it was all a far cry from the quiet country life Gael had longed to get away from - but would it make her any happier? For she had to admit that she didn't really fit in with the smart society people with whom she was now mixing. And worse, she had fallen in love with Richard - who was more than a little involved with the sophisticated Sally Vayle....
Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews