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Windswept
Well bred Virginia beauty Nora Seabrook longs for a life of excitement. She finds that and more when her father is appointed newest Federal judge in Key West. The day she arrives on the island paradise, Nora finds herself toppling from the gangway into the murky waters of Key West Harbor. She is rescued by the bold and brazen Jacob Proctor, owner of the island's most profitable ship wrecking company and the man her father accuses of the most wicked of sins. Jacob knows his is trouble from the moment he pulls the judge's daughter from the harbor. Nora Seabrook is the last woman he should be involved with. Plus a legacy of pain from his past prevents him from marrying any woman. But the stubborn Nora won't be sent away. Stowing on board the Dover Cloud, Nora travels with Jacob to a clandestine island where he becomes vulnerable to his enemies and the love that is destined to be theirs. Two cultures collide in this sexy and exciting romance.
352 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 1999
13 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Thomason
69 books53 followersI'm Cynthia Thomason, and I'm a romantic. To me, romance means love between people as well as finding romance in places, such as waterfalls, lighthouses, beaches, or wherever else your soul connects with the wider universe.. I have written 39 romance novels for Harlequin and Kensington. But I am currently proud to announce, BACKDROP DEAD, my FIRST COZY HISTORICAL MYSTERY, set on a showboat in 1898. I guess I'll add showboats to my list of romantic places.
I was raised in Ohio. I taught high school English, ran my own auction house, and wrote books. I have experienced a great love, but lost my husband a few years ago to cancer. But he's still around. I can feel him.
I have won the HOLT Medallion Award, the Golden Quill and Readers' Choice Awards and I've been nominated several times for the prestigious Maggie Award. I'm proud of those awards, but as the saying goes, "That and five dollars will get you in the door of Starbucks." I love to write about America's small towns, similar to the one where I grew up in Summit County, Ohio. I have one son, also a writer. My favorite place to spend an afternoon is the mountains of North Carolina, but I haven't been to Ireland yet. My motto as I grow older and wiser is "never stop learning." After several lessons, I am now playing the guitar and I love it.
I was raised in Ohio. I taught high school English, ran my own auction house, and wrote books. I have experienced a great love, but lost my husband a few years ago to cancer. But he's still around. I can feel him.
I have won the HOLT Medallion Award, the Golden Quill and Readers' Choice Awards and I've been nominated several times for the prestigious Maggie Award. I'm proud of those awards, but as the saying goes, "That and five dollars will get you in the door of Starbucks." I love to write about America's small towns, similar to the one where I grew up in Summit County, Ohio. I have one son, also a writer. My favorite place to spend an afternoon is the mountains of North Carolina, but I haven't been to Ireland yet. My motto as I grow older and wiser is "never stop learning." After several lessons, I am now playing the guitar and I love it.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 11, 2012
3.5 stars
Nora Seabrook's landing at Key West is memorable, to say the least, as she's knocked off the gangplank and in need of saving by handsome ship captain Jacob Proctor. Salvaging cargo from wrecked ships is a profitable business, but there are some who intentionally lure unsuspecting captains into the dangerous reefs, and Jacob is suspect #1 - particularly with Nora's father, the new Federal judge. Nora isn't one to let a little parental disapproval discourage her, plus she's got to prove that Jacob's innocent, but things don't go according to plan. Nora finds herself at sea with Jacob and crew en route to an island in the Caribbean that holds some very big secrets from Jacob's past, secrets Jacob is determined to keep from Nora.
Like that's going to happen :D
This really was a lot of fun. Nora was more intelligent than many heroines you find in novels like this; intelligent, well-read and caring enough to start up a school for the local youngsters. I also liked the humor the author threw in with several of the secondary characters, starting with her family (loved flirtatious cousin Fanny!) and Theo, the bumbling suitor and house-guest who would never leave. Ever.
This book was originally published in 1999 by Zebra Books, and was well formatted for the most part, although there were a few oddities here and there in the Kindle edition. I had a sentence that ended in nowhere land, plus this showed up at least twice, "^P^P". Not quite sure what that was supposed to be. All in all an engaging romance when you're in the mood for a bit of brain candy on a rainy afternoon, and for those worried about the sexual content, I'd put it in the tamer category. There's one big sex scene, but it isn't overly explicit, otherwise just a few steamy kisses here and there.
Nora Seabrook's landing at Key West is memorable, to say the least, as she's knocked off the gangplank and in need of saving by handsome ship captain Jacob Proctor. Salvaging cargo from wrecked ships is a profitable business, but there are some who intentionally lure unsuspecting captains into the dangerous reefs, and Jacob is suspect #1 - particularly with Nora's father, the new Federal judge. Nora isn't one to let a little parental disapproval discourage her, plus she's got to prove that Jacob's innocent, but things don't go according to plan. Nora finds herself at sea with Jacob and crew en route to an island in the Caribbean that holds some very big secrets from Jacob's past, secrets Jacob is determined to keep from Nora.
Like that's going to happen :D
This really was a lot of fun. Nora was more intelligent than many heroines you find in novels like this; intelligent, well-read and caring enough to start up a school for the local youngsters. I also liked the humor the author threw in with several of the secondary characters, starting with her family (loved flirtatious cousin Fanny!) and Theo, the bumbling suitor and house-guest who would never leave. Ever.
This book was originally published in 1999 by Zebra Books, and was well formatted for the most part, although there were a few oddities here and there in the Kindle edition. I had a sentence that ended in nowhere land, plus this showed up at least twice, "^P^P". Not quite sure what that was supposed to be. All in all an engaging romance when you're in the mood for a bit of brain candy on a rainy afternoon, and for those worried about the sexual content, I'd put it in the tamer category. There's one big sex scene, but it isn't overly explicit, otherwise just a few steamy kisses here and there.
July 31, 2016
3 and ½ Stars - Love Blooms Amid Ship Wrecking in the Caribbean
Set in 1857, this is the story of Nora Seabrook, who leaves Virginia for Key West where her father has been appointed the federal judge. The day her family arrives on the island, Nora is rescued from her fall off the gangway into Key West Harbor by Jacob Proctor, owner of the island's most profitable ship wrecking company. He is also the man her father believes is responsible for intentionally leading ships to the rocks.
When Jacob takes off for his own island, Nora becomes an unwanted passenger, having come on board to spy out his wares and got herself hit on the head. Now Jacob must deal with her and let her in on his secret.
The author has obviously done considerable research into the Caribbean wrecking business and I found that fascinating. The story is well paced and entertaining, but there were errors in ebook formatting, incorrect ship terminology (there are no doors, floors or walls on a ship, which our hero, a sea captain, would know), incorrect forms of address (Lord Harrison Proctor is not correct as Proctor is the surname), and other errors (no peer could “give up” his title), which distracted. However, if none of those details bother you, it’s a charming story and the setting is lovely.
Set in 1857, this is the story of Nora Seabrook, who leaves Virginia for Key West where her father has been appointed the federal judge. The day her family arrives on the island, Nora is rescued from her fall off the gangway into Key West Harbor by Jacob Proctor, owner of the island's most profitable ship wrecking company. He is also the man her father believes is responsible for intentionally leading ships to the rocks.
When Jacob takes off for his own island, Nora becomes an unwanted passenger, having come on board to spy out his wares and got herself hit on the head. Now Jacob must deal with her and let her in on his secret.
The author has obviously done considerable research into the Caribbean wrecking business and I found that fascinating. The story is well paced and entertaining, but there were errors in ebook formatting, incorrect ship terminology (there are no doors, floors or walls on a ship, which our hero, a sea captain, would know), incorrect forms of address (Lord Harrison Proctor is not correct as Proctor is the surname), and other errors (no peer could “give up” his title), which distracted. However, if none of those details bother you, it’s a charming story and the setting is lovely.
January 29, 2012
Windswept was great! Nora is moving to Key West where her father will be the new Federal judge. Captain Jacob Proctor is a popular wreck salvager who Nora's father has deemed the cause of all the problems on the island. After Nora ends up as a stowaway on Jacob's boat the story really gets interesting! The characters were great, and the story was entertaining!
August 8, 2018
A SOLID 3.5 STARS!
THIS WAS OKAY. THE CHEMISTRY WAS THERE, THE STORYTELLING WAS DEVELOPED AND RICH WITH INFORMATION, BUT IT WASN'T AS MEMORABLE AS I'D HOPE IT WOULD BE.
OUR HERO is a charming Captain who deals with the island's wrecking business. This part of the story was particularly interesting because I've read plenty of island and pirate stories BUT never about an island that thrived on shipwrecked goods. Jacob himself has a mysterious back story that makes you yearn to uncover and hope that you'll get to the good part soon. The chemistry between him and the beautiful Nora was instant but not the kind that puts you off because you think it's insta love. Their relationship builds on the stolen encounters they have and add a pair of disapproving parents plus an intrusive beau...you have something akin to Romeo and Juliet sans the tragedy. The romance started early but I didn't mind because it was a slow build and involved character development and introduction. Jacob's not hard to like. While he's cocksure and capable, he's not arrogant but rather a man who is quite responsible and honorable. Despite the several stolen kisses with Nora, he's a perfect gentleman who treats her with respect. His devotion to a bitter father will be a testament to his character.
OUR HEROINE is a normal young woman out looking for a new adventure on the Island she will be calling home for quite awhile. Her father, appointed new Judge of the Island is the reason why they have come from the city to the rustic tropics. Her first encounter with Jacob begins with his rescue of her unfortunate circumstance of falling off the ship and soaked from head to toe. I would say Nora was impressionable but mostly a curious woman who instantly gets attracted to the enigmatic and handsome Captain whom her father is out to get. Nora's a rather resilient character and I liked her for it because she's the kind of woman you'd like to aspire to become - kind, nonjudgmental and also rational. Of course, she's a beauty too. Her love for Jacob was pure from beginning to end and never once wavered despite some rickety patches they went through. She's a good sport this one.
OVERALL it did captivate me from start to end. I enjoyed the fictional world the author painted with her words, it was almost as if I was there myself. I loved the 1950s tropical setting of this story that sets it apart from typical London scenes. Definitely a story you can pick up and read any day, because the characters are quite loveable and the romance was sweet.
THIS WAS OKAY. THE CHEMISTRY WAS THERE, THE STORYTELLING WAS DEVELOPED AND RICH WITH INFORMATION, BUT IT WASN'T AS MEMORABLE AS I'D HOPE IT WOULD BE.
OUR HERO is a charming Captain who deals with the island's wrecking business. This part of the story was particularly interesting because I've read plenty of island and pirate stories BUT never about an island that thrived on shipwrecked goods. Jacob himself has a mysterious back story that makes you yearn to uncover and hope that you'll get to the good part soon. The chemistry between him and the beautiful Nora was instant but not the kind that puts you off because you think it's insta love. Their relationship builds on the stolen encounters they have and add a pair of disapproving parents plus an intrusive beau...you have something akin to Romeo and Juliet sans the tragedy. The romance started early but I didn't mind because it was a slow build and involved character development and introduction. Jacob's not hard to like. While he's cocksure and capable, he's not arrogant but rather a man who is quite responsible and honorable. Despite the several stolen kisses with Nora, he's a perfect gentleman who treats her with respect. His devotion to a bitter father will be a testament to his character.
OUR HEROINE is a normal young woman out looking for a new adventure on the Island she will be calling home for quite awhile. Her father, appointed new Judge of the Island is the reason why they have come from the city to the rustic tropics. Her first encounter with Jacob begins with his rescue of her unfortunate circumstance of falling off the ship and soaked from head to toe. I would say Nora was impressionable but mostly a curious woman who instantly gets attracted to the enigmatic and handsome Captain whom her father is out to get. Nora's a rather resilient character and I liked her for it because she's the kind of woman you'd like to aspire to become - kind, nonjudgmental and also rational. Of course, she's a beauty too. Her love for Jacob was pure from beginning to end and never once wavered despite some rickety patches they went through. She's a good sport this one.
OVERALL it did captivate me from start to end. I enjoyed the fictional world the author painted with her words, it was almost as if I was there myself. I loved the 1950s tropical setting of this story that sets it apart from typical London scenes. Definitely a story you can pick up and read any day, because the characters are quite loveable and the romance was sweet.
February 25, 2012
Key West! Woo hoo!
March 15, 2012
Another fun, easy read by Thomason. This one kind of made me cringe when the main character kept getting herself into compromising situations, but I still enjoyed it until the end.
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November 17, 2012Amazon Freebie 11/16/2012
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews