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Catch the Wind
BOOK TWO IN THE FLIGHT OF THE MONARCHS TRILOGY
An evocative coming-of-age tale set in 1960s America.
With perfumed letters from his childhood love Celia in his pocket, Jeremy Hill marches straight into an ambush that leads him toward personal darkness in the jungles of Vietnam. Back home in Pacific Grove where America is experiencing upheaval and chaos, Celia Lynch waits desperately for Jeremy’s letters that stopped arriving months ago and questions his love for her. Her only real comfort is the sweet Walter who helps to make one of her greatest dreams come true.
A closeted but hopeful Fletcher leaves for Berkeley law school to focus on his goals of becoming a civil rights attorney and avoiding his handsome new neighbor Ben, as well as Ben's jealous protector, Samuel, the gorgeous son of a California state senator. But Fletcher inadvertently gets himself caught up in a political conspiracy and dangerous love triangle that threatens to destroy his entire future.
Meanwhile, Angie encounters resistant friends and alluring strangers on a journey that takes her to interesting places, but her impulsivity could lead to disaster. Moose hides behind the responsibility of his bar, but when a friend offers to ease his loneliness, will he be able to accept the consequences?
From the jungles of Vietnam to the freewheeling streets of San Francisco, Catch the Wind, the second installment in the Flight of the Monarchs trilogy, continues to follow the five friends from Pacific Grove, California as they attempt young adulthood in the chaotic late 1960s.
Content Catch the Wind contains scenes that may be disturbing for some readers, depicting drug use, drug and alcohol addiction, smoking, ableism, bullying, hate slurs, homophobia, racism, explicit violence, gun violence, murder, sexual violence, war, depression, mental illness, panic attacks, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and PTSD.
It also contains MF and MM sexually explicit scenes.
An evocative coming-of-age tale set in 1960s America.
With perfumed letters from his childhood love Celia in his pocket, Jeremy Hill marches straight into an ambush that leads him toward personal darkness in the jungles of Vietnam. Back home in Pacific Grove where America is experiencing upheaval and chaos, Celia Lynch waits desperately for Jeremy’s letters that stopped arriving months ago and questions his love for her. Her only real comfort is the sweet Walter who helps to make one of her greatest dreams come true.
A closeted but hopeful Fletcher leaves for Berkeley law school to focus on his goals of becoming a civil rights attorney and avoiding his handsome new neighbor Ben, as well as Ben's jealous protector, Samuel, the gorgeous son of a California state senator. But Fletcher inadvertently gets himself caught up in a political conspiracy and dangerous love triangle that threatens to destroy his entire future.
Meanwhile, Angie encounters resistant friends and alluring strangers on a journey that takes her to interesting places, but her impulsivity could lead to disaster. Moose hides behind the responsibility of his bar, but when a friend offers to ease his loneliness, will he be able to accept the consequences?
From the jungles of Vietnam to the freewheeling streets of San Francisco, Catch the Wind, the second installment in the Flight of the Monarchs trilogy, continues to follow the five friends from Pacific Grove, California as they attempt young adulthood in the chaotic late 1960s.
Content Catch the Wind contains scenes that may be disturbing for some readers, depicting drug use, drug and alcohol addiction, smoking, ableism, bullying, hate slurs, homophobia, racism, explicit violence, gun violence, murder, sexual violence, war, depression, mental illness, panic attacks, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and PTSD.
It also contains MF and MM sexually explicit scenes.
521 pages, Paperback
Published November 21, 2024
5 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
M. H. Reardon
2 books15 followersBorn and raised in Southern California, M. H. Reardon got her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and works as a writer and freelance editor. She currently lives with her family in North Carolina. When she’s not writing, she can be found poolside with a spicy romance, on a trail of some kind, or on her couch bingeing Marvel movies with her youngest child.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 11, 2024
Catch the Wind is a phenomenal sequel to Flight of the Monarchs. We are brought right back into the lives of all these beloved characters. Where Flight of the Monarchs introduced us to the hopeful and almost innocent exploration that all five friends have with the cultural changes of the 60s, Catch the Wind explores the darker side, showcasing how no one can escape the crushing realities that war, drugs, and love can do to a person.
My favorite story arc was definitely Fletcher. He feels so real to me. Even when he is being totally wrong, frustrating me with his choices, I'm rooting for him every step of the way. His romance is by far the most captivating and I found myself yearning to return to his chapters. I especially love that the author did not shy away from showing his sexual experiences. They felt so important to his character arc and had my heart racing.
Where in Book 1 we were experiencing Celia and Jeremy rediscovering each other as adults and trying to grapple with the shared trauma between them, Book 2 really addresses head on what it means to be be so consumed by another person - the good and the very ugly. Simply put, the author bravely pushed us into the realities of how hurt people can love each other deeply but still hurt the one they love. I especially think how the author handled Jeremy's experience in the war and the effects it had on him was very realistic and heart breaking. The tension was palpable. I could feel the doom hovering over every part of their story.
Moose and Angie were such stand outs in Book 1 and it was so interesting to see how in some ways their roles have flipped. Moose now has accepted a lot if responsibility on his shoulders and Angie is itching to break free. I really wanted even more of them.
It's hard to write this review without spoilers. But I highly recommend it to anyone who loved the first one. I think it surpasses the first and gives us an even richer, grittier view of each character. The way this author blends in angst, romance, and raw sexuality is so elegant. Anyone who has loved and yearned can recognize themselves in what these characters go through.
My favorite story arc was definitely Fletcher. He feels so real to me. Even when he is being totally wrong, frustrating me with his choices, I'm rooting for him every step of the way. His romance is by far the most captivating and I found myself yearning to return to his chapters. I especially love that the author did not shy away from showing his sexual experiences. They felt so important to his character arc and had my heart racing.
Where in Book 1 we were experiencing Celia and Jeremy rediscovering each other as adults and trying to grapple with the shared trauma between them, Book 2 really addresses head on what it means to be be so consumed by another person - the good and the very ugly. Simply put, the author bravely pushed us into the realities of how hurt people can love each other deeply but still hurt the one they love. I especially think how the author handled Jeremy's experience in the war and the effects it had on him was very realistic and heart breaking. The tension was palpable. I could feel the doom hovering over every part of their story.
Moose and Angie were such stand outs in Book 1 and it was so interesting to see how in some ways their roles have flipped. Moose now has accepted a lot if responsibility on his shoulders and Angie is itching to break free. I really wanted even more of them.
It's hard to write this review without spoilers. But I highly recommend it to anyone who loved the first one. I think it surpasses the first and gives us an even richer, grittier view of each character. The way this author blends in angst, romance, and raw sexuality is so elegant. Anyone who has loved and yearned can recognize themselves in what these characters go through.
December 10, 2024
(Very mild spoilers, nothing specific) Michelle Reardon’s Catch the Wind is the beautifully written sequel to her debut effort, Flight of the Monarchs. The story picks up with the five childhood friends from a small seaside town as they confront the complexities of love, identity, trauma against the societal changes of late 1960s America. Reardon masterfully captures the spirit of the era while delving deeply into her characters’ personal struggles, creating a story that is as historically rich as it is emotionally compelling. As the second novel in a trilogy, it reminded me a lot of The Empire Strikes Back in terms of tonal shift from its predecessor and gravitas. This book carries unexpected weight.
Jeremy’s experiences in Vietnam is particularly poignant. His battle with PTSD and eventual descent into alcoholism are portrayed with raw authenticity, making his relationship with Celia both tender and devastating. Fletcher’s journey as a closeted homosexual navigating the freedoms and dangers of San Francisco’s queer revolution is as exciting as it is tragic.
The supporting stories of Moose and Angie add warmth, humor, and a hint of danger. Moose’s yearning for love and respect contrasts beautifully with his lively, bar-owning persona, and a budding relationship with the unexpected gives him hope—until it doesn’t. The interconnected lives of these friends, with their shared history and growing pains, are a testament to friendships that become familial and the weight of individual choices.
Reardon’s writing is evocative, her characters deeply human, and her portrayal of late-60s America both vibrant and haunting. Catch the Wind is a gripping exploration of resilience, loss, and the fragile bonds that bind us or break us. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven stories. I can’t wait for Book 3!
Jeremy’s experiences in Vietnam is particularly poignant. His battle with PTSD and eventual descent into alcoholism are portrayed with raw authenticity, making his relationship with Celia both tender and devastating. Fletcher’s journey as a closeted homosexual navigating the freedoms and dangers of San Francisco’s queer revolution is as exciting as it is tragic.
The supporting stories of Moose and Angie add warmth, humor, and a hint of danger. Moose’s yearning for love and respect contrasts beautifully with his lively, bar-owning persona, and a budding relationship with the unexpected gives him hope—until it doesn’t. The interconnected lives of these friends, with their shared history and growing pains, are a testament to friendships that become familial and the weight of individual choices.
Reardon’s writing is evocative, her characters deeply human, and her portrayal of late-60s America both vibrant and haunting. Catch the Wind is a gripping exploration of resilience, loss, and the fragile bonds that bind us or break us. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven stories. I can’t wait for Book 3!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2024
(Very mild spoilers; nothing specific) Michelle Reardon’s Catch the Wind is the beautifully written sequel to her debut effort, Flight of the Monarchs. The story picks up with the five childhood friends from a small seaside town as they confront the complexities of love, identity, trauma against the societal changes of late 1960s America. Reardon masterfully captures the spirit of the era while delving deeply into her characters’ personal struggles, creating a story that is as historically rich as it is emotionally compelling. As the second novel in a trilogy, it reminded me a lot of The Empire Strikes Back in terms of tonal shift from its predecessor and gravitas. This book carries unexpected weight.
Jeremy’s experiences in Vietnam is particularly poignant. His battle with PTSD and eventual descent into alcoholism are portrayed with raw authenticity, making his relationship with Celia both tender and devastating. Fletcher’s journey as a closeted homosexual navigating the freedoms and dangers of San Francisco’s queer revolution is as exciting as it is tragic.
The supporting stories of Moose and Angie add warmth, humor, and a hint of danger. Moose’s yearning for love and respect contrasts beautifully with his lively, bar-owning persona, and a budding relationship with the unexpected gives him hope—until it doesn’t. The interconnected lives of these friends, with their shared history and growing pains, are a testament to friendships that become familial and the weight of individual choices.
Reardon’s writing is evocative, her characters deeply human, and her portrayal of late-60s America both vibrant and haunting. Catch the Wind is a gripping exploration of resilience, loss, and the fragile bonds that bind us or break us. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven stories. I can’t wait for Book 3!
Jeremy’s experiences in Vietnam is particularly poignant. His battle with PTSD and eventual descent into alcoholism are portrayed with raw authenticity, making his relationship with Celia both tender and devastating. Fletcher’s journey as a closeted homosexual navigating the freedoms and dangers of San Francisco’s queer revolution is as exciting as it is tragic.
The supporting stories of Moose and Angie add warmth, humor, and a hint of danger. Moose’s yearning for love and respect contrasts beautifully with his lively, bar-owning persona, and a budding relationship with the unexpected gives him hope—until it doesn’t. The interconnected lives of these friends, with their shared history and growing pains, are a testament to friendships that become familial and the weight of individual choices.
Reardon’s writing is evocative, her characters deeply human, and her portrayal of late-60s America both vibrant and haunting. Catch the Wind is a gripping exploration of resilience, loss, and the fragile bonds that bind us or break us. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and character-driven stories. I can’t wait for Book 3!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2024
I wish I had more time to write a detailed review that would do this excellent book justice. The fact that the author has captured a critical part of the zeitgeist of a generation while not herself being a member of that generation is nothing short of astounding. In Catch the Wind, the author Reardon has lain bare the depths of true-to-life characters in all their glory and dysfunction, showing us the complexity of the times through their inner and outer lives. Be prepared to fall in love with and worry over these characters as they strive to find their ways through dark times. They will lift you up and they will break your heart, but you will be safe in the deft hands of a skillful and compassionate author. I highly recommend this book. Five stars!
October 23, 2025
What a great sequel. I loved the book and the characters. I can't wait for book 3!
November 27, 2024
A Roller Coaster of a Read!
Catch the Wind is the excellent sequel to M.H.Reardon’s debut novel, Flight of the Monarchs.
Again, her characters are expertly developed, each with their own distinct voice, personal quirks and flaws that drive their stories forward. A bevy of side characters are well thought out and loveable (or hateable) too that add depth and complexity to a well told story.
But without giving away too much, there are clouds on the horizon in Pacific Grove and each of our dear characters will end up dealing with their own demons during this turbulent era. The storms will leave them battered and adrift, and maybe with a glimmer of hope.
I can’t wait for book 3.
Catch the Wind is the excellent sequel to M.H.Reardon’s debut novel, Flight of the Monarchs.
Again, her characters are expertly developed, each with their own distinct voice, personal quirks and flaws that drive their stories forward. A bevy of side characters are well thought out and loveable (or hateable) too that add depth and complexity to a well told story.
But without giving away too much, there are clouds on the horizon in Pacific Grove and each of our dear characters will end up dealing with their own demons during this turbulent era. The storms will leave them battered and adrift, and maybe with a glimmer of hope.
I can’t wait for book 3.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews