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Windsong
This daring story of betrayal and intrigue is about Linna O'Neill, who fears she may lose her devilish and sexy husband if he discovers she not the woman he was supposed to marry.
Linna O'Neill flees Connemara, Ireland, with her newly wedded husband. Rory Desmond is the infamous rebel bad boy who thinks he has married a young heiress—not her illegitimate sister. He never expected his marriage of convenience would arouse him so much. He finds Linna addictive.
Linna is truly in love with this handsome Highland rogue, but terror lives in her heart and she fears if he ever discovers who she really is, it will be her downfall. What will happen when he finds out I am not who I say I am? She loves him with unending passion, but feels she has flown too close to the sun, stepping out of bounds and living a life beyond all reason. She know she will have to pay dearly for it all if she doesn’t find a way to make him really fall in love with her.
Then Rory finds out…
3.81 average rating all editions, 36 ratings, 7 reviews, added by 108 people, 46 to-reads.—97% of people like it—Goodreads
4.2 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)—Amazon
Judith E. French captures the essence of passion and brings her special characters alive on every page. A multiple award winner, including RT's Historical Romance Lifetime Achievement Author, Best Historical Author of the Year, The PEARL award for Best Anthology, and The Delaware Diamond Award for Literary Excellence, she is best known for her American frontier historical fiction. A master storyteller, she finds inspiration in her Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English and Lenni-Lenape ancestry near Chesapeake Bay, where the French family has made its home for more than 300 years. Judith’s novels have sold millions and been translated into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Bulgarian, and Mandarin. She appeals to readers of Christi Caldwell, Mary Balogh, C. J. Petit, Shirleen Davies, Karen Kay, Madeline Baker, Elle Marlow, Ellen O'Connell, Vonna Harper, Kathryn Le Veque, Colleen French, Julie Garwood, Cecelia Mecca, Caroline Fyffe, and Hannah Howell. She is the mother of bestselling novelist Colleen French.
361 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 1988
21 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Judith E. French
41 books60 followers ABOUT JUDITH E. FRENCH
Judith E. French captures the essence of passion and brings her special characters alive on every page. A multiple award winner, including RT's Historical Romance Lifetime Achievement Author, Best Historical Author of the Year, The PEARL award for Best Anthology, and The Delaware Diamond Award for Literary Excellence, she is best known for her American frontier historical fiction. A master storyteller, she finds inspiration in her Scottish, Irish, Welsh, English and Lenni-Lenape ancestry near Chesapeake Bay, where the French family has made its home for more than 300 years. Judith’s novels have sold millions and been translated into French, Spanish, German, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Bulgarian, and Mandarin. She appeals to readers of Christi Caldwell, Mary Balogh, C. J. Petit, Shirleen Davies, Karen Kay, Madeline Baker, Elle Marlow, Ellen O'Connell, Vonna Harper, Kathryn Le Veque, Colleen French, Julie Garwood, Cecelia Mecca, Caroline Fyffe, and Hannah Howell. She is the mother of bestselling novelist Colleen French.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 10, 2021
I don't think this book was for me. The story started out pretty good but then fizzled out. I kept putting the book down. That's not to say it's bad, it had it's moments. I think some might enjoy it.
Basically it was just okay!
Basically it was just okay!
March 18, 2015
4 and ½ Stars! The Irish in America, an Adventure in the New World
I love French’s stories and was pleased to find this one set in America at the beginning of the French and Indian war. It was a time when many Irish left Ireland fleeing the English for a better life. Such was Rory Desmond, who in 1743, helped by a young girl, fled to the Maryland Colony to become a tobacco planter.
Ten years later, in 1753, the wife he loved is dead and with his debts piling up around him and a young baby, he decides to take a rich Irish wife who comes with a dowry. He returns to Connemara to wed Mary Aislinn, the daughter of a wealthy man. But Mary Aislinn wants to be a nun, so her illegitimate half sister, Linna O’Neill, who has the same name “Mary Aislinn,” devises a plan whereby she will take her sister’s place. Unbeknownst to Rory, she is the same young girl who helped him escape ten years earlier.
When Rory learns the truth, he spurns Linna as breaking his trust. He sends back the dowry and, hoping to make enough money to save his plantation, takes off to be a scout for the colonial soldiers in their battle against the French and their allied Indians. When Rory's troops are massacred and word reaches Linna that he is likely dead, she refuses to believe it and sets out into the wilderness to find him.
French was inspired to write this adventure story from her own family roots that began in Connemara, Ireland and lead to the New World. She has done much research into the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Indian tribes like the Shawnee, and it all comes together here. If you like early American history and marriages of convenience, you’ll love this love story. Linna is brave and courageous, though sometimes impetuous, and Rory is a man whose strength is only tempered by his love for red-haired lass.
French says, “The hardships that early settlers faced in crossing the Atlantic and settling on the frontier amid overwhelming obstacles leave me in awe of their courage and fortitude.” Very well said.
I love French’s stories and was pleased to find this one set in America at the beginning of the French and Indian war. It was a time when many Irish left Ireland fleeing the English for a better life. Such was Rory Desmond, who in 1743, helped by a young girl, fled to the Maryland Colony to become a tobacco planter.
Ten years later, in 1753, the wife he loved is dead and with his debts piling up around him and a young baby, he decides to take a rich Irish wife who comes with a dowry. He returns to Connemara to wed Mary Aislinn, the daughter of a wealthy man. But Mary Aislinn wants to be a nun, so her illegitimate half sister, Linna O’Neill, who has the same name “Mary Aislinn,” devises a plan whereby she will take her sister’s place. Unbeknownst to Rory, she is the same young girl who helped him escape ten years earlier.
When Rory learns the truth, he spurns Linna as breaking his trust. He sends back the dowry and, hoping to make enough money to save his plantation, takes off to be a scout for the colonial soldiers in their battle against the French and their allied Indians. When Rory's troops are massacred and word reaches Linna that he is likely dead, she refuses to believe it and sets out into the wilderness to find him.
French was inspired to write this adventure story from her own family roots that began in Connemara, Ireland and lead to the New World. She has done much research into the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the Indian tribes like the Shawnee, and it all comes together here. If you like early American history and marriages of convenience, you’ll love this love story. Linna is brave and courageous, though sometimes impetuous, and Rory is a man whose strength is only tempered by his love for red-haired lass.
French says, “The hardships that early settlers faced in crossing the Atlantic and settling on the frontier amid overwhelming obstacles leave me in awe of their courage and fortitude.” Very well said.
June 26, 2015
"She opened to meet him as a flower opens for the morning sun, and they blended like dry earth and spring rain.
*rolls eyes*
Linna O'Neill, illegitimate daughter of some Irish lord (earl, I think). Her legitimate half-sister is promised in marriage to colonial (and Irish rebel) Rory Desmond, but she's got her heart set on being a nun, so the girls plan a switcheroo. Rory still gets an Irish bride, plus the big dowry he needs to fund his Maryland property and no one is the wiser.
Yes, I know that's a stretch, but the story is what it is.
The first part started off fairly well, but once the action switched to Maryland things started to drag. Rory's all mooning over his dead wife, until he realizes he's inlust love with his new bride, but not willing to admit it (stupid, I know), and he really got to be such a jerk, and often a potty mouthed jerk at that. All those damns and hells, even in front of the ladies.
Then, for reasons, Rory ends up being a captive of an Indian tribe and our heroine has to go into the wilds and save him all by herself and events started to stretch credulity - at least for this reader. I see others have rated this highly, but I just wasn't able to warm up to either the characters or this story.
*rolls eyes*
Linna O'Neill, illegitimate daughter of some Irish lord (earl, I think). Her legitimate half-sister is promised in marriage to colonial (and Irish rebel) Rory Desmond, but she's got her heart set on being a nun, so the girls plan a switcheroo. Rory still gets an Irish bride, plus the big dowry he needs to fund his Maryland property and no one is the wiser.
Yes, I know that's a stretch, but the story is what it is.
The first part started off fairly well, but once the action switched to Maryland things started to drag. Rory's all mooning over his dead wife, until he realizes he's in
Then, for reasons, Rory ends up being a captive of an Indian tribe and our heroine has to go into the wilds and save him all by herself and events started to stretch credulity - at least for this reader. I see others have rated this highly, but I just wasn't able to warm up to either the characters or this story.
August 13, 2021
Man!!!!! If only the plot maintained my interest... Featuring identity deception, nursing to health, traveling from Ireland to American soil, capture by Indians (Native Americans), and more filler text than I care for. After reading this Windsong, all I can say is there was so much potential.
There were a fair amount of time jumps, starting with Linna as a young girl helping Rory after being shot. For some reason "she loved him since". How?! The girl was eleven. As an illegitimate child of a nobeman and his servant, Linna spend much of her childhood in the company of her abusive step-father and creep of a step brother.
Sometimes the story would be hard to put down and other times I didn't want to come back to it. Religious belief felt a little heavy handed in the beginning, I wanted more bonding time between Linna and Rory in a nonsexual way. Linna could be too hot headed while Rory lacked communication.
SPOILERS
Annoying bits:
Time jumps, a lot of comments about religion (and I say this as someone who grew up catholic), Mab getting married and not making another return appearance, too much detail about the war without involving Rory's perspective or experience (which he was away, the reader has Linna worrying at home, booooo), the terms of violence and savagery applying to the Native Americans, smut too brief,
enjoyable moments:
Rory meeting his "betrothed" Linna thinking she was her legitimate sister, during an attack from pirates on there voyage Linna shot a man to protect Rory, Rory and Linna on their wedding day before the ceremony, Rory respecting Linna's dislike for spirits considering her abusive family and their wedding night, Sean's return and Linna telling Rory, Linna having their first child, Rory going to war, Rory and Linna together again when they find Rory captured, Linna getting involved by throwing spear to save Rory from wolf challenge, Rory returning to save Linna, arriving home in Connemara, Donal and Sarah married (this could have been a more juicy developed subplot), Sir Edmond accepting Linna but the family wants to stay in America (again, this could have been more developed.
There were a fair amount of time jumps, starting with Linna as a young girl helping Rory after being shot. For some reason "she loved him since". How?! The girl was eleven. As an illegitimate child of a nobeman and his servant, Linna spend much of her childhood in the company of her abusive step-father and creep of a step brother.
Sometimes the story would be hard to put down and other times I didn't want to come back to it. Religious belief felt a little heavy handed in the beginning, I wanted more bonding time between Linna and Rory in a nonsexual way. Linna could be too hot headed while Rory lacked communication.
SPOILERS
Annoying bits:
Time jumps, a lot of comments about religion (and I say this as someone who grew up catholic), Mab getting married and not making another return appearance, too much detail about the war without involving Rory's perspective or experience (which he was away, the reader has Linna worrying at home, booooo), the terms of violence and savagery applying to the Native Americans, smut too brief,
enjoyable moments:
Rory meeting his "betrothed" Linna thinking she was her legitimate sister, during an attack from pirates on there voyage Linna shot a man to protect Rory, Rory and Linna on their wedding day before the ceremony, Rory respecting Linna's dislike for spirits considering her abusive family and their wedding night, Sean's return and Linna telling Rory, Linna having their first child, Rory going to war, Rory and Linna together again when they find Rory captured, Linna getting involved by throwing spear to save Rory from wolf challenge, Rory returning to save Linna, arriving home in Connemara, Donal and Sarah married (this could have been a more juicy developed subplot), Sir Edmond accepting Linna but the family wants to stay in America (again, this could have been more developed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
3.25 STARS
I liked it until 2/3rd's into the story and then the choices the H/h make were ridiculous. I did enjoy the last 1/3, if I forgot the fact that it was out of character and not smart. I don't want to give spoiler's away, if you read it you will know.
I felt sorry for the h in how her childhood went. The H/h meet when she is 11 and I really didn't understand when they met later as adults, she didn't confess she saved his life at 11. Also, I couldn't understand why her father had betrothed his daughter to a man with a price on his head. His daughter was sickly and to be sent away to another country, seemed very odd.
I didn't care for how long the H kept saying he couldn't love the h because he still loved his deceased wife. Oh, how I dislike stories like this. Then he has such a change of heart and processes his love to the h, I thought I would get whiplash for his change of heart was so quick.
There is lovemaking, within marriage, heat level 2.5 out of 5.
This story starts out in Ireland, then goes to Maryland and then Ohio Indian country. How the h traveled to Ohio where there are 3 different groups at war was another scratching head moment!
I did enjoy the author's writing style, just some of the actions were confusing.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, secrets kept, HEA, several stories within this one, little on romance and a tad of spice. I received a free copy from Bookfunnel, all opinions are my own and voluntarily given. This story ends at the 94% mark, rest blurbs for another story. (ljb)
I liked it until 2/3rd's into the story and then the choices the H/h make were ridiculous. I did enjoy the last 1/3, if I forgot the fact that it was out of character and not smart. I don't want to give spoiler's away, if you read it you will know.
I felt sorry for the h in how her childhood went. The H/h meet when she is 11 and I really didn't understand when they met later as adults, she didn't confess she saved his life at 11. Also, I couldn't understand why her father had betrothed his daughter to a man with a price on his head. His daughter was sickly and to be sent away to another country, seemed very odd.
I didn't care for how long the H kept saying he couldn't love the h because he still loved his deceased wife. Oh, how I dislike stories like this. Then he has such a change of heart and processes his love to the h, I thought I would get whiplash for his change of heart was so quick.
There is lovemaking, within marriage, heat level 2.5 out of 5.
This story starts out in Ireland, then goes to Maryland and then Ohio Indian country. How the h traveled to Ohio where there are 3 different groups at war was another scratching head moment!
I did enjoy the author's writing style, just some of the actions were confusing.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, secrets kept, HEA, several stories within this one, little on romance and a tad of spice. I received a free copy from Bookfunnel, all opinions are my own and voluntarily given. This story ends at the 94% mark, rest blurbs for another story. (ljb)
July 6, 2019
4 stars
This was a ok read not my favorite but ok
I read this author books before and have like
what i read i thought that Rory and Linna was
an interesting read
This was a ok read not my favorite but ok
I read this author books before and have like
what i read i thought that Rory and Linna was
an interesting read
November 7, 2014
As is oft said of authors when first introduced to a reader: This was my first book by Ms. French and it was so lovely and exciting…that ‘twill not be my last! In fact, I have two others by Ms. French that I will be reading soon and I’m really looking forward to some wonderful reading hours in her world. That said, I will tell you that this story of Rory and Linna was so full of daring adventure, suspense, and passion that the effects of living in that story for a few hours will stay with me for a long time. From an historical Irish “old world” background to an historical “new world” of colonial plantations and native Americans, this is a story of bravery, struggle and enduring love. I heartily recommend Ms. French’s writing!
February 15, 2015
Just average
Windsong started off slow and struggled from time to time with uneven, often contradictory, characterization. Some of the characters, especially Rory and his mother. Judith seemed to turn on a dime--cold, critical or aloof at one juncture and then with little explanation or provocation, loving and complimentary in the next moment. While the book has a reasonably interesting plot, I just had a hard time engaging with the characters.
Windsong started off slow and struggled from time to time with uneven, often contradictory, characterization. Some of the characters, especially Rory and his mother. Judith seemed to turn on a dime--cold, critical or aloof at one juncture and then with little explanation or provocation, loving and complimentary in the next moment. While the book has a reasonably interesting plot, I just had a hard time engaging with the characters.
June 15, 2016
Very insightful.
I really enjoyed reading about the Irish and how they treated their offspring born on the wrong side of the blanket. I am glad Linna found love with Rory and he did remember her from years before.
I really enjoyed reading about the Irish and how they treated their offspring born on the wrong side of the blanket. I am glad Linna found love with Rory and he did remember her from years before.
February 8, 2015
A little boring
This was kind of long and off topic to me. I had a hard time staying interested in this story.
This was kind of long and off topic to me. I had a hard time staying interested in this story.
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March 30, 2016kobo
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews