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A Whisper on the Wind
Swept off her feet by dashing Fraser Audry, young Rosalie was dazzled by his suave good looks, disarming charm and lavish gifts. Their whirlwind courtship and the beautiful wedding in Paris seemed like a romantic dream come true. But upon returning to England, Rosalie suddenly felt that something was terribly wrong. People she had never met before treated her as she was an old friend, a man she had never seen kept bringing up a past she was certain they'd never shared. Her uneasiness turned to desperate fear as she chased phantom clues that led nowhere. She sought comfort in the arms of her magnificent husband but on ominous whisper on the wind warned her not to trust even her own heart....
283 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1990
48 people want to read
About the author
Joan Smith
359 books154 followersJoan Smith is a graduate of Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, and the Ontario College of Education. She has taught French and English in high school and English in college. When she began writing, her interest in Jane Austen and Lord Byron led to her first choice of genre, the Regency, which she especially liked for its wit and humor.
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
Her favorite travel destination is England, where she researches her books. Her hobbies are gardening, painting, sculpture and reading. She is married and has three children. A prolific writer, she is currently working on Regencies and various mysteries at her home in Georgetown, Ontario.
She is also known as Jennie Gallant
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 7, 2015
Joan Smith, who is known for writing traditional style regencies and a few murder mysteries, takes a stab (no pun intended) at her first and only gothic romance. There was an inference that there was a celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday so I knew it took place sometime the Victorian era. The settings covered France where Rosalie and Fraser first met, then Germany, Belgium and, eventually, England.
Needless-to-say, Rosalie's new husband kept her on the move. He also told her what to eat, how to dress (even getting rid of her entire wardrobe at one point), how he liked her to style her hair, the jewelry she wore, the perfume she used, who she should talk to and how she should sign her name. No longer Rosalie, he wanted her to sign her name Rose Audry or Mrs. Fraser Audry. They practiced signing her name together.
And all the while, Rosalie felt an odd sensation that something was not quite right but she loved Fraser. He was so good and kind to her. He only thought the best for her. Sure, he borrowed a large amount of money but he paid her back with interest. And, of course, she returned it to him so he could reinvest it for her. She trusted him.
Then she met his cousin Mycroft; someone Fraser did not like and things started to unravel.
It is what it is: a gothic romance. In some ways it was formulaic: the gullible heroine, a villain, and someone meant to fix everything, to make it right. Ms. Smith did a better job than most authors with some twists and turns that I did not suspect. But it did not 'wow!' me and for that reason I am giving it three stars.
Needless-to-say, Rosalie's new husband kept her on the move. He also told her what to eat, how to dress (even getting rid of her entire wardrobe at one point), how he liked her to style her hair, the jewelry she wore, the perfume she used, who she should talk to and how she should sign her name. No longer Rosalie, he wanted her to sign her name Rose Audry or Mrs. Fraser Audry. They practiced signing her name together.
And all the while, Rosalie felt an odd sensation that something was not quite right but she loved Fraser. He was so good and kind to her. He only thought the best for her. Sure, he borrowed a large amount of money but he paid her back with interest. And, of course, she returned it to him so he could reinvest it for her. She trusted him.
Then she met his cousin Mycroft; someone Fraser did not like and things started to unravel.
It is what it is: a gothic romance. In some ways it was formulaic: the gullible heroine, a villain, and someone meant to fix everything, to make it right. Ms. Smith did a better job than most authors with some twists and turns that I did not suspect. But it did not 'wow!' me and for that reason I am giving it three stars.
November 6, 2016
It appears this was the author's first & only gothic rom...which makes sense, given it never seemed very comfortable with itself. The first-person narration was bumbling while the prose had a distinct awkwardness, with bizarre tense shifts, duplicate words, & long stretches where nothing happened. The pacing was off, regardless; the climax of the story seemed to be the middle of the book, with everything afterward a repetitive droning as the heroine traveled a predictable path on her journey to self-discovery. Or something.
There were 2-3 chapters in the middle (said climax) with legit suspense, but then the author lost interest & went back to the yammering boredom of the first act. The heroine was a drip & the entire plot hinged on a redonk, overly complicated scheme of greed & mistaken identity & people dying off-page. And there was no real sense of place & time -- Paris, England, nebulous Victorian period, blah blah. Nothing distinctive whatsoever. Again, it felt like the author had no real interest, & so wrote a Regency with wedged-in cliche refs to Bronte to make it "Victorian."
Blah & lame. Another casualty to the 'Giant Font For Your Blind 3rd Grader' typeface.
There were 2-3 chapters in the middle (said climax) with legit suspense, but then the author lost interest & went back to the yammering boredom of the first act. The heroine was a drip & the entire plot hinged on a redonk, overly complicated scheme of greed & mistaken identity & people dying off-page. And there was no real sense of place & time -- Paris, England, nebulous Victorian period, blah blah. Nothing distinctive whatsoever. Again, it felt like the author had no real interest, & so wrote a Regency with wedged-in cliche refs to Bronte to make it "Victorian."
Blah & lame. Another casualty to the 'Giant Font For Your Blind 3rd Grader' typeface.
October 1, 2023
A Write to Review
Rosalie falls in love with the charming Fraser Audry, who sweeps her off her feet with his good looks, charm, and extravagant gifts. They have a whirlwind courtship and a beautiful wedding in Paris. However, upon returning to England, Rosalie begins to feel that something is amiss. Strangers treat her like an old friend, and a man she doesn't recognize brings up a shared past. Rosalie becomes increasingly fearful as she follows false leads and encounters strange occurrences. Despite seeking solace in her husband's arms, a mysterious warning urges her not to trust her own heart.
Prepare to be entranced by a tale that oozes suspense and uncertainty right from its opening page. The author's skillful storytelling weaves an intricate tapestry, blending mystery, romance, and alluring Gothic elements into a narrative that will keep you teetering on the edge of your seat throughout. Every page holds your attention hostage as you eagerly await the final, jaw-dropping revelation that promises to be nothing short of astonishing.
Rosalie falls in love with the charming Fraser Audry, who sweeps her off her feet with his good looks, charm, and extravagant gifts. They have a whirlwind courtship and a beautiful wedding in Paris. However, upon returning to England, Rosalie begins to feel that something is amiss. Strangers treat her like an old friend, and a man she doesn't recognize brings up a shared past. Rosalie becomes increasingly fearful as she follows false leads and encounters strange occurrences. Despite seeking solace in her husband's arms, a mysterious warning urges her not to trust her own heart.
Prepare to be entranced by a tale that oozes suspense and uncertainty right from its opening page. The author's skillful storytelling weaves an intricate tapestry, blending mystery, romance, and alluring Gothic elements into a narrative that will keep you teetering on the edge of your seat throughout. Every page holds your attention hostage as you eagerly await the final, jaw-dropping revelation that promises to be nothing short of astonishing.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews