Wind Dancer

by Jamie Carie

Raised in a British-held frontier town during the American Revolution, Isabelle Renoir is not like other women around her. A free spirit, she dances in the moonlight as a praise offering to God and is more at home fearlessly taking her long rifle and knife into the woods for adventure and inspiration.But Isabelle's latest journey may be more than even her strength can handle when a huge storm throws the raven-haired beauty off course and into the path of rugged American spy Samuel Holt. After matching wits and denying their passion for each other, they are attacked by Indians, held prisoner, and forced to watch the horrific killing of Isabelle's brother. Now together but in captivity, they must fight spiritual forces that no knife or rifle could ever conquer in order to be free.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Historical, Fiction, Christian Romance

294 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana, Jamie is a preacher’s daughter. Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – creation and the fall, God and Jesus and the rapture, the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch. The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad spent a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes.

And nothing could stop the writing pouring out of her.

Piles of poems, short stories, skits and song lyrics later, Jamie grew up and married. When her eldest son turned five she decided to try her hand at novels. Eight years and lots of rejection letters later, Snow Angel was published and won ForeWord Magazine’s Romance Book of the Year, a USA Book News “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA® Awards Best First Book finalist. In 2010 Wind Dancer was a finalist in the Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana. It was the beginning of her dream career.

With seven books currently in circulation and her first three book series coming in 2012, Jamie has made an impressive contribution to the inspirational, historical romance genre featuring heroines who are fierce in their beliefs and love. Romantic Times exclaimed, "Carie is a welcome new voice in the inspirational fiction market." And, "Carie writes with her heart on every page of her books." Jamie has a passion for history and believes in the power of love stories. She lives with her husband and three boys in Indianapolis, Indiana.

If she could only say one thing to her readers it would be, “Live the dreams God has destined you for!”

Books:

Snow Angel
The Duchess and the Dragon
Wind Dancer
Love's First Light
Angel's Den
Pirate of my Heart
The Snowflake (a Christmas novella)

Coming in 2012:
The Forgotten Castles Series (A continuous series to be read in order)
The Guardian Duke
The Forgiven Duke
A Duke's Promise

Contacting Jamie:

Jamie's website - http://www.jamiecarie.com
Jamie's blog - http://jamiecarie.com/blog
Jamie's Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/jamie.carie
Jamie's Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/jamiecarie

Jamie's email: jamie@jamiecarie(dot)com

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wind Dancer is a pulse-pounding, heart-engaging novel that is hard to put down. In fact, I read it in less than two days. As the reader, you are in the world the author created, and you are part of the characters' lives. You are attacked when they are attacked. You are captive and feel helpless when they are bound with seemingly no way out.

The most powerful scene is when Isabella's brother is tortured and the heroine, Isabella, has to watch. I cannot understand the intense emotions she went through, but the author did a great job at helping you see how someone could almost become crazy with grief. And forgiveness? I can't imagine a time when it would be more difficult to do.

The author sets up an incredible stage for showing the struggle this creates for someone who loves God and longs to serve him, yet comes face to face with indescribable evil and the need to survive. Wind Dancer was full of passion, just like all of Jamie Carie's novels are. I've come to expect this with her stories and thusfar I've been pleased with everything she writes. I particularly enjoyed the "pretend marriage" scenario the hero put them in and how that all played out. What fun!

Few female authors are able to describe the horrors of living in that time period as well as Carie does and it's an incredible experience to read it. You will not be able to put this book down, and the story will stick with you after you close the book. I SO love stories that make me care. And unlike many "strong heroines," Isabella was more likeable than most. The author did a great job with her characterization. I highly recommend this book.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked all the crazy adventure in this story! It was a fun read. Sometimes a bit gritty but overall I enjoyed it. Love the time period too!

[Salyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forget how much I love books with Indian culture in them. Their ways, even though I don't believe in them, are so captivating. Their lives draw me in to where I actually feel like I am experiencing the life of the tribe. I liked how even though Isabelle knew the Indians as her enemy she still found a way to enjoy herself at the camp. She was triumphant through everything they did to her and the others. She reminded me of Job from the bible, through all the suffering she still praised God at any point possible. She rebelled against the Gods of the Indians and worshiped Christ through the Indian tribes own ways.


I liked the characters in the story, they all played their parts well. I loved how even the enemy in the story had a likable side to them, showing that some people are misunderstood and giving their full side of the story as well as the main characters. I also liked how Samuel was like 'The Prodigal Son' in the book, it actually was a surprise to me. I wasn't expecting to meet any of his family in the book, but I am so happy that the part with him and his father was added in the story. It definitely portrayed Gods love for us the way I see it.


I did not like how easy it was for both Samuel and Isabelle to scape the Indian camp. I expected more fighting and battle scenes before they found their freedom. However, they got away with barely a knick, if that. I also didn't like how some parts in the book were written, I kept on thinking that I missed a word or phrase on a page, but when I went back I realized I didn't, it was just written weird.


Overall, this was a great book with minor flaws. I would definitely recommend it!

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wind Dancer" by Jamie Carie took my breath away. Stirring, thrilling, and historically satisfying, this is a story for all lovers of great historical romance. The setting is Colonial America at the conception of the Revolutionary War. The characters are unique and interesting, and the story line is detailed and enthralling. The writing is both lovely and vivid. At times the depicted scenes of capture, torture and physical conflict are quite graphic, but they are appropriate for the era and the rawness of the wild American frontier. An unforgettable tale told by a gifted storyteller!

[Skeeter Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was a historical romance, in the west.....that would be kinda south of Detroit!
I think the year was 1778.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book sooooo much! It touched my heart and lifted my spirits!

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great historical romance with plenty of intensity.

[Angels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wind Dancer

by Jamie Carie


4 out of 5 stars
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...


Raised in a British-held frontier town during the American Revolution, Isabelle Renoir is not like other women around her. A free spirit, she dances in the moonlight as a praise offering to God and is more at home fearlessly taking her long rifle and knife into the woods for adventure and inspiration.But Isabelle's latest journey may be more than even her strength can handle when a huge storm throws the raven-haired beauty off course and into the path of rugged American spy Samuel Holt. After matching wits and denying their passion for each other, they are attacked by Indians, held prisoner, and forced to watch the horrific killing of Isabelle's brother. Now together but in captivity, they must fight spiritual forces that no knife or rifle could ever conquer in order to be free.

My thoughts and Review

This was a nice easy read with a slow romance building between Isabelle and Samuel. Isabelle has a wild spirit of sorts. She and her brother set out to locate some books there Priest has ordered for there village.Things seem to go smoothly for this young couple where the meet Samuel who is a scoot for the US Army.Samuel mission is pretty much secretive . The encounter a couple who invites them to stay the night without thinking he introduces Isabelle as his wife !This is where things get you laughing with the dialog between Samuel and Isabella have you cracking up as he never ask her for her corporation in posing as a wife and she is getting even just a little bit . LOL These two characters have great chemistry and there romance slowly builds but before things can progress they are attacked by Indians and taken prisoner. Samuel will be able to hold his own but, Isabelle is a different matter but this tribe sees her strength in her and thinks she is special and will make one of there tribe members a happy wife and that she is there destiny of hope!

Isabelle and Samuel ordeal bring them closer and each with do what ever it takes to save one another and hope for a future together. She showed her strength and belief in God that they will prevail and be together.Samuel is rescued and Isabelle left behind but, she never gives up hope she believes in her heart the Samuel her one true love will save her from her fate after all !

Enjoyed the story and the trying times this couple had to endure to be together.To even find a love like this during trying times of war is a miracle.One of the sad points of the story that broke my heart was when the Indians killed Isabelle's brother and she was left to mourn and also survive herself ,must have be an enduring task for her .Your heart went out to her for the pain she must feel and not being able to grieve as to show your weakness to your enemy.Isabelle is exactly what Samuel needs she will be the one to heal is old wounds and perhaps sooth his broken heart. These two were made for each other they just need to overcome there many obstacles to find the happiness that the both deserve!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wind Dancer" is an amazing story of strong-willed Isabelle Renoir and her journey in finding her true meaning in life. She is raised in a British-held frontier during the American Revolution. Change is all around her, but she doesn't know what her place is in the world. She is unlike other women who cook and sew. She enjoys using her knife, riding and shooting her long rifle (which she sleeps with too!) On a journey with her brother to retrieve books for her priest at another fort, they encounter Samuel Holt. He is a rugged American spy who shows up as their guide disappears. He leads them to safety at the fort, but you can feel the sexual passion between Isabelle and Samuel building. On the return trip home, they are attacked by Indians, held prisoner and have to watch a horrific killing. Isabelle must bring in to play her spirituality to help her get through each day in the Indian camp, until the day she can be free.

This was the first book by Jamie Carie that I have read, but it won't be the last. I was pulled in by the interesting time period of the American Revolution. I love any kind of book based in the frontier, which Ms. Carie brings vividly to life at a time the land and country was changing. Strong-willed, independent Isabelle and rugged and strong Samuel are two characters created that you can actual see having been pulled from history. The story is very spiritually based, which worried me a little that it would be 'overly' so, but it didn't distract from the story at all. From the take-over of forts by the "Americans" to the Shawnee rituals at their camps to the passion and love of Isabelle and Samuel from 2 different worlds, this book will draw you in to a period of ours lives that made our country in to the amazing place we live today.

I would highly recommend you read this book, along with the Jamie Carie's other books "The Duchess and the Dragon", "Snow Angel" and the soon to be released "Love's First Light". I should have reviews for all of these at some point in the future!!

Thank you to Julie at B&H Publishing for the review copy of this book!!

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, likeable characters for the most part. SOmetime I wasn't too sure about Isabelle's forwardness, but then I'd realise it would probably add up. I did love her strong free spirit and the idea of the life she lived. I'd like to see a sequel. See what these two do with their life.

Really liked the added in history at the end. I'll have to look into this Clark fellow.


:Spoiler Alert:

Within one page turn of the book it went from being 2 years since Samuel's first wife to 4. People edditing these books are really starting to worry me. Even caught up in a story you should catch these things especially within a page of eachother.

Jamie Carie you couldn't just kill Julian once? No you had to three times?!?! The cabin, the gauntlet, and then finally the last, BUT! I still wasn't entirely sure he was gone. Made us love a character who was hardly there, well done.

I had a bit of an issue with the Indians keeping Samuel alive. With his reputation surely they would never believe they could turn him to their side, but I don't truly know.

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of those books I wanted to like more than I actually did. The story itself was pretty good, set in a time period I am interested in, but the characters - well, I'm not really sure what to say about them.

Isabelle was super over the top, to the point where I just couldn't believe her. Samuel was ok, as far as heroes go, but nothing that made me really like him. And their relationship was one of those, "I just met you and we were MADE for each other!" type deals - blah.

The religious element of the book (which is technically labelled as Christian or Inspirational fiction) felt very overdone - rather than feeling natural and appropriate, like in Laura Frantz's books (that are also set in frontier Kentucky), it felt heavy handed and forced. I wasn't reading the book for the religious element of it though, so maybe if you are, it would appeal more to you than it did to me...

All that being said, I did like the story and it did keep me turning the page.

[GrammyGail · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jane Austen meets Last of the Mohicans" has been said of Jamie Carie's latest offering and it certainly fits. I read this book in two days, and wished it was longer (or that there will be a sequel!)
I found Isabelle Renior to be an exceptional heroine, not only strong of body and heart but with a vibrant faith in God as well. One thing I really loved was the combination of romance, history and ACTION! If you enjoy any of those factors when you read, this is the book for you. What a ride!
As I read Wind Dancer, I was reminded of Ride the Wind: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker, a fascinating true story of a woman captured as a child by the Comanches. If by chance you have read and enjoyed that book, I can guarantee you will love Wind Dancer.
And check out the author's website
www.jamiecarie.com
for frequent promotions and give aways.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew that this book was a whirlwind. I really enjoyed reading this book. It shocked me at how deep it could go at times SPOILER!!! The part when Julian died wrecked me. It was written with such emotion that compels the reader to grieve with Isabelle over the loss of her brother. Samuel was a really strong character and I loved how he and Isabelle supported each other throughout the book. My favorite parts where when Isabelle or Samuel were in the presence of the Lord and felt Him move and speak to them. Those were the parts that really grabbed me. My only quarrel with Wind Dancer is that the end felt a little rushed and unexpected. It felt like it came out of left field. I felt that it was a very moving end but that it didn't feel like it fit 100 percent with the rest of the book. Overall although a little choppy in places I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book, but there were too many episodes in which I felt jarred out of the story by an out-of-context reference that I can't give it more than 3 stars. I was looking forward to living in the past through the book, but the author just hadn't done her research well enough or edited for context well enough to have that effect. It is sad that I am discussing things like the use of the phrase "world class ballerina" that caused me to stop reading and google the term to see if it was in use in the 18th century. But despite several instances like that, there were many things about the book that I liked. It is edgy for Christian fiction, and brings up some issues that many authors don't talk about, while still keeping it clean, which is always great, I think.

[Highland-dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to stop myself from staying up all night and finishing this book. I really couldn't put it down! I loved the intrigue and the danger that was the American Frontier. It gave great insight into what the early settlers had to endure, and the strength of their spirit. And I am always grateful for the Author's Notes at the end, which went into even more detail on the history and some of the characters in the book. I loved the heroine, Isabelle, and how she wasn't ashamed of her emotions, or of her God.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - but it is not for the faint of heart! It is during the Revolutionary War in the west! The Indians were savages and the French were on our side! I enjoyed the details of the war and her research was striking...believable and thought provoking. Jamie is a great romance writer as well - the heroine was passionate and strong and the hero was amazing. The romance was lovely. It has a strong Christian theme. I didn't give it a 5 because it was a bit violent.

[eluv89 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even get past the first forty or so pages. I had hoped that this would be more tame the the last Jamie Carie novel I read, but no. it disturbed me that this girl was shocked that the man would lie and say that they were married, but then she tries to seduce him?!? no thank you!!! this is not benefiting of Christian fiction and it is definitely not adhering to the scriptures that talk about keeping our thoughts pure. so once again, no thank you and no more Jamie Carie novels for me!!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved, loved, loved this book. Very well written, spellbinding, exciting and passionate. The characters were easy to relate to, they were beautiful in a real way and you couldn't help but fall in love with them.

I was not expecting "Wind Dancer" to be so incredibly amazing...so I was pleasantly surprised! TEN stars!!

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun historical fiction set during the American Revolution, but on the frontier. It gave me additional insight to life living on the frontier and I also learned how indian tribes would adopt someone to fill the gaps in their families and it didn't matter who you were. Once you were adopted, you were completely accepted (even if you don't want it! :)

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Carie takes you an exciting journey in this book, with twists and turns maybe with some you saw coming or maybe not.

The characters were all enjoyable and for this book I'm glad we got to see some other characters point of view.

I only didn't really like the ending. I personally would have liked to see more but that's just me, so whatever.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Christian, historical romance was really hard to put down. Of the three books I have read by Jamie Carie, I would argue that this one is the best. Set in pre-colonial America, the main character is a fierce and amazing woman who sets out on an incredible adventure, in which she stays true to the moorings of her life. Great story; really enjoyed.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabelle is one amazing warrior princess!
This book felt atypical to me - did not follow what I expected and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My book club partner commented that it had a more Pentecostal vibe - all the dancing, particularly. Not a bad or good thing just an observation. I would read again later in life and put it back on my shelf.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really am amazed with Carie's writing. Her novels keep getting better and better. I love the strong female role played by Isabella. She had everything going for her , strong will, looks , and her own way of doing things. I hope to read more books by Carie.
A definite must read

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Jamie Carie book. I really liked the story.

[Deborah Boutwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best so far...should be a movie! Sending a review in to Exemplify on-line magazine for January edition.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too much military history. I wanted more of the story to progress between the Hero and Heroine. Could have used some more intimate intensity. I'm just sayin'..... :)

[Rachael Dorronsoro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely wasn't my favorite book by this author. Historically it was very good but the story was quite hard for me.

[Laura]

This book was surprising, and I really liked it.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Great! Love Jamie Carie!

[Faith Flores]

Does anybody know where i can get this for my ereader?
Does anybody know where i can get the fromant like pdf or epub?
pls help me?