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Against the Wind
Puente del Norte—the last place on earth Maddy Lambert had expected to find herself. Yet here she was in the middle of Central America in an embattled guerilla camp on a mission impossible. She’d come to get her dying father, whose ideals had carried him far away from home and won him the title of El Patron—the Saint. She’d crossed a country at war only to be told that he didn’t recognize her as his daughter...to find him guarded by the infamous Jake Murphy—the man who’d stolen her girlish heart and still had the power to stir her deepest passions. Maddy, the rescuer, found herself in deadly danger. On Jake’s orders she’d been taken prisoner. And as the air around her rang with intrigue and gunfire, she had little time to learn who was friend or foe, who the enemy was, and who the love was that she’d crossed a continent to find.
Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 1985
45 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
204 books2,065 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 22, 2020
"Against the Wind" is the story of Maddy and Jake.
Waste of my time and energy.
If you think a romantic suspense book can't be insanely boring, this would prove you wrong. An unpleasant second chance romance/thriller in which there's too much guerrilla warfare, family deception, double crossing and drama to give me heartburn. Hero was unlikable, heroine was just meh, all they had was yearning/insane sexual attraction and the rest of the book was the mystery element you read about in the blurb.
Skimmed it.
p.s. Not a fan of characters discussing their sexual escapades.
Unsafe
1.5/5
Waste of my time and energy.
If you think a romantic suspense book can't be insanely boring, this would prove you wrong. An unpleasant second chance romance/thriller in which there's too much guerrilla warfare, family deception, double crossing and drama to give me heartburn. Hero was unlikable, heroine was just meh, all they had was yearning/insane sexual attraction and the rest of the book was the mystery element you read about in the blurb.
Skimmed it.
p.s. Not a fan of characters discussing their sexual escapades.
Unsafe
1.5/5
February 11, 2020
Thirty-year-old Maddy Lambert finds herself on a mission to bring her dying father back home from the war torn Central American country where he has been staying for the past dozen years. She finally arrives only to be taken at gunpoint by her father's men. Her father refuses to see her; but sends his right-hand-man Jake Murphy to talk to her. Jake doesn't recognize her and Maddy is hurt. She had a huge crush on Jake years ago and can't believe he would forget her. Jake has her locked up with the other prisoners and keeps asking why she is claiming to be El Patron's daughter.
This is one of Anne Stuart's older books. The first half was just crazy with Jake telling her he doesn't believe she is El Patron's daughter. The second half was plain bad. She believes Jake is going to kill her and he can't believe she would ever think that...even though he has lied to her over and over and is holding her at gunpoint. Ugh!
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Xe Sands. She did a fine job with this book. My rating: 2 Stars.
This is one of Anne Stuart's older books. The first half was just crazy with Jake telling her he doesn't believe she is El Patron's daughter. The second half was plain bad. She believes Jake is going to kill her and he can't believe she would ever think that...even though he has lied to her over and over and is holding her at gunpoint. Ugh!
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Xe Sands. She did a fine job with this book. My rating: 2 Stars.
June 22, 2022
3.5
Bittersweet. And this bitter is a difficult taste to enjoy: that taste of unpleasantness where a woman is the one to make all the bending, all the swallowing of betrayal and lies, all in the name of love... Mmmm I wonder if love is supposed to be such a flattening thing, at the end of the day what else remains if not your pride and self worth? And if you had to ignore all because of love what is left behind?
Bittersweet. And this bitter is a difficult taste to enjoy: that taste of unpleasantness where a woman is the one to make all the bending, all the swallowing of betrayal and lies, all in the name of love... Mmmm I wonder if love is supposed to be such a flattening thing, at the end of the day what else remains if not your pride and self worth? And if you had to ignore all because of love what is left behind?
October 24, 2014
Another earlier book by one of my favorite romantic suspense writers and though I enjoyed it, it was not one of my favorites of hers.
The plot was interesting and intriguing set in some fictional South American country…where the bad guys are involved in drugs and kill off the innocent poor!!!! But the storyline does have a unique premise, which I really liked.
I wasn’t crazy about the hero, Jake. He was really a bastard at times towards Maddy, the heroine.
The one character who did it for me was Soledad…she had the best lines….just adored her take on becoming a step grandmother!!!!
Mystery, action, romance, suspense, twists and turns, bad guys, good guys …..exactly what I get from this author’s books.
If you’re a fan of Anne Stuart you will enjoy this.
The plot was interesting and intriguing set in some fictional South American country…where the bad guys are involved in drugs and kill off the innocent poor!!!! But the storyline does have a unique premise, which I really liked.
I wasn’t crazy about the hero, Jake. He was really a bastard at times towards Maddy, the heroine.
The one character who did it for me was Soledad…she had the best lines….just adored her take on becoming a step grandmother!!!!
Mystery, action, romance, suspense, twists and turns, bad guys, good guys …..exactly what I get from this author’s books.
If you’re a fan of Anne Stuart you will enjoy this.
July 27, 2022
Oh my God, that Kindle cover. I just want to know how many bad-ass mercs stand around in the forest holding up their shirt to show off their abs at any given time.
This book went from boring to fun to boring to fun. Maddie is the daughter of a male Mother Theresa type. To the point where he entirely abandoned and neglected his biological children in favor of going to a country to help its citizens revolt against their government. She hasn't seen or heard from her father in 14 years. Her mother, who is also just terrible sends Maddie to fetch him even though they've long since divorced and married other people. Maddie does, not just to see her father, but also to see the former Secret Service agent who left to protect him.
See, when Maddie was 16-17, her father ran for president (like you do) and a Secret Service agent was assigned to protect him. Enter Jake Murphy. He was 10 years older than she was and she had a crush. At some point Things Happen (all we really know is Maddie's eeeeevil mother pulled some political greasing-of-the-palms behind his back) and on her 17th birthday, he drops out of the presidential race, then disappears that night, never to speak/see/write to his daughter again, and Jake goes with him to help the downtrodden.
The first half of the story is Maddie in the war-torn country (I'm sorry, I want to say it was San Paulo, but I'm not at all certain? Sorry, GR, my memory isn't great this morning), first trying to convince everyone she's who she says she is, including Jake, but even when she manages that, everyone still hates her because people in war-torn poverty, understandably, don't trust outsiders. Honestly, the first half was dull, dull, dull. It's once Maddie returns to the states that the book picks up... then gets a little boring again... then picks up again.
I'm going to spoiler tag some things that happen mid-way through the book, so click at your own risk.
In the end, between her father and her mother, Maddie really was TSTL. She should have known better. I did like Jake, perhaps because despite his playing the villain, as many of Stuart's MMCs do, he was a bit more earnest than some of them -- probably as a way of her placating the 80s-90s audience she was writing for, since romance was a different genre then. But his hand-wringing about her not believing in him at the end was a little irritating since he really gave her nothing to believe in. Anyone starting this book won't believe me, but the "wicked stepmother" Soledad ended up being one of my favorites. I could have used more of her in the story.
But is it weird I'm kind of happy this one didn't "do it" for me? I came off my last Anne Stuart on such a high (Shadow Lover -- apparently I have a weird thing for romances involving rich, dysfunctional families embroiled in murder mystery since Shades of Twilight is another one I'm a little ashamed to admit I love so much) that I wanted to read allllll the Anne Stuart. And as I discovered with Kristen Ashley, when I marathon authors, I get real sick of their shit, real fast. So this one not being great was kind of exactly what I needed to "cool me down" so I can focus on other books before coming back to Anne Stuart.
Regarding the narrator, Xe Sands is really odd for me. She's very talented, but she has this sort of whisper-voice she'll do that makes me a little nuts because she relies on it pretty heavily. She does decent character voices, and her stories flow really well, but I just wish she'd stop whispering!
This book went from boring to fun to boring to fun. Maddie is the daughter of a male Mother Theresa type. To the point where he entirely abandoned and neglected his biological children in favor of going to a country to help its citizens revolt against their government. She hasn't seen or heard from her father in 14 years. Her mother, who is also just terrible sends Maddie to fetch him even though they've long since divorced and married other people. Maddie does, not just to see her father, but also to see the former Secret Service agent who left to protect him.
See, when Maddie was 16-17, her father ran for president (like you do) and a Secret Service agent was assigned to protect him. Enter Jake Murphy. He was 10 years older than she was and she had a crush. At some point Things Happen (all we really know is Maddie's eeeeevil mother pulled some political greasing-of-the-palms behind his back) and on her 17th birthday, he drops out of the presidential race, then disappears that night, never to speak/see/write to his daughter again, and Jake goes with him to help the downtrodden.
The first half of the story is Maddie in the war-torn country (I'm sorry, I want to say it was San Paulo, but I'm not at all certain? Sorry, GR, my memory isn't great this morning), first trying to convince everyone she's who she says she is, including Jake, but even when she manages that, everyone still hates her because people in war-torn poverty, understandably, don't trust outsiders. Honestly, the first half was dull, dull, dull. It's once Maddie returns to the states that the book picks up... then gets a little boring again... then picks up again.
I'm going to spoiler tag some things that happen mid-way through the book, so click at your own risk.
In the end, between her father and her mother, Maddie really was TSTL. She should have known better. I did like Jake, perhaps because despite his playing the villain, as many of Stuart's MMCs do, he was a bit more earnest than some of them -- probably as a way of her placating the 80s-90s audience she was writing for, since romance was a different genre then. But his hand-wringing about her not believing in him at the end was a little irritating since he really gave her nothing to believe in. Anyone starting this book won't believe me, but the "wicked stepmother" Soledad ended up being one of my favorites. I could have used more of her in the story.
But is it weird I'm kind of happy this one didn't "do it" for me? I came off my last Anne Stuart on such a high (Shadow Lover -- apparently I have a weird thing for romances involving rich, dysfunctional families embroiled in murder mystery since Shades of Twilight is another one I'm a little ashamed to admit I love so much) that I wanted to read allllll the Anne Stuart. And as I discovered with Kristen Ashley, when I marathon authors, I get real sick of their shit, real fast. So this one not being great was kind of exactly what I needed to "cool me down" so I can focus on other books before coming back to Anne Stuart.
Regarding the narrator, Xe Sands is really odd for me. She's very talented, but she has this sort of whisper-voice she'll do that makes me a little nuts because she relies on it pretty heavily. She does decent character voices, and her stories flow really well, but I just wish she'd stop whispering!
August 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this slow burn, second chance, romantic suspense - it was a 'blast from the past'. Originally published around 1985 and republished as an e-book in 2020. Our hero Jack was in Vietnam as a soldier, so treat is as I did, like a historical novel. The action is pretty good and the writing is excellent and there are a couple of steamy-'ish' scenes in the second half. This is the sort of romance I loved reading, 'back in the day'. There is no fancy technology or backup to get the H/h out of tricky situations. No cell phones - or any phones - and no computers or fancy gadgets or border problems, so great! Set in Central America with our heroine trapped among war torn, bloodthirsty people.
January 3, 2012
So, I seem to be making my way slowly through the back-list of books published by the one and only Anne Stuart. The one thing that you can always count on with Anne Stuart; she delivers a story that will keep you engrossed, even if it is a book you want to throw against the wall towards the end.
30 year old Maddy Lambert makes her way to the war-torn country of San Pablo to meet her father who had upped and left one day with his idealistic view of the world when Maddy had been just 17 years old. Maddy had been heartbroken and devastated to say the least to lose the one person who had been distant but the only parent who had let her be unlike her mother who had seen each and every thing about Maddy as a way to pick on her. Needless to say, the 17 year old Maddy had been shy and an introvert who finds in the war-hardened soldier turned CIA official John Thomas Murphy a soul that reaches out to her and soothes her woes away. But John too turns his back on her and leaves with her father and Maddy believes herself to be well and cured of her infatuation for a man whose one haunting kiss that had practically reeked of his hunger for her still haunts her.
Maddy arrives after a bone jarring journey only to find that no one believes that she is the daughter of Samuel Eddison Lambert, not even John himself who has turned into a much more dangerous and wilder version of the man she remembers. And Maddy finds that she is as susceptible as ever when it comes to John, even when he does his best to keep her at arm’s length, and even John himself cannot deny the connection that he feels with Maddy, the woman who has been haunting his dreams for the past 14 years.
Amidst half truths, trickery and a whole lot of manipulation that Anne Stuart is so very good at delivering, Maddy and John stumble from one emotionally and sexually charged scene to the next, while at all times danger is just one step away lurking behind the shadows, something that continues to drive them apart until towards the very end of the book.
For the first time ever, I have to say I am disappointed in a book that Anne Stuart has written. I liked the heroine Maddy and her courage when it comes to facing each and everyone who has hurt her and failed her in so many ways. Her vindictive mother whom I would have loved to slap a few times and her father who feels nothing for his only daughter and intends to make use of her to drive across his point even from beyond the grave, and John who in my opinion fails her in the most heartbreaking way.
John might be the least “gamma” hero that I have encountered from all the Anne Stuart books I have read so far. His emotions regarding Maddy comes across a bit more clearly throughout the story, but he is every bit as ruthless when it comes to making use of Maddy even though he keeps her out of harms way and would rather die than have something happen to her. But time and yet again, John puts everything else above Maddy’s happiness, continues to keep leaving her to face his demons and fight the wars that has nothing to do with him but he feels responsible for, and yet expects Maddy to trust him and the way he feels about her.
I wanted Maddy to wake up, grow a backbone and leave John to his life, a life that he makes room for Maddy only when he is good and ready. I am all for ruthlessness, manipulations and even behavior that some readers might not be willing to forgive. But I need to know that when it comes to that vital point of no return, the hero would always choose the heroine no matter what. Sadly, I didn’t feel that with this book.
Recommended for hardcore fans of Anne Stuart like myself who wants to devour her books and cannot get enough of them, no matter how many books by hers you read.
Rating=3.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below!
30 year old Maddy Lambert makes her way to the war-torn country of San Pablo to meet her father who had upped and left one day with his idealistic view of the world when Maddy had been just 17 years old. Maddy had been heartbroken and devastated to say the least to lose the one person who had been distant but the only parent who had let her be unlike her mother who had seen each and every thing about Maddy as a way to pick on her. Needless to say, the 17 year old Maddy had been shy and an introvert who finds in the war-hardened soldier turned CIA official John Thomas Murphy a soul that reaches out to her and soothes her woes away. But John too turns his back on her and leaves with her father and Maddy believes herself to be well and cured of her infatuation for a man whose one haunting kiss that had practically reeked of his hunger for her still haunts her.
Maddy arrives after a bone jarring journey only to find that no one believes that she is the daughter of Samuel Eddison Lambert, not even John himself who has turned into a much more dangerous and wilder version of the man she remembers. And Maddy finds that she is as susceptible as ever when it comes to John, even when he does his best to keep her at arm’s length, and even John himself cannot deny the connection that he feels with Maddy, the woman who has been haunting his dreams for the past 14 years.
Amidst half truths, trickery and a whole lot of manipulation that Anne Stuart is so very good at delivering, Maddy and John stumble from one emotionally and sexually charged scene to the next, while at all times danger is just one step away lurking behind the shadows, something that continues to drive them apart until towards the very end of the book.
For the first time ever, I have to say I am disappointed in a book that Anne Stuart has written. I liked the heroine Maddy and her courage when it comes to facing each and everyone who has hurt her and failed her in so many ways. Her vindictive mother whom I would have loved to slap a few times and her father who feels nothing for his only daughter and intends to make use of her to drive across his point even from beyond the grave, and John who in my opinion fails her in the most heartbreaking way.
John might be the least “gamma” hero that I have encountered from all the Anne Stuart books I have read so far. His emotions regarding Maddy comes across a bit more clearly throughout the story, but he is every bit as ruthless when it comes to making use of Maddy even though he keeps her out of harms way and would rather die than have something happen to her. But time and yet again, John puts everything else above Maddy’s happiness, continues to keep leaving her to face his demons and fight the wars that has nothing to do with him but he feels responsible for, and yet expects Maddy to trust him and the way he feels about her.
I wanted Maddy to wake up, grow a backbone and leave John to his life, a life that he makes room for Maddy only when he is good and ready. I am all for ruthlessness, manipulations and even behavior that some readers might not be willing to forgive. But I need to know that when it comes to that vital point of no return, the hero would always choose the heroine no matter what. Sadly, I didn’t feel that with this book.
Recommended for hardcore fans of Anne Stuart like myself who wants to devour her books and cannot get enough of them, no matter how many books by hers you read.
Rating=3.5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below!
May 25, 2014
It was so funny to read an Anne Stuart written so early (the hero was a Vietnam vet!) But this is one of her recent reissues, and I just so love her. Most of the action takes place in a fictional war-torn Central American country. which is beautifully and vividly rendered, and the characters just pop - there is this minor character, Soledad, who I just loved.
While it's masterful in so many Anne Stuart ways, there is something disjointed about the central plot, like it's in two halves, kind of, and the first half is fabulous but the second feels illogical in parts. Still, this was a fabulous read, and I love seeing the evolution of her dark heroes. Jake, the hero here. feels like an early version of them; he is dark for a while, but she pulled back on him and let him be light, then he turned dark again in the second half, then light. It was almost as if she was testing the waters.
omg, I am kind of glad to have it off the top spot on my kindle, though because the song Against the Wind gets running through my mind every times I see this title!!
While it's masterful in so many Anne Stuart ways, there is something disjointed about the central plot, like it's in two halves, kind of, and the first half is fabulous but the second feels illogical in parts. Still, this was a fabulous read, and I love seeing the evolution of her dark heroes. Jake, the hero here. feels like an early version of them; he is dark for a while, but she pulled back on him and let him be light, then he turned dark again in the second half, then light. It was almost as if she was testing the waters.
omg, I am kind of glad to have it off the top spot on my kindle, though because the song Against the Wind gets running through my mind every times I see this title!!
November 2, 2011
Granted the heroine has some backbone, the story is a lot rough around the edges. What makes the book (and any other Stuart's book) is the ardent chemistry between the leads. You can't read her book without imagining being the receiving end of that kind of passion just once.
March 1, 2012
This is a good book, well worth the read if you're an Anne Stuart fan. It isn't my favorite book, however, not by a long shot. Maddy got on my nerves a bit, and Jake really caused her to suffer a lot. Finally, there was too much political side story for my taste.
August 13, 2012
This is one of my favorite authors..... Not my favorite book. Felt short and came together way too easily.
tbr-later
November 5, 20153 April 2014: $0.00 FREE on Kindle
February 26, 2019
Until about 50% through, this book was bonkers, but enjoyably so. Honestly, a book where the 'hero' looks the heroine dead in the eye and tells her no, he doesn't recognise her and also does not remember snogging her has to come under enjoyably bonkers. And then...
For your hero to be involved in one massacre of innocent civilians is unfortunate. For him to be involved in two is just plain careless. Especially when he testified about the first in court, and this apparently soured him so that he doesn't...want...to testify about the second? MATE. Your fellow soldier ordered the massacre of a village of innocent people! This is the one point where the heroine's father (a class A dick and White Saviour) actually has a point!
Not that the narrative appears to agree.
For your hero to be involved in one massacre of innocent civilians is unfortunate. For him to be involved in two is just plain careless. Especially when he testified about the first in court, and this apparently soured him so that he doesn't...want...to testify about the second? MATE. Your fellow soldier ordered the massacre of a village of innocent people! This is the one point where the heroine's father (a class A dick and White Saviour) actually has a point!
Not that the narrative appears to agree.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2018
Oh my god, this book made me soooo mad. Fucking Jake Murphy. Fucking Samuel Lambert. FUCKING SOLEDAD. Who I hated even at the end. Maddy made me mad, too.
But it's Anne Stuart, and her books are like crack. And you can't just stop reading even when you're furious. And here I am at 3 in the morning angry at the characters in this book and not sleepy at all.
I need to pick other kinds of books to read before I sleep. Anne Stuart's books always seem to cause a visceral reaction within me, more so than other books I read.
This review explains nothing about this story, sorry.
But it's Anne Stuart, and her books are like crack. And you can't just stop reading even when you're furious. And here I am at 3 in the morning angry at the characters in this book and not sleepy at all.
I need to pick other kinds of books to read before I sleep. Anne Stuart's books always seem to cause a visceral reaction within me, more so than other books I read.
This review explains nothing about this story, sorry.
April 22, 2018
Kindle Unlimited
This novel is one of Anne’s earlier I’m assuming due to the story timeline and way of writing. The start was interesting enough but then all the betrayals and drama came out etc then it was just confusing. still a good read to pass the time. It’s free under KU so nothing to lose but time.
This novel is one of Anne’s earlier I’m assuming due to the story timeline and way of writing. The start was interesting enough but then all the betrayals and drama came out etc then it was just confusing. still a good read to pass the time. It’s free under KU so nothing to lose but time.
May 14, 2023
classic
I really enjoyed this last-minute addition to my Anne Stuart library. Fascinating plot and the dynamics of the characters were spellbinding.
I really enjoyed this last-minute addition to my Anne Stuart library. Fascinating plot and the dynamics of the characters were spellbinding.
October 29, 2025
Many Years Ago = 3 stars (good)
2025 = Read most, then skimmed & skipped to finish.
Book Cover on Amazon:
In the past, I was a big Anne Stuart fan and enjoyed most of her books. However, my reading tastes have changed as I've gotten older, and now they don't seem nearly as good. Since many of her books are on KU, I'll keep giving them a try. So far, I've found one or two I still enjoy and remain hopeful.
Maddy Lambert fell in insta-love with her father's secret service agent, John Thomas Murphy, when she was 16 and he was 26. Her father, Samuel, was running for president, but he dropped out of the race to avoid compromising his principles, choosing instead to become a crusader in a war-torn country to fight injustice and help the oppressed.
Meanwhile, Maddy's life is sad and loveless: her cruel mother and absent father don’t care about her, and her depressed brother commits suicide. After John leaves with her father, she doesn’t see him for fourteen years.
John's tragic backstory plays a part in the plot. A broken man, he feels he's no good for her and doesn't plan to be a part of her life.
Maddy finally reunites with John in the small country where her father is dying. If her mother hadn’t sent her there, she likely wouldn't have seen him again. John isn’t happy to see her; he’s either hot or cold, with unclear motives. He eventually sends her back to the US, where she believes he’s dead for six months. When he reappears, she thinks he’s betrayed her and her father. The story includes political intrigue that I found quite boring and had no interest in. For a while, Maddy's life is in danger and she thinks John is a bad guy. It’s only in the last chapter that everything is resolved, and they finally become a solid couple.
Overall, I was disappointed. There’s too much inner monologue and little actual romance. I didn’t understand how the MCs fell in love and stayed in love when they were often apart, and there was a lack of trust and meaningful interactions.
The sex scenes are vague and lack detail. I could feel some passion, but no genuine bond. During their 14-year separation, they were with other people, and even after reuniting, their relationship felt more like lust than a lasting love. They didn’t take the time to talk or get to know each other. They must have changed a lot during their time apart, but the story doesn’t show that.
Maddy is like most of A.S.'s heroines:
✅ Not a virgin.
✅ No mention of birth control, but she doesn't get pregnant.
✅ Cries during sex.
✅ Yearns for the H, despite how he treats her.
2 F's
2025 = Read most, then skimmed & skipped to finish.
Book Cover on Amazon:
In the past, I was a big Anne Stuart fan and enjoyed most of her books. However, my reading tastes have changed as I've gotten older, and now they don't seem nearly as good. Since many of her books are on KU, I'll keep giving them a try. So far, I've found one or two I still enjoy and remain hopeful.
Maddy Lambert fell in insta-love with her father's secret service agent, John Thomas Murphy, when she was 16 and he was 26. Her father, Samuel, was running for president, but he dropped out of the race to avoid compromising his principles, choosing instead to become a crusader in a war-torn country to fight injustice and help the oppressed.
Meanwhile, Maddy's life is sad and loveless: her cruel mother and absent father don’t care about her, and her depressed brother commits suicide. After John leaves with her father, she doesn’t see him for fourteen years.
John's tragic backstory plays a part in the plot. A broken man, he feels he's no good for her and doesn't plan to be a part of her life.
Maddy finally reunites with John in the small country where her father is dying. If her mother hadn’t sent her there, she likely wouldn't have seen him again. John isn’t happy to see her; he’s either hot or cold, with unclear motives. He eventually sends her back to the US, where she believes he’s dead for six months. When he reappears, she thinks he’s betrayed her and her father. The story includes political intrigue that I found quite boring and had no interest in. For a while, Maddy's life is in danger and she thinks John is a bad guy. It’s only in the last chapter that everything is resolved, and they finally become a solid couple.
Overall, I was disappointed. There’s too much inner monologue and little actual romance. I didn’t understand how the MCs fell in love and stayed in love when they were often apart, and there was a lack of trust and meaningful interactions.
The sex scenes are vague and lack detail. I could feel some passion, but no genuine bond. During their 14-year separation, they were with other people, and even after reuniting, their relationship felt more like lust than a lasting love. They didn’t take the time to talk or get to know each other. They must have changed a lot during their time apart, but the story doesn’t show that.
Maddy is like most of A.S.'s heroines:
✅ Not a virgin.
✅ No mention of birth control, but she doesn't get pregnant.
✅ Cries during sex.
✅ Yearns for the H, despite how he treats her.
2 F's
April 16, 2023
I was thrilled to discover this oldie but goodie on Amazon. Anne Stuart has an amazing ability to create sexy alpha males that are total assholes on the outside yet so damn vulnerable beneath the surface. It does me in every time. Every.Single.Time. I never fall for a character harder than I do for her men. They are quiet and deadly and I freaking LOVE them. Jack Murphy in Against the Wind is no exception. As for Maddy, she's not going to win the World's Best Heroine award anytime soon, but I liked her.
As usual for an Anne Stuart book there are some questions left unanswered, some events not explained in an in-depth manner. In other words, it's not perfect. Her books never are. But honestly, I don't care. At the end of the day I appreciate it for what it is: a no-nonsense approach to romance. No frills. No fluff. No dialogue dripping with sap. Actions speak louder than words. And the most important part of all--the chemistry between the H/h--doesn't fail to deliver. The tension is always bursting at the seams, and for me, that is really the main reason I read these kinds of books anyway. Have I mentioned I love vulnerable bad boys? ;-)
This was a story about reconnecting and second chances, which is one of my absolute favorite themes. It reminded me a bit of Moonrise.
As usual for an Anne Stuart book there are some questions left unanswered, some events not explained in an in-depth manner. In other words, it's not perfect. Her books never are. But honestly, I don't care. At the end of the day I appreciate it for what it is: a no-nonsense approach to romance. No frills. No fluff. No dialogue dripping with sap. Actions speak louder than words. And the most important part of all--the chemistry between the H/h--doesn't fail to deliver. The tension is always bursting at the seams, and for me, that is really the main reason I read these kinds of books anyway. Have I mentioned I love vulnerable bad boys? ;-)
This was a story about reconnecting and second chances, which is one of my absolute favorite themes. It reminded me a bit of Moonrise.
January 2, 2016
Against the Wind hits all the check boxes for a typical Anne Stuart romance:
-An unusual plot
-A mature heroine, typically in her early 30s.
-A bad-boy Hero whose morality and innocence is dubious.
-A hero who is occasionally verbally mean/cruel to the heroine.
-A hero who is described at some point as being lean, having long fingers or nice hands... seriously, Anne Stuart has a thing for a man's hands.
-Flashbacks between the hero/heroine- usually the best part!
-Rushed, strange, or OTT ending
-An unusual plot
-A mature heroine, typically in her early 30s.
-A bad-boy Hero whose morality and innocence is dubious.
-A hero who is occasionally verbally mean/cruel to the heroine.
-A hero who is described at some point as being lean, having long fingers or nice hands... seriously, Anne Stuart has a thing for a man's hands.
-Flashbacks between the hero/heroine- usually the best part!
-Rushed, strange, or OTT ending
February 5, 2013
Reading old contemporary books always gives me an odd feeling. Considering that this book is older than I am, in a way it almost felt like reading historical fiction. (I suppose in the same way that reading Jane Austen is considered reading historical fiction, even though it was contemporary for her.)
Anyway, I enjoyed reading this book. Anne Stuart's heroes make me happy. (Okay, that sentence looks very odd, but whatever.)
Anyway, I enjoyed reading this book. Anne Stuart's heroes make me happy. (Okay, that sentence looks very odd, but whatever.)
January 21, 2013
I love Anne Stuart and was excited to see some of her earlier releases on Amazon. I just began "Against the Wind", a romantic suspense. Odd title but the content is as expected . . . excellent! No one writes bad boys like Stuart, and this one is the heroine's former crush. Keep you posted.
August 20, 2013
I love reading books by Anne Stuart. I know the hero will be a to-die-for hunk who is a bit rough around the edges. I love those Alpha Males. Well, 'Against the Wind' was every bit as good as expected. If you love romantic suspense then this is a must read.
June 2, 2014
A very good story filled with mystery, adventure and suspense. So many twists and turns, it was sometimes hard to tell if the characters were on the side of the revolution or the government. If you like action, read this book
April 26, 2014
Hate the location and the background - revolution in Mexico or some such. Snore. Skimmed all those sections. Take that crap out, solid Stuart.
July 13, 2015
tentang revolusi gitu. not my thing.
July 8, 2016
much like in the lines of stil lake, surely not her best work. the hero was okay, the heroine lacked tue spirit to engage me.
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March 30, 2016Ebook PC en tel e.d. en kindle!
May 13, 2025
Among my shelves for this book were "Misunderstanding rage" and "Too stupid to live." FWIW.
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