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Troubled Waters #3
Bend to the Tempest
From the author of the Amazon Kindle #1 selection for Mystery Thriller and Suspense, The EmmaLee Affairs, an emotional and captivating story of desperate love, tragic betrayal and bitter compromise. (Formerly published as Grayton Winds).
When a woman from his past makes a surprising return during his 85th birthday celebration in the remote village of Grayton Beach, Florida, Mathew Coulter reflects back on his early years, the heartbreak of lost loves, bitter memories of family betrayal, and a young and gifted blind girl who would change the course of his life forever.
In 1918, Mathew lies recovering in a Paris hospital from a devastating wound in a battle in the French countryside. His nurse, Celeste will not only tend his wounds, but also capture his heart, but her ties to her local French village and a soldier still lost in the conflict of the Great War, will be the first in his life’s most difficult choices.
Returning to his home in America during the tumultuous years of Prohibition, Mathew ultimately finds new love, but a bitter betrayal and his ruthless family’s ties to the liquor trade in 1920’s Atlanta, force him to leave and seek refuge in a friend’s remote cottage in a small Florida beach town. He meets a young blind girl, Melanee Dalton, who will lead him on a journey that may be the final salvation for her wayward mother, a ruthless gangster on the run from his rivals in the North and Mathew’s own haunted soul.
The story of Bend to the Tempest plays out across the war-torn cities and villages of France during World War I, the homes of the wealthy and corrupt in Prohibition-era Atlanta, and the peaceful, yet dangerous shores of a breathtaking village on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
When a woman from his past makes a surprising return during his 85th birthday celebration in the remote village of Grayton Beach, Florida, Mathew Coulter reflects back on his early years, the heartbreak of lost loves, bitter memories of family betrayal, and a young and gifted blind girl who would change the course of his life forever.
In 1918, Mathew lies recovering in a Paris hospital from a devastating wound in a battle in the French countryside. His nurse, Celeste will not only tend his wounds, but also capture his heart, but her ties to her local French village and a soldier still lost in the conflict of the Great War, will be the first in his life’s most difficult choices.
Returning to his home in America during the tumultuous years of Prohibition, Mathew ultimately finds new love, but a bitter betrayal and his ruthless family’s ties to the liquor trade in 1920’s Atlanta, force him to leave and seek refuge in a friend’s remote cottage in a small Florida beach town. He meets a young blind girl, Melanee Dalton, who will lead him on a journey that may be the final salvation for her wayward mother, a ruthless gangster on the run from his rivals in the North and Mathew’s own haunted soul.
The story of Bend to the Tempest plays out across the war-torn cities and villages of France during World War I, the homes of the wealthy and corrupt in Prohibition-era Atlanta, and the peaceful, yet dangerous shores of a breathtaking village on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2022
197 people are currently reading
377 people want to read
About the author
Michael Lindley
50 books109 followersMichael Lindley is a #1 bestselling Amazon author for "Mystery Thriller & Romantic Suspense" with his debut novel THE EMMALEE AFFAIRS.
His more recent "Hanna Walsh and Alex Frank Low Country Suspense Thriller" series ranked #1 on Amazon for Mystery and Suspense series. The "Hanna and Alex" stories are set in Charleston, Pawleys Island and the fictional Dugganville, South Carolina.
His stories feature love and relationships challenged by the troubled waters of betrayal, tragic loss, and the many dark and unforeseen forces that can lie just below the surface of our fragile lives.
All of Michael's books are set in idyllic locales and often compelling historical contexts. The settings include a remote resort town in Northern Michigan in the 1940's, 50's and present-day; Atlanta and Grayton Beach Florida in the turbulent 1920's as well in current times; and most recently, 1860's and present-day Charleston, Pawleys Island and the fictional Dugganville, South Carolina.
Michael writes full-time now, stepping away from a career in Marketing and Advertising and divides his time between Northern Michigan and Florida. He and his wife, Karen, are also on an annual quest to visit the country's spectacular national parks.
"You will often find that writers are compelled to write what they love to read.
I've always been drawn to stories that are built around an idyllic time and place as much as the characters who grace these locations. As the heroes and villains come to life in my favorite stories, facing life's challenges of love and betrayal and great danger, I also enjoy coming to deeply understand the setting for the story and how it shapes the characters and the conflicts they face.
I've also been drawn to books built around a mix of past and present, allowing me to know a place and the people who live there in both a compelling historical context, as well as in present-day.
Writers like Pat Conroy and Kristin Hannah grace my bookshelves along with Ian McEwen, Dennis Lehane, Amor Towles, Anita Shreve, Lisa Wingate, William Kent Krueger and on and on. I need more bookshelves! ML
His more recent "Hanna Walsh and Alex Frank Low Country Suspense Thriller" series ranked #1 on Amazon for Mystery and Suspense series. The "Hanna and Alex" stories are set in Charleston, Pawleys Island and the fictional Dugganville, South Carolina.
His stories feature love and relationships challenged by the troubled waters of betrayal, tragic loss, and the many dark and unforeseen forces that can lie just below the surface of our fragile lives.
All of Michael's books are set in idyllic locales and often compelling historical contexts. The settings include a remote resort town in Northern Michigan in the 1940's, 50's and present-day; Atlanta and Grayton Beach Florida in the turbulent 1920's as well in current times; and most recently, 1860's and present-day Charleston, Pawleys Island and the fictional Dugganville, South Carolina.
Michael writes full-time now, stepping away from a career in Marketing and Advertising and divides his time between Northern Michigan and Florida. He and his wife, Karen, are also on an annual quest to visit the country's spectacular national parks.
"You will often find that writers are compelled to write what they love to read.
I've always been drawn to stories that are built around an idyllic time and place as much as the characters who grace these locations. As the heroes and villains come to life in my favorite stories, facing life's challenges of love and betrayal and great danger, I also enjoy coming to deeply understand the setting for the story and how it shapes the characters and the conflicts they face.
I've also been drawn to books built around a mix of past and present, allowing me to know a place and the people who live there in both a compelling historical context, as well as in present-day.
Writers like Pat Conroy and Kristin Hannah grace my bookshelves along with Ian McEwen, Dennis Lehane, Amor Towles, Anita Shreve, Lisa Wingate, William Kent Krueger and on and on. I need more bookshelves! ML
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
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January 10, 2023Outstanding Descriptions
The small town on the beach, staying with a cabin owned by a friend, and near by an young, blind girl, has amazing story. It includes family issues, criminals, and all problems with prohibition. All life is laid up. The is an amazing book.
The small town on the beach, staying with a cabin owned by a friend, and near by an young, blind girl, has amazing story. It includes family issues, criminals, and all problems with prohibition. All life is laid up. The is an amazing book.
July 14, 2025
Phenomenal ending…
June 10, 2020
**I gratefully received the Kindle version of this book in the goodreads giveaway**
Wow... I am really the outlier on this book! I'm wondering what I missed. Or was it the Kindle version? It isn't a horrible book, but there were a few things that made it frustrating for me to read.
The story starts out with a surprise knock at the door of 85 year old Mathew Coulter. You jump right into the story of who this surprise person is; so I can't figure out why one reviewer thought there were so many people it could have been. After the first chapter, it was obvious. The story proceeds through the passionate love affair of this wounded American soldier recovering in a French hospital during WWI and his pretty nurse.
No spoilers here so all I'll say is the book moves on to the next part of Mathew's life. Due to the bootlegging and deceit of his father and brother, he leaves Atlanta and heads to Grayton Winds in the Florida Panhandle. I used to live in Gulf Breeze, so his description of the white sands and the beauty of this part of FL is on point. The story weaves in and out of events with some very interesting characters. My favorite character is Melanee Dalton. It would have been interesting to have more of her (perhaps that is in the next book of this trilogy to be?). Two events happen that cause Mathew to struggle with staying in FL or going back to GA. This is a key issue for him throughout the book. The story line is fine. Some of the characters are interesting and you want to know more about them. There are some well chosen descriptions that paint a lovely picture. It was fine.
My biggest critique of this book is the mechanics of the writing. I can't figure out where the mistakes were missed. "Mam" is spelled "ma'am." Typically, we say "most likely," not "mostly likely." I'm not sure why the author italicizes yes or no when a person nods these answers. It seemed strange to me that throughout the book, the author kept reintroducing the last names of characters that were seen much earlier and discussed often. The one thing that stood out the most was the author's constant use of the word "and" in almost every sentence. In a paragraph of about 5 sentences, each one had and in it. This overuse of and wasn't necessary. It caused me to rewrite the sentences in a more concise way as I was reading. I want to read a novel, not edit it as I go along.
As for one reviewer's comment thanking the author for wrapping up the lives of everyone, I hated it. It seems too simple. I just wonder what is left for the next two books. I realize a sequel or continuation doesn't have to pick up right where things left off, but still.
This might be a good beach read if you want something easy to read.
Wow... I am really the outlier on this book! I'm wondering what I missed. Or was it the Kindle version? It isn't a horrible book, but there were a few things that made it frustrating for me to read.
The story starts out with a surprise knock at the door of 85 year old Mathew Coulter. You jump right into the story of who this surprise person is; so I can't figure out why one reviewer thought there were so many people it could have been. After the first chapter, it was obvious. The story proceeds through the passionate love affair of this wounded American soldier recovering in a French hospital during WWI and his pretty nurse.
No spoilers here so all I'll say is the book moves on to the next part of Mathew's life. Due to the bootlegging and deceit of his father and brother, he leaves Atlanta and heads to Grayton Winds in the Florida Panhandle. I used to live in Gulf Breeze, so his description of the white sands and the beauty of this part of FL is on point. The story weaves in and out of events with some very interesting characters. My favorite character is Melanee Dalton. It would have been interesting to have more of her (perhaps that is in the next book of this trilogy to be?). Two events happen that cause Mathew to struggle with staying in FL or going back to GA. This is a key issue for him throughout the book. The story line is fine. Some of the characters are interesting and you want to know more about them. There are some well chosen descriptions that paint a lovely picture. It was fine.
My biggest critique of this book is the mechanics of the writing. I can't figure out where the mistakes were missed. "Mam" is spelled "ma'am." Typically, we say "most likely," not "mostly likely." I'm not sure why the author italicizes yes or no when a person nods these answers. It seemed strange to me that throughout the book, the author kept reintroducing the last names of characters that were seen much earlier and discussed often. The one thing that stood out the most was the author's constant use of the word "and" in almost every sentence. In a paragraph of about 5 sentences, each one had and in it. This overuse of and wasn't necessary. It caused me to rewrite the sentences in a more concise way as I was reading. I want to read a novel, not edit it as I go along.
As for one reviewer's comment thanking the author for wrapping up the lives of everyone, I hated it. It seems too simple. I just wonder what is left for the next two books. I realize a sequel or continuation doesn't have to pick up right where things left off, but still.
This might be a good beach read if you want something easy to read.
July 11, 2021
I purchased this book from the Hidden Lantern in Rosemary Beach. I love a good historical fiction, and I was excited to see this book set in one of my favorite places—the small towns along 30A! I was intrigued by the Prohibition Era, but I still hesitated to buy. Ultimately, the large print on the white paper sold me on the purchase as I knew that it would be easier to read while sitting on the beach in the sun. Michael Lindley’s writing drew me in quickly, and I couldn’t put the book down! I fell in love with Melanee instantly and shortly after with her grandmother Lila. I saw myself through Matthew’s eyes and related to his triumphs and struggles in a unique way. I even grew quite fond of Sara by the end of the novel. The many twists and turns of the novel took me on a thrill ride that I didn’t want to end. I strongly recommend this novel for anyone looking for an easy beach read that keeps you on your toes. I look forward to reading more works by Michael Lindley.
October 7, 2019
WOW what a wonderfully written book. So nostalgic and heart warming, and yet very dynamic as Author Michael Lindley weaves the story and it comes alive, just like the characters do. I know now after reading some of Mr. Lindley’s books that I need to allot time to read them because I always find I cannot put them down. Even after I finished the book, I found myself reflecting on the story for days. I lived this book as I was reading it. It doesn’t get better than that. Everything accomplished Author Michael Lindley said in his synopsis was exactly what this book was and more. I was so happy I did not miss this story/book. Michael Lindley’s book have such LIFE to them. SO real feeling and brings a story home like no other. I cannot tell you how happy I am to HIGHLY recommend Grayton Winds by Author Michal Lindley. Trust me you do NOT want to miss this story. ENJOY!!!
December 31, 2018
Thank you to Michael Lindley and Goodreads.com I won this book in a Giveaway.
Where to begin, there are so many lessons and surprises in this book. Well written, loved the cast of characters and the suspense. Couldn't wait to find out who the person was knocking at the door because it could have been so many. Thank you for wrapping up everyone's lives ! Sometimes the right thing comes with the wrong message. Sometimes we don't end up with who we are meant to be until it's time. Great story lines and transitions were very smooth !
Where to begin, there are so many lessons and surprises in this book. Well written, loved the cast of characters and the suspense. Couldn't wait to find out who the person was knocking at the door because it could have been so many. Thank you for wrapping up everyone's lives ! Sometimes the right thing comes with the wrong message. Sometimes we don't end up with who we are meant to be until it's time. Great story lines and transitions were very smooth !
March 13, 2019
This book is about the life of Matthew Coulter who was injured in the war. He has come home and his father wants him to join his bootlegging business in 1926. Mathew is a man of integrity and declines. He has a passion for writing and moves to Grayton Beach. At Grayton Beach he finds love, love lost, heartbreak and betrayal. A super beach read book.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but some places in the book, described the landscape in too much detail.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
I would have given this book 5 stars, but some places in the book, described the landscape in too much detail.
I received this book free from Goodreads for a honest opinion.
January 30, 2019
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Grayton Winds is a beautifully written novel, evocative of a specific place and time: the Gulf Coast on the Panhandle of Florida during Prohibition. The setting of Grayton Beach was extremely well described, almost becoming another character in the book. Although at times I wondered about the number of threads in the story, the author was successful in tying them up at the end, creating a successful resolution.
Grayton Winds is a beautifully written novel, evocative of a specific place and time: the Gulf Coast on the Panhandle of Florida during Prohibition. The setting of Grayton Beach was extremely well described, almost becoming another character in the book. Although at times I wondered about the number of threads in the story, the author was successful in tying them up at the end, creating a successful resolution.
January 27, 2020
2 1/2 *. I accepted a free copy from the author. Thank you. I’m glad I read & completed, but found it quite laborious. While enjoying Mathew Coulter’s character somewhat, I didn’t connect with so many of the other characters... I don’t want to belabor the issue or the language errors as so many people did just love this book, which is great. But no, not a saga for me & I definitely wouldn’t want to reread.
December 30, 2019
I've read several of Michael Lindley's novels, and this is heading to the top of my list of favorites. I love historical mysteries, lost loves, reflections of life. This has it all! Highly entertaining! Well written, great characters and solid story line. It will make you laugh, cry, and dream of the past. You can't miss with this gem!
October 25, 2020
Wonderful Read
History,mystery and romance all incorporated in one well written, classy page-turner. The book just pulls you into it’s web and you won’t want to stop reading. Will definitely read more books by this author.
History,mystery and romance all incorporated in one well written, classy page-turner. The book just pulls you into it’s web and you won’t want to stop reading. Will definitely read more books by this author.
June 4, 2025
Another Michael Lindley winner! I read this to get some previous history regarding the Hanna and Alex series….but throughly enjoyed this captivating story. It actually is the third in a 3 book series….but it’s a “don’t want to put down” stand alone novel. Thanks, Michael!
December 30, 2018
Character and story dynamics provide readers a full and satisfying read. 4 stars
My thanks to goodreads and the book's giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.
My thanks to goodreads and the book's giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain a copy of this book.
January 4, 2020
What a story. It has action, love, betrayal and gangster
This book is full of twist and turns. Good read.
This book is full of twist and turns. Good read.
February 4, 2020
This was my favorite in the series so far. I liked the characters, the setting, and the era.
July 5, 2020
I couldn’t put it down it is breathless...I am so glad my friend April Recomended while I was at Seacreast I could relate so much...
August 29, 2020
Good book
I was really enthralled with this story. The ending really surprised me. I didn't see it coming. It was a good story and well written.
I was really enthralled with this story. The ending really surprised me. I didn't see it coming. It was a good story and well written.
May 15, 2021
I think this is Lindley's best out of all his series.
October 8, 2022
Enjoyed reading story set in Grayton Beach while in Ft Walton on vacay
November 2, 2025
Excellent
Wonderful character engagements. Good plot.
Goes from happy to sad and back. Sincerity and caring from characters. Evil and peace.
Wonderful character engagements. Good plot.
Goes from happy to sad and back. Sincerity and caring from characters. Evil and peace.
February 3, 2020
At the risk of repeating myself, Author Michael Lindley is simple a great Author and is one of the reasons I Follow him, and read so many of his books, ALL of which has been satisfying reads, and thoroughly enjoyable. I will continue to read whatever book he puts out. When I open one of Author Michael Lindley’s books, I know before I turn the first page, IT’S GONNA BE A WINNER!!
January 5, 2020
‘Grayton Winds’ or ‘Bend to the Tempest’ was a goodread because of the way Michael Lindley’s writing style beautifully told the story of one man’s life of lost loves and family. For me, I didn’t like most of the characters and their actions like I did in the first two books in the series, but Mr. Lindley kept me reading till the end. As with his previous books the past is a large part of the story and actually joins the present to create an intriguing end. Don’t miss out, read this goodread and enjoy a beautifully written story.
June 5, 2012
I really enjoyed this book.
April 6, 2019
Am and have read this whole series so far,some of his books I guess deleted out of my library but when I get some I delete which I guess I shouldn't !!
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