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Florida Sands Romantic Suspense #1
Against The Wind
An FBI agent on the run…
Michael Alvarez is desperate to clear his name from false charges of fraud and murder. Weakened from an injury, stalked by a killer, with a fellow agent hot on his trail, Michael believes things can’t get any worse. Until he runs into a Category 3 hurricane…and the woman who thought he wasn’t good enough to marry.
The society woman who rejected him…
Blair Davenport has never forgotten the man she once loved. Larger than life, the sexy agent drew her with his energy and passion for justice, and frightened her with his appetite for danger. She’s never forgiven herself for leading him to believe their passionate week together meant nothing. When he appears at the beach house she’s boarding up, she can’t refuse his need for shelter, even though he’s hiding dangerous secrets that have her FBI brother pursuing him.
Passion still blazes between them…
Soon, Blair’s decision to help Michael plunges them into a risky race against time. Together again, they struggle against simmering desire. But when the killer closes in, the final confrontation could destroy any thoughts of a second chance—and their very lives.
Second chances can be passionate…and and deadly.
Michael Alvarez is desperate to clear his name from false charges of fraud and murder. Weakened from an injury, stalked by a killer, with a fellow agent hot on his trail, Michael believes things can’t get any worse. Until he runs into a Category 3 hurricane…and the woman who thought he wasn’t good enough to marry.
The society woman who rejected him…
Blair Davenport has never forgotten the man she once loved. Larger than life, the sexy agent drew her with his energy and passion for justice, and frightened her with his appetite for danger. She’s never forgiven herself for leading him to believe their passionate week together meant nothing. When he appears at the beach house she’s boarding up, she can’t refuse his need for shelter, even though he’s hiding dangerous secrets that have her FBI brother pursuing him.
Passion still blazes between them…
Soon, Blair’s decision to help Michael plunges them into a risky race against time. Together again, they struggle against simmering desire. But when the killer closes in, the final confrontation could destroy any thoughts of a second chance—and their very lives.
Second chances can be passionate…and and deadly.
257 pages, ebook
First published April 26, 2012
256 people are currently reading
694 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Kelly
35 books91 followersVirginia Kelly is the author of romantic suspense and romantic adventure novels. Her books have been nominated for several awards including the RWA Golden Heart, the Holt Medallion, the Golden Quill, the Aspen Gold and the National Reader's Choice Award.
To learn more about Virginia and her books (and her travel and iffy photographic skills), visit her website at http://virginiakelly.net.
To learn more about Virginia and her books (and her travel and iffy photographic skills), visit her website at http://virginiakelly.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 10, 2016
Like your Heroes HOT and your Heroines Gutsy? Virginia Kelly is celebrating the release of TAKE A CHANCE ON ME with a fabulous Giveaway
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Wrongfully accused of murder and fraud, an FBI agent tries to find a safe place to hide while attempting to clear his name. Unfortunately, he picks the home of the grandmother of the one woman he truly loved and lost. A hurricane is raging, as are their emotions and danger from a rage more powerful than the weather. Together, they must run for their lives, not knowing who they can trust while Michael tries to find a way to clear his name after being wrongfully accused of breaking the laws he has sworn to uphold.
Meanwhile, Blair’s brother, Drew, another FBI agent is on the hunt for Michael. Will he still be his friend or has he become the enemy? Michael will do anything to keep Blair safe, but she is determined not to let him get away again and is willing to risk her own life for the man she loves. Will they have a future together in the tropical paradise that is Florida or will their encounter be as stormy as the raging winds?
Against the Wind by Virginia Kelly is a romantic suspense that starts out of the gate with gale force winds and builds to a crescendo of danger, raging emotions and a fight beat the odds against both man and nature. Ms. Kelly has vividly drawn each chaotic scene, placing the reader in the midst of the storm that is raging and the romantic tension that is building between Michael and Blair. Her characters are strong, full of resolve and determined to take the second chance at love that is offered, but first they must survive.
Well written, with a blistering pace, high flying romance and the proverbial fight of good versus evil, Against the Wind is a wonderful romantic suspense that begs to be read!
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Publisher: Virginia Kelly
ASIN: B007XUL91O
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 180 pages
Available From: Amazon
Intl where allowed - click on Banner to Enter - Ends Oct 11, 2016
Wrongfully accused of murder and fraud, an FBI agent tries to find a safe place to hide while attempting to clear his name. Unfortunately, he picks the home of the grandmother of the one woman he truly loved and lost. A hurricane is raging, as are their emotions and danger from a rage more powerful than the weather. Together, they must run for their lives, not knowing who they can trust while Michael tries to find a way to clear his name after being wrongfully accused of breaking the laws he has sworn to uphold.
Meanwhile, Blair’s brother, Drew, another FBI agent is on the hunt for Michael. Will he still be his friend or has he become the enemy? Michael will do anything to keep Blair safe, but she is determined not to let him get away again and is willing to risk her own life for the man she loves. Will they have a future together in the tropical paradise that is Florida or will their encounter be as stormy as the raging winds?
Against the Wind by Virginia Kelly is a romantic suspense that starts out of the gate with gale force winds and builds to a crescendo of danger, raging emotions and a fight beat the odds against both man and nature. Ms. Kelly has vividly drawn each chaotic scene, placing the reader in the midst of the storm that is raging and the romantic tension that is building between Michael and Blair. Her characters are strong, full of resolve and determined to take the second chance at love that is offered, but first they must survive.
Well written, with a blistering pace, high flying romance and the proverbial fight of good versus evil, Against the Wind is a wonderful romantic suspense that begs to be read!
Publication Date: April 25, 2012
Publisher: Virginia Kelly
ASIN: B007XUL91O
Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Print Length: 180 pages
Available From: Amazon
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July 5, 2012
I made it to 32% before giving up...not really a bad story I just have no patience these days when the main characters are not together because of poor communication skills....then you have all these flashbacks to the perfect week that was spent together and everything was perfect, he even asked you to marry him...but now it can't be because no would understand the reasons either of you have been apart for the last 6 years and 3 months to the day......then there is all the regret and whining....well maybe it only seems like whining to me because I don't have patience for it.....I am sure they get their HEA by the end I just don't want to wade through the BS to get there
September 24, 2023
This was a 4 star suspense read, but I had to knock it down to only a two due to several instances of descriptive sex.
October 24, 2012
To be honest, there were times when I thought about putting it down. But I pushed aside the repetitive head scenes and moved on; it is my genre after all and I felt I owed it a finish for that reason if none other. Still, you can only stand so much of the samo-samo about what she should have done six years ago. And through the entire story I kept waiting for the real action to begin, which suddenly climaxed before it really got into the nitty-gritty.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Wish the scenes had been a little more graphic, but it's hard to find a good author that knows how to combine romance and action together and come out with something besides goulash. Yeah, I'll give it a 4. It might have been goulash, but it still had some ground steak in it.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Wish the scenes had been a little more graphic, but it's hard to find a good author that knows how to combine romance and action together and come out with something besides goulash. Yeah, I'll give it a 4. It might have been goulash, but it still had some ground steak in it.
April 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Had the right combination of suspense, action and romance. Both Michael and Blair were compelling characters. Michael is an FBI agent on the run. He is accused of a crime he did not commit. Hurt after an attack on his life he tries to hide at Blair's grandmother's house. They are thrust into danger as not only a hurricane threatens them, but other things as well. Lots of action as Michael goes about clearing his name. Blair proves she is strong and tenacious as she puts her life in jeopardy to help him.
July 18, 2012
Category 3 Hurricane Nell is bearing down off the coast in Florida and Blair Davenport is at her Grandmothers house to board it up and get some of her personal documents before she evacuates the storm. Up walks Michael Alvarez, Blair’s ex boyfriend. Six years ago, Blair refused his marriage proposal unable to cope with the dangers of his career as an FBI agent. Now, Michael’s last undercover assignment has him accused of embezzlement, murder, and someone is trying to kill him. FBI Special Agent Drew Davenport, Blair’s brother and Michael’s once best friend, is on the relentless hunt to find Michael.
Michael is in the biggest fight for his life, against false accusations and murder. His love for Blair never ceased, but will he will not jeopardize Blair’s safety at any cost. He is still pained by the rejection from Blair so long ago, and struggles to determine if he can put the past behind him. Both fight to survive the storm and killers who are after Michael, all while trying to find the truth behind their feelings for each other and the reason Drew is so determined to find Michael.
This book is a fast paced page-turner with both romance and suspense. The emotional and physical tension between Blair and Michael is riveting. I really liked Blair’s character. She is stubborn and courageous, very important traits I like my heroines to possess. She has a second chance with Michael, and will stop at nothing to win back the man she lost six years ago.
The author describes both Blair and Michael’s point of view, which I love in the books I read. I truly loved the authors writing style, and her effortless transition between the flashbacks from past to present in their relationship. This was a very good read! If you enjoy suspense and romance with a hot FBI Agent, a feisty heroine and steamy angst, you will enjoy this book!
Michael is in the biggest fight for his life, against false accusations and murder. His love for Blair never ceased, but will he will not jeopardize Blair’s safety at any cost. He is still pained by the rejection from Blair so long ago, and struggles to determine if he can put the past behind him. Both fight to survive the storm and killers who are after Michael, all while trying to find the truth behind their feelings for each other and the reason Drew is so determined to find Michael.
This book is a fast paced page-turner with both romance and suspense. The emotional and physical tension between Blair and Michael is riveting. I really liked Blair’s character. She is stubborn and courageous, very important traits I like my heroines to possess. She has a second chance with Michael, and will stop at nothing to win back the man she lost six years ago.
The author describes both Blair and Michael’s point of view, which I love in the books I read. I truly loved the authors writing style, and her effortless transition between the flashbacks from past to present in their relationship. This was a very good read! If you enjoy suspense and romance with a hot FBI Agent, a feisty heroine and steamy angst, you will enjoy this book!
July 3, 2012
I love finding new romantic suspense authors.
The books starts out in the middle of a hurricane off the coast in Florida. Blair Davenport is at her Grandmothers house to board it up and get some of her personal documents. Out of no where Michael Alvarez appears and looks to be injured. Blair hasn't seen him in six years since she turned down his marriage proposal and harsh words were said.
Michael is a FBI agent who's last undercover assignment had him accused of embezzlement and someone trying to kill him twice. He doesn't know if he can trust Blair's brother who is also an FBI agent so he decides he come and hide out at Blair's grandmother's house during a hurricane thinking no one would look for him there. But that isnt the case.
From here things take off and Michael and Blair are on the run for the rest of the book. We get to find out about their relationship via flashbacks from the beginning to where it all went wrong at the end. But one thing is clear through out the book these two still love each other but can they get over past hangups, survive whoever is trying to kill them and live a HEA.
This was my first time reading this author and I really liked her writing style. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
The books starts out in the middle of a hurricane off the coast in Florida. Blair Davenport is at her Grandmothers house to board it up and get some of her personal documents. Out of no where Michael Alvarez appears and looks to be injured. Blair hasn't seen him in six years since she turned down his marriage proposal and harsh words were said.
Michael is a FBI agent who's last undercover assignment had him accused of embezzlement and someone trying to kill him twice. He doesn't know if he can trust Blair's brother who is also an FBI agent so he decides he come and hide out at Blair's grandmother's house during a hurricane thinking no one would look for him there. But that isnt the case.
From here things take off and Michael and Blair are on the run for the rest of the book. We get to find out about their relationship via flashbacks from the beginning to where it all went wrong at the end. But one thing is clear through out the book these two still love each other but can they get over past hangups, survive whoever is trying to kill them and live a HEA.
This was my first time reading this author and I really liked her writing style. I look forward to more from this author in the future.
July 6, 2022
I liked this quick, exciting read filled with really likable characters. There wasn't much explanation about the crime, but that was ok, because the on-the-run theme was compelling, especially with the hurricane at the beginning. I alos liked how Michael and Blair's history was told through a few flashbacks. I like thsi method of telling the backstory, especially when it is well done. It increased my curiousity as to what was the real conflict between them and hinted that Michael and Blair did not have the same understanding as to what went wrong. I also reallyy liked the ending with Blair doing something kinda stupid that any normal person also would have done!
July 23, 2012
I'm putting down Michael Alvarez and Blair Davenport as another one of my favorite couples, and this book as one of my favorite page turners. However, I was more on the edge of my seat about their relationship than who was out to get him. Because of that the plot became more romance and less suspense, but that didn't keep me from reading. Story does have sex in it, but nothing so graphic it pulled me from the book. Overall an enjoyable read!
March 7, 2013
He is a 'rogue' FBI agent from the wrong side of town. She is a poor little rich girl who turned school teacher rather than debutante. They had a week long history six years earlier and have now met again. He is on the run, attempting to reclaim his reputation. She decides to assist him. Telling any more would be a spoiler, but anyone with chick lit experience will guess the outcome. It was typical but done with some grace and was easy and quick reading.
July 10, 2012
Taut with emotional tension and danger, delivered with masterful control. Utterly engaging as Michael and Blair struggle against the elements and the baddies to resolve past pain to see if they indeed have a future together. A very, very good read, confidently written without any hint of awkwardness. Loved it.
September 3, 2012
It was well enough written. The three stars are probably on me not the author. I'm just not much for contemporary romance. I think this was a freebee I just wanted to try. I finished it but it was kind of blah to me. Give me PNR/UF and I'm much happier.
January 25, 2013
I was glad this had action to keep me interested. I'm not into romance and thought this had a good mix of romance/action. The constant flashbacks to the perfect memory of the two main characters was a little annoying (I often thought, "okay, okay, we get it already).
July 6, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful story. It was a good mix of drama, romance, and mystery. I gave five stars because once I started I couldn't stop reading.
July 23, 2012
I really enjoyed this. A sexy, fast-paced, exciting romantic suspense, with a couple finding a second chance at love.
October 15, 2012
3.5 stars
October 23, 2012
Hot and intriguing... I loved it.
March 15, 2013
Good book. Fast read. Straight Forward. None of those chapters that seem to be written just to make the book longer.
January 3, 2014
Four stars for the suspense and quality of writing, and two stars for the rehashing of their misunderstandings.
July 29, 2016
This is romantic suspense at its best. Ms Kelly has a great plot, realistic and believable characters, and a writing style that won't let go of the reader.
January 18, 2020
I enjoyed this book and felt the connection between the characters. Quality writing and a great story. The problem I had was that I don't feel like one week spent together at a young age was quite enough for them to both be so traumatized over not being together forever. If they'd been childhood sweethearts or something it would make more sense. But, the amount of time is really just an arbitrary thing for an author to decide and the point was that they did have a strong connection, so I'm okay with that. I'm also not a fan of flashbacks, but they weren't every other chapter of anything and once it got into the current time the pages flew by. This author knows how to keep the readers attention and the suspense was really good. (SPOILER ALERT) I also was worried that at the end it was going to be the men saving the day, so I was really happy that the heroine stepped up and also I thought it was great that she didn't kill the guy even though he deserved it. When Michael was thinking how he was happy that she didn't have to deal with that I thought, yeah, that would be hard no matter how much someone might threaten or hurt you and the ones you love. Nicely written book. I will definitely read more from this author.
December 6, 2021
Michael Alvarez is an FBI agent on the run. His life became a deadly game while trying to solve a case of severe bank fraud. His colleagues from the FBI are chasing him and unfortunately it seems as if his best friend and brother of the woman he had a fling with 6 years ago is also involved in the fraud. Trying to get away, Michael runs back to Blair, the women he had a hot affair 6 years ago.
Blair Davenport never really got over Michael. And now the love of her life stands in front of her. But why is he running and what happened between her brother and Michael? Is his appearance closure or a new start?
A well written suspense romance which was well balanced between romance and suspense part. The descriptions of the hurricane were a very emotional background agains which the plot unravelled. Needless to say that the storyline didn’t leave any loose ends.
Michael and Blair were great together. The emotions between them run deep and Michael’s reappearance gave them the opportunity to find closure regarding their common past. I would’ve enjoyed an extended HEA. I just felt that this was too short after all the couple went through.
A solid read which I enjoyed greatly.
Blair Davenport never really got over Michael. And now the love of her life stands in front of her. But why is he running and what happened between her brother and Michael? Is his appearance closure or a new start?
A well written suspense romance which was well balanced between romance and suspense part. The descriptions of the hurricane were a very emotional background agains which the plot unravelled. Needless to say that the storyline didn’t leave any loose ends.
Michael and Blair were great together. The emotions between them run deep and Michael’s reappearance gave them the opportunity to find closure regarding their common past. I would’ve enjoyed an extended HEA. I just felt that this was too short after all the couple went through.
A solid read which I enjoyed greatly.
May 15, 2019
Blair is trying to board up her granmiyhers house before a hurricane when Michael shows up. They have a history, a week together followed by six years of heartache.
The hard feelings are put aside because Michael is in trouble, being set up and gunned down at the same time by a group who embezzle fubds as part of a bigger racket. Michael has evidence on a flash drive, but hid it so no one would know.
They fight, run, and hide in an effort to outrun the villains. Blair wants to tell Drew, her brother, another FBI agent,
Amazing adventure and mystery,
KU
The hard feelings are put aside because Michael is in trouble, being set up and gunned down at the same time by a group who embezzle fubds as part of a bigger racket. Michael has evidence on a flash drive, but hid it so no one would know.
They fight, run, and hide in an effort to outrun the villains. Blair wants to tell Drew, her brother, another FBI agent,
Amazing adventure and mystery,
KU
September 17, 2018
This was my first book by Virginia Kelly and I thought it well written. Full of drama and suspense. Fast paced and full of action. Just what I like. The sexual tension between Michael and Blair plus all their differences in all aspects of their lives is put to the test. Realistic characters and plot. The danger and mystery of who's the bad guy go to the end. Hard to put down. It won't be her last book I read.
May 15, 2020
Too much back and forth
The first half of the book started with exciting intensity then flip flopped between the past and the present too many times to keep my interest.
I skimmed the last few flashbacks.
I started enjoying the flow of the story until they kept referencing six years ago. Ugh.
Then Blair did a foolish thing that was out of character.
Debating if I want to read the next story.
Maybe...
The first half of the book started with exciting intensity then flip flopped between the past and the present too many times to keep my interest.
I skimmed the last few flashbacks.
I started enjoying the flow of the story until they kept referencing six years ago. Ugh.
Then Blair did a foolish thing that was out of character.
Debating if I want to read the next story.
Maybe...
April 10, 2025
It is a perfect gift for someone that needs perspective life and death can prove what important!
Michael has his dream job until everyone turns on him and he no longer knows whom to trust. He running for his life. Blair struggled with her heart and mind what would be best for her, now sux years later regret? This story a page turn a mystery to solve, life or death, crime to solve and the moments that a romantic can cherish.
Michael has his dream job until everyone turns on him and he no longer knows whom to trust. He running for his life. Blair struggled with her heart and mind what would be best for her, now sux years later regret? This story a page turn a mystery to solve, life or death, crime to solve and the moments that a romantic can cherish.
August 29, 2020
Great
I really enjoyed reading this story.This story has so many twists and turns and ups and downs,that it will keep you turning the pages until the very end. I loved the characters in this book.
I really enjoyed reading this story.This story has so many twists and turns and ups and downs,that it will keep you turning the pages until the very end. I loved the characters in this book.
June 12, 2017
Pretty good romantic suspense. 3.5*
November 2, 2018
Not that great. DNF about halfway through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews