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Saddle The Wind

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The unforgettable story of a young girl born into poverty and raised in riches.



In a small village in the West Country a baby girl is born, the fifth child of an impoverished labourer. For little Blanche the future appears bleak. Then one fateful day Blanche's mother is requested at the 'big house' to nurse Marianne, the motherless daughter of John Savill whose wife has died in childbirth. The two girls, so different in their hopes, are brought up together caring for each other as sisters.



Blanche is torn between her love for her real mother and her desire for a life of wealth and ease. Her friendship with Marianne remains the one constant in her life. But then she meets Marianne's intended husband, with tragic consequences for them all.



In this original and vivid saga, Jess Foley weaves a tale of passion and pain against a background of unsentimentalized rural England.

665 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

15 people are currently reading
33 people want to read

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Jess Foley

5 books7 followers

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5 stars
190 (57%)
4 stars
99 (30%)
3 stars
23 (6%)
2 stars
10 (3%)
1 star
7 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Sianne Morrison.
158 reviews3 followers
November 24, 2013
Readable and was enjoyable, but just how much bad karma can one person get. It was just one thing after another. When we just think all is going to work out, we kill off someone else and the whole game changes. At least 6 tragic deaths to keep things going. Suicides, influenza, strokes, earthquakes, tidal waves, murderers, amputation, dash of consumption and horse riding accidents...I was starting to think I was reading an episode of Home and Away. Okay to read.
3 reviews2 followers
July 18, 2019
Didn’t finish it I’m afraid- too many bad things happened one after the other and in the end you just felt it was all a bit hopeless.. I couldn’t even muster up the enthusiasm to continue in order to see if it all comes right in the end. Not my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Roopini N .
10 reviews
January 12, 2018
The story is sometimes boring sometimes interesting that's because of the time it's set and most importantly the heroine of the story Blanche is shown to be a selfish girl unlike her siblings due to the lack of her parents affection it was only a matter of talking which would make her understand along with Marienne why she was cared for in the big house and her ideologies would have changed throughout the book she grows very matured but only one thing doesn't change her selfishness it's as if she was born with it
Profile Image for Daniella Clear.
52 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2014
it was an ok read however too many deaths and things happening made it hard to follow and keep up with, throughout parts i just wanted to scream in frustration because it just seemed like a never ending cycle of death however the characters were easy to relate to esp blanche and marianne
Profile Image for Elaine Watson.
359 reviews2 followers
April 29, 2022
Absolutely brilliant read with just the right amount of detail. I highly recommend it. Blanche was born into poverty but all changed when she was taken to live in the 'big house' where she was to spend most of her life as a companion and family member to a girl who was close to her own age. They both end up loving the same man. The journeys of the girls run along similarly although Blanche has the prejudices to deal with but she is a strong character and makes her own way in life. The story covers all emotions and would satisfy every readers' needs
5 reviews
July 28, 2020
A very easy book to read

The book was interesting and had many twist and turns. It showed how love and devotion for those we treasure is endless.
18 reviews
August 21, 2021
A MUST READ!!!

A truly excellent,memorable read. Jess Foley captures the era and the characters with such depth.Loose yourself in this heart breaker.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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