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Winds of Eden
A moving novel of sweeping passion...
India at the dawn of the 1800s was strange and turbulent place for a young Scottish girl to come of age -- but Desiree McKenzie was captivated by the astonishing beauty of this exotic land. There her future was threatened by her ruthless guardian uncle. And there her heart was awakened by the love of two remarkable men. Captain Kirby of the 78th Highlanders vowed to love her forever. But it was Hector McLeod, the successful trader, who valiantly won her hand in marriage.
Only the test of time would reveal her ultimate fate -- from the intrigues of India to the beauty of Scotland and England, from the joys and heartaches of love, friendship, and betrayal, to the bittersweet storms of unexpected change -- Desiree was determined to shape her own destiny … while uplifting the hearts and souls of everyone who loved her.
India at the dawn of the 1800s was strange and turbulent place for a young Scottish girl to come of age -- but Desiree McKenzie was captivated by the astonishing beauty of this exotic land. There her future was threatened by her ruthless guardian uncle. And there her heart was awakened by the love of two remarkable men. Captain Kirby of the 78th Highlanders vowed to love her forever. But it was Hector McLeod, the successful trader, who valiantly won her hand in marriage.
Only the test of time would reveal her ultimate fate -- from the intrigues of India to the beauty of Scotland and England, from the joys and heartaches of love, friendship, and betrayal, to the bittersweet storms of unexpected change -- Desiree was determined to shape her own destiny … while uplifting the hearts and souls of everyone who loved her.
Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 4, 2023
One of those far ranging novels that is very heavy on various plots and a bit light on Romance. Spans 1803 to 1814. Scotswoman Desiree is young, very beautiful and spirited when she meets her first love, Scottish Captain and fervent abolitionist Athelstan Kirby, first on a battlefield in India and then as her chaperone. [She is 16 and Athelstan is 23 while Hector is 38! which I know was common in 1800s but was still a little uncomfortable.] However her scheming guardian offers her as the winnings for a card game, leading poor Kirby to ask the only man he knows with enough money to even join the card game (Hector MacLeod) to join. Happily Hector wins as the other players were various shades of evil. Thus Hector wins her hand in marriage and must go about winning her love from (her now ex-fiancée) Kirby, who disappears from her life so she can start anew with Hector.
What follows is the story of how she comes to deeply love her first husband and the sons of his first marriage, discussions of British / India / Tea Company politics, and the violent racism of many Brits. Was a relatively good 3.5 to 4 star story - I even sniffed when one of the characters died - until the last 16 pages, which completely ruined it.
[Light spoilers ahead.]
Got through 562 pages and then the ending utterly sucked. Desiree told [him]: Every time we get close then you push me away and disappear. No, No, he replies, it's always been because I was keeping you safe, had your best interest at heart. AND THEN !! finally she allows herself to love him and agrees to marry him and what does he do? He's willing to leave her! Because So, obviously as this is a love story, she eventually decides she is strong enough to overcome her fright of how she will be treated and, instead of staying safe and happy in Scotland, is willing to follow [him] .
We're supposed to be ecstatic that Desiree 'placed all her demons in the wooden box' to remove them and married [him] anyway ... But that misses the point: He Was Willing To Leave Her!! AGAIN!! Which was her deepest fear before she allowed herself to care for him again. Selfish bastard. I'm so annoyed I got invested in these characters. Desiree should have married Sanjay.
Blurb on back of book:
India at the dawn of the 1800s was strange and turbulent place for a young Scottish girl to come of age -- but Desiree McKenzie was captivated by the astonishing beauty of this exotic land. There her future was threatened by her ruthless guardian uncle. And there her heart was awakened by the love of two remarkable men. Captain Kirby of the 78th Highlanders vowed to love her forever. But it was Hector McLeod, the successful trader, who valiantly won her hand in marriage
Only the test of time would reveal her ultimate fate -- from the intrigues of India to the beauty of Scotland and England, from the joys and heartaches of love, friendship, and betrayal, to the bittersweet storms of unexpected change -- Desiree was determined to shape her own destiny … while uplifting the hearts and souls of everyone who loved her.
What follows is the story of how she comes to deeply love her first husband and the sons of his first marriage, discussions of British / India / Tea Company politics, and the violent racism of many Brits. Was a relatively good 3.5 to 4 star story - I even sniffed when one of the characters died - until the last 16 pages, which completely ruined it.
[Light spoilers ahead.]
Got through 562 pages and then the ending utterly sucked. Desiree told [him]: Every time we get close then you push me away and disappear. No, No, he replies, it's always been because I was keeping you safe, had your best interest at heart. AND THEN !! finally she allows herself to love him and agrees to marry him and what does he do? He's willing to leave her! Because So, obviously as this is a love story, she eventually decides she is strong enough to overcome her fright of how she will be treated and, instead of staying safe and happy in Scotland, is willing to follow [him] .
We're supposed to be ecstatic that Desiree 'placed all her demons in the wooden box' to remove them and married [him] anyway ... But that misses the point: He Was Willing To Leave Her!! AGAIN!! Which was her deepest fear before she allowed herself to care for him again. Selfish bastard. I'm so annoyed I got invested in these characters. Desiree should have married Sanjay.
Blurb on back of book:
India at the dawn of the 1800s was strange and turbulent place for a young Scottish girl to come of age -- but Desiree McKenzie was captivated by the astonishing beauty of this exotic land. There her future was threatened by her ruthless guardian uncle. And there her heart was awakened by the love of two remarkable men. Captain Kirby of the 78th Highlanders vowed to love her forever. But it was Hector McLeod, the successful trader, who valiantly won her hand in marriage
Only the test of time would reveal her ultimate fate -- from the intrigues of India to the beauty of Scotland and England, from the joys and heartaches of love, friendship, and betrayal, to the bittersweet storms of unexpected change -- Desiree was determined to shape her own destiny … while uplifting the hearts and souls of everyone who loved her.
September 16, 2013
Could not put it down, read it in 2 days.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews