Customer Reviews

Chance the Winds of Fortune

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This wonderful book has long been out of print, but remains a favorite of mine. It is second in a trilogy of books: "Moonstruck Madness" "Chance the Winds of Fortune" and "Dark Before the Rising Sun." If you have the chance to find these wonderful books on Ebay, or in a used bookstore, get them.

Moonstruck Madness covers the life of Sabrina Verrick, the mother of the heroine, Rhea Claire, in the other two books. It is not totally necessary, but does provide background into the family's life.

Rhea Claire was a gently raised young English lady given every advantage. She is abducted and winds up on a sailing ship where she meets Dante Leighton. She manages to win the hearts of the crew, as well as Dante. They fall in love and are eventually married (after much heartbreak and problems.)

Fans of current romance may remember the dark days of the 1970s where the hero raped and pillaged the heroine and the only sort of chemistry was nasty and out of sorts. The heroine was always headstrong and usually a pirate or something. Upon reading these books, I could never figure out why the hero and heroine had not just killed each other. They never seemed to particularly like each other, much less love each other. Laurie McBain changed all that. Rhea Claire was a sweet gentle heroine, who was truly likeable. She and Dante truly had problems and obstacles to overcome, but it was clear to the readers they truly liked each other.

Dark Before the Rising Sun continues the story of Rhea Claire and Dante's marriage. Dante has problems with his past which must be overcome. You must read "Chance the Winds of Fortune" before beginning this book or it will make no sense.

Do yourself a favor if you read romances and find these wonderful books. Laurie McBain has not gotten the credit she richly deserves for being one of the pioneers of the early historical romance. Read these books, as well as her others to see why she was such a wonderful writer.

This book is the second one I had the pleasure to read written by Laurie Mcbain. Being hooked by the first book I read by Laurie Mcbain (Tears of Gold)I immediately rushed to the library to see if she had written other books , that's how I found this magnificent book. The book tells the story of lady Rhea Claire Dominick , firstborn daughter of Sabrina and Lucien Dominick who are the duchess and duke of Camareigh. First you should know this is the 2nd installment in the "Moonstruck Madness" series which featured Rhea's mother Sabrina and her fateful meeting with Lucien , Rhea's father. The thing I liked the most about this books was that the hero and heroine complimented eachother perfectly. Rhea was the perfect woman for Dante , she was sweet , gentle , caring and totally innocent of the evils in the world , while Dante was worldweary and distrustful of people because in the past he was betrayed by someone he trusted above all else. But Rhea's innocence and purity of spirit somehow fascinate him , slowly he begins to fall in love with her till the point he doesn't care as much about his revenge as he wants Rhea and her love that badly. But Rhea keeps her distance confused by her feelings for Dante , captain of the Sea Dragon(a pirate ship)and a marquis in a former lifetime. If you get your hands on any of Laurie Mcbain's books , GET THEM! They're totally worth it. Oh before I forget it there's a 3rd book in this series it's called "Dark before the rising Sun" it continues the story of Rhea and Dante and is, if possible, even better than "Chance the winds of Fortune"

This book is a great 2nd in a series of three. While I think not quite as good as the 1st, its still an excellent read. As usual Laurie McBain has a swag of really great characters and an exciting story which maximises the romance and burgeoning love that really gets you hooked. You just have to read on. I think Laurie McBain is a masterly writer using historical setting to great advantage together with fab characters and exciting story.

Fans of "Moonstruck Madness" won't want to miss this sequel that actually improves on the original! Rhea Claire, daughter of Lucien and Sabrina, is cruelly ripped away from her family and set on a course of adventures that will bring her to McBain's sexiest hero yet, Dante Leighton. I think I drooled my way through this book, as will other romance fans. Breathtaking adventure, sexual tension that crackles off the pages, and a great historical depiction of colonial America will provide thrills for all Ms. McBain's fans.

Sequel to Moonstruck Madness with Sabrina and Lucien's daughter, Rhea, kidnapped as part of a plot by an old enemy from the past. Rhea ends up a prisoner on Dante's ship who, of course, does not believe she is a Duke's daughter.

Not as strong a story as Moonstruck Madness but, as a sequel, you get to see more of the characters you loved and grow to like their children who have grown and are now having adventures of their own.

Although I'm usually a huge fan of Laurie McBain's books this one didn't do it for me. I thought the hero, Dante Leighton, was an awful character. In one of the few love scenes in the book Rhea, the heroine of the book, repeatedly says No to Dante's advances. It was disgusting. McBain wrote the scene as if Dante could not stop himself and somehow knew that although Rhea's lips were saying no her heart was saying yes. I know this is an historical novel and modern law is not applicable, but in my mind it's still rape if she says no and he continues to proceed with his sexual advances. Because of this and many other reasons, the love between Dante and Rhea was commpletely unbelievable. McBain should have definitely portrayed Dante as far more sensitive and caring than he was. The secondary plots in the book were intersting and many of the other charcters (all the ship's crew!) were
great. But Dante Leighton definitely ruined the book for me.