Wishes in the Wind [Mass Market Paperback]

Andrea Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2001

Nicole Aldridge, daughter of England's most acclaimed jockey, Nick Aldridge, whisks her father into hiding to protect him from blackmailers who have threatened his life for refusing to throw a race. Desperate to keep her father safe and the two of them fed, Nicole dresses as a boy and answers an ad addressed to her father by the Marquis of Tyreham. As Nick's "protégé," she wins the position of jockey, hired by the marquis to run the race of a lifetime: the celebrated Epsom Derby.

Dustin Kingsley, Marquis of Tyreham, renowned as a thoroughbred breeder and the ton's most sought-after bachelor, is restless, empty -- until he meets the beautiful stranger sitting by the Thames. Determined to win Nicole's heart, Dustin plunges headlong into the ominous mystery eclipsing their future, hell-bent on convincing Nicole that he's the only man for her.

An impossible masquerade, a never-to-be-forgotten Derby, and a cherished wishing locket propel Nicole and Dustin toward a climactic finish, where danger threatens a love destined -- by wishes and fate -- to prevail.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When England's best jockey refuses to throw a race for a murderous gang, his daughter, Nicole Aldridge, knows he has to go into hiding. To make an income, she poses as a young man and takes a job as a jockey for the renowned horse breeder Dustin Kingsley, Marquis of Tyreham?and brother of Echoes in the Mist's Trenton Kingsley. Dustin immediately recognizes her as a woman, nicely avoiding the more cliched aspects of this overused device. Nicole and Dustin love each other immediately, which, while it scotches any romantic tension, does motivate Dustin to investigate the gang threatening his "miracle." Kane's stiff and unnatural writing is the biggest distraction: even before a reader can settle into her armchair, Nicole comes out with "Thus, I know what pressure you've been suffering these past weeks," continuing on to "Exactly who are these horrible men? Are they capable of making that threat a reality?" All in all, for a Regency romance, this is a pretty good mystery.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Dear Readers,

I've been a "cerebral" type all of my life. I have a non-stop, questioning, analytical mind. I love doing crossword puzzles. To this day, I snatch the Sunday New York Times magazine section every week before the rest of my family can get to it. I then labor over that puzzle until I've exhausted myself (or finished the whole thing). In school, I read Agatha Christie books one after the other, and tried feverishly to outsmart Hercule Poirot.

On the other hand, I'm a die-hard sentimentalist. I cry at old movies and believe in striving for happily-ever-after. Relationships and family mean the world to me, not only in films and novels, but in real life, as well. The bonds we form with each other are often what sustain us in our most difficult moments, and what enhance our most jubilant celebrations.

To sum it up, I'm an interesting combination of idealist and pragmatist. And that works perfectly with what I write. The idealist in me loves writing romance, and the pragmatist in me loves writing suspense. I feel very fortunate that I'm able to combine the two, and give you books that keep you at the edge of your seat, but at the same time, make you care.

To keep up with me and my novels (past, present and future), visit my website at: www.andreakane.com.

You can email me at [e-mail].

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671534831
• ISBN-13: 978-0671534837
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #576,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alllllllll right Andrea!!!!!!, February 18, 2001

By 

"jesabelle" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wishes in the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)

I prefer not to give anything a 5 star rating because I don't believe anything is perfect but I really enjoy Ms Kane's style of writing. I enjoy her because there are no real games. The story line is not too far from what is usual in most regency novels but the difference is, there is no major misunderstanding that stands between the couple. They come together in a tender kind of way. NO, it's not your typical story where boy meets girl and there is something or someone that deters their romance. It's nice to read a book that one does not mistrust and suspects the other for three quarters of the book. They can 'get together' without the going through half the book figuring out that each had the wrong view and/or opinion.

Nicole and Dustin are from two different worlds, in a way. Nicole is basing her knowledge of the nobility from what she's learned in the stables, applies it to Dustin, has a pre-determned Dustin in her mind. Dustin, however, surprises her by not being the typical nobleman she has been exposed to. Dustin senses something unique about Nicole but isn't able to act upon it as soon as he would like to. He knows there is something 'different' about Nicole but isn't doesn't recognize himself to be in love. He has a bit of a problem admitting it to himself. It doesn't go on and on as some books do which is the refreshing part.

I've said enough without ruining the story. If you're tired and frustrated of reading romance novels that spend at least half of the book resisting the "love" that is to bound to occur, Ms Kane is for you. The love scenes are every bit steamy. They do not go on for chapters as I've seen with other authors but it's just right.

I strongly recommend reading Wishes in the Wind before reading Echoes in the Mist. Echoes in the Mist is, to my knowledge, the conclusion of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and hope this review helps you.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific!, August 7, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Wishes in the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)

It was great. Ms. Kane draws the readers into Nicole's (Elf) world. Dustin and Nicole's first encounter was memorable. Nicole has fine qualities. She's honest, hardworking, caring, loyal..need I say more? But she can't cook didley-squat. Her father, Nick Aldrige is a jockey who is hiding. Some people approached him and told him to throw some races or else. But he didn't and so now they want him. Nicole has this wishing locket her mother gave her when she was young. You hold the locket and make a wish and the locket will store it until fate decides to let it out. It was a great book. It's a book you HAVE to read time and time again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars My least favorite Andrea Kane book - romance is boring and dialogue is sickeningly sweet, January 29, 2009

By 

J. P. (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Wishes in the Wind (Mass Market Paperback)

[1875, England]
I know I'm in the minority here, but I did not like Wishes in the Wind at all. I didn't hate it - I've read worse historical romances - but I am definitely never rereading this book and will probably sell my copy. Frankly I was surprised that I disliked this book so intensely, since there are some Andrea Kane books that I absolutely love (the most recent example being My Heart's Desire - for more details check out the review I wrote for it). The romance and characters did not engage my interest and Kane's writing, far from being able to save the book, only made the experience of reading it worse: her dialogue was often too lengthy, aspects of the unfolding mystery subplot were over-explained and repeated by the characters when they didn't need to be, and the exchanges between Dustin and Nicole were *way* too sappy for me.

PROBLEMS WITH THE ROMANCE:
Andrea Kane's books are often sweeter than other authors' and this is usually a change that I appreciate - she never employs those horrible misunderstandings that overtake the book where neither the hero nor heroine is being honest; also, her heroines are never immature, bratty, or arrogant/conceited. Wishes in the Wind includes Kane's usual mystery subplot and villains (who are easily guessed at before their unveiling), the nickname-given-to-the-heroine-by-the-hero (in this case it's "Derby"), and the sweet romance, but in this book I found this last to be terribly boring and tepid - I literally had to drag myself through this book, for although I had no interest in getting to the end I am literally incapable of leaving a book unfinished.

Nicole cries far too much and I wanted to yank the handkerchiefs out of her father and Dustin's hands when they're constantly wiping away her tears (if she insists on weeping all the time can't she at least dry her own face?!?!). She and Dustin's exchanges were sickeningly sweet (all the talk about wishing lockets, them being each other's "miracle," the stars winking down at them and looking down on them, fate and love, and on and on) - Ex: "Teardrops glistened on Nicole's lashes. 'I suppose once you've been given a miracle, it's far easier to believe they exist.' 'That's true,' Dustin concurred softly. 'I'm discovering as much myself. Right here, right now.' Their gazes locked. 'My beautiful miracle.' Dustin drew her against him ..." (p.150).

And the above passage occurs not even halfway through the book, which leads me to another complaint ... Dustin and Nicole got together far too quickly. I'm not saying I wanted a relationship that encounters problem after problem, but that they instantly fall in love when they meet by the Thames in London - I hate "love at first sight" books and this comes dangerously close to that. When they say they love each other (p.200 - out of 335) I felt like they still barely knew each other and regardless of when they verbalize the feelings, they act in love practically since their first encounter. This makes it so that the whole book is basically about only resolving the mystery subplot, since their relationship doesn't have any problems (Nicole harps on about certain "obstacles" until she suddenly decides to dismiss them - instead, they should have either been eliminated or explored and dealt with more fully, since her worries seem to have only been included to make their love story not a hurtle-free path - though it still is for all intents and purposes).

THE KINGSLEYS SERIES:
Echoes in the Mist is the first of Andrea Kane's Kingsleys book and features Ariana Caldwell and Trenton Kingsley, the Duke of Broddington (Dustin's older brother). It's followed by Wishes in the Wind, which tells the story of Nicole Aldridge and Dustin Kingsley, the Marquis of Tyreham. I hadn't read the first book but had no problem following this one, though those who read and enjoyed Trenton and Ariana's story will appreciate seeing them often again in Dustin and Nicole's.

BOTTOM LINE and RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you like extremely sentimental books with sappy/corny romance, this is the book for you. If you want to read a better Andrea Kane book (IMO), then buy My Heart's Desire (The Barretts, Book 1) or The Silver Coin (Coin Series, Book 2) instead. If you like historical romances that involve impersonation or mistaken identity, check out my "So You'd Like To ..." Guide with that title.