This book blew me away….it was wonderful! WWI’s Middle Eastern front and its pivotal role in the eventual success of the Allies is rarely written about. “Windswept” captures the era and location beautifully while weaving the star crossed love story of British nurse Lady Virginia (Ginger) and British Intelligence Major Noah Benson. I couldn’t put the book down.

This was everything I love in a novel: historical with a backdrop of WWI, romance, exotic locale, wonderfully drawn characters, and a love story that contains a mystery that keeps the lovers apart. It was very well done and the author did a great job at making you feel like you were in Egypt during the war. I highly recommend!

Windswept (The Windswept Saga) by Annabelle McCormack is a really good historical novel of The Great War – WWI. The story starts in May of 1917 as we follow Ginger Whitman (Lady Virginia Whitman), a nurse on the frontline battlefields in Palestine. The Ottoman Turks are holding Gaza, but the British allies are unable to dislodge them.

On her way to a disciplinary hearing, Ginger finds a wounded soldier hiding in the hospital camp who claims to be carrying intelligence reports that he must get to his contact. He is dying and entrusts a coded message to her care in hopes that she can find his contact and give him the information.

She has no idea whom she can trust. There are men who say they can be trusted, but she is not sure. The enemy spy is after the information from her and she needs to decide whom to trust. If she trusts the wrong person, it could cost her her life. The novel is full of intrigue and murder. She cannot trust her father, brother, the British intelligence officer, no one. However, she must rely on someone to help her turn over the information of the enemy's plans. I couldn’t decide either, which made this novel all the more exciting.

I also thought that the author’s characterizations of the main individuals’ personalities gave the novel more interest. I would love to read the whole series because I felt that there was more of the story to come.

Windswept by Annabelle McCormack is a great historical fiction that takes us into Egypt during WWI. So unique and gripping!

I really loved the location, time period, and angle that this book provided. I love reading about WWI, and I do not think I have read anything including this location. The deserts of Egypt and the surrounding areas had plenty of action and it was great that it was incorporated into a book.

I enjoyed the premise, the pacing, and that this wasn’t just a historical saga. It also had mystery, suspense, history, espionage, and an intricate plot. While I enjoyed the characters of Ginger and Noah tremendously, I loved the location and the suspenseful thriller/mystery aspect even more.

It ends in a satisfying way, however I am wondering if there might be a follow up? I would certainly read it if there were.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and the Author for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 8/5/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/21/21.