An amazing audiobook. It started a little slowly and I was unsure how it was going to advance. However, I became enthralled and couldn't stop listening. I'm a huge fan of World War historical fiction, but this was quite different and a good new diversion for me. I absolutely loved it. I felt the twists and turns were really well balanced and the pace was good. Highly recommend!
I received an ARC from the publisher.

Windswept by Annabelle McCormack

By Heather Mitchell 10/01/2021

While Ginger Whitman serves as a nurse during the WWI British war effort, she encounters a severely injured man wearing a Turkish military uniform. She has a deep respect for the sacrifices made by soldiers on both sides of the war, and struggles with her conscience. The nurse ponders whether she should turn the man in to the authorities, or give him them the help he obviously wants and needs. The soldier says he is really a British intelligence officer. He also states that he has spied on the Ottomans and possesses important information which can change the course of the war. Even though his style of clothing clearly state he serves the enemy, his perfect English accent, and warning that a traitor has infiltrated British intelligence, places Ginger in a precarious predicament. Is this man an ally or part of the enemy's stealthy attempt to gain the upper hand?

As the war rages on the Western front, the gritty peril in Windswept easily evoke emotional responses to the many dilemmas created by the harsh environment, and requirements of the British top Brass leading the war effort. McCormack expertly and deftly places readers in each scene with the sights sounds and smells of the realities of warfare. These the depictions are especially evident in one scene where debris, from an attack, rains down on the hospital tent where Ginger tends to the broken minds and bodies of soldiers.

During her experience, Ginger consistently struggles with deciding to follow or disobey orders. She also develops an undeniable yet inappropriate attraction for a colleague who is not her fiance. McCormack has designed delightful banter between Virginia and object of her forbidden desire, that enriches the reading experience. The soldier is brash, bold and unapologetic about taking actions that are necessary to fulfill each mission he takes on.

Quill Pen News gives Windswept a rating of 3.5 stars. Although both characters are determined to find the truth, facts consistently elude them due to the main antagonist's despicable, and maniacal effort to carry out devious desires. The treacherous behavior effortlessly shows how a villain's carefully laid plans can cause good people to grapple with their moral compass. McCormack is very good at making a reader wonder about who Virginia should trust. Fans of a heroin who knows herself, despite being unaware of the true nature of those around her, will definitely enjoy witnessing Virginia's journey. Although, there are a few instances where she takes certain action that may cause some readers to be turned off. Those who identify, and accept the realities of war, may empathize with the hard situations Virginia finds herself in.

Windswept will definitely entertain fans of stories that take place during WWI. Immersion reading (listening to the audio-book while you read), will unquestionably enhance the experience of this troublesome and turbulent tale. The narrators voice has a rich tone, easily expressing the fear, determination and predicaments the main characters live through.

To begin, and follow, this harrowing historical fiction love story, click the link below to order your copy today.

*****I was given an opportunity to listen to the audio-book of Windswept by Netgalley for my honest opinion about the story.*****

This review is posted on the quillpennews.com website.
https://www.quillpennews.com/windswept-by-annabelle-mc-cormac/

Windswept is an expansive drama taking place in an often forgotten time period of history, the Middle Eastern theater of World War 1. As the main character, Ginger is easy to follow and quite likable. Even though she is of high society she wants to break free. Nursing on the front has given her that freedom, but at what cost? After finding a wounded soldier hiding in camp and learning pieces of his complicated story Ginger is thrust into a world of espionage and deceit. Who can she trust? What will she do to uncover the truth?

I loved this story and the characters. Each one was fully realized and fleshed out. I listened to this via audio and Elizabeth Grace's narration was extraordinary. A cut above the rest! Her voice sucked me into Ginger's hot and sandy Egyptian world and didn't let me go. My only complaint would be the story felt too long, too packed. I would have enjoyed this more if about a quarter was edited out or if it had been expanded into a duology. There was certainly enough intrigue to sustain another book.

Did not finish due to sexual content and d-mn used several time by the point I stopped. If it weren't for the inappropriate content I would have put the author down as a need to read and not stopped reading it.

Either I did not pay much attention in history class in high school (which is hard to believe because I love history), or we did not cover much of World War I - but now I am finding it fascinating to read about. I also did not realize there was such a heavy British involvement in the Gaza area during World War I.

But besides all that, this book gripped me from the very beginning. Virginia Whitman (Ginger, Ginny) was a nurse with the Royal Queen Victoria's. Ginger was there to help anyone, even if they were the enemy. As she found, helping the enemy can lead to danger even she is not sure she can make it out of. With the help of Noah Benson - a sort of undercover soldier seeking the identity of a traiteur within British Intelligence - Ginger is thrust into the middle of what could be a very dangerous mission. Though she was eager to help the cause, what circumstances come out of that could ruin Ginger and her family for good.

I enjoyed this book very much, it was insightful for the fact I did not know of this part of the Great War. Though fictionalized, I could very well see this story happening. I also liked the main character of Ginger - Virginia is a family name in my family - my mom is Ginny, my sister is Ginger. I wait anxiously for #2.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this advanced audio. I enjoyed the narrator very much.

I absolutely love this book! I usually reserve 5 star ratings for classics like To Kill A Mockingbird but occasionally a recently published novel will check all the boxes for me. Windswept has done this and therefore has IMO earned 5 stars. From many of the reviews I’ve read I’m not alone.
The novel takes place in Egypt during WWI. Ginger is a young nurse attached to the British nurses corps. She is stationed at a forward hospital close to the front lines. The work is hard and the hours long but Ginger is strong, dedicated and loves her job. The storyline begins with her discovery of a severely wounded Turkish soldier. Policy dictates she report him immediately. The man begs her not to do so because he is in fact a spy for British intelligence and in possession of crucial information that if not gotten to the right person can devastate the British efforts and lead to many deaths. Furthermore his life is in danger from a traitor in British Intelligence and she must only trust the one person he wishes her to contact. Ginger puts everything on the line to help him. Ginger sends a telegram as instructed but two men show up. Steven a lifelong family friend who Ginger has turned down a marriage proposal from and a Major Noah Benson who treats Ginger with suspicions of his own. Who should she trust the information to and can the plot he alludes to be stopped?
For me accurate historical details supply plausibility to a story. Ms.McCormack has obviously done her research well. She uses the details to add depth to the settings within the book. They are not just window dressing they become integral parts of the storyline. I learned a lot about this area during. WWI that I had never known. When I can learn as I read for pleasure it’s an added bonus for me.
Windswept is not only enjoyable to read it is very well written. Characters,even secondary ones, are fully described lending an authenticity to the work. They act as one would expect for their times. Ginger, Though strong and opinionated will on occasion demure to the wishes of the men around her. She is a woman of 1917, not 2021. Dialogue is witty and believable keeping the prose entertaining. Pacing is even keeping the storyline moving forward. The plot has many twists and turns and some will come as complete surprises.
In addition to being historical fiction this book is also a great romance. Often the romance will take over a novel with everything else coming secondary. I could really enjoy this romance because it doesn’t do this. There is a perfect balance here. You will fall for the hero with this book. One caution for those who do not like love scenes that DON’T fade to black. There are several here. Personally I felt they were beautifully written and appropriate to the storyline, but you may find them too explicit.
The fact that this is a first novel is just unbelievable! This is the first book in what is described as a saga. I hope the author writes fast.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and net galley. This fact in no way influenced my review.

Why is 5 stars the limit? This novel deserves 10x10x10 times more than that. Huge shout out to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to review the audiobook. The narrator did a phenomenal job. I admit, I am a big fan of historical fiction, but have never listened to or read one based on the British presence in Palestine and Egypt during WWI. If you are interested in historical fiction, you must take time to enjoy this novel!

This is fantastic….

This is simply fantastic I love this I want to read the entire series I want to buy the entire series for family members just get it it’s it’s really good salad for stars

Windswept is an amazing feat: a breathtaking novel of suspense, oft-forgotten history, and a deep and moving love story. A British nurse working on the edge of the desert in the graveyard of the Ottoman Empire in the last months of World War I, finds a badly wounded man dressed in an (enemy) Turkish uniform but speaking near-perfect English. Should she trust her patriotic training or her instincts? Once her decision is made, the action and danger never stop. Betrayals and twists break out on every page, and the reader’s attention and sympathy for Ginger Whitman never falter. This is author Annabelle McCormack’s first published novel, but it reads like the work of a well-seasoned writer. Windswept is subtitled “The Windswept Saga Book One,” but it is complete onto itself with a most satisfying ending.

The audio was perfectly executed by Elizabeth Grace at a perfect pace.

4.25⭐️
🎧Audiobook version. The narrator is good, the voice for Ginger is excellent giving a real feel of the era, and does a decent voice for Noah, and the American Jack.

An historical romance saga set in WW1, a real change for me to read historical and romance! But it’s a really good combination.

Ginger Whitman leaves a life of wealth and privilege in England to train as a nurse on the battlefields of Palestine.
An injured and dying soldier entrusts Ginger with a coded message unmasking a plot against the British. Ginger’s life is turned upside down when she takes on the mission of delivering it.

Ginger and Noah the 2 main characters are very likeable, I was very invested in their lives.

The time period is interesting, and informative. There are lots of twists and turns to keep interest levels up. The pace is a little on the slow side for me, it’s a very long audiobook. The narrator managed to keep my interest well throughout.

Fav quote
‘ if you can’t tie a knot tie a lot’

It’s a great read. Emotional too.

This is a brilliant action packed historical fiction book, that is loosely based on true stories. This thrilling book follows a British nurse in Egypt during WWI. Who is unable to stop herself from saving the life of a man who is carrying an important message about a plot to take down the British and bringing to light the people who are corrupt within the British government trying to stop him. This face paced moving story line is truly fantastic. The author is a genius for bringing such little details to the story that brings a brilliant atmosphere and suspense. The characters was wonderful and are wrote so that we are always guessing who we can trust. The love story element of the book had me intrigued. I just couldn't put the book down. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat. I loved the constant air of mystery in the story and you really connect with the main character as you wonder just she can do to help and to whom she can trust.

So many brilliant elements of this book were brought together with such skill, I didn't want the book to end.

I listened to the audio version of this book which did need to be speed up a little bit and the narrator was brilliant at adding a suspense to the story.

So much praise goes out to the author and independent publishers for creating such a magnificent book. I will be reading this authors further books and I can't wait. This book is part one in the tale.

Already posted on bookreads,waterstones, kobo, Google books, Barnes&noble and amazon
Also posted to my blog just now
https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/windswept-by-annabelle-mccormack-ibpa-5-stars

Windswept is a historical fiction romance novel based in WW1. Our strong female lead, Ginger, is a British nurse working in a casualty clearing station in Egypt. As the daughter of an Earl, she has had a privileged upbringing but is not afraid of hard work & proves herself to be a gifted nurse. When she stumbles across a wounded enemy soldier hiding close to their camp, she finds herself entrusted with a coded message and the knowledge that there are traitors within British Intelligence.
As Ginger becomes tangled in secrets and lies, she must figure out who she can trust and faces an ongoing battle between her head & her heart. As the story progresses we have adventure, spies, traitors, secret plots, loyal friends, betrayals and family members that can’t be counted on – all tangled together in a well paced read that grips you early. The book is quite long, and many authors would have been tempted to close the story much earlier, but I appreciate that the story didn’t go quite where you expected.
The book has been well researched, and the authors note at the end details some of the real people & events that the fictional characters were loosely based on.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and it kept me wanting to read more & more … so what stops it being a 5* read?
Ginger is a strong, likeable, intelligent woman and whilst I did like her character, she annoyed me at times. I would have liked to see her being a little more independent and not quite so simpering to the handsome Noah Benson who I felt lacked depth. Fellow-nurse Beatrice & Dr James could have done with more page-time, as they were lovely. Ginger’s sister Lucy was very annoying and self-centred though I did warm to Ginger’s mother. I appreciate that this is set in WW1 & women were seen as “property” and under the control of men, but this aspect comes across too strongly for me. The book could have been equally as good, if not better without the overly long sex scenes – it was feeling more like a Mills & Boon romance than historical fiction at times.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent and fitted the character of Ginger well, she was also able to distinguish between the other characters well by her voice/tone. However there were a few times when an American word or phrase slipped in – we had pants but later in the book they were consistently called trousers - and the pronunciation of tourniquet *really* grated!


#Windswept #NetGalley

Windswept is a brilliant historical fiction romance novel based in WW1. Ginger is a British nurse helping in the war effort in Egypt discovers a wounded enemy soldier hiding in their camp. She discovers he is carrying intelligence about a secret plot against the British by traitors within British Intelligence.

She ends up tied up between lots of lies between her friends and family and a new potential love. Who she should trust and who she wants to trust brings about lots of problems for Ginger.

I would have given 5 stars but at times Ginger was made out to be a little bit too gullible, a little too reliable on men and a little annoying, but given it is based during WW1 it probably was right for the times!

Great narrator and great read.

Wow! I can honestly see Windswept, by Annabelle McCormick, being made into a historical period film or mini series. It would likely do really well in the U.S.. as well as in Britain. At 41 chapters it was a lot longer than I expected it to be but since I'm interested in history and am always looking to learn more about the history of the Middle East, that was fine.. If you like lots of romance and romantic intrigue, I think that you will really enjoy this book! There was a bit too much for me, though. At times it just felt repetitive and trite. The meat of the story was good and it kept my interest.
Ginger Whitman is a British nurse in WWI Egypt.
She's left her life of wealth and privilege to become a battlefield nurse. One evening she stumbles across a wounded soldier who's hiding in the frontline camp. He tells her that he's carrying intelligence about a secret plot against the British by traitors within British intelligence. The soldier believes that he's dying, so he entrusts Ginger with a coded message.
Suddenly she finds herself in an unfamiliar world of intrigue and murder. She' already doesn't know who to trust when an unknown British intelligence officer arrives. And now there's a
shadowy enemy hunting her, She must figure out who she can trust. As she grapples with her indecision, she makes a horrifying discovery that threatens to everything that she believed.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a copy of the audiobook.

I have got into historical fiction recently and this has just pushed me to read more and more. It is such a good story and full of suspense and drama.

The narrator is incredible and brought the story to life, distinguishing between characters and situations.

If you love stories with strong female leads, intrigue, suspense and romance - this book is for you!

I do enjoy reading historical fiction and have read a few WWI books, this one was so interesting, and takes place in Africa. This was an audio book, which I used while driving several hours away, and the hours flew, such a great book!
I loved all the research put into this fictional read, we are given a young woman who was gifted with a privileged life, but in the end was not afraid to get her hands dirty, and seems to fall in love with an unobtainable young man. Piqued my interest, and soon I was involved in this story, that has a bit of everything. There are spies, traitors, secret plots, and even family members that can’t be counted on. The year is 1917, the setting is Egypt, and British nurse Ginger Whitman has to decide whom she can trust!
I will be looking for more from this author, thank you!
I received this book through Net Galley and Independent Book Publishers Association, and was not required to give a positive review.

My love for historical fiction is what made me request an ARC of Windswept, I enjoy most time periods but have been reading lots of WWII. This book does not let the reader down. This is the first book I have read by Annabelle McCormack, and it certainly will not be my last. Her writing style is instinctual, vivid, beguiling, engaging, and she truly knows how to hook the reader from the very first page. The novel provides a strong female lead, romance, adventure, and intrigue. The heroine, Ginger, is extremely likeable. She's not perfect by any means, thank God. She feels so real, you could believe she's a real person. She's a strong female lead with her strengths and flaws, she can be right as well as she can be wrong, and I really loved her. I was so invested in her story and couldn't wait to see what happened next. When Ginger sees a wounded man named Ahmed hiding in a tent, she immediately follows her instinct to help him. She soon is told top-secret information by him that must be carried to the correct person. Ginger believes him and takes it upon herself to find the man she must tell it to. When Ginger later returns to the place where she first saw Ahmed, she is soon confronted by Major Noah Benson, and he begins to ask questions. Never could she have imagined what this will lead to, and how it will change her life in more ways than one.
Absolutely brimming with adventure, secrets, romance, mystery and intrigue, McCormack’s debut will force you to examine family ties and what happens when they fray as well as force you to consider where your loyalties would lie during wartime.

Thank goodness there’s a sequel in the works! Publishes September 21, 2021.

I was gifted this superb advance copy by Annabelle McCormack, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I do love the odd historical fiction book and this one is better than many I have read. The element of intrigue and espionage, with an intricate plot made this book a joy to read. The story is full of great descriptions, details, and action during the WW1 period in the Middle East, giving the book an exotic feel. For the most part it reads like an action movie and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it on the big screen. The ending does leave a few threads open for a sequel which I hope to enjoy as much as I have this book.

My thanks go to NetGallery and the publisher for allowing me a copy of the book, which I enjoyed immensely.

Windswept by Annabelle McCormack was a fast paced and riveting historical fiction saga with a strong female protagonist. The audiobook was brilliantly narrated by Elizabeth Grace. It explored the British presence in Palestine and Egypt during the British Gaza Campaign of World War I. Author Annabelle McCormack’s research for this book was impeccable and pretty accurate. I didn’t know a lot about this aspect of World War I but I gained a lot of knowledge about it after listening to the audiobook of Windswept. The characters were well developed and complex and it had an enthralling plot. I was hooked right from the start and did not want this audiobook to end.

Ginger Whitman (Lady Virginia Whitman) grew up in London in a respected and affluent family. She abandoned her sheltered life in exchange for the life as a battlefield nurse. She was caring and intellectual and possessed a compassion for those soldiers she cared for. Ginger had the conviction of always doing what she deemed as the right thing to do in a situation despite the consequences. In May of 1917, Ginger found herself in a hospital camp in Palestine. She found it hard to comply with all the rules nurses were forced to follow. On the way to a disciplinary hearing for a rule she ignored, Ginger discovered a young wounded soldier in a Turkish uniform hiding in her camp. She knew she should ignore him but she couldn’t. Regardless of his uniform, he was a man that needed medical assistance. Ginger did not hesitate to examine the soldier’s wounds. She soon discovered that the soldier was badly injured and was probably dying. Much to Ginger’s surprise, she discovered that the soldier spoke with a perfect British accent. Who was this soldier? Ginger learned that the soldier’s name was Ahmed. The soldier informed Ginger that he had intelligence that revealed a secret plot against the British. His information also revealed that there were traitors that were working in British intelligence. The soldier feared that the traitors were searching for him. He confided in Ginger that he had to get a coded message to his contact. Ahmed entrusted Ginger with the coded message that he had carefully placed within a glass container. Ginger trusted her instincts and pledged to help Ahmed. Somehow she would get the coded message to Ahmed’s contact but how was Ginger to know who she could trust with this crucial information? There was handsome and alluring Major Noah Benson who had just arrived at the camp hospital, Steven, the man her father had wanted her to marry and she had known for years that had also recently arrived at the hospital camp, her father and her brother. As Ginger pledged to put the coded message in the right hands she unknowingly entered a world of intrigue, danger and murder. Would Ginger be able to figure out who she could trust with this sensitive information before it fell into the wrong hands?

I loved Ginger’s character. She was strong, brave, intelligent, curious and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in even if it meant opposing others. I loved the romance that developed between Ginger and Noah. Windswept was full of action, mystery, romance and twists. I was kept guessing throughout the novel. This was the first installment in this saga. I look forward to reading more about these characters and time period in future books..At the conclusion of the audiobook, Annabelle McCormack detailed some of the real people she based her fictionalized characters on, some of the real battles and occurrences that took place that she referenced in her book and even some of the organizations she used for her inspiration in writing this book. I really enjoyed listening to Windswept on audiobook and would recommend it very highly. Publication date is set for September 21, 2021.

Thank you to Annabelle McCormack, the publisher and author of Windswept, for allowing me to listen the audiobook of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved everything about this book. I loved the cover, the characters, the romance, and the pace. At halfway I couldn’t put it down. It had suspense and mystery. The heroine was strong and brave, never afraid to do the right thing but also vulnerable. The hero was everything I love in a man and I just loved how their relationship played out. I highly recommend this well written, very exciting historical fiction. It’s honestly one of the best things I’ve read. I just can’t say enough good things about it.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and Elizabeth Grace was the narrator and she a new favorite of mine. She did a marvelous job and added another layer to it.
Thanks IBPA via Netgalley.