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A review by aggiew3thrgirl
Wohin der Sturm uns trägt by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
3.0
This book was recommended to me by a friend, so I immediately reserved it at the library. Then I actually perused some reviews. I knew starting out that this books was controversial because of the rape that takes place several times, and the further mentions of it and fear the protagonist feels.
That being said, I was interested enough to start the book. It took me a couple tries to get into the story. Right of the bat, I felt for Heather and her plight. Then she must run from one bad situation into another into another. Because I'd read the back cover of the book, I knew that Brandon would end up the love interest, so it was difficult for me to reconcile what happened in the beginning of the story to everything that unfolds throughout the rest of the book. I never felt like he acknowledged how wrong he was, and even if he had, I'm not sure I would have liked him anyone.
It's with that in mind that I write a rather conflicted review. On the one hand, I was easily pulled into the story. I loved Heather's point of view. She seemed innocent, yet strong. She was demure, yet able to fight back when she got the gumption to. I found it quite easy to get engrossed in the Heather's life and all she had to endure. I also even started liking Brandon. I didn't want to, and I still feel somewhat disgusted with myself for liking him.
I can't ever condone rape, and the fact that it was used in a teasing manner toward the end of the book soured me into giving only 3 stars. The more I think about it, the more I feel it overshadowed the story in my mind. I'm not saying that a rape victim wouldn't then fall in love with her rapist. And, this is historical. I'm sure such situations were much more acceptable in the time setting of this story.
I feel like I shouldn't have liked this book, but I did. Would I recommend it? I'm not sure. I would have to preface my recommendation with this review. The story was well written, engaging, and full of excellent description. It was my first historical romance novel, and I will definitely read more. I even want to read the "exciting follow-up novel" to this one.
That being said, I was interested enough to start the book. It took me a couple tries to get into the story. Right of the bat, I felt for Heather and her plight. Then she must run from one bad situation into another into another. Because I'd read the back cover of the book, I knew that Brandon would end up the love interest, so it was difficult for me to reconcile what happened in the beginning of the story to everything that unfolds throughout the rest of the book. I never felt like he acknowledged how wrong he was, and even if he had, I'm not sure I would have liked him anyone.
It's with that in mind that I write a rather conflicted review. On the one hand, I was easily pulled into the story. I loved Heather's point of view. She seemed innocent, yet strong. She was demure, yet able to fight back when she got the gumption to. I found it quite easy to get engrossed in the Heather's life and all she had to endure. I also even started liking Brandon. I didn't want to, and I still feel somewhat disgusted with myself for liking him.
I can't ever condone rape, and the fact that it was used in a teasing manner toward the end of the book soured me into giving only 3 stars. The more I think about it, the more I feel it overshadowed the story in my mind. I'm not saying that a rape victim wouldn't then fall in love with her rapist. And, this is historical. I'm sure such situations were much more acceptable in the time setting of this story.
I feel like I shouldn't have liked this book, but I did. Would I recommend it? I'm not sure. I would have to preface my recommendation with this review. The story was well written, engaging, and full of excellent description. It was my first historical romance novel, and I will definitely read more. I even want to read the "exciting follow-up novel" to this one.