Against the Wind

by Gwynne Forster

Book Overview

An African-American bank clerk is forced to flee her home after the man who attempted to rape her gets out of jail and seeks revenge. Original. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1885478909
• ISBN13: 9781885478900
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Genesis Press (MS)
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.8" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

Topic is worth reading about

Ms. Forster, was a unique writer. Against The Wind is a book worth reading but, the dialogue is at time not the best. When you begin to read the book for yourself you will understand what I have addressed. Some parts of the book you would be reading the character(s) were in one place in the chapter as you continue they are in another place without letting the reader know how did the story get there.Leslie and Jordan are interesting to read about in the story. Clifford, is a plus to the story. I did enjoy the book. If this book is not to your liking you may want to read the other books Ms. Forster, wrote examples: Last Chance at Love, Scarlet Woman and The Harringtons Series. I have read many of her books. I hope this information was of help.

Breathtaking love story

I truly enjoyed "Against the Wind." Leslie and Jordan were a terrific couple. Leslie was plagued with obstacles from her past that prohibited her from showing her true feelings to Jordan. However, through trust and Jordan's strongwill, their relationship would stand the test and battle the storm that was raging against the wind.Leslie, as an African American female, had to pit feelings against Jordan's devoted housekeeper, Julia, as well as Ossie, one of the workers, who had trouble accepting Leslie's and Jordan's relationship.Jordan was a compassionate, kind, considerate man, who was not only responsible for the operation of his ranch, but he also accepted responsibility for his workers and others. However, Jordan was a man who did not let society dictate what he should feel. He was determined to fight for what he felt was his right to have -- the love of a woman, no matter what color she was and to Jordan, that woman was Leslie Collins. Jordan set out to prove to Leslie that she was what mattered most in his life.

An exceptional piece of fiction

I read AGAINST THE WIND because of the conflicing reviews here, and because I suspected that at least two reflected negative attitudes about interracial relations. As a man, a sociologist who rarely reads romances, this book surprised me in a pleasant and highly gratifying way. Ms. Forster is an excellent story teller, and her characterizations in this story are nothing short of supberb. I'm wonder if the "reader from Ohio" actually read the book. It is not about race relations at all, and the author avoids that pitfall. As a man, I marveled at the character, Jordan Saber, and wondered how a woman could so aptly show how a man feels and reacts in situations such as are depicted in this book. It's a great read, and I will be reading more of Gwynne Forster's work. I highly recommend it to all who want an intelligent, fast paced and intertaining story.

What a fantastic story!

I have to say to date I have not read a Gwynne Forster book that I did not enjoy. This was a story that was colorless in a sense, I mean the story could have been about any man and woman no matter what color. But one of the important factors here is the aftermath of the tragedy that Leslie encountered. I have to assume, since it was not addressed in the story, that Leslie did not seek any counseling after this incident and trial. So for five long years she carried this fear of someone threatning to kill her. Well as it goes with out saying, lack of Leslie seeking professional help made an impact on her feelings about romance and any other decisions involving men period. Sure it may seem like at times Leslie was in her rare by being unreasonable and senseless but we must realize that her decisions were being affected by her past demons that she had not dealt with at all. So really Jordon, who was a very patient loving man played a significant role in Leslie's recovery. Just think in life how we help each other overcome major incidents in our lives. I think Gwynne Forster wants us to receive this book with the understanding how important it is to clean house of your demons, that love cannot be controlled no matter what color you are and there comes a time in life that you must trust someone. The author has done an extremely outstanding job of displaying such a tender, patient, loving story that just happens to be about an interracial couple but offers so much more than just the issue of race but shows us another illustration of love. I have to agree with Ms Forster, I was in the cheering section routing for Jordon to finally win the heart of Leslie.

It's about LOVE.

I really enjoyed this book. I am interested in romances that feature interracial relationships and, in the past, have been disappointed when they don't really focus on the romance itself. This book did not disappoint. It's a love story about 2 people who clearly belong together, but, have to overcome several obstacles before they can be together. The race issue is just one of them and not the overwhelming focus. Leslie is smart, talented, determined to meet her goals and afraid to give in to her attraction to Jordan. Jordan is strong, gorgeous, totally in love with Leslie and equally determined to overcome her fears and prove that they can make it together. All his actions display respect and consideration for Leslie -- It's a wonder she held out as long as she did! Throughout the story you discover new and interesting things about the 2 main characters and also important, the people around them. When I finished the book, I wanted to read it again - and did!

Against the Wind is one of the year's best romances!

I tend to shy away from interracial romances because the major emphasis in most novels is not on the romance. Interracial romances are often hampered by an overzealousness to tackle "the race question" head on. As a result, the main characters spend most of their time focusing upon the objections to their relationship than on the relationship itself. Against the Wind is the story of accountant Leslie Collins and Jordan Saber, a college professor and gentleman farmer, set in Talbot County, Maryland. As the story begins, Leslie has come to Saber Estates in search of a job. When a former employer attempted to rape her, Leslie filed charges against the man. He was convicted and sentenced to jail, but not before vowing to get revenge against Leslie. He has served his time and recently has been released from prison. The threats have begun anew. Afraid for her safety, she has left town and has found temporary shelter in a women's residence near Saber Estates. When Leslie asks for clerical work, Jordan tells her he has recently fired his bookkeeper for dishonesty and only needs seasonal workers to help with his lettuce crop. Noting her desperation to find work, he offers her a job as a cook. Leslie, who cooked for a family in exchange for room and board as an undergraduate, accepts his offer. We know from the outset that Jordan Saber is somehow distinct. But Leslie has had a bad experience with men in general and with male employers in particular. She does not necessarily balk at a relationship with Jordan because he is a white man, but because he is a man. Period. Leslie has been traumatized by the attempted assault and she is determined to fight any attraction she may have to Jordan Saber. She keeps her distance. And, although Jordan is attracted to Leslie, he respects her space. He also senses that she is afraid and hiding from something. Jordan secretly vows to protect her and to find out what is causing her so much anxiety. His pursuit of Leslie is intense, yet subtle. It is powerful, but at its core is always respectful. Because Leslie is Black and Jordan is white and she is his employee, Gwynne Forster was careful not to create master-slave story. Jordan is a man, a wonderful man that any woman would want. However, we are not blind to his shortcomings.Forster is painstakingly sensitive in her development of the romance, but she has been careful not to create the pretense of a utopian, color-blind existence for Jordan and Leslie within the happily ever after. To her credit, she is not heavy-handed with pronouncements on the subject of race. On Saber Estates opposition within Jordan's world will not be tolerated. Reality sets in once they leave the fortress he has created. A restaurant scene in which two men silently react to seeing Leslie and Jordan together speaks volumes without getting on a soapbox.In Against the Wind, Gwynne Forster has given us a mature, believeable, full-bodied romance.