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Award-winning author Susan Rounds has always been fascinated with history and other cultures through her travels and living in Europe during her childhood. Exploring fairytale castles filled her mind with all sorts of dreamy notions. Her adventurous lifestyle led to a career in aviation that was really about the romance of flying as much as visiting new places around the world.
Novelist Jane Austen has had the greatest influence on Susan’s writing. She was first introduced to Austen’s work when she visited her home, Chawton House, in England where historic mansions and gardens also made an impression on her. The first romance book she read was Pride and Prejudice, which she loved, but her inspiration came from Persuasion, and how deeply emotional Austen portrayed the characters and their second chance at love, the theme that's also at the heart of her novel.
Susan’s historical romance, The Winds of Autumn, reflects her passion for storytelling with its rich narrative and sweeping landscapes that draw on many of her life experiences. She’s found no greater joy than writing about the enduring power of love. She and her husband have two sons they’re very proud of and call northern California home.
Reviewed by Teresa Syms for Readers' Favorite
The Winds of Autumn by Susan Rounds is a heartwarming and captivating story beginning in St. Louis after the War of the Rebellion. Mariah Renwick was still consumed by the pain of her sister’s death but knew she must move forward somehow. Her wealthy business mogul father puts into play a set of circumstances that will take Mariah on the adventure of her life; if she survives. Her new husband, Nathan, seems like a proper gentleman, but out on the Oregon Trail, his true nature is exposed. He is brutal, mean-hearted, and cruel to Mariah, but his tormented past haunts him every minute. Julian Marquette, a railroad magnate, met Mariah two years prior while securing another bank loan for her father. Julian was captivated by Mariah but kept his feelings hidden. The Oregon Trail is one of hardship, crossing desolate lands filled with the tribes of the Sioux Nation, who are wary of the people traversing their lands and building the iron horse railway. With Mariah in danger of losing her life, her father asks Julian to find her. Will Julian have a chance to tell Mariah of his love for her? Many dreams are left out on the Oregon Trail.
Susan Rounds’ The Winds of Autumn tells the story of a triangle. On two sides is a budding, passionate love that can no longer be hidden, filled with desire and romance. The third side belongs to Mariah’s husband, Nathan, the vindictive, abusive, and violent military man she married without knowing his true nature. The author has an exceptional gift for character development. As each new character is introduced, the reader will gain a clear vision of the appearance, behavior, and attitude of the character. Rounds has made each personality shine in their own unique way and in a clear set of parameters. The story flowed so well from the first page and was so highly entertaining that I was unable to put the book down. I had a burning desire to know what was going to happen next. The descriptions of the setting were so convincing that I felt I was part of the group of settlers on the wagon train. This is a highly entertaining book that had me spellbound from the very beginning. The Winds of Autumn is a literary triumph, and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
