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J. G. Harlond
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A Turning Wind Kindle Edition

by J G Harlond (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
See all formats and editions
Book 2 in The Chosen Man Trilogy by award-winning historical crime writer J.G. Harlond
An ‘amazing story that simply blew me away’ – Readers’ Favorite 5* review
If you enjoy Wilbur Smith, you’ll love this tale.
Ludo da Portovenere, one time corsair, sometime merchant, secret agent of monarchs, servant of none.
From the trading colony of Goa to the royal courts of England and Spain, Ludo da Portovenere completes perilous secret commissions on his own terms and for his own reasons. But as these tasks bring him closer to personal success, Ludo is forced to confront secrets of his own.
While Ludo pursues a delicate mission for the English queen in the Spanish royal court, Alina, Baroness Metherall, faces new challenges, including what it means to be married to one person and love another.
Ultimately, Ludo and Alina must decide who they really are, and to what extent their shared past should influence their future.
“Harlond's brilliantly realized portrait of the sea-trade in 17th century is a gem...Ludo is a great character with wit, intelligence and daring. Exploiting his position as an envoy between Charles I and the Spanish court results in a seafaring novel of danger and double-dealing. Highly recommended.” Deborah Swift, author of A Divided Inheritance
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  1. Print length
    356 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 23, 2018
  5. File size
    6010 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A Discovered Diamond I had met Ludovicoda Portovenere (Ludo from now on) before in the first volume The Chosen Man of Ms Harlond's trilogy. This sequel follows on a little while after Ludo's mission to destroy the Dutch economy with tulips. For various reasons (recapped in this latest story), a lot of people want Ludo out of the way, and others want him to carry out their dirty work for them. Thus, Ludo is running messages between royalty in England and Spain, whilst evading and colluding with his enemies and still inventing new trade schemes to make himself rich. For Ludo, amongst other things, is 'an honest trader'; a merchant.
A case of mistaken identity leads Ludo into this adventure full of dangers and political intrigue taking him from Goa, to Spain, to England and many other places. And with him most of the time is his friend Marcos, the aspiring merchant, and Alina, the beautiful if self-promoting Spanish noble-born woman who is now a trusted lady's maid to Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I of England.
I like Ludo very much. No: I love him! As a fictional character he is vibrant and full of life throughout. For me, he appears to have walked straight out of a Franz Hals painting. Yes, he is an honest trader with an eye for the main chance, but there is more than a touch of the pirate about him. He has a wife now, yet he yearns for Alina - herself a wife and mother. But his one true love is the sea and his ship the Tulip - a positive result of his previous adventure and also a bone of contention between him and his enemies. In this volume we learn a lot more about the man - his past, his hopes and his dreams.
As with all series, it is always advantageous to start at the beginning to receive the best experience, though this episode is none-the-less a thoroughly good read as a stand alone book. The author has an impressive knowledge of not only the politics of the time but also of trade and trade goods. (...)
An excellent bookand very highly recommended.
Review by Richard Tearle

About the Author

Secret agents and skulduggery, crime and romance that cross continents
J.G. Harlond(Jane) writes page-turning historical crime fiction. Each story is set against a background of real events involving intrigue and downright wickedness, and shows how decisions made in high places can affect the lives of ordinary people.
For many years Jane worked in International Education, she then gave up a successful and enjoyable career to become a full-time author. After travelling widely, she is now settled in southern Spain.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CMGDSYD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penmore Press LLC (April 23, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 23, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6010 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

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J. G. Harlond

J. G. Harlond

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Secret agents, skulduggery, crime and romance . . .

Award-winning member of the British Historical Novel Society, J.G. Harlond (Jane) writes page-turning historical crime stories that weave fictional characters into real events. Jane's books have achieved recognition as Discovered Diamonds (x5), Readers' Favourite 5* (x4), Wishing Shelf Red Ribbon, Author Shout (x2) and Chill With a Book awards.

After travelling widely (she has visited or lived in most of the locations in her novels), Jane is now settled in southern Spain.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Réal Laplaine
5.0 out of 5 stars A swashbuckling adventure - wonderfully written.
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
A Turning Wind - Book II of The Chosen Man Trilogy by J.G. Harlond is a wonderful, adventurous, swashbuckling read. Set in the 1640 period of Europe, we continue the story of Ludo da Portovenere, an entrepreneurial merchant who not only travels to distant lands and back and trades his goods, but who uses his position, his special wares, his charisma, moreover, following his own agenda, strikes ties with the British and Spanish monarchies to pursue this agenda, all the while being hunted down by a man who wants to see him dead. This is a wonderfully written story, full of romance, adventure, danger, and intrigue. Ludo is a fascinating character, mysterious, yet principled, an outsider who is riding the edge between life and death in a time when the Spanish Inquisition is looking for any provocation to stake those who wander from the Vatican's mandates, and warring states, pirates, thieves and more. The author takes great care to paint virtual images of life in that period, and in doing so, she animates the story with another dimension of color and vitality. If you like thrilling adventure - this is a great series to sink your teeth into. Highly recommended.
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The 13th Sign
5.0 out of 5 stars Lethal snakes and glittering ladders, with a dash of romance
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2018
Ludo is even more attractive in the second book featuring this Genosese pirate, a cynical rogue with a well-protected heart. Alina is a worthy partner – or would be if they weren’t pitted against each other in a tangle of 17th Century politics. I love stories where fictional characters lead adventurous lives in authentic historical events and settings. This is just such a book.
I enjoyed discovering the Machiavellian European court goings-on (some things don’t change!) as much as the twists bringing the lovers together and parting them. This is not a period I know well so it was fun to look up some of the historical background and find that every jewel J G Harlond describes with such love, really did exist and can be seen in painting of the period. What a history those emeralds had and ‘A Turning Wind’ adds fictional detail to that with consummate skill. Whenever I see crown jewels now, I think of Ludo up to mischief with them.
The story was as exuberant as a cross between ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ and ‘The Three Musketeers’, with details that linger after last page is read. The game of snakes and ladders becomes an image of the grander scale game of lethal snakes and glittering ladders being played out in the courts of Spain and England. Highly recommended!
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Bookpreneur
5.0 out of 5 stars A real treat!
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2018
Being an avid follower of Ludo da Portovenere and having enjoyed The Chosen Man, I was very happy to find the return of this devious and profit hungry Genoese merchant. Harlond is an exceptional storyteller, excelling in historical detailing and gifted with that rare ability to successfully transport her readers back in time. I always think her books are as educational as they are fun. From dialogue to intricate examples of sea trade, you can’t help but soak up the sights and sounds of the 17th Century. If you've yet to read any of these books, all I have to say is: you're in for a treat!

Harlond's skillful blend of historical fact and fiction - along with European politics, romance and treachery - comprise a book well worth reading. I was so sorry it wasn’t longer. I would gladly live in Ludo’s world for a few more hours. A great escape!
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Kristin Gleeson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great historical adventure
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2018
I was looking forward to reading this book, because I so loved the one before. Ludo is back in all his great adventure filled spirit, caught up in a political tangle yet still able to cut a dash. Alina is back too, caught up in the English Civil War back in Cornwall, worried for her husband, yet still unable to resist the pull of Ludo. The detail is rich, the action is plentiful and the intrigue is deep, making for a really satisfying read. I loved it!
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Helen Hollick
5.0 out of 5 stars A Discovered Diamond
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2018
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
" ...a thoroughly good read .. The author has an impressive knowledge of not only the politics of the time but also of trade and trade goods."
Shortlisted for Book of the Month
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Top reviews from other countries

IH
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a five star novel!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
A rollicking good read! The detailed well-researched historical accuracy of the novel is enhanced by fictional but believable characters who give us a brilliant insight into the 17th century world. We travel across the world with Ludo, the loveable and memorable protagonist, who we met in the previous novel: The Chosen Man. The intricate plot takes us from Goa in India to Portugal and Spain and on to England, as we accompany the wily Ludo in his exploits.
This is a well written, engaging and satisfying novel with plenty of twists and turns as we navigate the turbulent waters of this fascinating era. The atmosphere created by the author, J.G Harlond, would easily allow the novel to translate into a block busting movie as each scene is as picturesque as it is exciting and fast moving. Definitely a five star novel!
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