The Wayward Wind is a fast moving Western romance with a touch of violence and lots of sexuality. Peyton isn’t your typical spinster, being that she’s overweight and much older than I expected. She knows how to run a ranch yet has been ruled by an iron hand. I expected her to be meeker but she was smart and thoughtful, making her a memorable character. Although I enjoyed this quick and enjoyable short novel, a few situations left me pausing in confusion. The bond between Sloan and Peyton seemed too quickly built, even though Sloan was a mix between a criminal with brutal vengeance on his mind and a man who realizes that what is before him is what he so desperately wants in his life. A sex scene that closely resembles rape could be disturbing to some readers, although all the sex scenes were carnal and passionate. Sloan’s borderline cruel behavior made it hard for me to believe that Peyton would fall for him so easily. Nonetheless, I did feel they had an amiable bond. Snake was an amazing secondary character that warmed the plot, including her rough humor and her hard as nails persona. Peyton’s cruel father was believably raw and I could imagine such horrors happening in the old west. I did enjoy this story, although there were a few scenes that left me puzzled. Overall, I would recommend The Wayward Wind to readers who enjoy historical Western romances. Ms. Boyett-Compo remains one of my more favored authors.