Review of Ride the Winds of Whatever

Jane Ogwang · Post by **Jane Ogwang** » 03 Aug 2023, 07:54

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Michael John Cruit.]

5 out of 5 stars

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It is 1941, and Hitler has just had massive success in his race for dominance in Europe. But the thirst still needs to be quenched; he has a bigger goal of world dominance, which could start with an attack and capture of Russia. He is determined to do it and rallies his troops in preparation. Russia's Joseph Stalin, on the other hand, doesn't get the urgency of this imminent attack. He seems to be in the dark about how soon it may come. Donovan, the new head of intelligence in the U.S., therefore, decides to get this message to him in a low-key manner.

He picks Marc Fletcher, a global hobo, and Christina Orlov, a pianist with relations to Stalin, to deliver this message. This book, Ride the Winds of Whatever by Michael John Cruit, narrates in great detail the escapades and experiences of these two. Of course, because of the war and politics at the time, there was heightened surveillance throughout their routes. They have to camouflage, lie, fight, and survive in the bid to get the message delivered. Find out how they faired and whether they successfully delivered the message by picking and reading this incredible book.

This book was an absolute page-turner. Cruit excellently covered the atmosphere around the war and painted clear wartime pictures. The setting was excellent, and the descriptions were quite vivid. This element of the book got me wholly immersed in the book. The author also did excellently with character and plot developments. Both Christina and Marc had excellent backstories, which were narrated at the right pace. Christina's naivety complimented nicely with Marc's spy and adventure experience. Marc's calm aura and reluctance for confrontation also aligned with Christina's fighting skills.

I also loved that the author initiated and maintained the romantic tension between the two so well and consistently. While you could predict that something was bound to happen between Marc and Christina, it wasn't hurried. The author built enough tension and kept the readers' attention throughout the writing. The language used in the book is simple and easy to comprehend. This simplicity, combined with the perfect length, made for a great reading experience. I noticed no shortcomings in this book that I can report.

Consequently, I am so glad to award the book a perfect rating of five out of five stars. It is excellently written and professionally edited. I only noticed a few minor errors in it. If you are looking for a thrilling blend of historical fiction, spy work, and romance, this book is perfect for you. I, however, should warn about the strong language and sexual content that make it suitable for mature audiences only.

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Ride the Winds of Whatever
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Post by **Rebecca De Figueiredo** » 15 Jun 2025, 04:35

This should be a treat. There’s nothing better than novels set in the time of the Second World War, with love as its interest. Ooh.. and there’s espionage too. The reviewers high score is appropriate.

Post by **Sushan Ekanayake** » 15 Jun 2025, 05:17

Set in 1941, "Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Michael John Cruit follows a rogue pianist & a reluctant spy racing to warn Stalin of Hitler’s next move. War, espionage, romance, and survival collide in this gripping WWII thriller. Congratulations on being BOTD!

Amos Osinya · Post by **Amos Osinya** » 15 Jun 2025, 05:17

An exciting encounter featuring Hitler and Russia among others. Since I have downloaded this book, I will be glad to delve into it to rekindle myself of the historical events. An exciting adventure it should be.

Post by **Mr Benj** » 15 Jun 2025, 08:07

Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Michael John Cruit, a book that features 1941, Hitler, and the delivering of a secret message. It will be interesting to find out this urgent message n this story was passed out by the US agencies.

Chi Chiu Michael Mak · Post by **Chi Chiu Michael Mak** » 15 Jun 2025, 08:21

The espionage in Ride the Winds of Whatever feels really tense. I want to read more about Marc and Christina’s mission to deliver the urgent warning to Stalin. The two play off each other well. I hope they succeed.

Shan Mohammad · Post by **Shan Mohammad** » 15 Jun 2025, 08:32

Set in 1941 Europe, Ride the Winds of Whatever is a gripping mix of historical fiction, romance, and espionage. The story follows Marc Fletcher, a former professor-turned-spy, and Christina Orlov, a concert pianist with Soviet ties, as they pose as a Russian couple on a dangerous mission to deliver a crucial message to Stalin.

Michael John Cruit delivers a fast-paced, emotionally rich narrative filled with suspense, historical detail, and slow-burning romance. The chemistry between the leads is believable and engaging, and the tension remains high throughout.

Some mature content and minor typos are present, but they don’t take away from the impact of the story. A great read for fans of historical thrillers with a romantic heart.

Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis · 15 Jun 2025, 08:36

Great review! This sounds like a good book, and the author did a good job of telling the story of two people who had romantic intentions while doing their job.

tarafarah7 · Post by **tarafarah7** » 15 Jun 2025, 08:42

Set in 1941, today's BOTD follows Christina Orlov & Marc Fletcher as they navigate Nazi-occupied France to deliver a secret message to Stalin from US Intelligence. Filled w/action, adventure, danger, & romance, readers will find this to be quite the page turner! Thx & congrats!

Aurora Rose Reynolds · Post by **greeneyedgirl27** » 15 Jun 2025, 08:56

"Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Micheal John Cruit follows pianist Christina Nicolschi Orlov and secret agent Marc Fletcher in 1941. Their mission to get a secret message to Joseph Stalin, but along the way romance blossoms. This exciting, dangerous mission will be a great BOTD.

SophiaNd · Post by **SophiaNd** » 15 Jun 2025, 09:13

Michael John Cruit's "Ride the Winds of Whatever" plunges readers into a thrilling 1941 spy mission, as a hobo and a pianist race across war-torn Europe to secretly warn Stalin of Hitler's imminent attack, navigating intense surveillance and danger with ingenuity and grit.

Macel A · Post by **Macel A** » 15 Jun 2025, 09:41

Hitler dominance is one of the greats lessons learnt in history and id like to read the novel to figure out if Marc and Christina successful delivered the message and how their love faired on in such a dangerous mission.

Post by **Amarachi Stephanie Ejike** » 15 Jun 2025, 10:40

"Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Michael John Cruit was excellently written to portray the historical war of 1941 between Hiltler and Russia. The race to get the news of the impending war timely to Russia's Joseph Stalin drives the plot's suspense. History and espionage fiction buffs will appreciate this treat.

Post by **Sanju Lali** » 15 Jun 2025, 11:04

One can find a nice mix of romance and spy work in the historical fiction story book "Ride the Winds of Whatever" by Michael John Cruit. The story is set in second world war era when Hitler was planning to capture Russia.

eric juma · Post by **eric juma** » 15 Jun 2025, 11:55

Review of Ride the Winds of Whatever by Michael John Cruit

Ride the Winds of Whatever is a thrilling blend of historical fiction, espionage, and romance set against the dangerous backdrop of World War II. Michael John Cruit crafts a suspenseful narrative following Christina Nicolschi Orlov, a brilliant concert pianist with a secret Soviet connection, and Marc Fletcher, a quiet but deadly American professor-turned-agent. Together, they must transport a message that could shift the tides of war—all while pretending to be newlyweds behind enemy lines.

What I loved most about this book was its strong atmosphere and pacing. The tension between Marc and Christina is masterfully built, balancing subtle romantic development with the ever-present threat of betrayal or death. The historical settings—ranging from occupied France to Switzerland—are painted in vivid detail, immersing the reader in a world of risk, resilience, and covert operations.

The novel excels in its character development. Christina is intelligent, resourceful, and emotionally layered. Marc, though reserved, reveals great strength and vulnerability as their mission intensifies. Their bond evolves naturally, adding emotional depth to the high-stakes plot.

There are a few scenes that include profanity and mature sexual content, so this book is best suited for adult readers. A handful of minor editing issues were noticeable, but they did not detract significantly from the overall quality of the writing.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ride the Winds of Whatever will appeal to fans of wartime thrillers, slow-burn romance, and spy fiction with heart. It's a gripping journey full of danger, courage, and human connection that kept me turning pages until the end.