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Verdict: A sweet, funny older lesfic romance with a tearjerker premise: commitment-shy composer Casey agrees to her late ex’s dying request to help her grieving partner Liz — who is pregnant and caring for a three-year-old. Readers adore little Skye and the warmth; critics found it unrealistic, rushed and messily told.
Best for: Readers who want a heartwarming found-family romance and don’t mind instalove.
Heat level: 🌶️🌶️
Rating: ★★★★☆ (3.5/5 — a 4.09 Goodreads average across 956 ratings, 3.76 on StoryGraph from 60 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 309 Amazon ratings)
Tropes: Widowed pregnant mom, forced proximity, player reformed, found family, grief, U-Haul.
Winds of Heaven is Kate Sweeney’s 2009 contemporary lesbian romance from Intaglio Publications, the first book in her Winds of Heaven series. After the untimely death of a former lover, Casey Bennet receives a letter from Julie’s lawyer.
It holds a 4.09 average across 956 Goodreads ratings, with 76% of them four or five stars, 3.76 on StoryGraph from 60 reviews, and 4.6 stars across 309 Amazon ratings.
What Is Winds of Heaven About?
Julie begs Casey to help her partner, Liz Kennedy, and their precocious three-year-old, Skye, who are now alone — and Liz is four months from having another baby.
An avowed bachelorette, Casey grudgingly agrees, setting off a hilarious, tender ride that changes all their lives.
What Works in This Book
- Skye: Readers repeatedly say the toddler stole their hearts.
- Humour: Fans laughed out loud.
- Warmth: Readers call it sweet, heartwarming and romantic.
- Rereads: Some fans have read it more than once.
Book Synopsis
A dying woman’s last wish: take care of the family she’s leaving behind.
Her ex has no idea what she’s agreed to.
My Review
The premise is heartbreaking — Julie dies of cancer while Liz is pregnant — but the book leans into comfort and comedy, and Casey’s growth from player to family woman is charming. One reader who read it alongside another grief-centred romance notes how different its hopeful, light tone is, and another calls the toddler representation spot on.
Critics are blunt, though: the premise strains belief, the characters fall in love (and get angry or jealous) too quickly, and the POV bounces confusingly between characters. One found the sex scenes mechanical, and a couple didn’t finish it.
My honest note: Read it for Skye and the warm fuzzies.
| Element | In Winds of Heaven |
|---|---|
| Central relationship | Casey Bennet (composer, bachelorette) & Liz Kennedy (widowed, pregnant mom) |
| Core tropes | Forced proximity, found family, grief |
| Setting | Contemporary, domestic |
| Heat level | 🌶️🌶️ |
| Length | 240 pages (paperback) |
| Series | Winds of Heaven #1 |
| Content notes | Death of a partner (cancer), pregnancy, grief |
How Spicy Is Winds of Heaven?
Moderate — there are sex scenes, though one reader found them mechanical.
Readers mention the partner’s death from cancer and grief.
Who Should Read This Book?
You’ll likely love it if: you want a sweet, funny single-mom romance with a toddler. It is on our single mom lesbian romance list.
You may want to skip it if: instalove and head-hopping bother you.
In short: Sweet, silly, sentimental.
What Readers Are Actually Saying (September 2026)
On Goodreads the split is 42% five stars, 34% four, 17% three, 5% two and 2% one.
Why readers love it (according to the discourse): Skye first. Second, humour. Third, warmth. Fourth, Casey’s growth.
What readers argue about and complain about: Instalove, above everything. Second, the implausible premise. Third, POV shifts.
The comparison worth making first: Falling Hard, another player-meets-single-mom romance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a paranormal element?
No. The late Julie reaches Casey through a letter from her lawyer, not anything supernatural.
Is it a U-Haul romance?
Readers say yes — Liz moves in because she has nowhere to go, and several found the love story came together very fast.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. Winds of Heaven is book one; readers mention a follow-up continuing the story.
Who is Skye?
Liz’s three-year-old daughter, and by most accounts the scene-stealer of the book.
Is Winds of Heaven on Kindle Unlimited?
Not when we checked; the Kindle edition was listed at $9.99.
If You Loved Winds of Heaven, Read These Next
Continue the Winds of Heaven series, or try Lasting Impressions. Browse our single mom list or the full Book Reviews archive.
The Bottom Line
Winds of Heaven sets out to be a tender, funny story of love after loss, and Skye and the humour deliver. What holds it back is a rushed romance and uneven storytelling. For readers who want warmth over realism. Check Winds of Heaven on Amazon →
The Eikna Overall Ranking
On the Eikna scale, Winds of Heaven ranks as a fair single-mom pick — sweet, rushed.
The Evidence Scorecard
Overall ★★★★☆ 3.5/5
- ✓ 4.09 average across 956 Goodreads ratings
- ✓ 76% of Goodreads ratings are four or five stars
- ✓ 3.76 on StoryGraph from 60 reviews
- ✓ 4.6 stars across 309 Amazon ratings
Romance ★★★☆☆ 3.2/5
- ✓ Instalove
- ✓ U-Haul
- ✓ Sweet
- ✓ Rushed
Characters ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Charming Casey
- ✓ Liz
- ✓ Scene-stealing Skye
- ✓ Moody at times
Writing ★★★☆☆ 2.9/5
- ✓ Funny
- ✓ Head-hopping
- ✓ Unrealistic
- ✓ Easy read
Emotional Impact ★★★★☆ 3.7/5
- ✓ Grief
- ✓ Warm fuzzies
- ✓ Found family
- ✓ Tearjerker opening
Heat Level ★★☆☆☆ 2/5
- ✓ Some sex scenes
- ✓ Mechanical for one
- ✓ Moderate
- ✓ Adult
Ending ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ Happy
- ✓ Series continues
- ✓ Loose ends for one
- ✓ Warm
Re-read Value ★★★☆☆ 3.4/5
- ✓ $9.99 Kindle price
- ✓ 240 pages
- ✓ Reread by fans
- ✓ Not on Kindle Unlimited
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