Rating: 
Summary: Excellent reading!
Review: I'm giving this book a 5, though I don't have a lot of "romance novel" experience to compare with. I bought my 1st romance novel on the recommendation of a friend. I had a preconceived notion of what they were like. Since then I've read 3 and I love them! What I like about this author is the romance, the courting, and the way she describes the seduction. It's not real smutty (like I expected)! I think I'm hooked on them now. I hope this might convince any other 'beginners' to give this author a try. I'm hesitant to add, but it's improved my own sex life - since romance is on my mind so often lately ;-)
Rating: 
Summary: A great story, but a little slow.
Review: Well, that's basically how I felt after finishing _Petals on the River_. The story was great, I loved the characters, and the setting was a nice change from England or Scotland. Although it was a well written book, towards the end, I was starting to get a little bored. But, this taste of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is enough to have me looking for more. I started reading her books with _The Flame and the Flower_, and I will definitely be snatching up her books in the future.Shemaine O'Hearn had the perfect life. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she came from a loving family, she was beautiful, and she was betrothed to the heartthrob of England. This all changed when the whim of an overjealous grandmother had her captured by a theive taker and carried to America on a convict boat. Shemaine knows that her life will never be the same, and all she can hope for is that a kind soul will take some pitty on her and that she will be sold into indentured servatude to a nice family or person. In the town of Newport Newes lives Gage Thorton, a man haunted by his past. A year ago, his wife died, leaving him with a son to take care of. And, even though Gage loved his wife dearly, there is supiscion in the town that he killed his lovely wife. So, when the convict ship, the London Pride, docks in the town's port, he is desperate for a nursemaid for his son, and maybe some company. As soon as he sees Shemaine, he knows that he must have her, no matter the cost. She can educate his son and provide him with some company. Shemaine is at first wary of her knew job, but soon settles into it nicely. Andrew, Gage's two year old son, is a complete doll, and Gage is the kindest, most handsome man she has ever met. The two get along famously, and a love blossoms between them. But, awful gossip and lies threaten to rip the two apart. Can they survive? Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is really a great author. Some people complain about her purple prose, but I think it makes her books fun to read, and it is easier to imagine the historical setting that way. Her use of adjectives really brought the book to life, and you have no trouble picturing the drama in you head. Gage and Shemaine were the type of heros and heroines that I love reading about. Yes, they were perfect, so what? The whole point of romance novels is to get lost in them and to wish that someday you could be like that too. It is nice to read about people who don't have to lather on makeup to look decent. Shemaine was the woman we would all like to be. She's kind, loving, and she has a spine. When she sees something that is not right, nothing can stop her from fixing it. Gage is the man we all want. He's handsome, understanding, and doesn't let his pride get in the way of telling the woman he loves how he feels. So, all in all, _Petals on the River_ is a book that you should take the time to read. Although it does get slow at times, you will be happy you read it after you finish it. I know I am.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing!
Review: It was hard to believe that this was a Woodiwiss book. I made it only half way through and gave up. I had just re-read "Shanna", her very best book ever, and was expecting more from this author. Actually, the reason I did buy this book was because of one of the reviewers mentioning she re-introduced Ruark Beauchamp. The characters (not the Beauchamps) are uninteresting wimps, totalling boring! Save your money. I did not like this book at all. Not what you would expect from Kathleen Woodiwiss.
Rating:
Summary: A Keeper
Review: What can I say other than I loved this book? It was well written and enjoyable. I just loved the hero (Gage) because...well I can't even put my finger on it. He was jsut so caring to those who he was friends with (and even some people he wasn't so fond of). Shemaine was also a wonderful character but I felt as if the entire world wanted her dead or something. I can't even count the number of people in the novel who wanted to eliminate our young heroine. I also just fell in love with Andy, Gage's son. He was sooo adoreable. All I can say is that this book is worth reading so get your hands on it quick!
Rating: 
Summary: Good story; just incomplete for K.E.W.
Review: I have read and re-read every one of K. Woodiwiss's novels. My favorites are Ashes in the Wind and A Rose in Winter. Petals on the River could have been almost as good as the rest of the books if the story had started with Shemaine and Maurice's engagement, then her abduction, imprisonment, then deportation to the American Colonies where she meets her true love, Gage. K.E.W.'s old writing style was a more complete long story about the hero and heroine's trials and tribulations, and that was definitely lacking here. Also, Shemaine's lack of an immediate apology to Maurice was rather cruel. He is treated almost as a villian instead of the man who was her former betrothed. K.E.W. needs to read her older books and return to that style of writing!
Rating:
Summary: Petals on the River
Review: I loved this book! The story was a sweet one, that didn't have so many emotional ups and downs that it makes it hard to believe. There was a lot of action and the combination of Shemaine, Gage, his son, a woman who's been after Gage for herself, Shemaine's fiance, her parents, Gage's father, and all the rest make it a very fun and light book to read.
Rating:
Summary: o.k. but not great
Review: Petals on the River was not a bad book but it was certainly not the best written by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. The two main characters tend to gush over each other WAY too much and that gets really boring really fast but it had a semi-decent story to it. I would recommend reading the Flame and the Flower, A Rose in Winter and the Wolf and the Dove first. The stories are better and the characters aren't as annoying. Read this one after those only if you have nothing better to do.
Rating:
Summary: I like all books
Review: my name is Martina j'm Italian and I speak in english very little.I read in Italian language all books by Kathleen E Woodiwiss and I Think she is the best in the word,But in Italy is very impossible tofind her books (new writes or not) Ex:Forever in your embrace or Married at midnight etc...Why all books are not translation in Italian language ?How canI to read again "my books"? can you help me? Thanks a lot
Rating:
Summary: Be careful what you wish for
Review: A charming story about a widower who needs a nanny and a falsely accused convict fresh off the criminal boat who needs a purpose in life. The two come together as society requires, and the story line follows the development of their mutual love and respect, despite outside influences.
Rating:
Summary: Widowed Farm Boy meets Woman
Review: This book is where I first noticed the decline in quality of writing good love stories by Ms. Woodiwiss. Purchase and read "A Rose In Winter" by Mrs. Woodiwiss to understand what I mean. "A Rose In Winter" had plausible characters(meaning for a story with historical setting it was believable-believable behavior and speech of the characters, AND it was just a great love story). "Petals in the Whatever" is not intrigueing. Reading about a widowed farm boy-WITH A KID- who purchases a SUPERMODEL as a bride who learns to be content to make the farm boy biscuits and gravy is a tough story to swallow, and it's boring.
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