Petals on the River (Bookcassette(r) Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Unfortunately, this one's a don't not a do!!!
Review: I must say that I have been reading Woodiwiss books for over twelve years. I started with "A Rose in Winter" and this is not even in it's league. I am and always will be an avid fan of her books. I always look forward to her newest novel, though this one nearly put me to sleep at several points. It took three tries just to sit down and read the book. I had trouble getting past the first couple of chapters. I was expecting much more from this work than what I received. It was a pleasant story, though altogether too drab. The characters were pretty dull, not alot of life to them at all. Shemaine was too meek for her own good and far too afraid of her own shadow. I give this book an overall score of two stars because instead of a book which I couldn't put down, I received a book which I was loath to pick up!

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER WINNER FOR WOODIWISS
Review: I STARTED READING KATHLEEN WOODIWISS IN 1980. MY SISTER AND I HAVEBEEN HOOKED EVER SINCE. THE STYLE OF WRITING, THE CHARACTERS, AND THE STORY LINES HOLD THE READER AND KEEPS ONE WANTING MORE. SHERMAINE IS A TRUE HEROINE; GAGE IS EVER THE DASHING LEADING MAN. I TRULY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER 20 YRS OF KATHLEEN. I JUST PICKED UP THE ELUSIVE FLAME AND CANNOT WAIT TO GET STARTED. CARRY ON KATHLEEN, YOUR #1 (HA) FAN

Rating:
Summary: "Are you sure Kathleen Woodiwiss wrote this book?"
Review: I found this book unusual for Kathleen. I have read all of her books at least twice...except this one. I could not even finish it. I know I am hard to please. I think "Ashes in the Wind" and " The Flame and the Flower" and "So Worthy My Love" are some of the best ever written!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: As others have mentioned, Woodiwiss' earlier books (Shanna, Ashes in the Wind, The Wolf and the Dove, The Flame & The Flower and A Rose in Winter) keep me hoping for the rich and sensuous sagas we know her to be capable of. I think the problem is that Woodiwiss is deviating from an earlier and very successful formula - boy meets girl, something keeps them apart and heightens the tension-filled attraction between them, and then they truly and fully fall in love. It may sound hackneyed, but it works for those five mentioned, incredibly wonderful novels (although The Flame and the Flower would be the lowest rated on that list). At the end of Petals On the River, too many "rich and powerful" people started crowding things a bit too much, until it was like a circus. The characters in Woodiwiss' early work are not just physically beautiful, they have a complexity of emotions and motivations; Shemaine & Gage could be engaging if Shemaine had a bit more fire and wasn't so "saintly." I preferred Shanna's bitchiness and Alaina's rough & tumble tomboy to such a smarmy miss. Gage, while no doubt physically perfect, could have been more masterly (Brandon Birmingham at his most wicked still oozed masterful appeal). All in all another disappointing work.

Rating:
Summary: Eagerly awaited and Emensely enjoyed!!!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this long awaited story from Ms. Woodiwiss. The plot flowed so easily from one chapter to the next, that I had a difficult time putting it down. I loved meeting the pre-Shanna Beauchamps!!!

Rating:
Summary: Would have been a good book except for one thing.
Review: The sex scenes. Honestly, has anyone ever experienced sex like this? Kathleen Woodwiss's graphic descriptions were nauseating, not because they were perverted, but because they were simply too unrealistic. In this book, the heroine is beautiful beyond belief, and our hero, Gage, is handsome beyond wildest imaginations. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, there's a threat to their love, they overcome it ho hum.......Sorry, but the author needs to GET REAL.

Rating:
Summary: Different from previous, but still good.
Review: I've read the many reviews that loudly proclaim disappointment with this book. But, I really enjoyed it. I admit that the Gage character was not nearly as dynamic as past Woodiwiss leading men, but it seemed to me that the author was showing that her heros can sometimes be just good, simple men. So, Gage to me was a hero (as we've come to know Woodiwiss heros) in the making, and we met him as he made his way up the ladder. I did not mind the baby talk, that is how babie's talk after all. Not Kathleen Woodiwiss's best book, but good nonetheless. I know I am a devoted fan.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I agree with most of the reviewers. This book was boring and not vintage Kathleen. I was glad I didn't buy the book and borrowed it from the library. The Flame & the Flower still remains as #1!!!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I have read all of Kathleen's books. This one just lacked any character depth. I kept waiting for some drama, but it never developed.

Rating:
Summary: very touching
Review: The love shared between the main characters is very touching.It doesn't start off very well but picks up later and turns out to be quite entertaining.