Rating: 
Summary: I love Kathleen but I mean!
Review: With bated breath I awaited the newest book by Kathleen Woodiwiss - the sequel to the Flame and the Flower. I read it and I must say that I was terribly disappointed. I enjoyed the Flame and the Flower and I couldn't understand how this book could dared be called a sequel.My problem was the plot or lack thereof. It was almost exactly like the Flame and the Flower albeit more corny. From the time she described the character with the snuffbox, which happened to be found at the scene of the crime, you knew who the villain was. After that you simply had to wade through the stupidity of the heroes to see this for themselves. Secondly, there was very little character development. Raelynn Birmingham was an immature, hapless and helpless heroine. She remained that way throughout the book - and pregnancy does not excuse this. Given the supposed tragedy that her family went through, I was expecting her to have a bit more strength of character. Thirdly, to make up for the lack of plot Ms. Woodiwiss added in more sex scenes. It's very rare to see sex in the first twenty pages of a Woodiwiss book, which shocked me. I'd expect that from Virginia Henley. Finally, what made it really intolerable was the use of fate/destiny/providence, whatever you want to call it. Using the motif of the dream gave a slight hint but the unravelling of it all was too sudden at the end, besides the fact that I never felt that the characters fell in love with each other. There was a lot of talk about Jeff Birmingham's good qualities from all quarters but sadly, not much about Raelynn. Overall I was not impressed.
Rating:
Summary: Too Perfect Couple Makes for No Magic Romance
Review: I own everyone of KEW's books in hardback and in paperback. Whenever I need a pick me up or an escape I drag out one to reread. This book was a total disappointment. I finished it but I can't say that I would reread it later. The characters spend too much time praising the looks of each other to have much of a story line. By the time you really get to the meat of the story three quarters of the book is gone with glowing discriptions of the characters physical attributes. Usually in Woodisiss's books there is a suspense as to when the sexual encounter will occur allowing you to really feel you know the characters personally. This book lacks her usual magic.
Rating: 
Summary: A Season Beyond a Kiss
Review: I enjoyed the reintroduction of the Birmingham clan. However, as a long-time Woodiwiss fan, and one who had this book on order for almost eight months, I was extremely disappointed. The book had a such a feeling of deja vu about it. I kept thinking where have I read this before. The book was entertaining, but I was not driven to read until it was finished nor was it worth the wait. This is the first time I haven't been driven to obsession to finish a Woodiwiss novel. Kathleen, get a a grip.
Rating: 
Summary: A Season Beyond A Kiss
Review: This was Fabulous! A Season Beyond a Kiss was an excellent extension of the Birmingham saga that Kathleen E. Woodiwiss has created. Jeff Birmingham is truly devoted to his wife Raelynn even though she suspects him of murder. Throughout the novel Raelynn struggels to determine if the nice, gentel, loving, compassionate Jeffery she knows and loves could be the brutal killer of a 16 year old mother of a newborn baby boy. She flees Oakley in a panic to get away from Jeff and all of his friends inorder to try and think everything through. However, she runs into problems in a swamp and needs someone to rescue her. Can she get of the swamp alive, does she return to Oakely with Jeffery and realize he is innocent, or is Jeff guily in Raelynn's eyes? This was truly capivating and I read it it in one sitting. The ONLY thing that I would change is to make it longer though that is what I say about all Kathleen W. Woodiwiss Novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Were my expectations too high?
Review: I was really looking forward to this book finally being published. In fact, I pre-ordered it (thank you Amazon) and kept checking to find that the publication was being delayed. Although I enjoyed the book, it did not meet my expectations. There wasn't enough depth to Jeff & Raelynn's story for me, and the characters weren't as developed as they usually are. The "mystery villian" really wasn't a mystery, the usual comic relief was lacking, and I expected more interaction with Brandon and Heather throughout the story (ala Flame and the Flower). I'm not sorry I bought it, since it completes my collection. And I don't think it was her worst - I give that distinction to Come Love A Stranger.
Rating: 
Summary: A Charming addition to the Birmingham's
Review: I had no trouble making it through this book in three days. It got my attention in the first ten pages and held it till the end. I enjoyed getting to know Jeff's character better and seeing Heather and Brandon again. It seems that Woodiwiss has come a long way with the Birmingham's. However, it is easy to see what the outcome of unexpected events will be.
Rating:
Summary: A Season Beyond all Comprehension
Review: I wanted to like it. I really did. I even went so far as to ignore the mostly bad reviews it was given here at Amazon. I just loved Jeff Birmingham in Flame and the Flower and fully expected a continuation of a great character in this book. But I couldn't even finish it. It doesn't even seem like a Woodiwiss novel. In fact, I actually felt embarrassed for Ms. Woodiwiss while reading A Season Beyond a Kiss. WHAT HAPPENED!
Rating:
Summary: Sorry Charlie!
Review: Kathleen has been one of my favorite authors but this book was a disappointment. I tried to keep my interest in it by finally reading the last chapter but that couldn't even keep me interested. What a bummer! I was so hyped up for this to be released. I've read (and liked) all of her other books but this one was not worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: A Season Beyond a Kiss
Review: I have been a fan of KEW for over 20 years. I've loved all her previous novels; The Flame and the Flower, Shanna, The Wolf and the Dove, Come Love A Stranger, Ashes in the Wind. But the last two were a great disappointment. I couldn't even get through her last effort. It was tedious and the characters were shallow. I hesitated writing this review because I am such a big fan of hers, it breaks my heart to see this obvious deterioration in her writing - it almost doesn't seem to be the same person who wrote The Flame and the Flower.
Rating:
Summary: A Season Beyond a Kiss
Review: I have enjoyed all of Ms. Woodiwiss' earlier novels--especially Shanna and Ashes in the Wind. The last two novels, however, have been shallow, wordy, and have had very weak story lines. I am saddened by the deterioration in K.W.'s style of writing. Sorry I bought this novel.
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