Rating: 
Summary: Kathleen has lost what lured me to historical romances...
Review: Kathleen Woodiwiss wrote the first historical romance I ever read. I read "Shanna" when I was 15, and it was the standard by which I judged further novels I read. 18 years later I can still remember the names of all of the 'bit players' in that book, because Ms. Woodiwiss used to spend time developing her minor characters. I have found her work since "Come Love A Stranger" to be shallow and unworthy of the steep price commanded by a new Woodiwiss novel. I have heard that six or eight years ago Ms. Woodiwiss became a born-again Christian and turned away from sensuality in her novels. All deference to her religious conviction aside, it seems that she has also turned from character development, ingenuity, and plausibility. I still have my dog-eared copies of "The Flame and the Flower", "The Wolf and the Dove", "Shanna", "A Rose in Winter", and "Ashes in the Wind", but I'll not be reading any more new Woodiwiss novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Does not meet the standards of other Woodiwiss classics.
Review: Like many other readers, I adore Wolf and the Dove and Shanna, having read both many times. I liked Flame and the Flower and her others, just less so. I was joyful to find out another Woodiwiss was on the way! My first impression was the high cost (probably double) of the new book. Wow -expensive. But I thought "What the heck. If it's like the others it'll be worth it." When I got it home, I noticed the large print. Then, I started reading. What a disappointment! Where was the rich depth and detail of The Wolf and the Dove? Where was the sensuality of Shanna or the originality of the Flame and the Flower? Where was rich characteri- zations of Alanna and Cole from Ashes in the Wind? For other writers, it might be a passable story, but from Kathleen Woodwiss - no way!!! It appeared to be fairly a first draft of her efforts. And for that price, it may be a ripoff of all fans who are expecting so much more. I was recently looking at audio costs and noticed the cost of two audios of Petals on the River over $89. and over a hundred dollars. Is this fair? Ms. Woodiwiss, you have thousand of fans, maybe even millions of fans. Do you feel any responsibility toward them? You cannot turn out a classic like Wolf and the Dove and then turn out Petals on the River (or the Elusive Flame) and expect no critical rebuke. We know that you are capable of much more and we show our support by our willing- ness to pay double the price of other writers. I have heard that you are going through a trying time in the last few years, but please do not accept these lower the standards reflected in your recent novels. Review your earlier works and return us to the absolute best historical romance ever written. Discuss the costs of the audios and books with the publishers. Do you believe they are fair? Take control of your career over the needs and wants of greedy publishers. I know you can do it and I await your next great efforts.
Rating: 
Summary: A spell-bounding tale of true love and loyalty to ones heart
Review: As usual, Kathleen has written another wonderful novel. I was again, swept away with the details of the adventure. The characters were ones that are only found in the novels of Kathleen. A real great book to read again, and again.... I compare this one to A Rose in Winter. I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the other books that just Kathleen has written. She is a wonderful author and deserves her own credit. Thanks. Kitty
Rating:
Summary: Costs too much! No Rating
Review: I am so sad that I can't get this book. In Canada it is $19.00! As a pensioner I just can't afford to buy it. I do love her writing though and I will try and get it from the library. I still wish that she would bring out another book on Alaina and Cole (Ashes in the Wind) which is my favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, interesting characters, a can't put down book!
Review: For quite a while, I had been looking for other books to read after I would finish Danielle Steel's books. Nothing interested me after going through many authors. By chance, I came across a book review about this book and her first. I read the both of them and loved the characters of Heather and Brandon and Cerynise and Beau. For once, I didn't want a book to end and only wish there were sequels! So, I did the best thing -- I now own all her books! I am currently reading Shanna, but still love these four characters. She is such an interesting writer that you cannot put down her books and at the same time, you don't want them to end. I just loved everything about the book, but in all honesty, I think these men are absolutely gorgeous and makes my heart flutter!
Rating: 
Summary: something missing
Review: I enjoyed "Flame and the Flower" much better. Her characters in that book had poetic thoughts and a humor that made them charming and powerful. I also felt not enough was cover in the sequel to Brandon's brother. Too short. Granted these are different characters I felt humor was missing. Beau should of at least had some humor considering who his Mother is. His Uncle wasn't short on the humor either. Hopefully if another sequel is due these missing elements will be remembered. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: Lacking any substance
Review: I am an avid Tom Clancy-type bookreader; romances are too superficial a genre for me. Usually. "The Flame and the Flower" was the first romance I ever read, and a fell completely in love with everything about it. Even the minor characters were sweetly entertaining (who wasn't totally charmed by Jeff Birmingham?!), not to mention Heather and Brandon's superb characters. Fabulous, smart, witty... I couldn't wait to read "The Elusive Flame," and literally ran to the bookstore to get my copy. It was my second and last romance book I have read. Cerynise started off interesting enough, but I soon found it hard to like her. Not a thing like Heather. Beau had his some of Brandon's charm...but I disliked, amongst other things, how his eye color "changed" and how lacking in depth he turned out to be. No minor character development took place(Moon was okay) which was very disappointing (remember Aunt Fanny, Henry Whitesmith, George, Louisa, Hatti, Mrs. Clark, Sybil...?). The villans were much too cartoon-like and silly. Heather, Brandon, Jeff and Hatti had been reduced to the same shallowness that the rest of the characters exhibited. So disappointing. No scenery descriptions, no Charleston social event and customs described, etc. Lacking any substance of the first book. It was worth it to find out that Heather and Brandon were still in love and that they also had two daughters. Otherwise, it was a total disappointment. If the author intends to write about Brenna or Tamara, I hope she re-reads "The Flame and the Flower" and remembers how beautiful a story she is able to create and how she totally missed the mark with this book.
Rating:
Summary: Still floundering
Review: It seems Kathleen Woodiwiss has forgotten what made her books successful in the first place: romance. _The Elusive Flame_ follows in _Petals on the River_'s footsteps by emphasizing plot, not the relationship between the hero and heroine. Really, who picks up a romance to read about the contrived schemes of boring villains? Yet this is what Woodiwiss' delivers in _The Elusive Flame_. More than half the book is about the hoodlums who follow Cerynise to America for greed and revenge. Worse than that, the romantic tension between Beau and Cerynise ends even before this. I lost interest after the couple realized they loved one another and there were no obstacles to hinder their relationship. Woodiwiss should remember that romances are not about the "happily ever after," but what leads up to it.
Rating:
Summary: Flame and the Flower Redux
Review: Unimaginative retelling of The Flame and the Flower holds no surprises. This is very much a reprise! Further, the plot is silly, hard to believe and the characters one-dimensional. (How bad, bad, bad can villains be?) Woodiwiss's romance style is 20 years out of date; readers expect something more challenging and more mature. This is a throwback to an unlamented era. Her fans will probably eat it up, however!
Rating:
Summary: Long awaited sequel falls short
Review: "The Flame and the Flower" and "The Wolf and the Dove" were my first exposures to the world of romance and I eagerly sought Woodiwiss novels as a result. This book only satisfied my curiosity as to what happened to Heather and Brandon. Cerynise too easily falls into Beau's arms and he forgives her too quickly when he is told she is pregnant. A little too weird for someone who doesn't even clearly remember the act. I think I had the most trouble with those points. And I agree...what is the deal with Beau's eye color? Very definitely, I recall them to be green when he was a baby.
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