Rating: 
Summary: Can't Feel The Sensuality For The Burdensome Purple Prose
Review: The Flame and the Flower is sometimes held up as an example of the best of the romance genre. It is recommended to aspiring romance authors for its supposedly devastating levels of sensuality. To an extent, I would have to agree that Woodiwiss' work does successfully convey a certain, stomach-turning kind of sensuality. Unfortunately, that is about all good I can say about this brick of a book. We are presented with a pluckless heroine and a conceited hero, neither of whom seem to develop too much more than the barest personality throughout the book. I did not like the repeated objectification of the heroine, nor did I like the message that outer beauty could compensate for lack of personhood. Perhaps my greatest quarrel are the numerous grammatical errors which bullet the text. I was never so caught up in the romance to miss them. Lines such as, "'Ssh,' he shushed" and "Please,' she pleaded" are fairly typical of the insipid dialogue. Yes, the genre has come a long way since this book was published in 1972. Yet it is still available on bookshelves for purchase in 1996; is it speaking well for the genre?
Rating: 
Summary: A nauseating book
Review: A friend strongly recommended this book to me, and I unwisely read it. I was revolted. My friend insisted that after the initial few rapes, the hero really redeems himself and all is well... yeah, right. I could not bring myself to feel any warmth for a man who rapes a woman without remorse, and then - all while taunting and mocking her tears - tells her that she will have to be his mistress and will eventually come to beg for his attention (again, telling her this while silencing her protests with threats and mocking laughter, and forcing himself on her again and again!). Then, after she escapes and he finds out that she has become pregnant, he is galled at the thought of having to marry her and swears to her tear-filled face that he'll make her life miserable. Sure, much later in the book, he becomes more affectionate, but for me, nothing could wear off the impression of his initial assaults - and his cruel, cocky remorselessness - followed by the months of temperamental fits, snarling speech and debasing treatment. The fact that the heroine fell in love with this beast is something that can be attributable only to Stockholm Syndrome. She is stuck with him and tries to make the best of it, thanking the Lord that at least he's easy on the eyes. Ooh, how romantic; my knees are knocking. Regardless of what the cultural norms of the time were, Captain Birmingham's behavior is loathsome; one need look at his brother - a man raised in the same culture and era - to see who truly should have been the hero of the novel.This has been only the second romance novel I've read; the first was Saving Grace by Julie Garwood - the hero there also likes to raise his voice and act in a gruff manner, but there's no mistaking the underlying humanity, integrity and gentleness in him, not to mention the fact that he truly respects the heroine, encourages her to be herself and does not try to squash her spirit (there, despite a nearly equal gap in ages to the one in The Flame and the Flower, I could understand why the two fell in love). So unlike the emotional and mental abuse heaped on the heroine of this novel, who is sufficiently broken and resigned to her lot to desire her repugnant husband's love! Before the inevitable declarations of mutual love, she is so starved of comfort that she snatches up any little kindess he occasionally offers when the whim strikes him. He's disgusting and distinguishable from the villains of the novel only by his good looks, which are supposed to somehow make up for his boorish behavior.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I was never a reader of romance novels. That all changed when I read The Flame and the Flower! I was looking for historical fiction, and this book filled that desire while offering up a tantalizing love story, as well. I highly recommend this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best KEW but still good
Review: Along with all of KEW's early books I read this book years ago and have re-read it over the years. I just finished re-reading it yet again and I still enjoyed it but not as much as "Shanna" or "The Wolf and the Dove". I'm not one for political correctness, but I really hated Brandon in the beginning. Let's be blunt, he pretty much rapes Heather those first times. I guess that's the reaction you're supposed to have to him - just as Heather does. And she is a bit wimpy but, as other reviews have pointed out, she's a very naive 18 and he's a wordly 35! But Brandon starts to redeem himself pretty early on displaying some humor and caring to go along with all the anger and impatience and the reader starts to fall for him slowly as does Heather. But I must say, once they finally get together, I lost interest. The background story of the murdered women and the man from Heather's past wasn't as strong as the background stories/mysteries in some of KEW's other books. But I did think this one had some great supporting characters. Brandon's brother Jeff was funny, mischievous and so charming! I would have dumped Brandon for Jeff in a heartbeat! Hatti was the truth-teller and mother figure for both Heather and Brandon - think "Mammy" from "Gone With the Wind". Not KEW's best, but still a great read and as others have pointed out, though written in 1972, it still holds up.
Rating:
Summary: Not for me
Review: Brandon is an angry, selfish, almost abusive man for much of the book. Heather is not just naive, she's cowardly and foolish. By the end of the book, I liked them okay, but it took a very long time, and they'll never be anything close to my favorite characters.
The multiple rapes at the beginning of the book just got the whole thing off on the wrong foot. Even 2/3 of the way through the book, Brandon had few qualms about possibly repeating the act. And Heather, by the time the villain showed up, should have trusted Brandon to protect, but oh, no. And the reader is never convinved of her reasoning.
The book is too long, the dialogue often ridiculously flowery, and the exposition generally a drag on the movement of the plot. In a way, I'd like to read the sequel, That Elusive Flame, but I'm not sure I can handle it. This book has its moments, but I find the writing to be very uneven. It's just not for me.
Rating:
Summary: Another classic novel from Woodiwiss
Review: I really loved this book. I know it isn't politically correct, however, this is also fiction and should be simply regarded as a story of how two people overcome everything to live happily ever after.
Personally, I think that Brandon was so besotted with Heather that, even after finding out the truth about her, he really wanted to make her feel the same. As for Heather, she does admit that she found him physically attractive and she did feel something when Brandon asked her to kiss him, but I think she was still in shock with what happened at her aunt's brother's house, that all she could think about was how to escape Brandon.
I also didn't think that Brandon was that mean to her after they were married. Sure, he blamed her for it and vowed that he would never treat her like a wife, however, try as he did, he couldn't. Even when he's said some things to hurt her, I believe it was more out of his fear of the unknown as he knew deep inside he was falling in love with Heather. And we do see this as the story progresses. Brandon practically put Heather on a pedestal. As for Heather being weak, let me say that she was a naïve 17-year-old, who has been oppressed by her aunt for the last couple of years, and hasn't felt loved since her father died. At such a young age, and in that era, I'm quite sure that she was portrayed well - a sweet and innocent girl.
This book really held my interest and I simply couldn't put it down. The story and the characters are perfectly developed, the pacing is just right and there isn't a dull moment. This is the third Woodiwiss book that I have read, and after enjoying The Wolf and the Dove and A Rose in Winter, I'm looking forward to reading her other novels. This book is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: If you get the chance, read this book!!! It is a classic. And to those who seem to find it distasteful, "Please," get over it. The "rape" scene happened in the 18th century and should be viewed as very probably for that Period. It is not intended to reflect the values of our time. Therefore, it should be viewed and judged for the period it portrays. As such, I found this to be one of my all time favorites of Kathleen Woodiwiss. I say one, because none of her books thus far have been able to top Shanna.
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