Rating: 
Summary: Good Idea for Master's Thesis in Psychology
Review: It's not surprising that some sick mind invented this story, but it is amazing how many women have obviously bought into this sickness and established it as some sort of icon to love and romance. In a country where some woman is the victim of violence every 30 seconds or so, and where information about rape and what it does to its victims is widely available, how it's "prettied up" into romance is a diachodomy worthy of a full-blown study of deviant sexuality. Some of the reviewers excuse this as typical for the age it represents, but I beg to differ. A rapist was not admired, even in those benighted times. They were seldom brought to justice (unless they were poor or black), but they were no more admirable then than they are now. I obviously, and mistakenly thought that women in this age know that rape is not about sex; it's about control and violence. The basic psychology of a rapist is no different then than it is now, and the psychology of the victim is no different either. The reviewer who claims we dissenters "don't get it" obviously has never been raped, and the reviewer who sees something wrong with women wanting some kind of control over their own bodies and their destiny and views that sort of a woman as a "b-----h" is a male with so little confidence, he's threatened by any female who isn't a whipped dog and whose intelligence is 10 points higher than an ameba. Yes, indeed, this book and its myriad of defenders would make a great masters thesis.
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Summary: This WAS a Parody? Right?
Review: This had better be a script from "Saturday Night Live" or somebody needs to get a grip. I concur completely with the reviewer who calls this "vomit-inducing". Rape as a romantic sport? What a concept. Maybe Ms. Woodiwiss should write a lovely romantic novel about Ted Bundy. The writing style? Stilted and stupid. This book would be a good argument to bring back book burning (hey, anyone who thinks rape is a romantic interlude ought not get offended with an attack on the First Amendment). I doubt Ms. Woodiwiss will be invited to speak at the next "Victim's Rights" convention. I can't believe any woman would write this. She's got to be a man.
Rating: 
Summary: A good example of how romances today came to be!
Review: I picked up _The Flame and the Flower_ off the shelves and took a good look at it. I had stumbled upon a hardcover edition, and decided to give it a try on a friends recomendation. Right away I noticed the copyright date, and had some precautions. "What about those romances from the seventies. Ick!" was ringing in my head as I started. Let me tell you right now, if you have that voice in your head, burry it and find the nearest copy of this novel and start reading. We are introduced to Heather, a slave in her aunts house. When her aunt's brother, William Court, comes for a visit, he drools over Heather and decides to take her back to London with him. Heather is excited to be leaving her cruel aunt at last and packs her things quickly. But Williams intentions are not quite so pure and he trys to rape her as soon as they are in his house. Frantic Heather picks up a fruit knife and he falls on it. Thinking he is dead, Heather flees. While wondering the streets, two sea men pick her up for their captain, mistaking her for a whore. The captain, Brandon Birminghm, strips Heather of her clothes, pride, and virginity. Thinking to make her his mistriss, he leaves Heather in his chamber, but she escapes and, because there is no where else to go, returns to her aunt's home. Heather is put to work at harder tasks then ever before, but when it is found that she is pregnant, Brandon is summoned and forced to wed Heather. While the two sail back to America, a love forms between them, but is so precious that it can be knocked over by a puff of air. But a dark shadow from Heather's past swirls forth with a secret that could destroy her. Will this love of theirs be puffed out? Like many other readers, I found the rape scene at the beginging of the book disturbing. But, you have to keep in mind that this is their society, not ours, and even though it is wrong in any time, it was tolerated in theirs. At first, Brandon was very awful to Heather. I thought if he did one more "mocking" thing I'd toss the book out the window. But Heather slowly steal his heart, and it is fun to watch. Heather was a very complex character. She has her past present and future to deal with all at once, and they are all balancing very delicatly. It was wonderful to see her cahnge from being timid and scared to being a strong, sassy woman. The change comes from being around Brandon. Ms. Woodiwiss abused the word mock and all it's forms in this book, but other then that I enjoyed the use of adjectives. She is obviously very wordy, but I enjoyed it. The plot is a little slow in the begining, but it picks up pace and by the end of the book you will be reaching for more of the Birmingham series. But, even though I enjoyed it, I've still got to say... we've come a long way, baby!
Rating: 
Summary: Didn't Like It
Review: Well, I was bored. I couldn't connect with the characters, I found it hard to finish. I didn't finish this book with good feelings for the characters like I usually do with a romance book. I found Brandon's temper disturbing, he is very mean and cruel to Heather, reminded me of an abusive relationship I was in. I don't think the rape scene was necessary, it was to violent. I wouldn't recommend anyone who hasn't read this story, to bother. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come from Kathleen Woodiwiss. I actually wondered while reading this story if it was even written by her! Seriously! This story did evoke some emotions......but unfortunetly none of them were good.
Rating: 
Summary: Probably one of the best or the best book I've ever read!
Review: This is my very first Woodiwiss book I have ever read. I loved it! It was easily one of the best or the best book I've ever had the pleasure to read! This book had pure romance and love. At first you don't think Brandon would fall for Heather the way he treats her in the beginning, the cruel way he treats her after he is forced to marry her because of some very bad things he does to her and gets her in a bad "situation". He vows to never treat her as a wife, but as time goes on, he falls madly in love with her, but can't let her know, she would think he hadn't meant what he said before. She in turn falls deeply in love with him, but can't tell him, she has a dark secret. There is so much sexual tension in this story it has you wondering when it will happen between them, but the wait is well worth it! Word of warning, there is a scene at the beginning which some may find disturbing, which from some of the reviews you have guessed by now, a rape scene. But rest assured, the hero does grow up and take responsibilites, and the heroine at first seems very naive and whiny, but you must remember she is still a child really, and becomes a strong woman. There is a villian and a jealous former fiance, it has all the workings of a great writer. It brings you into their world. The second book to this is called The Elusive Flame, it's the story of their son Beau. There is also a 3rd to this family saga called A Season Beyond A Kiss. Which is the story of Brandon's brother Jeff. I recommend this book Flame and the Flower,itis well worth the money! Also, take note,the original book was actually written in 1972! Enjoy!
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Summary: ABSOLUTLEY DELIGHTFUL!
Review: I'VE READ "THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER" A COUPLE OF TIMES ALLREADY AND I CAN SAFELY SAY IT IS THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK I'VE EVER READ IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! I'VE LAUGHED, CRIED, GOT ANGRY WHILE READING IT, AS IF I WAS A CARACHTER IN THE BOOK! WITH ALL MY HEART I'M CONFIRMING THAT THIS NOVEL BY WOODIWISS IS THE MOST ENFLAMING HISTORICAL NOVEL. WITNESSING THE LOVE SLOWLY FORMING, IN A VERY EXCITING WAY, BETWEEN THE HEROS WAS A DELIGHT, NOT TO MENTION THE SEXUAL TENSION! READ IT, YOU WONT REGRET IT!
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Summary: a season beyond a kiss
Review: I loved the story and I think that kathleen e. woodiwiss is such a wonderful writer. when jeff and raelynn meet and fall in love and all the trails that they went through.. I only hope that she well keep the sequels coming but that they deal with the original people like jeff and raelynn and brandon and heather and of course beau and cerynise.. they are so strong and can with stand so much that in this day a age it's good to read about some on who is strong and can conquer all
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Summary: The flame and the disappointment
Review: I have read several positive reader comments about this book in the style "the best romance I've ever read". I do not agree. The characterization was daft, the characters' feelings changed from hate to submission to love to arrogance and back in a matter of minutes with no apparent motivation, and none of the main characters were very believable. The hero and heroine's behaviour was illogical and the hero's brother seemed much more likeable than the hero. The "rape scene" was not a good way to start the book, it made the hero seem unlikeable and the heroine stupid and spineless (I'm pretty certain there's something she could have done or said to make the hero understand she's not a prostitute). Even the murder mystery subplot appeared too late to add any interest to the book. Add some extremely embellished, overpoetic, melodramatical language (no one thinks or speaks like the characters in this novel) and voilá, there you have this "masterpiece". I read a translation but I'm certain not everything in the language is the translator's fault.
Rating: 
Summary: Does anyone edit these things?
Review: First of all these reviews are hugely interesting. The range of emotion this book generates truly astounds me. I can appreciate them all. I read this book when it first came out and found it somewhat disturbing even then at the age of 13. Something just didn't quite add up to me. Is it really necessary to suffer in order to find love? Sadly, many young reader probably will walk away with the notion that abuse and emotional suffering must be endured before we're rewarded with everlasting love. Still, something compells me to reread THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER again and again, despite the fact that I have graduated to better writing beyond this rather silly genre. Maybe I just see promice in the basic story. Woodiwiss could have redeemed Brandon much earlier (right after he realized that Heather was not a prostitute but an already abused and mistreated orphan would have been a good time). If we could have followed a more developed internal struggle with his moral compass and subsequent attempts to be accountable for his actions I might be better able to accept how Heather grows to love him. His struggle could have culminated with Heather's near fatal illnes while aboard the Fleetwood and the rest of the novel would have made more sense. Actually, I thought that Jeff's character (given his compassion for Heather's situation) also had the potential to reflect back to Brandon the gravity of his actions. I keep hoping that Woodwiss will go back and do a rewrite to address some of my, and obviously other reader's, concerns.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This book was very well written. I love how the charactors were very well defined and thought out. You seem to fall into there world when you read this book. I have read some of her other books and this is one of the best. I'm a fsat reader i read this book in two days but after that i had to read it again slower so i did not miss a thing! This is the kind of book that is okay to read again and again and again! you must check out this book it won't dissapoint you!
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