Petals on the River

Rating:
Summary: Boring, boring, boring
Review: This was the worst Woodiwiss I have ever read. I really enjoyed her first few novels, and was kept spellbound by them. I have not outgrown Woodiwiss, as I still occasionally re-read her older novels, and still enjoy them. This novel was severely lacking. To me, the characters were cardboard, the storyline very ho-hum. The publishers had to buy this one on name recognition alone. This is the second Woodiwiss I was sorely disappointed with, and has taught me to never again purchase a book of hers without at least reading the first chapter. If I would have done this, I would have saved my money! Doesn't her publisher have readers who pre-read these books before they decide to publish?? I think I will pack my copy up and send it back to them demanding a refund. Sorry Kathleen, but the price was steep and the quality was sorely lacking.

Rating:
Summary: The BEST Book since SHANNA!!!!
Review: It was Wonderful! It made me go get my old Woodiwiss books and read them over...I really admire an author who can write a great romance without the use of money, betrayal or greed!!!! I've already read it twice...and some parts 3 or 4 times. Thank you, Kathleen...you ARE one of the elite!!

Rating:
Summary: where is the sexual tension, odvious love, and humor
Review: "the Wolf and The Dove," "The Flame and the Flower," and then "Shanna" after that all the books seemed to go DOWN HILL from there. I remember staying up all night to read The Wolf and the same way with The Flame. As a matter of fact anytime I'm feeling down I reread these books. I have reread those two books at least once every year since written. DO YOU THINK MS. WOODIWISS READS OUR THOUGHTS? Please, I would like more stories like your first ones. I always enjoyed the way your words flowed almost like poetry. You could feel the love between the chacters and the sexual tension would build. I enjoy escaping to a fairy tale land where romance and Gentlemen still exist. PLEASE GIVE US MORE LIKE YOUR FIRST NOVELS. Thank you

Rating:
Summary: It is a great book!!!!
Review: Everybody who have read Shanna will inmediately fall in love with petals on the river. I think K. Woodiwiss is the BEST AUTHOR of these kind of novels, and I have read lots of them, please believe me, so I can say that it is a little jewel I didn't feel disapointed at all, but people who think that this book is no good perhaps should think first that she is a human being and can't create marvels like Shanna or Ashes in the wind every day. One more thing. I'm sorry for my English, I'm argentinian.

Rating:
Summary: Waste of time
Review: Received this book as a gift, and was looking forward to reading it. Hadn't read a book by this author for quite some time. Thoroughly disappointing. Too much money for so little content. Too predictable. Is she now writing down to a different clientele?

Rating:
Summary: Old-fashioned read
Review: I want to add a mitigating word to all the negative reviews. I should go back and re-read one of the older books by Ms. Woodiwiss, because I'm wondering if the problem with this one is that it is written very much like a book that would have been published 15 or 20 years ago. I found it kind of refreshing, but it is definitely slow- paced compared to today's typical best-seller. Also, I think the whole "women in capitivy" theme has less appeal today.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed this book!!!!
Review: The last time I read a Woodiwiss was about 10 years ago and I'm glad to have read this one. I have to disagree with the majority and say this book was enjoyable although predictable. I thoroughly enjoyed it .

Rating:
Summary: This can't be something from Kathleen Woodiwiss!
Review: I didn't even finish the book. I left it midway and even then it was a struggle to reach there! Her recent books deviate from her usual execellent ones and this one was the very worst, never something that I would expect from her. Perhaps her recent divorce (I think I heard something along this line somewhere) is to be blamed...

Rating:
Summary: Could be much much better
Review: I've read every novel of Ms Woodiwiss; I have been waiting for years for her new ones and kept looking around for her books whenever I was in a bookshop. And finally, here comes the new novel. But ...
I have to agree with the reveiws before me that this one is the least good (I don't want to describe it as the worst) of her works : the story is predictable; nevermind if the story is predictable, but the characters are boring and one-dimensional; I thought there might be more enlightening scenes involving Andrew, the son, but he just played a minor role; the whole plot is just too easy for the characters and not much development. I've to put it down and go to sleep in between the story ('cos I didn't want to fall asleep while reading it : Woodiwiss is my favorite author and I hate doing this to her).
Just keep hoping better novels that at least compares to her usual standard would come soon.

Rating:
Summary: You may like it IF
Review: If you want to hear nothing but bad people heaping insults on good people, who stupidly stand there and take it (because they are so wonderfully good), this book is for you. I was shocked that someone who wrote A Rose In Winter and Ashes in the Wind could turn out such a crushing bore. I'm listening on cassette (which is well done, by the way), and it's better than the radio, but if I were reading the book, I would have set it aside unfinished long before now. I still reread A Rose in Winter. Where is the humor in this one? Ms Woodiwiss should read some Amanda Quick, and get her heriones back to being real people. Shemain is ridiculous. Good grief! I roll my eyes every time I hear how "comely" she is. BORING is the only word for this book. I wish I could get my money back. Not just because it was a bad book (you take your chances), but because I expected better. If I help anyone else save their money, it will be worth the time to write this review. I agree with one of the other reviewers..... go to the library if you MUST read it!