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.
Rating:
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: 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 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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