Rating: 
Summary: First-rate story ~ a thinker with a beautiful love story
Review: It's not something you usually think about. What really would have happened to a stroke victim in the 18th century? As maddening and confusing as it is in the 21st, can you IMAGINE what it would have been like to have your brain, your very self, muddled by this mysterious illness in a day when mental illness is considered "moral failure?"I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here ~ Maddy got annoying. I liked that she was willing to take a risk and get outside of her safe little world, but her waffling and self-righteousness grew irritating. She needed to learn to trust and have confidence in her husband (and her God!) even when things didn't make perfect sense to her (although, that is not uncommon in the romance genre and one of my biggest pet peeves). However, the really phenomenal part of this story is Christian's ability to battle back from the frustration and bewilderment and take charge of his life again. His character, while always charming and likable, went through true changes, through trials of fire and water, and became a better person. I just wish I could have sent a 21st century doctor back in time to him! I completely recommend this book if you want to give up your next few nights and days and be completely absorbed!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK!
Review: This one is a Keeper with a capital K...I loved this book! It just may be (as one reviewer said) the best romance book ever written, it was THAT GOOD. I loved the well-rounded characters; the plot was fresh & interesting, the dialog was stunning! (Especially Christian's outburst at Maddy's church and their talk together afterwards...I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it, but those who have will know what I mean.) Excellent book...I had never read anything by this author before but I know I'll be buying more of her work!
Rating: 
Summary: Powerfully Emotional
Review: FLOWERS FROM THE STORM is a very serious novel which is difficult to categorize as it is more than just a romance - in fact, the romance while it does become touching is almost secondary to the plot which takes place sometime during the 1800's. While extremely powerful, I found this was not a very relaxing read which at times left me very disturbed over the inhumanity that oftentimes is visited upon the sick and defenseless.
Christian Langland, the Duke of Jervaulx, is the hero of this book. A self-indulgent rogue, handsome, rich, powerful yet is also a brilliant mathematician. The heroine, Maddy, a Quaker, is the daughter of a blind professor of mathematics living simply in the Quaker way of life. As the two mathematicians work together to produce a paper on a new mathematical theorem, Maddy as her father's assistant and eyes would come in contact with the dissolute duke, despising his lifestyle so different from the devout Quaker. The day after the two co-authors presented their paper to academia, Maddy would hear that the duke had been killed in a duel. Some time later Maddy and her father would come to live on an estate converted to a hospital of sorts, better known as an insane asylum for the very wealthy. Her cousin offers a position to Maddy in return for her help as a nursing assistant. It was here that she would come to realize that the duke was in fact alive banished by his family unable to speak, and thought to be mad. Because of the inability to communicate Jervaulx's frustration was exhibited in anger, thus these patients were thought to be mad, dangerous and treated little better than animals. Not only was the sickness miss-diagnosed, but his greedy relatives were attempting to have him declared insane in order to take over his fortune. This entire aspect of the book was heart-wrenching to say the least - including the abuse that so-called care-takers were heaping upon him. Maddy recognized him and saw that there was intelligence in his gaze and that he was not insane. She came to understand that it was his inability to communicate that sparked his anger. While she was initially afraid of him, she slowly began to help him to remain calm and effected changes that brought him some measure of peace and soon as her cousin saw her calming affect on him had her assigned to his day-care. As the competency hearing approached, and he along with Maddy to calm him, were transported to the city, she began to realize that if he were sent back to the asylum he would never leave it. Through some harrowing events, they would both escape the doctors, and his family and find their way to one of Christian's friends. Eventually, the friends were able to convince Maddy that only by marrying him would they be able to override his family in the ultimate decision regarding his care. This was an absolutely heart-wrenching story as Maddy and Jervaulx tried to prove that he was sane, just couldn't communicate - but the ignorance of the powers to be couldn't be brought around as his family tried to have him being declared insane. Christian's strength was remarkable as he battled his way out of the haze of a debilitating stroke. He was a marvelous hero and one has to admire his strength. Maddy was a different matter as she was so into her religion that she wouldn't admit to the feelings she had for a man of the 'world'. She was in some respects an angel of mercy for Christian, but she held so much emotion back from him and from herself that she caused even more agony for them both. I would have given this a much higher rating if there was more romance to it, but it was so heart-breaking through the majority of this 550 page book that when they finally came to the romantic and very sensual part (one must remember that he was a rake before the stroke) I felt too drained to enjoy it. I have to say that this is a powerful book - extremely emotional in its scope and an excellent read for the author to have the ability to cause the reader to feel so caught up in the story.
Rating:
Summary: A classic returns
Review: In 1827 aristocratic mathematician and renowned rake Christian Langland suffers a stroke that leaves him unable to communicate though he feels his mind functions in every other capacity. His relatives, not wanting to deal with the ailing duke, see an opportunity to take over his wealth. They have him committed to a lunatic asylum. Daughter of a mathematician whom worked with the now restrained Christian, Quaker Archimedea "Maddy" Timms spends time doing good deeds including visiting poor souls in the asylum. She met Christian before under different circumstances, but now with him imprisoned in his body and the asylum, she tries to provide solace. She realizes his mind is okay and makes efforts to help him. As their relationship strengthens its turns to love though his aristocratic family and her Quaker friends detest that this couple belongs together. FLOWERS FROM THE STORM is a reprint of one of the best Regency romances of the past decade. The tale provides the audience with a different look at the era then normally seen. The lead characters are the keys to the gripping plot. Amanda struggles between her deep faith and her prohibited love for an outsider. Christian behaves like a stroke victim frustrated with his inability to communicate especially verbally. Amanda talks (and listens) like a Quaker and Christian's thoughts reflect his trouble comprehending what someone says and his frustration with his failure with language. Though that adds authenticity, readers need to adapt to the communications of the lead duo that is worth the effort. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Oh, You Lucky Reader!
Review: What a treat! The re-issue of Flowers From The Storm brings back a book that is remarkable as both a great Laura Kinsale novel and a blockbuster romance. FFTS is a joy. It takes readers places that most writers are afraid to venture. After all, love between a stroke victim and a timid Quaker girl? Fear not. Laura Kinsale makes it work with jaw-dropping style. Everything in this book jumps off the page in exquisite, engaging detail. This book reaches out and holds the reader captive until the last sentence gets it's period placed. As a reader, FFTS enthralls me. As an aspiring writer, FFTS inspires me. I envy the reader who gets to discover Laura Kinsale's work for the first time with FFTS. My recommendation? Buy several copies because you will read the covers off of this book. Don't let yourself ever have to live without this book.
Rating:
Summary: Serious, somber, and strongly moving historical romance
Review: Flowers from the Storm caught me totally unaware. Never have I seen romance written like this without frills, such a serious plot, solemn characters, and heart-wrenching situations. Don't let that scare you away. This is an excellent book - it is the most unusual romance I have read to date and it really left me gravely considering - not a romance - but the plight of a stroke victim in the 1800s. Christian Langland, the Duke of Jervaulx, is the hero of this book and he has the typical rakish traits as most historical romance heroes do. He is young, handsome, very smart, rich, loves women, AND is a mathematical genius. The heroine, Maddy, is the daughter of a collegiate professor of mathematics who works closely with Christian on discovering a mathematical theorem. Both Maddy and her father are devout Quakers. They live a simple life and are very influenced by the Quaker community. Maddy first meets Christian when she is assisting her father in their mathematical quest, because he is blind. Maddy knows of Christian's reckless regard for life, outside of academia, and has a typical Quaker response to him. She believes him to be totally decadent. She knows they have absolutely nothing in common and sees little hope for his redemption from his dissolute existence. There is no magic in the air when the leads first meet. It is just plain good sense to know that they are extreme opposites and neither takes the time to even speculate about the other. Flash forward some months. Maddy and her father have moved to an old country estate where her cousin has opened and is operating an asylum for the mentally ill. The cousin proudly uses only the most progressive techniques in treatment of their patients. For this time period, the treatment truly would be revolutionary - with one exception. Maddy discovers a patient chained to the wall - a very handsome young man who cannot talk or understand attempts to communicate with him. His family believes his sinful life has finally caught up with him and he has gone mad from all of the decadence in his life. This patient chained to the wall tends to have fits of anger and is difficult to control. Maddy stares in disbelief as she recognizes the chained patient. It is none other than Christian Langland, the Duke of Jervaulx. Maddy had been told he died. But he has had a stroke. Of course, his family and caretakers don't know this. Imagine the horrors of living in a time in history that you were believed to be insane if you lost your ability to speak, could not communicate or understand your situation, and acted out your frustration in anger. Christian's circumstances and condition is most heart wrenching. Maddy immediately asks for care of Christian - identifying him as the Duke of Jervaulx. She quickly concludes that Christian is not mad and begins working with him and makes great progress. She is most certainly an angel of care. This is a very deep and moving book. It is not really romance writing. Reading Flowers from the Storm can be exhausting because it is rarely without serious problems encroaching the characters all around. You cannot rest even a moment. Once a huge problem is dealt with, several more as big or bigger would come along in a matter of only pages. This was a problem for me - as I read the book - because there was never a time to relish progress and no respite from the ever-threatening foes. Christian is certainly a different type of hero. Never have I read a hero that could have such a disability and still seem so attractive. Recovering from a stroke of his magnitude is not something that just goes away. Not only did Christian have to learn to live with certain disabilities from the stroke, he also had some major life issues prior to this tragedy that he needed to work out as well. At times, I felt like I was going to break down mentally for Christian. Although Maddy was an angel of mercy for Christian, her upbringing as Quaker limited her in her ability to understand or trust men such as Christian, who were considered morally debauched. As he recovered little by little from his stroke, Maddy knew less and less how to deal with him. She still considered him a rake. I could go on and on about the many obstacles they had to face. But don't take this wrong - despite all of this - the book is fascinating and you want to consume it fully before putting it down (which is probably not possible). This book is redeemed by the sheer tenacity of the hero but even more so by the romance. This is romance writing which means things do work out in the end. One reason I read romance is for that happy ending. This romance however, must grow. The title is very appropriate for the story. This truly is a story of finding the good (the flowers) out of the tragic events (the storm) in your life. I believe romance is really secondary here. This is a story of illness, upbringings, morals, recoveries, and many, many more of life's lessons. There are some sensual scenes but they are few and unimportant. They would rate about a 2.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). This couple needed to spend time just getting to know each other. This would be my second complaint - they needed more time together. This is a long book - 471 pages. More of this book should have been spent on some mutual happiness. I wanted the couple to be able to relish their relationship. I found it disturbing that they could not. In the end, I could not rate this five stars because there was just too much agony. Problems were always rising and I got a little tired of the burden. I did not relax as I read this book but as I look back on it, some three months later, I still remember the story details, the emotion, the phenomenal handling of a very serious subject matter and I tell my friends, "I have just read one of the most incredible and heart wrenching stories." I think that says it all.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkble love story- ignore the dumb Fabio cover!
Review: Regency rake, Christan Langland, Duke of Jervaulx, finds himself in a living hell after a stroke leaves him unable to understand or produce speech. Commited by his money-grubbing relatives to an asylum for lunatics, Christian's salvation comes in the form of a Quaker woman, Archimedea Timms.
Although this novel has a typical romance premise, a woman nursing a damaged man(physically and emotionally), "Flowers from the Storm" stands out from its bland and poorly written shelf mates.
Maddy Timms is a Quaker, she thinks like a Quaker, and talks like a Quaker. What's remarkable is that her faith and inner conflict caused by her illicit love for someone outside of her faith never become exhausting. Instead, I empathized with her, admired her love and commitment to her religious community and and understood her hesitant love for Christian. I never felt that she was pious and judgemental of others, I noticed more her compassion towards others, regardless of their lifestyles. In one scene, for example, Christian's former lover cries on the stairs at his feet, in full view of new wife Maddy and the household servants. Instead of becoming angry, Maddy shows her integrity by trying to comfort the woman.The second half of the book really deals with how she reconciles her religious beliefs and her earthly love. Of all the heroines I've come accross, I think I like Maddy Timss the best; she's spunky, and obstinant, faithful and loving and doesn't allow herself to be trodden upon. She's a breath of fresh air compared with many novels in which I feel I can only identify with the hero.
Christian is also an exemplary character, though a tad violent and grabby at times. Kinsale does an excellent job of showing the readers his thought process, how he hears speech, and finally how he begans to recover from his stroke. Although much of his fury, his violence, and his rakehell- ishness dissapate in chorus with his inability to comprehend speech, he doesn't become so tame that he looses the best of his masculinity. Even while he is breaking the arms of servants and attempting to yell at everybody, he retains a an affection for cats and dogs. At the end of the novel, even when he thnks he's lost Maddy forever, he still decides to take care of his daughter.
In summary, "Flowers" is on the must read and must keep lists for Regency romance fans; the many layered conflicts in this novel blend together to make this a remarkable and poignant love story. Ignore the icky Fabio cover and read it!
Rating:
Summary: RitaSV
Review: What can I say? This is my absolute favorite book of all time. Kinsale is incredible at character development and thinking outside the box. A brilliant, powerful man humbled by his own body and a restricted, virtuous woman drawn into the greatest challenge of her heart and life. This is no light read but if you are looking for a book you can sink your romantic teeth into, this is it!! Out of stock, you say? At Kinsale's website she has promised a re-issue of this incredible book (sans the Fabio cover!) which is due out on May 27, 2003! Order this one, I can't recommend it highly enough!
Rating: 
Summary: The Flowers From the Storm Wilted
Review: I was so very disappointed in this book! I read all the reviews and ordered the book. Whatever I paid for the book was way too much. I just could NOT like the heroine. I tried, I really tried. However, she just never gave up her pious, better than thou, cans't love anything attitude. I love books with imperfect heros and heroines, and I just KNEW she was going to come around. Sadly, no. I finally gave up reading it and started skimming it around 3:30 a.m. What a wasted evening. This was my first Laura Kinsale book and I am very hesitant to try another.
Rating:
Summary: All I can say is...WOW!!!
Review: What a deliciously romantic story!!! OOOOOh, Girls...you CANNOT pass this one up. Christian and Maddy were unbelievable together...Christian's frustration is so heartbreaking, there are times when you can actually FEEL it. I will admit that at times I wanted to slap Maddy, but I guess I can see where the drastic changes in her circumstances might upset her..her reaction was definitely understandable. A MUST READ!!! So what if it's out of print??!! It's worth the search!! :)
| 
