Flowers from the Storm

Rating:
Summary: The flowers needed more pruning and care from the writer!
Review: I'm not going to say that this is a great book, but I'm not going to say it's a bad one either. What I am going to say is that its billing (on its own back cover) as 'one of the greatest love stories of all time' is definitely a massive exaggeration.

The storyline behind this book is excellent--very complex and appealing and creatively thought out. The characters are well developed and believable, not to mention loveable in their own ways--both of the main characters are strong and yet achingly vulnerable, especially Christian, whom I dare any woman not to want to cuddle and nurture and probably more. The research that went into this book is frighteningly good, probably better and more thorough than any I've ever undertaken in my own writing. (My only qualm with it was that I was under the impression that Quakers running asylums at that time were trying to minimalise the use of the types of mechanical restraints that were often and freely used on the character of Christian. But maybe I'm wrong--I wasn't there.) Moreover, it would have taken a surfeit of patience and dilligence for the writer to commit to completing such a lengthy, detailed book--I know from experience that the work involved in such a venture would have been mind-boggling, and I admire the writer for sticking with it.

And yet, all accolades aside, this book is still dramatically flawed. At 533 pages long it is an absolute dinosaur--the romance genre's equivalent to 'War and Peace'. And it's heavy going, too; slowly paced and cumbersomely written, which makes it seem even longer. In fact, if you're planning to buy this book as a 'holiday read' then be warned, it will take you your entire holiday to read it, leaving you with little time to do anything else! The sad fact is that the book shouldn't have had to be this long. With a little judicious editing, cutting out many annoying repetitions, trimming all the pointless fluff and filler, and just writing it in a better, friendlier, more economical style, it might not only have been cut down to an easier-to-digest four hundred pages, but also would have been a far better read, too--or at least in my humble opinion.

The book starts slowly, and takes a while to warm to. I must admit, at times I almost wanted to give up on it. There were many reasons why. Here is one of them, as an example: the author's knowledge of mathematics was impressive, but the fact that she spent CHAPTERS discussing mathematical equations left me thinking, 'Enough numbers already! Get to the interesting stuff!' And that's not to say that I don't like or understand maths, quite the contrary; I just didn't want that much of it! This is supposed to be a romance novel, not a text book.

Another big problem I had with the book is that at times it is very poorly worded. The author spends too much time on some details, repeating them over and over until they are almost grating, and yet annoyingly skims some others. She is also a little ambiguous. One can see what she is trying to say but her words don't quite say it. One example of this is when the book says that Maddy's Papa has not smiled exhilaratedly since the day her mother died..which of course makes it sound like the last time her Papa had a really good smile or a laugh was actually BECAUSE her mother died! Shouldn't the book have said, he had not smiled exhilaratedly since BEFORE her mother had died? Okay, yes, I'll confess, I'm a picky reviewer, but I'm of the opinion that every word matters, and that one should always say what one really means to say, and not be lazy about wording. I hold my own writing up to a high standard and expect other authors, especially such lauded ones, to do the same.

I'd urge you to read this book, by all means. Its triumphs definitely outweigh its flaws, and the final two pages are deliciously, subtly clever--the destination makes the long trip worthwhile. But lets call a spade a spade here, people, and not be under the delusion that it's the greatest love story of all time. Because if that were so, then it doesn't speak well for all the other love stories that are out there, does it, because it would mean that they were worse than this. And I KNOW that there are better books than this!

Rating:
Summary: Oh Please....
Review: I absolutely hated this book. I'm only giving this book one star because the beginning was okay. I like my books with a dashing rough male who knows exactly what he wants out of life and does everything in his power to get it. The beginning of this book held some interest for me, but it quickly went down from there. The heroine (if that's what you want to call her) was so dense and prim and proper that I wanted to scream and pull my hair out. Where was the fighting and the sexual tension??? I'm using this book to hold up my end table, I'll never read another one of her books if this is the best she can do.

Rating:
Summary: Tear Jerker
Review: I took this book on a cruise and found myself returning to my cabin to read it....if your looking for a book full of sex this is not it...if you're looking for a true love story this is your book....

Rating:
Summary: Without sounding cliche, this is one is a real keeper...
Review: First off, i was not a big fan of ms. kinsale since i was disappointed with The Hidden Heart. i have never thought of picking up another book by her. when i heard how good FFTS was, i decided to brave the odds and give her another try.

and to this day, i am so glad i read this book.

straight to the point--this book is ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST in the romance genre. no buts, no exaggerations.

it is so full of emotion and tenderness. and after reading it, i felt like i was holding a real treasure in my hands. it is that magnificent.

the characters are unconventional. both the hero and the heroine had their own demons to face--not the usual just-"a damsel in distress" recipe. jervaulx's difficulty and frustration in expressing himself properly is so heart-wrenching to witness. but the beautiful thing about him is that he let his guard down just for maddy and let her see his vulnerability.

and maddy is just admirable. full of courage and so much love. if it wasnt for her, christian would truly become the crazed duke everyone is so bent on believing he was. but her own torment in trying to deny her real passionate nature whenever christian's around is such a genuine human emotion that ms. kinsale masterfully depicted.

i actually broke down in that part where christian was torn in anguish when he heard maddy ask for the Quakers' forgiveness for her alleged "sin". the way he spat at the word "fornication" that maddy claimed, saying that it wasnt that at all, but instead, his love for her. it was simply one of the most beautiful declarations of love in any romance novel.

i appreciate the fact that christian did not totally recover from his difficulty in speech, since it really shows that the end does not have to be perfectly packaged, like in fairy tales, but just perfect for its genuineness that one can truly experience it in life.

Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: I've read a LOT of historical romances. This is one of the very few that do equal, delightful justice to both the history and the romance, with very real characters that were *not* made for each other, *without* a romance that's telegraphed from the very first page. Nothing about the outcome is certain until the very end. The device of the hero's stroke, which transforms him from careless rake who sneers at another's difficulties with the pronounciation of his own name, to helpless hero unable to remember or pronounce his own, is briliantly executed over a realistic and fascinating narrative.

Rating:
Summary: Almost the perfect Flower...
Review: Flowers from the Storm is neither outwardly sexy nor is it a tour de force. In other words, it is a book of sensuality & subtlety: a journey of 2 unlikely people with more substance than a mere slam-bam hot & heavy romance book [although, that?s not bad thing ;)].

From 1 extreme is Christian, Duke of Jerveaux, a virile unruly cad with an aggressive presence who, suffering from a seizure, is rendered ?insane? and has been duly placed in a mental institution. He can?t speak, write or understand spoken words; his world is nothing but chaos and confusion that has left him bitter, angry and desperate.

Enter Archimedea ?Maddy? Timms: a prim & proper, yet independent Quaker, who crosses paths with Christian while at the mental institution run by her cousin. As she promises to nurse him back to health, she relizes he is not only sane but that she can't help but love him.

Yet, their ideas are different, their dress, class & manner don?t mix, their worlds reflecting nothing w/in each other but the human bond between 2 people & the kind of love that breaks walls and speaks volumes. The main tension is their completely opposite lifestyles. Christian's sinful & flamboyant nature vs. Maddy?s Quaker upbringing which has taught her that the outside world beyond her is nothing but bad, bad, and more bad: including Christian.

As they become embroiled w/in in each other?s worlds, they both struggle to maintain a semblance to who they were & accept what they are becoming and to eachother. But, of course, it is not easy, for at every turn; the world itself seems to crash against them and pulls them apart.

Well! What a wonderful read and something a little different then the usual. But: there is no real in-depth information beyond the 2 main characters?at that present time. You learn a few tidbits here and there about who they are and other characters but nothing substantial. The introduction had a short setup and went right in. The conclusion was very short, if not a bit rushed but not too sweet.

You may like the more focused attention of the 2 main characters and the specificed time frame, which does make it more intense. The mush and 'oh, please' with eye-roll factor is very low. I found myself somewhat less attached to Maddy and Christian because I didn?t have a stronger point of reference to who they were beyond the moment represented. So at times, they both seemed a bit unemotional, non-responsive, and I was bit annoyed at their natures because you're only getting a small taste of it with nothing to support or disprove it. So, the more epic romance novels, while lengthy, gave a stronger biographical sketch and general background, which usually made me feel like I knew the characters better and relate to them better too.

It doesn?t at all take away the main essence of the story itself because Kinsale is such a gifted writer with a captivating plot which was unpredictable and adventurous, but beautiful and thoughtful writing with characters that stay with you. I?m used to the detailed love scenes whcih can bring you more into 'their' world if done right and it's just fun!; but?don?t expect a whole lot of lovin? in this book.

Though it felt very brief to me and rushed in other parts, I consider it one of the better romance novels out there & I had to finish it. Kinsale writes to leave you wanting more. So, don?t get your head wrapped around ?romance book? because you may be a little disappointed. All in all, if you?re not into the too mushy, sugary or the epic, grand romance books out there, Kinsale?s book is perfect match for you. It may be just the perfect happy medium for you.

Rating:
Summary: Nice begining but..
Review: Flowers in the storm was a REAL romance story focusing and relying more on the hero and heroine's trials and tribulations and the bond that grows between them rather than on the physical aspect of their relationship. Christian at the beginning of the book is a self assured and rather arrogant rake who not only likes to bed married women on his spare time but also is a mathematical genuis. Yes, that is right, this man has depth, wealth, and looks. Unfortunately for him, he is caught in aforementioned married woman's bed and is called out by the husband. On the morn of the duel he has a stroke and loses his ability to speak and is sent to an insane asylum. Maddy and her father also arrive at Blythe hall but in the capapcity of caretaker and visitors as the asylum is owned by her cousin Edward. There she meets Christain again and finds herself directed by God to aid him. And so she does but at the same time she find that this task is not so easy as she is falling more and more in love with him a child of the world.
Through it all I could completely understand Maddy's fear and reluctance to let Christian fully into her life. She was raised as a simple Quake and he was raised in all the pomp and wealth befitting his station. I loved Maddy and I found it so heartbreaking and heartwrenching to watch her struggle with herself and her fear of losing herself in Christian and his world. She loves him more than life but worries that she is not doing what is right and True under God in living with Christian a child of the world. Although some might think that Maddy is narrow-minded or weak I think that she shows her strength in her determination to stand by Christian. Yes, at some point she does want to run and she does have her doubts even after marrying him, but I think that she was only being human. Maddy had led the sheletered life of a Quaker and to step up to take on the responsibility of Christian and his foreign world of opulance and excess would be a bit frightening for a woman brought up to be frugal and plain. Yes she does look down on Christian and his attempt to regain his dukedom and his money but it is because she simply does not understand the mechanics and politics of the nobility. Chrsitian flouts money and spends it like it is going out of style so that his creditors and the world at large will retain their confidence in him but all Maddy sees is Christian spending money that they can ill afford and this affronts her Quaker sensibilities. Christian himself realizes why she is unable or reluctant to support him-she cannot comprehend his actions which to her are frivilous but are really essential to keep him from going back to the insane asylum. I won't say more but this is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: One of my very favorite stories
Review: I have read this book so many times over the years I have lost count. This is a classic. No other book compares. The story is so unusual. The language and words so authentic. The characters so real. I bonded with Maddie immediately, as I am a nurse and a christian. I felt compassion for Christian also. The way stroke victims are so misunderstood. Communication is so difficult with them. The research for this book must have been well done as I could picture the asylum trying out those aweful methods to shock patients into responding. Wow! Very memoriable. Unforgettable.

Rating:
Summary: Of Two Minds
Review: I was expecting more from this novel after all the glowing reviews I read. Granted, it is not your usual romance and has characters more complex and satisfying that the usual cookie cutter "Rich, Handsome Aristocrat" and "Beautiful, Delicate Girl". Howver, I found the writing style hard to get into. The prose was choppy and did not flow. I hate in when I have to read a sentence over. So, it's a good story, but in my humble opinion, could be written much better.