Rating: 
Summary: Wow!
Review: The first book that I read by Kathleen Woodiwiss was The Flame & The Flower and I was awestruck by that book. I now just recently just read Shanna & it also was an excellant book. K. Woodiwiss in this book has a willfull woman and a man who has fallen in love with her. Shanna refuses to think of Ruark as her true love until late in the book while before it keeps you off you seat and turning the pages just wanting more of this well written novel...
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Summary: This REALLY IS the BEST historical romance EVER!
Review: Shanna was the first romance I'd ever read and I've been a fan of KEW's books ever since (though "A Season Beyond a Kiss" was so bad I never finished it - Jeff Birmingham deserved better!). I first read it over 15 years ago when I was a teenager and I've re-read it innumerable times since. Shanna and Ruark are great characters - especially Ruark! He's so cool! He adapts to every situation and somehow turns almost every one to his advantage. Which makes Shanna nuts since all her plans seem to go awry! Their relationship is entirely tempestuous and lots of fun to watch. While Shanna is likeable in a spoiled brat kind of way, Ruark is completely loveable! Smart, sexy and always keeps his sense of humor. Shanna can't resist his pull though she desperately wants to. There are plenty of mysteries, twists & turns, pirates, murders and suspicions to keep the story interesting as well as several different locales including London, the Carribean and Virginia in the American Colonies. The gist of the story is spoiled rich girl is given one year in London to find a husband before her father chooses one for her. When said daughter's year is near it's end and no prince charming is found, Shanna comes up with the devious scheme of marrying a due to hang prisoner with an aristocratic-sounding name. In this way, she gains a "husband", loses him in a "carriage accident", returns home to the Carribean a "widow" and gets her father off her back. Ruark being said prisoner (convicted of a murder he claims he didn't commit) is offered improved conditions until his death, a decent burial and the thing he wants most - to spend his wedding night with his bride. Both agree to THE BARGAIN and wed. However, Shanna has no intention of honoring the wedding night part earning Ruark's rage. He is returned to jail seething and vowing revenge while Shanna assumes he is hanged and returns home. What she doesn't plan on is that Ruark did not hang and is in fact traveling to her home on the very same ship unbeknownst to her. When she discovers him in her father's employ and he demands fulfillment of THE BARGAIN all hell breaks loose. And that's just the beginning! Read it for yourself. You won't regret it!
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: This book was very excellent. I couldn't put it down. I really loved RUARK. I think he is one of my favourite men out of KEW's books. I would definetly reccommend this book to read. You won't be disappointed. Other books i recommend are THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER< THE ELUSIVE FLAME<A ROSE IN THE WINTER>Those are my favourie of her books. KEW definetely has a rare talent for writing historical romances, so don't miss a chance to read her work.
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Summary: dismayed
Review: First of all i would like to say i really thought the plot was good, i mean it had alot of promise, but most of all i was dissapointed alot by the heroine she started off really nicely but as the book progressed, i felt that she was too haughty for her own good and even after she betrayed rourk twice, and in the worst way i fail to imagine how he could still love her that much, i mean i know love is blind but enough already, rourk was intelligent and handsome and hardworking, the only thing shanna had going for her was her beauty, if you ask me, that is not enough to make a man go through hell and highwater for. It was a good effort but i really did not see what all the hype was about.
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Summary: My first and favorite romance-
Review: This was the first romance I ever read (I was 15) and I couldn't put it down. Years later I reread it out of curiosity and found that it was just as entertaining, if not better, as an adult. I like to pretend that I don't read romances on a regular basis, but I have to admit that this book made me try most of Katheleen Woodiwiss's other novels. I like her stories and have enjoyed others a lot(eg. The Wolf and the Dove). But there is something about Shanna that really appeals to me.
Raurk and Shanna weave this intricate web of secrets that only the two of them are privy to. And Raurk ultimately is the only one who knows the whole truth. There is a great ending as everyone is finally let in on it. Shanna is guilty of some pretty awful things at the beginning of the book as she takes advantage of Raurk's unfair imprisonement to help herself out of a much less serious predicament. However, you manage to mostly forgive this as the story unwinds and you start understanding that Shanna is still in the process of maturing and accepting responsibilities, and dealing with a overdramatic temper. Raurk is not only a lover to her throughout the book but also sort of takes on a father figure or big brother role as he tolerates her difficult personality and helps her survive the results of some of her actions to his own detriment. In the end you love them both and more than anything want them to work through all their imperfections. Like all people you like and admire, they both have great qualities and great faults and when they do work it all out you feel that they really know each other well. It's the only book where I have felt the relationship actually might have a future.
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Summary: Such a wonderful story to escape into
Review: So much romance in such a small space. This book captured me the first time I read it sometime around 1977. I have reread this book so many times. I thoroughly enjoy escaping into Shanna's world and watching her grow and change through all the trials she puts herself through. It makes me wish for a life that can be like this, beautiful and loving. Can you imagine loving someone so much that you are willing to be sold into slavery just to be near them? The ingenuity it takes to escape the pirates was wonderful. I don't even think it was too far fetched. Oh, and let's not forget some good, old-fashioned bodice ripping going on :-) This book is written so well, once your are captured into it you'll find yourself reading late into the night just to get to the next hurdle for this couple and see how they deal with it. I highly recommend this story.
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Summary: Love Woodiwiss
Review: I first read this book when I was 12 years old and have read it countless times since. I actually have a first printing of the book with the spine bound together by duct tape. This book is a wonderful read (obviously) and I always find myself engrossed in the story no matter how many times I've read it or however long it's been since the last time I'd read it. I highly recommend reading this book. It's one that you will keep forever.
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Summary: Ultimate Love Story
Review: Can I just say that I fell in love with Ruark myself ? Ruark and Shanna created the ultimate love story. Of course, because of Kathleen E.Woodwiss.
Rating:
Summary: Classic romance of the '80's.
Review: This is the kind of story that lingers in the mind. Overall it's the journey of Shanna from a spoiled girl to a mature woman. Good, but "The Wolf & the Dove" was way better. I'd forgotten that KEW loves using an overabundance of flowery prose though. I had to skim some of it so I could finish the story.
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Summary: A story like no other!
Review: This is Kathleen Woodiwiss at her absolute best. Be sure you have lots of time before you start reading this one because you will not be able to put it down. Clear your schedule before you begin. This story is inspired. You will believe in love again with this one. It will be very diificult to find another story that so wonderfully captures the essence that is man & woman & explores the beauty of the phrase "Love Conquers All." This one is an absolute "keeper" if there ever was one. Shanna & Ruark- You won't ever forget them.
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