Shanna

Rating:
Summary: Really really good... but not great
Review: Kathleen Woodiwiss has the ability to describe a time and a place in such a way that I am transported into her world. The setting of SHANNA, a sugarcane plantation in the Caribbean during the 1700's is both original and fascinating... and so vividly described that I could feel the humidity, smell the sea, hear the cries of the gulls hovering above the action. I have the feeling that if I were to visit a similar island it would be just as Ms. Woodiwiss describes it.The plot of this book is as original as the setting. A woman who is forced by her father to find a husband or be forced into an arranged marriage finds a clever way of tricking her father and getting her way. But things don't work out exactly the way she hopes, and she is forced to grow up and accept responsibilty for her actions. I won't give away the details, though, you must read this book for yourself!Unfortunately, Ms. Woodiwiss also has the ability to create the most annoying and cliched characters. Shanna is the typical breathtakingly beautiful yet sickeningly spoiled and stubborn heroine. She has poor manners, a nasty disposition and is so unreasonable at times I found it impossible to relate to her. Ruark, the hero, is more likable because of his good nature and patience... but he is the typical male stereotype who lets himself be led around by his 'you know what'. What does he see in Shanna besides her ravishing beauty? Nothing. He loves her merely for her beauty because there's nothing else there to love until the last quarter of the book when Shanna shows her spirit and bravery. By then any sensible man would have hightailed it out of there and found a real woman to love. What Ruark feels for her is lust, not love... he is quite shallow indeed.Still, this book deserves 4 out of 5 stars because of its originality and the wonderful humor that surfaces in the most unexpected of scenes. A great read if you have time to kill and nothing better to do on those lazy summer evenings.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful!!
Review: First of all, I must say that I have read many genres of literature, and I feel that "Shanna" is a beautifully written book from start to finish, romance novel or not. Kathleen Woodiwiss' very real ability to write is what sets her apart from other romance novelists.

I love every aspect of Shanna's and Ruark's personalities. Shanna is a beautiful, head-strong, intelligent, and spirited young lady who has her own ideas of how her life should be. Her unwillingness to stray from these ideals is what causes her to fight against loving who and what she THINKS Ruark is. However, Ruark KNOWS who and what he is, but he wants Shanna to love him even though she believes him to be a murderer of no circumstance. He does fall for her at first sight, but most relationships begin with visual attraction, and I think that the author portrays this correctly. Moreover, he doesn't actually fall in LOVE with her until he realizes that Shanna displays indomitable spirit and courage during every tribulation, as well as tenderness, soulfulness, and a sense of fairness when warranted. Kathleen Woodiwiss takes you from the beginning to end with a myriad of provocative, tantalizing, and suspenseful adventures in between. While some reviewers think this story to be too "flowery," I would describe it as conveying a spectacular use of imagery and creative writing, so much so that I can actually smell the salty breezes of the Caribbean and see Ruark's golden eyes blazing with fury or desire. While some reviewers think that Shanna is too spoiled and, therefore, annoying, I think that Shanna is the portrayal of a very young and very rich but inexperienced young lady who has to weather a few of life's storms before she can actually become the woman she is meant to be. However, all of the reviewers seem to agree with me that Kathleen Woodiwiss created the perfect romantic hero in Ruark. He is strong but tender, demanding yet sensitive, and beautiful yet masculine. He gives Shanna the freedom to express herself and to find who she really is, but he also gives her just enough incentive to choose him as her mate for life.

Overall, I feel that this is one of the most skillfully written, entertaining, and endearing novels of all time, and I think that Kathleen Woodiwiss masterfully displays her talent for breathing life into fictitious characters with this effort. I would highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys reading. I, like many other Woodiwiss fans, would also love for her to write a sequel to this outstanding creation. However, I would also recommend Ashes in the Wind, The Flame and the Flower, The Wolf and the Dove, and A Rose in Winter. Honestly, I love all of Kathleen Woodiwiss' books, but the aformentioned are my favorites. Please read "Shanna"! You'll love it!!

Rating:
Summary: Woodiwiss is great
Review: I loved Shanna. I though she was a snob and Ruark was so patient with her. He taught her so many things and he was so persistant that she had no choice but to fall in love with him. They were made for each other.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!!! Woodiwiss at her best!!!
Review: This is most definitely Woodiwiss at her best. I absolutely loved this book. The second half of the story is wonderful and more than makes up for any disillusionment the reader may feel during the first half, in which Shanna acts as spoiled-rotten and immature as any I've ever read about. Despite this, the second half is a complete turn-about and we now see the characters as we had envisioned them to be. I suppose all that stubborn nonsense in the beginning was necessary to show how the characters, especially that of Shanna, grow and mature. You will absolutely fall head over heals for Ruark and will inevitably be drawn to the perfect balance of strength and tenderness in his character, despite his rather disappointing tolerance of Shanna's initial childish disposition. True, the story is somewhat predictable and typical of Woodiwiss, yet it is so exquisitely written that despite these few short-comings, it has won, hands-down, its place at the very top of my favorite historical romance list. It boasts a splendid mix of adventure (pirates, etc.) and romance to tantalize the senses and really bring the story home. I highly recommend this book and advise would-be fans not to be put off if Shanna seems less than endearing at the onset of the story. You'll love her, Ruark and the entire story in the end.

P.S. Also try Woodiwiss' "Petals on the River" and "Ashes in the Wind"

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: this book is a good book, it was interesting and it was a sweet love story. and i looved Ruark, but at times shanna just got on my nerves. she acts like such an arrogant spoiled brat i just wanted to slap her. but the ending is really sweet and i still liked this book anyways, but ashes in the wind and the wolf and the dove are better.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite romance novel
Review: This remains, as it has been since my teen's, my favorite romance novel. It is a thorough read as so many romance novels are not. I enjoyed the characters and we accompany them through many years of their lives. It doesn't just end when they finally decide to spend the rest of their lives together, yet, the story remains engaging through the final page. I hated to come to the end!

Ruark Beauchamp remains my favorite fantasy male, sexy, intelligent, resourceful and determined. And, you've gotta admire any woman who is cleaver to marry a convicted man as a means to an end!

This is Kathleen E. Woodiwiss at her best and although she loves conflict to its frustrating end, it does make for a good read. I've re-read this book more times than I can count. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: Her best
Review: Well, maybe not her best, but certainly my favorite. Out of 5 stars I'd rate this 6 or 7.

Rating:
Summary: BEST EVER
Review: THIS BOOK IS SO WELL WRITTEN, A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES. I NEVER GET TIRED OF RE-READING IT, WHICH I DO AT LEASE TWICE A YEAR.

Rating:
Summary: Another all-time favorite!
Review: I think I've read this one also six times, along with The Wolf and the Dove and The Flame and the Flower. I have read all of these over 20 years ago, yet they still maintain their appeal. My best friend and I loved this book so much, when she got pregnant, guess what we named her daughter? What else, Shanna. Her husband never got a voice in the vote! LOL Now she's a freshman in college and I told her she has GOT to read this book! I would recommend this book to anyone, romance reader or not. Roarke has got to be one of the sexiest characters I have ever had the pleasure to read. But then as I've said before, like Beatrice Small, I will ALWAYS read a Kathleen Woodiwiss novel, even though I am into a different genre of reading now. Every now and then, you need a good romance novel.

Rating:
Summary: loved this book
Review: I have read this book twice so far and pick up on several things that I missed the first time. I love the way Woodiwiss takes you from England to the Carribean to the colonial United States. Shanna is a young woman who loves and respects her widowed father. In trying to obtain a husband that would meet with his approval Shanna weaves a terrible web of deceit. This book has it all, lust,love, murder, suspense and a look into the lives of the very well-to-do in by-gone eras. A young woman becomes so by tapping into who she really is a very strong and capable person. I have wanted Woodiwiss to sequel this novel so many times, but it seems all we get is the Birminghams of the Flame and Flower fame. Happy reading.