Rating: 
Summary: A note from the author:
Review: Dear Readers: I hope you'll agree that this is a pretty special book! Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley and Mary Balogh all loved it and contributed fabulous quotes for the cover. The reaction so far from readers has touched me to the heart. Flowers under Ice received a "Gold Medal" "Top Pick" review from RT and a "starred" review from Publishers Weekly. If you like intelligent, sexy, romantic adventure, I think you'll like this one, especially if you have any special feeling for the Highlands of Scotland or love the Regency period. I have deep family roots in the Highlands and concentrated on making Catriona, the heroine, as true as I could make her. The hero is a Regency rake, but he's an interesting man with lots of hidden depths.
Rating: 
Summary: creepy
Review: Dominic returns home from the Napoleonic wars a hero but shunned by the upper ten thousand as his young bride, Harriet, fled from him on their wedding night as he tried to do depraved things to her. She slurred him and his name in front of all. Dominic lives outside the ton now. Harriet fled to Scotland. She also purposely loses the child by Dominic. Catriona, a lass from the highlands, comes to tell Dominic Harriet is now dead and that there is a child he must claim. Of course, he knows it is no child of his but he decides to go with Catriona and will only go if she is his mistress. I am getting the drift in romance vocabulary that "dark romance" means sadistic and unreal. Did Dominic ever hear the word "no" and understand what it means? Catriona, throughout the entire novel, tells him no and many ways and in many situations. Of course, the reader knows her no means yes but how would Dominic? It is ashame that with all that is going on in society today a silly book is published that women still find romantic when the hero, Dominic, does nothing but humiliate, belittle, scorn and use, yes, use, for his own dark demons. Hey Dominic and a memo to the author: No means no...
Rating: 
Summary: Tempt not, lest you be tempted in return...
Review: Dominic Wyndham, to all intents and purposes a dissolute aristocrat and younger brother of an earl, with little purpose in life beyond drinking, gambling and indulging in seemingly-pointless wagers, is shocked to be told, without warning, that his estranged wife is dead. Shocked enough to hide his real grief and pain behind a mask of cold, sardonic humour - which, in turn, shocks the young woman who has travelled from Scotland to deliver the news.Catriona, the bearer of the news of Harriet's death, is not surprised at Wyndham's reaction; after all, Harriet, whom she'd known for some time, had made clear to her that Wyndham was a wastrel and a harsh, unkind man. Harriet herself had left Dominic after their wedding night, claiming that he'd done depraved and humiliating things to her. As such, Catriona is fully prepared to believe the worst of Dominic - an impression which isn't changed one bit after their encounter later that night. She sneaks into his room to talk to him, to plead with him to come to Edinburgh with her because Harriet left a child, a son, whose care Wyndham must assume. However, Catriona is well aware that the boy isn't Wyndham's son - and she is surprised when he states that he could not possibly be the boy's father. All the same, he tells her, he will travel to Edinburgh to see to the child's future - on certain conditions. Those conditions are that Catriona must travel with him to all intents and purposes as his mistress. On the way, he says, they will indulge in sin - one deadly sin for each day on the road. "Every day you will be besieged by a man who has a great deal more experience in the game than you do. I shall seduce you," he promises. "You will fall in love and I shall break your heart. I guarantee it." Yet he also promises that he will do nothing without her consent - so to an earlier reviewer, I point out that Wyndham fully understands that 'no' means 'no'. Nothing is done with Catriona without her express consent - in fact, at times, her pleading. For reasons of her own, Catriona desperately needs Wyndham to come, and so she agrees to his terms - showing no fear, but also desperately trying not to show him how truly tempted she is by him. By his seductive voice, by his beautiful hands, his handsome body and face, his touch... and his kisses. For she cannot afford to lose her heart, and never to an Englishman. Besides, Wyndham is a scoundrel and a rake... isn't he? Wyndham is, in fact, far from being either, as any reader who hasn't already read Illusion will find out gradually as the book advances. Nothing he does is without a cause: to help a friend, to try to win back the wife he has persuades himself he loves, for the sake of his country. As for Catriona, he is tempted by her and intrigued by the mystery she presents, for he knows very well that there is something else behind her thin story about a fatherless, motherless boy. And so they embark on an intimate journey together, facing danger, facing trials... and facing temptation. But in the end, whose heart is most at risk? Catriona's - or Dominic's? I didn't find this book quite as compelling as Illusion; the dramatic plot wasn't as gripping as that in the earlier book - the need to rescue the baby didn't really have the same interest for me. Yet Dominic and Catriona are similarly complex and driven by demons as were Nigel and Frances in Illusion - and fans of the earlier book will get the opportunity to see them again in this. So still a five-star review, but Illusion definitely has the edge. wmr-uk
Rating:
Summary: A bright new star is here!!
Review: Flowers is a passionate love story about two people who love but don't dare trust each other. Set after the Napoleonic Wars, the hero returns to be scorned by society and yet retains his nobility of spirit. The heroine is full of pride for her people in the Highlands of Scotland and not above using anything and anyone to save them. The development of the love between these two while each is working on their separate agenda is rich in details and adventure. This is one good read--Ms. Ewing is an author to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written romance
Review: Flowers Under Ice brings to life some of the great elements of romance... vivid characters, an intriguing plot with action and adventure that are never boring, a beautiful setting and, oh yes, ever growing romance and passion. Jean Ross Ewing has a flair for language and knows how to strike sparks between a determined heroine and a witty, wicked rake hero. Don't miss a great read!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, Absorbing, Couldn't put it down --
Review: I am sad that Jean Ross Ewing does not have more books in print, but I hope she writes many new ones in the future. This book was beautiful and better written than most. I loved the detailed ending.
Rating: 
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable read
Review: I do wish they had a different rating system, this book was better than average (a 3 star) but not quite up to a four star rating. Dominic and Catriona are embroiled in an interesting tale held in the Scottish Highlands and set in Regency times. I really enjoyed the plot and both the hero and heroine, but there was just something in the writing style that I couldn't quite grasp. Usually a story just flows over me, drawing me in. With Flowers Under Ice, I felt as if I was dragged, pulled and pushed in. Although the characters are well defined and great to read about, as are the descriptions of the Highlands, the people living there and their plight in the three quarters of a century following the defeat at Cullodon, each segue was rough. There are many times I got lost reading the dialogue and had to reread a section to get the gist of what happened. It was as if the characters were too smart for themselves, talking around one another, alluding to this and that. I don't necessarily need everything spelled out for me, but I do enjoy not having to fight to understand what is unfolding. Other times I got the impression that there was something going on, and I should know what that something was, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I was missing. Did I read over a paragraph too fast and miss something? When I went back to check, I could never find what it was. On the positive side, there are many literary references, both obvious and obscure, which even if you are not well read is great to read and learn about. Ms. Ewing is obviously a well-informed writer and takes great pains to bring the details together in her book. In that she succeeds magnificently. Loose threads from Illusions, the interaction of the secondary characters, the slow peeling away of the mysteries surrounding both Dominic and Catriona are wonderful to watch unfold. Despite my seemingly negative review, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this story and look forward to more writings from Ms. Ewing.
Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable read
Review: I do wish they had a different rating system, this book was better than average (a 3 star) but not quite up to a four star rating. Dominic and Catriona are embroiled in an interesting tale held in the Scottish Highlands and set in Regency times. I really enjoyed the plot and both the hero and heroine, but there was just something in the writing style that I couldn't quite grasp. Usually a story just flows over me, drawing me in. With Flowers Under Ice, I felt as if I was dragged, pulled and pushed in. Although the characters are well defined and great to read about, as are the descriptions of the Highlands, the people living there and their plight in the three quarters of a century following the defeat at Cullodon, each segue was rough. There are many times I got lost reading the dialogue and had to reread a section to get the gist of what happened. It was as if the characters were too smart for themselves, talking around one another, alluding to this and that. I don't necessarily need everything spelled out for me, but I do enjoy not having to fight to understand what is unfolding. Other times I got the impression that there was something going on, and I should know what that something was, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I was missing. Did I read over a paragraph too fast and miss something? When I went back to check, I could never find what it was. On the positive side, there are many literary references, both obvious and obscure, which even if you are not well read is great to read and learn about. Ms. Ewing is obviously a well-informed writer and takes great pains to bring the details together in her book. In that she succeeds magnificently. Loose threads from Illusions, the interaction of the secondary characters, the slow peeling away of the mysteries surrounding both Dominic and Catriona are wonderful to watch unfold. Despite my seemingly negative review, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this story and look forward to more writings from Ms. Ewing.
Rating:
Summary: This is a book you will want to read more than once!
Review: I have to say Ms. Ewing has created a magnificent hero in the person of Dominic Wyndham, a man classed as a notorious rake in London in the summer of l8l6, and a seker of thrills to rival those he experienced when a spy during the Napoleonic Wars. Underneath the rake's facade is quite a different man. I first met him in Ms. Ewing's first historical, ILLUSION, last year when the hero, Nigel Arundham, a master spy, befriended him along with his ladylove Frances. I was intrigued by Dominic then, and when I finaly had the pleasure of reading his tale of traveling to Scotland with the beautiful Highland lass, Catriona Sinclair to see about claiming a baby she said was his deceased wife's, I knew I had to read this the minute it hit the bookstores. Dominic declares the only way he will travel with Catriona is if she goes as his mistress and they explore the seven deadly sins along the way on the seven-day journey. There is more to Dominic than you would believe when the book first opens. In fact, there are many, many layers to both Dominic and Catriona, and as they are peeled back you will be astonished at what is uncovered. Catriona is strong of spirit, independent, and full of pride for her people. Of course, I was up late at night discovering all sorts of intiguing and fascinating things that involved family secrets, revenge, lost love, bonding with friends and strangers, and finally an exquisite love that defies everything in its path. Ms. Ewing's talent as a writer is showcased by her masterstroke of characterization, excellent plotting, and her words are like jewels sparkling and shimmering in their beauty as her story begins in England and unfolds in the heather on the hills of bonnie Scotland. This is a powerful book you don't want to miss! When you finish it I know you will be racing out to get the first book, ILLUSION, and believe me you won't be sorry you have done so - even though you don't need to read ILLUSION first to love FLOWERS UNDER ICE. I was never so glad in my life to be able to sit back and enjoy a story that is so entertaining, well researched and well written. It is also breathtaking to behold a hero who never gives up for a minute, whether it be fighting or loving. Now that's my kind of man! "Jean Ross Ewing deserves a solid gold coronet studded in diamonds for writing FLOWERS UNDER ICE." Suzanne Coleburn
Rating:
Summary: Passionate and exciting romance fiction
Review: I read this book because Romantic Times listed it as one of the 200 best romances of the last 20 years. It's good but I don't think it's all that good. Basically, the first quarter of the book is pretty conventional Regency farce including a rather absurd section on a day for each of the seven sins. Also, Dominic is a pretty self-centered jerk in the early pages. The book improves as the setting shifts to Scotland and Catronia's true mission (one with considerably more worth than her original story) emerges. The book is probably at its best when exploring the politics of Scotland in the early 19th century. The romance plot worked reasonably well but was nothing exceptional. Bottom-line: Five stars for Scottish history and politics and three stars for a so-so romance = four stars overall.
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