Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

The Smart Bitches call The Flame and the Flower, published in 1972, the "clearest predecessor we can find for the modern romance novel" (BHB, p 11).

Clearly Old Skool, it's a true bodice-ripper with an arrogant, and much older, hero "brought low by the power of love" (BHB, p 11).

Read on, if you dare, and come back and join our discussion.

Avg Rating on Goodreads: 4.04

Book description on goodreads:
The Flower
Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence--until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger.

The Flame

A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . .and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

TRY IT OUT:
The publisher (Harper Collins) lets you read the first 91 pages online for free :)

http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780380005253

Read it ages ago My fav by her is ashes in the wind

I haven't read this author yet. I'll admit to a bit of fear engendered by BHB's Old Skool comments. :O)

I read this a long time ago, but it didn't leave much of an impression unlike her The Wolf and the Dove and of course my fave, A Rose in Winter.

Pretty, flowery prose is what I can remember best of her works. For a long time, she was an auto-read author for me.

I'd like to read this one. I can't remember if I've read any other books by her than Shanna.

Shanna was pretty popular, but its the few of her books that I didn't like the heroine at all. Shanna just rubbed me the wrong way.

Shanna was very annoying. I liked Ruark, which is why I liked the book.

I thouh Shanna was a good read I read it 2xs but i am a fan of her for years.

I'm a big Woodiwiss fan, too, Terri. I know Shanna was pretty popular, so I'm not surprised you enjoyed it. :)

Christopher Seton from A Rose in Winter is my favorite Woodiwiss hero.

She was the very first mass market romance author I read back in 1982. The four books she had written at that time, F&F, Shanna, Wolf & Dove and Ashes in the Wind all had these day-glo color covers that just jumped out at you from the shelf. I remember being fascinated by them for months before getting the courage to actually buy one and read it (I was 16 at the time). It was The Wolf and the Dove and to this day it is still my favorite Woodiwiss. A Rose in Winter comes in a close second.

And the Smart Bitches are right, The Flame and the Flower is pretty much universally credited with being the book that set the standard for the modern romance novel.

A rose in winter was also very good most of her stories I have read 2x

I've just checked my local library and Yes! they've got it - one copy - and it's out, but due in about one week from now. So I've reserved it and hopefully it will be returned on time.

The library's just emailed, it's been returned, now to find the time to get there amidst all the public holidays for NY. Hopefully, I'll be reading this book soon and find out what all the hype is about. (Still waiting on BHB - it's in the mail from UK).

I read this book in high school. I LOVED this book. I read the book so many times it was falling apart. I actually talked my mom into reading this book.She also loved the book.

I worked this book into one of my other challenges, so I will be reading and commenting on (hopefully early in the month) :)

I have the title in hand. It's not as long as I expected, so I'm going to try to work it in early in the month as well. :O)

I have all of Kathleen Woodiwiss' earlier books, so rereading this one just involves a trip to the bookcase. This was not my favorite Woodiwiss - that is Ashes in the Wind, followed by The Wolf and the Dove & A Rose in Winter - but I have read it more than once.

Looking forward to discussing this

you did not like ashes in the wind???? The wolf and the dove was a little slow a rose in winter was a great story too. let me know

Terri wrote: "you did not like ashes in the wind???? The wolf and the dove was a little slow a rose in winter was a great story too. let me know"

No! No! Terri - Ashes in the Wind is my absolute favorite!!! I worded that sentence badly - what I meant was that TFaTF was not my favorite, but that I loved the others I mentioned. The Wolf and the Dove was such a totally different setting, but I love medievals, so it didn't seem slow to me at all.

I agree it was a different story wolf and dove. Ashes in the wind is my fav book well one of mine.

I'm 1/4 of the way through reading this. I can see why some people will hate this book, but I have to say I don't dislike it so far.

I've actually been surprised that the intimate scenes haven't been overly flowery so far. I was expecting lots of purple prose.

I am interested to see how the story will progress. I have just had the marriage night take place.

what is this book that you are reading ??

Terri wrote: "what is this book that you are reading ??"

The Flame and the Flower :)

I finished the book. I have lots of mixed feelings about it.

I posted my review here.

One of my favorite scenes was the heroine when she was about to give birth. I thought it was endearing.

I finished this today. I enjoyed this much more than I expected to because I knew that the hero rapes the herione in the beginning. However, I just loved the characters (even Brandon) loved the development of the love story, loved the overall feel of the book. There is some silly overly flowery language at times and the characters talking to themselves was odd, but I just loved it anyway. I might be alone in this :) I think I will be reading more Kathleen Woodiwiss.

Jennefer wrote: "I finished this today. I enjoyed this much more than I expected to because I knew that the hero rapes the herione in the beginning. However, I just loved the characters (even Brandon) loved the de..."

If you are planning to read more Woodiwiss books, be sure to read A Rose in Winter. That's my favorite among her books. : )

Yz the Whyz wrote: "If you are planning to read more Woodiwiss books, be sure to read A Rose in Winter. That's my favorite among her books. : )
"

Its going on my TBR list right now! :) Thanks for the rec Yz!

This was the very first romance I ever read and to this day still stands as one of my favorites.

Can't ever get rid of my copy of this book. I have read it at least 10 times and it is a comfort read that will always top my list of favorites along with The Wolf and the Dove.

I read The Flame and The Flower years ago, and it was my favorite book by her (though Ashes in the Wind is a close second).

Has anyone read The Elusive Flame? It's the sequel, Beau (their son) is the H. I haven't read it.