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    The Flame and the Flower
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    The Flame and the Flower
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    The Flame and the Flower
    Ebook570 pages9 hours

    The Flame and the Flower

    By Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMar 17, 2009
    ISBN9780061743696
    Unavailable
    The Flame and the Flower
    Author

    Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

    (1939 - 2007) Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, creator of the modern historical romance, died July 6, 2007 in Minnesota. She had just turned 68. Her attorney, William Messerlie, said that she died after a long illness. Born on June 3, 1939 in Alexandria, Louisiana, Mrs. Woodiwiss was the youngest of eight siblings. She long relished creating original narratives, and by age six was telling herself stories at night to help herself fall asleep. At age 16, she met U.S. Air Force Second Lieutenant Ross Woodiwiss at a dance, and they married the following year. She wrote her first book in longhand while living at a military outpost in Japan. Woodiwiss is credited with the invention of the modern historical romance novel: in 1972, she released The Flame and the Flower, an instant New York Times bestseller, creating literary precedent. The Flame and the Flower revolutionized mainstream publishing, featuring an epic historical romance with a strong heroine and impassioned sex scenes. ""Kathleeen E. Woodiwiss is the founding mother of the historical romance genre,"" says Carrie Feron, vice president/editorial director of William Morrow and Avon Books, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers. Feron, who has been Woodiwiss's editor for 13 years, continues, ""Avon Books is proud to have been Kathleen's sole publishing partner for her paperbacks and hardcover novels for more than three decades."" Avon Books, a leader in the historical romance genre to this day, remains Mrs. Woodiwiss's original and only paperback publisher; William Morrow, Avon's sister company, publishes Mrs. Woodiwiss's hardcovers. The Flame and the Flower was rejected by agents and hardcover publishers, who deemed it as ""too long"" at 600 pages. Rather than follow the advice of the rejection letters and rewrite the novel, Mrs. Woodiwiss instead submitted it to paperback publishers. The first publisher on her list, Avon, quickly purchased the novel and arranged an initial 500,000 print run. The novel sold over 2.3 million copies in its first four years of publication. The success of this novel prompted a new style of writing romance, concentrating primarily on historical fiction tracking the monogamous relationship between a helpless heroines and the hero who rescued her, even if he had been the one to place her in danger. The romance novels which followed in her example featured longer plots, more controversial situations and characters, and more intimate and steamy sex scenes. ""Her words engendered an incredible passion among readers,"" notes Feron. Bestselling author Julia Quinn agrees, saying, ""Woodiwiss made women want to read. She gave them an alternative to Westerns and hard-boiled police procedurals. When I was growing up, I saw my mother and grandmother reading and enjoying romances, and when I was old enough to read them myself, I felt as if I had been admitted into a special sisterhood of reading women."" New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips, a leading voice in the women's fiction arena, says, ""We all owe our careers to her. She opened the world of romance to us as readers. She created a career for us to go into."" The pioneering author has written 13 novels over the course of 35 years, all New York Times bestsellers. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's final literary work, the upcoming Everlasing, will be published by William Morrow in October 2007. ""Everlasting is Kathleen's final gift to her fans,"" notes Feron. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, who was predeceased by her husband and son Dorren, is survived by sons Sean and Heath, and numerous grandchildren.

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    Reviews for The Flame and the Flower

    4/5

    63 ratings22 reviews

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    • 1/5
      DNF after a couple chapters, due to a wtf scene of rape by the hero of the heroine. Completely disgusting.
    • 4/5
      Good story but little lengthy . I liked it but little too descriptive.
    • 3/5
      This was my second book I read by this author and I found elements of the story to be almost like reading the other one (though its actually the other way around with this being her first novel). Anyway despite the shaky start it does get better. I found the story quite slow and for me I could easily put it down despite loving historical romances.
    • 4/5
      Kathleen E. Woodiwiss was my favourite "trashy novel" writer in my 20s and I still love her. Flame and the Flower is my favourite. Now that I am older and yearn for passion again, I look forward to reading some of my old favourites, and those I never got to.
    • 3/5
      One of the best I've read. Even thought it started out a bit nervous because the main "hero" raping the heroine. The author kept to the times of the romance. Not all broken women are strong by themselves.
    • 5/5
      I read this book about twenty years ago and I loved it. I was a teen then and even though I'm a wife, mother and author now, I still love the story.I'm so sick of people believing that every female character has to be strong. In that era women answered to their husbands and rape of that sort was prevalent. Pregnancy outside of marriage was taboo so it made sense that they married.

      The scheme of writing back then may not have been as thorough as it is now and yes they may be a few plot holes, but the story was genuine and real.

      The one thing I didn't like was that after Brandon confessed his love Heather still kept secrets about the dressmaker blackmailing her.

      Overall a good read for me.
    • 1/5
      This book actually sickens me. Romance and love is supposed to be respectful as well as all those good stuff. Reading romance novels have always made me feel good things. the amount of sexist disregard for the supposed heroin is disgusting. How could anyone write such horrid things and create a love story. The male protagonist (he DOES NOT DESERVE TITLE OF HERO) is vile and has no respect for the the girl. Even though it is a historical novel does not give the author to create such a sexistpeice of work. I was shocked to find out so many people would give this story 5 stars. THIS book should be burned!
    • 3/5
      Interesting well-written historical romance. Heather was a little bit irritating as a character because I don't like simpering helpless females, but she grows a little backbone in the end...
    • 4/5
      Heather Simmons once lived in London with her father, wearing nice clothes and always have plenty food to eat. But her father was deep in his grief for his late Irish wife, Heather's mother. Now two years later, after losing him and being forced to come to live with her aunt and uncle, she now is their servant. All her belongings sold, except for one nice dress she isn't allowed to wear unless her aunt deems it necessary. An aunt who has no friends and is very bitter and a shrew of a woman. But then circumstances change, and she heads to London with her aunt and her brother, whom tries to force himself on her, and so she defends herself, thinking that she has killed him, flees from the scene, and finds herself taken onto Captain Brandon Birmingham's ship.The Flame and the Flower is the first in the first in the Birmingham series. I think it was back in High School since I have read this one, so it was wonderful to read such a story such as this once again. There were many things that I had forgotten about it, and bit and pieces that left me surprised and delighted at the same time. This is a story of two people that seem complete opposite from the very beginning, however throughout the story we see how love can heal and build a trust. I truly loved both of these characters, however what I didn;t like was Brandon's character at the beginning of the book. But his edges got smoothed out throughout the rest of the book, so it was wonderful to see a change in this character. I found The Flame and the Flower to be a Sensational Romance which swept me off of my feet from beginning to end!!
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars. Not very politically correct these days but I really loved it and I've re-read it a number of times. The forced seduction at the beginning is not my thing these days but I do love the latter part of the book and how Brandon stood up for Heather to slutty Louisa. Plus is has the memorable line "Madam, you will ride this night after all" and he wasn't talking about a horse if you get my drift. :)
    • 5/5
      I first read this book in 1975. I had just graduated high school and was looking for something to read. The story rocked my world becuase it was so different from anything I had read up to that point. I have read all of the books that Ms. Woodiwiss published and have loved all most all of them and enjoyed the rest. I will warn younger readers that this is one of those bodice rippers that became very popular in the 70's and 80's. While it is fairly mild in sexual content it was very racy at the time. I love the interaction of the characters as they learn to accept one another and come to terms with their new realities. I also enjoyed that Ms. Woodiwiss did her homework and provide and slice of history for all to enjoy as they read the book. This is a well written story that is worth the time.
    • 2/5
      One of the first romance books I read in another life - LOL. Just the thought of books like these make me shudder. But I suppose at a certain age (adolescence) they serve a purpose.
    • 1/5
      I found this book off a 3 for a $1 table at a book store. I then got a ten percent discount on it. I still feel I over paid.The writing is abysmal. The "romance" starts off with the hero raping the heroine, and that's about as far as I got.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite Bodice Ripper. Loved it.Ps. Rape scenes...... some readers may find it unpalatable.
    • 4/5
      1st romance i read at about 15 i loved it
    • 5/5
      This is one of the best books I have ever read from Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I fell in love with it the first time I read it..
    • 1/5
      Rating: 0 Stars out of 5This was my first experience with a true "bodice ripper" and it will be my last. In the first chapter the heroine kills a man defending herself from attempted rape, runs for her life and ends up with the "hero" who then rapes her himself, repeatedly. And I don't mean a case of "your lips say no but your eyes say yes", I mean lips, eyes, fists and feet all say no. I didn't make it to chapter two. I skimmed a few pages here and there through the rest of the book. I actually found it very disturbing. Millions of copies of this book have been sold? Why?? There was a time when women actually found reading about rape-based relationships appealing?
    • 5/5
      I read this book the first time in 1974 and fell in love with it. I have reread it several times since then and I still love it. I recomend it for those of you who are interested in an entertaining love story.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book that I have read by this author and I could read it again and again. I loved the plot and the love story as well as the main characters that were so entertaining. I was absorbed by the feelings of Heather and Brandon that seem to jump off the page to me.I have to put this at the top of my all-time favorite list.
    • 1/5
      Yeah well, I think it's the first and last time I'll ever read a book by this author. The main girl is simply an empty shell. Apart from her beauty there's absolutely nothing to see - She sure loves clothes, she's sooooooo vain - and the main guy is completely laughable.This would put off anybody but since I wanted to read this book for the sake of knowledge - heard she "revolutionized" the romance genre with this one.I still had to know the end of the love story of a girl who was raped by a handsome man and who fell in love with him. We all would like to be raped, have a violent and authoritarian husband who would only be interested in "the curve of our bosom", "the curve of our thighs" and " the curve of our buttocks" and care only for our baby and our wonderful husband. After all, a woman is only good for weaving and making herself pretty. And Brandon is so generous, he doesn't care if she's stupid, she knows how to look with admiration at her husband and is good looking! He can boast everywhere the pretty thing is his, HA! Not to forget, he buys her CLOTHES! God! Women are so easy to please.I'm not even speaking about the way she speaks of slaves as "servants".I personally doubt Blacks looked in awe at the "generosity of their masters" and that their Masters' happiness was their happiness. Well there is Hati, the old Black governess, she's apparently treated like family and can express herself freely in the house EVEN if she disapproves of her master, she can even MAKE FUN of him OPENLY: Yeah well, I COMPLETELY BUY IT! If you set your story in 1799, please make it realistic, this is ridiculous!There's that very funny passage when Hati criticizes a white man who apparently had been living a rather depraved life, anyway in front of her master she says " White trash, that's what he is."Yeah right. One thing I know for sure, is that even the filthiest White was always less filthy than the most proper Black. And even if the "master" agreed, do you seriously believe he would have supported a Black saying that? Come On, get real! Let's say the story was set in the North, Northern People weren't that tolerant, they may have been against slavery, but still, Blacks are Blacks, Whites are Whites right? Cruelty's wrong, but still you have to keep them at their place.It was pure torture to finish that one. I would give that book an "A" and a "D" all together for "Abysmally Dreadful". Can't believe more than 2 million copies got sold when it first got out. Boring and completely superficial.
    • 2/5
      I loved this book when I first read it. I was in high school at the time, and thought it was the sexiest thing ever! Not to sure if I'd like it still, but I'd read it several times when I was younger.But if you just want to kick back and relax with a book, this would be a good pick.
    • 3/5
      A young lady who has been raised by an abusive stepmother since the death of her parents is overjoyed when she gets a chance to leave her home and travel to London with a cousin. This lady is extraordinarily beautiful and it seems that all the males she meets immediately want to rape her, including her cousin. She manages to get away from him but is then nabbed by a couple of guys (who think she is a prositute) and taken to a ship where she is raped by the dashing captain. The rest of the book is how they manage to overcome this awkward beginning and eventually find true love with each other--or at least true appreciation for each others physical attractiveness. To do this they have to overcome being forced to marry because the gal gets pregnant and all the rival males in America (where the captain lives) who want to forcibly take his new bride.I don't know what to say about this book except that if this type of story about romance based on the purely physical appeals to you then give it a try.