As today we are remembering Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, a contest is in order.
Reply to any post today (including this one) with the tag Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and you’ll be entered to win one of the following four classic Woodiwiss books:
To be entered your comment on any post must be dated before Wednesday October 24, 2007 at midnight CST.
And since Sybil has yet to read a Woodiwiss book, tell her which one is your favorite Woodiwiss and why. So that the rest of us ducks can get her to read it. ‘Cause if you can’t tell A Rose in Winter is my favorite, though later today there will be another Retro Review, of Ashes in the Wind, a book which I would definitely place at number two.
What’s your favorite Woodiwiss book? Why? Characters you wish could have gotten their own books? Tell us all your favorite bits about Woodiwiss’ books!
I too haven’t read any of Kathleen’s books, but one of my best friends keeps recommending Shanna and The Wolf and The Dove to me
I haven’t read any of Kathleen’s books ~ although I do own A Rose in Winter. I just haven’t gotten around to reading it yet.
Never read any of the Kathleen E. Woodiwiss books, but they look interesting!
Sybil hasn’t read a Woodiwiss? *gasp*
I might faint. Seriously.
The Flame and The Flower is my all time favorite. It was also the first romance I ever read. And I still love it today, will still pull it off my keeper shelf now and then for a comfort read. Watching Heather grow from a child to a woman, to be able to forgive Brandon, to take charge of the Birmingham family and especially her man, is the true measure of a strong woman. And Brandon’s transformation from an uncaring, unfeeling bastard into a man who truly, deeply loves his wife still warms my heart.
*sigh*
Though there are so many of her books I adore. Rose in Winter was incredible. Ashes in the Wind, Shanna…..
now I want to go have a Woodiwiss reading fest.
I must be put in the category of never having read a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss book as well. But remember years ago when friends were whispering about The Wolf and the Dove.
Sybil and I have something in common. I too have never read Woodiwiss. I am a bad romance reader! :0
I’ve never read any of her books either. They do sound good though.
I’m rather surprised by the fact that some people haven’t read her. Get on it people! 🙂
She’s among the first romance writers I ever read, along with JAK, Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsay.
I have to say Ashes in the Wind and the Flame and the Flower are two of my favourites by her.
I believe my first one was The Flame and The Flower, but my all time favorite Woodiwiss has always been The Wolf and The Dove with Ashes in the Wind running a close second.
I’ve never been disappointed in one of her books and have read nearly every one.
Read The Wolf And The Dove, it’s her best one, ever!
I think I’m going to have to go reread some of them, too, it’s been far too long.
Lil
WHAT?! SYBIL!? Ashes in the Wind is my favorite, but also loved The Flame and the Flower.
I have never read one of her books either but have always meant to.
I’ve never read a Woodwiss but now I feel kinda guilty!! Many have recommended them to me but for some reason I haven’ picked one up…
NEVER READ WOODIWISS? Is this some weird alternate universe I’ve entered? Just kidding, particularly if you are relatively new to romance novels, you may not realize what a trailblazer she was. My first romance novel was the great SHANNA and from there I was hooked – until about the mid-80’s. A ROSE IN WINTER was the last of her’s that I really loved.
My fave is probably SHANNA, but ASHES IN THE WIND and THE WOLF AND THE DOVE follow closely. What I loved about SHANNA was really the hero, Ruark. He was supremely capable, had a sense of humor and a strong, yet not too cocky confidence that was really appealing. Yes, Shanna was a spoiled brat who couldn’t see the “prince charming” she had been seeking who had been standing right in front of her (Ruark), but she does eventually grow up and finally appreciate him in the end. And I loved her “partner in crime” Pitney – a lovably gruff man who tried (usually unsuccessfully) to keep the wayward Shanna on the straight and narrow.
The only secondary character that I ever wanted to get a book was Jeff Birmingham (first seen in THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER). Unfortunately when she finally wrote it, it was terrible IMHO. I couldn’t finish it. Ditto THE ELUSIVE FLAME about Heather and Brandon’s son, Beau.
No need to enter me into the contest. It would be better off going to someone who hasn’t read her *g*
I read Woodiwiss in my day and while at the time I thought they were great, trying to read one today doesn’t work for me. I tried a reread of Shanna a few years ago and was laughing through the whole thing at the luridness of it. The part that really cracked me up was when her nipples were described as impudent – which to me meant rather saucy and a bit of a rebel. My nipples aren’t like that let me tell you!
I didn’t think much of The Wolf and The Dove and as for The Flame and the Flower *shudder in revulsion*
But….. I admired her for being a pioneer. Without her blazing the trails, we might not have the books we have today. It’s kind of like comparing those old fuzzy black and white TV’s to today’s plazma TV’s. We needed the old B&W’s to have the wonder of advanced TV today.
I’ve only read The Flame and the Flower and A Rose in Winter. I loved both books, but The Flame and the Flower was my favorite. I loved that it had that epic romance feel and the way the romance took time to evolve throughout the book. It also had intrigue and a chill-inducing villain. It was brilliant,in my opinion. I would love to go back and read some of the other Woodiwiss books that I’ve missed. I’ve heard so many people recommend Shanna and Ashes in the Wind, that those would probably be the next two that I try out. 🙂
It surprises me too that so many have not read a Woodiwiss. She’s the author I cut my romance teeth with. I loved every one I read, but it has been 30 years since then and I don’t remember a lot about them, just that I loved them. Of course, I realize age may have something to do with the reason I liked them so much and maybe that’s why I hesitate today to read them again. I’ve changed, the times have changed, books definitely have changed. So my subconcious mind may be trying to tell me something. However, I guess it could also be said that a good book is a good book no matter what. And I’m wondering if age has anything to do with the fact that a lot of folks haven’t read her?? Could those who haven’t be younger than those of us who have? Or am I just full of it with that thought? LOL, keep your opinion on that last comment to yourselves, please!
I agree with Kristie. I loved Shanna and Ashes in the Wind when I first read them a bazillion years ago. When I tried to re-read I couldn’t stop giggling. The prose is sometimes beyond purple and unintentionally hilarious. But Sybil hearts Diana Palmer (why Sybil why?) so Shanna might work for her.
Well, I read them in High School which was ten years ago, so I don’t know if it’s an age thing or not. (I’m 24) I read them because my mother reccommended them as some of her favorites when I first started reading romance.
I think I’ll have to give A Rose in Winter a try. I tried to read The Wolf and the Dove. Oh how I tried. I just couldn’t get past page 50.
My fav. is Shanna without a doubt… I think I read it about 10 times and I am only 21!!
I love the heroine she is feisty, strong and the hero is amazing… everything we wnat a hero to be and he has a great sense of humour, and he has never stopped loving Shanna through out the book!!
My mom initiated me to this great author… and the one I love the most must be…drums…The Wolf and The Dove… becuase it is quite original and set in medieval times – I love reading about this era – and there is a scene at 3/4 of the book where the heroine tries to escape that is super nice… A must read 🙂
My mom loves Woodiwiss. When she lived overseas I had to go look for and buy all the books my mom hadn’t read by her and bring them over when I visited. I suspect her favorite is the Flame and the Flower, but I haven’t asked. In September I was in Barnes and Noble with her while she looked for the new Woodiwiss book and but she found out that it wasn’t out yet and got disappointed. I’ll probably buy it for her as soon as Oct 30th rolls around.
I didn’t like Wolf and the Dove. I admit it. Explain what makes it great to you so maybe I can love it too? 🙂
My two favs/re-reads are Shanna and Rose in Winter. I LOVE Ruark in Shanna. He is so strong yet tender/vulnerable, but Shanna is rather whiney (spelling). And I agree with Lawson that Erienne from Rose in Winter is a most excellent heroine. So I re-read each book when the mood strikes for different reasons.
My Mum passed on her love of The Wolf and the Dove to me. I reread it a few years ago and it was still enjoyable. The Flame and the Flower didn’t stand the test of time for me, but I keep it because it’s one of Mum’s favourites.
I think it’s really cool and also interesting how many of us discovered Woodiwiss through our moms. Like passing the torch to the younger generation. I wonder which faves we’ll be passing on to the next generation of readers. Who will be our Woodiwiss? SEP? Kleypas? Hmm . . .
Ooh, good question! I have too many favourites to choose. My kids might inherit an entire bookshelf. Each!
Flame and the Flower has a special place in my heart, because it was my first at the tender age of 13. However, if I had to recommend one, I think I’d pick Shanna, if only because it features the (sadly no longer in fashion) storyline of the forbidden love between a wealthy woman and her indentured man servant. Hawt.
CRAP. I have to chose one? And it’s been 20 years? Wolf and the Dove. I don’t get the squeemishness of folks about this book. Maybe I’m immune to the politically incorrectness of the story cuz back in the day, that’s what a romance book was like. I was in 9th grade when this book came out and my sister and I GOBBLED it up. Then read all the Woodiwiss we could get our hands on. Oh, I do so love me Rose in Winter, though. And Ashes in the Wind. Maybe a reread is in order?
My favorite of Woodiwiss would have to be SHANNA, but the heroine is rather annoying. It’s the hero, Roarke (wow, I remembered his name!) who stole my heart and made me put up with her. I haven’t had much success with her other books, I’m afraid, but then I haven’t tried reading anymore. I’ll have to dig around and see what other books of hers I have in my tbr pile. [exclude me from the contest please]
I have to admit that I have never read any of her books, but I’ve really only come back to reading for fun in the last year and half. With all these recommendations I am going to have to try her books.
man those books bring back memories. Especially loved Shanna