Ashes in the Wind [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

Historical RomanceLarge Print EditionIn a brutal baptism of fire, a young nation comes of age and beautiful, proud, plantation-bred Alaina MacGaren seeks sanctuary from the devastation of her homeland in the passionate embrace of a handsome enemy. Through the conflict that divides North and South, Cole Latimer has served the Union faithfully. But a tender heart threatens the Yankee surgeon, impelling him to risk everything for the bewitching Southerner he has sworn to protect and aches to love.With over 36 million copies of her novels in print, Kathleen Woodiwiss is one of Americas best-loved authors.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

(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.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Intrepid young Alaina already knows the handsome Yankee captain, but in her disguise as a boy, she cannot allow her womanly reaction to the virile army surgeon to betray her. But one tempestuous night Cole finds himself in a Southern plantation, with a beautiful woman he does not recognize, and Alaina's defenses are bombarded in ways she had never thought possible.

Bright moonlight streamed in through the parted curtains, lightening the room until all was visible. Though the lingering essence of intoxicants still clouded his brain, Cole became aware of the woman who leaned against the door. His mind felt slow and listless, and he could find no reason for what he saw, nor could he explain his presence in a strange bedroom. His situation struck him as extremely precarious. For all he knew he might momentarily find himself confronted by an outraged husband or an irate father bent on restoring his daughter's honor.

"Ma'am," he began, sorely chafed at the thickness of his tongue. "I fear I have intruded."

Alaina realized escape was impossible, and knew she would have to brazen it out.

Her soft laughter broke the silence of the room. "Surely you haven't decided to leave us after you vowed to stay the night, Captain. Can it be that you have forgotten so soon?" She mimicked the relaxed familiarity of the most successful courtesan and her voice was as honey, smooth and cultured. The deception seemed simple enough; she could play this part as successfully as that of ragged urchin. Yet she was thankful for the shadow that shrouded Cole's nakedness, for the game might have dissolved in her own embarrassment and flight.

Alaina remembered her uncle had kept a decanter of brandy hidden away in the guest room, and she went to search the bureau for it. This was no time for the captain to sober up. If he would just drink enough and go back to bed, she was sure he would sleep the night through.

As she passed before the window, a shaft of silvery moonlight penetrated her garments. The slim but well-curved figure whet Cole's appetite and imagination no small amount. The lust flared through his starved senses, and he felt a familiar tightening in his loins.

"Here, Captain," the silky voice urged as the woman came back. "Have another drink." Alaina pressed a water glass, liberally filled with brandy, into his hand, then slipped quickly away as he reached for her. Her soft laughter teased him. "Drink first, Captain."

Cole lifted the glass and tasted deeply of its contents. He was rather pleased at its quality but accepted that too as logical. In the captive city, brothels were the only establishments that continued to operate affluently, and it was evident that this one was a step above the others he had seen.

"Now really, Captain." She rested a hand on his furred chest and pushed him back lightly. "You should return to bed. There's a chill in the air, and you'll surely catch your death." Cole tried to focus on her face, but it was only a vague blur. "I've an errand to do downstairs, but it won't take long, then I'll be back."

The idea was not to Cole's liking. He finished the brandy in an impatient gulp, hardly feeling its warmth with the heat that already throbbed through his veins, and set the glass aside.

"You rest yourself a moment, Captain," Alaina coaxed softly, moving away. "I really must be about my errand."

Cole cursed his stumbling gait but caught her arm as she reached the door. Alaina looked up at him in surprise, not daring to speak. Her heart pounded turbulently within her bosom. He seemed so tall and immense as he loomed over her like a threatening dark avenger.

"A kiss I would have," he murmured thickly, "lest I grow weary of the wait. Come." He pulled her hard against his chest. "Give me a sampling of your wares that I might better anticipate your return."

She found her lips entrapped with his, and though they were soft and gentle, they flamed with a fiery heat that warmed her whole body. Her eyes closed and the strength of his embrace, the brandy taste of his mouth, the hard pressure of his loins made her all too aware that this was a strong, living, healthy man, that he was treating her like a woman, indeed desiring her. Her head swam as he drew back slightly, and she wondered vaguely if she might swoon. In the quiet moment that passed between them, she tried to still the violent tremor that had seized her. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 954 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr; Lrg edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786209488
• ISBN-13: 978-0786209484
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (113 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #302,592 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With more than thirty-six million copies of her bestselling novels already in print, Kathleen E. Woodiwiess remains one of America's most successful and beloved storytellers. She is the author of twelve enormously successful masterworks of romantic fiction, including The Flame and the Flower, Shanna, Ashes in the Wind, Petals on the River, and The Elusive Flame.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Civil War romance!, December 17, 2005

By 

CoffeeGurl - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Ashes in the Wind (Paperback)

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is a guilty pleasure for me and her novels are either a hit or a miss. I had recently read A Rose in Winter, Shanna, The Wolf and the Dove and The Flame and the Flower and enjoyed them all except for The Flame and the Flower. I was a bit wary of reading Ashes in the Wind because I have never given a Woodiwiss novel more than three stars. This one, however, gets four stars because it is such a well-told, vivid and beautiful Civil War romance and I couldn't put it down. In 1863, the South is in a state of shambles. The Yankees have taken over the plantations and ruined the lives of its inhabitants, especially the life of Alaina MacGaren, who is forced to flee her home in the guise of a young lad after she is falsely accused of being a rebel spy. She hopes to arrive safely to her uncle's house in New Orleans. However, things don't go as planned. During her journey to New Orleans, she meets a dashing Yankee, a captain/surgeon of the Union Army, and she starts to work for him. Cole Latimer is both amused and exasperated with the spirited, trouble-making boy. So imagine his surprise when he discovers that the dirty-faced boy is actually a beautiful and sensual southern belle whose sole determination is to recapture a semblance of her former life. Alaina can no longer hide the attraction she feels for the handsome Yankee. Will she yield to him, even if it means loving the enemy? There are various twists throughout the novel.

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss had books in which their heroines were described as "strong-willed" and "spirited," yet most of them did not strike me as such. However, Alaina is definitely a strong heroine who is able to adapt and handle every situation that is thrown at her. Her strength and determination are admirable and she doesn't possess the slightest inclination to being a "ninny." Even though her constant rantings to Cole for being a Yankee got old after a while, I enjoyed the fact that she challenged Cole during various situations and is able to outsmart him to boot. Cole is a great hero. He fights for the Union Army and yet feels a great deal of sympathy and compassion for the Confederates. He is my idea of the perfect romance hero -- complex, gentle, sensual, at times temperamental, but with a heart of gold. This is also the first Woodiwiss novel in which the protagonists and other characters have a great deal of depth and the protagonists' feelings for each other go beyond physical attraction. As for the story, it is wonderfully told. Woodiwiss has great attention to detail and the historical references are quite accurate and palpable. The author knows her Civil War history, that's for sure! The dialogue, however, is a different matter. The whole "Yessah, nossah" southern accent was difficult to read at times. Also, I have heard people compare this book with Gone with the Wind. Gone with the Wind is incomparable in my opinion, and if someone is similar to Scarlett O'Hara in this novel it is Roberta, Alaina's cousin. Roberta is a beautiful southern belle with a backbone of steel and the predatory ways of a cat in getting what she wants, very similar to Scarlett. The one good thing about this book, unlike Gone with the Wind, is that the author does not stereotype the black slaves, at least she doesn't do so excessively. Anyway, Ashes in the Wind is a beautiful and moving historical romance and, in my opinion, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's best written novel I've read to date. There are some errors here that were found in her other novels -- word repetitions, too much purple prose, long-winded -- but they were easy to overlook this time. The story is that engrossing! I recommend this gem.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still one of the best Civil War romances ever, August 11, 2004

By 

Fruit Loop (Down South) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ashes in the Wind (Paperback)

This is a fabulous romance novel, with fascinating characters, set against the tragedy of the Civil War. Many women are known to have disguised themselves as men to fight - Alaina disguises herself for survival and meets the love of her life. How nice to read a Civil War novel in which real research was done by someone who knows the period. I keep hoping for a sequel - whatever happens to Alaina's brother Jason after the war?

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ashes in the wind-again and again!, December 6, 1999

By 

terryjo "terryjo" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ashes in the Wind (Paperback)

Kathleen E Woodiwiss is the MASTER of romance. I started reading her 20 years ago. Ashes in the Wind is a book that you can read over and over again and still read again! People ask me why I read this book over and over. My answer-Why do you watch a favorite movie over again. When you read Ashes, you don't want it to end. Just like Woodiwiss' other books. If you want a romantic escape, this is your book. You are hooked before the first chapter is over...Then you can't put it down! I wish I could give it 100 stars.