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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Civil War romance!,
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,
By
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!,
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.
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