Beneath the Willow [Paperback]

Kenna White (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 191 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books; 1 edition (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594930538
• ISBN-13: 978-1594930539
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #846,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read - Needs Improvement Though, May 25, 2006

By 

P. Bigelow (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beneath the Willow (Paperback)

The plot is as described elsewhere.

I can understand being fearful of loving again after tragically losing one's lover. But eventually the fear should lessen some to allow for the possibility of letting someone in. In Paris' case, it rages on and on to the point that she pushes Sloan away over and over. Sloan for her part, despite being an intelligent woman, continues to return so she can be pushed away again.

I wanted to like these characters, but they weren't written well enough to care about.

The author has real potential - her scenes of Barney in the house are quite good. Her descriptions of Missouri in the summer are beautifully drawn. Once she gets characterization down and combines them with her other obvious writing talents, she will be an excellent writer.

I will continue to read the author hoping her talent develops, but will quit after the third book if there is no improvement because there are just too many excellent writers writing lesbian fiction to put up with mediocrity - authors like Radclyffe, Gerri Hill, and Ronica Black.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rekindling an Unknown Lost Love..., September 19, 2006

By 

K. Johnson (Twin Cities, MN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beneath the Willow (Paperback)

Having enjoyed Kenna White's first book, `Shared Winds,' this reader looked forward to reading `Beneath the Willow.' The book proved to be an enjoyable read with interesting characters and an engaging story line. However, when compared to `Shared Winds,' it's a little disappointing.

Main characters Paris and Sloan are both strong, admirable women. Paris has been lamenting the death of her long-time partner, Gabriella, in the events of 9/11. She seems to be existing in a black hole devoid of emotion and filled with long hours running her cardiology practice in New York. Friends and family have been unable to pull her back into the real world. Paris heads to Missouri to handle some business dealings regarding her late grandmother's house, but finds herself mixed up with a shady property manager and rekindling an adolescent romance she didn't even know existed. Resisting the pull of her heartstrings, Paris doesn't know how to handle her conflicted emotions. She wants to run back to her safe life in the big city, but also aches to find solace in Sloan's arms.

Great story, but that's where things start to break down a little. The property manager is more a distraction than necessary. Paris stands up to him, but doesn't really come across as the powerful woman seen in the rest of the book. The story itself has several minor inconsistencies that are distracting as well. These are mostly timeline issues and physical descriptions, but things that should have been caught and corrected nonetheless. It is this lack of attention to detail that made the story a slightly lower quality than `Shared Winds' in this reader's mind.

This is an enjoyable book I'd easily recommend to friends. It's only White's second book, but she has a raw talent that could easily develop into a masterful art. Keep writing Kenna!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable romance - I ended up reading the novel in one evening, May 25, 2006

By 

E. B. MULLIGAN "Bronwyn" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beneath the Willow (Paperback)

The story flowed readily. The characters that populate it are wonderfully endearing and unique, they are fully fleshed out and become very real to the reader. Paris has some issues to overcome to be whole before they can have a relationship. I liked them both from the get go and liked them even more as the story progressed.

I especially enjoyed the delightful flashbacks to their shared childhood and also the current day interactions with Sloan's young nieces.

The humor in the writing was laugh out loud funny at times.

The review by MystBear makes some good points.

I don't want to spoil the ending but I was disappointed by the characters actions towards each other in the last chapters. I expected more self respect from Lindsey and more empathy for their lover from Paris. Otherwise it was a very good read.