Customer Reviews

Everlasting CD

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Kathleen Woodiwiss introduced me to romance novels 30 years ago with Flame and the Flower and Wolf and the Dove. She is my all time number one favorite author. My all time favorite book is Shanna. So my disappointment with Everlasting is extreme. I found this book boring and was skimming by page 30. There was no characterization. All the characters seemed one dimensional. The dialog was stilted and cumbersome. I was so looking forward to her last book so I hate to say these things since we will never get another book by this fabulous author. If you are new to her books stick with the early ones and skip this one.

Everlasting is a wonderful,old-fashioned historical romance by the late, great writing talent Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. If you're a long-time fan such as I, you'll enjoy this tale of loss, betrayal, redemption and true love set in 1135 England. Raven Seabern, the hero, is one of my favorites. He would do anything for his love, Lady Abrielle, whether she deserves it or not. Luckily, Abrielle doesn't spend too much time being stubborn and grows from an uncertain girl frightened of her circumstances to a strong, compassionate woman. This is a lovely parting gift to fans from this unique and exceptionally talented author. She will be greatly missed but I am so glad she has shared, one last time, the beauty of her written word with all of us, her readers.

Her carer began over thirty years ago with her first novel The Flame and the Flower and The Wolf and the Dove Woodiwiss passed away recently, but we have one last opportunity to enjoy a new novel from her, the beautiful and memorable Everlasting The heroine of Everlasting Lady Abrielle, is lovely, bright and well-bred--the toast of the English royal court. Every nobleman wants to marry her. Yet when her stepfather loses a chance at great wealth, Abrielle no longer has money or property to bring to a marriage. Now, the only man who'll have her is a wealthy but cruel and vulgar brute rumored to have murdered his first two wives. Abrielle resigns herself to her duty--remember, back in those days, women had little to no choice in whom they wed.

Yet, if Abrielle could choose her mate, it'd be Raven Seabern, the dashing Scottish ambassador who can't seem to keep his stunning blue gaze from hers. Raven is considerate, yet masterful and nobody's fool. He awakens in Abrielle new emotions and sensations with one intimate dance and a single, stolen kiss. But one fateful night, Abrielle's fortune changes. A gruesome occurrence forces her to become a competent woman instead of an uncertain young maiden. And now Abrielle has to decide if she's ready for everything that goes along with getting exactly what one wishes for.

Everlasting is a lovely and engaging novel. It entices the reader with a charming central love story surrounded by intrigue, action and plenty of heroines in dire straits. An appealing and sweetly sensual final offering to readers who remain devastated by the loss of the author. And it is, perhaps, a gift to readers yet to discover the charm, passion and inspirational quality of her books. For discover her they shall. As long as women continue to support this magnificent genre, they will read--and pay homage to--the woman who made it possible. For fans of the genre I'd recommend reading, if you mised it, TIN0'S masterful novel: FATES. Fates

I can't believe this book was written by KEW! I have read and enjoyed her books for so long, I was excited to see a new one. This book reads like the outline of a book. The characters are flat, the details are skimped. One of the things I've always loved about her books is that I have felt transported in time reading them. For the most part, aside from a scant few historical references thrown in, I had no sense of the time setting. Someone gets sick, OH< all of a sudden the heroine is a healer...could this have been mentioned before? I am so sorry there won't be any new Woodiwiss books to look forward to. I wonder if this book was begun before the author's death, and put together by someone else after, if so, they have done her a grave disservice.

I haven't read romance novels in many decades, but when Kathleen Woodiwiss died recently, I had to get her last book just because I bought her first one back in the '70s and I was in the grip of nostalgia. I agree with the fans who were disappointed with Everlasting. It was not up to the Woodiwiss standard - and for good reason. Kathleen Woodiwiss didn't live long enough to do what is the most important part of writing a book - the editing and rewrites. To quote from a letter by her son Heath, as published on the Susan Wiggs website:
"Her final book is done, but not finished. We will be trying to polish it up for her. Her editor at Harper Collins has been a great source of stress for my Mom and the rest of us as well, so I am not sure how that will work out, but we are trying to get the book published as fast as possible. We all want this to be her greatest book ever."
So her son and unspecified others (we) are the ones who took Kathleen's raw book and "polished" it for her posthumously and under duress from her publisher. What a shame. We certainly can't blame Kathleen for the book that resulted from those circumstances. Let it be.

'Everlasting' follows the fortunes of Abrielle Harrington, a beautiful young woman whose fiancé died by falling down the stairs at his Keep a day before the wedding. Abrielle's mother Elspeth and stepfather Vachel have unfortunately fallen upon hard times and are virtually penniless. The heir to Abrielle's late fiancé, Desmond de Marlé, has conceived a passion for her and wants her - unfortunately Abrielle finds him repulsive. Since he inherited the de Marlé Keep the serfs have been badly treated and half starved.

The only person who interests Abrielle is Raven Seabern but he's a Scot so not appropriate for her, especially as he doesn't seem particularly interested in her, just seems to watch her. In the end, in order to save the family from penury, Abrielle agrees to marry Desmond de Marlé and counsels her stepfather to arrange the biggest payment possible for her - which he does.

Abrielle seems rather bad news as a potential wife. Her first fiancé died on the eve of the wedding, her second lasts slightly longer, but all too soon Abrielle is on her own again, this time with a great deal of money and with suitors flocking round her, as well as those who would do her evil trying to get at her. Throughout all this, Raven Seabern is a constant, often rescuing her or protecting her, and yet Abrielle doubts his motives. Can a Scotsman and a Saxon woman ever get along?

The writing style of this book is very simple with light descriptions of places and events, no very deep characterisation and a plot that was never very taxing. It's always easy to spot the 'baddies' as they smell or have rotting teeth or are fat; the 'goodies' are always attractive, clean, lean and with good teeth! The story is really a collection of events including kidnappings, sieges and rescues, through which Abrielle learns to trust Raven. It's a pleasant enough read but nothing special.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book, www.curledup.com. © Helen Hancox 2007

Although not her best work, the book is still worth the read, Compared to other garbage out there. further more I think it was more than well written despite the set backs Mrs. Woodiwiss was experiencing at the time she wrote this book, Her fatal Illness ( that cause her recent Death) and the death of her son. I doubt anyone would write more than two words in such perilous times, she was devoted to her many fans and still left us something before passing RIP. My everlasting devotion goes to her work now and always.
Iris

Note: this review contains overall feedback on Kathleen Woodiwiss in addition to her last and latest reviewed book, "Everlasting." I apologize for the length, but I felt the need to embellish. I learned that Kathleen Woodiwiss passed away about a week after her death and at the same time learned that she had a new novel coming out. Naturally being a long-time fan I was anxious to read her last story. Unfortunately, like many others, I was disappointed in the book and realize that it was the culmination of the downward spiral her writing had taken over the past several years. I had been reading KEW's works since 1979, approx 7 years after her first published novel "The Flame and the Flower." I received it plus "The Wolf and the Dove" and "Shanna" as a boxed set. I still have those original three books and cannot count how many times I had read them. Her writing style back then was superb. I used to pooh-pooh those who read "romance novels" thinking that these people had no lives or who were living vicariously through storybook fiction. I admit that once I started reading this genre, I too was hooked on it! I thoroughly enjoy escaping into the past and peeking into the lives of these characters. I lead a busy life as most people do and relish the time I have to myself, quietly reading, as an escape from the rat-race.

KEW was the first of several authors that I will read anything they publish. I enjoy a meaty novel with well developed characters, plots that are interesting but relatively believable, an emphasis on the historic time period and - of course- happy endings. I admire a strong heroine that is not portrayed as the anti-woman who so much needs to be validated in a man's world that she does everything from dueling and espionage to sword-fights and miracle-healing! (some of the attributes these women are given are a bit far-fetched!) And the men who are angry at the world, scarred from a miserable childhood (abusive parent, no parent, envious sibling or cruel twist of fate), or hard-hearted due to a scheming woman from his past do not make for an ideal leading man. It seems that KEW avoided that common pitfall and conjured up the best qualities in many of the heros and heroines while mixing a few flaws in as well. Her stories were lengthy which gave the characters a chance to grow both intelectually and emotionally. Some of her novels could even be invisioned a movie or mini-series. But that was in the past. Her first 5 or 6 books were wonderful -- some of the best I ever read. Then things started to change. Perhaps the setting of the novels just weren't inspirational enough or, once a plot line was selected it simply ran out of steam?? Whatever the reasons, after "A Rose In Winter" the balance of KEW's books started going downhill for me. This seemed to coincide with the new tendancy to release books in the larger format (to command more $$) Do authors need to adhere to a specific number of written word to fill these pages? That could be an excuse, as it seems that KEW's rambling stories and excessive fluffly prose just pepper these final 5 or 6 books. You'll note that I don't cite the book titles because they are simply not as memorable as what I call the "classics"

With each new release, the reader is left hoping that this book is going to snap the trend boring and uninspired previous books. I was so eager to read "The Reluctant Suitor" and boy was I disappointed in that one! (review already given for that)

And so my rambling brings me to "Everlasting." Like many others, I bought the book with mixed feelings: loyalty to a favorite author who's no longer with us; and hopeful anticipation that this final novel would, indeed, be everlasting. Sadly, this is just not the case. Another beautiful heroine with stunning looks, strong sense of duty, charming personality, sharp wit, intelligence beyond what the average girl of that time period would have, plus an attractive friend who doesn't tragically die. (all that and a bag of chips!) Add a gorgeous, principled man who was (surprise) raised by loving parents, who fights for the little guy and who is instantly smitten by the one woman he can't have. Naturally, that little item doesn't stop him and so begins the battle to win his love!

Of course, you must toss in the bad guy and boy, is he a doozie. The usual instances of saving the damsel in distress (multiple times over) and the requisite stranding of the hero/heroine together so that the reluctant spark of attraction on one side (hers) meets with the determined seduction on the other side (his) Then it's like the heroine is bonked on the head because when she comes to, she finds she has fallen into the deepest and most delirious state of love ever imagined. A little more conflict, the good guys/gals against all the evil-doers and a neat resolution where everybody is happy in the end including the hero's devoted dad and the heroine's devoted best friend (acutally, a nice surprise with that pairing) Notice again the lack of "names" in the review of "Everlasting." Certainly not everlasting in my memory, yet ask me to name all the characters in the early books and I can rattle them off instantly!

All in all, the points of this lengthy posting by me are: I was/am truly a fan of Kathleen Woodiwiss. I am sad that she is no longer with us. I will continue to read my favorite books from her. I will continue to recommend that others read my favoirte books from her. I would like to think that her later works were efforts from her based on her desire to weave beautiful stories for her loyal fans and not so much because she had a contract to write more books. I will sadly not recommend much of anything including and after "Come Love a Stranger" because I feel that, with the exception of "Petals on the River" just about everything else falls into the ho-hum category. I think the only reasons I liked "Petals on the River" were: love the setting of Colonial Virginia, the story was actually not so far-fetched and there was the pleasant surprise of the Beauchamp family woven into it. (one negative was that the heroine was way too perfect; i.e. she never cooked a thing in her life but she saw the family cook whip up biscuits and gave it a try and her guesswork proved her to be a gourmet!) The two sequals to "The Flame and the Flower" are recommended to those who want to revisit with favorite characters but not outstanding as stand-alone books.

Borrow "Everlasting" from the library or buy it used if you want to read it. Spending over $20 for the hardback is really a waste and even the paperback is too costly at face value. That book and the several before it are not true representations of Ms Woodiwiss' unique and trend-setting talent. I continue to regret that she has not met the quality of her earliest novels - which were true novels in every sense of the word. If you want to read beautifully written stories, rich in history and period settings, wistfully beautiful leading ladies and stunningly handsome leading men, please pick up "Shanna" "The Rose In Winter" "Ashes in the Wind" "The Wolf and the Dove" and "The Flame and the Flower." You will surely understand that we lost a great writer but I believe we lost her several years ago, when her much anticipated books turned into disappointments.

The story line started out pretty good I thought, but then became redundant. I think a good formula is two, or maybe three tragedies per story, but they just kept on coming. How many times can a girl get kidnapped by nothing but men before her reputation is besmirched?

Based on her previous works (except for the last one which was absolutely horrible, and I'm still upset I bought it), I expected much better. At least this time I thought to check it out at the library, so no harm done other than spending an late night looking forward to the book being through rather than starting the next chapter.

Also, this author usually does so well with the historical parts, but here it felt like it was crammed into a few paragraphs a few times as an afterthought. Rather than trying to incorporate the current event facts it into the story, they could have done a forward with a summary of what what was going on in that time and place.

Seriously! Check the book out for free at the library. It will go down a little better.

This novel was unbelievably boring and pointless. The heroine's reasons for rejecting the hero were just dumb and could have been fixed by her listening for five minutes to any other character in the book. It took almost 200 pages to get rid of the odious fiance who you knew had to die by page 9. Abrielle was not a sympathetic figure in any way and she doesn't grow or change at all over the course of 386 pages. Raven wasn't much better, his line of thought through the entire book is: "I must have Abrielle". His plan was to wait around until he has to save her from dastardly villains (lost count at 6 times). I only finished this book because I was stuck on a plane, and then only be reading 1 out of ever 5 pages.