Customer Reviews

Flowers Under Ice

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've just read "Flowers Under Ice", by Jean Ross Ewing, which packs some of my favorite romantic elements into a rich and vividly drawn story. Ms.Ewing has combined a strong and intelligent heroine, a devastatingly attractive but tormented hero, and a wonderfully despicable villain into a romance that covers every mood from serious lust to sweet tenderness. Dominic Wyndham first meets Catriona minutes after he's climbed to the top of a church spire and back down to win a bet. He appears at first glance to be an aristocratic wastrel with a scandalous reputation and nothing better to do than risk his life in reckless wagers. Or at least that's the impression Catriona, a spirited young woman from the Scottish Highlands, first forms. Dominic is at a truly low moment in his life; having just been callously informed him that his estranged wife is dead. Catriona lands another blow by telling him that his wife has had a baby by another man, and that Dominic's duty is to journey to Scotland to take charge of the child. Dominic agrees, but adds two outrageous conditions: that Catriona will accompany him unchaperoned, and that she will agree to explore one of the seven deadly sins for each day of their journey. Bit by bit, however, Dominic's true nature and the reasons behind his pose of careless indifference are slowly revealed, while the reader discovers more about Catriona's real mission. Along the way they are pursued and harassed by a variety of villains, and it soon becomes apparent that even more is at stake than a child's life. Catriona is a challenging heroine, dauntingly strong in her purpose, but her reasons are selfless, and due to her strong sense of honor and duty. I liked those qualities, and also the way Catriona fell under Dominic's spell, despite herself. Under Ms. Ewing's skillful hands, their love affair progresses gradually from a sensuous physical attraction to a soul-deep need for each other that really rang true for me. If you enjoy reading Jo Beverley, Edith Layton, or Anne Stuart, I think you will also enjoy Jean Ross Ewing. I definitely did!

Still one of the most literate voices of the genre, but did not meet expectations with this one after her beautifully conceived Illusions. The heroine was not very sympathetic and was not fully developed as a character; she did a better job with Dominic Wyndham but I was hard pressed to see why he was falling in love with Catriona. Still, a welcome change from most of the pulp out there.

This is a wonderful book. I've haven't seen a writer bring Scotland to life like this since Gabaldon. Ewing's descriptions of the country and people brought them to life.

And let's not forget the romance<g>. Dominic is my favorite kind of hero, the embittered veteran of the Napoleonic wars who comes home to deviltry and drink because he's unwilling to face his past. He's not ready to allow himself to become attached to anyone, until a Highlander woman drags him to Scotland to save a child. The journey there is one filled with mystery, passion, and self-discovery for both the hero and heroine. Don't miss this one!

I do wish they had a different rating system, this book was better than average (a 3 star) but not quite up to a four star rating. Dominic and Catriona are embroiled in an interesting tale held in the Scottish Highlands and set in Regency times. I really enjoyed the plot and both the hero and heroine, but there was just something in the writing style that I couldn't quite grasp. Usually a story just flows over me, drawing me in. With Flowers Under Ice, I felt as if I was dragged, pulled and pushed in. Although the characters are well defined and great to read about, as are the descriptions of the Highlands, the people living there and their plight in the three quarters of a century following the defeat at Cullodon, each segue was rough. There are many times I got lost reading the dialogue and had to reread a section to get the gist of what happened. It was as if the characters were too smart for themselves, talking around one another, alluding to this and that. I don't necessarily need everything spelled out for me, but I do enjoy not having to fight to understand what is unfolding. Other times I got the impression that there was something going on, and I should know what that something was, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what I was missing. Did I read over a paragraph too fast and miss something? When I went back to check, I could never find what it was.

On the positive side, there are many literary references, both obvious and obscure, which even if you are not well read is great to read and learn about. Ms. Ewing is obviously a well-informed writer and takes great pains to bring the details together in her book. In that she succeeds magnificently. Loose threads from Illusions, the interaction of the secondary characters, the slow peeling away of the mysteries surrounding both Dominic and Catriona are wonderful to watch unfold. Despite my seemingly negative review, I did thoroughly enjoy reading this story and look forward to more writings from Ms. Ewing.

Dominic Wyndham, to all intents and purposes a dissolute aristocrat and younger brother of an earl, with little purpose in life beyond drinking, gambling and indulging in seemingly-pointless wagers, is shocked to be told, without warning, that his estranged wife is dead. Shocked enough to hide his real grief and pain behind a mask of cold, sardonic humour - which, in turn, shocks the young woman who has travelled from Scotland to deliver the news.

Catriona, the bearer of the news of Harriet's death, is not surprised at Wyndham's reaction; after all, Harriet, whom she'd known for some time, had made clear to her that Wyndham was a wastrel and a harsh, unkind man. Harriet herself had left Dominic after their wedding night, claiming that he'd done depraved and humiliating things to her. As such, Catriona is fully prepared to believe the worst of Dominic - an impression which isn't changed one bit after their encounter later that night. She sneaks into his room to talk to him, to plead with him to come to Edinburgh with her because Harriet left a child, a son, whose care Wyndham must assume. However, Catriona is well aware that the boy isn't Wyndham's son - and she is surprised when he states that he could not possibly be the boy's father. All the same, he tells her, he will travel to Edinburgh to see to the child's future - on certain conditions.

Those conditions are that Catriona must travel with him to all intents and purposes as his mistress. On the way, he says, they will indulge in sin - one deadly sin for each day on the road. "Every day you will be besieged by a man who has a great deal more experience in the game than you do. I shall seduce you," he promises. "You will fall in love and I shall break your heart. I guarantee it."

Yet he also promises that he will do nothing without her consent - so to an earlier reviewer, I point out that Wyndham fully understands that `no' means `no'. Nothing is done with Catriona without her express consent - in fact, at times, her pleading.

For reasons of her own, Catriona desperately needs Wyndham to come, and so she agrees to his terms - showing no fear, but also desperately trying not to show him how truly tempted she is by him. By his seductive voice, by his beautiful hands, his handsome body and face, his touch... and his kisses. For she cannot afford to lose her heart, and never to an Englishman. Besides, Wyndham is a scoundrel and a rake... isn't he?

Wyndham is, in fact, far from being either, as any reader who hasn't already read Illusion will find out gradually as the book advances. Nothing he does is without a cause: to help a friend, to try to win back the wife he has persuades himself he loves, for the sake of his country. As for Catriona, he is tempted by her and intrigued by the mystery she presents, for he knows very well that there is something else behind her thin story about a fatherless, motherless boy. And so they embark on an intimate journey together, facing danger, facing trials... and facing temptation. But in the end, whose heart is most at risk? Catriona's - or Dominic's?

I didn't find this book quite as compelling as Illusion; the dramatic plot wasn't as gripping as that in the earlier book - the need to rescue the baby didn't really have the same interest for me. Yet Dominic and Catriona are similarly complex and driven by demons as were Nigel and Frances in Illusion - and fans of the earlier book will get the opportunity to see them again in this. So still a five-star review, but Illusion definitely has the edge.

wmr-uk

I have to say Ms. Ewing has created a magnificent hero in the person of Dominic Wyndham, a man classed as a notorious rake in London in the summer of l8l6, and a seker of thrills to rival those he experienced when a spy during the Napoleonic Wars. Underneath the rake's facade is quite a different man. I first met him in Ms. Ewing's first historical, ILLUSION, last year when the hero, Nigel Arundham, a master spy, befriended him along with his ladylove Frances. I was intrigued by Dominic then, and when I finaly had the pleasure of reading his tale of traveling to Scotland with the beautiful Highland lass, Catriona Sinclair to see about claiming a baby she said was his deceased wife's, I knew I had to read this the minute it hit the bookstores. Dominic declares the only way he will travel with Catriona is if she goes as his mistress and they explore the seven deadly sins along the way on the seven-day journey.

There is more to Dominic than you would believe when the book first opens. In fact, there are many, many layers to both Dominic and Catriona, and as they are peeled back you will be astonished at what is uncovered. Catriona is strong of spirit, independent, and full of pride for her people. Of course, I was up late at night discovering all sorts of intiguing and fascinating things that involved family secrets, revenge, lost love, bonding with friends and strangers, and finally an exquisite love that defies everything in its path.

Ms. Ewing's talent as a writer is showcased by her masterstroke of characterization, excellent plotting, and her words are like jewels sparkling and shimmering in their beauty as her story begins in England and unfolds in the heather on the hills of bonnie Scotland.

This is a powerful book you don't want to miss! When you finish it I know you will be racing out to get the first book, ILLUSION, and believe me you won't be sorry you have done so - even though you don't need to read ILLUSION first to love FLOWERS UNDER ICE. I was never so glad in my life to be able to sit back and enjoy a story that is so entertaining, well researched and well written. It is also breathtaking to behold a hero who never gives up for a minute, whether it be fighting or loving. Now that's my kind of man!

"Jean Ross Ewing deserves a solid gold coronet studded in diamonds for writing FLOWERS UNDER ICE." Suzanne Coleburn

I am sad that Jean Ross Ewing does not have more books in print, but I hope she writes many new ones in the future. This book was beautiful and better written than most. I loved the detailed ending.

Sometimes you read a book, and you enjoy it, and then you read reviews by others, and wonder if you've all read the same book! This is the problem I have with a couple of the reviews posted here for Flowers Under Ice, a truly magnificent action-packed story with passionate protagonists, sound historical background, and complex plotting. This is intelligent writing, among the very best in historical romance today. There is no rape in this book. How absurd! I agree that there are still bodice-rippers in this genre that feature men who don't understand the meaning of "no" but this is simply not one of them. Dominic is a dark hero, a disturbed man, beset by many demons. Yes, he wants to bed Catriona, but he comes to love her, and she becomes his salvation. Love can heal, that's the message of this novel. And the passion is mutual, it's believable, it's palpable. This book is among the very best of its genre...it is uplifting and fine. Don't miss out on this treat...

Flowers Under Ice brings to life some of the great elements of romance... vivid characters, an intriguing plot with action and adventure that are never boring, a beautiful setting and, oh yes, ever growing romance and passion. Jean Ross Ewing has a flair for language and knows how to strike sparks between a determined heroine and a witty, wicked rake hero. Don't miss a great read!

Previous reader reviews express much better than I can what an incredible book this is! The depth of the characters (Catriona and Dominic)is deeply moving. Next to buy for me is "ILLUSIONS" ~ I can hardly wait.

Don't miss this wonderful, beautifully written Historical Romance ~ it's a keeper!