Petals on the River [Paperback]

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1997

The fiery and outspoken daughter of a successful Irish businessman, Shemaine O'Hearn has made powerful enemies. Falsely convicted of thievery, she is shipped off in shackles to the colony of Virginia, where she is sold into indentured servitude to Gage Thornton. A widowed shipbuilder who needs a nanny for his two-year-old son, Gage is believed by many to have murdered his wife. But Shemaine finds Gage to be generous, caring, passionate and kind, and soon they are falling in love -- until grave danger from across the ocean threatens their blossoming romance.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Falsely convicted of being a thief, lovely high-born Shemaine O'Hearn arrives in colonial Virginia from London on a convict ship and is sold as an indentured servant to Gage Thornton, a local shipbuilder in need of a nanny for his young son. Shemaine is relieved to have such a handsome and generous master and eagerly undertakes unfamiliar domestic tasks in Gage's rustic cabin on the edge of the American wilderness. Even persistent rumors that Gage was responsible for his wife's violent and untimely death don't trouble her for long. But as Shemaine and Gage struggle to deal honorably with their growing desire in such close quarters, they're beset by enemies, both nearby and from afar, who are determined to rob them of their newfound happiness. Woodiwiss's lush, leisurely writing and heartwarming story will fully satisfy many of her loyal fans. --Ellen Edwards --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Laural Merlington does a terrific job of characterization in this classic Woodiwiss romance. Although over the past 20 years the romance genre has matured along with changing mores, Woodiwiss has not altered her style. Her prose remains lush and flowery; her characters are extremes: good/evil, beautiful/ugly, wealthy/poor. Her heroines are unrealistic even within the romance-as-fantasy concept. Shemaine O'Hearn hasn't bathed in three months, has spent the prior four days in a dark, rat-infested closet, and yet every man within sight lusts after her to the point of desperation. Women are vindictive toward her because she's beautiful. Merlington uses Irish and English accents to capture the characters' spirits with cadence and lilts, and she is able to move from demure to fiery, vulgar to innocent with barely a breath. Unfortunately, even her expert ministrations can't overcome the overall tedium of the story. Not recommended except where Woodiwiss has a very strong following.?Jodi L. Israel, Norwood, Mass.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 554 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038076654X
• ISBN-13: 978-0380766543
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #497,868 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

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pictures in my head, January 4, 2000

By 

S. M Marson (Lumberton, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Petals on the River (Mass Market Paperback)

A student of mine recommended that I read Petals on a River. I didn't like the first 10 pages. It's what my female friends would call a "chick" novel. At any rate, after about the 10th page I became mesmerized by it. Woodiwiss' writing is so vivid, I forgot I was reading a book and felt more like I was watching a movie. For example, I found the description of the cuts, pain, and healing of the leg irons so vivid, pictures emerged in my head. I found much of the novel like that. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss creates pictures in my head.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, April 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Petals on the River (Mass Market Paperback)

This is definetly not one of her best, but I think it captures Kathleen's feel quite well. Her books are breathtaking, riveting, and fanciful, not excluding "Petals on the River". The characters are a bit two-dimensional and fake for my taste, but I was still intrigued. The plot line was different, considering the main characters were living in the same quarters from day one, and how she managed to keep them from making love until 3/4 of the way throughout the book is a phenomenon. Keep it up, Kathleen, I will always read your novels, whether they are one or five stars!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great story, but a little slow., September 5, 2000

By 

Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Petals on the River (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, that's basically how I felt after finishing _Petals on the River_. The story was great, I loved the characters, and the setting was a nice change from England or Scotland. Although it was a well written book, towards the end, I was starting to get a little bored. But, this taste of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is enough to have me looking for more. I started reading her books with _The Flame and the Flower_, and I will definitely be snatching up her books in the future.

Shemaine O'Hearn had the perfect life. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, she came from a loving family, she was beautiful, and she was betrothed to the heartthrob of England. This all changed when the whim of an overjealous grandmother had her captured by a theive taker and carried to America on a convict boat. Shemaine knows that her life will never be the same, and all she can hope for is that a kind soul will take some pitty on her and that she will be sold into indentured servatude to a nice family or person.

In the town of Newport Newes lives Gage Thorton, a man haunted by his past. A year ago, his wife died, leaving him with a son to take care of. And, even though Gage loved his wife dearly, there is supiscion in the town that he killed his lovely wife. So, when the convict ship, the London Pride, docks in the town's port, he is desperate for a nursemaid for his son, and maybe some company. As soon as he sees Shemaine, he knows that he must have her, no matter the cost. She can educate his son and provide him with some company.

Shemaine is at first wary of her knew job, but soon settles into it nicely. Andrew, Gage's two year old son, is a complete doll, and Gage is the kindest, most handsome man she has ever met. The two get along famously, and a love blossoms between them. But, awful gossip and lies threaten to rip the two apart. Can they survive?

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss is really a great author. Some people complain about her purple prose, but I think it makes her books fun to read, and it is easier to imagine the historical setting that way. Her use of adjectives really brought the book to life, and you have no trouble picturing the drama in you head. Gage and Shemaine were the type of heros and heroines that I love reading about. Yes, they were perfect, so what? The whole point of romance novels is to get lost in them and to wish that someday you could be like that too. It is nice to read about people who don't have to lather on makeup to look decent. Shemaine was the woman we would all like to be. She's kind, loving, and she has a spine. When she sees something that is not right, nothing can stop her from fixing it. Gage is the man we all want. He's handsome, understanding, and doesn't let his pride get in the way of telling the woman he loves how he feels. So, all in all, _Petals on the River_ is a book that you should take the time to read. Although it does get slow at times, you will be happy you read it after you finish it. I know I am.