A Season Beyond a Kiss [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2007

In the loving embrace of her new husband, the dashing American shipping magnate Jeff Birmingham, Raelynn Barrett can forget her painful past and the tragic, undeserved disgrace of her family. With Jeff, each sweet, lingering kiss is a promise of a future rich in joy and sensual fulfilment.

But Raelynn can hear the whispered rumours that damn the man she loves. And what her own eyes have witnessed seem to brand her adored and adoring Jeff as the worst sort of criminal. In the face of the devastating treacheries of ruthless, hidden enemies, how can Jeff ever hope to win back the trust of the woman he cherishes.?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: Charleston, South Carolina, 1803
Sensuality Rating: 6

Get the champagne out of the refrigerator! It's time to celebrate The New York Times bestselling author Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's latest epic, A Season Beyond a Kiss. This pioneer of the romantic fiction genre renews her grateful readers' acquaintance with old friends, the Birminghams of The Flame and the Flower and The Elusive Flame fame. This time it's Brandon's younger brother Jeffrey and his off-again, on-again marriage to beautiful English import Raelynn that captivates audiences. Circumstances--and a murderous villain--have conspired to separate newlyweds Jeff and Raelynn. Raelynn has been broadsided by the accusation that Jeff has impregnated a young serving girl and refused to acknowledge his child. Jeff, of course, vehemently denies the accusation, but Raelynn is unsure she can trust her handsome husband. Just when the young lovers manage to mend their quarrel, a pregnant Raelynn is horrified to discover Jeff standing over the body of the murdered serving girl with the murder weapon in his hand. Throw in a ruthless merchant with designs to possess Raelynn at any cost and a mysterious murderer with a secret worth killing for, and you've got a new classic from veteran author Woodiwiss. In spite of the sometimes convoluted dialogue, fans old and new will be able to overlook the impression that Woodiwiss believes she's being paid by the word and revel in a fresh tale with familiar friends.--Alison Trinkle --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The romance genre has changed drastically in the last two decades, but Woodiwiss here returns us to the unlamented bodice ripper. Overblown prose coupled with cardboard characters makes this title almost impossible to wade through. In this sequel to her legendary "Flame and Flower" series, Jeff Birmingham is wed to Raelynn Barrett, the Englishwoman he had rescued in a prior novel. The marriage gets off to a rocky start. Once the wedding vows are consummated, however a detail that takes 90 endless minutes to accomplish marital bliss ensues. Then a young woman is killed, and Jeff is discovered standing over the body holding the murder weapon. Reader Susan Ericksen's matter-of-fact delivery makes it possible for the listener to almost overlook the endless sex that masquerades as a plot. Every character is recognizable by both accent and mannerism. Unfortunately, Ericksen can't overcome the book's tiresome pacing. For diehard fans only. Jodi L. Israel, Jamaica Plain, MA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Avon (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380807947
• ISBN-13: 978-0380807949
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,194 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

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Novel doesn't stand well on its own, March 3, 2000

By 

Tuckerby (Los Alamos, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Season Beyond a Kiss (Paperback)

For those of you like myself who didn't know any better, this book is a continuation of an earlier short story. Not having read that piece, I can only review this novel on its own merits and leave it to others to review it as a sequel. While the author goes to great lengths to fill in the missing details for her readers, the numerous recountings slow the book's opening chapters and detract from the story as a whole. A short prologue might have been a wiser choice to provide background information and set the stage for the current events. It might also have lent believability to the circumstances of Jeff and Raelynn's marriage. As presented, Jeff's proposal within an hour of meeting Raelynn and their intimacy so soon after are far-fetched. Since Woodiwiss has already introduced her characters elsewhere, that may explain why she fails to develop her main characters, especially Raelynn, in this novel. Our heroine comes across as a rash, foolish girl besotted with her husband and sex. She lacks depth or personality, unlike some of the colorful supporting characters. Jeff fares better, especially when the author uses actions to describe him rather than lengthy expositions on his traits, but I never felt as solid an understanding of him as I did Brandon in "The Flame and the Flower." The story is slow to unfold and lacks direction until a third of the way through. After that, the mystery and plot twists that readers expect and enjoy from Woodiwiss emerge, leading to the unmasking of the villain and final showdown. Unfortunately and strangely, the author robs her own book of some suspense by giving away her villain early. I was disappointed with "A Season Beyond a Kiss." The protagonists failed to hold my interest, even though Jeff was one of my favorite characters in "The Flame and the Flower," the plot took too long to develop, and the book relied on too much material from the prior short story to stand well on its own. The author's recent offerings have failed to match the richly textured stories and well developed characters of her early works. When her next book comes out, I may choose to check it out from the library rather than buy it.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not as fun as I had hoped...., April 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Season Beyond a Kiss (Paperback)

I was so excited when I saw that Kathleen Woodiwiss had writtena full-length novel about Jeff & Raelynn. I started what I hadhoped to be a life-long love affair with Woodiwiss novels in high school when I first met the Birminghams in The Flame and The Flower. Jeff Birmingham, an almost minor character in that novel, captured my imagination.

Because of that, I had high hopes for Jeff's story, but I was so disappointed with this book. Parts of it are terrific, but the "struggle" between Jeff & Raelynn just doesn't make sense.

In the earlier Birmingham saga, there was a well-crafted plot which established a history for Brandon and Heather - and some real character insight and character development, which made the story believable. In this book, as in many of Woodiwiss's novels written after her initial group of Flame & The Flower, Shanna, Wolf & the Dove, and Ashes in the Wind, Woodiwiss seems to be relying on plot devices from earlier books without spending time developing the character or the plot to make the story believable.

I will always love the Birminghams - and will undoubtedly continue to read any story Woodiwiss creates about any member of that clan, but have been disappointed with both of the recent additions to the Birmingham saga.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Season Beyond a Kiss, March 16, 2000

By 

Anna B. Thompson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Season Beyond a Kiss (Paperback)

I have been a fan of KEW for over 20 years. I've loved all her previous novels; The Flame and the Flower, Shanna, The Wolf and the Dove, Come Love A Stranger, Ashes in the Wind. But the last two were a great disappointment. I couldn't even get through her last effort. It was tedious and the characters were shallow. I hesitated writing this review because I am such a big fan of hers, it breaks my heart to see this obvious deterioration in her writing - it almost doesn't seem to be the same person who wrote The Flame and the Flower.