Shanna

The first romance novel I ever read was Shanna by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. This was years ago and long after her first novel The Flame and The Flower, published by Avon in 1972, had become an instant NYT Bestseller. By the time I discovered Shanna, Woodiwiss had already been proclaimed as the "Founding Mother of the Modern Romance Novel."Since I've spent more than a month being sick with the sinus infection from hell, bronchitis, etc., I've spent a lot of time reading. One morning, I decided to go back and re-read the early romances that made me want to write in that genre. All of us romance novelists owe our careers to Ms. Woodiwiss.Although I have all of Ms. Woodiwiss's books in print, I decided to buy the Kindle editions of the ones I love best. Since it had been years since I had read them, I wanted to see if I still found them captivating -- after I've published several books and have had success with my own romance novels. Of course, if you read my books, you know I write contemporary romance, not historical romance as she did.In many of Woodiwiss's novels, there is a recurring theme of masquerade. In Shanna, Ruark dons the persona of a bondsman, a slave, as he woos his secret wife. Although highly improbable, Woodiwiss skillfully works this plot device which is used in some of her other books too.After more than 30 years since I read her novels for the first time, what's my take on these books now? They are sweeping epics with larger than life characters. They are still page turners. You won't forget the hero and heroine nor the somewhat improbable -- to us in contemporary times -- story lines. They will captivate you, thrill you, and stir you even though they are tame compared to today's graphic depictions of sexuality.When her books first were published, they were ground-breaking because they were the first "to [follow] the principals into the bedroom." Although they did that, there were no realistic descriptions of body parts or love making. Instead, the hero "warmed" when he saw a "rosy crest" revealed by a low neckline.You might laugh at this, but if you read the books, you'll find yourself swept along by the passion of the hero and heroine. The euphemisms and formal language aren't off-putting. The long descriptions set the scenes perfectly without boring the reader.Despite the flaws of the books -- heroines whose actions range from bratty tantrums to impassioned desire for the heroes they married -- the heroines don't invite your dislike or scorn. There is still something about them that makes you root for them. I see her heroines as cast in the mold of Margaret Mitchell's Scarlett O'Hara.The heroes are supermen -- physically strong beyond belief -- and as handsome and intelligent as they are strong. Each is a masterful lover anxious to "take their ease" as is the phrase of bygone eras with the woman who attracts them more than any other woman of their acquaintance. The Woodiwiss hero is patient with the heroine's emotional storms and understanding. He is the kind of man every woman would welcome in her bedchamber.Take everything together -- the good and the bad -- and you end up with a book greater than the sum of its parts. Reading these wonderful novels again, I found myself glued to the ebook page, turning each as swiftly as I could -- even though I knew exactly what was going to happen and how it would all work out in the end.If you haven't read Shanna, remedy that immediately. Hie thee to Ye Olde Kindle Shoppe and download one of the book responsible for creating an entire genre for women.

Kathleen Woodiwiss is by far the best author I have read, her development of the characters is flawless and complete, with mystery always in the backround. This is the third time reading this story and each time, it gets better!

I have read this book at least 20 times since it was first published. And I love it just as much now as I did 40 years ago.Yes, Shanna is the “anti-heroine”. She is spoiled brat with nothing but her beauty and money to offer. But she is a product of her upbringing. Obscenely rich and breathtakingly beautiful, she has been targeted by opportunists her entire adult life.So she is jaded. Disappointed by real men, and unable to find her Prince Charming (or at least, not able to recognize him beneath the prison rags). Of course she is conscious of class. Everything in her world is dictated by her father’s aspirations for class status.Ruark sees beyond that. He sees her potential and loves her in spite of her many flaws. Who doesn’t want that in a man? He is beyond perfect - handsome, incredibly smart, witty. And so patient in helping Shanna mature and learn how to be a caring adult.Yes, she betrays him again and again. Loving him is contrary to everything she thinks she wants. How can she love a poor man, someone with no status - a SLAVE????There are lots of flaws in plot. After twenty readings, I am very aware of them. When I first read it, I thought there were too many improbable coincidences relative to the villain. But after many readings, I see that it wasn’t coincidence at all, but the villain at work stalking Ruark.The biggest flaw is the fact Ruark was in the prison at all, since he really did have a “get out of jail free” card. You just have to suspend disbelief because if he hadn’t been in prison there is no story.As for those that don’t like the detail about the plantation- this is historical fiction. Read it and learn something. Do more research. Shanna was the daughter of a sugar baron at the dawn of industrialization. We take things like sugar and cotton for granted, but once-upon-a-time they were luxury goods that were very labor-intensive to produce.The transatlantic slave trade was in full swing at the time of this story, mostly because there was so much work to be done and there weren't enough white people willing to do it, even as bond-slaves. Technology eventually conquered the labor issue, so that now sugar is plentiful and cotton is considered "low-end".The history of the Caribbean is fascinating, and this book inspired me to do more research about it, and the history of pirates. The descriptions of Ruark's engineering feats may be one of the reasons I became an engineer myself.

It’ a fascinating book. Strongly recommend. Shanna is an adorable personage and it’s very easy to fall in love with her

Bought this book after 30 years as first one fell to bitsExcellent read

I enjoy books written in the past, and this one caught my attention right from the start with Shanna going to the prison to find a husband. Of course we can guess the rest of the story when Ruark doesn't die at the gallows, but that's what we like about these stories.The pages kept turning until the part where Shanna gets kidnapped by pirates. I felt that this was a bit unrealistic and that the author needed to add somethign to make the book longer.That said, it's a good read.

Non specificato bene che è in lingua inglese

one of my favorite books i read when i was 16. it left an amazing impression on me that i ordered on my kindle to have always. it still is a great book.