It is with great sadness that I learn of her passing away. For sometime now, I have known that she has passed away due to long illness. It was very tragic, especially for those writers who are so gifted and mostly, her loyal fan (which I am also). Let me tell you how I knew about her…
Once upon a time, there was a young girl. She was and is still tomboy. She didn’t have many friends, because her first love was literature and sport. She would spend any free time either in the library reading Greek Mythology, old English literature and dream about the gods and goddesses or just practicing her volleyball skills in the gym. Until one day, she passed by the rental bookstore to drop of a book her mother rented. She came across a book written by an author in her local language. The cover did not catch her eye, but the store owner told her it was the hottest item in print and asks if she would be interested in it? The girl wanted to know what the book was about. The store owner told her it was a romance novel. The girl replied “yuck! I don’t read soppy novels” but she did glanced through it and found it to be interesting. So, she rented the book and took it home. That……was how I got started reading romance. Later, the book was made in to a movie and the critics called it a milestone step for local writers to be able to create such fine works. At that time, no one knew that the book, story, characters and all was a translated version of the original by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss titled “SHANNA”. From there, she started to read more and more romance. Not knowing that many of them were in fact, unauthorized translated versions. Until, one day, by coincidence, she found a book in English with the same cover as the book she had previously read. After picking it up and leafing through it, she found out the truth. And from that day on, she no longer read books in her own language; instead she started to buy them in English. That started a new love affair for her, romance novels and her desire to collect as many books as she can. Even up till now, she still have those books that she first bought when she was so very, very young. Now days, she doesn’t only dream of collecting books written by her favorite authors. But she started a new dream, to write like them……sometimes, she even tries to write reviews for her favorite books. She still have a long way to go (if she still wants to get there). Here are the listings from most beloved to
My favorite book for KEW always and will be “SHANNA”. I mean, WOW, if I can find a guy like this at the gallows; I wouldn’t hesitate to do so. The story is about (of course) Mistress Shanna, who was forced to marry. She can marry anyone as long as it’s a name with some recognition and acceptance. Else, her father will make his own arrangements. She ends up finding Ruark awaiting execution in jail. His only lucky break in all of this (if you could call it lucky) was that his last name is Beauchamp. A man with the same last name as the wealthy and aristocratic family of Beauchamp’s of England. Oh, and just to let you know……if you want to know how the Beauchamp’s got their start in the Americas, you have to start from “PETALS ON THE RIVER”. Here, you’ll get to meet a fiery and outspoken adopted daughter of one of England's most formidable women, Shemaine O'Hearn. Falsely accused of a crime she did not commit and was deported from England to serve her time in the Americas. Here, she will meet with Gage Thornton-a shipbuilder with a young child in need of a nanny. Gage is also accused of a crime he has no knowledge of. Together, they will rebuild their lives and solved out the mystery as to why they were condemn in the eyes of the public of their nonexistence crime.
Followed closely by “A ROSE IN WINTER”. I do love this book and it does come in close 2nd or even equal to “SHANNA”. The story is about one woman loving 2 very different men. Yeah, yeah….but it’s not that bad you know. She did end up with both guys. Jealous? Want to know more? Go get the book and read it yourself!
“THE WOLF AND THE DOVE”, a medieval love story about the Norman warrior Wulfgar and his beautiful Saxon Princess Aislinn. Oh, what tangle web we weave. Now, this story would not have taken off if they just sat down and talked about the invasion. But….oh, no. They had to do it the hard way. And Aislinn’s mother was demented enough to help with the cover up. Unfortunately, it was the wrong thing to do. But if that was how it happened then this would have been an anthology. Lucky for us that they never had the chat or reveal the truth early in the story. Another classic by KEW. You do get frustrated sometimes but a true KEW fan will just go with the flow.
And then, there is the Birmingham Family saga “THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER” , about Brandon Birmingham and the lovely Tory name Heather Simmons. This is followed by 2 anthology with the sequel to the Birmingham’s are “THREE WEDDINGS AND A KISS” and “MARRIED AT MIDNIGHT”. These 2 books are about how Jeff Birmingham met with his future wife Raelynn Barrett. But I can't for the life of me remember which book goes first. Then you can see how the story unfolds in “A SEASON BEYOND A KISS”. The saga continues with “THE ELUSIVE FLAME”, the first born of Brandon and Heather Birmingham, Beauregard Birmingham and his soon to be wife Cerynise Kendall. The story starts out a bit slow and a lot of details. But as you go onwards, you will find the story intriguing and you might laugh at some of the ways which Cerynise handles the ruffians and getting away with it.
“COME LOVE A STRANGER” is anything but! Okay, this is a story about a woman who has two (yes two) men claiming to be husbands. Her name is either Lenore by Malcom Sinclair or Lierin by Ashton Wingate (depending on which man is calling her). As the story unfolds, you will learn why it is that each man calls her a different name and what is the tie each has to her. Each man desires her, each in their own way. But which way will it be best for her and which man will truly lover her?
Here is where I disappoint you, for the following books were read but they (as Shania Twain sang) that don’t impress me much. Starting off with “ASHES IN THE WIND” where I felt that the story was too slow and took too long to read. Next we go to “SO WORTHY MY LOVE” which should have had a better ending. Well many of her stories should have had a better ending but who’s counting, right? “FOREVER IN YOUR EMBRACE” there’s just too much running around each other. No, no!! Not the hero and heroine. I’m talking about the good guys and the bad guys. You’ll get what I mean when you read the book. “THE RELUCTANT SUITOR” is another book I feel the hero should be bitch slap for being such an @$$ xxxx and his immaturity about the situation. Wait; did I get this book right? I’m getting confuse now?!? “EVERLASTING” ….. no comment. I did not get a chance to go through it with a fine tooth comb yet. Just leafing through it and…..ummm….still no comment yet.
All in all, KEW is still queen. As it has been attest by various authors (female, that is) that they grew up with her and that she inspired a lot of writers today. Like many authors today, you have your good days and your bad. Her’s too. It’s just too bad that we will not get to read anymore of her writing as she is no longer with us.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, creator of the modern historical romance, died Friday, July 6, 2007 in Minnesota. She had just turned 68, after a long illness. Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, who was predeceased by her husband and son Dorren, is survived by sons Sean and Heath, and numerous grandchildren.
She will be dearly missed, especially her devoted fans like me.
Your most loyal fan,
Toni
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