Book Review-The Flame and the Flower

The Flame And The Flower
Birmingham Series
Kathleen E Woodiwiss
Avon
484 Pages
Published April 1972
Nautical/Regency
ISBN: 978-0-380-0052503

Synopsis:
Fearing for her innocence, doomed to a life of unedning toil, Heather Simmons commits a shocking and desperate act. Now she must flee--and seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger. 

Captain Brandon Birmingham is a lusty adventurer married to the sea. Though courting scorn and peril through his actions, he abducts this beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London Dockside. For it is destiny that has brought Heather to Brandon's side, and no power on Earth will force him to relinquish  his exquisite prize. Only she can unlock the tenderness in his heart, and Brandon vows she will be his--to love, to cherish, to desire and to carry off to uncharted realms of sensuous passion.

MY REVIEW:

Summary:
Heather Simmons once lived in London with her father, wearing nice clothes and always have plenty food to eat. But her father was deep in his grief for his late Irish wife, Heather's mother. Now two years later, after losing him and being forced to come to live with her aunt and uncle, she now is their servant. All her belongings sold, except for one nice dress she isn't allowed to wear unless her aunt deems it necessary. An aunt who has no friends and is very bitter and a shrew of a woman. But then circumstances change, and she heads to London with her aunt and her brother, whom tries to force himself on her, and so she defends herself, thinking that she has killed him, flees from the scene, and finds herself taken onto Captain Brandon Birmingham's ship.

The Hero
Brandon Birmingham was raised in America, both of his parents gone, has lived a adventurous life, and ever since a lad has had a love for the sea. But he also has a love for the land, and for the plantation that his parent left for him. Now Brandon is engaged to be married to a woman from his home, and knows that this voyage to England is his last one before he settles down. While in harbor in London, a woman is brought to him for his pleasure, one who arouses his curiosity, she is what he least expected to find in a lone woman found on the docks. a beautiful woman who then escapes him. Brandon is stunned by her beauty, and wants her for himself so he goes searching for her himself. Now together, Heather unsettles him in a way no woman has done, and knows he could never live without her.



The Heroine:
Heather Simmons, lost both of her parents, and now is left to be a servant for her uncle and aunt. Having missed her old life with nice clothes and not having to work, now wears rags for clothing, and has to slave for her shrewish aunt. But then the unthinkable happens, and a series of events occur whereby she meets the handsome Captain Brandon Birmingham, who shows her the sensual pleasures of the bedchamber.  But through a chain of events she ends up married to him, and wonders what her life will be like, who is both a hard and gentle man, will there ever be love in their marriage...


My Thoughts:
The Flame and the Flower is the first in the first in the Birmingham series. I think it was back in High School since I have read this one, so it was wonderful to read such a story such as this once again. There were many things that I had forgotten about it, and bit and pieces that left me surprised and delighted at the same time. This is a story of two people that seem complete opposite from the very beginning, however throughout the story we see how love can heal and build a trust. I truly loved both of these characters, however what I didn;t like was Brandon's character at the beginning of the book. But his edges got smoothed out throughout the rest of the book, so it was wonderful to see a change in this character. I found The Flame and the Flower to be a Sensational Romance which swept me off of my feet from beginning to end!!

My Grade On This Book 
4 Blossoms


Other Books In The Series
The Elusive Flame
A Season Beyond A Kiss