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42nd out of 117 books
—
141 voters
Shanna
A pact is sealed in secret behind the foreboding walls of Newgate Prison. In return for a night of unparalleled pleasure, a dashing condemned criminal consents to wed a beautiful heiress, thereby rescuing her with his name from an impending and abhorred arranged union. But in the fading echoes of hollow wedding vows, a solemn promise is broken, as a sensuous free spirit ta
...moreHardcover, 666 pages
Published
January 28th 2000
by William Morrow & Company
(first published January 1st 1977)
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Aug 15, 2010
Tammy Walton Grant
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tammy by:
my aunt Madge
I've just re-read this one for the first time in recent memory -- it' still my all time favourite historical romance. BUT...I can sure see why so many people don't like Shanna. She's a spoiled b**ch and I would have slapped her silly before the end of part 1. And I don't quite understand why Ruark fell so deeply in love with her - she doesn't show many redeeming qualities until the last quarter of the book.
What I love about the book I think is the sweeping saga of it all. And Woodiwiss' writing....more
What I love about the book I think is the sweeping saga of it all. And Woodiwiss' writing....more
This was my mom's favorite book- and since i was little she has always preached to me about how much i would love it and why it was brilliant. She loved it so much that by the time it got into my hands, it was worn and tattered-broken in half and pages taped in and taped back together-which made it a difficult read.
I found this to be true-this was my second Kathleen E.Woodiwiss novel-My first being The Flame and the Flower-which i loved, so i decided to tackle this 672 paged book-the largest amo...more
I found this to be true-this was my second Kathleen E.Woodiwiss novel-My first being The Flame and the Flower-which i loved, so i decided to tackle this 672 paged book-the largest amo...more
4 likes · like · see review
One day in 2027 Shanna will officially become a true “classic” in lieu of just a “bodice-ripper” or “historical-romance”. Until then, I will just have to refrain from tagging it as such for my personal GoodReads bookshelf. But, just so you know, it is one. A classic.
It is also the only historical romance book my husband ever listened to, against his will and with strong protestations, as read by me. We were going snow skiing, back in the days when we couldn’t afford to fly, and it was a 14 hour...more
It is also the only historical romance book my husband ever listened to, against his will and with strong protestations, as read by me. We were going snow skiing, back in the days when we couldn’t afford to fly, and it was a 14 hour...more
12 likes · like · see review
First off to all of you who actually read this book and didn't skip, skim and go directly to the end...you must have the patience of a preacher and you deserve to win the lottery =) I really did try to give this novel a fair shot, it did start off great, but holy moly there was just to much information for my taste (yes there is a such thing as too much plot). It just went on and on and on and on....(much like this review), so I'll do what Woodiwiss couldn't or wouldn't do and stop while I'm ahe...more
12 likes · like · see review
My friend Matt Bowne's mom was really really into romance novels. Once when I was at his house, waiting for him to finish his chores, I asked her what she was reading. She said I wouldn't be interested, but I was no I was. It was Shanna, orange cover, and she said it was her favorite romance novel ever. So she let me borrow it and I was hooked. I read pulp romance novels my first year of college, and I still love them to this day. Where else can you read "wings of femininity" or someone getting...more
3 likes · like · see review
Woodiwiss is my all-time favorite author. Way back in the mid 1970's, I was introduced to my first 'gothic' romance novel that contained an alpha male. It was 'The Flame and the Flower.' It was the first book that gave my stomach butterflies; that I couldn't put down. Wikipedia states that this book that was officially published by Avon in 1972 "is credited with spawning the modern romance genre." All I know is that everyone wanted a 'Brandon Birmingham' in their bed - LOL!
That of course was f...more
That of course was f...more
3 likes · like · see review
It breaks my heart that this was the 60th book I read of 2012, because it made me want to gouge my eyes out, but only after assassination of all the really inane, ridiculously "developed" characters in the book. This romance has so much love for it from fans who earnestly wax poetic about it so I was expecting a pretty entertaining read. But. Nooo... no entertaining for me happened while reading this. I ended up skipping ahead when I realized I had made little progress and they had already cross...more
Just finished reading this, and it was refreshingly different. The book was long, and at times, repetitive: all the characters, and the author, kept going on and on about Shanna's beauty that after awhile gets tedious. In the end, you ask yourself, if she hadn't been so beautiful, would the hero have loved her and done half the stuff he did for her anyways?
Moreover, Shanna was very annoying and shallow, and you think, all beauty and no brain, makes sense. And you don't think too highly of the h...more
Moreover, Shanna was very annoying and shallow, and you think, all beauty and no brain, makes sense. And you don't think too highly of the h...more
The first romance novel I ever read. I must have read it at least a dozen times over the years. KW set the standard for other romance novels to hold up to, in my opinion. Shanna is a spoiled only child who is given an ultimatum by her father--get married or he will find someone for her. So, she finds someone to marry--in prison. She chooses a condemned man to be her husband and he agrees but only if she promises him one night with her. They get married and her husband realizes she intends to ren...more
Jun 12, 2010
Christine
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kiss-me-now-you-fool
Recommended to me as a romance novel classic, apparently there is a whole generation of romance novel readers that started out as pre-teens with this book as a fondly remembered introduction to the genre. Considering the ponderous length and wordy descriptions in the book I find it impressive that they were so engaged. I suppose it just goes to show, never underestimate the motivating power of a hot love scene. :)
The plot twists and turns and twists again! Ruark, the hero, is awesome. Very alpha...more
The plot twists and turns and twists again! Ruark, the hero, is awesome. Very alpha...more
6 likes · like · see review
I read this book when I was 19 years old and still a virgin. I had no idea that it contained intimate love scenes. I was so shocked when I got to the first one...LOL It was written very beautifully as were all of the love scenes in it. I loved reading this book and found it hard to put down. It was the very first romance novel I ever read. I read it that one time and have not read it since. So I am giving it 5 stars based on what I thought and felt about the book when I was 19.
I am much older n...more
I am much older n...more
I don't really know what I was thinking when I bought this book. I had read earlier reviews of it claiming that our heroine Shanna was quite the spoiled little b**ch, but it was worth reading for Ruark, our beloved hero. Honestly, they both pissed me off. He falls for her, instantly, because she's so perfect. Men fall over themselves just to speak with her. Oh, and she's rich too, or at least her daddy is. And so he puts up with all the crap she has him go through because she's beautiful and the...more
What should I say about this book? It took my breath away!! And not only sometimes, but continuously!
It is the first novel I read written by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and, boy, am I not glad that this is the case! I loved this book completely and from every aspect. The novel is cleverly poetic, heartbreakingly romantic, pleasantly mysterious, rightly sophisticated, and beautifully embellished.
It is written for events taking place during the mid 18th century, and so the writing is older English style....more
It is the first novel I read written by Kathleen Woodiwiss, and, boy, am I not glad that this is the case! I loved this book completely and from every aspect. The novel is cleverly poetic, heartbreakingly romantic, pleasantly mysterious, rightly sophisticated, and beautifully embellished.
It is written for events taking place during the mid 18th century, and so the writing is older English style....more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Done! Finally done with this transatlantic epic, spanning over 3 continents and 600 pages! You can really understand why full-length novels of similar type are only about 400 pages today - you couldn't possibly keep the reader involved with so many twists. However, this is a classic and even if it rivals Alexandre Dumas in stretching the plot, it was probably the first of its kind. There are so many things in this novel that have been replicated over a billion times in thousands of novels - the...more
God bless my mother...this was the first "questionable" book I read. I think I was around 14 when it came out and in '78, 14 year olds did not read this type of "literature," yet she was of the mind that as long as I was reading, she wouldn't censor my choices. :) So, I rank it at 4 stars for a multitude of reasons...which may not necessarily be related to it's quality of writing.
I love KW writing, I really do; her other books are great, her style is always elegant and plots intriguing but OMG this book is... Too much for me. I found mysel skipping forward..Something that I despise doing ! The problem in this book (at least for me) is not the style, the plot or the hero. The problem is Shanna. She is the most self-centered, arrogant, rude, spoiled, impolite bitch of all literature! She does nothing but complain and bitch all the time, treating Ruark in the most horrible...more
There are books full of jerk heroes who redeem themselves in the last pages and people simply love them because they are rude, arrogant, self-confident, whatever. So, I don't understand why so many people didn't like Shanna. She's that kind of person, with one difference: she's a young girl and not a 35 year old jerk hero. She's totally unexperienced and knows nothing about life. She's a scared girl who dreams with a man who's the opposite of Ruark, probably because she's not prepared for Ruark'...more
For someone who's not a romance novel reader, you'd be surprised to know you'd like this book. That was me. Reluctantly got it on recommendation several years ago from a co-worker who'd also sworn she'd never thought she'd read this genre and like it. The heroine, as expected, fell into less than desirable situations, but her dynamic characteristics and the banter she'd had with fellow characters brought the tale to life. It's not fluff as I had expected. Woodiwiss gets the story started on page...more
Will have to find a much younger romance reader to give all my Kathleen Woodiwiss books to. I remember loving these and it all started with "Shanna." Bought and read all her subsequent books and did really enjoy them at the time. My much more mature palate finds the writing, plots, characters and "romantic" scenes so juvenile and boring that I won't be re-reading any of them again. Too bad, but they did entertain me for years, and I know Ms. Woodiwiss is a huge seller of romance, so her books ar...more
By the shelves I have selected this book to be listed under, you may think I don't like this book. It's true I was most frustrated for about half the book as it seemed to be repetitive. Shanna, the annoying spoilt heroine, was just too immature for my liking. Constantly fighting the Hero, Ruark, who is nothing but nice to her and always jumping to conclusions. She constantly betrayed him in my eyes. It wasn't until she stopped fighting (approxiamately half way) that I enjoyed the book.
Yes, it w...more
Yes, it w...more
Ok. I admit it. I'm rating this a 5 because this book changed my life when I was an impressionable teenager. It was the first racy romance novel I ever read and it influenced my life-long love of reading. I've read everything Kathleen wrote and I truly believe she paved the way for today's erotic romance novels with strong Alpha male heros. Having said that, I recently tried to reread Shanna and it certainly is harder to read today. I almost wish I hadn't reread because my memory had it as the p...more
Feb 15, 2010
Linda I
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
kathleen-e-woodiwiss
A nice story by THE pioneer of historical romances. A pampered heiress, Shanna, is decreed by her father to marry someone suitable or else face an arraigned marriage. She concocts a scheme to marry a man of suitable name, Rourk Beauchamp - though at first the name has no connection to the family for which it is famed - who is destined for the gallows. They haggle out a bargain and marry, but Shanna reneges on the deal. Rourk escapes his intended fate and ends up following Shanna to her fathers i...more
Maybe *Shanna* will be one of the only book that I will never ever forget...
It will be kept in my heart forever...
how I truly enjoy its beautiful romance ....
its high adventure...
I love this book, love and love it always...
It will be kept in my heart forever...
how I truly enjoy its beautiful romance ....
its high adventure...
I love this book, love and love it always...
This book was well-written, though some of the prose was a bit too sickeningly sweet for me to stomach at times. This story tells of Shanna, the most beautiful woman in the world (apparently), in her ascent from a childish spoiled brat to a spoiled, caring woman. Ruark is the dashing, lovesick man who almost literally goes to hell and back over his love for her.
While this was a great book, I felt it could have been at least 200 pages shorter. There was just too much going on. We go from a priso...more
While this was a great book, I felt it could have been at least 200 pages shorter. There was just too much going on. We go from a priso...more
Didn't finish. While I'm no stranger to 1970s purply prose, this one was too much. That's my main complaint about it, from what I did manage to slog through.
ETA (3/17/10): Going to do a re-read and see if I change my mind.
ETA (3/17/10): Going to do a re-read and see if I change my mind.
1 like · like · see review
A spoiled and willful child of an 18th-century Caribbean sugar baron concocts a bizarre scheme to keep from being married off to a man of her father's choice. She will marry a convicted criminal scheduled to hang for the murder of a local barmaid. She thus wriggles out of her father's marriage demands. But the felon escapes the gallows and is among the bondsmen purchased from the jail by her father's estate agent. Now Shana has to keep her secret from her father and "pretend" that the bondsman i...more
Ein wundervolles, romantisches Buch. Aus meiner Sicht macht gerade die altmodische Sprache den Reiz des Romanes aus. Er teilt sich eigentlich in drei Teile (obwohl im Buch zwei daraus gemacht wurden). Nach dem Start in London handelt der erste Teil auf einer exotischen Insel, danach kommt ein - ich nenne es jetzt einmal so - Piratenabenteuer, bevor der Schluss in Amerika spielt. Shanna und Ruark - das Traumpaar schlechthin. Der Mann, der anscheinend ein Verbrecher ist, entpuppt sich als vornehme...more
My mom seen this book at a yard sale.. never read it.. but dreamed about the name when she was pregnant with me.. hence my name.. it is just luck that my grandfathers name was Leander and she named me the female version Leandra.. than my last name was Oglesby. Making my whole name Irish Gaelic(from what I have gathered and understand).. funny thing is I'm basically German, English, and American Indian.. What's up with the Irish name?? aside from that.. I read the book and hope my mom never reads...more
This was one of those books I read a loooooonnnnnnggggg time ago, and remember enjoying immensely. And I still liked the story a lot. Shanna is an unforgettable romance heroine, and Ruark is one of the dreamiest heros ever to grace the pages of any book. The premise is great, and the plot unfolds in a way that kept me turning pages. The setting and time period really came alive for me. It goes without saying that the author is an exceptionally successful writer, and you don't attain that status...more
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She was born Kathleen Erin Hogg, the youngest of eight children of Charles Wingrove Hogg, a disabled World War I veteran, and his wife, in Alexandria, Louisiana. As a child, Kathleen Hogg relished creating her own stories, and by age six was telling herself stories at night to help fall asleep. Her father died suddenly when Woodiwiss was only twelve, leaving her to be raised by her mother and olde...more
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“It was terrible of you," Shanna pouted, but her eyes danced as they turned askance to meet his. "I could have left, you know. I was that angry."
"I would have followed you," Ruark assured with a flash of white teeth. "You have my heart and my baby. You would not have escaped.”
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19 people liked it
More quotes…
"I would have followed you," Ruark assured with a flash of white teeth. "You have my heart and my baby. You would not have escaped.”
Jun 19, 2012 09:13pm
Haha, it doesn't GET m...more
Jun 19, 2012 09:15pm