Flowers from the Storm

I read this book two years ago and recently decided to re-read all my Laura Kinsale books, saving the best for the last. I do believe I enjoyed this story more the second time around. What a roller coaster ride Ms. Kinsale takes the reader on, as we maneuver through the life of a powerful young duke who was born to prestige, riches, extravagance, the pleasure of women, whatever his heart desired, going on the ride of his life without having an inkling of how quickly everything in one's world can change - often, never to be the same.Christian Langland, Duke of Jervaulx, is a brilliant mathematician, all around rake, lover of dogs and a faithful friend. When his paramour's husband catches him leaving his wife's bed and calls him out, Christian isn't aware that he's in the middle of his life's greatest crisis. Yes, the strange sensation he has upon leaving his mistress's bed and walking down the stairs was a stroke in the making.Although struggling mightily with a headache and strange sensations in his arm and hand, Christian keeps his commitments during the next couple of days, including a lecture at the Analytical Society in order to present a paper he and an elderly, blind Quaker gentleman - Mr. Timms, have collaborated upon via messenger. Mr. Timms' daughter, Archimedia (Maddy) knows Christian's reputation and is very concerned he's going to play her kindly, mild-mannered father false just for a big joke. Not so - Christian may be many things, but in his heart, he's serious about math and values his work with Mr. Timms.However, when he collapses on the dueling field the morning after the lecture, the world believes he has died. It's a blow to Mr. Tibbs who genuinely respected Christian's mind and truly enjoyed their collaborative work.Fast forward to some weeks later. As Maddy and her father tour her cousin's brand new, high class asylum where Maddy is considering taking a position, she is shocked beyond measure to recognize Christian as one of the residents of the asylum. Further, apparently he's considered to be a dangerous madman without the ability to communicate. But, Christian and Maddy have a strong connection and very shortly she begins to realize Christian is still there, if she can only help him find his way out of the darkness.**Spoilerish** The rest of the story takes the reader on a fascinating journey that frankly, I don't have words to describe. Not only does Christian struggle with a serious lack of communication, he's had not a single person to stand up for him. He's almost as angry at how he's been treated as he is at his inability to communicate. Some parts of the book are difficult to take in - such as his cruel and callous treatment by staff members at the asylum.When Maddy decides to throw her support behind Christian, she battles with guilt over whether or not she's compromising the principles of her faith. Thankfully, her faith does give some leeway within the foundational beliefs to allow her to hear from God for herself. Once she has this connection, she decides to throw her lot in with Christian and do whatever she can to help him, but all along the way, she questions whether or not she's making the right choice. Ms. Kinsale has created a very strong character in Christian - possibly the most determined Hero I've ever encountered. To say that Christian drags Maddy kicking and screaming into helping him would be an understatement. Even with his massive disability, he has such drive and determination, heaven help anyone who dares stand in his way. And yet, he desperately needed Maddy. She was an angel sent from heaven. The first time we hear Christian say "Maddy Girl," it's over the top sweet.It is not smooth sailing. Christian has a competency hearing coming up, he has unethical relatives, a mother who doesn't understand him, so much prejudice against his "sickness" - but he has Maddy Girl and two friends who stick with him through thick and thin. The bottom line is that we find we have several major conflicts - Christian's disability is the primary conflict, but Maddy's religious beliefs are the secondary conflict constantly vying for first place, which affects the third conflict - she's head over heels in love with Christian. Who wouldn't be? I'm rooting for him all the way, even though one might say the life he led previous to the stroke, was not the thing at all. The results of that life come back to bite him on the butt big time and he nearly loses his Maddy Girl.Truth: I've got about 1800 books on my Kindle with approximately 1300 of that number being historical romance novels - many authored by the best of the best. Having said that, this book is probably among the top 5 and perhaps the #1 of all those romance novels - at least that's how I'm feeling at the moment.

ATTN: This is an AUDIOBOOK review:Is there anyone out there that has NOT read or reread this book in the past 20 years? If there is, then for God’s sake, what are you waiting for?! Find it! Read it! PLEASE! Or better yet, listen to it. It is as much enjoyable as reading it because of the brilliant narration of Nicholas Boulton. Trust me!I honestly don’t remember when was the first time I read this book, but I make the time to reread it at least once a year, and every time I do, it’s like the first time. It never fails to bring me to tears on exactly the same scenes as the first time I read it.Everything about this story is brilliant. Laura Kinsale wrote one of the greatest love stories of my time and not many can come close to knocking it down from the pedestal I placed it on.If I were casting this as a TV movie, there would be only one couple that would do justice to the roles of Christian and Maddy, and that is Toby Stephens and Ruth Wilson, who were awesome as Mr. Rochester and Jane Eyre in 2006′s mini series adaptation of ‘Jane Eyre’.If you’ve never seen it, here it is, the first two episodes and the other two will follow…And now, here’s my Audible review of ‘Flowers From the Storm’.Enter a headline for your review:Brilliant story and brilliant narration!If you could sum up Flowers from the Storm in three words, what would they be?Heartbreaking; Romantic; SensualWho was your favorite character and why?That would be the heroine, Maddy Timms. The conflict she went through between her religious beliefs and the responsibility and strong attraction to Jarvaulx was extraordinarily written, which tells me that the author did her homework when it came to the knowledge of Quaker Beliefs.It was fascinating watching her character grow and develop right in front of me!What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?Nicholas Boulton was brilliant as each character emerged, especially the hero. He made me cringe as I felt the frustration The Duke of Jervaulx was going through; he made me laugh as I listened to the Duke’s friends and servants; he melted my heart as he read the sensual scenes….*sigh*…Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?The scene in which Maddy tries to bring some dignity to Christian by dressing him in his own clothes and then realizing that she had him all dressed in his riding outfit complete with spurs, is heartbreaking as he is devastated to realize that he’s not to leave his cell….Any additional comments?This is without a doubt one of the most romantic stories I have ever read [and I have read a lot of them], but it’s not just that. This is a love story of epic proportions; a story of conflict of not so much good and evil, but of one’s inbred religious beliefs versus one’s faith in humanity. I applaud the author for her brilliant writing of Christian’s speech impairment which made me acutely aware of his pain, frustration and impotence.As for narration…The voice of Nicholas Boulton was mesmerizing as he read every character in the book to perfection. He was brilliant as Christian, showing me the frustration and rage so well written by the author, and as Maddy, with her thee/thou Quaker speech. And then he acted out to perfection Christian’s friends, Maddy’s father, Christian’s Aunt….and on and on…What a range this man has! Awesome job Mr. Boulton!Melanie for b2b*Audiobook bought from Audible.

From totally different sets of social strata, the likelihood of a relationship between a Duke who is a well-known rake and a sensible Quaker young woman, seems impossible.The Duke suffers from a stroke just before a Duel and loses his ability to speak and dexterity. The major mental frustrations he experiences leading to outbursts and physical violence to those around him, result in him being sectioned and along comes Maddy, essentially a "do-gooder". She steps into his life and her calming influence assists his slow recovery.This is a story about love and disability during a period of time when it was clearly misunderstood and the abuse with the 'Lunatic" Asylums, was quite horrendous.As the FL has major inner conflicts with her own religious requisites she falls deeply in love with the Duke and the author sets this up with beautiful writing all the way to the consummation which is gentle and loving.The usual tropes of difficult family members (including a blind father which I think the author was over doing it here with the point about disabilities!), monetary issues and of course society and the 'ton'. Cannot understand the need to include an illegitimate child, as it was clearly demonstrated the Duke was a rake from the opening scene! That character could be easily deleted. The noisy ex-mistress would have sufficed for the newly married wife to doubt the morals of the Duke.Also found some of the attempts at writing in "poor speech", to indicate the Duke's speech difficulties didn't work, it just meant I was constantly going back and re-reading to get the gist of what was being said or meant. It didn't flow, just ruined comprehension.Absolutely loved this story and highly recommend it. Will give it a couple of months and re-read it.

When you are done reading it, you got to shower praises for this beautiful piece of craft. If writing is an art, then this book is art at its best. I must say I have never before read a book like this before. There could be just a couple of books that come close.The author has poured her heart out. You can literally see her intelligence while you read it. The choice of words, the language, the tone, vividly describing the era is heart-warming. After a long time I had a book that felt like watching a classic movie.Such is the aura of the book that it holds my heart in place which constantly attempts to slip away.I will be reading more about the author to know what inspired her to craft this masterpiece, a gem of a book.Three fourth of it is an absolute page turner. To fellow readers -> This book is considered one of the world's most cherished love stories. So, only when you read it will you know it. It requires to be showered more love, so do take time and review it.Romance lovers - this will take your heart out and away on an adventure.

I buy hardcover copies of items that I want to enjoy over and over again. This copy replaces a soft cover which is falling apart.This novel looks at the before, during and after of a protagonist who suffers a stroke. We see how vulnerable even the topmost members of society can be, how life in institutions is levelling for the inmates and does not work well when illness are not understood. The writer looks at the very different world view between main characters - again how they do not understand the other's perspective. This book transcended the majority of historical novels out there - it was so very rich and went well beyond the usual guy meets girl, guy loses girl, guy wins girl scenarios.

Quand on commence à lire les livres écrits par Laura Kinsale, il est difficile de s'arrêter... Celui-ci particulièrement. Comme toujours le style et l'écriture sont incomparables. Les personnages torturés à souhait mais irrésistibles. Il semble toutefois que les personnages masculins aient la préférence de Laura Kinsale : ils sont beaucoup plus attachants que les personnages féminins (ici une Quaker dont l'obsession religieuse a tendance à être très, très agaçante!). Les terribles difficultés d'expression du héros (qui a été victime d'une sorte d'attaque ou d'AVC) peuvent rendre la lecture difficile au début, mais comme avec le parler médiéval dans "For my lady's heart", cela contribue à nous plonger dans l'ambiance, à rentrer véritablement dans la tête des personnage : c'est surprenant et passionnant ! Laura Kinsale est vraiment très très forte !

I agree with Crashqueen73, all of it. This was a very good read. The characters, Maddy and Christian were complex and interesting. That glimpse into medical treatment done on a lot of captive patients was suitably horrifying, and I found myself getting irritated with the heroine, Maddy, however she came through at the end. If I could give this book six stars, I would.