The Falcon and the Flower

by Virginia Henley

Astride her white palfrey, surrounded by a nimbus of silver-blond hair, Jasmine was a vision to strike a man mute with desire. But the violet-eyed love child of King Richard's half brother had vowed... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440204291
• ISBN13: 9780440204299
• Release Date: August 1989
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

One of my favorite EVER!!!

This is one of my favorite romance novels EVER!!! I love the characters and the story. Henley writes so vividly it is easy to visual the world in the story and truly get lost in there world.

Hooked me on the genre

This was the first *romance* book I ever read and I have to say that I was hooked. I read this several years ago and have read many more since than, but the details of many of the others seem lost to me while this one, I do remember. Perhaps becuase it was the first of the kind i read, or maybe just because of how powerful a book it was.I like this book ( and all of Ms. Henley's book) for a variety of reasons. First, they arent shy on length. Nothing is more aggrevating than getting into the story, falling in love with the characters and era and than having the story end. Ms. Henley write books on the longer side and also series *sagas*. I also like her discriptive language and her ability to make you feel for and like the main characters despite (or maybe because of) their sometimes obvious cahracter faults. Sometimes romance novels feel a bit *xeroxed*... like the writer is just changing the names, haircolor, and era and slapping a new cover on it. While I would have to say that this book fulfills a certain predictable romance *formula* (beautiful, willfull long haired heroine...brooding dark and head over heels in love on the inside, hero.... it really doesnt feel like a photocopy of every other book written in that form. It feels more like the original, that was emulated. The details are richer, the writing is better, the readers involvement is more than with many other books (even some of Ms henleys other books) The love scenes that Ms Henly writes seem different to me than other writers too... while less timid than some other writers (maybe julie garwood?) they arent quite brazen either (maybe like some of joanna lindseys?)... And I am not finding fault with julie garwood or joanna lindsy...Im really just trying to place virginia henley in the love-scene-scale... I would say that they are more on the more brazen side with the rough edges smoothed a bit by some tactful beautiful writing.The book isnt without faults but perhaps maybe the faults are more built in due to the genre. The exasperating heroine... okay, aggrevating sometimes... The roughness of the hero.. okay, brutality maybe. Maybe the issues are more due to the features of this *type* of book than the book itself. I would certainly say that if you like romance novels, to not read virginia henley is a mistake. I think she could write any type of fiction she chose, I love her writing style.

I don't know why people cap on this book so much...

An excellent book, one of Henley's best. Too many people say Jasmine doesn't respect Falcon (yes, that's right, his name's actually Falcon) and won't appreciate what she has and how much he gave her, however, try putting yourself in that situation...Action, drama, romance, crude foreplay and intercourse, and kidnappings of sorts all wrapped up in 470 pages...what could be better?

Magical

This was an excellent book. I read books like these for two reasons: The romance, and to see a section of history brought to life. I admire the way Ms. Henley adheres to the way things really were back then, right down to the male chauvenism. Falcon, the hero, is all man, but a respectable one, given the time. Jasmine started out a little flighty, but she ended up a strong woman who knew her own mind.Romance, magic and history combine to create a memorable book that is difficult to put down.

Loved this book!

I loved this book! Granted, Falcon is full of testosterone and he is domineering, and even a creep, but I like them that way. I don't want a sappy, wimpy hero. I like them to take charge and be demanding. It makes for such a worthwhile romance. What fun is it for them to say "I love you and fall onto the bed in the first chapter. I like fierce resistance on the woman's part and "I'm going to take you anyway types on the man's part. That kind of book makes me squirm and I like it!!! Virginia Henley does not dissapoint.