Episode 4 of Ripped & Ravished Book Club is here! In this episode of Reading Under the Covers, a romance novel podcast, Francesca (Under the Covers Book Blog) and Becky (Too Stupid to Live Podcast) dive into Chapters 7-8 of The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and we are officially in the "so close to the end… please give us something" zone.

These chapters bring big plot movement (hello, baby arrives) and yet somehow we're still drowning in domestic detail: baths, clothes, embroidery, household management, and a hero who keeps inching toward emotional growth… until he opens his mouth and resets the progress. We talk about how the book is crystal clear about his feelings, while Heather's inner life stays frustratingly out of reach, and why that makes the romance feel oddly hollow even as they're technically building a life together.

We also get into: the hot-and-cold communication spiral, Jeff's increasingly confusing role, George's surprising moment of remorse, and why certain "dramatic" beats feel like random drive by tension instead of true relationship stakes. Plus, we're still waiting for the book's legendary "female pleasure" reputation to show up on page (Becky is keeping score).

Catch up here (and watch the video of this episode): https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/the-flame-and-the-flower-review/

Content warnings: This episode discusses rape/non-consent (referenced), coercion, pregnancy/childbirth, misogyny, and controlling dynamics. Please take care of yourself.

Next up: Our final episode on this book discussion covers Chapters 9-10 and we want your thoughts before we wrap. Reply with where you're at: first-time reader vs reread, what's shifted for you, and whether the ending delivers the passion (and yes… the probing).

Timestamps

00:00 Probing and Passion Tease

00:14 Podcast Intro and Book Club

01:20 Chapters Seven and Eight Setup

01:58 Baths and Missing Chemistry

03:04 Hot and Cold Communication

04:59 Moving In and Blowups

07:23 Hattie the Wise Stereotype

09:40 Jeffs Forced Kiss and Vibes

10:48 George Confession Overheard

12:16 Brandon in New York Growth

17:18 Louise Debts and Power

21:51 Heather Changes and Birth POV

27:06 Her POV Missing

28:02 Becoming Mrs Birmingham

30:00 No Context for Competence

32:13 Shell of a Heroine

33:17 Stagnant Brandon Arc

36:08 Where Is the Heat

38:32 Yearning and Real Stakes

40:12 Side Characters and Style

43:35 Plot Finally Moves

49:08 Baths Without Purpose

50:57 One Bath That Works

51:57 Wrap Up and Next Read

Links to join the book club + resources

Ripped & Ravished Book Club hub:

https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/bodice-ripper-book-club/

Sign up for the book club newsletter:

https://underthecovers.myflodesk.com/ripped-ravished

Kathleen E. Woodiwiss Author Guide:

https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/kathleen-e-woodiwiss-author-guide/

Romance Evolution through the Decades (1970s):

https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/history-of-1970s-romance-novels/

1970s Romance: Iconic Romance Novels:

https://www.underthecoversbookblog.com/1970s-romance-novels/

Follow Becky / Too Stupid to Live Podcast:

https://tstlpodcast.substack.com

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/too-stupid-to-live-romance-reviews-%245-and-under/id1141770521

https://open.spotify.com/show/2rhn2BiyPFDZNMXIHxi2jC

https://www.instagram.com/tstlpodcast/?hl=en

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