As I've picked up reading again and specifically reading tons of romance books, The Flame and The Flower comes up on must read lists over and over again so it was on my to be read list and eventually it became the most intriguing book on the list.  I had some idea that there was a sexual assault scene in this book so I was prepared to read said scene.  After reading the opening Chapter, I looked at the publication date and saw 2009, then finally figured out that it was published in the early 70's and it was just the (probably Kindle) edition that was published in 2009- historical context is important- as I'm reading this novel 50 years after publishing (and what was cool in the 70's is not okay in 2020).
I was not prepared for Chapter 1- this book needs a massive sexual assult/rape content warning- there are 3 rapes and 3 sexual assult scenes. 

Spoiler

It opens with an attempted rape scene (which Heather escapes)- sigh of relief- with a fat ugly uncle by marriage (okay fat/ugly= evil but is fine I have my modern day lenses on).  Then she walks onto a boat and gets sexually assaulted/raped by the hero of the book Brandon.  The hero realizes he is probably raping her when he feels her *magical* hymen but continues on because why not?  And then does it two more times because I don't know?! the first rape wasn't gruesome enough.  I literally couldn't understand why Heather needed to be raped 2 more times by Brandon.  But I'm not an author/writer so what do I know? 
This book moves in 3 parts- the first is in England, the second is on the ship and the third is her married life.  I read through the first 2 parts hoping that I could find Brandon's redeeming qualities.  Part 2 is supposed to play into his redemption- being worried sick and taking care if your extremely ill wife and not raping her a 4th time on a boat did not sell me on redemption.
These quotes were so seriously problematic at the 80% mark of the book- hopefully at a point where you'd think I could garner a smidgen of likability in the hero:Brandon:"Though she had thought herself saved from rape, she now feared she was headed for that same fate again. She had no willpower to keep Brandon from taking what he wanted and what he had every right to"You are mine, Heather. No one will have you but me. Only I shall taste your body’s joys. And when I snap my fingers, you will come.”
It was not my intention to take you again by force. I do not choose that relationship. But if I must I will, for I cannot go on living under the same roof with you and never finding my pleasure within your body.
“Damn, it’s come to rape.

It doesn't age well- I can understand the historical context of the heat level in this romance novel- it does have the standard heat level that I read in a romance novel which 50 years later is telling- Kathleen Woodiwiss revolutionized on page sex scenes (though I would argue that there have been much more "chaste" or even closed door scenes that I've found way sexier)- but hey I'm here for the filth.  I can buy a forced marriage to your rapist story but the hero/rapist has to be less rapey by the end of the book- and I don't think that has changed in the past 50 years.  As in- I'm fairly certain it rape was not acceptable in the 70's- so I'm not sure why the hero got a thumbs up by the end of the book (even though the book was set in the 1900's).  I finished this book because I kept hoping that redemption was right around the corner but it wasn't there for me.

Historical Romance guilty pleasure at its finest.

I understand its critical significance, but I just didn't get much from it.

The book that introduced me to romance. Yes, the book looks rough and dreadful forty years after it's initial publication, but something about it still entrances me. I found other novels written now that bother me more than this book ever did.

Buen inicio junto con su desenlace y formulación, sin embargo, terminó siendo, en algún punto, carente de argumentos viables que los de malentendidos y el aparente odio entre ambos personajes, los que mantuvieron a flote toda la secuencia de hechos.

Branden fue exquisitamente estructurado a la perfección de fachada para aparentar una naturaleza que, aunque era confiable, escondía detrás un carácter diferente. Por otro lado, la pequeña Heather, se ganó mi respeto por tan falta de carácter en momentos oportunos, pero la cualidad de calibrar sus movimientos con cautela y recato; fue interesante diluir que todavía ante la adversidad, siempre se mantuvo fuerte.

Un libro poquitín largo, que seguramente asegurará una apetecible lectura pero que, en un punto, te hará dudar de seguirla con sus inciertos o juegos de tira y afloja entre la pareja principal.

It took awhile to read as it was fairly slow and at times I thought the pace could have been written faster for some moments that were really drawn out. I did however enjoy the book despite my skimming at times. What annoyed me was the sudden change of the characters voice once individually realizing they loved each other. They go from normal speech to suddenly waxing poetry to themselves in reference to the other-- and I mean shakespeare like. It just didn't fit and was shocking.

I could never finish this book. I wish I could give it negative stars. Rape isn't sexy. Bleh.

I don't know what others see in this book but for me, it was just a big no-no. The first thing that bothered me was an age gap - 18 years between them. I know that 18-year old girls were cosidered as a possible candidate for a wife but with so much older man?
Quite a turn-off I have to say.
No matter the era this was in, no girl should suffer rape, because that's what it was. He didn't listen to her!!

I am reviewing this after three years and that's exactly how much I needed to put my hate - at least the major part, I'm still angry - behind so I could borrow another Woodiwiss's book. Hopefully A Rose In Winter is different!