Source: Night Owl Reviews
Date: Jan 2010

4.5 Stars!

I found Cane to be a great read. I found the characters of Pieter, Sebastian, Joss, and other secondary characters to be quite believable and shown as the different products - and viewpoints - of their times. The story also shows that not everything is black or white, but different shades of grey. This is a wonderful book that I would recommend to others.

To read the full review, visit:
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=5657

Source: Rainbow Reviews
Date: Jan 2010

http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=4100

Pieter Van Leyden is heir to a sugar Plantation in St. Martin and is in love with one of the slaves Joss. Due to circumstances beyond his control his father steps in and makes a mess of everything.

Pieter is then forced to leave only to come back after his father passes away and finds things are not the same. After some soul searching he leaves St. Martin once again and heads to Louisiana where he meets up with Sebastian Cane a man he met briefly years before but has never forgotten.

Once in the United States Pieter's passion arises and he has to make some decisions that will affect his and Sebastian's life in the short term. Will their love survive the War?

The book is one of historical significance as Ms. Woods has done a lot of background research on St. Martin in the 1850's and Louisiana in the 1860's describing to the reader what is going on in those two places and the attitude of the people at that tumultuous time. I think more than a romance this was also historical and the character development was awesome. I could see exactly what the characters looked like and what they were thinking. I could also feel as if I were in the Caribbean in the 1850's as well as in
the deep south right before the Civil War.

Ms. Woods has outdone herself with this book and I would recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction and gay historical fiction.

Source: Kiernan Kelly
Date: August 2007

Set during the volatile years preceding the American Civil War, Stevie Woods brings us a novel that is heavily laden with emotion, that examines the temperament of the day with a fine and compassionate hand – the hope and hopelessness, the dignity and futility of a world where men are enslaved both physically and spiritually.

Pieter is a privileged young man who nonetheless is held hostage by his father’s manipulations; Joss is a slave on Pieter’s father’s sugar cane plantation. Heartbreak is all that the two can expect from their clandestine and forbidden affair. Only Pieter’s father’s death allows Pieter to return to his island home, but finds that it is too late – Joss had been sold years before.
Finding himself in the United States, Pieter is pitted against the very same issues that had torn his heart to shreds on his father’s plantation. What Pieter discovers among the stalks of sugar cane is a new love, and old friend, and a dangerous hate that stalks his every step.

Woods treats the sensitive subject matter compassionately in this novel of lost love and newfound hope.

Source: Romance Junkies
Date: August 2007

Pieter is the wealthy son of a plantation owner. As a child, his friends were the children of the slaves. He grew to love his best friend, Joss. When his father learns of their affair, Joss is sold and Pieter is sent away.

Joss does not come home until his father dies. He is unable to find Joss and knows he must go on with his life and try to be happy. Eventually, he ends up in America working as a plantation manager for Sebastian Cane. As Cane and Pieter grow to love one another, the conflict over slavery threatens to tear them apart.

Set during a turbulent time in American history, CANE by Stevie Woods tells a story of forbidden love in a pre-Civil War setting. Emotionally stirring, this story draws you into the lives of compelling characters that find their love threatened by the events and tragedies of the time. Pieter does not believe in slavery but he understands that things cannot change overnight. He lost his first love because of issues surrounding slavery. Will his new love withstand the problems that surround this issue?

Pieter is a kind hearted and loving man that sees all people as the same. He does not believe in slavery and he cannot abide in the cruel treatment of others. He is easy to like but it seems that he is always falling in love with people that will complicate his life. He is destined to be hurt no matter what he does and that is heartbreaking. This story has me wondering about Pieter's future and I hope that there will be a sequel coming in the future.

Life on a plantation during the pre-Civil War era is brought to life through the interactions of the characters. This is a time in the story in which the men begin to choose which side they are on and why. Slavery plays a strong part in their decisions but it is not the only reason. Pieter finds moments in his life filled with passion and happiness, but they are overshadowed by the evil and hatred that surrounds him. Beatings and rape are just a few of the terrible things that set the dark mood in this story. It is a sad story that made me angry that such things could have happened. Suspense was strong at times as Pieter and Cane's enemies came closer to acting in violence and anger. This led to breath taking action that drew me further into the story.

Heated moments of erotic pleasure are described in wonderful detail, showing the depth of the characters' feelings for one another. Pieter and Cane seem to savor each other, shutting out what is going on around them. As their world goes crazy with talk of war, I could only hope that they could make their relationship work.

CANE by Stevie Woods is a fast paced and passionate historical romance that transported me back in time to experience America during this turbulent era. The compelling characters drew me into their lives, stirring strong emotions, as I watched them be affected by surrounding events. CANE is a very memorable story and I encourage others to add it to their reading list.

Source: Literary Nymph Reviews
Date: March 2008

Pieter Van Leyden grew up on a Caribbean sugar cane plantation with slave Joss, and his family, as friends. After four years of schooling in Holland, Pieter returns to his home at Spinnaker Plantation where he and Joss become lovers. Pieter’s father Nicolaas discovers the affair and banishes Pieter and then sells Joss. When Nicolaas dies, Pieter returns to Spinnaker, but there is no record of Joss’ sale. Never in agreement with slave ownership, Pieter traveled to Louisiana. With few jobs available, Pieter settles for plantation manager at the Morning Star. To his surprise, the plantation is owned by Sebastin Cane, a man Pieter had met in Holland and was still attracted to. Pieter also discovers that Joss is a slave on the plantation as well.

Cane is a compelling story of denied freedom. Stevie Woods illustrates an extraordinary view of the mind-set maintained by most plantation owners, who believed slaves were property in the same category as farm animals and tools. Deprived of his human rights because he is gay, Pieter does everything in his power to change the closed minds pertaining to the lack of civil rights for the slaves. Cane is a romance story with a potent reminder that the same mind-set displayed in this historical account still continues today. This is an outstanding saga that I enjoyed immensely.


http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2008/03/cane.html

Source: Fallen Angel Reviews
Date: April 2008

Pieter Van Leyden has lived a privileged life while growing up as the heir to a profitable sugar cane plantation. When Piet’s mother died his daily care was taken over by their house servant Effie. He grew up with her children Tillie and Joss and viewed them as friends, not slaves. His father thought that Piet needed distance from his slaves and sent the young man to Amsterdam to complete his education. Piet gains an abundance of knowledge while abroad but the comprehension of fact that affects his life the most: Piet has a preference for men.

Cane is a glimpse into a man’s heart and soul, and we are privy to Piet’s love, his hurt, his life. Watching Piet accept himself as a gay man during that time period with all the hiding necessary to stay safe and to not become ostracized by those you love gave me a new respect for anyone who has openly accepted their preference. Stevie Woods delivers a powerful story wrapped within the history of slavery. I will admit this is not one of my usual pieces of literature to read, but I was beyond pleased upon completion. The characters, plot, and setting were all strong elements and transported me back to 1855. If you enjoy historical fiction Cane is sure to be an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by: NeNe

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2008/April/NeNe-Cane.htm