Rated: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ . ♥ {4.75}
Action: ♠♠♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣♣♣♣♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦ / Suspense: ♠♠.♠
Action: 3.75 / Emotion: 5.0 / Romance: 5.0 / Sensuous: 2.0 / Suspense: 2.5 // Historical Flavor: 4.5 // Laughter: 1 // Tears: 5 / Teary: 3
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Setting: The Republic of Texas / Comanchería / Perote, Mexico
Era: 1843
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Did the most horrible thing with the first review. I accidentally deleted it. When I figured out what I had done, I was miserable. All that work and because of inattention and with the stroke of a few keys -- it was gone forevermore. So here is the second attempt at reviewing this book.
Comanche Woman, Joan Johnston's second book in The Sisters of the Lone Star Trilogy, was the best book of the trilogy. Since Johnston is a favorite author to begin with, it was not surprising that this book was un-put-down-able. Comanche Woman was an exciting, entertaining, deeply emotional, well-told story that readers who favor Historical Romances that are part of the American West sub-genre will find this book well worth reading.
This book could almost be read as a standalone book because the sisters that star in the other two books of the series, do not spend all that much time on the pages of this book. However, it is recommended that these books be read in order, because Johnston actually does build the personalities of several recurring characters during the progressive stories of the three Stewart sisters.
Anyone that read the first book of the series, Frontier Woman, would be chomping at the bit to read Comanche Woman -- Long Quiet's and Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart's story. At the end of that book, Bay had been kidnapped by Tall Bear, a Penateka Comanche, who then sold her off to another band of Comanche. Long Quiet, who had fallen for Bay the first time he saw her, was tasked by Bay's younger sister, Creighton "Cricket" Stewart Creed, to find Bay.
Creed is anxious to help those prisoners because one of them is Luke Summers, the young Texas Ranger that worked under Creed's command. Creed cannot go to Mexico himself because Cricket is close to delivering their first child. Long Quiet agrees to perform this task for Creed and then he is faced with two very difficult questions. The first is from Cricket, asking if he is still looking for Bay. The second, and more profound, is the one asked by Creed. Creed asks Long Quiet if he still stood by his choice to live as a Comanche rather than a White Man.
Era: 1843
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Comanche Woman, Joan Johnston's second book in The Sisters of the Lone Star Trilogy, was the best book of the trilogy. Since Johnston is a favorite author to begin with, it was not surprising that this book was un-put-down-able. Comanche Woman was an exciting, entertaining, deeply emotional, well-told story that readers who favor Historical Romances that are part of the American West sub-genre will find this book well worth reading.
This book could almost be read as a standalone book because the sisters that star in the other two books of the series, do not spend all that much time on the pages of this book. However, it is recommended that these books be read in order, because Johnston actually does build the personalities of several recurring characters during the progressive stories of the three Stewart sisters.
Anyone that read the first book of the series, Frontier Woman, would be chomping at the bit to read Comanche Woman -- Long Quiet's and Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart's story. At the end of that book, Bay had been kidnapped by Tall Bear, a Penateka Comanche, who then sold her off to another band of Comanche. Long Quiet, who had fallen for Bay the first time he saw her, was tasked by Bay's younger sister, Creighton "Cricket" Stewart Creed, to find Bay.
from the moment he'd first seen Bay Stewart in Boston, where she'd been sent to school by her father, she'd held a fascination for him. (Long Quiet, page 23)Johnston does an excellent job of including details of Texas history in the story as she begins weaving quite a few different colored threads into the story to give the tapestry of this book a beautifully finished picture. Comanche Woman opens three years after Bay's kidnapping -- in 1843. Long Quiet has made his way from Comanchería (where he lives and where he has been searching for Bay) at the request of his best friend, Cricket's husband, Jarrett Creed. Creed needs Long Quiet to go to Mexico for him with horses and supplies to help aid prisoners tunneling under the walls of Castle San Carlos in Perote, Mexico where the Mexican government had moved the one hundred and fifty prisoners that were captured during the Battle of Mier.
Creed is anxious to help those prisoners because one of them is Luke Summers, the young Texas Ranger that worked under Creed's command. Creed cannot go to Mexico himself because Cricket is close to delivering their first child. Long Quiet agrees to perform this task for Creed and then he is faced with two very difficult questions. The first is from Cricket, asking if he is still looking for Bay. The second, and more profound, is the one asked by Creed. Creed asks Long Quiet if he still stood by his choice to live as a Comanche rather than a White Man.
"I've spent a lifetime traveling between Comanchería and the Republic of Texas. Thanks to Creed's father, I learned a great deal more about the white man's attitudes and ideas when he sent me to school with Creed in Boston. And I tell you, there can be no peace between the Comanches and the White-eyes." (Long Quiet, page 7)
The emotional and mental difficulty that Long Quiet faces as he walks between two worlds, belonging to neither, is addressed quite often during the telling of his story. Johnston used Long Quiet's angst about his heritage to tie readers to him on a deeply emotional level. As Long Quiet headed back to Comanchería, he happened upon a very young brave, who was drinking in celebration of his first successful raid on white men. In his drunken youthfulness, the brave told the other warriors in camp about the big secret being kept in his village. A purple-eyed, red-headed, white woman named Shadow had been living in his village for three years.
As Long Quiet rode north to check out the possibility that "Shadow" may be Bay, the stars aligned (aren't authors really good about aligning stars), so that Long Quiet rescued Many Horses, a Quohadi Comanche, from the grasp of a group of Tankawa warriors (the Comanches' deadliest enemy). Long Quiet rescued Many Horses in the dead of night and before morning had arrived, Many Horses had made Long Quiet a blood brother. But when dawn arrived, Many Horses was angry when he saw the curl in Long Quiet's black hair and the gray of his eyes. And Long Quiet, again, faced the hatred directed at one side of his heritage.
As Long Quiet rode north to check out the possibility that "Shadow" may be Bay, the stars aligned (aren't authors really good about aligning stars), so that Long Quiet rescued Many Horses, a Quohadi Comanche, from the grasp of a group of Tankawa warriors (the Comanches' deadliest enemy). Long Quiet rescued Many Horses in the dead of night and before morning had arrived, Many Horses had made Long Quiet a blood brother. But when dawn arrived, Many Horses was angry when he saw the curl in Long Quiet's black hair and the gray of his eyes. And Long Quiet, again, faced the hatred directed at one side of his heritage.
Long Quiet could see the Indian was furious at the discovery that he'd become blood brother to a man who didn't look much like a Comanche.Naturally (because authors are so good at aligning the stars), Many Horses just happened to own Shadow, the name given to Bay by the Comanches she lived with for the last three years. So it was that Long Quiet finally found Bay -- and then had to deal with his heritage issue again.
But I am Comanche!
It was a cry Long Quiet left unvoiced. (Long Quiet, page 24-25)
"I understand the Comanche custom that allows Many Horses to offer . . . to share me with you, and I know what I promised. But I . . . I really don't wish to . . . You must understand how unnatural, or wrong such an act would seem to a white woman . . . such as myself. After all, you're a white man, you --" (Bay)It is during the first half of the book, labeled "Part I -- Shadow" that Long Quiet stays in the Comanche village and seeks to win Bay as his own. Long Quiet is a hero that would melt any woman's heart.
"I am a Comanche, a True Human Being. Do not dare to call me White!" (Long Quiet, page 54)
Before him sat a flesh-and-blood woman who set his pulse to pounding and his loins ablaze. (Long Quiet, page 40)One thing that Johnston does with great skill is to introduce secondary characters, who are important to the plot of the book, and sometimes play minor roles, but when they walk through the pages of the book, they leap out at you. One of the supporting characters that Johnston brought to life was Many Horses, a hero in his own right. Many Horses is very intriguing. He is all that is strong -- a mighty warrior, a man of integrity, and suffers his own angst as he serves his village as war chief.
"I find I like being cared for by you." (Long Quiet, page 61)
The fact was she did like him, but she didn't understand why. (Bay, page 62)
he couldn't help thinking he would never have offered this woman to another man -- no matter how great the debt, or how great the honor to be found in such generous giving. (Long Quiet, page 65)
She'd offered herself to him, but it hadn't been a willing offer, and he found himself reluctant to take what he wanted by force. (Long Quiet, page 67)
"I would not desire another woman, either, if I had you." (Long Quiet, page 70)
"I made you my brother and then did not act as a brother should. Now I find myself unable to think what I can give you that is a fitting reward." (Many Horses, page 27)There were several things about the village where Bay had lived for three years that were a bit off kilter. First off, there seemed to be no chief. Second, the medicine man was unusual. After reading many, many American West Romance Novels that featured the Native American and after watching the tv mini-series, Into The West, it always seemed that the medicine man, the puhakut, was the most spiritual and wisest member of the tribe. At first, He Decides It, the medicine man, was going to be that man.
Many Horses watched with a queer mixture of pride and jealousy the look of admiration for Shadow that he found on his blood brother's face. . . . He did not like owing Long Quiet. (Many Horses, page 41)
Many Horses felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. He was about to share a highly treasured possession, one he came to recognize as solely his own, and could not shake the feeling of foreboding that descended upon him. He felt his jaw tighten in determination, aware his pride was forcing him to do a thing his warrior's instincts told him could have terrible consequences. (Many Horses, page 42)
"I am glad you approve of Shadow. She shall be yours to serve you in whatever manner you wish, for so long as you are among us." (Many Horses, page 42)
It was moments like this that brought home to him how staggering a responsibility it was to be medicine man for the village and to have the power of life and death over those who came to him for advice. (He Decides It, page 72)
But as the story progressed and Johnston used the medicine man to align the stars so that it was necessary for Shadow to leave the village. It became obvious that He Decides It was a jealous, manipulative, power hungry man. Since Many Horses was loved by all and is of such high caliber that he could be the hero of his own romance novel, He Decides It manipulated people and events so that he came across as more powerful and stronger than Many Horses.
One of He Decides It's decrees was that the villagers (except for Many Horses's family) could not speak or look at Shadow, who was declared the basis for Many Horses' puha (power). So it was that for three years, Bay was, again, on the outside looking in.
Johnston did a great job of slipping in some very emotional, sensual love scenes that had a bit of sizzle when Long Quiet finally took Bay to his bed. Apparently Long Quiet was such a good lover, that Bay tumbled into love with him.
But now that Long Quiet and Bay are in love and Bay is forced to leave the village for her safety (thanks to Indian superstition), Johnston must throw a wrench in the works so that she can tell the second half of the story. Thus, it was that when readers turned to "Part II -- Bay", it was to read that Long Quiet dumped Bay on the steps of Three Oaks and he headed off to Laredo to meet Creed and then off to his home in Comanchería.
Just as Long Quiet was dealing with his issues of being half-Comanche and half-White, Bay was dealing with issues of never being good enough to be her father's daughter. Rip Stewart's personality was developed to a much greater degree in Comanche Woman than in Frontier Woman. It was obvious that as Rip aged, he had no idea how to show his daughters any tenderness. However, Johnston wrote a beautiful scene of unspoken communication between Rip and Bay when she walked into the dining room of Three Oaks when she returned home.
Rip was depicted as more human and likeable as he pressed Bay about marrying Jonas. Rip, however, was totally oblivious to the fact that Bay was miserable at the loss of the love of her life. Amazingly for Rip, though, he saw that the Bay that came back from the Comanche had a lot more backbone. For the first time in her life, she hollered back at Rip.
One of He Decides It's decrees was that the villagers (except for Many Horses's family) could not speak or look at Shadow, who was declared the basis for Many Horses' puha (power). So it was that for three years, Bay was, again, on the outside looking in.
There had been no one to talk to, no one with whom to share the ache she felt at being so isolated in the midst of so many. (Bay, page 33)Bay had always felt insecure and inferior, having been raised by Rip and having Sloan and Cricket for sisters. Bay met Jonas Harper while she went to school in Boston and her soft heart zeroed in on him and his kindnesses to her.
In those long-ago days, Jonas had bolstered her meager self-confidence, had protected her from the fears of inadequacy she'd acquired growing up in a home with two outspoken sisters and an overpowering father. (Bay, page 35)Bay had spent years dreaming of Jonas coming to save her. As the story progressed, Bay continued to wound the man who loved her by bringing up Jonas during their tender conversations. Long Quiet did everything in his power to win Bay over and when he did, it was a bit confusing how one moment Bay was whispering "Jonas" and the next she was in love with Long Quiet. Maybe that's the problem that occurs when an author has the heroine resisting the hero for so long before she finally admits her feelings for him.
Johnston did a great job of slipping in some very emotional, sensual love scenes that had a bit of sizzle when Long Quiet finally took Bay to his bed. Apparently Long Quiet was such a good lover, that Bay tumbled into love with him.
But now that Long Quiet and Bay are in love and Bay is forced to leave the village for her safety (thanks to Indian superstition), Johnston must throw a wrench in the works so that she can tell the second half of the story. Thus, it was that when readers turned to "Part II -- Bay", it was to read that Long Quiet dumped Bay on the steps of Three Oaks and he headed off to Laredo to meet Creed and then off to his home in Comanchería.
Just as Long Quiet was dealing with his issues of being half-Comanche and half-White, Bay was dealing with issues of never being good enough to be her father's daughter. Rip Stewart's personality was developed to a much greater degree in Comanche Woman than in Frontier Woman. It was obvious that as Rip aged, he had no idea how to show his daughters any tenderness. However, Johnston wrote a beautiful scene of unspoken communication between Rip and Bay when she walked into the dining room of Three Oaks when she returned home.
Rip was depicted as more human and likeable as he pressed Bay about marrying Jonas. Rip, however, was totally oblivious to the fact that Bay was miserable at the loss of the love of her life. Amazingly for Rip, though, he saw that the Bay that came back from the Comanche had a lot more backbone. For the first time in her life, she hollered back at Rip.
Johnston is going to have to do some fancy footwork if she expects her readers to like Sloan in her book, Texas Woman -- the last book of the trilogy. Sloan was not exactly likeable in Frontier Woman and she is even worse in Comanche Woman. Sloan has become a hardened, bitter, workaholic after giving away her son to the Guerrero family. (Sloan got pregnant by Antonio Guerrero in Frontier Woman.) Bay, as the peacemaker and the sister who tries to make everything right, struggles to bring Sloan and her two year old son, Francisco "Cisco" Guerrero, together.
Since Cricket's story has already been told, Johnston leaves her only on the periphery of Bay's story. It was nice to see that Creed and Cricket were having a baby. It was also fun to see that Tom and Amy Creed returned to Three Oaks from Tennessee to attend the christening of little Jesse Elizabeth Creed along with their children, five year old Seth and one year old Emily.
Johnston continued to build the awareness between readers and Luke Summers. After Luke escaped from the Mexican prison, he showed up at Three Oaks and developed a close relationship with Bay -- just as he had developed a relationship with Cricket in Frontier Woman. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Luke had his own story and this series was four books instead of three. It would be so interesting to understand the sadness that Bay and Cricket saw in Luke's eyes. Luke's next assignment as a Texas Ranger was to investigate some shady dealings that were going on in Shelby County.
And those shady dealings were tied to Jonas Harper. Jonas was another important secondary character that showcased Johnston's talent in secondary character development. Just by watching the way Jonas acted and the way he bullied Bay, it was obvious he was more villain than husband material. And while Bay's reasons for accepting Jonas's proposal were valid (even if she did succumb way too easily), when she turned Long Quiet away, who showed up in the guise of Walker Coburn -- a great big shout out that he gave up everything to be with his love, Bay was not the only one crying copious tears.
In closing, it's obvious that Joan Johnston has a winner on her hands with Comanche Woman, the second book in The Sisters of the Lone Star Trilogy. This entertaining book presented a well-told story that included all the factors necessary for an enjoyable book. {1} Long Quiet / Walker Coburn was a well-named hero. This handsome hero walked tall, full of integrity and knew who he was in spite of having the blood of two nationalities running in his veins. {2} Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart was a beautiful heroine that had a special kindness within her in spite of the insecurities that plagued her. {3} Enough action to keep the story moving at a quick, then steady pace. {4} A story so well told that the reader couldn't help but become deeply emotionally involved with both Long Quiet and Bay. {5} Plenty of romance in Long Quiet's constant pursuit of Bay in his efforts to win her love. {6} The understated, but spicy sensuality during the lovemaking scenes. {7} An undercurrent of suspense ran through the story (as in: {a} how was Long Quiet going to get Bay out of the Comanche village; {b} how was Long Quiet going to get Bay away from Jonas). {8} The inclusion of history added a decidedly historical flavor to the story. {9} Intriguing well-written secondary characters: {a} Many Horses, {b} He Decides It, {c} Little Deer, {d} Rip Stewart, {e} Sloan Stewart, {f} Luke Summers, {g} Jonas Harper, {h} Cruz Guerrero, and {h} Francisco "Cisco" Guerrero. This wonderful book will remain on my "To Be Re-Read" list.
(The first review was better!)
--Vonda M. Reid (Thursday, October 16, 2014 : 11:44 p.m.) [342]
Since Cricket's story has already been told, Johnston leaves her only on the periphery of Bay's story. It was nice to see that Creed and Cricket were having a baby. It was also fun to see that Tom and Amy Creed returned to Three Oaks from Tennessee to attend the christening of little Jesse Elizabeth Creed along with their children, five year old Seth and one year old Emily.
Johnston continued to build the awareness between readers and Luke Summers. After Luke escaped from the Mexican prison, he showed up at Three Oaks and developed a close relationship with Bay -- just as he had developed a relationship with Cricket in Frontier Woman. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Luke had his own story and this series was four books instead of three. It would be so interesting to understand the sadness that Bay and Cricket saw in Luke's eyes. Luke's next assignment as a Texas Ranger was to investigate some shady dealings that were going on in Shelby County.
And those shady dealings were tied to Jonas Harper. Jonas was another important secondary character that showcased Johnston's talent in secondary character development. Just by watching the way Jonas acted and the way he bullied Bay, it was obvious he was more villain than husband material. And while Bay's reasons for accepting Jonas's proposal were valid (even if she did succumb way too easily), when she turned Long Quiet away, who showed up in the guise of Walker Coburn -- a great big shout out that he gave up everything to be with his love, Bay was not the only one crying copious tears.
In closing, it's obvious that Joan Johnston has a winner on her hands with Comanche Woman, the second book in The Sisters of the Lone Star Trilogy. This entertaining book presented a well-told story that included all the factors necessary for an enjoyable book. {1} Long Quiet / Walker Coburn was a well-named hero. This handsome hero walked tall, full of integrity and knew who he was in spite of having the blood of two nationalities running in his veins. {2} Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart was a beautiful heroine that had a special kindness within her in spite of the insecurities that plagued her. {3} Enough action to keep the story moving at a quick, then steady pace. {4} A story so well told that the reader couldn't help but become deeply emotionally involved with both Long Quiet and Bay. {5} Plenty of romance in Long Quiet's constant pursuit of Bay in his efforts to win her love. {6} The understated, but spicy sensuality during the lovemaking scenes. {7} An undercurrent of suspense ran through the story (as in: {a} how was Long Quiet going to get Bay out of the Comanche village; {b} how was Long Quiet going to get Bay away from Jonas). {8} The inclusion of history added a decidedly historical flavor to the story. {9} Intriguing well-written secondary characters: {a} Many Horses, {b} He Decides It, {c} Little Deer, {d} Rip Stewart, {e} Sloan Stewart, {f} Luke Summers, {g} Jonas Harper, {h} Cruz Guerrero, and {h} Francisco "Cisco" Guerrero. This wonderful book will remain on my "To Be Re-Read" list.
(The first review was better!)
--Vonda M. Reid (Thursday, October 16, 2014 : 11:44 p.m.) [342]
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Books In The Series: "The Sisters of the Lone Star Trilogy"
| # | Date | Title | Hero | Heroine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | 08-1988 | Frontier Woman | Jarrett Creed | Creighton "Cricket" Stewart, youngest sister |
| 02. | 04-1989 | Comanche Woman | Long Quite / Walker Coburn | Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart, middle sister |
| 03. | 10-1989 | Texas Woman | Cruz Almicar Guerrero | Sloan Stewart, eldest sister |
| secondary: | Luke Summers | Refugia Adela Maria Tomasita Hidalgo |
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Characters Found In "Comanche Woman"
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Long Quiet / Walker Coburn | [Hero] spoke perfect English; Comanchero father; Comanche mother (6) went to school with Creed in Boston (7) among the villages of The People, a fierce Comanche warrior; among the Comacheros, a half-breed, gray-eyed Comanche in buckskins who wondered easily between the worlds of the Indian of the white-eyes (8) slate gray eyes (17) shiny black curls escaped long, thick braids (24) angled cheekbones and aquiline nose were more refined; skin was more bronze than copper; his muscular chest slick and smooth with only a provocative line of hair arrow between from his naval downward; broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist and hips (43) a head taller than Bay (46) arrogant; fierce; uncompromising (48) his face was all angles and shadows, hard, harsh, tense; impressive man, without an ounce of wasted flesh on him; all knotted muscle from his thighs to his lean waist; broad shoulders (58) sensually bowed upper lip (59) too proud for his own good (64) gentleness that allowed him to hold a child in his arms and tell her a bedtime story; respected the strength of character that allowed him to do a woman's work undaunted by the possibility of another's scorn (115) moved with grace; muscular body lithe (138) his long black braids, a Comanches pride, were gone, replaced by blue-black hair cut to the top of his collar; wore black boots, buff kerseymere trousers that fit him like a second skin, a black wool frock coat that ended just above his knees, an embroidered satin waistcoat and a snowy white tucked linen shirt with a stylish white silk cravat knotted at his tanned throat (250) |
| Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart / Shadow | [Heroine] tall; violet eyes; flame red hair; stolen from father's plantation by Tall Bear; Rip's second daughter (8) called Shadow; eyes were the deep dark purple of a stormy night; hair burns like the fire in the sunlight (13) tall as a man; shaped like a woman; skin is the golden brown of honey (14) quiet dignity (23) skin had tanned and freckled from exposure to the sun; fingers were calloused from hard work; feet had lost their delicate arch from running barefoot so much of the time; meager self-confidence (35) her once gangly body was lush; her breasts a bounteous promise; slim hips (40) |
| . . . | . . . |
| General Ampudia | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] led Mexican army in Battle of Mier (178) |
| Buffalo Woman | [No Appearance] Many Horses's wife; died birthing Little Deer (34) |
| Chester | [One Appearance] one of the men that escaped from Castle San Carlos with Luke (217) huge; irascible (218) |
| Whipp Coburn | [One Appearance] Long Quiet and Bay's son (376) curly black hair like father; violet eyes like mother (378) Never Quiet (383) |
| Comes Running | [One Appearance] Comanche youth who traded for white man's traps (149) |
| Amy Creed | [Brief Appearance] Tom's wife; lived in Tennessee; Jesse's godmother (209) |
| Creighton "Cricket" Stewart Creed | [Rare Appearances] [Heroine of Frontier Woman] heavy with child (5) single auburn braid down her back; hair a silky mass; Jarrett's wife (6) outspoken (35) year younger than Bay; father's favorite; impetuous; headstrong; bold (83) radiated happiness in her sparkling eyes and the burble of contained laughter in her voice (191) |
| Emily Creed | [One Appearance] Tom and Amy's 1-y-o daughter (244) |
| Jarrett Creed | [Rare Appearances] [Hero of Frontier Woman] large tanned hands (5) broad muscular chest; flat belly; Comanche name: Wolf; Cricket's husband (6) Long Quiet's best friend (8) |
| Jesse Elizabeth Creed | [Rare Appearances] Creed and Cricket's newborn daughter (193) |
| Tom Creed | [Brief Appearance] Creed's brother; lived in Tennessee; Jesse's godfather (209) |
| Seth Creed | [One Appearance] Tom and Amy's 5-y-o son (244) |
| Cries at Night | [Secondary Character] Many Horses's mother-in-law; taught Bay her duties (32) suffered from arthritis in her joints; closest thing Bay had to a mother; Bay's adviser and teacher, not confidant; hard nomadic Comanche life had wrinkled the old woman's skin and toasted it dark brown (36) black hair; dark eyes; Spanish; once a captive; husband died in battle; dependent upon son-in-law (37) |
| Eagle Feather | [No Appearance] Quohadi Comanche; Red Wing's son; rode with Many Horses; killed (28) |
| William Fisher | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] led Texans in Battle of Mier (178) |
| Forked River | [One Appearance] member of group of warriors that were hunting with Long Quiet (14) Two Fingers' son; died at hands of whites (346) |
| Golden Lady | sleek; graceful; beautiful mare (311) beautiful blond palomino; blond mane; white blaze between huge brown eyes (320) |
| Antonio Guerrero | [No Appearance] the father of Sloan's son; the younger son of a wealthy Castilian Spaniard; never intended to marry Sloan; killed (204) |
| Cruz Guerrero | [Secondary Character] [Hero of Texas Woman] Antonio's older brother (207) Spaniard; tall; body rapier-thin but laced with corded muscle; hawklike gaze; sensual mouth above a cleft that rent his strong chin; aristocratic; commanding; proud; reputation for gracious friendliness (266) Castilian; forebears were related to royal family in Spain (267) piercing blue eyes (327) |
| Francisco "Cisco" Guerrero | [Secondary Character] Sloan and Antonio's baby; named by the Guerrero's; beautiful; sable hair like Sloan's; blue, blue eyes; looked more like Cruz than Antonio (207) little boy with dark brown hair and blue eyes and looked amazingly like Cruz; cleft in his chin (326) |
| Doña Lucia Esmeralda Sandoval de Guerrero | [One Appearance] Cruz's mother; regal woman; no friendliness in beautiful blue eyes (349) |
| Jonas Harper | [Major Secondary Character] Bay exchanged words of love with him in Boston; had bolstered Bay's self-confidence, had protected her from the fears of an adequacy she'd acquired growing up in a home of two outspoken sisters and an overpowering father; had been happy to find a woman who needed him, someone who depended upon him to sustain her sense of who and what she was (35) square jaw (57) mustache (58) handsome man; chestnut hair; a full mustache covered his upper lip; a flashing smile that charmed without half trying (213) strong, virile body (230) not a graceful loser (263) very clever thief (267) |
| Captain Hays | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] resided in San Antonio; Texas Ranger (222) |
| He Decides It | [Major Secondary Character] Quohadi Comanche; medicine man; declared it tabu to anyone beyond Many Horses's family to speak to Shadow or cross her path (29) staggering responsibility to be medicine man of entire village, to have the power and life and death over those who came to him for advice (72) he knew much about the individual weaknesses of those who lived in his village. They came to him when they needed powerful medicine to allay their fears; they expected him to know how to combat the evils of disease and famine; they sought from him an explanation of the births and deaths, the good hunts and the bad, the successes or failures in war (73) wrinkles on nose (75) |
| He Follows the Trail | [No Appearance] Quohadi Comanche; Singing Woman's son (29) |
| Elijah Hopkins | [One Appearance] bought Framington Farms last year; an ordained Methodist minister (291) from Vermont (293) |
| President Sam Houston | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] president of the Republic of Texas; doesn't want to antagonize the president of Mexico (10) |
| Juanita | [Rare Appearances] Paco's sister (274) pretty (300) |
| Amber Kuykendall | [One Appearance] Mrs. Kuykendall's daughter (247) |
| Mrs. Kuykendall | [One Appearance] one of Three Oaks' neighbors (246) |
| Little Deer | [Secondary Character] pixielike face; large black eyes; button nose; sweetly curving mouth (33) small face; 3-y-o daughter of Many Horses and Buffalo Woman; given to Shadow by Cries at Night (34) |
| Many Horses | [Major Secondary Character] threatened to curse any who revealed Bay's presence in the village (14) wounded Comanche warrior that Long Quiet rescued; head shorter than Long Quiet; powerfully built; hard muscle; silent stoicism in the face of what must be horrible pain; an extraordinary man (20) black eyes (25) watched She Touches First; would not acknowledge his interest (30) easy with words (40) high, wide cheekbones and straight, prominent nose of a Comanche; barrel chested (43) too proud for his own good (64) prided himself on his ability to be generous with what he owned, especially what was most precious to him -- his horses and his wives (65) |
| María | [One Appearance] an ancient woman highly skilled in the art of healing with plants and herbs; tiny old woman (349) dark brown eyes were kind; wrinkled face; gnarled fingers (350) |
| Felicia Myers | [One Appearance] wearing stylish dress in harlot red (247) |
| Paco | [Rare Appearances] one of Guerrero's vaqueros; middle-aged Mexican; working with Long Quiet (274) wiry (276) |
| Rascal | [One Appearance] one of Cricket's pet wolves; followed Bay after her capture (32) |
| Red Wing | [Rare Appearances] Quohadi Comanche woman; shelled pecans; son rode with Many Horses (28) |
| Ruffian | [One Appearance] one of Cricket's pet wolves; followed Bay after her capture (32) |
| Sammy | [One Appearance] one of the men that escaped from Castle San Carlos with Luke (217) |
| General Santa Anna | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] heartless; executed prisoners who tried to escape (10) |
| She Touches First | [Secondary Character] Quohadi Comanche woman; sister to He Decides It; pounded dried buffalo meat (28) young woman; watched Many Horses; never acknowledged her longing for Many Horses (30) |
| Singing Woman | [Brief Appearance] Quohadi Comanche woman; beat dried plums into pulp; son rode with Many Horses (28) |
| General Somervell | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] led Texas army south (178) |
| Stands Tall | [No Appearance] Long Quiet's grandfather; mother's father; hates all whites (106) |
| Stephen | [One Appearance] the Negro servant who managed Rip's household (197) |
| Amelia Stewart | [No Appearance] Bay's mother; chosen by Rip to marry because she was the only daughter in a nearby Scots family of seven healthy children (1) |
| Rip Stewart | [Major Secondary Character] Bay's father; owner of cotton plantation along the Brazos River; dreamed of having three sons; married Amelia (1) richest gentleman planter in the Republic of Texas (8) overpowering father (35) had expected his daughters to be equal to the task a son might be asked to preform (50) terrible rages, mostly bluff and bluster had frightened Bay (53) huge bear of a man; sat arrogantly, tall and straight; deeper wrinkles etched his brow and somber lines framed his eyes and mouth; gray now threaded through his rich auburn hair, which curled down over his collar; his eyes had lost none of their vitality (19) always went for the jugular (239) |
| Sloan Stewart | [Major Secondary Character] [Heroine of Texas Woman] outspoken (35) year older than Bay; strong; brave; intelligent (83) held her body more rigidly and her chin bore and even more determined thrust than it had 3-y-a; Lowe's, sensuous voice held a sharper edge (190) bitter; cynical; angry (207) appointed as overseer of Three Oaks (211) usually wore red gingham shirt with a tan linsey waistcoat and dark brown fitted osnaburg trousers tucked into knee-high black Wellington boots -- typical planter's garb; dominating presence made her seem taller than she was (248) appeared petite and delicate; huge chocolate brown eyes appeared vulnerable; sable hair; 22-y-o (249) 5'4" (330) |
| Stewpot | dog Bay saved from the cooking pot; speckled; flea-ridden; slept outside Bay's tipi (37) |
| Luke Summers | [Major Secondary Character] [Secondary Hero of Texas Woman] young Texas Ranger; one of Creed's best Rangers; in prison the last year after being captured at the Battle of Mier (10) had aged; the brooding eyes that had so enticed the ladies of San Antonio now reflected a burning fury as well as a bleak bitterness; the well developed back, the whip-lashed shoulders, and the muscular thighs all bore witness to the heavy work he had done, but the flesh had dwindled to a shadow of what had been there before; his hair had grown to shoulder length and was tangled and dirty; there was little left of the charming young Ranger who'd drawn women to his bed like a Texas marsh drew mallards (221) shared some kind of unspoken communication with Cricket (222) had never told anyone that Rip Stewart was his father (223) hazel eyes (260) |
| Tall Bear | [No Appearance] stole Bayleigh from Rip's cotton plantation 3-y-a (8) |
| Two Fingers | [One Appearance] member of group of warriors that were hunting with Long Quiet (14) |
| General Woll | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] only kept San Antonio for 9 days (177) |
Locations, Organizations Found In "Comanche Woman"
| Location / Organization | Description |
|---|---|
| Era | 1843 |
| Setting | Comanchería |
| Setting | The Republic of Texas |
| Birchfield | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Castle San Carlos | in Perote, Mexico; where Mexican government moved the 150 prisoners captured at the Battle of Mier (10) |
| Evergreen | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Framington Farms | Elijah Hopkins bought last year (291) |
| Golden Valley | the name of Long Quiet's ranch (378) |
| Lion's Dare | Creed's cotton plantation; imposing white frame house (9) |
| Longwood | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Monte Verde | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Peach Point | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Perote, Mexico | location of Castle San Carlos (10) |
| Pleasant Grove | cotton plantation hit by hard times (211) |
| Quohadi | branch of Comanche to which Many Horses belonged (16) |
| Rancho Dolorosa | Cruz Guerrero's ranch (257) description (348) |
| Shelby County | Jonas had profitable holdings there (232) |
| Tankawa | the Comanches' deadliest enemy (17) ate the flesh of their enemies (18) |
| Three Oaks | Rip Stewart's cotton plantation (36) |
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"Comanche Woman" Quotations
| 33 | There had been no one to talk to, no one with whom to share the ache she felt at being so isolated in the midst of so many. (Bay) |
| 53 | It was one thing to make the promise she'd made. It was an entirely different matter to keep it. (Bay) |
| 84 | "There are ways a woman can make a man weak. Have you never learned to bow a man to your will." (Long Quiet) |
| 110 | Her heart went out to him, torn as he was between two peoples, bleeding for the wounded on both sides of the battle he foresaw in the future. (Bay) |
| 198 | Bay quickly found herself surrounded by love, awkwardly offered by two people who hadn't had much practice demonstrating their feelings. (Bay) |
| 225 | "I'm not sure I can stand to live like a white man -- staying in one place, living in a wooden house, raising the food I eat, bound by manners I have no use for, being friends with people who hate the people I love and have lived with my whole life. Do you realize what you're asking of me?" (Long Quiet) |
| 226 | "If you love her, there really isn't any choice." (Luke) |
| 250 | "I've been standing there trying to work up the courage to come inside and tell you how wrong I was ever to leave you, how nothing is more important to me than spending the rest of my life with you." (Long Quiet) |
| 334 | "My grandfather once told me, 'Happiness is a feeling inside that makes a gift of each day the Great Spirit gives you to walk upon the Earth Mother.'" (Long Quiet) |
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"Joan Johnston -- Comanche Woman" Review and Information Links
| Rated | Posted | Site | Notes, Comments, Etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| -- | -- | Joan Johnston's Website | Author |
| -- | -- | Joan Johnston's Facebook | Author |
| . . . | . . . | . . . | . . . |
| 4.20 average | {44 reviews} | Amazon | as of: November 7, 2014 |
| 4.11 average | {27 ratings} | Barnes & Noble | as of: November 8, 2014 |
| -- | -- | Fantastic Fiction | List of Joan Johnston's Books |
| -- | -- | Fict Fact | List of Books In The "Sisters of the Lone Star" Trilogy |
| -- | -- | Fiction DB | List of Joan Johnston's Books |
| 4.08 average | {516 ratings} | Good Reads | as of: November 8, 2014 |
| positive | 02/2003 | Historical Novel Society | --Melissa Galyon // PR Review |
| 3.63 average | {20 ratings} | Library Thing | as of: November 8, 2014 |
| 76 | -- | Mrs. Giggles | --Mrs. Giggles // dislike this snarky, mean-spirited review |
| 4.00 average | {112 ratings} | Paperback Swap | as of: November 8, 2014 |
| 5.00 average | {1 review} | Shelfari | as of: November 10, 2014 {only my review} |
| D- | 06-26-2012 | Words From Willow | --Willow // good review, but not a Romance Reader |
| 4.75 | 11-09-2014 | Wolf Bear Does Books | shorter post on Amazon, Fiction DB, Good Reads, Library Thing, Shelfari |
❀ . . Top . . ❀ . . Review . . ❀ . . Series . . ❀ . . Characters . . ❀ . . Quotes . . ❀ . . Links . . ❀ . . End. . ❀
♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
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