"Super Native American Romance & Legend"
Though the action itself is set in 1830's of the American
West the author gives a brief background both setting the
stage for the main protagonist Grey Coyote as an Indian boy
sent to earth on a mission to break a curse that had
enslaved his clan and the reason the curse was laid. Once a
generation a young boy would be sent with a quest and a
riddle to solve before he turned 30 years old, otherwise
his clan would again be enslaved for another generation.
With time running out, he thought the trader, Jacques
LaCroix, who had engaged him in a game of Cos-soo (also
explained) held the key to solving his riddle. Winning the
game and everything the trader possessed Grey Coyote got
more than he bargained for. One of Jacques LaCroix's
possessions was the golden haired beauty, Marietta
Welsford, who had hired LaCroix as her guide to St. Louis.
Unbeknownst to Grey Coyote he wrongly assumed that the
white woman was the traders' wife. Marietta was drugged by LaCroix and handed over unconscious
to Grey Coyote before she knew what had happened. Grey
Coyote according to life on the plains, and the rules of
Cos-soo assumed that LaCroix's 'wife' (for a woman could
not be traveling with a man who was not her husband) was
now rightly his 'wife'. Not that he wanted a wife but this
fair-haired woman was uncommonly beautiful. As Grey Coyote
and Marietta butt heads as to where he was taking her and
her intense need to reach St. Louis, the attraction two
good looking people felt for one another led to an
inevitable joining. Almost convinced to give in to
Marietta's demands to reach St. Louis, Grey Coyote was
about to give in until another vision showed him that
Marietta was an integral part of the key to the riddle he
needed to solve. *** I have to say that originally the plot seemed somewhat
far fetched, but I was soon totally caught up in the story.
The characterizations of both Marietta and Grey Coyote were
quite skillfully done giving them a depth of character that
surprised me. Grey Coyote was adamant in fulfilling his
quest and was prepared to bring Marietta to the first
trading post he could find without taking what was
rightfully his according to the rules of the Cos-soo until
he saw the second vision. Marietta was impassioned as well,
in returning to England to reclaim the heritage that had
been stolen from her but neither was ready for the passion
each felt for one another. It wasn't long before Marietta
realized that Grey Coyote was more a gentleman than any
white man she knew. Like an artist the author blends in her
love of the American Indian heritage, their dogma, customs
with an ancient legend, and with empathy and a sensitivity
that left this reader breathless with the beautiful love
story that evolved. The sensual scenes were quite
passionate and tasteful only enhancing the love story. The
dangers of the journey, and even some of the humor that
evolved along with lessons of the plains survival were well
done with just enough drama to keep the pace lively and
refreshing. This was beautifully written, well researched,
and contained a nice glossary of terms and explanations
that added to this readers understanding of the Native
American tongue and of the curse behind the legend. This
was an extremely good book I highly recommend to lovers of
Native American romances. Marilyn Rondeau -- RIO, Reviewers International Organization
Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted January 6, 2007
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Many centuries ago, a village killed the children of the
Thunder god. For their crime the Creator banished them to
live a half existence in the land of shadows, neither dead
nor alive. But once in a generation, a brave is given the
opportunity to save his clan...
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