Customer Reviews

Captive Trail (The Texas Trail Series)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis ISBN-978-0-8024-0584-5

The second book in the Texas Trail - Morgan Family Series continues in the excellence of the first book. In Lone Star Trail we know that Billie Morgan and her horse were gone, Comanche's. They continued searching for her but assumed she may be dead. She was nine years old at the time.

Taabe Waipu is escaping the Comanche camp. She had an opening for escape and took it. She would not marry Peca and be tied down to the Numinu for the rest of her life. Pia had been her sister since she was taken all those years ago and she loved her and the baby but Chano, Pia's husband, thought she should marry Peca, a warrior who enjoyed raiding. Taabe took one of the fastest horses from the six Peca had left at their home as a way of asking for marriage and left with all the speed she could. Several days later the horse fell into a hole and Taabe was thrown off. She awoke in pain and the horse was gone.

Ned Bright and his partner, Patrillo Garza who went by Tree, live on a ranch with run a stagecoach from it. Tree is a widower with four rambunctious sons and Quinta, the nine year old daughter, was already a wild cat and a spoiled one at that. Tree is now the station agent at the Bright-Garza Station and Ned was the driver of the stagecoach from their ranch to Fort Chadbourne, delivering mail and any paying customers. It was his first day. Their passengers were not ones who would pay though, two Sister's going to open a girls school.

When Ned and Brownie, the shotgun rider, seen a body in the road they were concerned it was a trap. When Sister Natalie jumps out of the coach and heads for it Ned makes quick work of getting there first. It is a woman. The Sister's insist she stay at the Mission house.

The Fort's Captain sends out feelers for missing girls to see if they can discover who Taabe really is. She no longer speaks or understands English. She was punished in the early days of her capture if she spoke English. Many people go to the Fort and then are taken to the Mission to see if Taabe is their daughter, even if the description did not match these people were desperate to find their missing children.

A really good historical adventure with a touch or romance. The threat of Indian raids, not always knowing who you could trust, Taabe's struggle with the language and adjusting between the Indiana and white world. Looking forward to the next four books in this series. The first two are excellent even as they are written by two different authors.

Book received through NetGalley for review

I accidentally read this book out of sequence, and read it first. Quitet frankly I am not sure if I would have read the rest of this series if I hadn't. I truly enjoyed this particular book but when I have read other mixed author series they seemed to seamlessly interwrite the books. These seemed much more separated ... except for having the last name Morgan and occassionally (in the other books) references to the Morgan horses, there were very few references between the books of characters which is something I personally always enjoy in series.

This book I truly enjoyed where it started out Ned finding Billie (Taabe Waipu) almost dead after escaping from being held captive for many years from the Indians. He was also accompanied by a number of Nuns that were going to be setting up a school They took her in an harbored her, I liked how kind they were, taught her to live once again in the "white" world, taught her about God ... and overall kindness at the risk of their own lives. It is a bit different than many other books and I think tha was part of the intrigue ... even different from other captive books, and I felt definitely worth reading.

I think this book takes one back to those times of how unsafe one had to feel, how vulnerable you were to the Indians ... it had to be frightening ... I know I thought alot about it afterwards ... and I hae read so many books in my lifetime, just something about this book kind of haunted me for a number of days... however, I have to admit I have order number 4, and will most likely preorder #5 & 6 ... have to see this darn storyline to the end now ...

CAPTIVE TRAILS by Susan Page Davis is the second in the Texas Trails Series,but can be read as a stand alone. It is about Ned Bright,an exhausted and injured Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver and Taabe Waipu's,an Comanche. It has strong characters who I enjoyed very much and what they where doing. It was easy to read. I would buy "Captive Trails" by Susan Page Davis.Received from Net Galley and the publisher.

RATING: 4

REVIEWED BY: DorothyA(for mybookaddictionreviews.wordpress.com)

This is the second book a series (I already reviewed the first) but works very well as a stand alone novel. It is nice to see characters from the last one come into play but if you haven't read it you won't be confused.

I have a thing for Indian captive books, I always have though generally it has been during the French and Indian War so this was a nice change of pace. Also this was less about the capture and more about re-acclimating into society after being gone for 12 years.

I really liked how Davis tried to show the confusion at concepts which seem very basic to those of us who have grown up in "civilized" society. I also loved the side character of Quinta. She is a little 9 year old girl who comes to live with the sisters for a proper education. She is a spitfire and can hold her own in almost every situation that is thrown at her.

The only thing that I wish could have got from this novel is more background on Ned. First of all, what caused his initial aversion to nuns? And religion in general? I think a little more back story on him would have been an nice addition.

Overall, I liked this book and most likely will read the next one in the series.

Many thanks to Moody publishing for giving me this book for review.

The second Texas Trails book, Captive Trail captivated this reader. Not usually a reader of historical, I agreed to read this one because I enjoy the author's writing style. I was not disappointed. Susan Page Davis has written a fascinating tale with engaging plot, realistic characters, and an author voice that kept me reading. Taaube Waipu escaped the Comanche world and found her way back into the white world. Found her way into the heart of an honorable man. Delightful story, definitely worth the read. I have not read the first one, but the second compels me to go back and read more of the Morgan Family. I think Captive Trail is worth 5 stars.

Around the year 1845, Taabe Waipu was taken captive by the Comanche when she was a mere child. She was their slave at first. Not allowed to speak her own language and was made to learn the female role within the Comanche tribe. Once she learned that role she was taken in as a family member of the ones she worked and lived with. But she knew she did not belong and was determined to find her way to the home she could not remember. She fled the Comanche camp and the warrior who wanted her as his bride. Taabe knew he would track her and bring her back.

She was found for dead by a stagecoach driver and taken to a missionary of Nuns where she was taught the ways of her English childhood. Yet she still desired to search for the family she no longer remembered. Ned Bright, the driver who found her was more than willing to help her search for her family.

The author picked right up from where book one left off. She pulled me into the book as if I were a part of story. She made me see how horrendous it must have been for Taabe to be held captive at such a young age. The character was given such fortitude to seek what she knew was her roots. By the author putting Taabe in the care of the Nuns, they not only nurtured her back to health but also to the God she remember from her childhood.

This was a outstanding story and I would highly recommend you read this book.

I rate this book 5 out of 5.

Disclosure: I won a copy this book. I was not compensated in anyway for this review.

Susan Page Davis in her new book, "Captive Trail" Book Two in The Texas Trail Series published by River North Fiction Division of Moody Publishers takes us back to Texas in the 1840's.

From the Back Cover: Taabe Waipu has run away from her Comanche village and is fleeing south in Texas on a horse she stole from a dowry left outside her family's teepee. The horse has an accident and she is left on foot, injured and exhausted. She staggers onto a road near Fort Chadbourne and collapses.On one of the first runs through Texas, Butterfield Overland Mail Company driver Ned Bright carries two Ursuline nuns returning to their mission station. They come across a woman who is nearly dead from exposure and dehydration and take her to the mission.With some detective work, Ned discovers Taabe Waipu identity. He plans to unite her with her family, but the Comanche have other ideas, and the two end up defending the mission station.

"Captive Trail" is another romance set against the backdrop of Texas. Susan Page Davis takes up the story of the Morgan family that was begun in the first book, "Lone Star Trail". In that book we learned that Billie Morgan was kidnapped by Comanches. Now she is called Taabe Waipu, "Sun Woman" and she does not wish to be married to the brave that wants her. Her escape fails but she is found by Ned Bright, a stagecoach driver, who is shocked to see a white woman in indian dress. Now they mush learn her real identity and re-teach her what she has lost before the Comanches come to take her back. Me, I really like Westerns. I like what authors can do with them and Susan Page Davis really knows how to write a Western. Kidnapped white woman, Comanches, stagecoach drives and defending a mission from an indian raid are just part of the what this book holds. If you enjoy history like I do then this book is for you. Ms. Davis really makes you feel the heat and the dust and the danger. Every one of her characters seem to come alive and it is like actually being there in Texas with them. "Captive Trail" continues being all about families and relationships and that is what makes this book a winner. I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Jeane Wynn at Wynn-Wynn Media for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Captive Trail is the tail of Taabe (Ta bay) Waipu, a captive of the Comanche Indians. She was taken when she was about nine years old and the life with her white family is now a distant memory, but as the tribe pressures her to marry a man she doesn't love, Taabe, makes a daring escape. However, her horse trips and falls, leaving Taabe in the prairie alone, fearing for her life.

Ned, the stage coach driver, with a stage full of nuns on their way to a new mission in Texas, comes across Taabe. She is bruised and unconscious from the fall. Ned takes her and the nuns to the mission where she can be nursed back to health.

Taabe has been a captive for so long she has forgotten English, making it hard for her to explain her situation, but through many lessons by the nuns and the patience and understanding that Ned offers Taabe learns of her true identity.

As Ned searches for Taabe's family the Comanche are hot on the trail, determined to bring Taabe back to the tribe.

What unfolds is a gripping tale of strength, courage and love. I read this book in two days. I couldn't put it down! Susan Page Davis is a master story teller who puts a lot of thought and research into her books!

This is one book in a series of six, written by three very talented authors.

It left me wanting more!

Susan Page Davis takes us on a poignant and compelling journey into the life of a young white woman who was kidnapped by the Comanche Indians, at the age of nine years old. In the Plains of North Central Texas, 21 year old, Taape Waipu, "Sun Woman" in Comanche, flees her village, and the Indian brave, Peca, who wishes to wed her against her will. Though she is never allowed to speak English among the Comanches, and gradually forgets her native tongue, Taabe tries desperately to hold on to fleeting memories of her family, and the dream that one day she will be reunited with them. Upon fleeing, Taabe is thrown off her horse and is found beside the road unconscious, by Ned Bright, a stagecoach driver.

Ned Bright and his partner, Tree, as he is nicknamed, deliver mail for the Butterfield Overland Mail Company. They are astounded when they find the wounded white woman in Indian clothing, and immediately take her to a nearby mission run by Ursaline nuns. Under the loving care of the "sisters", Taabe's outward and inward wounds begin to heal, and she commences to learn the language and ways of the white people. She finds a special friend in nine year old, Quinta, Tree's daughter, and a special love for Ned Bright, who desperately searches for her family.

Will Taabe ever be able to put together the flitting memories of her childhood to help find her family? What significance does the little white paper with strange words hold...that she has kept hidden all these years? What dark secrets does she possess of her life with the Comanches, and will Ned reject her, should he discover them? And when Peca comes back for her, will she go with him, to save the lives of all those in the mission?

This book will grab you from the beginning and not let go! Susan's research into the history of children kidnapped by Indians, and of the Comanche tribal ways is impeccable, and therefore lends authenticity to this story and its characters. I loved the secondary characters-Tree, Quinta, and the nuns, were all a delight! Another awesome read from the pen of Susan Page Davis!

Susan Page Davis is an author whose books I've come to love. From her early days of writing for the Heartsong Presents Line to one of her newest series, The Ladies Shooting Club, I've been able to rely on her ability to supply excellent stories to the Christian fiction genre. For those reasons, I was eager to read her newest novel, Captive Trail.

Captive Trail was a bit of a departure from Susan's usual style. There wasn't the spunky heroine or the handsome hero, nor was there the gradual and believable romance that I'm accustomed to reading. However, there was a sweet series of relationships that formed among the characters, and enough danger and fear evident with the local Indian tribes that I kept turning page after page.

I'm looking forward to the other 5 books in The Texas Trail Series by various authors that I have come to enjoy. My rating for Captive Trail is 3 Stars.

**Many thanks to Moody Publishers and CFBA for providing a copy for review.