Customer Reviews

Comanche Magic

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

 

 

This book is the last installement in the Comanche saga books, starting with "Comache Moon" "Comanche Heart" "Indigo Blue" and then we have "Comanche Magic" the story of Indigo's brother Chase, and the woman he falls in love with, Franchine.

Chase returns to Wolf's landing after several years of absence as he worked the timber business. Now he's back due to an injury. Life has made him a hardened and cynical man. He first meets Franchine when she is visiting his sister Indigo. He doesn't know that she is a prostitute. Later when he learns the truth about her work, Chase rudely and coldly tells Franchine to stay away from his sister and her family.

Franchine is a victim in every meaning of the word. Her story is heartwrenching. She conjures images in her mind, of good memories, of the beautiful life which she lost at the tender age of 13, when she was forced into prostitution. Through these images she escapes the horrible reality, when she is working in the Saloon at night. No lights are allowed to be turned on in the room either. And that is the way she keeps her sanity. But having to feed eight siblings, the youngest of whom is sick and needs a very expensive elixir to survive, and a blind mother, force her to continue in this proffession which she hates. Mrs. Anderson does a great job showing how very few options were open to women back then, hence forcing the desperate ones into prostitution.

As things progress, Chase and Franchine get to know each other through events that are both funny and tender. The more Chase learns about Franchine, the more he sees that she is a victim, and his heart breaks for her. Hence he begins to buy her services for the entire night, but instead of having any sexual relation with her, he takes her out on picnics, and moonlight walks. Franchine realizes that Chase is playing with her heart, and that is something that she can not afford to lose. For if he broke her heart, she would most definitely break down, and this time lose her mind completely. And her family would starve. She couldn't bear more heartache or afford to dream of the wonderful things that Chase was making her believe in again. So she tries to push him away, only Chase isn't so easily discouraged.

I thought that Fanchine's mother got off too easily. I wanted to slap her for what she did.

This story is about the power of love, and faith. How a completely shattered life, a hurting broken woman, found her dreams and her life again. How a hurting, cynical man learned to dream and to love.

A very good read.

I give Catherine Anderson points for choosing Franny as the heroine in a romance novel. If I hadn't read 'Redeeming Love' by Francine Rivers, I might not have picked up 'Comanche Magic'. Life is hard for those without money or education, but it was even harder in the 19th century, especially for women. Franny had to make a heartbreaking choice at thirteen to support her large family. I think the author had to sanitize things quite a bit, this being a romance, but one is still horrified and outraged at what Franny had endured. And I loved Chase for following his heart and making very brave choices. For a man who already faced prejudices and hypocrisy wherever he went, his decision to brave likely ridicule and condemnation showed that he is truly his father's son. A difficult journey but well worth it.

I know this book didn't get that great of reviews, but I thought it was wonderful. It made me smile and made me cry. I love a book that can move me to tears! Franny's story was heartbreaking, but the love Chase had for her and the way the Wolf family embraced her was beautiful.

Catherine Anderson is one of my favorite authors. This book was one of the most depressing stories I have ever read and would not recommend it. I loved the other books in this series, however.

I used to wait with great anticipation for another of Catherine Anderson's books to come out. As others have written, the first book in this series was very good. The second was not as good but an OK read. With this book, I tried it twice and have resigned myself to the fact that I will not finish it. While Franni has had a tragic life and Chase and his family are extremely open and willing to accept her as she is and her baby, her constant rehashing of why everything cannot work out kept going on ad naseum. Enough is enough.

I will have to seriously think about whether I purchase any more of Ms. Anderson's books.

I have read several Catherine Anderson books in the past but this is one of my top reads for 2008. Comanche Moon is the beginning of a "saga" that follows through to 3 more of Catherine's books. The story brings to light the cultural differences in White/Indian relations and how misunderstood both groups of people handled their differences. Through the fear of rape, raids and eventually death - one man and one woman find love. This book not only shows the culture during the 1880's but how all men/woman struggle to raise families and provide a better existence for their offspring. Not all are successful in this endeavor but as Catherine depicts, individuals are willing to risk their own lives to protect their people. I have passed my copy on to my oldest daughter as I think the story will certainly be attractive to multi generations.

Hero falls for town's prostitute. Touching love story. A little shallow and not much action occurs. Overall, worth reading to end the series, but not a very powerful story.

This is a wonderful love story between a man and a reluctant prostitute. The story will tug at your heart and make you think of Chase and Franchine long after the book is over.

I loved the first book in this series, it had everything. The second was good but not great the third one was so so but this was just awful. I wanted to really love this story and Chase Wolf but even I couldn't believe that he could fall in love with a prostitute in a small town in the 19th century and accept her being pregnant. Please give me a break it wouldn't even happen now let alone then. How much can you suspend disbelief. What a shame and a waste of Chase's character and of the others.

Very well written and part of a Trilogy. Next one is due out in March 2009