Customer Reviews

Comanche woman

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

 

 

Bayleigh "Bay" Stewart is the sensitive middle daughter of Rip Stewart. She can't shoot or fight like either of her sisters, but she can balance the books and be a right-hand to her elder sister, Sloan, who will inherit the plantation upon his death. When Bay is captured by the Comanche, it is Long Quiet, a half-breed who's had feelings for her ever since he saw her back East, who finds her. He saves the life of a Comanche chief who has enslaved her and is invited to his village. Bay has been with the Comanches for three years, and in that time she has become strong, but she still dreams of her dream man, Jonas. But it's not Jonas who strikes a fire in her blood. Bay is given to Long Quiet as a gift and she is fearful at first, but under his gentle hand, she opens her heart to him. When someone tries to kill her, they escape, and though their feelings for each other are plain, there is one problem: he wants to stay in Comancheria; Bay wants to go back home. With a heavy heart, Bay goes home, only to discover that her father is in financial trouble and it's up to her to fix it, by marrying Jonas. There is one complication, though: she's pregnant. Long Quiet comes back into her life and agrees to marry her (Rip's shotgun was a great motivator), but he believes the only reason she wanted him was because he was rich, and the story continues to unfold. I like the way the author revealed the layers of Bay's acquired strength and delved into the relationship with her father and elder sister. The way she managed to show Long Quiet's "uncivilized" Comanche side was interesting, too. She also had me guessing as to how she'd resolve the conflict between Bay and Long Quiet. This was my favorite book in the series.

> In the three years Bayleigh Stewart has been held captive by the Comanches and has been sharing a tipi with "Many Horses" a great warrior, she has not been forgotten by her family and most of all by "Long Quiet". Long Quiet,who is half Comanche and half white man, cannot forget the beautiful girl he met in Boston years ago and on behalf of the Stewart family has been searching high and low for her. Finally after three years he discovers she
is now called "Shadow", a woman living amongst a tribe that believes her to have strong powers.Many Horses bestows Shadow as a gift to Long Quiet after saving his life and the love affair begins. It is now up to Long Quiet to return her to her family.The question is will Long Quiet be happy living in the white mans world with Bay when he is a Comanche at heart? And..will Bay be accepted by the world she left behind and how will she adjust to it?

"Comanche Woman" by Joan Johnston is an enjoyable and engrossing romantic Western novel. It is the 2nd in the Sisters of the Lone Star series. The first Frontier Woman, focused on the youngest of the Stewart girls, the rough and tumble "Cricket" who meets her match in Texas Ranger "Creed". This one now turns it's focus on Bay, the quieter middle daughter, who was captured by the Indians at end of the first story, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened to her. Bay's time spent living among the
Commanches changed her completely. She is now strong and self reliant. The second part of the story, takes a turn and,although we still get some action, it may seem to be more a steamy soap opera,then a western adventure. I think I would have like to read more about the actual events of the Texans escape from the Mexican prison, which is also part of the story. Miss
Johnston also gives us a good look at the traditions and ways of life of the Native American during the 1800's.

Many of the characters from the first story return and all have good stroylines in this one as well. The gruff patriarch, Rip Stewart, Cricket and Creed with their new arrival,Jonas Harper, Bay's first love, who really adds an unusual twist to the story, Sloan, Luke Summers, what's his secret? and of course, the oldest sister Sloan, who was left pregnant and betrayed in the first story, what will become of her. That's next her story is Texas Woman, which I also looking foward to reading.

I personally enjoyed "Frontier Woman" a little more than this one, probably because it was more on the adventurous side. But this one was definatly an enjoyable read, and as she has done before Miss Johnston has taken me away to another time and place for a while I would also suggest that "Frontier Woman" be read before this one, as that is where you will get to know all the characters.

enjoy.... Laurie

After reading several bad reviews of Comanche Woman by Joan Johnston, I felt compelled to contradict them. It is the second book in her Sisters of the Lone Star series, the first being Frontier Woman, the third being Texas Woman. I enjoyed Comanche Woman from beginning to end.
Comanche Woman continues the story of the second Stewart sister, Bayleigh, who is abducted by an Indian at the end of Frontier Woman. In that novel, she is a meek, quiet young woman who is often overlooked by her overbearing father and when compared to her forceful older and younger sisters. The reader is left wondering how gentle Bayleigh will survive her capture and endure her subsequent life with the Comanche.
Joan Johnston is known for creating vivid characters and thoughtful introspection. She certainly does not disappoint in her character development of Bayleigh Stewart, who is called Shadow by her Comanche captors. Shadow has learned to put aside all that she has known as the wealthy daughter of a plantation owner in order to survive her harsh new life as a slave to Many Horses.
Unbeknownst to Bayleigh, someone has been relentlessly searching for her since her capture three years ago: the half-breed Long Quiet, also called Walker Coburn. Torn between two worlds, he has loved Bayleigh in secret since he saw her years ago at a ball in Boston. Since she no longer is part of that world, he longs to rescue her and give her the love that he has held only for her.
Their journey to each other is tempestuous and filled with the emotion that one comes to expect from Joan Johnston. The reader genuinely comes to love and care for these characters; this particular reader actually sighed with disappointment when the novel came to its poignant conclusion. (I didn't want to say goodbye to Bayleigh and Long Quiet!) Share their journey also by reading Comanche Woman. You will not be sorry.

This book was painful to finish. I kept hoping that it would get better (it didn't). As others have mentioned, there were too many storylines that were completely undeveloped, apparently in a deliberate attempt to get you to read prequels and sequels.

However, the worst part of the book for me was the "character" of Bayleigh Stewart, a/k/a "Shadow." Her character was completely annoying, as she seemed to behave completely inconsistently and irrationally. For example, when a misunderstanding arises between Bayleigh and the hero, Long Quiet, rather than explain her situation and clear up all the problems, Bayleigh keeps "forgetting" to talk to him, or missing her opportunity. Very clumsily handled overall; none of the characters are believable in their motivations or behaviors.

Also, no author should use the word "manroot" in what is intended to be a serious love scene. I actually laughed out loud.

I started out reading "The Cowboy" trilogy which was an interesting enough read. So I figured I'd check out the prequel and see where these characters came from. I started with this book "Commanche Woman", and it was so bad, it is embarrassing. This is the type of book that makes me ashamed to read Romance. I didn't even finish it. The heroine's kidapping situation and treatment were completely implausible. The hero's bizaare infatuation/love for this woman was unfounded and made him, pretty much a weirdo in my opinion. I really enjoyed the other three books I read by this author (although I see a marked improvement in her writing with each book); But this one is for the dogs...potty training them.

You have to read Frontier Woman to fully understand Comanche Woman. It is part of a series and is, in fact, my favorite book in the series. To understand Bay and Long Quiet's personalities you have to first meet them in the first book. It tells how Jerrett Creed's father kidnapped Jerrett and Long Quiet from the Comanche camp and sent them to school in Boston where the hero first lays eyes on the beutiful Bayleigh Stewart. It also explains Bay's relationship with her father and sisters.

Some reviewers said the characters were 2 dimensional but didn't read the first book. That is like tuning into a TV show but not watching the first half of the season. Of course they are lost. If you are thinking of reading this book I defiantly recommend reading Frontier Woman first and Texas Woman is also great to round out the series. This book was my favorite of the three books hands down and Long Quiet was my favorite of the three heroes. I really enjoyed reading these books and especially loved this one. They will go in my bookshelf for me to revisit in the future.

I tried to like this book, but I felt like I came into it with the story already half told. Perhaps I should have read Frontier Woman first, since it told of Bay's kidnapping and her history. I just didn't feel like I got to know the characters; they seemed 2 dimensional. It also didn't make sense that Long Quiet was so in love based upon his glimpse of Bay in Boston. I wanted to know why he loved her so. I found this book hard to finish.

Texas and Comancheria, 1843

Now known as Shadow, a powerful medicine woman to the Comanche warrior, Many Horses, Bayleigh "Bay" Stewart has adjusted to the Comanche way of life after being kidnapped three years ago. She still, however, dreams of the day she can go home and marry her love, Jonas Harper. When Many Horses returns to the village after a brief absence, he has a half-breed stranger, Long Quiet, in his company. Apparently the man saved Many Horses' life more than one time and is now his blood brother. As such, he offers Shadow to Long Quiet, not realizing the repercussions that will follow this impulsive act.

His father a white man, his mother Comanche, Long Quiet walks between the two worlds, but the Comanche are nearest and dearest to his heart. He has been searching for Bayleigh Stewart the past three years and now that he has found her, Long Quiet is reluctant to return her to her family, despite the promise he made to Bay's sister. As the weeks go by and the two fall in love, it is evident that the people of the Comanche village no longer hold Shadow in awe and fear -- instead, they want her dead. With Many Horses' blessing, the two escape from the village and start the long, enlightening journey to Bay's home.

I have long been a fan of Joan Johnston's novels, but COMANCHE WOMAN is not a keeper for me. I was enthralled until chapter ten, when the story took on a very abrupt change in tone and direction from what I had previously read. It was as if someone else had taken over the writing. From that point on, there is an abundance of point of view changes, strange character inconsistencies, "purple" prose, and predictable happenstances.

I have not read the other books in this series, so COMANCHE WOMAN may very well mesh perfectly with those. Even though I was personally disappointed in the last half of the book, I'm sure there are Joan Johnston fans who will enjoy the story.

I loved this book. It's true love conquering all. That old, wonderful idea that certain people belong together, that they are destined to be together. I found it very uplifting and fun as I did "Anything, My Love", and "Savage Thunder."

In the 1843 Republic of Texas, as he promised three years ago to her sister, half-breed Long Quiet continues his search for the missing Bayleigh "Bay" Stewart with no success. When he saves the life of chief Many Horses Long Quiet believes his quest might be over when he learns of Shadow, a white woman owned by this Comanche chief. As his reward, Long Quiet receives Shadow, who is Bay.

Long Quiet is patient with his frightened gift, but begins to reach the woman he has cherished ever since he saw her back east years ago. When someone tries to kill her, Long Quiet takes Bay to safety. Though they love one another, he knows his Indian people needs him so he wants to live in Comancheria while she needs to go to her family ranch. Bay returns home to learn that the family faces a financial crisis with their only hope left for her to marry her wealthy former suitor Jonas Harper. However, she now carries Long Quiet's baby causing a different dilemma.

Though the story line is typical of most of Joan Johnston's Texas historical romances, the reprint of COMANCHE WOMAN will please sub-genre fans because this is one of the best entries in the extended mythos. The story line enables the audience to observe the lifestyles of Native American and Texans in the middle nineteenth century yet provides wonderful lead protagonists and a strong secondary cast including stars from the first novel (see FRONTIER WOMAN). This is an entertaining tale that readers will gain plenty of pleasure while awaiting the next reprint, Texas woman.

Harriet Klausner