Prairie Song [Mass Market Paperback]

Cheryl Anne Porter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2000

A desperate bargain
Running for her life, Kate Chandler flees to Oklahoma with a price on her head, hoping to stake a claim in the Great Land Run of 1889. But with no money, no protection, no food--and an unborn baby to think about--she is desperate enough to accept a devil's bargain from a notorious bounty hunter Cole Youngblood. Ruggedly handsom, he'll stake her claim if she'll be a mother to his sister's three orphaned children--unaware of Kate's dangerous secret: she is the quarry he's been hired to find.

A dangerous love
Cole knows Kate is running from something terrible; the fear in her eyes is clear as day. But that doesn't change is plan to marry her, make the Land Run, then leave Kate and the children behind--safe away from the hard life he's chosen. He didn't expect the wild emotions that would sear his hardened heart and make him yearn for a life beyond the grim realities of living by his gun. But as passion exposes the deadly secrets that shadow them both, he knows their only hope for a future together is to forge a love stronger than the danger trying to tear them apart.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set against the backdrop of the Great Land Run of 1889, this captivating historical love story grapples with themes of feminine empowerment, family duty and personal morality. While working as a maid for the wealthy New York Talmidge family, Kate Chandler finds that her uncanny resemblance to the patriarch's barren wife casts her as the pawn in the Talmadges' scheme to have an heir. Edgar Talmidge rapes the young servant and holds her captive, but Kate, pregnant and penniless, escapes to Oklahoma to seek anonymity and a new life for herself and her child. But the heroine's dreams are thwarted by the rules of the Run: to stake a claim, one must be either 21 years old or married. Determined to survive, she agrees to care for three orphaned children who had been left to a widely feared hired gun, Cole Youngblood. In exchange, the gunslinger will secure a choice plot of land for Kate. What Cole doesn't know is that his new bride is the runaway maid he's under contract to destroy. His new, makeshift clan brings him unexpected contentment, and a showdown with the evil Talmidges proves he's a changed man, newly devoted to love and family. Porter (Captive Angel) sets up a potent irony by delivering her heroine into the keeping of her assigned killer. At times, the story stalls with too much character introspection, and a few plot points are bit too coincidental, yet the narrative zings along with high drama toward a heartwarming denouement. (May)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Twenty-year-old Kate Chandler, upstairs maid for New York socially prominent and politically powerful Edgar Talmidge, is terrified and shocked at her predicament. Because she looks so much like the barren Mrs. Talmidge, she has been raped by Talmidge to carry his heir and is told that if she runs away, both she and her baby will be hunted down and killed. With some mysterious help, Kate manages to escape and flees to Oklahoma in April of 1889 to join in the Great Land Run. What she doesn't realize is that the Homestead Act limits participants to those 21 years old and over and heads of households. Along comes Cole Youngblood, a well-known bounty hunter, who says he will stake her claim if she will care for his sister's orphaned children. Cole is unaware that Kate is the woman that he has been hired to bring in. To protect her interest, Kate holds out for marriage. Cole knows Kate is running from something but agrees to marry her for the sake of the children. The characters are strongly drawn and move the story into a lasting romantic relationship, and the ending may surprise readers. The hardships and the determination of those seeking land of their own are vividly portrayed. Also, a glimpse into the lives of women on the frontier will give some meaning to the phrase "you've come a long way baby." Believable characters, lots of action, a vivid historical setting, and romance are the key elements of this good read.-Carol Clark, formerly at Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312972911
• ISBN-13: 978-0312972912
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,500,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, April 29, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1889, a desperate Kate Chandler fled her powerful New York employer Edgar Talmidge to hide in Oklahoma. Edgar imprisoned Kate and made her pregnant apparently because she resembled his barren wife.

In Oklahoma, Kate learns that for a woman to participate in the Land Run, she must be either twenty-one or married. A dejected Kate is neither. Gunslinger Cole Youngblood needs a mother to nurture his recently orphaned three-year old niece and her two older brothers. Cole cuts a deal with Kate. If she "adopts" his three wards, he will stake a land claim for her. She accepts and the two individuals with their deep secrets fall in love with one another and with their three children. However, unbeknownst to either of them, she is the person he has been hired to find.

Cheryl Anne Porter is quickly attaining a reputation for excellent Americana romances. Her latest book, PRAIRIE SONG, is another triumph for the wonderful writer. The poignant story line is fast-paced and filled with action that makes the late nineteenth century Oklahoma vista seem vividly alive. The lead characters are a warm, brave duo while the children pull the heartstrings of the audience. Sub-genre fans will burst into Oklahoma even as they sing the deserved praises of Ms. Porter for a fabulous historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT AND A KEEPER!, March 11, 2002

By 

M. Hartmann "abayyan" (Milan, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)

I sincerely love picking up a bit of realistic history along with a delightful story.
Kate's situation may be more probable that is to be expected given the times and the attitude of men. Although there were many honorable and god-fearing men, there were probably 2/3's of men who had the same morality of Edgar Talmidge. [and their acts did make them slightly insane.]

Now Cole Youngblood was about the gentlest and most honorable gunslinger that I have heard of. It is always probable that these men have many unresolved issues that drive them to lead the life that they do. Some are driven to such a life and others seem to naturally fall into a hardend way of life. Not all make it out of it into a more gentler way.

I followed Kate into falling in love with little Joey, Willy and that little rascal Lydia, but a yellow hound named Kitty?? [grin]
Lydia had a most effective way of handling Edgar Talmidge. Shame on the man!

I would like to see some pictures of the invasion [that is all I can call it] of Oklahoma but I have a sneaking suspicion that the men of that era were not very good looking [according to our images nowadays].

No matter if you find drawbacks in the mental dynamics of our characters, you will love the story and its conclusion.
Highly Recommended and definitely a keeper - good for another reading down the road.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and touching novel!, July 20, 2000

By 

EB "EB" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prairie Song (Mass Market Paperback)

Racing to Oklahoma to stake her claim, Kate Chandler and her unborn child are running for their lives. She knows her former employer has both the means and the connections to have her killed, so Kate must fall in with a crowd and lose herself. And what better place to do this than in the Great Land Run of 1899? Millions of acres for the taking by the first and fastest settlers. But she is a woman alone. How can she hope to get a parcel of this land when she has no money and no horse?

With no money or food, Kate knows she and her unborn child don't stand much of a chance in this wild land, but determination fuels her drive. And the she meets Cole Youngblood, a notorious hired gun. Cautious initially, Kate is also desperate, so she strikes a deal with Cole, knowing that he could be the man her former employer has paid to end her life.

Now, bound by a marriage of convenience, Kate will care for Cole's two orphaned nephews and his orphaned niece. In return, he will ride and stake her claim for her. But soon their arrangement turns, leaving Kate thinking how Cole's hands would feel upon her body and Cole thinking of hanging up his hired gun and settling down with a good woman. Kate.

But Kate's past catches up with her, putting all Cole holds dear in grave danger. Can he put a stop to the evil before he loses his newfound family?

Despite lengthy passages of introspective prose, "Prairie Song" is a touching and captivating novel.