Soaring Eagle's Embrace [Mass Market Paperback]

Karen Kay (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Karen Kay's passion for Native American lore shines through in Soaring Eagle's Embrace, the newest entry in her late-19th-century Legendary Warriors series (after Lone Arrow's Pride), but her didactic explanations of the Native American way of life can be off-putting. When photographer Kali Wallace and her father arrive at Montana's Blackfeet Reservation to chronicle the customs of the native people, they run up against Soaring Eagle, who distrusts whites but can't help feeling attracted to Kali. It's obvious from their first encounter atop Chief Mountain-a mystical site where the legendary Star Bride goddess and her mortal lover first met-that more than mere attraction is pulling them together, but first they must come to trust one another. Kay's by-the-numbers tale holds few surprises, and her characterizations are inconsistent. Still, those who enjoy fast-moving, fireside fables may find this a passing diversion.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Karen Kay is praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing understanding and insight into the everyday facets of the American Indian way of life, she credits that the discovery of her great-great grandmother, who was Choctaw Indian, did much to enhance the richness of her stories.

This is Karen Kay's eight title for Avon Books and the second title in the "Legendary Warriors" series. Her earlier titles include Wolf Shadow's Promise in the Legendary Warriors" series; Gray Hawk's Lady, White Eagle's Touch and Night Thunder's Bride in the "Blackfoot Warrior" series; and Lakota Surrender, Lakota Princess, and Proud Wolf's Woman in the "Lakota" series.

Says Kay, "With the power and passion of romance, I strive to bring to the reader an awareness of the vital and noble forces that once helped shape the American Indian culture into the powerful agent that it once was, that it still can be today. I firmly believe that through understanding, anything is possible."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (June 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380820676
• ISBN-13: 978-0380820672
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #400,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Writing under the pen names of Karen Kay and Gen Bailey, Karen is the author of seventeen best selling historical romances. She has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing the historic American Indian culture to life, and she has been nominated for several different awards. Karen's great-grandmother was Choctaw Indian, and because of this, she is honored to be able to write stories that depict the Native American point of view.

All seventeen of her books concern the Native American culture, and says Karen, "With the power and passion of romance, I hope to bring about an awareness of the vital forces that helped shape the American Indian culture. There are some things that should never be forgotten."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Native American Historical, August 3, 2003

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Soaring Eagle's Embrace (Mass Market Paperback)

Setting - Montana Mountains 1895 - Kali Wallace and her father, a noted historical author, have come to the Blackfoot reservation in the Montana mountains for more research on the native American peoples and for Kali, whose photographs accompany the text. However, as the Indians have a fear of being photographed - stemming from gossip that the photo steals their spirit - Kali must use her charm to convince the Chiefs that she would bring them no harm. Their Indian guide, Gilda, (a female) convinces both Kali and her father to accompany her up to Chiefs Mountain to see a spectacular sunrise. Gilda spins a tale of lost love and spirits before everyone settles down for the night. Kali, promptly fell asleep but was awakened during the night by someone singing. Following the sounds she comes upon the sight of a most magnificent Indian warrior. There eyes meet, he holds out a fan of feathers, she touches and is overcome and runs away.

The following days, the government Indian Agent arranges a presentation for Kali and her father, to meet the chiefs promising to use his influence to arrange permission for Kali to photograph. Naturally, during the presentations she spies the handsome warrior, only he is giving her looks as if he despised her. Not knowing what she had done she manages to speak to him and finds he trusts `no white persons'. Kali finagles a way to get him to accompany her to take some photos the next day, whereby the attraction that is smoldering seems to ignite after a stampede that has Soaring Eagle first saving her life, then after the stampede and the ranchers who caused it show up - Kali manages to save his life.

The plot is relatively light with Soaring Eagle whose deep spiritual beliefs allow him to recognize the spirits at work bringing them together is able to readily confess his feelings. Kali, on the other hand, fights the attraction, denies her feelings and comes up with the very plausible and plain facts of the impossibility of their situation until a mysterious photograph she didn't take shows up. The romance of Soaring Eagle and Kali sharing the same dream in which the spirit world marries them is very powerful and deeply moving with supernatural overtones, rich in Indian lore and historical facts and very sensual. If not for the inconsistencies I felt in some of the dialogs I might have rated this a little higher for I truly did enjoy the story and most definitely recommend it to those readers who find this American Indian genre to their liking.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating paranormal historical romance, July 2, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Soaring Eagle's Embrace (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1895, Kali Wallace and her father come to Montana to photograph Indians. However, the local tribe seems uninterested in posing though one warrior Soaring Eagle goes so far as to scorn the two whites. However, as Soaring Eagle becomes better acquainted with the idealistic naïve Kali, he finds to his disbelief he is quite attracted to her.

As they sleep apart, Soaring Eagle and Kali share the same dream in which the spirit world marries them. She denies it, but he is elated because he realizes that he loves her. As Kali begins to accept the reality of the shared dream, she knows she loves Soaring Eagle, but realizes nothing can come of their relationship as she is a globetrotting photographer and his people need him here in Montana.

The latest Karen Kay Legendary Warrior tale (see WAR CLOUD'S PASSION and LONE ARROW'S PRIDE is a fascinating paranormal historical romance. Readers will find fascinating the depths that Ms. Kay plunges her audience into a close look at Indian spiritualism. Soaring Eagle is a delightful male lead as he quickly changes from antagonist to protagonist. On the other hand, it is frustrating is that the lead female spends much of the tale in denial until a photograph persuades her to reconsider. Still sub-genre fans will embrace this soaring novel.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars SOARING EAGLE'S EMBRACE, May 6, 2007

By 

Shirley M. Simpson "AVID READER" (INDEPENDENCE,KY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soaring Eagle's Embrace (Mass Market Paperback)

I REALLY ENJOY ALL HER BOOKS AND THIS WAS A REALLY GREAT ONE