|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Innocently Mesmerizing, July 1, 2001
Gail L. Jenner's new work, Across the Sweet Grass Hills, is an innocently mesmerizing novel that takes places in the Montana Territory of the late 1860s and early 1870s. Reverend Ralston is following his dream to move into the Western frontier to live and preach among the Pikuni Indians, one of the three bands that made up the Blackfoot, of which, according to Jenner, was the most aggressive of the Plains Indians Tribes. Before leaving St. Louis his two sons turned his back on him. His wife died at the last fort they encountered. His spoiled, pampered daughter, Elizabeth, wishes she would die rather than face life among the heathen Indians. The story opens as Liza, her father, and their guide, Giles, are under attack. But who is actually attacking is unclear. Jenner wants us believe it's Indians, but there is a hint that the attackers are not who the Reverend believes them to be. Giles is mortally wounded and Ralston's condition is critical. Liza fears for his life. Red Eagle, half white and half Pikuni, happen across the young woman and her wounded father on his way to meet his mother's tribe. He stitches Ralston up and basically saves the day. Red Eagle and Liza each develop feelings for each other, although Liza doesn't understand hers and Red Eagle doesn't act upon his. Liza sends Red Eagle away, a move she is soon to regret as she comes under attack, twice, again. Although there are three full pages of reference materials at the novel's end, the dialogue to stereotypical of a 1950s B movie. Liza and Red Eagle's adventures to actual commit to one another and to spend their lives together is also stereotypical 1950s Indian adventure story. Yet, I found the novel enjoyable. I knew what was going to happen before it happened, but I didn't care---I just kept reading. Once I got past the naïve innocence of the novel, the biggest problem I had was with the characters' name. There are way too many character names that begin with "R" or "C," which creates confusion for the reader. The main characters are easily identified, but the other characters are easily confused and begin to intertwine with each other. I wish Jenner had dug deeper with her character, but I don't believe that that was her intention. Across the Sweet Grass Hills is well written and flows well. Seems to this reader that Jenner set out to write a feel good, happily-ever-after historical romance, and that's what she did.
|
See all Editorial Reviews
