E.D. C. (Farscapegirl) -
Helpful Score: 3
sold to Blackjack Kingston, a cruel miner who chained her to a bed, raped her for four months, horribly scarred her, and then left her to die in the South Dakota wilderness. Serena, alone in the wilderness, hears a group of Lakota women being raped and comes to their rescue, saving the life of at least one Lakota child with the group, but sustains injuries herself. The Lakota, thankful for her help, take her back to their village, and she is placed in the tent of Black Wolf, the tribe's medicine man.
Black Wolf, intune with the spirit world as the medicine man of his Lakota tribe, instantly names Serena "Cante Tinza," or Brave Heart. He can see that her heart is brave, but she has been mistreated for so long, would she ever learn to trust a man and grow to love him? He's determined to be gentle and show her the way love is supposed to be, but there are so many obstacles to their love - Serena's distrust of men, a jealous Lakota maiden, Blackjack Kingston, to name a few - will their tender love be allowed to bloom, or will it be crushed before it has a chance to heal both of them?
Black Wolf, intune with the spirit world as the medicine man of his Lakota tribe, instantly names Serena "Cante Tinza," or Brave Heart. He can see that her heart is brave, but she has been mistreated for so long, would she ever learn to trust a man and grow to love him? He's determined to be gentle and show her the way love is supposed to be, but there are so many obstacles to their love - Serena's distrust of men, a jealous Lakota maiden, Blackjack Kingston, to name a few - will their tender love be allowed to bloom, or will it be crushed before it has a chance to heal both of them?
Helpful Score: 3
This is one of McKenna's best books, in my opinion. The Heroine is strong and tough, and she remains so throughout the book. Although the results of her experiences certainly have an impact on her, at no point does she fall into the helpless-victim mode that is so common in romance books. There is little doubt that McKenna's portrayal of Native American culture and life-ways is idealistic at best - like most romance books. But, unlike with some authors, the idealized portrayal is skillfully done and does not detract from the story that she is telling. The Hero & The Heroine are both well written and compelling characters that will draw you back to the story again and again.
This is one of the few romance books that has stayed with me through three schools and several moves. In fact, when I managed to lose my first copy, I went out and bought another. Even when I finished with my romance phase and moved on to greener and more varied pastures, this book has remained on my shelf and has been re-read numerous times.
This is one of the few romance books that has stayed with me through three schools and several moves. In fact, when I managed to lose my first copy, I went out and bought another. Even when I finished with my romance phase and moved on to greener and more varied pastures, this book has remained on my shelf and has been re-read numerous times.
