Comanche Woman [Mass Market Paperback]

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.