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Native American Romance #2
Brave Beginnings
Julia Milton has said good-bye to two men in her life. Ernest who was a part of her safe and familiar world, a childhood friend who shared her background. Then there was Chogan who stirred her passion but came from the Mandan tribe—a man who lived a life foreign to her own. How can she possibly choose between two good men? Will she choose the safe and familiar path or embrace her passions? And what will happen when the loser doesn't like her choice? Books in the Native American Romance Series Restoring Hope (Book 1) Brave Beginnings (Book 2) Bound by Honor, Bound by Love (Book 3) -- coming 2012 A Chance In Time (novella where main characters appear in Restoring Hope and will show up again in Bound by Honor, Bound by Love)
410 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2011
28 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Ann Nordin
172 books715 followersWhat's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 11, 2016
++Spoilers++
4.5 stars
First - I found the summary here on GR decieving. This is not a love triangle story which is what I thought at first upon reading the summary initially. I don't care for love triangle themes, and was planning on avoiding this book, but took a chance after reading the first book and getting a feel for what was to come. Not to mention I really loved the blossming relationship between Chogan and Julia and wanted to see how it would develop.
Like I said, this is the story of Julia and Chogan. Their romance actually begins near the end of the first book in the series, so it is HIGHLY advised to read that one first.
I don't usually read romances when there is a dead ex involved, but the author did well in that it did not bother me. Chogan's fist marriage was arranged, and only lasted 2 years before she died. His first wife was sickly to begin with, and he constantly mentions how she was weak, and didn't have "a fire in her".. completely opposite of Julia who he says has a "heart of a warrior", is "strong", and has a "fire in her."
His first wife made him miserable.. and although it is said he loved her.. I felt his love for her was only a love one would have for a human being, a friend, and not romantic. To be honest there wasn't a whole lot said about his first wife, and what little there was, was negative.. to my selfish liking.
I truly loved Chogan. He loved Julia with every ounce of his being, and she loved him just as much. They shared a rare love and were perfect together.
As for the story itself, well, we still don't see Woape tell Gary about her rape, which is from the first book. She does tell Julia about it, so maybe it comes out in the last book?
The characters were very well developed and complex. The antagonists were also well crafted, human, realistic...believable.
The plot was fantastic. Heavy with conflict and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. There was so much going on that the 400+ pages flew by! Like other reviewers have said, I could not put this book down!
Yes it wasn't perfect, there were a few minor inconsistancies, but in all honesty, they didn't bother me so much as to be worth writing about. Had I been a beta reader, I would have mentioned it to the author, but here.. nah.. I can live with them.
I did find the loving scenes to be a bit standard...meaning written the same over and over. A little more variety and spice in them would've been nice. It seems this author prefers the heroine being on top alot. LOL. There was some variation, but for the most part they were all too similar in description.
Lastly, it was a little hard to swallow having the indians referring to God in a Christian sense, since they have their own. The saving grace was a small reference about Christian missionary influence in the tribes. So that kinda helped make it believable as well as Woape and Chogan having white spouses.
All in all...I love this author and plan to go right into the third book then back track to the two time travel ones that apparently tie into this series.
Safety:
Hero-Widower - didn't truly love his first wife. Only married 2 years. No children.
Heroine-Virgin
Cheating-No
Separation-Yes one year. Neither had been with anyone in between.
OW/OM- Ernest was in love with Julia - She had no feelings for him. Sarita loved Chogan- he had no feelings for her.
Violence-Some, mild.
Sex-Many times. Detailed but crazy. More variety and spice would be nice but not necessary.
Rape-No
Adultery-No
HEA/ILY's - Yes to both. ILY early on.
Marriage/Baby-Yes to both
4.5 stars
First - I found the summary here on GR decieving. This is not a love triangle story which is what I thought at first upon reading the summary initially. I don't care for love triangle themes, and was planning on avoiding this book, but took a chance after reading the first book and getting a feel for what was to come. Not to mention I really loved the blossming relationship between Chogan and Julia and wanted to see how it would develop.
Like I said, this is the story of Julia and Chogan. Their romance actually begins near the end of the first book in the series, so it is HIGHLY advised to read that one first.
I don't usually read romances when there is a dead ex involved, but the author did well in that it did not bother me. Chogan's fist marriage was arranged, and only lasted 2 years before she died. His first wife was sickly to begin with, and he constantly mentions how she was weak, and didn't have "a fire in her".. completely opposite of Julia who he says has a "heart of a warrior", is "strong", and has a "fire in her."
His first wife made him miserable.. and although it is said he loved her.. I felt his love for her was only a love one would have for a human being, a friend, and not romantic. To be honest there wasn't a whole lot said about his first wife, and what little there was, was negative.. to my selfish liking.
I truly loved Chogan. He loved Julia with every ounce of his being, and she loved him just as much. They shared a rare love and were perfect together.
As for the story itself, well, we still don't see Woape tell Gary about her rape, which is from the first book. She does tell Julia about it, so maybe it comes out in the last book?
The characters were very well developed and complex. The antagonists were also well crafted, human, realistic...believable.
The plot was fantastic. Heavy with conflict and suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. There was so much going on that the 400+ pages flew by! Like other reviewers have said, I could not put this book down!
Yes it wasn't perfect, there were a few minor inconsistancies, but in all honesty, they didn't bother me so much as to be worth writing about. Had I been a beta reader, I would have mentioned it to the author, but here.. nah.. I can live with them.
I did find the loving scenes to be a bit standard...meaning written the same over and over. A little more variety and spice in them would've been nice. It seems this author prefers the heroine being on top alot. LOL. There was some variation, but for the most part they were all too similar in description.
Lastly, it was a little hard to swallow having the indians referring to God in a Christian sense, since they have their own. The saving grace was a small reference about Christian missionary influence in the tribes. So that kinda helped make it believable as well as Woape and Chogan having white spouses.
All in all...I love this author and plan to go right into the third book then back track to the two time travel ones that apparently tie into this series.
Safety:
Hero-Widower - didn't truly love his first wife. Only married 2 years. No children.
Heroine-Virgin
Cheating-No
Separation-Yes one year. Neither had been with anyone in between.
OW/OM- Ernest was in love with Julia - She had no feelings for him. Sarita loved Chogan- he had no feelings for her.
Violence-Some, mild.
Sex-Many times. Detailed but crazy. More variety and spice would be nice but not necessary.
Rape-No
Adultery-No
HEA/ILY's - Yes to both. ILY early on.
Marriage/Baby-Yes to both
June 11, 2014
The second book of this series does a fine job of pointing out how 'man' seems to struggle with learning to accept people of another race as an equal. In fact 'man' is still struggling with the same problems over a century later. It seems that violence is not confined to just one gender as illustrated in this story. It would be wonderful if we could learn from others mistakes, but it seems as if we have to learn from our own.?
With the point of view changing in this story you also got a different view of the previous hero and heroine.
With the point of view changing in this story you also got a different view of the previous hero and heroine.
October 11, 2020
Not as good as the first book. Julia and Chogan spent too much time in bed, graphically explained. The book kinda dragged through their sex life and I skipped it because I wanted to get on with the STORY. If those parts were left out the story it would not have been sooooo long.
January 16, 2016
Brave Beginnings by Ruth Ann Nordin
Native American Series Book 2
You will definitely want to read Restoring Hope first. The books can be stand alone but by reading them as a series it will help to understand this book better. In the first book Julia Milton has been mean and nasty to her brother Gary and especially hateful towards his new wife, Woape, a Mandan Indian. Through a series of incidents, that Julia could be blamed for, she goes to find her missing brother and wife with her Aunt Erin and Chogan, a man from Woape's tribe who had come to take her home. Chogan had wanted to marry Julia but she refused. So now we come to book 2.
Julia and Erin have moved to Bismark, North Dakota to be closer to where Gary and Woape's tribe lived. While there Julia runs into Earnest, a man who wanted to marry her years ago. She had refused because of Gary being young yet. Now she wonders if there was another reason, like that he was boring.
Meanwhile Chogan is being pressured to marry again. His first marriage was an arranged one with no love, this time he wanted love. Only he thought Julia had chosen Earnest. This book is full adventure, mysteries and love so strong that we see how far someone will go to be with the one they love. Sarita is a young Mandan who wants Chogan as her husband and she won't give up until she gets what she wants. She is the type of character you want to jump in the book and whack her a good one, not that it would help. When the characters end up in Jamestown we get to visit with old friends at the General Store, Todd & Ann Brothers along with Mrs. Coley. I'm looking forward to the 3rd book in this series, Bound by Honor.
*Sexual situations within marriage.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Native American Series Book 2
You will definitely want to read Restoring Hope first. The books can be stand alone but by reading them as a series it will help to understand this book better. In the first book Julia Milton has been mean and nasty to her brother Gary and especially hateful towards his new wife, Woape, a Mandan Indian. Through a series of incidents, that Julia could be blamed for, she goes to find her missing brother and wife with her Aunt Erin and Chogan, a man from Woape's tribe who had come to take her home. Chogan had wanted to marry Julia but she refused. So now we come to book 2.
Julia and Erin have moved to Bismark, North Dakota to be closer to where Gary and Woape's tribe lived. While there Julia runs into Earnest, a man who wanted to marry her years ago. She had refused because of Gary being young yet. Now she wonders if there was another reason, like that he was boring.
Meanwhile Chogan is being pressured to marry again. His first marriage was an arranged one with no love, this time he wanted love. Only he thought Julia had chosen Earnest. This book is full adventure, mysteries and love so strong that we see how far someone will go to be with the one they love. Sarita is a young Mandan who wants Chogan as her husband and she won't give up until she gets what she wants. She is the type of character you want to jump in the book and whack her a good one, not that it would help. When the characters end up in Jamestown we get to visit with old friends at the General Store, Todd & Ann Brothers along with Mrs. Coley. I'm looking forward to the 3rd book in this series, Bound by Honor.
*Sexual situations within marriage.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
September 27, 2014
This story turned out better than I thought it would. This is Julia and Chogan story.
The next in line to be chief, Citali, wants Chogan to remarry to have more full blooded Mandan children. Chogan only has one woman he wants to marry and she has already turned him down once. Well not really because she gave him the option of coming with her. Well eventually things get on track for the two love birds and though the white man's world is not one that Chogan thought himself fitting into he makes a place for himself and finds some enjoyment in it (even though it is nothing compared to hunting buffalo). Eventually Julia takes off the rose colored glasses and sees how things really are for Chogan and they try to make it with the tribe. Well there, not everyone is pleased to see Julia there.
I don't want to spoil things but they really do have a rough time of it. I know there would not have been much of a story but why did they not just go out to where all the other mixed couples where the men's clothing store owner (forgot name) mentioned!
***Ann and Todd Brothers make special guest appearance toward the end.***
The next in line to be chief, Citali, wants Chogan to remarry to have more full blooded Mandan children. Chogan only has one woman he wants to marry and she has already turned him down once. Well not really because she gave him the option of coming with her. Well eventually things get on track for the two love birds and though the white man's world is not one that Chogan thought himself fitting into he makes a place for himself and finds some enjoyment in it (even though it is nothing compared to hunting buffalo). Eventually Julia takes off the rose colored glasses and sees how things really are for Chogan and they try to make it with the tribe. Well there, not everyone is pleased to see Julia there.
I don't want to spoil things but they really do have a rough time of it. I know there would not have been much of a story but why did they not just go out to where all the other mixed couples where the men's clothing store owner (forgot name) mentioned!
***Ann and Todd Brothers make special guest appearance toward the end.***
April 11, 2012
This is the second book in Ruth Ann Nordin's Native American series and it was a great read. We follow Julia as she makes life changes for,
Chogan, the Indian man she has fallen in love with. We experience the difference between their two worlds and how they have to cling to each other to rise above the outside barriers of society trying to break them apart.
This is a simple love story filled with love/hate/action/suspense/surprise/fear/ and did I mention love? I personally could have done without the "R-rated" scenes, (which I would have known existed if I'd paid more attention to Ms. Nordin's overview) but skipping those sections didn't detract from the overall story. I enjoy Ms. Nordin's writings and this story, all in all, did not disappoint.
Chogan, the Indian man she has fallen in love with. We experience the difference between their two worlds and how they have to cling to each other to rise above the outside barriers of society trying to break them apart.
This is a simple love story filled with love/hate/action/suspense/surprise/fear/ and did I mention love? I personally could have done without the "R-rated" scenes, (which I would have known existed if I'd paid more attention to Ms. Nordin's overview) but skipping those sections didn't detract from the overall story. I enjoy Ms. Nordin's writings and this story, all in all, did not disappoint.
March 23, 2018
Read these in order.
1 - Restoring Hope - Gary & Woape
2 - Brave Beginnings - Chogan & Julia
3 - Bound by Honor Bound by Love - Citlali & Onawa
A lot happens in this book. If you think there are obstacles in your way from being with the one you love, you will realize they are nothing compared with what Julia & Chogan must deal with. Interesting look at history, too, as far as how we acted around Indians/Native Americans...
I would recommend
1 - Meant to be
2 - Chance in Time
3 - Restoring Hope (1st in a series - you will meet “Martha” / Woape)
4 - Brave Beginnings
5 - Bound by Honor Bound By Love
1 - Restoring Hope - Gary & Woape
2 - Brave Beginnings - Chogan & Julia
3 - Bound by Honor Bound by Love - Citlali & Onawa
A lot happens in this book. If you think there are obstacles in your way from being with the one you love, you will realize they are nothing compared with what Julia & Chogan must deal with. Interesting look at history, too, as far as how we acted around Indians/Native Americans...
I would recommend
1 - Meant to be
2 - Chance in Time
3 - Restoring Hope (1st in a series - you will meet “Martha” / Woape)
4 - Brave Beginnings
5 - Bound by Honor Bound By Love
March 16, 2012
This follows Restoring Hope...about Gary Milton's sister Julia Milton. She has said good-bye to two men in her life. Ernest who was a part of her safe and familiar world, a childhood friend who shared her background. Then there was Chogan who stirred her passion but came from the Mandan tribe—a man who lived a life foreign to her own. Will she choose the safe and familiar or embrace her passions?
June 12, 2014
Another touching historical fiction about the importance of loving who you love despite what others say about it. I loved the history lesson into the Mandan tribe's traditions and eventual demise. Each of these books follows a different romance while keeping the story lines from the previous book alive and growing.
November 1, 2011
An ok read liked the 1st book better and really want to read book 3 release 2012.
April 21, 2013
You must read this series in order! It's great!
May 23, 2014
i love this book i would like to read it again i hope that others will read the book to
April 23, 2014
Brave Beginnings
I gave this book five stars because it was an excellent story, and I love Indian novels. I look forward to reading the next of this series.
I gave this book five stars because it was an excellent story, and I love Indian novels. I look forward to reading the next of this series.
Read
January 1, 2017could not finish
March 5, 2023
Brave Beginnings
This was a great book. I became hooked on it after reading just a few pages. Kudos to this author.
This was a great book. I became hooked on it after reading just a few pages. Kudos to this author.
July 23, 2013
Awesome Love and adventureous story.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews