To help those in need was the highest virtue to the Arapaho soul, and Black Sun ever honored the ways of his people. He could not turn away from a woman in need, pregnant, alone and barely alive. No, not even if the woman was white. He would help Charity Bennett bring her child into the world here in Thunder Canyon, the sacred site where, legend told, springtime was born, though it broke tribal taboos and resurrected his nightmares past.
Still, her grit and courage, along with her love for her infant daughter, showed Black Sun that here was a worthy woman--yet one forever out of his reach.
"What are you doing? the voice of wisdom screamed in the back of his mind. This woman had just given birth. She was in no condition to be taken by any man..."
A few pages later, a similar scene continues with, 'The baby - ' he rasped, as if suddenly remembering. "Are you healed, Charity? 'Yes...' she whispered frantically, "Yes!"
OMG. I came very close to not finishing "The Guardian".
In the span of twelve hours, Charity's wagon train was attacked and her husband was killed. She was rescued and cared for by Black Sun. The very same day, Black Sun delivered Charity's baby, with just his hands up her skirt. Don't worry, he didn't sneak a peek.
A few hours following a very easy childbirth (obviously!) Charity and Black Sun almost became intimate -, and in the same breath, they had to make a run for it, a very physically demanding journey, in order to hide from the Black Foot.
And oh yeah, Charity and Black Sun fell madly in love - hours after her husband was murdered in cold blood. Charity is definitely the definition of a "merry widow".
LOL... Urgh. It was just terrible. Too much happened too fast, and too soon.
Bring on Book #3 in the series, "The Bounty Hunter" by Cheryl St. John. Fingers crossed that this book will be a good one... :P :)
This story moves extremely fast. Her wagon train is attacked and everyone dies. But she’s over it real fast because … plot device? She gets burned and is magically healed in two days. She easily gives birth to her first baby and a cord but no placenta and her milk easily comes in. She covets gold and is willing to sell sacred land for her own gain. She never fully trusts him. Like even after having sex and seeing him work to keep her and her daughter safe she still thinks he’s going to abandon her. Whatever was happening with her when he was rightfully upset she would sell sacred land for profit. Immediately running into a group of no good doers when finding “decent society” again.
Now for him. He hates white people. He has his reasons I guess, but like…really!? My dad beat the shit out of my mom too and you don’t see me hating Italians. Just him. And somehow telling her and having sex slowly (but quickly) heals him!? And he heals hella fast too! Dude gets shot and has a whole fucking arrow like in the space were his lung would rest and like patches it with elder bark and a little nibbles of jerky and he’s like “okay let’s have sex” - I’m sorry, what?
And the baby. Like yeah any camper or girl scout knows moss is probs the best to piss on, but does she ever poop? Like when does she get a proper bath and not just a wipe down? She spends 50% of the time eating; 45% sleeping; and 5% crying or blowing bubbles. Most unrealistic baby tbh. And she’s always crying RIGHT at the wrong time.
This books spans I think a month and the two mc’s spend more time apart thinking, fuming, fretting, etc about the other that they don’t know one another. Not really. She goes from “I need to find decent society!” To “I can’t live without him!” In only two days. And what’s with him coping a feel a day after she gives birth!? And then they have sex three times in one night just a week or so after the birth!? Girl did your womb shrink or are you magically flat after?
I’m disappointed. Not a lot of dialogue that leads them to one another. Just lots of rain, a legend, and a man who is hella weirdly horny for a woman who has freshly birthed. Not even a lot of culture explored; hinted at, yes, but nothing properly fleshed out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This story was pretty good. Definitely a fast moving story. I did want to see more of Black Sun and Charity together. We didn't get a lot of time with them together. But the story was interesting. I did find some the post partum scenes a bit unbelievable.
I give this 3.5⭐️ I really liked the premise of this story! Black Sun was a great character. I felt like there was so much untapped potential here though. Not much of the romance was explored.
If there was anyone who could write nerve-wracking scenes (in a good way), it is Elizabeth Lane. This story has enough subplots to keep the story humming along at a great pace.
Very pregnant Charity Bennett is traveling along with her minister-husband and a small band of missionaries (and their wives). When Silas, Charity's husband, shoots one of the young braves riding alongside the train, things get ugly fast. In minutes, everyone is dead except Charity (who was told to hide). The angry braves burn the wagons and still, Charity stays hidden. By the time the Indians leave, the wagon in which she is hiding is burning, Charity's dress is charred and creating severe burns. Still, she hides until the Indians are gone. Then she jumps from the inferno and falls to the ground and faints.
Soon, an Arapaho Indian arrives and finds Charity. Because the Arapaho life path includes giving to others, Black Sun has no choice but help the wounded white woman. However, he hates white people because his white father beat his Indian mother unmercifully until he died.
Black Sun has been on a quest for his grandfather. I cannot find a way to describe it in a few words but Black Sun's deep understanding of the Arapaho psyche and his fears of the white man's interference in Indian life are integral to this tale. Readers can emerge from this book with a deeper understanding of the Arapaho and how Indians think, in general.
**Most of my reviews contain detailed CW/TW sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
ebook
3.5/5
Summary: Pregnant white FMC’s wagon train attacked, rescued by Arapaho MMC, they spend several weeks evading trouble, while becoming closer.
Stats: M/F, HR- Western, limited open door.
Notes: Avoids “the strong and silent native” trope-y character relatively well (sort of) but man, these guys are having a rough couple weeks. Plot was a little circular and I felt the ending was a bit rushed, I wanted to see more of them together in his community, rather than just alone together going in circles/trapped
OTT and Spoilery Content Warnings (CW) and Trigger Warnings (TW):