What do you think?
Rate this book
Chippewa #4
Savage Torment
Taking over her father's lumber business was not the future free-spirited Judith McMahon had in mind. But his insistence on a trip into Chippewa country fired her with thoughts of adventure. She wasn't prepared for its shocking reality—a fierce, sensual Chippewa man.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
2 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Edwards
162 books418 followersEdwards began writing romances in 1982 and released her 100th novel, Savage Skies, on August 28, 2007. Although her earlier books were classic historical romances, the vast majority of her novels involve Native American tribes. Edwards's grandmother was a full-blooded Cheyenne. Her first 99 books sold a combined 10 million copies as of August 2007, with her more recent novels averaging sales of 250,000–350,000 copies.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 7, 2019
This review is of “Savage Torment”, book #4 in the “Chippewa” series by Cassie Edwards.
The book takes place 17 years or so after the end of book #2 in the series “Savage Innocence”. At the end of that book, Danette Thomas and her husband Gray Wolf were watching their twin sons, Strong Hawk and Silver Fox, playing as three year olds. Strong Hawk is now 20 and the hero of this book. As the first-born of the twin boys, he is next-in-line to become chief of his family’s band of St. Croix Chippewa, after Gray Wolf. Strong Hawk may ascend to chieftain status quicker than he wishes; Gray Wolf is gravely ill.
Meanwhile, back in Duluth, Minnesota, we meet the heroine of the book, Judith McMahon. Judith lives with her father, Travis, a Texas expatriate and owner of a lumber and land-development company. (Judith has an older sibling, Rory, who is estranged from his father and sister). Travis wishes to expand his business by cutting trees on Chippewa land,and he and Judith go to the Chippewa village in an effort to try to convince Gray Wolf to go along with that. Gray Wolf does not, and he and Travis argue. Meanwhile, their children are getting along MUCH better. In fact, they quickly become lovers.
However, wedges are quickly placed in the way of their love: their fathers’ animosity toward each other, as well as Judith and Strong Hawk’s concern over their respective fathers’ health (both have heart ailments). Judith and Strong Hawk also want to support their father’s wishes, even though they don’t entirely agree with them. Strong Hawk also becomes jealous when he sees Judith with Rory, thinking that he is Judith’s lover.
Tragedy soon strikes as first Gray Wolf, then Travis, pass away. In his will, Travis reveals the reason he and Rory were estranged. Strong Hawk, who has ascended to become chief, now has to deal with two entities wanting to cut trees on Chippewa land; in addition to Judith’s business, there is the Thomas family business ran by Silver Fox, who goes by the white name Giles Thomas. Giles hates Strong Hawk and believes he is “owed” the right to the trees as compensation for being a second son. Strong Hawk refuses his brother’s request/demand.
Soon after, the St. Croix band leave the area and move to another area near Canada, where food is more plentiful. Shortly after the move, Judith is kidnapped by Red Bear, a Sioux chief. (The Chippewa and Sioux are long-time enemies). Strong Hawk gets Judith back without bloodshed, and the Chippewa and Sioux chiefs agree to peacefully coexist. Strong Hawk then learns that his cousin, North Star, is Red Bear’s lover, and he wants to marry her. Strong Hawk gives his approval, but soon learns that North Star is already married...to Rory. That could complicate things a bit.
In the end, North Star leaves Rory to marry Red Bear, and Judih and Strong Hawk have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: One thing I have not mentioned about Mrs. Edwards’ books is the research she does into each tribe she writes about. She does a really good job with this in her books. That, plus her love scenes, are the standout aspects of “Savage Torment”.
Downside: Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said of Mrs. Edwards’ writing about her characters, and this is the case in “Savage Torment”. I never felt that Mrs. Edwards made me care about Judith or Strong Hawk. They’re both basically one dimensional characters without much, if any, depth or development. To put it another way, they are boring. The book is about 100-150 pages too long, because nothing much occurs.
Sex: As mentioned, the love scenes are the best part of “Savage Torment”. They range from above-average to very good, and very creative. Not erotica, but good enough for mainstream historical romance.
Violence: Surprisingly, there is no actual violence in a book by Mrs. Edwards. The closest things to violence are Judith and Travis shooting at cans as she practices using a gun to be able to defend herself and when Red Bear kidnaps Judith, although he doesn’t use much force to do so.
Bottom Line: “Savage Torment” is by far the worst of the three books in the “Chippewa” series.
The book takes place 17 years or so after the end of book #2 in the series “Savage Innocence”. At the end of that book, Danette Thomas and her husband Gray Wolf were watching their twin sons, Strong Hawk and Silver Fox, playing as three year olds. Strong Hawk is now 20 and the hero of this book. As the first-born of the twin boys, he is next-in-line to become chief of his family’s band of St. Croix Chippewa, after Gray Wolf. Strong Hawk may ascend to chieftain status quicker than he wishes; Gray Wolf is gravely ill.
Meanwhile, back in Duluth, Minnesota, we meet the heroine of the book, Judith McMahon. Judith lives with her father, Travis, a Texas expatriate and owner of a lumber and land-development company. (Judith has an older sibling, Rory, who is estranged from his father and sister). Travis wishes to expand his business by cutting trees on Chippewa land,and he and Judith go to the Chippewa village in an effort to try to convince Gray Wolf to go along with that. Gray Wolf does not, and he and Travis argue. Meanwhile, their children are getting along MUCH better. In fact, they quickly become lovers.
However, wedges are quickly placed in the way of their love: their fathers’ animosity toward each other, as well as Judith and Strong Hawk’s concern over their respective fathers’ health (both have heart ailments). Judith and Strong Hawk also want to support their father’s wishes, even though they don’t entirely agree with them. Strong Hawk also becomes jealous when he sees Judith with Rory, thinking that he is Judith’s lover.
Tragedy soon strikes as first Gray Wolf, then Travis, pass away. In his will, Travis reveals the reason he and Rory were estranged. Strong Hawk, who has ascended to become chief, now has to deal with two entities wanting to cut trees on Chippewa land; in addition to Judith’s business, there is the Thomas family business ran by Silver Fox, who goes by the white name Giles Thomas. Giles hates Strong Hawk and believes he is “owed” the right to the trees as compensation for being a second son. Strong Hawk refuses his brother’s request/demand.
Soon after, the St. Croix band leave the area and move to another area near Canada, where food is more plentiful. Shortly after the move, Judith is kidnapped by Red Bear, a Sioux chief. (The Chippewa and Sioux are long-time enemies). Strong Hawk gets Judith back without bloodshed, and the Chippewa and Sioux chiefs agree to peacefully coexist. Strong Hawk then learns that his cousin, North Star, is Red Bear’s lover, and he wants to marry her. Strong Hawk gives his approval, but soon learns that North Star is already married...to Rory. That could complicate things a bit.
In the end, North Star leaves Rory to marry Red Bear, and Judih and Strong Hawk have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: One thing I have not mentioned about Mrs. Edwards’ books is the research she does into each tribe she writes about. She does a really good job with this in her books. That, plus her love scenes, are the standout aspects of “Savage Torment”.
Downside: Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said of Mrs. Edwards’ writing about her characters, and this is the case in “Savage Torment”. I never felt that Mrs. Edwards made me care about Judith or Strong Hawk. They’re both basically one dimensional characters without much, if any, depth or development. To put it another way, they are boring. The book is about 100-150 pages too long, because nothing much occurs.
Sex: As mentioned, the love scenes are the best part of “Savage Torment”. They range from above-average to very good, and very creative. Not erotica, but good enough for mainstream historical romance.
Violence: Surprisingly, there is no actual violence in a book by Mrs. Edwards. The closest things to violence are Judith and Travis shooting at cans as she practices using a gun to be able to defend herself and when Red Bear kidnaps Judith, although he doesn’t use much force to do so.
Bottom Line: “Savage Torment” is by far the worst of the three books in the “Chippewa” series.
February 13, 2024
I love Cassie Edwards, her books pull me in almost instantly and make me forget about my surroundings and not wanting to do anything but read that story. However this one was a huge disappointment for me. Strong Hawk and Judith literally just met and exchanged names then in the next breath he tells her he loves her and they start to make out.. I HATE that instant love. Once the story got going, she would get mad and go home to daddy then strong Hawk would go and see her and they would have make up sex, then he would get mad at her and leave then she would go to his village and they would have make up sex. It went on and on and on like this throughout the whole book, so annoying. It seemed like every five pages there was a make out session. I dont mind SOME romance, but I want a story. More story line and less sex scenes.
Sorry Cassie, but I know you can write better than this.
Sorry Cassie, but I know you can write better than this.
April 15, 2023
His father is the Chief of the Chippewa and her father owns a lumber mill. One wants to save his way of life and the other one want to harvest trees on their land. Both are older and ill. His son will be chief when he dies and she will own the lumber mill.
Can their love survive and grow? Great book
Can their love survive and grow? Great book
April 26, 2009
I enjoy Cassy's book, for I am learning some American Indian history & language. Her books are a bit "sexual", but are still good.
June 24, 2010
I loved this novel.
June 4, 2013
I've read other books by Cassie before and liked them, but I couldn't get into this one at all. This is a DNF for me. I might return to it later to give it a second go.
August 6, 2018
Book 4 of 5 in the Savage Chippewa series. Brilliant
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews