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Time Travel #1

The Spirit Path

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Strong and wise beyond his years, Shadow Hawk, the spiritual leader of his people, is drawn by a mysterious vision to an unknown place--a distant time where passion and peril await.

448 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 1993

93 people are currently reading
424 people want to read

About the author

Madeline Baker

88 books288 followers
Madeline Ruth was born on 1963 in California, where she raised. She married her high school sweetheart and they have three sons, all handsome enough to be cover models. Growing up, her favorite pastimes were going to the movies and going horseback riding on Saturday mornings at Griffith Park. Madeline has always been "horse happy." A horse was the one thing she asked for on every birthday and every Christmas. Many years later, that dream came true when she bought an Appaloosa mare named Candy—because she was so sweet. Madeline loves animals. Over the years, she's had numerous dogs, cats, fish, mice, hamsters, turtles and birds, and her horse, of course. The most exotic pet was a crocodile that belonged to one of her sons. Currently, she has a terribly spoiled Pomeranian named Teddi, six goldfish, a catfish, and a betta. When she's not writing, Madeline enjoys going to movies and the theater. Her favorite plays are The Phantom of the Opera, The Scarlet Pimpernel and her all-time fave, Beauty and the Beast. She also loves reading, going to lunch with her best friend, collecting Star Wars, The Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast memorabilia, and playing with the most beautiful, adorable, brilliant grandkids in the world.

Madeline started writing when her children were still at home, and she wrote for several years, finding time to write after her children were in bed and her husband was at work. In true cliché fashion, she wrote the books and put them under the bed, never telling anyone what she was doing, until one day she let a friend read one. Encouraged by her friend's comments, and armed with a copy of Writer's Market supplied by said friend, Madeline began sending out query letters. After six years and 31 rejections, Leisure Books bought Reckless Heart, and she's been writing ever since. After writing several Westerns, Madeline decided to try her hand at something else and wrote her first vampire romance. It was a short story titled "Masquerade" for an anthology. She loved writing that so much that she wrote her first full-length vampire romance, Embrace the Night, and thus Amanda Ashley was born. One of her dreams had been to write for Harlequin, and she accomplished that in 2003 with the publication of her Silhouette Romance novel, Dude Ranch Bride. Madeline loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her online at DarkWritr@aol.com or by mail at PO Box 1703, Whittier, CA 90609-1703.

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5 stars
279 (44%)
4 stars
184 (29%)
3 stars
105 (16%)
2 stars
43 (6%)
1 star
17 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Sharon.
65 reviews47 followers
December 12, 2010
Very well written time travel book. Madeline Baker did an excellent job drawing this reader into the past of the Sacred Black Hills of South Dakota. There, the tribal Shaman asks of Shadow Hawk to fulfill his medicine dream, and how he must proceed.

The comparisons from the time of the Dakota's 1872 Lakota Sioux, to present day South Dakota's reservation Sioux, is realistic and the story is wonderful.

Imagine a fierce Sioux warrior of the 1800's accepting the request of his tribes medicine man to travel to a future time and the impact of doing it. Well, the book does an excellent job of depicting M. Baker's imaginative story of this.

5 stars
Time setting: Historical late 1800's/Contemporary present day
Alpha male
American Indian Romance
Profile Image for eggtart.
470 reviews
July 23, 2020
Good in the beginning but got boring fast. I disliked Maggie..
Profile Image for Jai M {Cat Crazy Dragon }.
872 reviews49 followers
April 22, 2024
DNF 30% 😂 I’ve read worse …

😂🫣 so, so, cheesy.
The writing is formulaic and cheesy, but otherwise readable.
Probably would have enjoyed when I was a teenager.

Historically inaccurate, with cliché romantic viewpoints.
Profile Image for JL.
178 reviews18 followers
January 7, 2022
I really do adore Madeline Baker’s books. She writes epic love stories in the middle of a history rife with war and prejudice. I love learning about Indian culture and traditions. History is a fascinating thing to learn about the older you get. I think the will of the human spirit and devotion to your community is something to be admired and respected. Native American’s have this in spades.

I liked the premise of this book. I wanted to love Spirit Path more than I did. Maybe because before reading this I had read Chase The Lightening and I felt Spirit Path was just too similar and made this book feel repetitive to me. I mean there were some instances where certain sentences or small paragraphs were verbatim from each other. Susannah and Maggie pretty much thought the same thoughts. And quite frankly I didn’t really care for either female leads. They just came across too selfish and weak for me. Actually, they felt more like 1800’s women more than modern women. They didn’t come across as women of my time. And that stuck out like a sore thumb to me. I just couldn’t relate to them at all. Maggie at one point worries she’s wanton. I’ve never heard a woman say that in my lifetime. I think Madeline Baker is so good at writing women from the past, of a different era that it meshes into her time travel novels so you can’t distinguish her writing of past/future women.

Maggie - a 32 year old virgin in modern times? Please! That is as rare as a comet. I’m not saying it’s impossible but she has been engaged for God’s sake. Also she didn’t sound like a 32 year old woman. She felt much younger and naïve to me.
At the beginning of the novel, she can’t walk even though she isn’t permanently disabled after an accident. Guilt is stopping her from walking but Maggie still continues to live her life. She has a great property. A successful career writing historical romance novels. Staff who are there for her. I thought of her as capable woman not letting her disability affect her dramatically. Until Shadow Hawk comes into her life. He treats her wonderfully but the moment he is in her life, it’s like her independence is gone! Or her confidence in her self to do life vanishes. Suddenly he becomes EVERTHING to her. And while I get new love is all encompassing... I didn’t like how needy it made Maggie around Shadow Hawk. She pretty much guilts him into staying with her in the future even though she knows how badly Shadow Hawk wants to go home knowing his people had been attacked. She knew he constantly worried for his people especially his mother. But she wants him to forget his old life for her. She is determined for him to get over it. That’s not love to me. The ultimate act of love can be letting go. Sacrifice. It’s the hardest thing you can ever do, but to make your partner happy... you can do it. Maggie didn’t seem like she could put him first. It was all about her.
Maggie at the Fort bothered me. She doesn’t put up much of a fight for her husband. Just lets the men walk all over her and have the final word. I just felt like she acted like a noble woman or something when she was there. Not like a modern woman, pissed at the men for taking her husband away. The ones mistreating him. I know she’s acting a part but when the Lieutenant kisses her she says she has to stop herself from kissing him back? This is the man who separated her from her husband! He’s been beaten & whipped in their custody. Treated less than human. And she’s taking walks, eating dinners and kissing the guy? What. The. hell!!
Later on in the book, towards the end when they find themselves trying to head back home... three men attack Shadow Hawk and Maggie while they sleep. One nearly takes out Shadow Hawk and another attempts to sexually assault Maggie... it bothers her he kills the men to save her? I’m sorry I wouldn’t have wept tears over those men when they were trying to steal from them, attacked them and almost stopped them from returning home to save their unborn child.
I liked Maggie most when she acclimated to the past and adjusted to Indian way of life. She came to know and adore her mother in law and made friends. I did like that she would have given up her future to be with him in the past. That’s selfless love.

Shadow Hawk. What a man. I adored him. I felt for him deeply. His feeling out of place in the future where all his skills seemed obsolete. Or in the past with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Knowing the future can be a huge burden to carry. The way he’s treated by white people in the future and past was inhumane and appalling. He gives up a lot for his love of Maggie. He suffers a great deal in the book and my heart just went out to him. Indian men are so brave, loyal, devoted and strong. Physically, mentally and emotionally they are rocks. Just great men they are! Wonderful heroes to read about too!


The ending was a little much. All those kids. I’m glad they wanted to help the children of the reservation but on top of having like 6 biological kids... it just seemed a lot of kids.
Profile Image for Angela.
614 reviews70 followers
October 4, 2020
Ok, a 3-star rating can sometimes make it seem the person didn’t enjoy the story as much as they could have. And generally that‘s the case HOWEVER... I actually REALLY enjoyed this story. My problem lies in Maggie and the whole “woe-is-me” attitude she had going on. I was NOT here for it. Otherwise I didn’t have a problem with anything else. Pacing was perfect. Writing kept me intrigued. Hawk was a hunk of a sweetheart. Honestly there was lots to love about this! I just couldn’t get around to a character using a wheel chair and having people help her when there was NOTHING wrong with her legs. It was all in her head and I didn’t feel bad for her. Sorry not sorry.
18 reviews
January 1, 2023
Lakota wartior time travel, really the worst

I did not like thid book at all. I've read a native roance with time travel before but this one is really bad. He goes inyo a cave and on leaving it he is over 100years in the future, merting the woman from his vision. Within few weeks he learns English, watches TV lying on a couch and entertains her boss well dressed and well mannnered à la Cary Grant. A warrior who never knew anything but traditional clothes, food, rituals... Just fits in. I stopped reading at pagec141 whe he, after having learned to drive a car just an hour before, drives her into town where there is a gathering of hundreds of thousands of bikers for a celebration. Sorry, but this is the worst humbug ever
1,391 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2022
Native American story of a Lakota Warrior

I Loved the story of Shadow Hawk, the author describes him as very handsome, but his character and how deeply he cares for his people makes him more Beautiful. It bothers me how the Native American is treated, even today in America. If you enjoy Historical, with Time Travel, this book is for you. The ending is unexpected and Fantastic.
192 reviews2 followers
July 5, 2018
The SpiritPath

Well I just finished another great book by Miss Baker and each one is as good or better than the last one, I just can't get enough of her books . The research she does makes you fill as you are there. Thank you again and again for your stories. Ada G.
733 reviews3 followers
March 4, 2018
The Spirit Path

I loved this story. I look forward to reading more of her books, I recommend everyone to read this book. Kattie
73 reviews1 follower
June 16, 2018
Romance

I love india n romances. Kept me interested in what was happening.love the writer.All of. Her books.
Hard to put down.
Profile Image for Paula Holderfield.
70 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2020
Awesome. Book

Awesome book could not put it down I think I was in love with hawk to a hunk of a man.
Profile Image for Sharon.
28 reviews
May 25, 2021
Warrior and spirit woman

This is a wonderful story full of dreams, desire, adventure and romance. The wonder of what it would be like to go back in time..
46 reviews1 follower
January 28, 2022
amazing!

This book was amazing and beautiful! It gives me hope for my own dreams! Looking forward to reading more! Great book
7 reviews
July 20, 2022
Loved this book

I love the way the characters and how they help the Indian children that need help. And also have children of their own .
Profile Image for Robin Jedele-pescador.
1 review2 followers
April 14, 2023
Excellent read

I loved every minute of reading this book. I recommend to everyone that loves Indian Romance. I always wish it was me in these books.
8 reviews
July 17, 2023
This was such a sweet book. With a cover like this you’d expect spicy, but Shadow Hawk stole my heart with his tenderness and love for Maggie. I was so pleased that I couldn’t predict the ending…I was on edge there near the end. Always love when the plot line and ending aren’t obvious. Truly unexpected and I’m keeping this in my personal library.
Profile Image for Katie Wilkerson.
25 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2017
Amazing book

I was so confused at first, I didn't know this was a time traveling book. Had I known I might not have read it... I'm so glad I did! This book was amazing! There are no words to describe how great this book was! Absolutely Recommend this book! Please read. Guaranteed you will love it!
Profile Image for Tammy.
640 reviews7 followers
May 16, 2016
This story starts out with the medicine man of the Lakota tribe who is getting elderly takes Shadow Hawk under his wing, to groom. Him to be the next medicine man of their tribe. While shadow hawk is learning he keeps having visions of a white woman who he doesn't know, he tries to make sense if this but can't. One day while shadow hawk is with the medicine man, their camp is attacked by white soldiers. Shadow hawk takes medicine man to safety. The medicine man is just as important to their tribe as the Cheif, so you must protect both at all costs. Shadow hawk and medicine man enter into a cave, some soldiers follow but don't get far into the cave when they are killed by a unknown force from the cave. Shadow hawk goes deeper into the cave and prays that his tribe will be safe. While doing this one of the cave walls lights up and he sees a farm house. He falls into a black abyss and when he awakens he discovers that he has traveled 100 years into the future. The farm house belongs to the white woman he sees in his vision, he doesn't know how this can be.

He stats to help the woman Maggie for awhile but he misses his own time and people, he doesn't like the modern day gadgets of stoves , refrigerators, phones , computers and trucks. He is amazed but yet confused by all of it. Maggie begs shadow hawk to stay because she has fallen in love with him. Maggie tells Shadow Hawk what will happen to his people as told in our history books. The fight his people will be in with custard angers him deeply. His desire to go back to warn his people and maybe change the course of history is to strong, Maggie can't stop him. The night of the full moonShadow Hawk goes to the cave and prays hoping that he will go back to his time. Unknown to him Maggie follows him, he tells her to go back but she refuses, in doing so she is caught up in the vortex and sent back in time with shadow hawk.

While Maggie is back in time she finds out how the natives truly lived off the land, she had no comforts of home. At first it was very hard but she learnt how to live without. Then one day shadow hawk and her are captured by white soldiers. They beat shadow hawk up very badly. Maggie runs away. And finds some Lakota warriors that help get shadow hawk back to camp. He is beaten so badly he almost dies. Once he us healed he wants the rest of his tribe to travel with him to find sitting bull to warn him about what the future holds for all of them. During this time Maggie becomes pregnant. They are both over the moon with happiness until one day she starts bleeding severely. Shadow Hawks mom tells him that the child will die and possibly Maggie as well. There only hope for both to gave a chance to live us if they travel back into Maggie's time period. Will they travel back? Will they live? Will shadow hawk stay with his people?

I have to say in the beginning when Shadow hawk traveled 100 years into the future I wasn't liking the story at all. I like my Indian romance stories to stay in the western era. I don't want to read about Clinton, Internet, or modern day stuff, that's why I read, to escape into another time.. But when Maggie and shadow hawk went back into his time period and she got to see what it was really like then I fell in love with the story... It was very well written...
Profile Image for Maura.
3,883 reviews113 followers
March 4, 2017
Shadow Hawk is a medicine man who has dreamt of his Spirit Woman, a white woman who calls to him. After escaping from a battle, he finds himself traveling into the future through his tribe's sacred cave. It is there he is shot in a hunting accident and meets his spirit woman. Maggie writes Native American romance novels and has dreamt of the man who recovers from his gunshot wound in her cabin. There romance is quick and passionate, but Shadow Hawk has to return to his people and his own time. This is especially true once he learns of the fate of the Sioux; he has to go back to warn them. But after two months, he knows he cannot leave Maggie either.

I didn't get much mileage out of this, but others probably will. This just wasn't my type of romance. It was very saccharine, flowery and a bit too cliche at parts. The sex scenes are extremely romantic, but not very steamy. The characters love each other with a desperation that in some ways I like, but borders on too needy. Especially when the heroine starts crying, "Don't leave me Shadow Hawk!" I also enjoyed the fact that Shadow Hawk was a virgin - though it was unfortunate that the moment doesn't seem that distinctive to him... Nor is there enough detail in the moment to really get the maximum enjoyment out of a virgin hero.

Some moments are just too difficult to believe...For example, the heroine who suffered hysterical paralysis and had been confined to a wheelchair for 3 years, suddenly begins walking and then spends the next week trekking for miles across the Black Hills of South Dakota. Or when the heroine begins miscarrying and they manage to travel two days on horseback to the sacred cave, survive an altercation with potential rapists and time travel and still manage to get to a doctor to save the pregnancy.

Now, this story is VERY RICH in details about Native American life and history - this author clearly did research. And I like that attention to detail. I'm not qualified to say that everything is historically accurate, but it's clear this author wanted to portray various aspects of Sioux culture. It definitely added to the setting, but I think sometimes there was a bit too much focused on those details and not enough on the plot. As a result, I found myself losing interest rather frequently...especially when I got 38% in and started skimming to see if I should keep reading. I finished, but it took some perseverance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lady Tea.
1,801 reviews126 followers
June 5, 2021
Rating: 3 / 5

I expected to love this book. *sigh* The contents therein are beneath the pleasing aesthetic quality of the cover--doggone it!

Granted, plot-wise I've developed an entirely new set of criteria for romance novels than from any other novels, but even so, some are better suited to the genre more than others. Now, Madeline Baker's Lakota Love Song, despite the rather cheesy title, was a great read. I loved the time setting, the main characters, and even the insta-romance was okay, since things developed beyond that.

For a while, I tried to puzzle out as I was reading through this book, just what it was that worked there and not here, and then I had it: in Lakota Love Song, not only was the time period more suited to my tastes of a historical romance, but the culture of the Lakotas was better depicted and more respected.

By that I mean that my chief problem in this book was the time travel. Seriously, I think it could easily have worked another way rather than saying that a spiritual Native American site can be used as a time-travel portal to encourage romance and "the best of both worlds". I know that in romance novels, we must be lax with our rules of misrepresentation and whatnot, but the more I read out of this, the more I felt that it was something I couldn't ignore. It bothered me, and that's that.

Besides which, a lot of the story was really repetitive, with Maggie's doubts about her being too old for Shadow Hawk, or just turning into a bawling baby out of the blue and crying into his chest just because she can. Um....romance novel or not, if the heroine's a complete wus, I'm not reading. BYYYYE!

Ahem, so, great premise and excellent cover, but not the best execution of a story that I've ever come across. I might try a re-read in the future, but for now, onto my shelves it goes!
Profile Image for Jeanette.
657 reviews36 followers
September 2, 2015
Historical Romance Time Travel. Really good romance novel. I loved all the legends and history that was sprinkled through out the story. And Shadow Hawk. He just sounds amazing. Worth the read!
Profile Image for Rebecca Baumgardner .
3 reviews1 follower
November 6, 2016
Great book

Really enjoyed reading this book, and wish there were more like it. The time travel aspect made for an exciting romantic story.
14 reviews
April 20, 2017
Great story!

Great story, so many lessons, morality, humanity, and above all else, true selfless love! True love of our earth, and love for each other.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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