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Savage Secrets #1
Savage Surrender
Love's Captive
Strong-willed and beautiful, Brenda had escaped the brutal muderers of her pioneer family. Her anguish and fury were then challenged by the savage wilderness, where her only hope for survival lay in the forceful bronzed arms of an Ojibwa warrior. Striped Eagle was the kind of man she had been raised to fear - the kind of man whose dark, smoldering gaze unleashed her heart's forbidden temptations.
Passion's Slave
She was his - body and soul. The burning touch of his lean, muscled torso against her tender flesh aroused the sweetest rapture of desires unknown. The probing heat of his kiss blazed a trail of unexplored ecstasy. And his loving embrace awakened a hunger for more. While defying her fulture and daring to avenge her family's enemies, Brenda would share with Striped Eagle a love that triumphed in the flames of eternal desire and ...SAVAGE SURRENDER
Strong-willed and beautiful, Brenda had escaped the brutal muderers of her pioneer family. Her anguish and fury were then challenged by the savage wilderness, where her only hope for survival lay in the forceful bronzed arms of an Ojibwa warrior. Striped Eagle was the kind of man she had been raised to fear - the kind of man whose dark, smoldering gaze unleashed her heart's forbidden temptations.
Passion's Slave
She was his - body and soul. The burning touch of his lean, muscled torso against her tender flesh aroused the sweetest rapture of desires unknown. The probing heat of his kiss blazed a trail of unexplored ecstasy. And his loving embrace awakened a hunger for more. While defying her fulture and daring to avenge her family's enemies, Brenda would share with Striped Eagle a love that triumphed in the flames of eternal desire and ...SAVAGE SURRENDER
336 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1987
5 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Edwards
165 books421 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.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 4, 2021
This review is of “Savage Surrender”, book #1 in the “Savage Secrets” series by Cassie Edwards. (Reviewer notes: The original version was published by Ace in August 1987; the book was later republished by Jove (May 1991) and Leisure (May 1996). The “Savage Secrets” series is NOT to be confused with the “Savage” series also authored by Mrs. Edwards).
The book begins in Minnesota, circa 1840, at the home of the Pfleugger family, consisting of father Harrison, mother Carole, and their two children, daughter Brenda Denise, 17 and the heroine of the book, and son Tommie, 5. Sadly, this will be the last night the Pfleugger’s spend together as their home is attacked by soldiers led by Major Joseph Partain. Only Brenda survives the attack. She escapes to the woods and is found by Striped Eagle, the hero of the book and an Ojibwa Indian, who takes her to his village. There, they become lovers and Brenda finds herself in a constant battle, being pulled in different directions. On the one side: her love for Striped Eagle. On another side: her desire for revenge. On yet another side: Striped Eagle’s sister, Morning Flower, and her hatred of Brenda.
In the end, Brenda and Striped Eagle marry. Major Partain is killed. Morning Flower grows to accept Brenda as Striped Eagle’s wife and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Mrs. Edwards is an excellent atmospheric writer, meaning she describes scenes in a way that allows me, as a reader, to feel like I am there as an observer as opposed to simply reading words on a page or screen. One other highly underrated and appreciated part of Mrs. Edwards’ work is the research she has done into her Tribe of the Book language and customs; there are many books about Native Americans that don’t do so the way Mrs. Edwards’ books do.
Downside: Let’s start with the characters. Although Brenda checks off some boxes for romance novel heroines-she’s beautiful and has a great body, she is also young-she’s 17-and impetuous. These qualities lead her into trouble multiple times which Striped Eagle has to rescue her from (she extricates herself in one instance). It’s not fair to call Brenda a Simpering Sara, but rather a Perilous Penelope.
At the beginning of the book, Striped Eagle is a bit of a bastard. Almost immediately upon meeting Brenda-and knowing she just witnessed her family’s murders-he’s pressing her to have sex with him, which is at best insensitive and at worst incredibly sleazy. He only becomes more sensitive and caring when his father dies, making him chief of his band of Ojibwa. There is no character development or depth, and the supporting characters only exist as foils for Brenda and Striped Eagle, neither of whom are strong enough to truly lead a book.
Sex: Mrs. Edwards usually writes great love scenes; here, her love scenes are quite muted.
Violence: Assault, attempted rape, battery, knifing, shootings and killings take place in the book. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Savage Surrender” is not a great start to Mrs. Edwards’ Savage Secrets” series. 2.24 stars.
Heroine: Brenda Denise Pfleugger, 17, Red hair, blue eyes. Pioneer’s daughter.
Hero: Striped Eagle, 25. Black hair, brown eyes. Future chief of the White Bear band of Ojibwa Indians.
Tropes: Historical romance. Native American hero.
Location: Minnesota, 1840.
The book begins in Minnesota, circa 1840, at the home of the Pfleugger family, consisting of father Harrison, mother Carole, and their two children, daughter Brenda Denise, 17 and the heroine of the book, and son Tommie, 5. Sadly, this will be the last night the Pfleugger’s spend together as their home is attacked by soldiers led by Major Joseph Partain. Only Brenda survives the attack. She escapes to the woods and is found by Striped Eagle, the hero of the book and an Ojibwa Indian, who takes her to his village. There, they become lovers and Brenda finds herself in a constant battle, being pulled in different directions. On the one side: her love for Striped Eagle. On another side: her desire for revenge. On yet another side: Striped Eagle’s sister, Morning Flower, and her hatred of Brenda.
In the end, Brenda and Striped Eagle marry. Major Partain is killed. Morning Flower grows to accept Brenda as Striped Eagle’s wife and they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Mrs. Edwards is an excellent atmospheric writer, meaning she describes scenes in a way that allows me, as a reader, to feel like I am there as an observer as opposed to simply reading words on a page or screen. One other highly underrated and appreciated part of Mrs. Edwards’ work is the research she has done into her Tribe of the Book language and customs; there are many books about Native Americans that don’t do so the way Mrs. Edwards’ books do.
Downside: Let’s start with the characters. Although Brenda checks off some boxes for romance novel heroines-she’s beautiful and has a great body, she is also young-she’s 17-and impetuous. These qualities lead her into trouble multiple times which Striped Eagle has to rescue her from (she extricates herself in one instance). It’s not fair to call Brenda a Simpering Sara, but rather a Perilous Penelope.
At the beginning of the book, Striped Eagle is a bit of a bastard. Almost immediately upon meeting Brenda-and knowing she just witnessed her family’s murders-he’s pressing her to have sex with him, which is at best insensitive and at worst incredibly sleazy. He only becomes more sensitive and caring when his father dies, making him chief of his band of Ojibwa. There is no character development or depth, and the supporting characters only exist as foils for Brenda and Striped Eagle, neither of whom are strong enough to truly lead a book.
Sex: Mrs. Edwards usually writes great love scenes; here, her love scenes are quite muted.
Violence: Assault, attempted rape, battery, knifing, shootings and killings take place in the book. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Savage Surrender” is not a great start to Mrs. Edwards’ Savage Secrets” series. 2.24 stars.
Heroine: Brenda Denise Pfleugger, 17, Red hair, blue eyes. Pioneer’s daughter.
Hero: Striped Eagle, 25. Black hair, brown eyes. Future chief of the White Bear band of Ojibwa Indians.
Tropes: Historical romance. Native American hero.
Location: Minnesota, 1840.
December 19, 2019
I wanna say this is my first Edwards book to read, but then again as a teenager I read ALOT of native american books, so that could be incorrect. So, It is the first as an adult.
The writing wasn't bad, but the character development did leave alot to be desired. The female was intended to be a strong heroine, but she was also just kinda flapping around too, not that that would be incorrect of a typical female of that era. Torn between her family's revenge and her newfound love, and i use love loosely, because that was all just rushed and not developed at all, and she was so fickle about it, between her shame and generally just fighting it, so she didn't feel guilty everytime she ran away.
I'll try the next in the series, but so far I'm not rushing out to buy and read all her books.
The writing wasn't bad, but the character development did leave alot to be desired. The female was intended to be a strong heroine, but she was also just kinda flapping around too, not that that would be incorrect of a typical female of that era. Torn between her family's revenge and her newfound love, and i use love loosely, because that was all just rushed and not developed at all, and she was so fickle about it, between her shame and generally just fighting it, so she didn't feel guilty everytime she ran away.
I'll try the next in the series, but so far I'm not rushing out to buy and read all her books.
September 4, 2017
Very adventurous. I loved the book.
September 19, 2025
The heroine is so annoying, she never learns!! She annoys me till the end of the book....the hero (gosh) sex first day they met while she was mourning. It was a waste of time
August 23, 2012
I started this book yesterday and it was okay. This is the first book I have read from Cassie Edwards. So far I' m not a fan. I'll probably read a couple more to see if the others get better. I just didn't believe the characters. It seems like character depth wasn't really there.
March 22, 2013
Not one of Cassies best works, heroine constantly fought between family honour and love. Still a good read though :)
October 17, 2014
enjoyable really enjoyed the savage series
August 19, 2018
If you are looking for a great read....This one is it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews