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Panorama of the Old West #3
Comanche Cowboy
Agreeing to exchange her virtue for protection, Cayenne McBride loses her heart to virile raven-haired half-breed Maverick Drango--a man who will stop at nothing to exact revenge on Cayenne's father. Reissue.
512 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1988
22 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Georgina Gentry
48 books107 followersGeorgina Gentry is a former Ford Foundation teacher who married her Irish-Indian college sweetheart. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren and make their home on a small lake in central Oklahoma. Georgina is known for the deep research and passion of her novels, resulting in two Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement awards for both Western and Indian Romance. Often a speaker at writers’ conferences, Georgina has also been inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writer’s Hall of Fame. She holds the rare distinction of winning two back-to-back Best Western Romance of the Year awards for To Tame A Savage and To Tame A Texan. When she’s not writing or researching, Georgina enjoys gardening and collecting antiques.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 23, 2021
This review is of “Comanche Cowboy”, #3 in the “Panorama of the Old West” series by Georgina Gentry. (Reviewer note: To reiterate, the books in the series are in numerical order, they are not in chronological order. Seeds of storylines that begin in this book will be picked up in future books, but not necessarily the following book).
The story begins in Wichita, Kansas, Late June 1874. Cayenne Carol McBride-her younger sisters call her Cee Cee-the heroine of the book, is trying to return home to Texas as her family is in major trouble. The problem: the simmering tension between whites and Indians is reaching a boiling point and it’s very dangerous. She decides to hire Maverick Durango, the hero of the book, to accompany her. Cayenne offers him all her money-$18.25. Maverick refuses. She offers him herself. Maverick takes her up on that offer! Cayenne thinks Maverick is going to marry her; he doesn’t see things that way. He rapes her, but then they become lovers.
Cayenne doesn’t explain to Maverick the real reason she wants to hire him, but once he discovers her father is Jim McBride, Maverick agrees to escort her. As they make their way to Texas, they face many perils: bandits, Comancheros, Indians. We also learn what troubles Cayenne’s family is in and why Maverick is so interested in going to see Jim McBride.
The scene then shifts to McBride, Texas (the town is named after Jim, who is considered a local hero). Final confrontations happen, and truths are revealed. In the end, Cayenne and Maverick marry, they have a daughter and the seeds for future stories are planted as they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: The best books are those that make me feel that I’m watching the characters lives play out in front of me rather than reading words. The former is the case here with “Comanche Cowboy”. Like Rosanne Bittner, an author whose work I admire, Ms. Gentry has written a highly complex, emotional book centered around three primary characters, Cayenne, Maverick, and Jim. Unusually, the characters with the most depth are Maverick and Jim, two men who don’t meet until the end of the book, but who have many threads that connect them to each other. Both men made-and are making-decisions that will affect their lives as well as Cayenne’s. The result is a very emotionally rich book. Ms. Gentry does a great deal of research into her subjects-she lists some of her source material in the back of the book-and it shows, as she seamlessly weaves her fictional characters with real-life figures from history.
Downside: Like Ms. Bittner’s work, Ms. Gentry’s is both violent and misogynistic. I found myself having mixed feelings toward Cayenne and Maverick. Cayenne because I didn’t agree with some of her views; and Maverick because he rapes Cayenne twice.
Sex: Multiple love scenes between Cayenne and Maverick. Some are fairly hot and different (different positions and acts than typically found in romance novels, which I like).
Violence: In addition to the two rapes by Maverick of Cayenne, there are multiple scenes of assault, battery, rape, shootings and killings. Most of the violence is not graphic, although there are some scenes that would be at home in an adult western.
Bottom Line: In many ways, “Comanche Cowboy” is reminiscent of classic western movies. Even though westerns aren’t “in” right now, this would be a great book to turn into a movie. “Comanche Cowboy” won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love books with depth and a somewhat anti-hero hero will find much to like here.
The story begins in Wichita, Kansas, Late June 1874. Cayenne Carol McBride-her younger sisters call her Cee Cee-the heroine of the book, is trying to return home to Texas as her family is in major trouble. The problem: the simmering tension between whites and Indians is reaching a boiling point and it’s very dangerous. She decides to hire Maverick Durango, the hero of the book, to accompany her. Cayenne offers him all her money-$18.25. Maverick refuses. She offers him herself. Maverick takes her up on that offer! Cayenne thinks Maverick is going to marry her; he doesn’t see things that way. He rapes her, but then they become lovers.
Cayenne doesn’t explain to Maverick the real reason she wants to hire him, but once he discovers her father is Jim McBride, Maverick agrees to escort her. As they make their way to Texas, they face many perils: bandits, Comancheros, Indians. We also learn what troubles Cayenne’s family is in and why Maverick is so interested in going to see Jim McBride.
The scene then shifts to McBride, Texas (the town is named after Jim, who is considered a local hero). Final confrontations happen, and truths are revealed. In the end, Cayenne and Maverick marry, they have a daughter and the seeds for future stories are planted as they have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: The best books are those that make me feel that I’m watching the characters lives play out in front of me rather than reading words. The former is the case here with “Comanche Cowboy”. Like Rosanne Bittner, an author whose work I admire, Ms. Gentry has written a highly complex, emotional book centered around three primary characters, Cayenne, Maverick, and Jim. Unusually, the characters with the most depth are Maverick and Jim, two men who don’t meet until the end of the book, but who have many threads that connect them to each other. Both men made-and are making-decisions that will affect their lives as well as Cayenne’s. The result is a very emotionally rich book. Ms. Gentry does a great deal of research into her subjects-she lists some of her source material in the back of the book-and it shows, as she seamlessly weaves her fictional characters with real-life figures from history.
Downside: Like Ms. Bittner’s work, Ms. Gentry’s is both violent and misogynistic. I found myself having mixed feelings toward Cayenne and Maverick. Cayenne because I didn’t agree with some of her views; and Maverick because he rapes Cayenne twice.
Sex: Multiple love scenes between Cayenne and Maverick. Some are fairly hot and different (different positions and acts than typically found in romance novels, which I like).
Violence: In addition to the two rapes by Maverick of Cayenne, there are multiple scenes of assault, battery, rape, shootings and killings. Most of the violence is not graphic, although there are some scenes that would be at home in an adult western.
Bottom Line: In many ways, “Comanche Cowboy” is reminiscent of classic western movies. Even though westerns aren’t “in” right now, this would be a great book to turn into a movie. “Comanche Cowboy” won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who love books with depth and a somewhat anti-hero hero will find much to like here.
October 18, 2014
Well, I struggled so hard over how to rate this book. A 3? A 4? A 5? Then I decided to hell with it. This book was delicious, delicious trash of the sweetest kind. You're going to read a lot of sex written with bad analogies of the old romance period when "his hard maleness" was the theme. Despite it, I grossly enjoyed this book so much I couldn't put it down. It brought back childhood memories of sneaking this novel at the public library. It made me seek out another novel I found in my mother's office and read on the sly without letting her know I'd found it and was hiding it beneath my pillow. Between all the Indian men raping all the white women, all the white men raping all the Indian women, their own women, and anyone else in between, there was still a pretty decent plot here with amazing historical research evident in the writing. Was it historically accurate, down to all of the rape, revenge-rape, and counter-rape? We'll never know.
But I do know that I had a great time reading it again and now own this beaut on my kindle. Never again will I huddle at the back wall of a public library hoping nobody questions why a 11 year old is reading this trash. As for all the MYSTARS and BY DAMN? I mostly LOL'ed a lot and kept reading. It wasn't as often as another review made me expect, but it did put me in hysterics once or twice.
Why did I rate such an amazing childhood memory down by a star? I didn't care that the hero was angry as a testosterone pumped bull. I cared that I had to skip several pages to get back to the story because the author took too long sometimes retracing memory lane in the past of her characters. Instead of intriguing me, I had to skip forward to get back on track with what was happening. Despite his anger issues and refusal to release the past, I stilled loved Maverick. Why? Because that kind of anger is real, and a lot of people suffer from it. What matters is how you deal with it.
But I do know that I had a great time reading it again and now own this beaut on my kindle. Never again will I huddle at the back wall of a public library hoping nobody questions why a 11 year old is reading this trash. As for all the MYSTARS and BY DAMN? I mostly LOL'ed a lot and kept reading. It wasn't as often as another review made me expect, but it did put me in hysterics once or twice.
Why did I rate such an amazing childhood memory down by a star? I didn't care that the hero was angry as a testosterone pumped bull. I cared that I had to skip several pages to get back to the story because the author took too long sometimes retracing memory lane in the past of her characters. Instead of intriguing me, I had to skip forward to get back on track with what was happening. Despite his anger issues and refusal to release the past, I stilled loved Maverick. Why? Because that kind of anger is real, and a lot of people suffer from it. What matters is how you deal with it.
July 4, 2024
4 - 4.5 stars! Read this for Regan Walker’s monthly theme/blog, June is Western month. This was a very good book in terms of plot and lots of action it was also a little bodice rippery. Really enjoyed how the overall story came together with all the main and secondary characters. Liked the H/ h they had some chemistry. Not quite sure that back in post civil war years the hero would’ve called her ‘baby’ all that much? I know that’s a minor thing, but it seems a little contemporary to me. These two were using each other as means for their own ends and instead became each others everything, which they fought against. Although she did seem to tell him she was in love with him pretty easily. All in all a very entertaining book and I recommend it. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
February 25, 2017
this book definitely lived up to its name, so i give it 5 stars
It's a good book, but sometimes it gets too off base but it was a well written story, drama and romance alike. fiery and hot like the name itself.
Georgina Gentry knows how to bring history and romance to life.
the brutality that these people suffered is terrible. the scalping, raping, ughhhh horrific, yet she manages to create hope and love within the characters.
the romance between Maverick and Cayenne was real and sweet. revenge well played too.
i enjoyed it.
It's a good book, but sometimes it gets too off base but it was a well written story, drama and romance alike. fiery and hot like the name itself.
Georgina Gentry knows how to bring history and romance to life.
the brutality that these people suffered is terrible. the scalping, raping, ughhhh horrific, yet she manages to create hope and love within the characters.
the romance between Maverick and Cayenne was real and sweet. revenge well played too.
i enjoyed it.
October 8, 2010
I have a feeling that COMANCHE COWBOY would have been an enjoyable story but I just couldn't get passed the fact that the h started nearly every sentence with 'My starts'. As in "My stars, did you see that cow?" and the H started his sentences with 'By damn!'. As in "By damn! You'r hardheaded!" It was just too much for me so I'll have to add this one to the dnf shelf.
February 29, 2020
It's a excellent book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2020
A historical romance novel which includes well researched information related to the Red River Indian Uprising on 1874-1875. In this story Cayenne McBride, the oldest of five daughters to a preacher and deceased mother finds herself in Wichita, Kansas when she receives a letter from her sister indicating a crisis at home in McBride Texas. She connects with the Half-Breed Maverick Durango who feels more allegiance to his white ancestors but understands the Comanche well. They each harbor hidden agendas in this quest to get through Indian Country back to Texas, but they will need each other to successfully overcome the challenges. An enjoyable story with two strong, main characters. I especially enjoyed the way this story had a well detailed ending for all the characters in the book, and how all her stories end with information as to which named characters were real people and which were fictional creations along with facts about the times.
May 2, 2018
I read this many many years ago in highschool- 1992ish. It's a fantastic historical western romance. She puts much time into researching what happened back in those years. You won't be disappointed. I wish I kept these copies of these lovely books all those years ago.
May 16, 2015
Not as good as the first two books in the series.
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February 14, 2016
I thought this book was really good. I have read it at least twice maybe three times.
November 20, 2014
Not as good as the first two books in the series
But isn't the cover pretty?
But isn't the cover pretty?
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews