Love, Cherish Me

Aguilar's Fate #1

by Rebecca Brandewyne

Storm was her name and her destiny.

Born on a night when lightning flashed and thunder rolled, the raven-haired beauty was sixteen before the promise of her name became the path of her life.

Born to wealth, the belle of five counties wagered away to a middle-aged rancher by her wastrel uncle. On her way to Texas to marry Gabriel North, she was captured by outlaws -- and wagered away again by her captor to a blue-eyed bounty hunter, a dark-skinned gunslinger called El Lobo, the wolf. A man who could kill in cold blood, then take her with fire and tenderness when she whispered to him.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Westerns, Western Romance, Historical Fiction, Adventure

574 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rebecca lived in Knoxville and then, later, Chattanooga for the first few years of her life. After that, she and her family moved to Kansas, where she grew up, spending her summers in Alabama, visiting both sets of her grandparents. She says she's just a country girl with a dash of big city sprinkled in for spice. But having traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean, she moves easily between the publishing world of New York and her hometown.

Rebecca graduated cum laude with departmental honors from Wichita State University, earning a B.A. in journalism, minors in history and music (theory and composition), and an M.A. in communications [mass (broadcasting) and interpersonal (dyadic relationships):]. During the course of her education, she was fortunate enough to study at various times under, among several other distinguished instructors, three Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and one of the foremost authorities in the field of interpersonal communication. Twice a recipient of the Victor Murdock Scholarship, Rebecca taught interpersonal communication at the university level before becoming a published writer.

She was twenty-one when she started work on her first novel, No Gentle Love. She finished the book a year later and sold it to Warner Books some months after her twenty-third birthday, making her, at that time, the youngest romance author in America, a record that stood for ten years before finally being broken. To date, Rebecca has written over thirty consecutive bestselling titles, including novels and novellas on the following lists: New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Magazine & Bookseller, Ingram, B. Dalton, and Waldenbooks, among many others.

Her books have been translated into a number of foreign languages, including Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; and they have been published in over sixty countries worldwide. Many have been selections of the Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild. Hardback editions of several titles have been published by Severn House, and large-print editions of some books are also available from Macmillan Library Reference and Thorndike Press. Rebecca currently has millions of books in print in the United States alone.

From Affaire de Coeur magazine, she has won: the Classic Award for Classic Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Golden Quill Award for Best of the '80s Historical Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Bronze Pen (Wholesalers' Choice) Award, 1989; the Silver Pen (Readers' Choice) Award, 1988, 1987, and 1986; and a Gold Certificate for The Outlaw Hearts, 1987.

From Romantic Times magazine, she has won: the Reviewer's Choice Nominee for Best Historical Romantic Mystery, for The Ninefold Key, 2004; the Reviewer's Choice Certificate of Excellence for Victorian Historical Romance, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995; the KISS (Knight in Shining Silver) of the Month for Best Hero, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995, and for Swan Road, 1994; the Career Achievement Award for Futuristic Romance, 1991, for Passion Moon Rising and Beyond the Starlit Frost; the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic, for Across a Starlit Sea, 1989, and for Upon a Moon-Dark Moor, 1988; the Historical Romance Novelist of the Year Award, 1987; and the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance, for The Outlaw Hearts, 1986. Rebecca has also been named one of Love's Leading Ladies and inducted into Romantic Times magazine's Hall of Fame.

http://www.brandewyne.com/castle/gall...

Reviews

[Wendy, Lady Evelyn Quince · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "Love, Cherish Me" many years ago, and it's a favorite. You have to read this book as a lover of the genre, because Rebecca Brandewyne is here at her bodice-rippiest. What I loved about Rebecca Brandewyne's old romances was that she would always pose dressed as the heroine in her picture on the back of the book. There would be a poem at the beginning, and the book would be broken up into several books or parts. The story began with a prologue with the couple together and ended with their epilogue. And let's not forget the Elaine Duillo cover art, which was practically de rigeur for a romance diva. What can I say, I've always preferred intricate, elaborate heavy metal or progressive rock as opposed to streamlined, gritty punk, and my taste in romances is no different.

The heroine is southern belle Storm Aimee Lesconflair and the hero is the dark stranger called "Lobo," or Wolf. The tale is epic, set in the epic state of Texas. Storm is abducted and almost raped by villains, saved by Wolf multiple times, separated from her beloved, accused of murder, and experiences the worst pain a mother can feel and finally is reunited with her soul mate. This is a companion piece to And Gold Was Ours, which was good but not as great as this. The only Brandewyne book I like more is Upon a Moon-Dark Moor.

[Naksed · Rating 2 out of 5]

New Orleans, Louisiana, 1848

Stereotypical Villain: Ms. Storm Aimee Lesconflair, guess what? I won you from your uncle in a card game and now I am taking your exotic French-Southern-Belle ass to Texas to be my wife.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair:Sacrebleu!

Stereotypical Mammy:Honey chile. Look ter me lahke yose gwine haf ter marry dat man, Miz Storm, else yo'all gwine stahve.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair: Sainte Marie!

Somewhere in Texas, 1848

Stereotypical outlaw: Well looks like me and my brothers successfully raided your stagecoach and now I am going to take you to my lair and rape you, you beautiful exotic French-Southern-Belle, but before I do, let me just mozy on down to the saloon and pass the time with a card game or two.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair: Sacrebleu!

Wolf El Lobo: Well, baby, looks like I won you in a card game from your would-be outlaw rapist and baby, I decided we are now married, baby. Let's go to my Comanche tribe and make it official, baby.

Stereotypical Comanche Chief: As you have married my son Wolf El Lobo, I now rename you Eyes-like-Summer-Rain.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain El Lobo: Sainte-Marie!

San Francisco, California, 1853

Chance the Autumn Wind: Hey mom, I still don't understand why we are moving to San Francisco after daddy Wolf mysteriously disappeared, and you just assumed he abandoned us and took absolutely no steps to look for him, despite the Great, Amazing, Once in a Lifetime Love y'all shared.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain El Lobo: Sacrebleu!

Mediocre Rebound Guy: Hey Ms. Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain El Lobo, I need you to take over as manager of my saloon-whorehouse to make it the classy place I always dreamed it would be, but only if I get to rename you French Lightning. Cause you need to blend in with the other stereotypical whores with names like China Doll, Golden Garters, Flamenco Rita, Brass-hearted Kate and Whiskey Annie.

Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain French Lightning El Lobo: Sainte-Marie!

Stereotypical Villain: Hey Ms. Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain French Lightning El Lobo, I finally found you 6 years after that regrettable stagecoach incident. By the way, I have nothing to do with the disappearance of your first husband Wolf El Lobo or the disappearance of your Mediocre Rebound Guy but I can assure you they are both dead and you are free to remarry me, and also, you have every reason to trust me. So let's go back to Texas and get married.

Mrs. Gabriel "Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain French Lightning El Lobo" North: Sacrebleu!

Somewhere in Texas, 1854

Stereotypical Lecherous Step-Son: Hey Stepma, I know my dad can't get it up and you have been giving me bedroom eyes every day so if you care to step into my bedroom, I can definitely scratch that itch you have between your legs.

Mrs. Gabriel "Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain French Lightning El Lobo" North: Sainte-Marie!

Wolf El Lobo: Hey, baby, I mean, you whore, I was never dead, baby. Bet you didn't see that coming from miles away, baby, not with all the red flags and fireworks and neon signs and arrows pointing to this shocking plot development, did you, baby?

Mrs. Gabriel "Storm Aimee Lesconflair Eyes-like-Summer-Rain French Lightning El Lobo" North: Sacrebleu!

I seriously can't even explain how I lasted through 468 pages of this drivel, which by the way was heavily sprinkled with terms like half-breed, darkie, and basically every other ethnic slur and stereotype you can imagine. This is so unlike the Rebecca Brandewyne from that perfectly sweet medieval romance Rose of Rapture I read recently that I am wondering if someone roofied me during my previous or current read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: 3/2/25
3.5 stars
Setting: Texas and San Francisco 1848

Deep in the heart of Texas....

I'm not completely sure how I feel about this book. The beginning was slow for me. I tend to avoid Westerns and road trip tropes, and this book had both. The H is a gunslinger and is always moving around. So, the MC fall in love on the road. I enjoyed the slow burn romance. I rooted for these two and was devastated when tragedy stricks them.

Liked:
1. I'm a suker for good history! I liked that the plot contained so much Texas history. The author did an excellent job of describing the state. I loved the Indian tribal history as well. The H was adopted by Karankawa/Comanche, and the couple lived with them for a while.

2. I was a little happy that the H tends to save the h before anything serious can happen. I wasn't in the mood for an overdramatic horror romance.

3. I adored their son, Chance. The child was way too advanced for his age, but damn was he cute!!! 🥰

Hate:
1. The H saying the word "baby" after every sentence drove me crazy!

2. The villain was too cartoonish at times. He's obsessed with finding his bought fiancée. The man spends 6 years trying to find the h 🤪. No, means no!

3. The h's time in San Francisco was pointless. It made zero sense!

Conclusion:
It took me a while to get into the plot, but once I did? It really was an enjoyable ride!

[Glamdring · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoiler free review*

What an epic tale!

The writing is a bit old fashioned (it was written in the early eighties) but Rebecca Brandewyne sure knows how to tell a vivid and gripping story. Although it's my first read in English, over the years I read that book many times in French and it still has the same effect on me. I'm not a crying reader but whenever I read this book I always end up like this:



Love, Cherish Me is a beautiful albeit sad story. The book is subdivided in five books and starts with the epilogue, we are in 1866 Texas, 10 years after the story. Then we are taken backward at the beginning of the story in New-Orleans 1848. The first three or four chapters are a bit slow but then the story kicks off. There are a lot of twists and turns but the story keeps flowing naturally.

At the beginning of the book, Storm, the New-Orleans belle is 16. She is an orphan, and after having squandered her inheritance on the game tables, her uncle bartered her to cover his game loses to Gabriel North, a Texas cattle baron. On her way to meet her future husband, she is captured by outlaws then bartered (again) during a poker game to El Lobo a gunslinger, bounty hunter. Lobo ends up killing one of the outlaws and Storm not wanting to stay on her own in a place that can’t even be called town chose to follow him.

I liked that despite the fact that she clearly was out of her depth, she took charge of her life. I also loved Lobo and together they formed a striking couple.

The book is well documented and in an effort to make the story even more authentic Rebecca Brandewyne chose to use phonetics transcripts for some characters’ dialogs. They aren’t so many but some non English native readers may have problems with that. Also, in the French version all the sex scenes were cut!

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating Saga of the American West, Texas Style

I like Brandewyne’s deep, angst-ridden historicals. This romance, like ROSE OF RAPTURE, will carry you to another time and place and tells a great love story. When I finished it, I found myself wanting a sequel. Alas, there is no sequel, but AND GOLD WAS OURS gives us another glimpse of Storm and Wolf.

Who could not love Wolf (El Lobo)? He is a man haunted by his past in an era where bad men seized lands to impose cruel dictates. We don't learn the complete story of Wolf's past until the end, but it's worth the wait. As for the heroine, Storm Lesconflair, the belle of New Orleans, she starts out as an indulged 16-year-old given every advantage, but when her parents die, her life takes a plunge. Rising to every challenge, she becomes a beautiful woman of grace, intelligence and depth. And their love is the love of legends.

The romance is divided into five "books" and spans the time period 1848 to 1866. The first chapter shows us the present, 1866, and it's almost an epilogue that can be skipped till the end (I re-read it after I’d finished the book). Then we are back at the beginning, in 1848, and Storm is being forced into an arranged marriage with a rich, cruel Texas rancher she doesn't love. On her way to meet him, a gang of outlaws overtakes her stagecoach and Storm is taken captive. She is then won in a card game by the gunslinger they call El Lobo, thought to be a half breed Indian but a man all men fear and respect. The darkly handsome gunslinger, dressed in black and silver, seems to have honor and would give her freedom, but Storm prefers his company to the thieves and scoundrels in the bar. So she follows him...

The story unfolds as we travel from New Orleans high society of the mid 1800s to the Texas frontier to San Francisco and then back to Texas. Along the way, Brandewyne introduces us to some wonderful characters, including a group of Comanches who are Wolf's adopted family, and we get to learn about the Indian culture, which had much to suggest to the white man.

If you like romances that sweep you away and the story of love that conquers overwhelming odds, you will love this story. I highly recommend it.

[kimberly grider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read this one once a year...this is a sweeping epic saga of a book that carries you away...from the moment I read it I was totally hooked and could not put it down, my favorite book by Brandewyne !

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book was brilliantly written, so I feel like it deserves more than three stars, but I sometimes felt rather emotionally disconnected from the romance between Wolf and Storm, so I can't justify giving it a higher rating.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if they would have gotten married later in the story and developed their relationship just a bit more. I really loved the first quarter of the novel where Wolf slowly teaches Storm how to be independent and how to defend herself. The bonding scenes between them were so emotional during that portion of the novel.

(Actually, I can't even recall another bodice ripper where the male lead takes the time to teach the heroine self-defense. I really loved this aspect of their relationship and how Storm turns all she learned from Wolf against him whenever he wrongs her. If you want to read a bodice ripper where the female lead is a competent badass, look no further than this book.)

I did enjoy the latter half of their romance, don't get me wrong. But something held me back from absolutely loving it. I wanted more out of their love story, even though I can't put my finger on what was missing from their dynamic. I honestly feel like I should have completely adored it.

Also, maybe another thing that contributed to my emotional disconnect from the story is that the person who owned my copy of Love, Cherish Me before me seriously summarized what was going to happen during each chapter. It was kind of funny to me because I have no idea why someone would do this. I would start a chapter and in big letters at the top of the page it would say something like STORM IS GOING TO GET KIDNAPPED HERE. Kind of killed the suspense a bit.

They also circled every single endearment that Wolf directs toward Storm. This made me realize that he has to have called her baby at least eighty times. It actually started to bug me, and maybe it bugged this unknown person too. I don't know. They circled random places too, and some of the love scenes for some reason lol

So yeah. This was a weird reading experience, but Rebecca Brandewyne is extremely talented, so I definitely want to read more from her. The ending was phenomenal, and the main villain was so memorable. He kind of gave me Patrick Bateman vibes.

Even though I didn't love this romance as much as I wanted to, I'm still glad I read this.

TW: non-consent, torture, racism, graphic murder

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Period: 1848-1866

Place: Texas with a brief interlude to early San Francisco


Main Characters: El Lobo (H) Shrouded heritage - raised by Comanche; Bounty Hunter, Comanche warrior, molded by the horrific violence of his past. 16 year old Storm Lesconflair (h), French belle of the old South - Louisiana: orphaned, lost in a wager by her Uncle/guardian to cover the debts he has concurred through his drinking and gambling.


Main Secondary Characters: Gabriel North - Influential, ruthless, wealthy Texas rancher who stops at nothing and uses any means to get what he wants...first Tierra Rosa, his cattle empire, and now Storm Lesconflair - as his lady wife.
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The middle-aged Gabriel's children who hate thier father: Joe Jack, good looking, self centered lady's man, determined to inherit Tierra Rosa - and will stop at nothing to make that happen.


Cathy, Gabriel's cigar smoking, trouser clad, brother's shirts wearing daughter, who has witnessed, first hand, the ruthless violence of her father. Seeing the kind of man he is, she loathes and despises him. Both Joe Jack and Cathy are determined Tierra Rosa will not be snatched from their hands by the young step-mama, who happens to be the same age, if not younger, then either of the two.


Chapter One begins at the ending of the story as Storm decides it is time the tale of her past should be told to her children. I'm grateful for that in one respect, knowing before hand, that some tragedies that occur deeper into the story HAD a light at the end of the tunnel. On the other hand, I realized some outcomes would break my heart. Many times while reading, I would check the time frame of the story to prepare myself for when and how that tragedy would occur. As the time grew closer and became more apparent, I could feel myself cringe.

This is a gripping story of ruthlessness violence in the old west spawned by one man's greed and ambition and tragedy that followed.

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El Lobo towards the end of the story...

The one complaint I had that put a damper on my reading is the over-used BIG MISUNDERSTANDINGS Brandewyne incorporated between Wolf (El Lobo) and Storm, later on. IMO it took the rating down a few notches, particularly in the (h) Storm. Until then, I really liked her and was not happy to have her character diminished by cliche plot crap. She never could up my esteem for her after that, sad to say. It also reminded me how much I admired Madelaine Baker's handling of the main characters, Dancer and Jessica, in her story .

In spite of that, it was Great!

[Danette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Epic. Powerful. Wild. Sorrow. Forgiveness. Revenge. Love. Obsession. Joy.

574 pages you'll never forget. Vivid descriptive writing that reminds me of author Marsha Canham. An alpha hero like you'll find in Elizabeth Lowell's "Only" series....only more intense.

One of the best books I've ever read. Hands down.. the best love story for me yet.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew! This book took me on such a roller coaster! I have mixed feelings about it. At times I loved it, and at times I hated it.... But all in all I was so intrigued by the ever growing plot and the new twists and turns of their relationship. I gave it 4 stars based on the fact that I stayed up in the wee hours reading it, and the book stuck with me after it was all said and done.

SPOILERS

I hated how wolf could be so cruel sometimes... Very domineering, chauvinistic, and stubborn. I also hated the stereotypes portrayed in this book... Especially in writing in phonetics for mammy and the Chinamen in San Fran. I also hated how she repeated the word countenance. It became noticeable after a while to the point of annoying. It would take me out of the book. Also...the attempted rapes on the heroine by many different men got very old, and anti climactic after a while. I also hated the turn of events at the end. I was devestated and almost didn't want to keep reading. With that being said... There were a lot more good, sweet, exciting, and romantic parts....that made up for all the bad parts. If you read this, I can almost guarantee you won't be bored. Nothing blasé, it's either a love or hate it type of book.

[Jena]

DNF 20%
Slow burn. Didn’t care for the writing style. Also, disliked that the h reminded him of his beloved dead wife.





Self note
Reviewer said MCs are faithful throughout the book, even during their long separation they don’t cheat.

[Crys Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favorite romance novel of all time. Storm made me want to learn to shoot and be a bounty hunter when I was a girl. I still find the Comanche Moon romantic. It has been at least 15 if not more years since I last read this and I still remember the characters, how painful it was then Wolf left her. I couldn't read romance novels with an Apache leading man for years!

I'm going to have to dig out my old paperback and give this a re-read.

[Bona Caballero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Histórica de las antiguas, cuatrocientas páginas de idas y venidas por Tejas y otros sitios en los que a la pobrecita Storm la están intentando violar cada dos por tres. Fue escrita en pleno bodicerippismo.
Storm Aimée Lesconflair (16) es una hermosa criolla de Nueva Orleans a quien su tío compromete con un rico ranchero tejano. Camino de su nuevo hogar, la diligencia en la que va es asaltada por unos ladrones asesinos y... allá por la página 60 su camino se cruza con el de un pistolero peligrosísimo al que llaman El Lobo y consideran mestizo. Es, en realidad, Rafael Bautista Delgados y Aguilar (27), hispano-tejano-mejicano-comanche de adopción.
Lo que destacaría, sobre todo, es el esfuerzo que hace la autora por reconstruir con realismo aquella forma de vida en la frontera, en particular la cultura comanche.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely destroyed me. It was dark, full of angst, made me cry in several places, had action and adventure, and was one hell of a love story. It's not romantic necessarily, but was a raw, gritty love story that grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until the very end.

This is an old school novel (copyright 1983) and had the old school elements in it. A too-young, reluctant heroine, a rough and tough hero that was pragmatic, passionate, and possessive, and loved his woman no matter what.

I want to talk a little about the story, but it's kind of tricky because so much happens and I don't want to ruin this gem for anyone else. I'll do the best I can.

Storm is sixteen years old when all of this starts. She's a gently bred young lady from New Orleans and has been betrothed to her cousin since they were babies. She's looking forward to this marriage and thinks everything is a go until she finds out her uncle with whom she has been living, has gambled all of her money away and now has gambled her away to a rich rancher who lives in Texas. She has no interest in marrying this red-haired brutish man. He's got kids who are older than she is and the man revolts her. On her way to do her duty with him, the stage she was on was robbed and everyone, including Storm's beloved Mammy, are killed by the ruffians, and Storm is abducted by one of them.

As gruesome and ugly as that scene is, it's vital to the story. If that hadn't happened, she never would have met El Lobo or Wolf as she calls him, who won her in another card game, and really didn't want to take her anywhere. She forced her presence on him and demanded that he split a bounty with her.

Wolf was a gunslinger, a bounty hunter when he needed to be, and a loner. He was different in a distinct way. He was tall, had long, dark hair, copper skin, was ripped, and everybody thought he was a half-breed Comanche, since he was raised by them and taught their ways from the time he was a child. What set him apart was he had midnight blue eyes. He was treated with disdain, although everybody feared him. He was always calm, cool, and collected no matter how tense the situation was and nobody messed with him. He was smart, resourceful, and everything he did had purpose. He taught Storm how to survive on the plains, how to live off the land, how to defend herself, how to use knives and guns, and how to sneak into places as quietly as a Comanche. He taught her the Comanche language as well as Spanish while she taught him French. Let's not forget that he taught her how to play cards, too.

I thought they were going to be together until the end of the book, but that didn't happen. There is a part of the book where they aren't together and where she ends up getting into a situation that was way over her head that ended up with her being back in the situation in Texas that she was trying to avoid in the first place. It came full circle and now she had a son to look after and needed to protect him. She did what she had to do.

This book is off-the-charts good! Usually when the heroine is a lady, she buckles, cries, whines, and complains about everything and gets on the nerves of the hero. That did not happen in this story. Storm was a survivor and knew her survival depended on Wolf. She didn't want to anger him or upset him. She was an apt pupil and took everything he taught her to heart. It was a good thing she did because she ended up needing those skills to get out of precarious situations. She went from being a gently bred lady to a powerhouse warrior in her own right.

Wolf was a mystery, although I had part of it figured out early in the book. His whole story unravels at the end. It will either surprise you or confirm your suspicions.

These two went through so much together and their love was so natural. I couldn't imagine one without the other. They were a passionate couple, strong, and true to each other even when they thought all was lost. I loved them as individuals and I loved them as a couple. This is a love- conquers-all story that packed a punch emotionally and the anticipation of what was going to happen next kept me turning the pages.

This book was written in an interesting way. The first chapter lays the premise of the story and creates the mystery of the whole thing. It also serves as the epilogue. Read the book from beginning to end and then after you're done, go back and read the first chapter again. Everything makes sense then.

This is another book to go on my Top 10 Favorite Reads of 2021.

Fantastic read!

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 3 out of 5]

За малко да и ударя едната звезда по едно време, но тук авторката е била понабрала опит, и спаси положението.

В повечето от старите исторически любовни романи твърдоглавецът и негодникът е почти винаги героят. Тук, за разнообразие, е героинята. Невежа, католичка от най-лошия тип, пълна с предрасъдъци към всички, расистка с комплекс за превъзходство, прибързана, инатлива. Натвори куп ужасни неща, и в крайна сметка сполетялата я трагедия (а тя беше голяма) беше заради собствените и прибързани и глупави решения.

Само че накрая най-сетне се осъзна буквално с гръм и трясък. И раздаде правосъдие според заслугите, заради което за малко да я обесят. И най-важното - помоли за прошка.

Хели ендът тук е под формата на втори шанс. Но не беше за��аросан и даже остана малко мрачен. Героят ми хареса - той беше по-стабилният при все кариерата си на наемен стрелец, или може би точно затова.

Е, можеше и без цялата драма, но и с нея не беше зле.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love, Cherish Me" began bestselling 1980s historical romance novelist Brandewyne's occasional engagement with the 19th Century American West, after forays into Regency England and Early Modern Britain. Brandewyne's increasing confidence as a writer shows in her move from the rape-filled love/hate dynamics of her early novels' protagonists to a more standard and enduring love based on chemistry and mutual respect...even if the usual misunderstandings of motives help complicate the course of true love. Intended for an arranged marriage to a brutish Texas rancher, fate throws spoiled Louisiana belle Storm Lesconflair instead into the path of El Lobo, aka Wolf, a gunslinger and bounty hunter raised by Comanches. Over the next eight years, the triangle plays out, obsessively and violently. The action moves along and shows great improvement in pacing, with fewer extraneous subplots and elements, and less outright grotesquerie, than "No Gentle Love" and "Forever, My Love." The reader is advised to overlook the early chapters, where Brandewyne gets basic facts about Louisiana wrong that an editor should've flagged: counties?!?! The state has parishes. Worse and more damning, the cringeworthy, racist dialect-laden treatment of--wait for it--Storm's servant Mammy, is straight out of "Gone with the Wind" and not in any good way. Despite that truly awful flaw, Brandewyne's treatment of her indigenous characters is more admirable and she does not hesitate to condemn anti-indigenous and anti-Latino racism. If only that lens had been applied to her African American supporting characters.

[Suzy Vero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Cherish Me by Rebecca Brandewyne (1983), again struck hard as my emotions were torn to shreds. It’s one of those HRs grand in scope, like Skye O’Malley and Sweet Savage Love, but has far more emotional depth for the love story.

The strong and tender hero, El Lobo of Spanish ancestry, and the equally strong but vulnerable heroine Storm, a rich girl from New Orleans, actually say “I love you” to each other. Repeatedly. ❤️

I’m not going to say much about the sweeping story as it would feel like spoilers galore. Read reviews if you want to know. It is set mostly in Texas in the mid 1800s and covers about 18 years. Don’t mistake this for a light story.. it’s just the opposite: loads of heartache, misunderstandings, a lengthy separation, near rapes of the heroine, and rape of a secondary character. A few times black people are called darkies, and their speech is represented in dialog... both of these aspects are a bit jarring.

Love, Cherish Me is beautifully written… vivid, enthralling and an epic romance full of deep passion. A masterpiece that I’ll always treasure and reread.

(Cover by Elaine Duillo, and on the back cover is a photo of Rebecca Brandewyne dressed as the heroine … which she liked to do for some of her books.)

[Christina Joyner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my new favorites. I loved every page. The story is about a hard man (faced a lot of hardships - seeing his parents murdered and being kidnapped by the commache) and a French belle from louisanna (she also lost her parents and her uncle gambled her away). It is not love at first site but when they do, it is a great love. Both main characters are great and there are lots of twists and turns in the story. This book reminds me of sweet savage love. I love the authors writing style. The sex scenes are hot. Not too much but just enough to get you excited. I highly recommend this book if you can find it.

[Joletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot express how GOOD this book is! I've read it periodically over the years. This is the kind of story that stays with you! He is so hot, but what he puts her through has the reader wanting to shoot him for her...but its all for a purpose. I have to go through my bookshelves and find this to read again...it's been a while *wink*

[Edwina Book Anaconda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and remember nothing about it.
Laughing at the post-it note stuck inside, addressed to my sister.
"A-1 Excellent ... You've got to read this!"
Hmmm ... I guess I must have really liked it. lol

[Shellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - 5 stars! Read this for Regan Walker’s monthly theme/blog, June is Western month. What an excellent book, and a keeper! This was my first read by R. Brandewyne and it definitely won’t be my last. I own 5 of her other books and if any are this good….! Great two main characters El Lobo and Storm. Good secondary characters too. Lots of adventure and some good action. The character development is great and RB writes really well. One small thing I do have to mention that I’ve never seen in a book before was her continually writing about Storm at times as in the third person. In addition to referring to the h as Storm the author often used ‘the girl’ did this or ‘the girl’ did that. For example, ‘the girl’ dreaded hearing, ‘the girl’ paused, ‘the girl’ thought the effect, ‘the girl’ glanced up with surprise, again most unusual for me as I haven’t seen that before. Also reading chapter one helped me too guess early on some of the sad events that would happen later. When they are done well, I just love these old time angsty bodice rippers. If you really enjoyed this one try Shirlee Busbee’s ‘While Passion Sleeps’ that’s a great one too!

[reading historical romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with every Rebecca Brandywine romance, YMMV.

This is a well-written, compelling romance between an orphaned Spaniard who was raised from age 8 by a Comanche band in the Texas territory. El Lobo (the Wolf) left his adopted family and tribe to avenge his parents' murders at the age of 18. He then evolves into a legendary gunslinger and bounty hunter, and is widely believed to be of mixed race (Mexican and Comanche). Wolf meets New Orleans Southern belle and fellow orphan Storm Lesconflair in a saloon, where she is being held against her will by a bandit who robbed the stagecoach she was traveling in and kidnapped her. Storm had been sent to Texas for an arranged marriage to a rich, powerful rancher.

The saga that follows spans 11 years, across Texas to Mexico to San Francisco and back, and every type of melodrama that Rebecca Brandywine is known for in between.

The romance between Wolf and Storm is dramatic, intense, and at times, very tragic. Their relationship is highly problematic in a number of ways, and would be categorized today as a dark romance. But their story was compelling and I stayed up way too late three nights in a row because I had to know what was going to happen next.

It should be noted here that Storm is 16 years old when her marriage is arranged in 1848, which is also the year she meets Wolf. Wolf is 27. This is an open door romance novel that does contain explicit sexual content between these two characters. Despite the fact that this novel takes place between 1848-1866, and age differences like this were socially acceptable historically, adult-minor relationships were just as problematic (and gross) in the past as they are today, and readers should be warned that this is a disturbing aspect of the story.

In addition to the dynamic between Wolf and Storm, there are multiple other TW/CW including cultural appropriation, racism, bloody violence, rape, sexual violence, toxic relationships, and child death. Although one of the central themes of the novel is the horrors of racism against indigenous American peoples, and their genocide at the hands of white Americans, readers should be aware that this was written by a white woman in 1983. The author has a lengthy note at the end where she discusses her research so that she might accurately and sensitively represent Comanche characters and the history of the Comanche tribe, including a study of the Comanche language, and interviews with experts from this community. However, there is no question that this novel would not be accepted for publication today, and that it does include a number of negative stereotypes.

(There are also enslaved black characters, with mentions of slavery in the pre-Civil War South. Notably, slavery is not condemned by the author in the narrative.)

[Precious ✨]

Never read a western by choice but maybe I should give this a try.

& yes I am looking at you, required reading, Lonesome Dove.

[onirienne. · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://emmatom.skyrock.com/3139556396...


Bon déjà, ne lisez pas ce livre si vous êtes triste en ce moment ou fatigué. Ca va vous vidés totalement.

Cette histoire ne se passe pas dans les beaux salons Londoniens, peuplé de femmes au corps moulé dans de belles robes de soies ou d'homme en redingote. Hum ! Loin de là ! Dans ce roman règne une certaines barbaries, une romance brute,tragique et passionnel. Les Indiens,Mexicains et Américains se côtoient et où le racisme n'est pas révélé à demi-mot ...

Storm m'a impressionné ... Les horreurs qu'elle vit tout le long du roman, je n'y aurai pas survécu rien qu'au bout de la première bataille.

Storm est une jeune fille que l'on peut qualifié de magnifique. Sa beauté en éblouit plus d'un et sa es yeux aux couleurs grises parfois changeantes fascinent ceux quil'entoure.

Gabriel North l'a gagné au poker face à l'oncle de Storm. Le gagnant se fiança tout de suite avec elle. Gabriel est l'un des méchant les plus cruel que j'ai pu suivre dans tous les livres de romance que j'ai pu lire. Bon il y a "pire", dirons-nous que lui à un certains degrés bien que l'acte qu'il demande de faire à son fils est ... pire que honteux.

El Lobo,Le Loup en espagnole, ou plutôt Loup comme l'appelle Storm croise la route de la jeune fille bien plus tard dans le roman alors que celle-ci est totalement seule et abandonné à une bandes de frères ressemblant un peu au Dalton en vachement plus méchant mais pas plus intelligents ... L'un des frères tombés sous le charme de la jeune femme va la joué au poker contre Loup,n'ayant plus d'argent pour jouer.

El Lobo, très bon tricheur , va gagner Storm. Bien qu'il se fiche de la demoiselle au début.

Mais Storm sait qu'il est sont seul espoir pour pouvoir survivre dans ce Texas aride.
Elle est décidé à le suivre même si cela l'agace.

Et Loup va bien finir par être impressionné par sa force, son courage et sa délicatesse. La transformation s'opère au fil du temps avec Storm. De jeune fille incapable de soulevé une selle de cheval elle va devenir une femme capable de dégainé une arme et de tirer en un court laps de temps. Sans ciller.

Loup lui apprend bien des choses sur cette contrée sauvage.

Loup a vécu avec les Indiens et au fil du livre on fait le liens avec ce qu'il se passe au début ...
Loup a des raisons d'être tel qu'il est dans le roman. Sombre, ironique et triste.

Mais Storm va réussir à le faire sortir en partie de sa carapace de tristesse en lui refaisant découvrir l'amour.

L(histoire continu sur une période de 3 à 4 ans je crois bien. Une partie où Storm en bave énormément ... Attaquée un coup par là puis un autre coup par-ci. Les hommes sont bien trop aveuglés par sa beauté et elle commencera à enfin le comprendre ..

La jeune femme va vite comprendre que ses amis sont en faites ses ennemis vers la fin du roman. Je ne parle pas des Indiens.

Mais les homme même aveuglé par l'amour peuvent très vite perdre la tête.

Le seul point faible est quand les deux héros sont s��parés, pendant la partie avec le saloon et Brett je ne m'ennuyais pas mais après .. C'est devenu pesant de voir Storm se battre contre ses propres désir ...

Cathy, la fille de Gabriel est un personnage que j'ai légèrement détesté au début puis appris à l'aimé. Elle a un courage fou, un passé traumatisant par rapport à son père et le cache en se comportant comme un homme.

D'ailleurs Cathy et Storm se doivent toutes les deux une fière chandelle et ça on le comprendra très bien à la fin du roman ...

Il est vrai que je ne comprenais mais alors pas du tout la logique de Storm parfois. Si tu aimes un homme tu n'es pas censée en désirait un autre ? D'accord, dans une certaine partie du roman une femme a des envies après un certains temps d'abstinence mais bon ... J'ai pas trop apprécié ce fait.

Enfin bref ! Je sèche mes larmes Ce livre est triste mais avec une très belle fin.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It was a very involved read, yet it flew by quickly. I could not get enough of the main characters Storm and Wolf, nor their amazing love story that spans many years.

Along with the good, there is a lot of bad with nasty characters who continuously try to destroy Storm and Wolf, as well as a big murder trial towards the end. That being said, the book was so well written and the dialogue worth not skimming or skipping over the parts that didn’t involve romance/separations between Storm and Wolf. I sometimes tend to do that with other authors who keep sending nasty characters out to harm our MCs and it becomes predictable and annoying. This book wasn’t the case because Brandewyne is such an amazing author and keeps every different locale, new characters, and the evolution of our MCs as they age and circumstances change, interesting and fresh.

If you’re into major alpha male heroes who love their heroines to distraction, yet can’t help but hurt them sometimes and major angst, then this book is for you. Our heroine is also strong, resilient, yet beautiful and feminine. It was a mix that made me root for her throughout the book and not find her exasperating during the parts where she does need saving. Our heroine is thankfully able to get herself out of many of her troubles on her own, thus further endearing her to me. Think Steve and Ginny without all the cheating. Our MCs in this story stay faithful to each other even during their long separations, which was a refreshing change.

Epic read that has our main characters fall deeply in love despite their vastly different upbringings and cultures. It was a love that should never have been, but thankfully was. Can’t wait to read the sequel!

[Dendera · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 5 Beautiful stars ** !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY GOD!!! What such a sad and compelling romance novel?!!! This was quite an adventure I will never forget. I've never read anything quite like this & I found myself drawn to the plots and the characters. Frankly, it was sooooooo hard to put down!!!!!!!!!!!! I would've kept reading all night long if I could. I loved the heroine, Storm Lesconflair and the hero, El Lobo (Wolf) & I thought they made the perfect hero/heroine couple in a romance novel. I wouldn't want to change anything about them or the story in general. Yes, there were several heart-breaking, sad moments in the novel, which make the story a generally sad one. I found myself grieving each time with Storm & Wolf....there was so much sadness, so much grief... I was cheering for the hero & heroine to get back together someway, somehow.

Definitely one story I will never forget, Brandewyne does it again!

[Charlie Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* I feel like I need to take a deep breath after what I’ve just read. Wow what a story, and emotional to say the least.

My goodness, I knew I was in for a challenge when I realised this was nearly 600 pages long but I did not expect this tragic and epic story to unfold.

This story is not for the faint hearted who like perfect romance novels with the good guys. Let’s be honest here Storm and Wolf are not exactly nice people. They have done some pretty atrocious things to each other and other people yet they’re still young and growing up making plenty of mistakes on the way.

There are some tender moments and also those that made me want to scream with frustration.

[Stevie Seber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've lost count of how many times I've read Love, Cherish Me by Rebecca Brandewyne but I've laughed, cried and raged with and loved the characters in this story as though they were friends I'd had for years; reading about how tenderly the gunslinger El Lobo (The Wolf) helps Storm both before and during the birth of their son, Chance the Autumn Wind and how bravely she uses what she'd learned to protect herself when needed. Reading about El Lobo's adopted Comanche family, the stories his aunts tell about their beliefs, teasing El Lobo when he forgets something and the 'warnings' they lovingly bestow upon Storm during her pregnancy. I'll always hold this book close to my heart.

[Winnernu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a good read that I couldn't put down. So, I'm not sure if my high regard for this story is so because the last few I've read we're such stinkers or if it really was that good. This author took her time and gave her story and her characters some depth. I was a little put off by the EXTRA attention to detail employed in her scenery descriptions but, other than that destraction, this historical romance did what it was supposed to do - gave us a grand love story within the backdrop of the American West and it's rich (and unjustly gained) history.

[RomLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storm was her name and her destiny.

Born on a night when lightning flashed and thunder rolled, the raven-haired beauty was sixteen before the promise of her name became the path of her life.

Born to wealth, the belle of five counties wagered away to a middle-aged rancher by her wastrel uncle. On her way to Texas to marry Gabriel North, she was captured by outlaws -- and wagered away again by her captor to a blue-eyed bounty hunter, a dark-skinned gunslinger called El Lobo, the wolf. A man who could kill in cold blood, then take her with fire and tenderness when she whispered to him.