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Mountain Mistress
RESCUED BY A RAKEWhen a muscular, handsome trader bought her freedom from her Blackfoot captors, Victorine's thanks knew no bounds. Surely he'd deliver her from these uncharted Rockey Mountains back to civilized Philadelphia. Then the blackguard announced that she'd stay with him as his bride--and the headstrong beauty's gratitude turned to outrage. Never would she submit to such a brute; never would she allow him a husband's privileges. But as the powerful woodsman worked his sensual magic on her, the innocent blonde's protests drowned beneath her uncontrollable gasps of ecstasy!!ENTRANCED BY A VIPERThe instant hot-blooded Cougar saw the Indian Warrior's new slave, the virile adventurer knew he had to have the curvaceous captive for himself. And once he paid two bales of beaver for her, he realized that there was no one in the unsettled wildnerness to challenge his right to the wench. It didn't matter to the rugged frontiersman that she ceaselessly swore she'd never let him near. Soon he'd be silencing her pretty lips with kisses, demolishing her precious pride with embraces........and proving just how mistaken she was as he claimed her as his loving MOUNTAIN MISTRESS.
413 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
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January 8, 2024The blurb of this is so ott crazy and hilarious, I have to find a copy!
June 9, 2014
This is my second Nadine Crenshaw read. I just had to try another of hers after reading Edin's Embrace. IMHO, Edin's Embrace was the better novel, but this one was good. As I understand it, this is her first novel and it won an award when released in '87. So, she definitely started out strong and improved based on the 2 I've read so far. This one is what I'd term a bodice ripper, but it is on the lighter side of that genre.
The fact that Van Buren had been elected the new U.S. President was mentioned at some point, so I'm putting this around 1837. The story takes place in the Rocky Mountains of North America. At that time, anything west of the Mississippi was pretty much considered Indian territory. Of course, the American military, some adventurous non-native men, and missionaries traveled there for various purposes. The heroine, Victorine (aka Flame) came West from Philadelphia with her brother and his wife. She had been raised by a stern Puritan minister father after her mother died shortly after her birth. When her father died, her much older brother took her in and then decided to travel West to "save the souls of the savage Indians". That worked out fabulously, of course.
Brother and sister-in-law are both slaughtered by Indians and Victorine is taken captive because one of the big war chiefs decides he must have her as one of his wives. However, before he can consummate their "marriage" a white, super badass trapper called the Waiting Cougar shows up in their camp and pays two bales of beaver for Victorine. I'm not sniggering behind my hand like a preteen boy. Really, I'm not. Trust me ;)
Cougar, who turns out to be a Scott, is not cruel to Victorine, but he's also not the savior she thought he was. When he bought her, she assumed he'd escort her back to civilization like a gentleman. Wrong. He decided they were living under a different set of rules than the ones they both grew up with. She was his property, bought and paid for and fully acceptable/recognized where he was living. She would be his "wife". He also renamed her Flame and refused to tell her his real name or anything about himself.
What follows is a couple hundred pages where I sometimes want to kill both of them. Cougar is gentle and affectionate with Flame and VERY protective of her, but he's so damn patronizing. According to him, she doesn't know her own mind and she should be more grateful. Flame is all traitorous body love/hate mood swings. I understood her frustration with Cougar, I REALLY did, but I think she was also just naturally a prickly sort of person. I tried to take in account how she was raised, but at times had a hard time identifying with her. Also, she did some of the stupidest things.
I think a hundred+ pages could have been cut from the middle. Nothing really happened other than them traveling to Cougar's winter lodge while Flame battled her sinful traitorous body. Yes, there was some insight into the isolation and how tough you had to be to survive, but I think the point was belabored a bit. The story does really pick up once they arrive, however.
For me the last 1/2 of the book was the best. We understand Cougar more He does start to see he hasn't been completely fair with Flame (not that it really stops him). Flame also realizes she loves Cougar, but her moods are still all over the place - mostly because she thinks he plans to get rid of her as soon as Spring comes. Their "marriage" is the required big misunderstanding. He sees it as real and lasting, she sees it as a temporary BS excuse to shack up until the man gets bored and I can't really blame her.
Anyway, if anyone is still reading at this point, I am about to stop rambling. Just wanted to say that I had uncomfortable feelings about the involvement of the Indians in the story. They were either filthy rapist/murderers or 'noble savages' with all sorts of poetic mysticism and words of wisdom. Plus they all wanted a white woman. I know next to nothing about the true culture of the tribes involved, so I can't say squat as to accuracy. All I can say is I felt like I was reading something that was horribly un-pc. That doesn't bother me when it comes to the common elements of a bodice ripper, but does when you get into questions of culture and race. I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say here, because my knowledge is so limited on the subject. I'll just stick with 'uncomfortable'.
The fact that Van Buren had been elected the new U.S. President was mentioned at some point, so I'm putting this around 1837. The story takes place in the Rocky Mountains of North America. At that time, anything west of the Mississippi was pretty much considered Indian territory. Of course, the American military, some adventurous non-native men, and missionaries traveled there for various purposes. The heroine, Victorine (aka Flame) came West from Philadelphia with her brother and his wife. She had been raised by a stern Puritan minister father after her mother died shortly after her birth. When her father died, her much older brother took her in and then decided to travel West to "save the souls of the savage Indians". That worked out fabulously, of course.
Brother and sister-in-law are both slaughtered by Indians and Victorine is taken captive because one of the big war chiefs decides he must have her as one of his wives. However, before he can consummate their "marriage" a white, super badass trapper called the Waiting Cougar shows up in their camp and pays two bales of beaver for Victorine. I'm not sniggering behind my hand like a preteen boy. Really, I'm not. Trust me ;)
Cougar, who turns out to be a Scott, is not cruel to Victorine, but he's also not the savior she thought he was. When he bought her, she assumed he'd escort her back to civilization like a gentleman. Wrong. He decided they were living under a different set of rules than the ones they both grew up with. She was his property, bought and paid for and fully acceptable/recognized where he was living. She would be his "wife". He also renamed her Flame and refused to tell her his real name or anything about himself.
What follows is a couple hundred pages where I sometimes want to kill both of them. Cougar is gentle and affectionate with Flame and VERY protective of her, but he's so damn patronizing. According to him, she doesn't know her own mind and she should be more grateful. Flame is all traitorous body love/hate mood swings. I understood her frustration with Cougar, I REALLY did, but I think she was also just naturally a prickly sort of person. I tried to take in account how she was raised, but at times had a hard time identifying with her. Also, she did some of the stupidest things.
I think a hundred+ pages could have been cut from the middle. Nothing really happened other than them traveling to Cougar's winter lodge while Flame battled her sinful traitorous body. Yes, there was some insight into the isolation and how tough you had to be to survive, but I think the point was belabored a bit. The story does really pick up once they arrive, however.
For me the last 1/2 of the book was the best. We understand Cougar more He does start to see he hasn't been completely fair with Flame (not that it really stops him). Flame also realizes she loves Cougar, but her moods are still all over the place - mostly because she thinks he plans to get rid of her as soon as Spring comes. Their "marriage" is the required big misunderstanding. He sees it as real and lasting, she sees it as a temporary BS excuse to shack up until the man gets bored and I can't really blame her.
Anyway, if anyone is still reading at this point, I am about to stop rambling. Just wanted to say that I had uncomfortable feelings about the involvement of the Indians in the story. They were either filthy rapist/murderers or 'noble savages' with all sorts of poetic mysticism and words of wisdom. Plus they all wanted a white woman. I know next to nothing about the true culture of the tribes involved, so I can't say squat as to accuracy. All I can say is I felt like I was reading something that was horribly un-pc. That doesn't bother me when it comes to the common elements of a bodice ripper, but does when you get into questions of culture and race. I'm not really sure what I'm trying to say here, because my knowledge is so limited on the subject. I'll just stick with 'uncomfortable'.
December 25, 2023
4 solid stars
I’m not usually into westerns, but Crenshaw’s writing is always magical and extremely romantic. The story of Cougar and his Flame is bar none one of the best romances that I’ve read this year. Spellbound and Edin’s Embrace by Crenshaw are also in the top romances that I’ve read this year along with Edin’s Embrace being one my favorite romances of all time.
Cougar takes the description of Alpha MMC to another level. He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he has his own strong sense of honor and a code that he sticks to. He also has a tragic backstory, which I think always adds to more depth to these type of heroes. He’s also the perfect match to Flame’s aka Victorine’s feistiness.
The secondary characters are amazing aswell. I need a book about Dark Sun, Cougar’s friend. One thing I really liked about this book is that the Native Americans weren’t just used as props or were stereotypes like other 80s and 90s westerns. The beginning is a bit rough, but when we meet other tribes and settlers throughout the book Crenshaw shows how complex the world of the early American west was. I could tell this book was well researched.
Again, I typically don’t enjoy or search out westerns, but this was a MAJOR hit. If anyone gets the chance to pick up a copy of this in paperback, as I couldn’t find any online versions, this is a must read.
I’m kind of sad that none of Crenshaw’s works are available in ebook formats, as she is one of the best historical romance authors that I’ve ever read. She’s right up there with Megan McKinney and Patricia Gaffney for me. She’s actually probably better than McKinney in my opinion.
I’m not usually into westerns, but Crenshaw’s writing is always magical and extremely romantic. The story of Cougar and his Flame is bar none one of the best romances that I’ve read this year. Spellbound and Edin’s Embrace by Crenshaw are also in the top romances that I’ve read this year along with Edin’s Embrace being one my favorite romances of all time.
Cougar takes the description of Alpha MMC to another level. He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he has his own strong sense of honor and a code that he sticks to. He also has a tragic backstory, which I think always adds to more depth to these type of heroes. He’s also the perfect match to Flame’s aka Victorine’s feistiness.
The secondary characters are amazing aswell. I need a book about Dark Sun, Cougar’s friend. One thing I really liked about this book is that the Native Americans weren’t just used as props or were stereotypes like other 80s and 90s westerns. The beginning is a bit rough, but when we meet other tribes and settlers throughout the book Crenshaw shows how complex the world of the early American west was. I could tell this book was well researched.
Again, I typically don’t enjoy or search out westerns, but this was a MAJOR hit. If anyone gets the chance to pick up a copy of this in paperback, as I couldn’t find any online versions, this is a must read.
I’m kind of sad that none of Crenshaw’s works are available in ebook formats, as she is one of the best historical romance authors that I’ve ever read. She’s right up there with Megan McKinney and Patricia Gaffney for me. She’s actually probably better than McKinney in my opinion.
January 7, 2024
3,75 - 4⭐
This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm quite impressed with the writing.
The love scenes are also very sensual, despite the era in which the book was written.
The strong point of this book is the hero, probably not to everyone's taste, the book is a bodice ripper after all, so the hero's behaviour can be borderline, but at the same time extremely swoon-worthy.
One of the things I hate, and which has become super common in recent romances, is a hero who is obsessed with the heroine and ticks all the necessary boxes, but has no personality of his own outside of his relationship with the heroine, so it's always nice to read something where the hero is his own character.
Safety/ Spoilers
- No sharing or cheating.
- h is a virgin. H is not.
- No OW/OM drama
TW
- Dubcon/forced seduction
- Attempted rape of the heroine by various characters
- Murder
This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm quite impressed with the writing.
The love scenes are also very sensual, despite the era in which the book was written.
The strong point of this book is the hero, probably not to everyone's taste, the book is a bodice ripper after all, so the hero's behaviour can be borderline, but at the same time extremely swoon-worthy.
One of the things I hate, and which has become super common in recent romances, is a hero who is obsessed with the heroine and ticks all the necessary boxes, but has no personality of his own outside of his relationship with the heroine, so it's always nice to read something where the hero is his own character.
Safety/ Spoilers
- No sharing or cheating.
- h is a virgin. H is not.
- No OW/OM drama
TW
- Dubcon/forced seduction
- Attempted rape of the heroine by various characters
- Murder
June 10, 2015
A Keeper! Western Romance that Captivates
If you have not discovered Nadine Crenshaw, allow me to introduce you to a consistently 5-Star author of historical romance. Alas, you may have to buy her books used in paper but you will not regret it. Every one she wrote is in my keeper bookcase.
Mountain Mistress was her first book and it won the Golden Heart Award in 1987. I can see why. You WILL NOT regret buying this one, I promise!
This romance is one all consuming, passionate story of the relationship between a Scottish born mountain man the Indians call "Waiting Cougar" who takes an unwilling "winter squaw"—bought with beaver pelts from the Blackfeet Indians who captured her in a raid. Innocent young Victorine Wellesley was raised in Philadelphia in the parlor rooms of elegant homes only to be forced to leave when her father died and her foolish brother took her west. Almost raped by the Blackfeet Indians who killed her brother and his wife, she is "rescued" by Cougar and forced to travel with him high into the Bitterroot Mountains and to warm his bed of furs for the winter. He calls her “wife” but she knows better. She is not a real wife; she is only a "mountain mistress."
Victorine, who Cougar names "Flame," feels her identity slipping away as she begins to dress like a squaw, her beautiful fair skin turns brown from the sun and she falls victim to the passion he draws from her at his will. You will be inspired as her courage rises to every challenge and there are many in the wild mountains.
And there is a surprise at the end!
As she has with all her subsequent romances, Crenshaw draws you into her story and into Victorine's mind. You can literally feel the anger and frustration rise in you as your sympathy for Victorine grows with each day of the long journey into the mountains. She wants her freedom but she cannot resist the man who has led her into this life. Since she knows nothing of surviving in a wilderness, she is well and truly trapped.
It is hard to believe this was Crenshaw's first novel as it competes well with anything out there today. Her writing is superb. Her story captivates—it’s a real page-turner. She presents accurately the essence of the era (19th century American frontier), even the nuances in speech. She has the place names, history and Indian culture (Blackfeet and Salish) just right. In fact, she has it ALL just right.
It is such a good book!! I highly recommend it.
If you have not discovered Nadine Crenshaw, allow me to introduce you to a consistently 5-Star author of historical romance. Alas, you may have to buy her books used in paper but you will not regret it. Every one she wrote is in my keeper bookcase.
Mountain Mistress was her first book and it won the Golden Heart Award in 1987. I can see why. You WILL NOT regret buying this one, I promise!
This romance is one all consuming, passionate story of the relationship between a Scottish born mountain man the Indians call "Waiting Cougar" who takes an unwilling "winter squaw"—bought with beaver pelts from the Blackfeet Indians who captured her in a raid. Innocent young Victorine Wellesley was raised in Philadelphia in the parlor rooms of elegant homes only to be forced to leave when her father died and her foolish brother took her west. Almost raped by the Blackfeet Indians who killed her brother and his wife, she is "rescued" by Cougar and forced to travel with him high into the Bitterroot Mountains and to warm his bed of furs for the winter. He calls her “wife” but she knows better. She is not a real wife; she is only a "mountain mistress."
Victorine, who Cougar names "Flame," feels her identity slipping away as she begins to dress like a squaw, her beautiful fair skin turns brown from the sun and she falls victim to the passion he draws from her at his will. You will be inspired as her courage rises to every challenge and there are many in the wild mountains.
And there is a surprise at the end!
As she has with all her subsequent romances, Crenshaw draws you into her story and into Victorine's mind. You can literally feel the anger and frustration rise in you as your sympathy for Victorine grows with each day of the long journey into the mountains. She wants her freedom but she cannot resist the man who has led her into this life. Since she knows nothing of surviving in a wilderness, she is well and truly trapped.
It is hard to believe this was Crenshaw's first novel as it competes well with anything out there today. Her writing is superb. Her story captivates—it’s a real page-turner. She presents accurately the essence of the era (19th century American frontier), even the nuances in speech. She has the place names, history and Indian culture (Blackfeet and Salish) just right. In fact, she has it ALL just right.
It is such a good book!! I highly recommend it.
September 4, 2025
The Hero was frickin’ great! As heroes go, he’s top notch— constantly saving our heroine, thinking about her well being. There is a little debate on dubcon, but hell, I just read the book and don’t still fully understand how the author meant for their sexy time to be interpreted. 🤷♀️
I’m leaning heavily towards Body Betrayal Syndrome (BBS). She wanted to be with him because she enjoyed it so much, but didn’t want to admit it because it was “wrong”. The H considered them married by Native American customs and referred to her as his wife, so he gave her time to adjust and prepare, but he made sure she was aware that he fully intended to partake of his carnal husbandly rights. Honestly, this was a much better deal than what she originally found herself in. H saved her from a far more hideous and painful fate as she had been first captured by a tribe that was often considered cruel even by the other Native American's standards.
So the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the heroine. 🤣
And yeah, essentially you’d think that would mean that I didn’t like the book at all, but no the author still managed to pull it off well, but the h in this perfectly embodied almost every trait I dislike about some heroines. At first I thought it was going to be part of her character arc, but no it’s just her. So if you don’t like argumentative, always assuming wrong, seemingly ungrateful, that never seem to listen only to their own and the people around them’s detriment, then you may also have a problem with this h. Honestly, the author was so committed to this obnoxious kind of personality, that I’m not entirely sure why the H was so in love with her. It had to be lack of options and/or he was just willing to overlook it all because she was that pretty, or in his words, “bonny” (yeah, he’s Scottish), and irresistible. 🥴
Anyway, despite all this, it was a good read because the author kept me engaged by creating a fully developed story that always had something happening. So if you like HR’s— specifically westerns with Native American influence— then you should check this one out! ❤️
I’m leaning heavily towards Body Betrayal Syndrome (BBS). She wanted to be with him because she enjoyed it so much, but didn’t want to admit it because it was “wrong”. The H considered them married by Native American customs and referred to her as his wife, so he gave her time to adjust and prepare, but he made sure she was aware that he fully intended to partake of his carnal husbandly rights. Honestly, this was a much better deal than what she originally found herself in. H saved her from a far more hideous and painful fate as she had been first captured by a tribe that was often considered cruel even by the other Native American's standards.
So the only thing I didn’t like about this book was the heroine. 🤣
And yeah, essentially you’d think that would mean that I didn’t like the book at all, but no the author still managed to pull it off well, but the h in this perfectly embodied almost every trait I dislike about some heroines. At first I thought it was going to be part of her character arc, but no it’s just her. So if you don’t like argumentative, always assuming wrong, seemingly ungrateful, that never seem to listen only to their own and the people around them’s detriment, then you may also have a problem with this h. Honestly, the author was so committed to this obnoxious kind of personality, that I’m not entirely sure why the H was so in love with her. It had to be lack of options and/or he was just willing to overlook it all because she was that pretty, or in his words, “bonny” (yeah, he’s Scottish), and irresistible. 🥴
Anyway, despite all this, it was a good read because the author kept me engaged by creating a fully developed story that always had something happening. So if you like HR’s— specifically westerns with Native American influence— then you should check this one out! ❤️
December 16, 2020
Great book, couple things, at times too much description of i.e. plant type surroundings, also her continued denial of remaining with him wore a little at times. But really a 4.5 star read, not to many books are perfect!
August 11, 2022
A bit too much wilderness for my taste, but the way the couple's relationship grew, the changes they both made within themselves as they came to terms with both the past, faced the challenges of the present, and anticipated he future (though not, at first, in the same way), made for an entertaining (though not without its dark side) novel.
December 26, 2015
Take a moment and appreciate that glorious cover. Bask.
I am bloody tired and I'm only writing this because I want to finish up reviewing the books I've read before 2016 rolls around, so here. Have some thoughts:
1. I'm a fan of Nadine Crenshaw. If you're looking for a historical romance novelist with some true talent, she's your gal. I can't begin to fathom how much research she must have done for each of her novels (I've read two beyond this one), and while that alone doesn't constitute a good story, she knows how to blend it all together.
2. I was all about the heroine at the beginning of the novel, but my god, the woman was hot and cold. The longer I read on, the more she annoyed me. Yes, it was wrong that he "bought" you; yes, it is offensive that he should remind you; yes, you are justified in wanting to leave, but JFC, when the book is more than halfway finished and it's clear that the tide has turned and she's All About It, it got super old to read her "I'm going to leave you the first chance I get!" proclamations for the 44th time. Bitch, please. Protesting for the sake of protesting and ego is annoying.
3. Cool setting. Felt unique.
4. The whole story felt unique, actually.
5. I am falling asleep, the end.
I am bloody tired and I'm only writing this because I want to finish up reviewing the books I've read before 2016 rolls around, so here. Have some thoughts:
1. I'm a fan of Nadine Crenshaw. If you're looking for a historical romance novelist with some true talent, she's your gal. I can't begin to fathom how much research she must have done for each of her novels (I've read two beyond this one), and while that alone doesn't constitute a good story, she knows how to blend it all together.
2. I was all about the heroine at the beginning of the novel, but my god, the woman was hot and cold. The longer I read on, the more she annoyed me. Yes, it was wrong that he "bought" you; yes, it is offensive that he should remind you; yes, you are justified in wanting to leave, but JFC, when the book is more than halfway finished and it's clear that the tide has turned and she's All About It, it got super old to read her "I'm going to leave you the first chance I get!" proclamations for the 44th time. Bitch, please. Protesting for the sake of protesting and ego is annoying.
3. Cool setting. Felt unique.
4. The whole story felt unique, actually.
5. I am falling asleep, the end.
August 13, 2019
Almost put it down in the first chapter, but glad I didn't.
January 17, 2024
-100 ⭐️
Easily the most racist book I have ever read in my life 😭
That’s really saying something too cause I read Agatha Kristie, this is a million times worse. A gazillion times!
I was hoodwinked, bamboozled, deceived I tell ya! I expect a level of racism for older books but wow this was a level above. Indigenous women are referred to in this book solely by a slur.
White saviours on 100, rape pillaging looting and “savage Indians” and the author put the cherry on the sundae when at the end of the book, the protagonists are getting married on a ship to Scotland and one of their witnesses is the Hudson Bay founder. If you know anything about Native American history you understand how sickkkkk that is. Hudson Bay founder is of course on his way to the americas.
Sick to my stomach fr a very unpleasant reading experience
Easily the most racist book I have ever read in my life 😭
That’s really saying something too cause I read Agatha Kristie, this is a million times worse. A gazillion times!
I was hoodwinked, bamboozled, deceived I tell ya! I expect a level of racism for older books but wow this was a level above. Indigenous women are referred to in this book solely by a slur.
White saviours on 100, rape pillaging looting and “savage Indians” and the author put the cherry on the sundae when at the end of the book, the protagonists are getting married on a ship to Scotland and one of their witnesses is the Hudson Bay founder. If you know anything about Native American history you understand how sickkkkk that is. Hudson Bay founder is of course on his way to the americas.
Sick to my stomach fr a very unpleasant reading experience
January 20, 2022
Absolutely love all Nadine Crenshaw novels. If you're lucky enough to obtain one of her out of print books, be prepared to ignore everything but this authors exceptional story telling skills. You will be unable to put a Nadine Crenshaw book down.
October 21, 2021
Just the icing.
May 20, 2022
Dnf
It’s not that bad I just got bored:/
It’s not that bad I just got bored:/
December 30, 2024
this was not a good book
February 15, 2021
3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I thought this was a sweet romance, it is VERY slow burn in the sense that Victorine/Flame doesn’t admit she loves Cougar until the very last bit of the book but the epilogue was so sweet it made me melt! Overall I liked it and if you like slow-burn romances I recommend Mountain Mistress. :)
I thought this was a sweet romance, it is VERY slow burn in the sense that Victorine/Flame doesn’t admit she loves Cougar until the very last bit of the book but the epilogue was so sweet it made me melt! Overall I liked it and if you like slow-burn romances I recommend Mountain Mistress. :)
September 22, 2010
I've had this book for a few years, read it twice, and enjoyed it as much the 1st time as the 2nd.
After her hell and brimstone preacher father died, Victorine Wellesley went to live with her older brother and his wife. Being so much older, she really doesn't know him well only that he is following in his father's footsteps as a preacher. Her brother is determined to take his religion to this untamed land and to the Flathead tribe, certain of his calling and that they will be welcome. (Anybody love the movie JEREMIAH JOHNSON?)
What their little party finds is a Blackfoot war party. Victorine watches as her brother, sister in-law and the remainder of their small party is massacred. She, herself, is taken as slave to a warrior...and so the story begins.
Great characterization. The Scottish mountain man, Cougar, is a larger than life hero. The man is as wild as his spirit name, fearless yet honorable, Alpha to the extreme and as unfettered as his beautiful Rocky mountains.
On the other hand, Victorine evoked little empathy from me. Her stubborn negativity soon got on my last nerve half way through the book. This might have been due to the fact that her characterization enhanced that side of her and not on the development of why she behaved as she did.
I would have given the book 5 stars, it WAS a great story. I didn't because I really didn't like Victorine much, which had nothing to do with the talented imagination of this skilled writer.
Alpha
Mountain Man
Blackfoot
Salish (Flathead)
Rocky Mountains
Captive slave
Massacre
Violence
murder
Forced Seduction
Stubborn negative heroine (least of my favorite type of woman)
Great story!
After her hell and brimstone preacher father died, Victorine Wellesley went to live with her older brother and his wife. Being so much older, she really doesn't know him well only that he is following in his father's footsteps as a preacher. Her brother is determined to take his religion to this untamed land and to the Flathead tribe, certain of his calling and that they will be welcome. (Anybody love the movie JEREMIAH JOHNSON?)
What their little party finds is a Blackfoot war party. Victorine watches as her brother, sister in-law and the remainder of their small party is massacred. She, herself, is taken as slave to a warrior...and so the story begins.
Great characterization. The Scottish mountain man, Cougar, is a larger than life hero. The man is as wild as his spirit name, fearless yet honorable, Alpha to the extreme and as unfettered as his beautiful Rocky mountains.
On the other hand, Victorine evoked little empathy from me. Her stubborn negativity soon got on my last nerve half way through the book. This might have been due to the fact that her characterization enhanced that side of her and not on the development of why she behaved as she did.
I would have given the book 5 stars, it WAS a great story. I didn't because I really didn't like Victorine much, which had nothing to do with the talented imagination of this skilled writer.
Alpha
Mountain Man
Blackfoot
Salish (Flathead)
Rocky Mountains
Captive slave
Massacre
Violence
murder
Forced Seduction
Stubborn negative heroine (least of my favorite type of woman)
Great story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
I really liked the setting and the prose was nice, but the story and characters were disappointing. Very dated (native american representation, non-con throughout; she says no but he "seduces" her every time etc) and the heroine is too stupid to live at times and in constant confusion/rage through the whole book. Also I thought Cougar's backstory was silly and made the story worse. The book is not all bad if you are ok with the cws, but I think this premise has more potential.
September 6, 2016
I was worried about reading this, based on reviews, but I actually really liked it. Do I believe she has Stockholm Syndrome? Yes, most likely. Would I ever think someone could fall in love with their rapist? Ick, no. But someone suffering from Stockholm? Yes.
However, for some reason, I still liked the book. Go figure.
However, for some reason, I still liked the book. Go figure.
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