Comanche Sunset

by Rosanne Bittner, F. Rosanne Bittner

F. Rosanne Bittner

Genres: Historical Romance, Native American, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Western Historical Romance, Westerns

447 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

I am a USA-TODAY best-selling author with 41 years, 76 books, and numerous writing awards behind me. My major genre is historical romance. I have always written for standard publishers but am now writing strictly for Amazon so I have more freedom to write real history. My most recent publication is SHADOW TRAIL, the 6th book in my Outlaw Hearts series. I also wrote and published my first full-length contemporary story, DANCING BENEATH YOU, in September 2022, a romance involving mystery and a depiction of reservation life in the Badlands of South Dakota. My best sellers are my SAVAGE DESTINY series (7 books) and my OUTLAW HEARTS series. See my website (www.rosannebittner.com) for details on all my books - most available for Kindle and in print. I am known for great love stories filled with real history and high emotion. I have also written many Native American stories, all based on real history.

I love American history. For those of you who have not yet read my books, my stories are generally set in the American West of the 1800s and feature vividly described, historically accurate settings that span the US from Missouri to California, from Canada to Mexico. Many of my books portray the poignant history of our Native Americans, and though the characters are my own, I use real historical locations and events in all my novels. I have also written about the French & Indian wars, American Revolution, the War of 1812, the war with Mexico (the Alamo), and the Civil War.

National magazine ROMANTIC TIMES has called me the "Queen of Western Romance" and an "emotional powerhouse." My husband and I have traveled the west for nearly 40 years and I have visited just about every location mentioned in my books.

Visit my website at www.rosannebittner.com and my Facebook Author page. And be sure to join Rosanne Bittner's Heart of the West Street Team! Happy reading!

Reviews

[Lady Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.3 / 5

A nice enough story with traits characteristic of this author's writing style and plot preferences. Both of the main characters are likeable enough--though the heroine's shyness at the beginning is a bit exaggerated--and the story managed to keep my interest from start to finish in terms of what happens and the happy ending that is well-deserved.

Also, super glad that there wasn't too much angst and absolutely no rape and only minimal scenes of torture, but not anything that the heroine and hero can't get through.

It's fairly tame in terms of what I know I can expect from Rosanne Bittner, and so I appreciate it as her writing style is very interesting and good and I know that it's compatible to what I like reading of this genre.

All in all, a great read, couple, and story! Love the romance!

[Kristiej · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now that many of Ms. Bittner's books are coming out as ebooks, I've slowly been collecting the ebooks. I love her writing and most of them I've read at least once.
Although it was years ago the first time I read it, I'm happy to say I enjoyed it more this time 'round.

Although half Native American, Wade Morrow had been raised white. His was an interesting story. His mother had born twin boys and that was considered a very bad omen by the Comanche tribe she was part of so she left him behind, newly born, but took his twin brother. He was very lucky as the Morrow's came by very soon after that and as they had recently lost a child, they adopted him. Wade has grown up as part of a successful trading outfit. But now he wants to know more about his roots. He's part of a stage coach along with Jennifer Andrews. The stage is attacked and Wade and Jennifer are the only ones to survive. So they must make their way together back to some kind of civilization and along the way fall deeply in love even though Jennifer is promised to another.

Ms. Bittner's books are always so rich in story and this one is as well. I still have a number of hers left to read in my ebook collection and I think I'm going to have to get on them more.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another favorite story by Rosanne Bittner. I really liked the unique story line with Wade and his Indian family (plus the education I received about the Comanche beliefs) and how through his journey, Wade not only gained more understanding about his Indian blood, but he became a better, stronger man through it too. His attitude and acceptance of dealing with prejudice and hate was to be commended - but if you push....just...too...far.... *watch out*! Loved how he met Jenny and how sweet and quickly their love grew -- nothing felt forced, and although it was quick, it still felt natural to me. I adored Jenny and her mix of feminine strength, spunk, and sweetness. Her heart was so open - it was a good thing Wade was there to capture her heart!

So much of the story enthralled me I couldn't slow down at all! I just had to know what happened next!

[Fae · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I enjoyed the outlaw hearts series by Rosanne Bittner, I had some expectations of this book being good. It did not disappoint.

It was one hell of a journey for Wade and Jennifer, with love between them growing through the difficulties they faced; injured, racism, etc etc.

I thought that the way they realized they were in love was abrupt, nevertheless, I really enjoyed seeing their love story. Jennifer was a very strong and determined woman and wade was a very caring and protective man. I love that Jennifer and wade fit well together.

This story addressed the racism issues in the past, and it was heartbreaking to see almost everyone treat wade so horribly, just because of the color of his skin. I admire him for not letting other people’s remarks get to him, and yet have a limit for it, not letting people get too far. He was very honorable and caring towards Jennifer, someone he knew he shouldn’t be falling for.

As much as I enjoyed the book, it was draggy in some parts which I skimmed, and I would have loved to see Jennifer and wade actually getting married, meeting wade’s parents, buying a house together and having children etc etc.

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 3.75 stars. This was my first book by this author and to me it’s your typical western. It was a good book it had some action and a likable H & h. Not much new here other than the H being a twin and the storyline around that. Not sure I’ll read anymore by this author other than the books I got for free on Kindle.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off very promising but after the first few chapters, it just became monotonous. Wade is a half breed going to texas to try to find his Indian family after he was abandoned as a baby and adopted by a white family. Jenny is a mail order bride answering a soldier's marriage ad. On her way to texas she and Wade's stage coach were attacked by renegade Indians and wade is her only hope of survival. Through struggles, blood and tears, they started falling for each other but there are a series of obstacles they have to overcome in order to get their HEA.

My reasons for ⭐⭐ are:

1. There is none to little romance between wade and Jenny. Every step of the way, the author keeps throwing in a gauntlet that there is no time for romance. Just survival.
2. Too many events happening. There is no breather. As soon as they overcome one obstacle, another pops up. After a while it just gets frustrating.
3. Long and drawn out. I feel the author should have just get with the program. She keeps drawing out the story when we, the readers, already know what the endgame is.
4. Focusing on secondary characters instead of the main primary characters. The author spent too much time writing about secondary characters and their feelings. If she had used that time and space to focus on Wade and Jenny, this story would have been better.

Disappointed in this one.

[Shirlene]

Slow Woman had married Many Horses. White men had killed him and raped her when they had been found mating by a river. At 14 she was traveling with her tribe and had been left behind to have her baby alone according to Comanche tradition. She had twin boys. Twins were considered a bad omen so she left one behind and took the other child she named Wild Horse with her. She knew they were half-breeds because of their blue eyes. Wild Horse was one of the meanest of the Comanche renegades and did everything he could to prove that he hated the white in him.
Vivian Morrow was traveling with her husband to California to start a freight business and she had suffered a miscarriage. They stopped for the night and she heard a baby's cry. Her husband found the baby and brought it to her. They suspected that it was a twin and noticed his vivid blue eyes and knew that he was part white. Vivian and Lester raised Wade Morrow as their own son and he worked with his father in their successful freight business.
Jennifer Andrews parents had been killed in a riverboat explosion when she was 10 and her back had been badly burned. She was now 18 and the aunt who raised her had died. She knew that her fat uncle wanted her and would soon take her if she didn't get away. While her aunt was sick, Jennifer made plans to run away. She answered an ad to become the wife of a soldier, staff sergeant Anthony Enders, in Ft. Stockton. He was really Art Clements a gambler and son of an alcoholic and a prostitute. He was wanted for shooting a gambler in Houston and taking the winnings of the dead man. Jennifer left St. Louis the morning after her aunts funeral while her uncle slept off his drunk. She felt certain that her uncle had stolen the money left to her by her parents to start his business and that he would try and find her. She bought tickets to take a steamboat and a coach to get her to her destination.
She traveled with Bill Strong who was on his way to meet Wade Morrow in San Antonio and Sandy Carter who headed to Austin to scout. Wade was now 26 and he wanted to find out more about the Comanche side of him. He set out to set up a freight line through San Antonio and wanted to stop in Ft. Stockton to see if he might locate his mother or sibling. Jennifer was appalled when she saw Wade and learned that no one would rent him a hotel room because of the color of his skin. It was obvious that he was raised well.
Jennifer was grabbed as she got off the stage for a rest stop in San Antonio by two men hired by her uncle to return her to him. She put up a fuss and Wade stepped in to prevent them from taking her. The sheriff arrived and put Wade in jail because he was an Indian while the mess was straightened out. Jennifer was allowed to go free and she thanked Wade for his help. Wade told Sandy that night that he was thinking of Jennifer and had decided to follow her to make sure she made it to Ft. Stockton since he was headed that way himself. Jennifer was also thinking of Wade when she went to sleep that night. She was wondering what kind of man she would find after the sheriff had warned her of they type of men she might find Enders to be and thinking of what it might be like were Wade she was to meet instead.
Wade headed to Ft Stockton ahead of the coach and his horse stepped into a hole and broke it's leg. He had to put it down and he walked to the next coach station. He arrived soon after the coach did and paid to ride and act as a scout. A couple of the men protested due to him being part Indian. One was named Buck and he tried to attack Jennifer after a few days out. Wade beat him when he found out partly because of how rude he had been to Wade. It was a few days later when the coach was attacked by renegade Indians. The men were killed and Buck was tortured. Wade had to kill him to put him out of his misery. The coach was burned. They were tearing at Jennifer's clothing and attempting to scalp her when Wade came to after hitting his head on a rock after jumping off the coach. The Indian's saw him and ran off after shooting Jennifer in the leg. Wade gave her some whiskey he found and removed the bullet. It became infected a few days later and they had to stop for him to take cauterize the wound. Jenny was embarrassed at first because Wade had now seen her other scars. She learned to trust him and told him she loved him. Before they reached the fort, they made love and promised themselves to each other.
Back in St. Louis, her uncle was furious that she wasn't sent back to him and was determined to get her back. He sent a letter to the captain of the fort where she was headed offering a reward for her return. The telegram was given to Enders and he intended to use the information to return Jenny to her uncle after he had slept with her.
The coach didn't arrive when it was supposed to and Enders and his group of soldiers from the fort found the burned coach and buried the dead men. They followed the tracks left by Wade, the Indian pony that had been left for them, and a travois as they set out to find Jennifer.
The soldiers caught up with Jenny and Wade and accused Wade of hurting her. They tried to fight with him and Jenny stopped them. She told them that he she was injured and he had saved her. She was pretty disgusted by Enders behavior and knew then that she would never marry him but pretended so that she could remain safely at the fort while Wade searched for his brother and mother.
A Comanche told Wade where to find his brother and Wild Horse told Wade that they had to fight to the death because it was a bad omen that there were two spirits for one body. Wild Horse told Wade where to find their mother and he went to see her. She was on a reservation and had pneumonia and died a few days after Wade arrived. She was still living with her brother and he heard her admit that the boys were twins and she had left one behind to die.
Wade went back to the fort to see Jenny and didn't realize that he had been followed. The soldiers then tracked him to where he went back to meet with Wild Horse. Wild Horse circled around the soldiers and killed 8 of them, including Enders. Wade was forced to watch the soldiers be killed. The ones that survived blamed him and Jennifer for the ones that died. Enders friend, Deaver attempted to rape Jenny but she poured boiling water on him and the Captain of the fort told her she had to leave. The woman she was staying with at the fort sent a telegram to Wade's family asking for their help but she wasn't allowed to wait for them to arrive. She was put on a stage headed for El Paso and the switched her direction to San Antonio. She was waiting at a rest stop for the stage where the manager had a Comanche wife. Her brothers came to the station and recognized her. They took her with them to see Wild Horse and Wade. Wild Horse was mildly torturing Wade to get him to fight him because Wade had refused.
Jenny was taken to Wade and Wild Horse pretended to rape her to anger Wade into fighting him. Wade did get mad enough and they fought the next morning. Wade won the fight when he had taken Wild Horse's weapons and when Wild Horse lost his balance, Wade grabbed him and Wild Horse fell on the knife in Wade's hand. They buried him in the mountains with Wild Horse telling Wade that he hadn't touched Jenny. Jenny, Wade and an 8 yr. old captive girl were allowed to leave. Wade agreed to lead the Comanche tribe that remained under Wild Horse's leadership to the reservation peacefully.
They were on the way to the reservation when his white brothers found them. They agreed to finish their business in Galveston while Wade continued on to the reservation with the Indians. They would meet back up in three weeks to return to California. Wade told them that he intended to marry Jenny and bring Kathleen with them.
The brothers took the weapons away from the soldiers when they saw the Indians headed to the reservation and promised to give them back once they got back to the fort. They didn't want anyone accidentally shot and killed. The brothers didn't trust the soldiers with good reason. The captain was told that he could make up any story he wanted but Wild Horse was dead and the renegades were leaving Texas. He would not be given the location of the body.
It was years before anyone went stayed in the area called Comanche Hills because people swore at night they could see the ghost of an Indian letting out a bloodcurdling war cry.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mail-order bride tale was a bit more sweeping and complex than most of them come.

Jennifer Andrews, whose closest family (a beloved aunt) just died, is determined to escape an uncle with a wandering eye--one that is currently set on her. So she answers an ad of a sergeant out west, at an army outpost.

But along the way, she meets Wade Morrow, a half-Comanche man whose mother abandoned him at birth. Raised by the loving white family who found him on their wagon train west, he is now part of a respected freight business--though prejudiced attitudes still find him regardless of his education, his well-spokenness, and his kindness to others.

Wade helps Jenny evade her uncle but then tries to keep his distance as they ride the same stagecoach west, since he knows how the other male passengers will treat her if she were to be seen accepting his attentions.

But then, their stagecoach is attacked by Comanches. Wade is thrown from the coach but comes to just as the Comanches are harming Jennifer. When the Comanches see him, they drop Jennifer and leave in fearful awe.

Though curious about their reaction, Wade stays with Jennifer, tending to her wounds, especially the bullet hole in her leg. Of course, they become close, but perceptions of race, her previous promise to the army sergeant, and Wade's need to find out his background all seem to stand in the way of their relationship.

I'll definitely say this is a sweeping tale, for sure. The research is solid and the details, gritty. I whole-heartedly believed Wade's and Jenny's love story even as I detested the army sergeant and the prejudices of the time. Bittner does a nice job of exploring the Comanche plight and beliefs to make this book feel realistic and balanced.

My only critique is that this one lost my attention part way through when it got a bit dark and I didn't see how it could end well. But I came back to it to finish and am glad I did.

[Blueglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an adventure! Miss Jennifer Andrews responds to a soldier in Texas seeking a mail order bride so that she could escape her lecherous uncle. On her journey from St Louis, she encounters the half-breed, Wade Morrow, who helps her escape her uncle's men. She witnesses the brutal prejudice that Wade faces even though he was raised by a prosperous white family and he is highly educated. He happens to need journey on the same stagecoach. Later, the stagecoach is beset by murderous Comanche and each in turn is killed. Wade is merely stunned from hitting his head on a rock and the Comanche think he is dead. Two Comanche take turns stripping Jennifer of her clothes - one shooting her in the leg and the other beginning to scalp her. Then they see Wade, say "Bad Spirit,"Wild Horse" and quickly depart.
Wade then takes Jennifer to a safe area and begins to tend to her wounds. He does his best with the limited supplies that he has and he tries to tamper her fears. Slowly, they get to know each other and start to feel things for each other. Wade warns her to be careful of her soldier telling her that some are criminals from the east coast. He tells her of his upbringing and his quest to understand his Comanche roots better. Jennifer confesses her deepening feelings and attraction to Wade and he does what he can to dissuade her but it is no use.
They decide that they will marry but Wade tells Jennifer that he must go on his quest first. That she must go to the fort and hold off her soldier until he returns. By all means she must never reveal her feelings for Wade. However, things go awry and they are both hunted in all directions. Their love is tested but not broken.

[Lynn Put · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good. Yes at times it was corny especially at how fast the two main characters fell in love and some of the wording, but overall it was a great story. Based right before the civil war.

Jennifer a young innocent girl from St. Louis running away from a difficult situation agrees to marry a sergeant stationed in Texas. During her travels she meets Wade Morrow, half Indian, half white. When Jennifer’s stagecoach is attached by Comanche Indians her and Wade are the only survivors.

This was definitely an action packed story with Indians, soldiers and romance but what this story drove home was the discrimination against Indians who before the white man came, lived off the land, moved with the migrating Buffalo and the seasons and how sad it was that they were lied to and cheated out of their way of life and stuck in reservations. It also highlighted how brutally the Indians retaliated against the white settlers and soldiers invading their land.

446 pages.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jennifer Andrews signs up to be a mail-order bride in order to get away from her lecherous uncle. She's pretty naive as she's going into hostile Indian territory but Wade Morrow, the half-Comanche businessman, looks out for her when their stagecoach is attacked. The two face a lot of obstacles on their road to romance, some because of their own actions.
It was an interesting story though a bit drawn out. Wade's confrontation with his twin seemed off to me. I wasn't sure why he was so determined to have a relationship with him after the twin indicated he only wanted to kill him. Jennifer was so naive that she got on my nerves sometimes. Even after being told repeatedly that the men at the fort were generally criminals evading the law, she still proceeded with her plan.
Anyway, it was an okay story, not my favorite western romance, but interesting.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild and wonderful story-line with action, adventure and a touch of romance. When reading one of this author’s books, you can count on complete entertainment. Escaping home as a Mail Order Bride, Jennifer Andrews runs into total chaos in her life. She is threatened, pushed around and the final deed is an Indian attack on the stagecoach she is in. Her rescue is harrowing, her wounds deep and her trust of a stranger leads her into areas that are dangerous and crude. Wade Morrow, a Comanche half-breed becomes her friend and the book carries on in the fashion of the writing by Ms. Bittner. This is a stand-alone book. I’m one of her ardent fans of her Outlaw Hearts Series and for heart-stopping action, chills and romance, I highly recommend the series as well.

[Jennifer Nickels · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I usually enjoy this author I found this particular story very predictable. Character dialogue was often silly and amateur. Then we have.... I met you 5 minutes ago and suddenly I'm madly in love with you. Sure. Right. And our heroine's decision making process borders on stupidity. I found it irritating. How many times does Jennifer say "Oh Wade!"? Also, the number of times either the main characters or others "relieve" themselves. Yuck, really? I'm all about realism, but that's just not necessary. I will continue to read Ms. Bittner's novels, however. Thus far, in my opinion, it's hit and miss.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very hard for me to rate. I mean, I loved the story. It was action-packed, romance-filled, and lots of conflict. I really enjoyed the h/h. They had great chemistry. My problem was the ending. I found it hard to swallow that the hero defeated his twin brother. Just couldn't buy it. He was a seasoned warrior who had a big following because of his ability and skills. Other than that, as I said, this was something that get me reading and reading. Well done, Rosanne.

[Rija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail-biting action from the first page, Ms Bittner's Comanche Sunset will have you on the edge of your seat.

Set in Texas in the time just before the American Civil war, Wade Morrow, a Comanche/white bi-racial or 'breed' as they were known then, saves a 'white' mail-order bride, Jennifer Andrews, from being forceably returned to her uncle's perverted and incestuous care.

Their fates are sealed from that moment, as their futures are irrevocably bound by a love that will transcend fear and violence born of ignorance and prejudice.

[Karen Sheldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Times Ten Wonderful

I’ve read many of Ms. Bittner’s books, and I have to say this is one of her best. Rarely do I get so involved as to actually have tears in my eyes! This story of a white woman and her love for a part Comanche is endearing, exciting, and full of historical facts revolving around Native Americans and the people who arrived to inhabit their lands. I cried for the story and also cry for the misunderstandings of that time in American history.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. As always Rosanne Bittner captured the wildness of the clashes of peoples and cultures while adhering to a fast moving story line. The action is fast, brutal at times and yet easy to read. There are characters to love, hate, pity and despise. Through it all there weaves the skillfully told message of enduring love and courage that defines what I want in a story. This is going on my favorites shelf.

[Darlene A. Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I think this was my first book by this author....but it won't be the last. The characters were well written. Good or bad, it didn't matter. You got to know them, even the bad guys. You also got a sense of the surrounding country where the story takes place. To put it simply, the author picked me up and placed me in the book along with the Indians, the Calvary, the Texas countryside And it was some ride. Did I mention to put a couple of Kleenex in your pocket?

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great American Western.

Jenny lost her parents as a young girl and was raised by her Aunt. Her Aunt passed away and Jenny had to leave because her Uncle was attracted to her. She went west to be a mail order bride.
Wade is half Commanche and half white. He is raised by a wealthy white couple. This story is full of Adventure, prejudice, and romance. Great characters and writing. I want to read more by Roseanne Bittner.

[Marie S HR Reader ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good Bittner book. This one I'm giving 4.5 stars. It was a page turning read and had two very likeable main characters, both with a rich backstory. While we all know a Hist Rom normally leads to an HEA, which this is no exception, this book had absolutely some unexpected story lines and twists that kept it quite engaging. A lovely western with a mail order bride aspect. I would recommend this - it was a lovely summer read.

[Holly Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written story!

This book had a fascinating story line. It was extremely well written. It was full of suspense, intrigue and... love! It was such an exciting book that I couldn't put it down.
The author did a great job "captivating" me with this story. Yes, the pun was intended!

[Karen Dinardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Historical Fiction

I enjoyed this novel. I like stories that are from the early frontier days of America. A strong woman falls in love with a man who is part Indian. A western adventure begins as he goes to find his twin brother, who is one of the last Indian chiefs still raiding Western settlers.

[Tammy Rowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

Based largely about a problem that sadly will never completely go away the hatred of a person because of the color of his or her skin.

[Isabel McEniry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

I read this book a long time ago and wrote a review, then. Amazon needs to find that review, please.

[Terryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quiet up to my expectations. A bit disappointing. The main hero did not seem tough enough, she seemed tougher. I might try reading again as I did skip pages as it did not hold my attention.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosanne Bittner is one of my favorite romance authors. This is a classic of hers.

[Renate Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will touch your heart. I loved Wade how he handled himself.

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

So so bad.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. I like to read about Native American.

[Katie]

Surprisingly good!

Excellent writing and a great story. A little gruesome at times. I wish it had an epilogue with an updated on the couple.