Dancing Moon

by Barbara Samuel

Fleeing from her cruel husband, Tess heads for the Santa Fe Trail, where she finds herself falling in love with the handsome and exotic Joaquin Morales. By the author of Lucien's Fall. Original.

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Westerns, Romance, Historical Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Barbara Samuel is a multiple RITA award-winning author with more than 38 books to her credit in a variety of genres. She has written historical and contemporary romances, a number of fantasy novellas with the likes of Susan Wiggs, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney. She now writes women’s fiction about families, dogs, and food as Barbara O’Neal.

Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal’s list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others.You can find a full list of all titles here.

Now living back in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Barbara writes in a study overlooking Pikes Peak, a pin that draws her home from her travels. She shares her home with Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete, a gorgeous and lovable chow mix named Jack; a very, very old Siamese named Esmerelda; a rescued street cat who has become the fattest silver tabby on the planet, and the wonder twins, two tuxedo kittens from a local shelter, whose names have changed several times. Yes, a lot of animals.

An avid photographer, cook, and traveler, Barbara keeps a log of travels, recipes, and photos at her blog, A Writer Afoot, where she also sometimes posts writing advice. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, but she doesn’t promise to be particularly interesting there.

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book much more than I did. First let me say that Barbara Samuel is one of my favorite romance authors. This was a good story. Characters were well-developed and likeable, the scenes were well-written and descriptive. The plot sounded so promising - an Irish immigrant heroine running away from her slave overseer husband meets up with a half-Mexican half-Cheyenne hero on the trail who rescues her and her runaway slave friend. Together they travel to Taos, all the while the heroine's vicious husband is on their trail.

Something just fell short in this story. It seemed a bit choppy, some conflicts were resolved too quickly, and the whole thing seemed a bit rushed. Still liked it, just was not the caliber of story I have come to expect from this author.

Also - FYI - there were SEVERAL editing errors in the Kindle version of this book. More than just misspellings, but sometimes pieces of sentences were clearly missing, and entirely wrong words were used.

[Laura (Kyahgirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5; 3 stars; B-

I saw this book on Smashwords and bought it based on the fact that I've really enjoyed other books by this author. I think the story was something she wrote about 15 years ago and that would be consistent with the slightly rough and unfinished feel to the work.

The story was a solid western romantic adventure. I enjoyed the various characters in the book and the story itself was fairly interesting. There were a lot of typos and other editing oversights in the book which were a bit distracting and the style lacked the polish of later works by this author.

[Lynne Spreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1844, Tess marries a rich Arkansas farmer to escape starvation in Ireland, but when she immigrates to America with him, she finds he is a brutal slaveowner. Bearing the scars of his whipping her for her kindnesses to the slaves, she and her friend, the pregnant slave Sonia, escape the plantation and join a small band of travelers, only to be nearly murdered by marauding Indians. A kindle trio of comancheros rescue the women, and romance blooms along the trail to Taos. This was a good tale of brave women, good men, injustice, racism, love, and family. Recommended.

[Terryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. She is on the run from her abusive husband. He happens to be at the right place at the right time when he comes across the massacre in which she and her friend are the only survivors. He and his friends rescue the ladies and take them to their destination. He is a half breed, the bastard son of a wealthy rancher and a Cheyenne slave. On arriving to their destination he is arrested for the murder of his father. Along with his friends they set about to free him and find out the truth. In the meantime her husband appears to ruin the outcome.

[DEBORAH LINCOLN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A winner

Bravo Barbara Samuel … who delivers every time .. no pages filled with fluff and empty thoughts .. just real meat .. exquisite detail to every aspect .. landscape, customs, clothing and language .. the tale of an abused Irish immigrant woman who through tragic means the love of her life .. a beautiful Indian .. the love story was dynamic as all her love stories.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winning book from this author. This one was set in 1844, in the time of slavery and fights between Indians and the White usurpers. Tess is on the run from her husband, along with Sonia, a slave. Her husband, a plantation overseer, has brutalized the slaves one too many times, and Tess stepped in to stop him. So, he used the whip on her. Now the 2 women are fleeing to Pueblo, with Seamus searching for them. They are aided by 3 men on their journey after they narrowly avoid being scalped. Joaquin Morales and Tess connect, as do Sonia and Raul. So, naturally this is a love story as well as a Western. but Barbara Samuel's writing is so emotional and beautiful that, even knowing there will be a HEA,you enjoy reading til the inevitable outcome.

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I like my heros beta and my heroines capable and kind, so this book captured me in a big way.