Comanche Woman

Sisters of the Lone Star #2

by Joan Johnston

In this dazzling prequel to the New York Times bestsellers The Cowboy and The Texan, Joan Johnston takes us back to a time when Texas was a young and wild republic, and three strong-willed sisters carved out a destiny that would spawn two legendary dynasties. Here is the spellbinding tale of a woman captured by Comanches—and of the proud warrior who vows to make her love him. Born to a white father and his Indian bride, Long Quiet believed his destiny lay with his Comanche brothers. But his heart secretly belonged to Bayleigh Stewart, daughter of the richest cotton planter in Texas, who’d been abducted by a marauding brave and sold to the highest bidder. For years he’d searched for the violet-eyed beauty, and now a strange twist of fate led him to her. Called Shadow by her captors, Bay had almost given up hope of rescue, when a rugged stranger in buckskins appeared, risking his life to bring her home...and awakening a passion that burned hot and true. Bay knew her place was with her family. But Long Quiet hadn’t found her only to lose her again. He had to convince this woman—his woman—that her true home was with him... as together they would fight for a love strong enough to bridge two worlds....From the Paperback edition.

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

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Joan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.

Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.

Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.

Awards

* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride

Reviews

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could have liked this one better. The beginning and ending were decent and had moments I really liked. The part in the middle where they were broke up for basically no reason was lame. I just prefer characters to stick together through their trials and tribulations. The whole other man threatening her family thing and so she tells the hero that she doesn't want/love him instead of sharing her problems and having him help her work them out, just doesn't work for me. And then he forgave her too quickly after saying he never would.

I liked how the hero was crazy for her. I liked the bits of Indian life explored at the first. I disliked some of the deus ex machine stuff that happened, the wolves and the bank account for example.

[Trang Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... This is the second book of the Sisters of the Lone Star and I didn't think I could cry as much as the first one. (but I did... Dont get me wrong I didn't cry throughout either of the first two books but there are definitely some scenes where a box of tissues are needed.)

Bay the second child of Rip Stewart, has "middle kid" syndrome. She is the opposite of her other two sisters, more reserved, nurturing, and does not play the cowgirl role very well. Bay has been Kidnapped and held captives by Commaches, who believe she can call dark magic to aide her. For three years she lives in solitude and must resort to lurking in the shadows to be a part of conversations. Bay has learn to live alone and live the Comanche living until Long Quiet comes to her villages and dissrupts the life she has adapted to living for the last few years. Long Quiet has made an oath to his best friend's wife, Crickett to do everything on his power to find her sister. What everyone doesn't know is that Long Quiet has secretly been in love with Bay since their school years.

A courtship and attempted murder are two of the many events that these two must face. This was a great romance between two really different people and in the end everything works out.... Another great read from Johnston.

[♥ Vonda M. Reid ♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.75:
Action: 3.75 / Emotion: 5.0 / Romance: 5.0 / Sensuous: 2.0 / Suspense: 2.5 // Historical Flavor: 4.5 // Laughter: 1 // Teary: 3 / Tears: 5

Comanche Woman: 4.75:
Since Joan Johnston is a favorite author, it was not surprising that this exciting, entertaining, deeply emotional, well-told story was un-put-down-able. The best book in The Sisters of The Lone Star Trilogy.

Hero: 4.75:
Long Quiet / Walker Coburn: A well-named hero. This handsome hero walked tall, full of integrity and knew who he was in spite of having the blood of two nationalities running in his veins. Long Quiet is a hero that would melt any woman's heart -- he endlessly pursued the woman he loved.

Heroine: 4.50:
Bayleigh "Bay" Falkirk Stewart: A beautiful, kind-hearted, sweet-natured heroine that struggled to find her place in a rough and tumble world. It was easy to feel compassion for and anger at Bay and then cheer her on as she struggled to find her place in the world.

Story Line: 4.50:
The story line was engaging and intriguing and kept readers glued to the book to see how {1} a half-white, half-Comanche man eventually found his way from the tribe that he loved to the woman he loved, and {2} a gentle-natured beauty made a connection to the family from which she felt distant.

Action: 3.75:
Enough action scenes, highlighting Long Quiet's masculine skills, kept the story interesting for readers who like a little adventure in their books.

Emotion: 5.00:
Johnston used Long Quiet's angst about his heritage to tie readers to him on a deeply emotional level. It was also easy to establish an emotional connection to Bay because of her feelings about not fitting into a family containing an overpowering father and two outspoken sisters.

Romance: 5.00:
The aura of romance permeated the entire story. Long Quiet had been in love with Bay for years . . . and then Bay found herself falling for Long Quiet, a man who courted her and showed kindnesses that were entirely inappropriate for his culture.

Suspense: 2.50:
Johnston kept readers in a continual state of edginess. First, wondering how Long Quiet was going to rescue Bay from the Comanche village and then how he was going to save her from marrying Jonas.

Sensuous: 2.00:
Johnston did a great job of slipping in some old-fashioned (1980s), very emotional, sensual love scenes that had a bit of sizzle when Long Quiet finally took Bay to his bed.

Historical Flavor: 4.50:
Johnson does an excellent job of including details about Texas history in the story as she addresses the issues the Texans faced as they warred with the Mexicans and Comanche.

Secondary Characters: 5.00:
One thing that Johnston does with great skill is to introduce secondary characters, who are important to the plot of the book, and sometimes play minor roles, but when they walk through the pages of the book, they leap out at you. This book featured: {1} Rip Stewart, {2} Sloan Stewart, {3} Luke Summers, {4} Many Horses, {5} He Decides It, {6} Little Deer, {7} Jonas Harper, {8} Cruz Guerrero, and {9} Francisco "Cisco" Guerrero.

A more in-depth, detailed, spoiler-ridden review of Comanche Woman appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just might be my favorite book by Ms. Johnston.
Bayleigh stole my heart in Frontier Woman, but after reading this book, I’m at awe. The cruelty and heartache was truly felt. Excellent descriptions in such a powerful book. I truly felt Bayleigh’s emotions.
Beautiful love story.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I really enjoyed this second installment in this action packed trilogy. Bay wasn’t my favorite, but I liked the love story a lot. I’m looking forward to the final one, Texas Woman which is Sloan and Cruz’s story. He’s already admitted he loves her so that should be interesting!

Anyway, a great, solid story that will definitely keep you turning the pages!

SERIES IMPORTANCE: High. I definitely have to recommend starting with book one, Frontier Woman. This is a trilogy where every book connects. For example, there were things which began in book one that won’t see resolution until book three, so if you read out of order just be aware it might feel disjointed.

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Joan Johnston that tops the charts in her best writings. I am always partial to a HWR that includes a half breed.

Bay Stewart may have appeared to be the meek sister in the first book in the series, Frontier Woman, but she quite possibly is the strongest of the three Stewart daughters after all. Bay is abducted by Indians and spends three years as a captive until she is rescued by Long Quiet, a half-breed Comanche and friend to the Stewart family. Long Quiet had promised he would not stop until he finds Bay for the Stewart family and returns her to them but truthfully he's secretly in love with Bay and is determined to find her for himself. Bay and Long Quiets love for each other will be tested when it's pulled between two completely different worlds.  How can they compromise between the white world versus the Indian life. I was hoping the entire time that Bay and Long Quiet could find a way for their two worlds to connect so that they could live their lives happy-ever-after. I'm actually starting to have hope for Bay's father, Rip Stewart to end up being a decent father and human being after all. I can't wait to see what Joan Johnston has in store for Sloan in book three of the series, Texas Woman.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book also like its predecessor I would tend to read it more like 4 1/2 stars. I really liked pay very much and long quiet was also, though stubborn, a great character. The time that we spend in the Comanche tribe area is very interesting and the interplay between all of the Native Americans involved was very interesting as well. I really liked Many Horses a lot and felt very sorry for him and She-Who-Touches-First. I like the glimpses into the cultural ideas of the tribe such as generosity and sharing of the children. They were part of the plot that I did not see coming but we’re not surprising when they did. I’m still waiting to see what exactly is going to happen with Sloan. All in all I think everything turned out very well for everybody. I had to think way back to remember what happened in the first novel in order for everything to click correctly and this one but it didn’t take a whole lot of effort and it didn’t take long. I’m looking forward to the next installment in the series which I believe is the last one.

[Robin L · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is something seriously wrong with this book.

[Jack Vasen]

DNF. I should not have attempted to read this book. I don't know why I thought going in that it would be less salacious than it was through the 4 plus chapters I read. I finally gave up after the man whom I assume is the hero molests the heroine despite her making her resistance clear, even after she agrees to sacrifice her will in order to prevent a fight between the men. He stops just short of rape but takes advantage of her physically just short of that. There is also humiliation interwoven into his exchange.

And what is Bay's reaction immediately after he molests her? "There had been pleasure. Much Pleasure." (That is an exact quote.) I'm sorry if this statement is unpopular, but that is perilously close to the Rape Myth.

He is said to be half "True Human Being" (meaning Comanche) and half white and he has been educated at a college in Boston, yet his behavior is appalling by the standards of the latter.

As far as I read it is clear that the Comanches who now "own" her have raped her and tortured her even though neither is explicitly said to have happened or been described. Instead we have Bay's thoughts remembering and the scars on her body as evidence to her abuse. At one point, remembering her capture, her memories anticipating what is to come recite the word "rape" several times. In addition, she is treated as property when her "owner" gives her (temporarily) as a gift to Long Quiet for him to treat her any way he pleases. Her torturous captivity is made even worse as the tribe around her has always been forbidden to speak with her.

Despite all this, or maybe because of it, Bay exhibits some characteristics of Stockholm Syndrome when she shows some loyalty and care for her captor.

The Comanches are portrayed as little more than savages. In addition to Bay's treatment it is clear that Bay's protector leads raids against people outside the tribe that result in death and possibly worse.

I have read another series by JJ, 4 books, and did not expect quite what I got in this one. This book makes me seriously doubt I will read more by JJ.

[Donna (Currently Busy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Johnston's second book in the Sisters of the Lone Star series. It's Bay Stewart and Long Quiet's story that takes place in the Republic of Texas in the early 1840's. I read this one immediately after completing "Frontier Woman" over the long holiday weekend.

Close to the end of the first book, Bay is captured by Comanches on Three Oaks plantation. So the first half of "Comanche Woman" is about Bay's life living among the tribe she was traded to by Tall Bear for a large herd of horses from another tribal leader appropriately named "Many Horses". Jarret Creed's best friend Long Quiet promises Jarret and Cricket that he will find Bay and return her home. Unbeknownst to them, Long Quiet has been secretly in love with Bay for many years.

Three years after her abduction, Long Quiet finds and returns Bay to Three Oaks. The second half of the book focuses on Bay becoming reacquainted to life on the plantation and her changed relationships with her father, sisters, and other characters. What I liked best about Bay after she's reunited with her family is that she exercises more assertiveness and confidence than she did prior to her capture. There's drama, action, romance, and lots of miscommunication between Bay and Long Quiet.

Of the three books, I have to admit this one is my favorite. Toward the end of the story, Bay tells her husband that she has the perfect nickname for their child - "Never Quiet". 😊

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living as a Comanche, the son of a white father and his Indian bride, Long Quiet secretly dreams of making Bayleigh Stewart, daughter of the richest cotton planter in Texas, his wife. When Bay is stolen from her home by marauding Indians, she seems lost to Long Quiet forever . . . until a twist of fate brings her back to him--a gift from the Comanche whose life he saved.
Bay has lived among the Indians for three long years when a stranger who looks like a Comanche--but speaks perfect English--awakens a passion that burns hot and true. Bay yearns for home, but Long Quiet is determined to convince Bay that her home is with him. As they soon discover, they must both give up something of themselves while fighting for a love strong enough to bridge two worlds.

[Terryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is the second book I read it first by mistake. I ended up with a paperback copy. The story kept me entertained so I didn't skip pages or lines. She is the middle daughter who had been kidnapped by a Comanche brave. He is a half breed Comanche who had agreed to search for her. It had taken approx. three years for him to find her. Due to circumstances with the Comanche camp she is forced to become his wife the Comanche way. On returning to her white home he abandons her. There have been changes and things happen, she is pregnant, so eventually he is forced to marry her the white man's way, in front of a preacher. HEA ending

[Liz Clappin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half in the Comanche village was far more interesting than the second at Three Oaks. No idea how acccurate any of the depictions of Comanche life were, but interesting dynamics among all of the players in the first half. Later it dragged a little and I found myself more interested in Cruz and Sloane’s story at that point than Bay and Walker’s.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd in the series Sisters of the Lone Star. Bayleigh Stewart was taken by the Comanches.
Walker Coburn/Long Quiet is a half-breed Comanche that is trying to find her. He has searched for 3 years. He has found her and all the problems before, during and after her rescue keep you turning pages. Now to start on book #3. Love this series.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out great...then it went downhill. First of all, Bay comes back home after being kidnapped for 3 years and no one questions that she was supposedly traveling on the continent the entire time? Also, the book was written in the 80's and it feels it. I won't be reading any more in the series.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing that saves this book are the historical elements the author adds about the Comanche people and their culture. Bay's stubbornness went beyond being an independent woman to just plain annoying. Once again there is a misunderstanding that could have been solved and cut the book in half- which isn't a bad idea with all the extra unnecessary drama included in this book.

[Kbarker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok

I found this book like the first kinda disconnected. It was ok until they left Many Horses, then the story went everywhere. These books were recommended by a friend and not usually my style. I've read 2 of them and have no desire to read a third.

[Cindy Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in series Great Read

The second in the series and it kept me right there on pins and needles of what was going to happen next. Its history is around the time Texas was trying to become a state and Mexico was trying to take the land from the US. I love frontier stories.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Joan Johnston books!!! I have never been disappointed.....ever.

[Crystal Karre · Rating 3 out of 5]

blending well into many lives

[Amber Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the cowboy books

[Angela]

0

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

[Btckreiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent excellent book. Couldn't hardly put it down. Recommend to anyone who is a native american historical romance reader.

[Pamela McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can say I did truly enjoy this book

[Paula Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel in a three-book story. I could not stop crying!

[Renee Kamenszki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved this story. You will too.

[Country Goose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bayleigh Stewart, a.k.a Shadow by the Comanches, was evidently stolen away from her father's plantation three years before the start of this book. Walker Coburn, Comanche name Long Quiet, has been searching for her the entire time, but because he saw her in Boston and fell hard. She didn't know he even existed.

He finds her, and has to marry Shadow to save her from the fate of the Comanches, and take her away. Long Quiet fears his tribe will not accept her, so he takes her back home, and leaves her.

She gets engaged, believing it's her only choice, but Long Quiet returns for her. Feeling betrayed, they both set out to make things right, but Jonas Harper, the man Bay felt she loved a long time ago, blackmails her into engagement. She's pregnant with Long Quiet's babe, and push comes to shove, they end up married. Long Quiet as Walker and Bay. Jonas promises revenge, he comes back, he then gets killed.

Something I don't get. What happened to the wolves after Bay left? Did Jonas really think he loved her, because I think he just lusted... He was nuts anyway. What happened to Many Horses? Did he fully recover? I think I read he was on the mend, but there as no indication of justice for RedWing who was only mentioned once, just before they found a snake in their traveling bag.

A good read, but it left a few loose ends...

This is part of a trilogy, I get that, and I didn't read the first, and I doubt I'll read the next. I read this book, and I feel it could work as a stand alone.

[Fay Risner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical story about a young Texas woman kidnapped by Comanche Indians. She lived with them for three years before she was returned home with the brave she married Indian style.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a romanatized view of being captured by Indians and rescued but I really enjoyed reading the book anyway. I was intrigued by Long Quiet and found it interesting to read about how he made his way between the white world and the Comanche world. Books like this make me so glad that I didn't grow up on the frontier though! Not a lifestyle I would last long in. I did go back and forth some on if I liked Bay as the main character or not. When she decided to marry Jonas so quickly after losing Long Quiet to save the plantation for her father I just wanted to smack her but at the same time I couldn't help but see why she did it. I was very glad when Jonas ended up killed and Bay and Long Quiet were together.