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Gray Eagle #9
Savage Conquest
SOUTHERN DESIRE. There was no Virginia belle more irresistible than stunning, ebony-haired Miranda Lawrence. Though the voluptuous beauty had her pick of handsome beaux, she felt a wild need deep within her for the kind of man she could never meet in polite society. Heeding the call of her passionate nature, Miranda stole away from her plantation home, heading to the unsettled West to seek exciting, never-ending love... SAVAGE PLEASURE. When Miranda reached the rugged plains of South Dakota, she suddenly found herself trapped against the broad bronze chest of a virile Indian! Her body trembled as his lips plundered hers; her knees shook as her traced his fingers along her spine. But when her stark terror turned to sensual torment, Miranda didn't know what to fear her fate at the hands of the masterful brave or her own traitorous heart!
574 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
44 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Janelle Taylor
101 books243 followersThe legendary Janelle Taylor was born on June 28, 1944 in Athens, GA. In 1965, she married Michael Taylor with whom she had two children, Angela Taylor-MacIntyre and Alisha Taylor Thurmond. Ms. Taylor attended the Medical College of Georgia from 1977 to 1979 and Augusta State University from 1980-1981. She withdrew from the latter after she sold her first two novels. Today, she is the author of thirty-nine novels, three novellas, and many contributions to other collections. There are thirty-nine million copies of her works in print worldwide and she has made The New York Times Bestseller List eight times. Ms. Taylor's works have also been featured ten times on the "1 million +" bestseller's list at Publisher's Weekly.
Some of Ms. Taylor's most recent books include By Candlelight, Someday Soon, Lakota Dawn, and Lakota Winds (due out in paperback in May 1999). She has also made contributions to other books including The Leukemia Society Cookbook, Christmas Rendezvous, and Summer Love. In addition, readers can see her as co-host of the QVC/TV Romance Book Club Show.
Ms. Taylor's interests include collecting spoons, coins from around the world, ship models, dolls, and old books. She loves to fish, ride horses, play chess, target-shoot, travel (especially in her motorhome and out West), hunt for Indian relics, and take long walks with her husband. Reading, in particular books set before 1900 and current Biographies, Thrillers, Horror, or Fantasy novels, is also one of Ms. Taylor's favorite activities. She is also extremely active with charity work and was even featured on the cover of Diabetes Forecast in February of 1998.
She lives in the country on seventy-nine acres of woods and pasture with a lake and a catfish pond. She writes her novels in a Spanish cottage which overlooks a five-acre lake, a working water mill, gazebo, and covered bridge.
Some of Ms. Taylor's most recent books include By Candlelight, Someday Soon, Lakota Dawn, and Lakota Winds (due out in paperback in May 1999). She has also made contributions to other books including The Leukemia Society Cookbook, Christmas Rendezvous, and Summer Love. In addition, readers can see her as co-host of the QVC/TV Romance Book Club Show.
Ms. Taylor's interests include collecting spoons, coins from around the world, ship models, dolls, and old books. She loves to fish, ride horses, play chess, target-shoot, travel (especially in her motorhome and out West), hunt for Indian relics, and take long walks with her husband. Reading, in particular books set before 1900 and current Biographies, Thrillers, Horror, or Fantasy novels, is also one of Ms. Taylor's favorite activities. She is also extremely active with charity work and was even featured on the cover of Diabetes Forecast in February of 1998.
She lives in the country on seventy-nine acres of woods and pasture with a lake and a catfish pond. She writes her novels in a Spanish cottage which overlooks a five-acre lake, a working water mill, gazebo, and covered bridge.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2017
This review is of “Savage Conquest”, the 9th and final book-although the 6th published-in the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle” series by Janelle Taylor.
The Story: “Savage Conquest” begins in 1873, approximately 17 years after the previous book, “Forever Ecstasy”, ended. It is not a happy time for Miranda Lawrence, the “heroine” of the book-only the second half-and her fraternal twin Amanda, the heroine of the first half, both 18. Their parents, Joe and Marie “Morning Star” Lawrence, are presumed dead in a boating accident. (Their bodies have not been recovered.) Amanda, who is seeing fellow shipping company owner Weber Richardson, decides to take over the family business. She also later meets Reis Harrison, a man whom she is attracted to and starts to fall in love with. There are, however, issues standing in their way: Reis is not entirely truthful about why he came to Virginia, and he has a long-standing beef with Weber, who feels similarly predisposed towards Reis.
Amanda and Reis become lovers and later marry surreptitiously, and Reis sets into motion a plan in which he hopes to trap Weber and expose him for what he really is. Meanwhile, Miranda and the girls’ cousin, Lucas Reardon, a newspaper writer, travel to the Dakotas: Lucas for business and Miranda to try to meet her mother’s estranged family. Miranda is saved from snakes-the two legged and reptilian kind-by a Oglala Lakota brave, Blazing Star, the hero of her part of the book. Miranda and Blazing Star become lovers, although he is reluctant to commit to her due to concerns about the future of the Oglala people.
A series of challenges are faced by Amanda, Reis, Miranda and Blazing Star, but they are conquered for the most part, and the two couples get a pleasant surprise and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Mrs. Taylor is an evocative writer, and as she usually does, she put me as a reader in her characters lives, allowing me to view them not as words on a page, but as real people. “Savage Conquest”, like all the books in the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle series, is well-researched.
Downside: I felt that Mrs. Taylor could have done a better job displaying her male characters emotions; most of the emotional depth in the book comes from Miranda and Amanda. This book was not originally intended to be part of the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle” series and it shows, as some of the storylines to me feel a little forced to fit the story arc of the series as opposed to the originally planned standalone.
Sex: Mrs. Taylor’s love scenes are known for their “purple prose”, and there’s plenty of it here. As always, Mrs. Taylor’s sex scenes are more about the emotions of the act than a description of the mechanics.
Violence: Assault, attempted rape-both Miranda and Amanda-as well as human and animal murder. (Blazing Star kills a bear.)
Bottom Line: “Savage Conquest” isn’t Mrs. Taylor’s best book, but it’s still pretty good.
The Story: “Savage Conquest” begins in 1873, approximately 17 years after the previous book, “Forever Ecstasy”, ended. It is not a happy time for Miranda Lawrence, the “heroine” of the book-only the second half-and her fraternal twin Amanda, the heroine of the first half, both 18. Their parents, Joe and Marie “Morning Star” Lawrence, are presumed dead in a boating accident. (Their bodies have not been recovered.) Amanda, who is seeing fellow shipping company owner Weber Richardson, decides to take over the family business. She also later meets Reis Harrison, a man whom she is attracted to and starts to fall in love with. There are, however, issues standing in their way: Reis is not entirely truthful about why he came to Virginia, and he has a long-standing beef with Weber, who feels similarly predisposed towards Reis.
Amanda and Reis become lovers and later marry surreptitiously, and Reis sets into motion a plan in which he hopes to trap Weber and expose him for what he really is. Meanwhile, Miranda and the girls’ cousin, Lucas Reardon, a newspaper writer, travel to the Dakotas: Lucas for business and Miranda to try to meet her mother’s estranged family. Miranda is saved from snakes-the two legged and reptilian kind-by a Oglala Lakota brave, Blazing Star, the hero of her part of the book. Miranda and Blazing Star become lovers, although he is reluctant to commit to her due to concerns about the future of the Oglala people.
A series of challenges are faced by Amanda, Reis, Miranda and Blazing Star, but they are conquered for the most part, and the two couples get a pleasant surprise and have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Mrs. Taylor is an evocative writer, and as she usually does, she put me as a reader in her characters lives, allowing me to view them not as words on a page, but as real people. “Savage Conquest”, like all the books in the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle series, is well-researched.
Downside: I felt that Mrs. Taylor could have done a better job displaying her male characters emotions; most of the emotional depth in the book comes from Miranda and Amanda. This book was not originally intended to be part of the “Ecstasy/Gray Eagle” series and it shows, as some of the storylines to me feel a little forced to fit the story arc of the series as opposed to the originally planned standalone.
Sex: Mrs. Taylor’s love scenes are known for their “purple prose”, and there’s plenty of it here. As always, Mrs. Taylor’s sex scenes are more about the emotions of the act than a description of the mechanics.
Violence: Assault, attempted rape-both Miranda and Amanda-as well as human and animal murder. (Blazing Star kills a bear.)
Bottom Line: “Savage Conquest” isn’t Mrs. Taylor’s best book, but it’s still pretty good.
February 23, 2011
Unfortunately, I didn't know this was a series when I picked up the book.
1873 - Post Civil War
Alexandra, Virginia
This book was written in 2 segments incorporating the lives of 18 year old wealthy fraternal twin southern belles, Amanda and Miranda Lawrence. Not only do their looks differ, according to the the story they could pass as identical twins inspite of the those differences. Amanda is blonde, fair, with bright blue eyes; while Miranda is chestnut, olive skinned, with tawny eyes. Personality-wise, the differences are very evident.
I like that Taylor combined the girl's storys in one good sized book. She could have made 2 stories out of it, but then this was published in 1985 when books were worth spending $4.99 on. :-)
So, the story opens with the girls coming to grips with the loss of their parents and are at last willing to face the task of taking care of family business.
Enters the intro to other characters: Lucas Reardon, their beloved cousin and the only family they have left (but we find that isn't so later on in the 2nd segment of the story). I'll bet the next book in the series will be his. I haven't peeked to confirm my bet, but sorry ladies, I'm not laying any money on the table on this wager.
Next is Weber Richardson, old school southern aristocrat, who at 34 has his sights on wedding Amanda and combining his shipping business with that of the twins. Within his devious heart he hides other benefits and pleasures he anticipates that the twins have to offer him...down the road.
And then there is Reis Harrison, a mysterious stranger, who shows up one rainy night at the girl's southern estate.
The 1st segment centers on all these characters, mainly focusing on Amanda's journey to her HEA, but with who? That journey is a tangled mess of secrets, lies, treachery, deception, and then some.
The 2nd segment concentrates on Miranda's journey to her HEA. In her quest, she heads out to the wild, wild west of the Dakota's with her cousin Lucas, who is journeying on a writing assignment he has been commissioned to write. There she finds her grandfather, neither twin has ever met, and the warrior who steals her heart.
Good writing, so now my hunt begins for the others in this series.
1873
Virginia to South Dakota
Old South
Old West
Post Civil War
Investigations into War Crimes
American Indian
Lies, Secrets, Intrigue
1873 - Post Civil War
Alexandra, Virginia
This book was written in 2 segments incorporating the lives of 18 year old wealthy fraternal twin southern belles, Amanda and Miranda Lawrence. Not only do their looks differ, according to the the story they could pass as identical twins inspite of the those differences. Amanda is blonde, fair, with bright blue eyes; while Miranda is chestnut, olive skinned, with tawny eyes. Personality-wise, the differences are very evident.
I like that Taylor combined the girl's storys in one good sized book. She could have made 2 stories out of it, but then this was published in 1985 when books were worth spending $4.99 on. :-)
So, the story opens with the girls coming to grips with the loss of their parents and are at last willing to face the task of taking care of family business.
Enters the intro to other characters: Lucas Reardon, their beloved cousin and the only family they have left (but we find that isn't so later on in the 2nd segment of the story). I'll bet the next book in the series will be his. I haven't peeked to confirm my bet, but sorry ladies, I'm not laying any money on the table on this wager.
Next is Weber Richardson, old school southern aristocrat, who at 34 has his sights on wedding Amanda and combining his shipping business with that of the twins. Within his devious heart he hides other benefits and pleasures he anticipates that the twins have to offer him...down the road.
And then there is Reis Harrison, a mysterious stranger, who shows up one rainy night at the girl's southern estate.
The 1st segment centers on all these characters, mainly focusing on Amanda's journey to her HEA, but with who? That journey is a tangled mess of secrets, lies, treachery, deception, and then some.
The 2nd segment concentrates on Miranda's journey to her HEA. In her quest, she heads out to the wild, wild west of the Dakota's with her cousin Lucas, who is journeying on a writing assignment he has been commissioned to write. There she finds her grandfather, neither twin has ever met, and the warrior who steals her heart.
Good writing, so now my hunt begins for the others in this series.
1873
Virginia to South Dakota
Old South
Old West
Post Civil War
Investigations into War Crimes
American Indian
Lies, Secrets, Intrigue
September 12, 2021
This is the 9th and last book of the Gray Eagle Series by Janelle Taylor. Many years have passed since the very first book starting with the great love story of Gray Eagle and Alisha Williams. In this last story, we will read about the great grandchildren of Gray Eagle. They are twin sisters, Amanda and Miranda Lawrence. Their mother is Marie Lawrence, aka Morning Star, daughter of Sun Cloud, youngest son of Gray Eagle. Per the custom of her Oglala tribe, Marie, was banished when she married Joe Lawrence. They have twin girls. Amanda takes after her father’s side while Miranda is just like her mother in looks and temperament. The girls are eighteen years old and now on their own since their parent's boating accident and are presumed dead. This is their story of finding their way and the loves of their lives.
Some notes I also want to make: The description of the book says it's about Miranda when in reality the first half is about Amanda and the second half is about Miranda. I also wish the book concentrated more on Miranda's storyline as it leads the readers back to where it all started with the Oglala tribe. Spoiler alert: Joe and Marie are not dead but have been rescued from their boating accident. At last Morning Star comes home and is able to see her father, Sun Cloud, once more. Their story ended on a nice note, but I wish the author would have expounded more on Miranda and Blazing Stars story line. We do not really know what will happen to them. Maybe this was the author's intent since we all know that it does not end well for the Oglala and all Native American tribes. It is a sad time in history. I feel if the white leaders would've kept their word and compromised more with the Native tribes, history would have been totally different. I cannot help but side with the Native Americans. They were trying to protect their way of life. It is what any other culture would have done in their place. Overall, Janelle Taylor did an excellent job depicting in her story of how harsh life was back then especially with mixed cultures. I loved the series and will miss these characters greatly.
Some notes I also want to make: The description of the book says it's about Miranda when in reality the first half is about Amanda and the second half is about Miranda. I also wish the book concentrated more on Miranda's storyline as it leads the readers back to where it all started with the Oglala tribe. Spoiler alert: Joe and Marie are not dead but have been rescued from their boating accident. At last Morning Star comes home and is able to see her father, Sun Cloud, once more. Their story ended on a nice note, but I wish the author would have expounded more on Miranda and Blazing Stars story line. We do not really know what will happen to them. Maybe this was the author's intent since we all know that it does not end well for the Oglala and all Native American tribes. It is a sad time in history. I feel if the white leaders would've kept their word and compromised more with the Native tribes, history would have been totally different. I cannot help but side with the Native Americans. They were trying to protect their way of life. It is what any other culture would have done in their place. Overall, Janelle Taylor did an excellent job depicting in her story of how harsh life was back then especially with mixed cultures. I loved the series and will miss these characters greatly.
July 29, 2019
THE WHOLE STORY WAS NOT EVEN FOCUSED ON THE MAIN CHARACTERS' ROMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT BUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THE BLURB LIED WHEN IT INTRODUCED US MIRANDA. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AMANDA & MIRANDA, FRATERNAL TWINS.
AMANDA had her story started out first and covered about 60% of the book and it wasn't a short novel at all. I didn't quite appreciate much of everything because it detracts from the main point of reading a 100% historical savage romance.
AMANDA had her story started out first and covered about 60% of the book and it wasn't a short novel at all. I didn't quite appreciate much of everything because it detracts from the main point of reading a 100% historical savage romance.
March 31, 2024
This was the last book in a 9 book series and I read all of them. They were all so good I don't want it to end. Each book had challenges, good and bad times and once you started reading it was hard to put them down. Love the way the final book ended. Love Janelle Taylor and would like to read all her books.
April 12, 2019
Great, reminded me of a combination of gone with the win, Jane Austen, Ralph Compton and others. Love the two dialogs. Could not put this book down. Wish there was a sequel but I know it could not of ended good.
March 11, 2023
I love these books!
These 9 books are a great read. There is love and all that goes with that, murder, mystery, betrayals, etc. These books have it all. If you enjoy reading about Native American Indians and their way of living, these are awesome books.
These 9 books are a great read. There is love and all that goes with that, murder, mystery, betrayals, etc. These books have it all. If you enjoy reading about Native American Indians and their way of living, these are awesome books.
May 12, 2019
BEAUTIFUL AND EDUCATING
Want to read
May 13, 2022Purchased at Booktraders NJ 1985 edition $2.00
October 30, 2023
tired of this series. finally finished!
November 20, 2014
Book 9 and the last book in the Gray Eagle series. Book 3 is my favorite book in the series and this one is now my second favorite. The book features the great granddaughters of Gray Eagle, who are the granddaughters of Sun Cloud and the half-breed daughters of Joe Lawrence and Morning Star in book 8. This book has two relationships/romances.
Amanda, the blonde twin, meets and falls in love with Reis, a secret agent for President Grant. Miranda, the dark twin, meets and falls in love with Blazing Star, an Oglala Indian warrior from her mother's tribe. What I like about both romances is the love at first sight factor. Multiple villains in the book, both in Virginia and in the Dakota Territory later on, add frequent doses of drama and mild excitement. My only real complaint with the story is the lack of definite ending/future for the two couples. A epilogue would have been nice, with a five or whatever years later type of deal.
Amanda, the blonde twin, meets and falls in love with Reis, a secret agent for President Grant. Miranda, the dark twin, meets and falls in love with Blazing Star, an Oglala Indian warrior from her mother's tribe. What I like about both romances is the love at first sight factor. Multiple villains in the book, both in Virginia and in the Dakota Territory later on, add frequent doses of drama and mild excitement. My only real complaint with the story is the lack of definite ending/future for the two couples. A epilogue would have been nice, with a five or whatever years later type of deal.
October 25, 2010
I have read the whole series... and I love the twin girls in here .... this novel just flows I couldnt put it down...: )
July 9, 2012
Love can never be endless more.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews