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Creed's Crossing Historical #1
A Rancher's Woman
Author I’m not a historian, but what I’ve had to learn in order to accurately write western historical fiction boggles my mind. Hundreds of hours of research have been poured into this book. From social customs, clothing, furniture, appliances, forts, government surplus, shipping boxes, cardboard, and trains, it was all researched. Even the plague that hit Bombay and the trading ships that anchored, but supposedly never picked up supplies had to be researched. So many historians have helped me along the way from the wonderful folks at BNSF Railway to the Bureau of Indian Affairs aka BIA. I’d start to write a paragraph and then spend six hours in research. A previous job had me spending hours looking at old photos and deciphering everything from plants to clothing and even possible colors. Those skills were applied to so many old western photos taken in Wyoming and of the Crow tribe for they are often more accurate than the written history of the time. It’s been a labor of love. The atrocities that we, as white men, have imposed on our Native Americans/American Indians are unforgivable. As an author I hope I can help people understand what we did to the American Indians either directly, or indirectly by our presence. The Crows have always respected their environment, the wildlife around them, held their women in high esteem, loved their children, and truly were the stewards of this great land. Mark “Many Feathers” Hunter is fictional, but he’s based on their heritage, the white man’s pressures, and human nature, which we all share. I hope he is worthy of being an Apsáalooke (Crow). A very big thank you to my friends who happen to be everything from harbormasters to ships’ captains, train engineers, modern day importers, or married to American Indians for all your help. Their ability to point me in the right direction to find necessary information and explaining things has made a huge difference. Today, most of us cannot imagine a young woman going to another city to marry a man because her father said to do it. Yet, in that day and age, women did and still do in places around the globe. My own great-grandmother’s marriage was arranged. I know from my father, she had no say-so in it. She did as her father instructed. My heart and soul went into this book and I hope you, the reader, find it a worthy of your time. It’s a cold, hard glimpse at life in the West, minus the glamour and romanticized notions that romance readers have come to expect. But through it all is a love between two people that can’t be ignored. Coddled and protected from the harsh realities of life, Malene runs away from a bad marriage by posing as a chaperone to her younger sister. A series of events soon prove she’s capable of standing on her own two feet. However, she’s not prepared to follow her heart and accept marriage from the one man who truly loves her. Many Feathers' chance encounter with a blue-eyed blonde woman sets him on a path that lands him between the white man's ways and the traditions of his people. Determined to protect his people and prove his worthiness as a suitable husband to a white woman, he stakes claim to land and establishes a ranch. But there's one outlaw focused on destroying Many Feathers and everything he's trying to accomplish. USA Today HEA Recommended The story starts in a blizzard, but the heat smouldering between the heroine and her Indian escort is better than any coal fire. I absolutely love the detail in Ayers' novel.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2013
108 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
E. Ayers
42 books20 followersE. Ayers is a true believer in love at first sight because it happened to her, she thinks everyone should find that special someone. When it happens, it's magical. Writing about that love is what she enjoys doing and when she's not spending time with her two dogs and waiting on his royal highness (the cat), she's busy writing. The official matchmaker for all the characters who wander through her brain, she likes finding just the right ones to create a story.
She writes a slice-of-life novel, the romantic slice in two characters lives. In today's world, most people have careers and responsibilities. Figuring out how to blend two separate lives into one can be a huge dilemma. No one is perfect. She brings that into what she writes.
The fantasy of a handsome hunk who will sweep the damsel off her feet and carry her off to a castle in the clouds is still there, but that castle is probably a condo. And that damsel isn't going to be persuaded by a few smooth lines.
She writes a slice-of-life novel, the romantic slice in two characters lives. In today's world, most people have careers and responsibilities. Figuring out how to blend two separate lives into one can be a huge dilemma. No one is perfect. She brings that into what she writes.
The fantasy of a handsome hunk who will sweep the damsel off her feet and carry her off to a castle in the clouds is still there, but that castle is probably a condo. And that damsel isn't going to be persuaded by a few smooth lines.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
April 27, 2014
A Rancher’s Wife
(Creek Crossing)
By
E. Ayers
In A Rancher’s Wife set in 1896, in California, New York and Wyoming, E. Ayers tackles the atrocities and race prejudice Native Americans suffered. The novel is written with compassion and sympathy for the hero White Feathers aka Mark Hunter, who holds the hand of a white child who is frightened of him and speaks to her. “Yes, I am different because I am Apsaalooke, or of the Crow tribe. I am a man. My skin is darker than yours but it is only skin.’
There is far more to White Feathers than to members of most of his tribe. He wants its members to understand they must live in a white man’s world. If he can keep them from starving on his ranch he will have done some good, but he does not want his people to lose their traditions and skills. He wants a balance between past and future for his as yet unborn children. And he wants their mother to be blue-eyed Malvena, who is pregnant when he meets and falls in love with her.
At first, Malvena, traumatised by a former husband, is frightened of White Feathers, but even if she were not, it is illegal for a white woman to marry a red man; and she knows of a red man and his white wife who could not raise their children to call them papa and mama. Besides, Malvena has to agree to her father’s arrangement for her to marry a wealthy Californian she has never met.
E. Ayers’ novel A Ranchers Woman is very well written and includes some well-turned sentences, such as. ‘A light wind whipped around him. It was as though it tried to whisper in his ear.’
I congratulate the author on presenting a large number of characters each of who are interesting and believable.
(Creek Crossing)
By
E. Ayers
In A Rancher’s Wife set in 1896, in California, New York and Wyoming, E. Ayers tackles the atrocities and race prejudice Native Americans suffered. The novel is written with compassion and sympathy for the hero White Feathers aka Mark Hunter, who holds the hand of a white child who is frightened of him and speaks to her. “Yes, I am different because I am Apsaalooke, or of the Crow tribe. I am a man. My skin is darker than yours but it is only skin.’
There is far more to White Feathers than to members of most of his tribe. He wants its members to understand they must live in a white man’s world. If he can keep them from starving on his ranch he will have done some good, but he does not want his people to lose their traditions and skills. He wants a balance between past and future for his as yet unborn children. And he wants their mother to be blue-eyed Malvena, who is pregnant when he meets and falls in love with her.
At first, Malvena, traumatised by a former husband, is frightened of White Feathers, but even if she were not, it is illegal for a white woman to marry a red man; and she knows of a red man and his white wife who could not raise their children to call them papa and mama. Besides, Malvena has to agree to her father’s arrangement for her to marry a wealthy Californian she has never met.
E. Ayers’ novel A Ranchers Woman is very well written and includes some well-turned sentences, such as. ‘A light wind whipped around him. It was as though it tried to whisper in his ear.’
I congratulate the author on presenting a large number of characters each of who are interesting and believable.
August 3, 2016
I loved the historical and domestic detail in this novel, and the insight into life on the reservation. The hero was tough and unusual, and I was rooting for him throughout. Great read!
June 20, 2021
This is a hard book to review. I liked parts of it a lot, but others not so much.
What I liked the most about it was the H. Many Feathers is a sweet man in love who does everything to get the woman he loves. He’s also very confident and sexy.
What I disliked was the h. Malene was at first whining and annoying. She got better later on, but in the last pages she was still whining. It’s a little hard to see exactly why Many Feathers loves her so much.
Which brings me to another thing I didn’t like: we never get to see when they meet or exactly what happens prior to the beginning of the book. So we don’t see him falling in love with her, or their first impressions about each other.
Another thing that bothered me was Malene’s complete lack of enthusiasm for her life with Many Feathers. Look, I get it. We all know her life won’t be easy as a white woman married to an Indian. But this is fluffy romance. Is it too much to ask the leading lady to be happy, nay, ecstatic to be marrying the man she loves and that loves her back? The man built a freaking huge house with his bare hands just for her, and at the end we have to read something like “I don’t know why but I love you”.
What I liked the most about it was the H. Many Feathers is a sweet man in love who does everything to get the woman he loves. He’s also very confident and sexy.
What I disliked was the h. Malene was at first whining and annoying. She got better later on, but in the last pages she was still whining. It’s a little hard to see exactly why Many Feathers loves her so much.
Which brings me to another thing I didn’t like: we never get to see when they meet or exactly what happens prior to the beginning of the book. So we don’t see him falling in love with her, or their first impressions about each other.
Another thing that bothered me was Malene’s complete lack of enthusiasm for her life with Many Feathers. Look, I get it. We all know her life won’t be easy as a white woman married to an Indian. But this is fluffy romance. Is it too much to ask the leading lady to be happy, nay, ecstatic to be marrying the man she loves and that loves her back? The man built a freaking huge house with his bare hands just for her, and at the end we have to read something like “I don’t know why but I love you”.
Read
November 9, 2025So the hero shoves a drunken doctor who had come to "help" the heroine with a breach birth. They're at the top of the stairs. The doctor (unsurprisingly) falls down the stairs, but this kills him. The plot moves on. There's almost no reflection in the hero's mind about this.
Also, why on earth do the heroine and her sister not report via anyone that a wanted man is in the town (ignoring the massive coincidence of him turning up in the same place that his "wife" is). And is his wanted poster not a good enough resemblance of him for other people to realise who he is?
There were quite a few things about this book that I enjoyed, but it also felt quite odd in other respects.
DNF at 46%.
Also, why on earth do the heroine and her sister not report via anyone that a wanted man is in the town (ignoring the massive coincidence of him turning up in the same place that his "wife" is). And is his wanted poster not a good enough resemblance of him for other people to realise who he is?
There were quite a few things about this book that I enjoyed, but it also felt quite odd in other respects.
DNF at 46%.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2018
Historical Fiction: A Rancher's Woman-Victorian Native American Western ( Creed's Crossing Historical Book 1)
This was an excellent book to read. It had very surprising parts to it. The author excelled in keeping love, some mystery and the depicting of racial prejudicises against the American Indian and how it was not serving any purpose at all. How a white woman and a native american could be married on the reservation but not in a christian church .
This was an excellent book to read. It had very surprising parts to it. The author excelled in keeping love, some mystery and the depicting of racial prejudicises against the American Indian and how it was not serving any purpose at all. How a white woman and a native american could be married on the reservation but not in a christian church .
February 5, 2017
Loved this book!
This is written as a sequel to a short story that E. Ayers was invited to write as part of A Sweetwater Springs Christmas. It really made the story read so much better having the background, which I accidentally, luckily, read prior to A Ranchers Woman. A love story and happy ending for two sisters in a time where tragedy lurked around each corn
This is written as a sequel to a short story that E. Ayers was invited to write as part of A Sweetwater Springs Christmas. It really made the story read so much better having the background, which I accidentally, luckily, read prior to A Ranchers Woman. A love story and happy ending for two sisters in a time where tragedy lurked around each corn
February 10, 2018
A RANCHER'S WOMAN
This was my first novel by E. Ayres, and it was not at all what I was expecting from its title. It was about the passionate love between an Indian and a beautiful white woman set during the late 1800's in Colorado. I loved this book, and found it very hard to put down.
This was my first novel by E. Ayres, and it was not at all what I was expecting from its title. It was about the passionate love between an Indian and a beautiful white woman set during the late 1800's in Colorado. I loved this book, and found it very hard to put down.
June 9, 2018
Historical Fiction: A Rancher's Woman
A great story with surprises and action galore. A lot of love by all characters created the most perfect ending.
A great story with surprises and action galore. A lot of love by all characters created the most perfect ending.
January 3, 2019
Easy read
Good story line. Makes me appreciate living now.
Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Surely sort your time.
Good story line. Makes me appreciate living now.
Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Surely sort your time.
November 14, 2019
I had some trouble with this book as it jumped around a lot, spent a lot of time on some spots and then did a quick run on others and by part 3 the Hamilton children were rarely mentioned.
November 30, 2019
Loved it!
Great read! I loved the story and how the characters had to overcome not only other's prejudices but also their own doubts and fears in order to find true love.
Great read! I loved the story and how the characters had to overcome not only other's prejudices but also their own doubts and fears in order to find true love.
May 2, 2020
Too many errors
Grammar spelling and plot issues. These take you out of the story and make reading the book troublesome. I will not read another by this author.
Grammar spelling and plot issues. These take you out of the story and make reading the book troublesome. I will not read another by this author.
October 26, 2020
An exceptional story told extremely well with great sensitivity. I could not put this book down. I now look forward to reading the other novels in the series.
March 20, 2019
This novel is amazing one of such historical accuracy that author took her time finding everything possible to make this story come out as the best it could be historically and still get that romance in it.
My mind is spinning at all that happened in this story all the historical facts the Ms. Ayers had to make sure was in here and so accurate.
I really enjoyed this novel from page one to the end. It’s not one that can’t read in one sitting.
Ms. Ayers has my absolute salute to a job well done with this story that involves so much in a story than one would expect. You can tell she put herself deeply into this story and in my book that makes her one incredible author.
I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves a good historical romance and knowledge of what the white man had done to the native Americans and in this story, it is the Crow Nation.
I would gladly give this book more than 5 stars but I can’t. I just wanted you to know it is that good.
My mind is spinning at all that happened in this story all the historical facts the Ms. Ayers had to make sure was in here and so accurate.
I really enjoyed this novel from page one to the end. It’s not one that can’t read in one sitting.
Ms. Ayers has my absolute salute to a job well done with this story that involves so much in a story than one would expect. You can tell she put herself deeply into this story and in my book that makes her one incredible author.
I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves a good historical romance and knowledge of what the white man had done to the native Americans and in this story, it is the Crow Nation.
I would gladly give this book more than 5 stars but I can’t. I just wanted you to know it is that good.
August 27, 2016
Emotional and beautiful as are all of her books. This fictional romance offers a positive but honest view of the treatment of Native American's, but it's focus is on the a romance and the strong and fascinating characters.
Pregnant Malene was abused by the man she thought was her first husband, so when she asked to chaperone her sister and future brother-in-law to his home in Creeds Crossing, she agrees. Not far into the journey, she discovers that the father of her child is already married. As Many Feathers accommpanies them from the reservation to their knew home, Malene is both attracted and repelled by this man whose life and customs are so different from her own..
After a long and tough journey in a wagon they arrived to the open arms of wonderful family from who they learrn much, including the respect of all people.
Pregnant Malene was abused by the man she thought was her first husband, so when she asked to chaperone her sister and future brother-in-law to his home in Creeds Crossing, she agrees. Not far into the journey, she discovers that the father of her child is already married. As Many Feathers accommpanies them from the reservation to their knew home, Malene is both attracted and repelled by this man whose life and customs are so different from her own..
After a long and tough journey in a wagon they arrived to the open arms of wonderful family from who they learrn much, including the respect of all people.
June 18, 2015
Convincing your head to follow your heart
I read the short story that brings Frank and Adie together and finds them traveling with a pregnant Malene across the Crowe Indian reservation in winter. It is available in the Sweetwater Springs Christmas Anthology.
This is a novel in three parts chronicling Marlene's journey from scared pregnant young woman running from an abusive husband to a loving wife and mother married to a progressive member of the Crowe Tribe. I'd have to say that Mark "Many Feathers" Hunter is one of my favorite characters. He is very patient and goes to great lengths to help Malene make her transition.
The author has an unusual writing style, jumping back and forth between characters and locations.
I read the short story that brings Frank and Adie together and finds them traveling with a pregnant Malene across the Crowe Indian reservation in winter. It is available in the Sweetwater Springs Christmas Anthology.
This is a novel in three parts chronicling Marlene's journey from scared pregnant young woman running from an abusive husband to a loving wife and mother married to a progressive member of the Crowe Tribe. I'd have to say that Mark "Many Feathers" Hunter is one of my favorite characters. He is very patient and goes to great lengths to help Malene make her transition.
The author has an unusual writing style, jumping back and forth between characters and locations.
December 26, 2020
I found this a very interesting book. It deals with a difficult time in our history, after the Indian wars but before there was much integration between settlers and the tribes. Ayers has developed the characters and brought them to life. The romances in the book are believable and the difficulties and complex problems add to the plot.
November 20, 2015
A breathtaking novel.
A true page turner in every sense of the word. Marlene became fearless as she conquered the trials that came her way. A great love story. Wonderful character's and a breathtaking plot.
A true page turner in every sense of the word. Marlene became fearless as she conquered the trials that came her way. A great love story. Wonderful character's and a breathtaking plot.
February 27, 2016
A nice unpredictable read
It. Brought to light beautiful homes and landscapes. The story was engaging as we're the characters. The funding though predictable but surprising at the sAme time.
It. Brought to light beautiful homes and landscapes. The story was engaging as we're the characters. The funding though predictable but surprising at the sAme time.
January 1, 2015
A Rancher's Woman
This was a very good book. The character's were very believable and it ended on a good note. It was to racy for me . But all in all a good read.
This was a very good book. The character's were very believable and it ended on a good note. It was to racy for me . But all in all a good read.
January 12, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I learned so much about Native American life and the hardships they endured. I loved the love story and I look forward to reading more by E. Ayers!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews