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Savage #18
Savage Love
Stranded in the West by her father's untimely death, Dayanara vows to complete his archaeological mission and uncover the monster bones of Indian legend, but a disturbingly handsome Cree chief impedes her progress.
343 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2002
About the author
Cassie Edwards
168 books428 followersEdwards began writing romances in 1982 and released her 100th novel, Savage Skies, on August 28, 2007. Although her earlier books were classic historical romances, the vast majority of her novels involve Native American tribes. Edwards's grandmother was a full-blooded Cheyenne. Her first 99 books sold a combined 10 million copies as of August 2007, with her more recent novels averaging sales of 250,000–350,000 copies.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
Edwards has won the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award and the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, as well as being named one of Affaire de Coeur's top ten favorite romance writers. Edwards has a reputation for meticulously researching the proper anthropological backgrounds of each tribe she writes about.
Edwards and her husband Charles, a retired high school biology teacher, have been married for over 50 years. They have two sons, Charles and Brian, and three grandchildren. The family lived in St. Louis, Missouri for over thirty years, but now reside in Mattoon, Illinois.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 13, 2014
This being the only Cassie Edwards book I have read, I am pleasantly surprised by how much I had enjoyed the read. Yeah, it is a romance, but it is a romance with a larger conflict fueling the plot.
Sadly, historical romances are not my thing, so as much as I enjoyed this I give it three stars. I am more of a scifi/fantasy/paranormal gal, so the story didn't hit all the spots I would have liked--I still felt hungry for more.
Sadly, historical romances are not my thing, so as much as I enjoyed this I give it three stars. I am more of a scifi/fantasy/paranormal gal, so the story didn't hit all the spots I would have liked--I still felt hungry for more.
January 24, 2019
Another great book in this series she sure can write where you feel like you are right there
March 29, 2015
I'm all for Indian romance as much as the next wanton woman. Usually the woman ends up giving up quite a bit to be with her love, but it always is made up for by the love both partners share. There's something erotic about most of these stories, so when I dug into Savage Love, I prepared myself to be savagely pleased by the tale. Boy, was I wrong.
First and foremost is the plot. Dayanara and her father have traveled with her mother to unearth monster bones, spurred on by the Smithsonian Institute. Nearby the 'bones' is the gently Cree tribe, led by the chief Running Fox, and his adopted white son Little Fox. The romance develops much too quickly without any serious reluctance to join (hence: not enough tension and conflict to keep the story appealing.) As soon as Running Fox sets his eye on Dayanara he immediately begins dreaming of her and in the first few paragraphs through his eyes, already is thinking of making her his wife. They haven't spoken yet either. He thinks to himself that his people will not approve but never gives this much thought. Dayanara of course doesn't either, not even glancing back at her old life with any regrets or indecision.
The only real villain introduced in the plot doesn't come around too often, and his turnabout at the end is rather predictable. I never held my breath in the least with the danger from him, instead of not giving a damn. Not much is explored on how Dayanara comes - or doesn't come - to be accepted by the Indian tribe either. Besides a small meeting in the hut with an unhappy woman, conflict here is explored either.
All these plot points could easily be forgiven, of course, if the story simply read better. Instead it suffered from my second reading sin: melodrama. I almost felt like honey was dripping off the pages after a time. From the unrealistic love, mushy declarations and awkward dialogue, to the lack of tension, I couldn't wait to finish this book simply so I wouldn't have to read it any longer. I hate sounding so harsh, but it really didn't suit me. Surprisingly the beginning was better than the rest of the story, which typically doesn't happen, and it did snare me up for awhile.
Character wise, none seemed real enough because of the stereotypical actions and beliefs. Dayanara seemed enthusiastic and to live for the bones and archeology, but once Running Fox was in her sight, she lost all ambitions to explore this career or anything associated with it. In fact, besides taking a day to finish with the monster bones, it's never mentioned again. I did like Little Fox, especially during an endearing picnic scene.
Sex-scene wise, there was a relatively hot moment, but without much care for the characters and without the right amount of build-up, it didn't affect me the way it usually would. The pace itself is fine for this type of book, but without any real conflict or crisis the pacing doesn't matter much. Edwards has written quite a few books, this being the sixteenth in this series, and I'm assuming her other works stand out prouder than this one. Her style of writing didn't agree with me here, as the sentences were rather short and simple, without much building up tension (romance, sexual, danger, or otherwise), and to the point with phrases brimming of melodrama. The story premise itself is a good one, I just couldn't agree with its execution.
It should be clear I wouldn't recommend this book, but I hate to steer anyone off the series or author altogether. With the number of books she has under her belt, I'm sure she's penned winners out there. Sadly, this just isn't one of them.
First and foremost is the plot. Dayanara and her father have traveled with her mother to unearth monster bones, spurred on by the Smithsonian Institute. Nearby the 'bones' is the gently Cree tribe, led by the chief Running Fox, and his adopted white son Little Fox. The romance develops much too quickly without any serious reluctance to join (hence: not enough tension and conflict to keep the story appealing.) As soon as Running Fox sets his eye on Dayanara he immediately begins dreaming of her and in the first few paragraphs through his eyes, already is thinking of making her his wife. They haven't spoken yet either. He thinks to himself that his people will not approve but never gives this much thought. Dayanara of course doesn't either, not even glancing back at her old life with any regrets or indecision.
The only real villain introduced in the plot doesn't come around too often, and his turnabout at the end is rather predictable. I never held my breath in the least with the danger from him, instead of not giving a damn. Not much is explored on how Dayanara comes - or doesn't come - to be accepted by the Indian tribe either. Besides a small meeting in the hut with an unhappy woman, conflict here is explored either.
All these plot points could easily be forgiven, of course, if the story simply read better. Instead it suffered from my second reading sin: melodrama. I almost felt like honey was dripping off the pages after a time. From the unrealistic love, mushy declarations and awkward dialogue, to the lack of tension, I couldn't wait to finish this book simply so I wouldn't have to read it any longer. I hate sounding so harsh, but it really didn't suit me. Surprisingly the beginning was better than the rest of the story, which typically doesn't happen, and it did snare me up for awhile.
Character wise, none seemed real enough because of the stereotypical actions and beliefs. Dayanara seemed enthusiastic and to live for the bones and archeology, but once Running Fox was in her sight, she lost all ambitions to explore this career or anything associated with it. In fact, besides taking a day to finish with the monster bones, it's never mentioned again. I did like Little Fox, especially during an endearing picnic scene.
Sex-scene wise, there was a relatively hot moment, but without much care for the characters and without the right amount of build-up, it didn't affect me the way it usually would. The pace itself is fine for this type of book, but without any real conflict or crisis the pacing doesn't matter much. Edwards has written quite a few books, this being the sixteenth in this series, and I'm assuming her other works stand out prouder than this one. Her style of writing didn't agree with me here, as the sentences were rather short and simple, without much building up tension (romance, sexual, danger, or otherwise), and to the point with phrases brimming of melodrama. The story premise itself is a good one, I just couldn't agree with its execution.
It should be clear I wouldn't recommend this book, but I hate to steer anyone off the series or author altogether. With the number of books she has under her belt, I'm sure she's penned winners out there. Sadly, this just isn't one of them.
December 24, 2017
Because of the writing.
November 1, 2022
I've started reading Cassie Edwards just for laughs.
This is a typical for her. Insta-love, a murderous, hateful villain whose demise comes swiftly and way too easily, a white woman adjusting to a Native American tribe's way of life as if it's nothing. It is what it is with Edwards.
Dayanara, or Day, comes to Wyoming in search of the "monster bones" that the Cree consider sacred. Her father dies. She meets a 10-year-old white child adopted by the Cree chief, Quick Fox, and named Little Fox, who takes her to the bones. Quick Fox takes her to his village. Her uncle is there to steal hops from the Cree to start a brewery business. Some back and forth happens. The uncle plans to kill Day and the Cree people. Quick Fox burns down his brewery cabin. The uncle and his men - most of whom voiced their own concerns about the plan but were bullied into staying on, as in typical Edwards fashion - attack the village. Rather than killing them, Quick Fox sends them to an island where they're to wait for a paddle boat and never come back. Of course, the uncle doesn't listen. Quick Fox and Day get married (after a very cringe-worthy sex scene). The uncle shows up and kidnaps her, planning on burying her alive, but Quick Fox, Little Fox, and the others show up to save her. The uncle is bitten by a rattlesnake, feigns death until Quick Fox is close enough, tries to strangle him, and Quick Fox stabs him.
Fifteen years later, Day is pregnant with their fifth child. All is well in the world. The end.
With Edwards, you know what you're getting. Lots of melodramatic monologues and other unrealistic dialogue. Cartoonishly evil villains. Conflict resolutions that happen over a single page or two. The villain dies. This wasn't disappointing since it lived up to my expectations as a Cassie Edwards novel, but... It's a Cassie Edwards novel, so it is disappointing.
This is a typical for her. Insta-love, a murderous, hateful villain whose demise comes swiftly and way too easily, a white woman adjusting to a Native American tribe's way of life as if it's nothing. It is what it is with Edwards.
Dayanara, or Day, comes to Wyoming in search of the "monster bones" that the Cree consider sacred. Her father dies. She meets a 10-year-old white child adopted by the Cree chief, Quick Fox, and named Little Fox, who takes her to the bones. Quick Fox takes her to his village. Her uncle is there to steal hops from the Cree to start a brewery business. Some back and forth happens. The uncle plans to kill Day and the Cree people. Quick Fox burns down his brewery cabin. The uncle and his men - most of whom voiced their own concerns about the plan but were bullied into staying on, as in typical Edwards fashion - attack the village. Rather than killing them, Quick Fox sends them to an island where they're to wait for a paddle boat and never come back. Of course, the uncle doesn't listen. Quick Fox and Day get married (after a very cringe-worthy sex scene). The uncle shows up and kidnaps her, planning on burying her alive, but Quick Fox, Little Fox, and the others show up to save her. The uncle is bitten by a rattlesnake, feigns death until Quick Fox is close enough, tries to strangle him, and Quick Fox stabs him.
Fifteen years later, Day is pregnant with their fifth child. All is well in the world. The end.
With Edwards, you know what you're getting. Lots of melodramatic monologues and other unrealistic dialogue. Cartoonishly evil villains. Conflict resolutions that happen over a single page or two. The villain dies. This wasn't disappointing since it lived up to my expectations as a Cassie Edwards novel, but... It's a Cassie Edwards novel, so it is disappointing.
September 18, 2020
Dayanara wants to complete the task that her and her father set out to do before he passed away, and that is to dig up, examine and study prehistoric monster bones and send her info. back to the Smithsonian, only one problem, these bones are on Cree indian territory and that is sacred ground.
Mean while Dayanara's uncle John has his own interests while there, he comes across a field of hops that will help his brewery. He builds a cabin near these fields not knowing he is on Cree territory and by doing so he angers the chief who promptly sets the cabin on fire.
Daynara meets this chief and grows to love him but doesnt know how a relationship would work when she wants to continue her study in old artifacts and her mother wants her to go back home to St. Louis.
John wants revenge on the chief for burning down his cabin and halting his progress with the hops and hes not exactly a loving uncle to Dayanara either, he would rather she be dead so he can get his greedy grubby hands on his brothers estate.
I love Cassie Edwards and this story was a nice escape to get lost in during these trying times.
Mean while Dayanara's uncle John has his own interests while there, he comes across a field of hops that will help his brewery. He builds a cabin near these fields not knowing he is on Cree territory and by doing so he angers the chief who promptly sets the cabin on fire.
Daynara meets this chief and grows to love him but doesnt know how a relationship would work when she wants to continue her study in old artifacts and her mother wants her to go back home to St. Louis.
John wants revenge on the chief for burning down his cabin and halting his progress with the hops and hes not exactly a loving uncle to Dayanara either, he would rather she be dead so he can get his greedy grubby hands on his brothers estate.
I love Cassie Edwards and this story was a nice escape to get lost in during these trying times.
August 16, 2021
This is one of my favorite reads from Edwards. It's a fairly simple read, but one that I find entertaining.
May 12, 2013
A very good book. Cassie Edwards writes some amazing Indian love stories that I can never get enough of. Her books are always a very promising read.
March 12, 2014
Hot,Leaves me wanting more.
August 6, 2018
Hope the rest of the books in this series is as great as this one.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews