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Chippewa #2
Savage Innocence
Life in small-town Minnesota was too confining for an independent young woman who yearns for adventure --- so Danette leaves home to seek a new life along the rugged frontier. She never expects to find herself wrapped in the arms of Gray Wolf, the magnificent Chippewa warrior who rules the land with battle-hardened courage ... and unexpected compassion ...
Ever since he saved Danette's life, Gray Wolf knew that the alluringly free-spirited woman was meant to be his, body and soul. Just as his own mother, Lorinda, had forsaken her heritage to live among his father's people, this woman will now follow him. But danger and treachery await Danette in Gray Wolf's world, where she'll be caught between one man's passions and another's ambitions ... between betrayal and a love strong enough to liberate her heart and fulfill all her dreams ...
Ever since he saved Danette's life, Gray Wolf knew that the alluringly free-spirited woman was meant to be his, body and soul. Just as his own mother, Lorinda, had forsaken her heritage to live among his father's people, this woman will now follow him. But danger and treachery await Danette in Gray Wolf's world, where she'll be caught between one man's passions and another's ambitions ... between betrayal and a love strong enough to liberate her heart and fulfill all her dreams ...
447 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 28, 1984
1 person is currently reading
613 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Edwards
163 books419 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 2, 2019
This review is of “Savage Innocence”, book #2 in the “Chippewa” series by Cassie Edwards.
The book begins in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1879. It is here that Danette Thomas, 18, the heroine of the book, lives with her uncle, Dwight Thomas, a state senator and owner of a lumber mill. (Danette’s parents were killed in a fire when she was 10; she’s lived with her uncle since). One day, Danette is engaged in her favorite hobby, painting, when a storm comes up, spooking the horse and buggy she’s driving. Before the buggy can go into Lake Superior, Danette is saved by Gray Wolf, 20, the hero of the book and a member of the St. Croix tribe of Chippewa Indians. (Gray Wolf is the son of Lorinda Odell, a white woman, and Chief Yellow Feather, the heroine and hero of the first book in the series “Savage Obsession”). Danette and Gray Wolf fall into instalove and soon become lovers.
However, as always, their happiness is threatened by multiple entities. In “Savage Innocence”, they are:
Dwight Thomas: In addition to being a raging bigot, especially against Indians, Dwight is also concerned that Danette’s relationship will cost him both professionally and politically. Danette later learns that Dwight’s reasons for wanting to keep her close go far beyond familial. Dwight tells Danette that he killed Gray Wolf (not true). Dwight later dies in a fire that consumes most of Duluth, leaving Danette, his only living relative, heiress to his money and the lumber business.
Longbow: Another Chippewa brave from the same band as Yellow Feather and Gray Wolf, Longbow’s parents, Foolish Heart and Flying Squirrel, tried to destroy Lorinda and Yellow Feather. Now, Longbow is trying to do the same to Gray Wolf and Danette. Longbow killed Gray Wolf’s lover, Dancing Cloud, after raping her. He later commits suicide.
Raoul (no last name): A Fremchman who works with Gray Wolf as a logger, Raoul tries three times to rape Danette. He doesn’t succeed; Gray Wolf kills him after the third attempt.
After she and Gray Wolf become lovers, Danette discovers she is with child. She tragically miscarries when she has an accident in the home she shared with Dwight. Later, Longbow kidnaps Danette after killing Lorinda’s sister, Amanda (he previously killed her lover, Gray Wolf’s friend, Red Fox). Danette is rescued by Gray Wolf. Soon after, Danette discovers she is pregnant again, later giving birth to a daughter, Hope, who is shunned by Gray Wolf for not looking Indian and being a daughter. This drives a major wedge between Danette and Gray Wolf, to the point that Danette leaves him for a while to go back to Duluth.
Tragedy soon follows. Raoul tries for a second time to rape Danette-he is stopped this time by her man-of-business Charles Klein-but Hope later dies when she falls down a flight of stairs. While mourning her, Gray Wolf finally acknowledges he shunned Hope, and his reasons why. Danette forgives him and returns to the Chippewa village.
Months go by, and Danette is pregnant, again! She endures yet ANOTHER rape attempt by Raoul, who this time is killed by Gray Wolf. Danette gives birth to twin sons, making Gray Wolf happy, and she and Gray Wolf have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Danette is one of Mrs. Edwards’ strongest female characters. She has to endure:
The loss of her parents.
An evil uncle.
Five rape attempts.
Assault and battery.
A miscarriage.
Losing a daughter.
Gray Wolf (more on that later).
And still, she perseveres and survives. In many ways, Danette is more a Rosanne Bittner heroine than a Cassie Edwards one!
Downside: The biggest downside for me is Gray Wolf. His father, Yellow Feather, muttered thickly through his book. Gray Wolf growls when he’s not having sex with Danette-which is often! Gray Wolf is a self-centered, egotistical, insensitive bastard for 99% of the book. He basically wants Danette to completely renounce her white life and live with him, and gets upset most of the time when she refuses to do so. Gray Wolf views Danette as a possession, not a partner.
I REALLY didn’t like how he shunned Hope upon discovering that she looked white and was female. I have never understood why having sons is so important to some males, and I don’t understand it here.
There is way too much of the Popeye-Olive Oyl syndrome in “Savage Innocence”. Every time Danette gets in trouble-which is often-she has to rely on Gray Wolf to save her. She’s never able to get out of any difficulty without the help of a male, which is very much like a Rosanne Bittner’s heroine.
There are also WAY too many exclamation points! Seemingly after every paragraph! About everything! It’s highly annoying!
Sex: As I’ve stated before, one area I will never criticize Mrs. Edwards for is her love scenes. There are a lot of them in “Savage Innocence”, and they’re good. Not erotica level, but for a mainstream romance novel, they’re darn good!
Violence: Most of the violence is mentioned above. It is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Savage Innocence” is one of Mrs. Edwards’ better books, but is brought down by a really unlikeable hero. 3.65 stars.
The book begins in Duluth, Minnesota, in 1879. It is here that Danette Thomas, 18, the heroine of the book, lives with her uncle, Dwight Thomas, a state senator and owner of a lumber mill. (Danette’s parents were killed in a fire when she was 10; she’s lived with her uncle since). One day, Danette is engaged in her favorite hobby, painting, when a storm comes up, spooking the horse and buggy she’s driving. Before the buggy can go into Lake Superior, Danette is saved by Gray Wolf, 20, the hero of the book and a member of the St. Croix tribe of Chippewa Indians. (Gray Wolf is the son of Lorinda Odell, a white woman, and Chief Yellow Feather, the heroine and hero of the first book in the series “Savage Obsession”). Danette and Gray Wolf fall into instalove and soon become lovers.
However, as always, their happiness is threatened by multiple entities. In “Savage Innocence”, they are:
Dwight Thomas: In addition to being a raging bigot, especially against Indians, Dwight is also concerned that Danette’s relationship will cost him both professionally and politically. Danette later learns that Dwight’s reasons for wanting to keep her close go far beyond familial. Dwight tells Danette that he killed Gray Wolf (not true). Dwight later dies in a fire that consumes most of Duluth, leaving Danette, his only living relative, heiress to his money and the lumber business.
Longbow: Another Chippewa brave from the same band as Yellow Feather and Gray Wolf, Longbow’s parents, Foolish Heart and Flying Squirrel, tried to destroy Lorinda and Yellow Feather. Now, Longbow is trying to do the same to Gray Wolf and Danette. Longbow killed Gray Wolf’s lover, Dancing Cloud, after raping her. He later commits suicide.
Raoul (no last name): A Fremchman who works with Gray Wolf as a logger, Raoul tries three times to rape Danette. He doesn’t succeed; Gray Wolf kills him after the third attempt.
After she and Gray Wolf become lovers, Danette discovers she is with child. She tragically miscarries when she has an accident in the home she shared with Dwight. Later, Longbow kidnaps Danette after killing Lorinda’s sister, Amanda (he previously killed her lover, Gray Wolf’s friend, Red Fox). Danette is rescued by Gray Wolf. Soon after, Danette discovers she is pregnant again, later giving birth to a daughter, Hope, who is shunned by Gray Wolf for not looking Indian and being a daughter. This drives a major wedge between Danette and Gray Wolf, to the point that Danette leaves him for a while to go back to Duluth.
Tragedy soon follows. Raoul tries for a second time to rape Danette-he is stopped this time by her man-of-business Charles Klein-but Hope later dies when she falls down a flight of stairs. While mourning her, Gray Wolf finally acknowledges he shunned Hope, and his reasons why. Danette forgives him and returns to the Chippewa village.
Months go by, and Danette is pregnant, again! She endures yet ANOTHER rape attempt by Raoul, who this time is killed by Gray Wolf. Danette gives birth to twin sons, making Gray Wolf happy, and she and Gray Wolf have their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Danette is one of Mrs. Edwards’ strongest female characters. She has to endure:
The loss of her parents.
An evil uncle.
Five rape attempts.
Assault and battery.
A miscarriage.
Losing a daughter.
Gray Wolf (more on that later).
And still, she perseveres and survives. In many ways, Danette is more a Rosanne Bittner heroine than a Cassie Edwards one!
Downside: The biggest downside for me is Gray Wolf. His father, Yellow Feather, muttered thickly through his book. Gray Wolf growls when he’s not having sex with Danette-which is often! Gray Wolf is a self-centered, egotistical, insensitive bastard for 99% of the book. He basically wants Danette to completely renounce her white life and live with him, and gets upset most of the time when she refuses to do so. Gray Wolf views Danette as a possession, not a partner.
I REALLY didn’t like how he shunned Hope upon discovering that she looked white and was female. I have never understood why having sons is so important to some males, and I don’t understand it here.
There is way too much of the Popeye-Olive Oyl syndrome in “Savage Innocence”. Every time Danette gets in trouble-which is often-she has to rely on Gray Wolf to save her. She’s never able to get out of any difficulty without the help of a male, which is very much like a Rosanne Bittner’s heroine.
There are also WAY too many exclamation points! Seemingly after every paragraph! About everything! It’s highly annoying!
Sex: As I’ve stated before, one area I will never criticize Mrs. Edwards for is her love scenes. There are a lot of them in “Savage Innocence”, and they’re good. Not erotica level, but for a mainstream romance novel, they’re darn good!
Violence: Most of the violence is mentioned above. It is not graphic.
Bottom Line: “Savage Innocence” is one of Mrs. Edwards’ better books, but is brought down by a really unlikeable hero. 3.65 stars.
August 10, 2018
Danette, loved to paint, she was out in the wilderness doing one of her paintings when a storm was coming in, she tried to hurry back into town so her paintings wouldnt be ruined from the rain, and while doing so she was going to fast down a large hill with her horse and buggy and she started to lose control. Gray Wolf saw the danger this white woman was in so he went after her and made her jump before her horse and buggy went over the cliff into the raging water below.
Danettes uncle is involved in politics and he is involved with the lumber jacks that are taking down more and more trees and not replanting any to take their place, by doing this it is affecting the indian villages that live nearby as well as the wild life, but money talks.
Danette soon finds her self attracted to Grey Wolf and wants to pursue a relationship with him but her uncle wont have it. Because their worlds are so different they struggle to find a happy medium where they both can be happy without compromising alot.
I love Cassie Edwards and how she writes and draws me into her stories..
Danettes uncle is involved in politics and he is involved with the lumber jacks that are taking down more and more trees and not replanting any to take their place, by doing this it is affecting the indian villages that live nearby as well as the wild life, but money talks.
Danette soon finds her self attracted to Grey Wolf and wants to pursue a relationship with him but her uncle wont have it. Because their worlds are so different they struggle to find a happy medium where they both can be happy without compromising alot.
I love Cassie Edwards and how she writes and draws me into her stories..
June 24, 2024
Rating: 2.8 / 5
The plot itself is just fine, and I like both Danette and Gray Wolf as characters, and how they interact with one another and especially how they first met.
But...just...*gestures* The writing is, er...first draft-ish. Like...it's an earlier work of Cassie Edwards, so maybe it's before she got a proper handle on her writing, but it DOES need some editing to make it really good. Unfortunately, for me the writing was just a tad too distracting, and made the book feel longer than it really was.
All in all, I'd like to give it another try again someday, but for now I think I'll set it aside.
The plot itself is just fine, and I like both Danette and Gray Wolf as characters, and how they interact with one another and especially how they first met.
But...just...*gestures* The writing is, er...first draft-ish. Like...it's an earlier work of Cassie Edwards, so maybe it's before she got a proper handle on her writing, but it DOES need some editing to make it really good. Unfortunately, for me the writing was just a tad too distracting, and made the book feel longer than it really was.
All in all, I'd like to give it another try again someday, but for now I think I'll set it aside.
June 10, 2017
I tend to like Edwards' later works than her earlier ones. This one bothered me with so many things going wrong. Danette (Sweet Butterfly) should have the Indian name of Damsel in Distress for all the times that Grey Wolf rescued her from dire circumstances.
August 6, 2021
A wonderful mix of loss and love. A bit lengthy, but very entertaining read. It's nice to see realistic troubles be included, not just a happy mushy story.
September 14, 2012
This is the story of Gray Wolf, the son of Lorinda (Red Blossom)and Yellow Feather, from another book. He meets Danette, a young white niece of a politician, and they fall madly in love.
This story was painful to read. I think this is what they call a 'wallbanger', if that means you are yelling at the book and throwing it against the wall. I am one of those people that has to see things through to the end, be it a bad movie or a bad book, and sometimes authors redeem themselves. That is not the case here. The things that happen in the book just seem so ridiculous and outside the realm of possibilities. The main characters are inconsistent, sometimes you like them and sometimes you can't stand them.
Don't waste your money or your time. I gave the book 2 stars, but that was being generous. This was one of the better rated books(by this author), so I will not be reading anything else by her.
This story was painful to read. I think this is what they call a 'wallbanger', if that means you are yelling at the book and throwing it against the wall. I am one of those people that has to see things through to the end, be it a bad movie or a bad book, and sometimes authors redeem themselves. That is not the case here. The things that happen in the book just seem so ridiculous and outside the realm of possibilities. The main characters are inconsistent, sometimes you like them and sometimes you can't stand them.
Don't waste your money or your time. I gave the book 2 stars, but that was being generous. This was one of the better rated books(by this author), so I will not be reading anything else by her.
March 8, 2017
Danette is a young and romantic young girl who loves to paint. She is on her way home from an afternoon of painting when she looses control of her buggy going down hill towards the river. Then she sees him riding beside the buggy and he tells her to jump into his arms she does and is saved by a young Indian, Gray Wolf and becomes infatuated. He is her knight in shining armor. Their romance is sweet and dangerous in so many ways and partly because she is a very naive young lady.
I really liked this book.
I really liked this book.
February 19, 2015
Read everything by this author when I started reading romances. Those hot native american hero's had me swooning.
August 6, 2018
This is book 2 in the Savage Chippewa series. Thumbs up
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews