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Gray Eagle #2
Defiant Ecstasy
The longer Alisha Williams remained at Fort Pierre, the more she hoped her redskinned lover would rescue her from the taunts and tirades of the white pioneers. They would never let her forget she had been the mistress of the infamous savage warrior, Gray Eagle. As if the auburn-haired beauty could forget! Each night, Alisha sweetly remembered Gray Eagle's bold caresses, burning kisses, his blazing passion. Each day, she scanned the vast horizon in hopes her Oglala brave would recapture her. Then one day, Alish saw hundreds of Indian warriors riding to the gates of Fort Pierre--and at their head was the fierce Gray Eagle. Though her most fervent prayers had been answered, Alisha's heart skipped a beat: Would Gray Eagle destroy her--or make her destiny his own?
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
78 people are currently reading
502 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 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 27, 2022
This pointless book seriously gave me a headache. All the hero had to do was reveal he spoke English to the heroine and clear up any misconceptions she might have had about his motives and the whole conflict they went through would never have happened. I just can't.
Apparently, Grey Eagle wanted to wait to make this revelation until the very last second because he wanted Alisha to trust and understand him first. (Because we all know how easily trust and understanding come when you don't communicate with someone at all. /s)
Not to mention that Alisha is one of the most paranoid heroines of all time. All you have to do is look at her wrong and she'll literally think you're plotting her demise. You'd think that with the number of times Alisha assumes something terrible about Grey Eagle, screams she hates him and makes an attempt to flee he'd catch on and realize his master plan of saying nothing and just hoping for the best isn't exactly working, but he never does.
He really needed to just verbally have it out with her and tell her he loved her way earlier. Anything less than that makes her think she's hated by him. Even when she discovers the betrayal that separated them at the beginning of the book wasn't Grey Eagle's fault, she's still convinced he's just motivated by hate and ego for some reason, despite the fact that she was thoroughly convinced of his love a couple of days ago until said "betrayal." Bottom line, Alisha has absolutely no critical thinking skills and needs to be spoon-fed information.
She's the most paranoid person alive and he's the most uncommunicative person alive. They are a terrible match.
I'm usually rooting for the villain to get the girl, but honestly, in Defiant Ecstasy, I was baffled that Powchutu didn't end up being Alisha's love interest. He was the only man who kept an open dialogue with Alisha, who shared his feelings with her, who was one hundred percent unswervingly loyal to her the entire novel. They shared such intimacy during their scenes so their ending up together makes perfect sense.
The first book was bearable and I remember actually finding Grey Eagle somewhat interesting, but anything that was good about that novel is completely missing here.
TW: dubious consent
Apparently, Grey Eagle wanted to wait to make this revelation until the very last second because he wanted Alisha to trust and understand him first. (Because we all know how easily trust and understanding come when you don't communicate with someone at all. /s)
Not to mention that Alisha is one of the most paranoid heroines of all time. All you have to do is look at her wrong and she'll literally think you're plotting her demise. You'd think that with the number of times Alisha assumes something terrible about Grey Eagle, screams she hates him and makes an attempt to flee he'd catch on and realize his master plan of saying nothing and just hoping for the best isn't exactly working, but he never does.
He really needed to just verbally have it out with her and tell her he loved her way earlier. Anything less than that makes her think she's hated by him. Even when she discovers the betrayal that separated them at the beginning of the book wasn't Grey Eagle's fault, she's still convinced he's just motivated by hate and ego for some reason, despite the fact that she was thoroughly convinced of his love a couple of days ago until said "betrayal." Bottom line, Alisha has absolutely no critical thinking skills and needs to be spoon-fed information.
She's the most paranoid person alive and he's the most uncommunicative person alive. They are a terrible match.
I'm usually rooting for the villain to get the girl, but honestly, in Defiant Ecstasy, I was baffled that Powchutu didn't end up being Alisha's love interest. He was the only man who kept an open dialogue with Alisha, who shared his feelings with her, who was one hundred percent unswervingly loyal to her the entire novel. They shared such intimacy during their scenes so their ending up together makes perfect sense.
The first book was bearable and I remember actually finding Grey Eagle somewhat interesting, but anything that was good about that novel is completely missing here.
TW: dubious consent
June 25, 2010
This is one of my favorite books in the Ecstasy series. I love the way that Gray Eagle fights for Alisha and tries to make things right for her. And the ending is amazing and well written!
February 19, 2017
This review is of “Defiant Ecstasy”, (“Ecstasy/Gray Eagle”, #2) by Janelle Taylor.
The Story: “Defiant Ecstasy” begins by filling in details of what occurred at the end of the first book, “Savage Ecstasy”. Gray Eagle, the “hero” of the series, shows up at Fort Pierre with 2,000 Indian warriors behind him. He has a demand for the denizens of Fort Pierre: Release his white lover, Alisha Katrina Williams, the heroine of the book, to him, or he and his warriors will destroy the fort and everyone in it. After some contentious debate, the Army decides to send Alisha back to Gray Eagle.
Gray Eagle and Alisha are both happy with the decision (Gray Eagle orders his braves to destroy the fort, anyway, as payback for how the soldiers and others in the fort treated Alisha), and for a while, they are happy. Two events, however, happen to shatter their happiness.
The first: Gray Eagle’s “betrothed”, a Lakota woman named Chela, tries to kill Alisha. Gray Eagle stops this from occurring. What he can’t stop, at least immediately, is the second event: a plan by an Blackfoot woman, who concocts a scheme that Alisha isn’t really Alisha Williams, English expat, but Princess Shalee, a half-white, half-Blackfoot woman who was abducted years earlier.As part of the scheme, Alisha is taken out of the Lakota village and to a Blackfoot village to marry Shalee’s betrothed, a Blackfoot warrior named Brave Bear.
While in the Blackfoot camp, Alisha begins having romantic feelings toward Brave Bear, who treats her with the kindness that Gray Eagle doesn’t. Gray Eagle, however, refuses to give Alisha up and challenges Brave Bear for the right to marry her. Gray Eagle defeats Brave Bear, but, at Alisha’s urging, does not kill him. As they prepare to join, Gray Eagle and Alisha are plagued with problems, most of which are self-inflicted.
Some of these issues are eventually resolved, Alisha and Gray Eagle marry and are happy...for now anyway.
Upside: Mrs. Taylor’s evocative, flowing writing style is on display here, as she brought me into the world of Gray Eagle and Alisha. The characters are well-developed.
Downside: Having already established Gray Eagle as a emotional/physical abuser/rapist, Mrs. Taylor spends much of “Defiant Ecstasy” trying to rehabilitate him. For some, it might work. For me...not at all. While I don’t believe it is necessarily fair to judge someone solely by one action-or a series of actions-Gray Eagle shows no remorse for his behavior; in fact he blames Alisha for what he has done to her! And Alisha, on occasion, agrees with him! Not good.
Sex: Very little in the way of love scenes, and those that do happen are typically mild and flowery in the Janelle Taylor style.
Violence: The sacking of Fort Pierre occurs “offscreen”. Gray Eagle and Brave Bear’s fight is only mildly graphic.
Bottom Line: I am a fan of Mrs. Taylor, but I totally repudiate her efforts to try to defend/excuse/justify Gray Eagle’s behavior.
The Story: “Defiant Ecstasy” begins by filling in details of what occurred at the end of the first book, “Savage Ecstasy”. Gray Eagle, the “hero” of the series, shows up at Fort Pierre with 2,000 Indian warriors behind him. He has a demand for the denizens of Fort Pierre: Release his white lover, Alisha Katrina Williams, the heroine of the book, to him, or he and his warriors will destroy the fort and everyone in it. After some contentious debate, the Army decides to send Alisha back to Gray Eagle.
Gray Eagle and Alisha are both happy with the decision (Gray Eagle orders his braves to destroy the fort, anyway, as payback for how the soldiers and others in the fort treated Alisha), and for a while, they are happy. Two events, however, happen to shatter their happiness.
The first: Gray Eagle’s “betrothed”, a Lakota woman named Chela, tries to kill Alisha. Gray Eagle stops this from occurring. What he can’t stop, at least immediately, is the second event: a plan by an Blackfoot woman, who concocts a scheme that Alisha isn’t really Alisha Williams, English expat, but Princess Shalee, a half-white, half-Blackfoot woman who was abducted years earlier.As part of the scheme, Alisha is taken out of the Lakota village and to a Blackfoot village to marry Shalee’s betrothed, a Blackfoot warrior named Brave Bear.
While in the Blackfoot camp, Alisha begins having romantic feelings toward Brave Bear, who treats her with the kindness that Gray Eagle doesn’t. Gray Eagle, however, refuses to give Alisha up and challenges Brave Bear for the right to marry her. Gray Eagle defeats Brave Bear, but, at Alisha’s urging, does not kill him. As they prepare to join, Gray Eagle and Alisha are plagued with problems, most of which are self-inflicted.
Some of these issues are eventually resolved, Alisha and Gray Eagle marry and are happy...for now anyway.
Upside: Mrs. Taylor’s evocative, flowing writing style is on display here, as she brought me into the world of Gray Eagle and Alisha. The characters are well-developed.
Downside: Having already established Gray Eagle as a emotional/physical abuser/rapist, Mrs. Taylor spends much of “Defiant Ecstasy” trying to rehabilitate him. For some, it might work. For me...not at all. While I don’t believe it is necessarily fair to judge someone solely by one action-or a series of actions-Gray Eagle shows no remorse for his behavior; in fact he blames Alisha for what he has done to her! And Alisha, on occasion, agrees with him! Not good.
Sex: Very little in the way of love scenes, and those that do happen are typically mild and flowery in the Janelle Taylor style.
Violence: The sacking of Fort Pierre occurs “offscreen”. Gray Eagle and Brave Bear’s fight is only mildly graphic.
Bottom Line: I am a fan of Mrs. Taylor, but I totally repudiate her efforts to try to defend/excuse/justify Gray Eagle’s behavior.
June 4, 2015
Exciting Second in the Gray Eagle Series
Having read the first in the series, I could not wait to dive into the second. This is the continuation of the love story between Alisha Williams, a sheltered innocent raised in England to be a young lady, and Gray Eagle, son of the Oglala chief. Set in the Dakotas, it continues from Savage Ecstasy, which began in 1776.
I thought Taylor’s ability to keep the conflict, action and mystery going into this second book was brilliant. And very difficult to do. After all, we know that Gray Eagle wants Alisha and when Savage Ecstasy ended, he was getting her back after the “blue coats” had “rescued” her and were now forced to give her back to Gray Eagle. After two sweet days together, Alisha is told she bears a mark that makes her the missing daughter of the chief of the Blackfeet tribe. But how could that be?
As the newly discovered daughter of Black Cloud, Alisha is now “Shalee” and promised to wed the chief’s son. Gray Eagle is determined to take back what is his. But how will he do it? Thus begins an adventure you will not want to miss.
Like the first in the series, this is a compelling story I could not put down, and this one perhaps brings a more satisfying “end” to the romance of Alisha and Gray Eagle, but there is more. This is the first in the 9 book the Gray Eagle series, the first four of which comprise the story of Gray Eagle and Alisha:
Savage Ecstasy
Defiant Ecstasy
Forbidden Ecstasy
Brazen Ecstasy
Tender Ecstasy
Stolen Ecstasy
Bittersweet Ecstasy
Forever Ecstasy
Savage Conquest
Having read the first in the series, I could not wait to dive into the second. This is the continuation of the love story between Alisha Williams, a sheltered innocent raised in England to be a young lady, and Gray Eagle, son of the Oglala chief. Set in the Dakotas, it continues from Savage Ecstasy, which began in 1776.
I thought Taylor’s ability to keep the conflict, action and mystery going into this second book was brilliant. And very difficult to do. After all, we know that Gray Eagle wants Alisha and when Savage Ecstasy ended, he was getting her back after the “blue coats” had “rescued” her and were now forced to give her back to Gray Eagle. After two sweet days together, Alisha is told she bears a mark that makes her the missing daughter of the chief of the Blackfeet tribe. But how could that be?
As the newly discovered daughter of Black Cloud, Alisha is now “Shalee” and promised to wed the chief’s son. Gray Eagle is determined to take back what is his. But how will he do it? Thus begins an adventure you will not want to miss.
Like the first in the series, this is a compelling story I could not put down, and this one perhaps brings a more satisfying “end” to the romance of Alisha and Gray Eagle, but there is more. This is the first in the 9 book the Gray Eagle series, the first four of which comprise the story of Gray Eagle and Alisha:
Savage Ecstasy
Defiant Ecstasy
Forbidden Ecstasy
Brazen Ecstasy
Tender Ecstasy
Stolen Ecstasy
Bittersweet Ecstasy
Forever Ecstasy
Savage Conquest
November 15, 2016
I wanted to punch Grey Eagle in the junk - all the way through...
April 8, 2024
Possibly one of the most annoying and disappointing series I’ve ever attempted to read. DNF’ed at 83% when I realized I no longer cared what happened and didn’t even want to skim the rest of it.🤷♀️
Never in my life have I ever disliked an MMC and FMC more. I can’t bring myself to root for them to be together, but I also don’t like either one of them enough to root for them singularly either. She’s incredibly stupid saying she loves a man whom she’s never communicated with to get to know (which is only his fault since he speaks English and has hidden this fact from her over the span of TWO books). She literally knows only rape and torture from this man, with the exception of maybe a handful of surprise orgasms, but she LOVES him so much?! And amidst her “loving” him so much she’s also constantly trying to get away from him, but begging and pleading if he could only love her a little. He is constantly doing cruel shit to her that he claims he’s forced to do because she’s white and his prisoner even though every single time he regrets it and concedes that he should have handled things differently. Yet every subsequent time he chooses cruelty AGAIN, only to regret it again and vows to do things differently next time. It’s a never ending cycle. Not to mention, most, if not all, of it could be avoided if he’d just speak to her in English (which he knows fluently) and explain the rules and hierarchy of the tribe. This entire book/series is built on miscommunication and misunderstandings. It’s frustrating to the point of nausea. I refuse to spend anymore money on this wattpad of a story that’s just dragging the reader along with no satisfying elements whatsoever. There are no redeeming qualities for it and in no way would I ever recommend this to anyone for any reason.
Save yourself the headache and skip this shit. ✌️
Never in my life have I ever disliked an MMC and FMC more. I can’t bring myself to root for them to be together, but I also don’t like either one of them enough to root for them singularly either. She’s incredibly stupid saying she loves a man whom she’s never communicated with to get to know (which is only his fault since he speaks English and has hidden this fact from her over the span of TWO books). She literally knows only rape and torture from this man, with the exception of maybe a handful of surprise orgasms, but she LOVES him so much?! And amidst her “loving” him so much she’s also constantly trying to get away from him, but begging and pleading if he could only love her a little. He is constantly doing cruel shit to her that he claims he’s forced to do because she’s white and his prisoner even though every single time he regrets it and concedes that he should have handled things differently. Yet every subsequent time he chooses cruelty AGAIN, only to regret it again and vows to do things differently next time. It’s a never ending cycle. Not to mention, most, if not all, of it could be avoided if he’d just speak to her in English (which he knows fluently) and explain the rules and hierarchy of the tribe. This entire book/series is built on miscommunication and misunderstandings. It’s frustrating to the point of nausea. I refuse to spend anymore money on this wattpad of a story that’s just dragging the reader along with no satisfying elements whatsoever. There are no redeeming qualities for it and in no way would I ever recommend this to anyone for any reason.
Save yourself the headache and skip this shit. ✌️
October 17, 2025
This was a thrifted book pick up. I used to love these star cross lovers in the west during its wild days of conflict between Native American peoples and settlers. I blame it on reading true accounts of white settlers taken captive and making a life with one of the many tribes while I was in high school.
In the past I've read historical romance of this type and it was filled with historical facts and the nuances of the different tribes. This is not that book.
This book was different. First it is a part of a series that follows the same couple. It starts well into the story and only does the bare minimum to build the back story for anyone who stumbled into it without knowing there was a book one. It reads like this book's first chapter is the 60th chapter of a longer book and spoiler after 400ish pages there's a part three ....😳 and sadly it's not a story that leaves you yearning for more.
Second, there's way too much telling and less showing. This may be because of the lack of conversation between characters due to language barriers but there's a better way to show it. It reads like stream-of -conscience. But if she had included their physical actions as they try to communicate. No there's a lot of she saw it on his face (half the time he's stoic).
Third, it's in third person which I'm totally fine with but shifts perspectives so often I had to go back numerous times to see who's thoughts I've just read. Then there's a ton of , for which he would soon regret, if only he'd taken this moment to xyz it would have saved her so much pain to come. uhg there are better ways to foreshadow.
Fourth, the entirety of the huge problems in the relationship that drives the entire book could 100% be solved in a single conversation. Also, there is not one, not two, not three but four men willing to do anything to have her. One of which you start liking way better than the MMC and it has so much more in the way of a healthy and respectful relationship than the main story line. To the point where I'm like this is way better for her and it's one of the only times I have even been okay with the love interest changing in a series when I wasn't aware of the other character's existence. And because our girl is into toxic a relationship with a man she's never had an actual conversation with but knows him intimately she's torn, which gives you whiplash.She has whiplash emotions and feeling and runs on and on talking to the MMC when she thinks he can't understand her. To clarify, he can, for two whole books this man knows English well enough to understand and her and when he finally speaks to her at the end of this book he's a perfect English speaker.
Fifth, there are tons of native words that are never explained because I'm assuming we find the meaning of the words in book one? The main male character literally puts off speaking to her or having the one person in the book who knows English explain things to her again and again. Each time it leads to bad things. He never learns.
Sixth, he has done horrible things to her in the name of his honor in front of his people in the previous book and little here. While the other man who holds the same position in another tribe has no issue treating her better. This is explained away because of an event in the book that changes her status but he didn't know her prior to this. When he meets her he says he would have her as wife even if her status was the. same. Literally never spoke to her in a language she understands.
Seventh, in the end the mmc tells her everything was her fault though he's sorry she brought it all on herself. She saved his life and set him free in book one and he paid her back by killing everyone and taking her captive. He tells her a story about something the settlers did from that fort and in it he talks about murder and rape. She replies he did the same to her by murdering her people and raping her. To which he replied " well I did it in love and I was gentle". They did it with hate and murder. To which she just accepts as true. Now without reading the first book we don't know if he seduced her or if it was rape ( meaning she was unwilling the whole time. Yes I know! No means no. I'm just saying if somewhere in there she said yes at some point) There is no context or further discussion for us as the reader to really know what happened. We do know that she "loved him at first sight" and he loved her at first sight. We know she goes from hating him and loving him over and over. I get that the author intends for you to see how close hate is to love in the strength of the emotion that they are often confused with one another. But she goes from choosing one man over him to on the next breath clarifying she has no choice. she is just so inconstant. He loves her so much but refuses to talk to her for two whole books and he beats her to save face. He lets another man strip her naked and gives no comfort or explanation as he and another man look under her dress and the third holds her still. He literally thinks Oh I wish I could comfort her or oh I wish I was comforting her instead of so and so. He denies her her only friend because he's jealous (book one) but accepts another as her friend later. I looked on Kindle and sadly downloaded book one before I realized how bad book two was. The premise it leads with is not how the book really plays out. it's literally the first two chapters. It makes it seem like she is at a fort (she is) longing for her native brave to come and steal her back from the people of the fort. She flips out when he arrives and is legitimately terrified and angry that they give her up as a peace offering. Then once she's alone with him she is all I love him and they go back to being lovers . They have two days together mending the relationship (note not a single conversation) but they get torn apart again. They are apart for maybe five days to a week and she is being courted by this other brave and he's amazing. But she believes she's been sold and has learned that she needs to be agreeable in order not to be whipped or treated badly so she is sweet to him and then realizes he's amazing and she is accepted her and the tribe is kind ( the other was not) and she could be happy here. MMC shoes up and she freaks out. she has already decided in her mind to accept the new brave and let him have her body. the only reason is he stops because he plans to marry her in a joining ceremony. She has no idea. Because of a change in a certain situation the MMC is now willing to make her his wife when before he couldn't or wouldn't.
In short this story is a mess. I was so fed up with the conversation they have in the end I think I skipped the last two pages and tossed the book. Book three apparently starts with him leaving her in the night or something. She feels betrayed etc. I just glanced because these descriptions only tell you how the story starts with no hint of where it's going. Today this would be described as him letting her slip away, again, and is now in danger of losing her to another man unashamed to claim her before everyone.
I'm sorry about this being all over the place. I read at night when I'm unwell and this was a total waste of time I kept hoping would get better. I'm hoping I can return book one. lol which I haven't read.
In the past I've read historical romance of this type and it was filled with historical facts and the nuances of the different tribes. This is not that book.
This book was different. First it is a part of a series that follows the same couple. It starts well into the story and only does the bare minimum to build the back story for anyone who stumbled into it without knowing there was a book one. It reads like this book's first chapter is the 60th chapter of a longer book and spoiler after 400ish pages there's a part three ....😳 and sadly it's not a story that leaves you yearning for more.
Second, there's way too much telling and less showing. This may be because of the lack of conversation between characters due to language barriers but there's a better way to show it. It reads like stream-of -conscience. But if she had included their physical actions as they try to communicate. No there's a lot of she saw it on his face (half the time he's stoic).
Third, it's in third person which I'm totally fine with but shifts perspectives so often I had to go back numerous times to see who's thoughts I've just read. Then there's a ton of , for which he would soon regret, if only he'd taken this moment to xyz it would have saved her so much pain to come. uhg there are better ways to foreshadow.
Fourth, the entirety of the huge problems in the relationship that drives the entire book could 100% be solved in a single conversation. Also, there is not one, not two, not three but four men willing to do anything to have her. One of which you start liking way better than the MMC and it has so much more in the way of a healthy and respectful relationship than the main story line. To the point where I'm like this is way better for her and it's one of the only times I have even been okay with the love interest changing in a series when I wasn't aware of the other character's existence. And because our girl is into toxic a relationship with a man she's never had an actual conversation with but knows him intimately she's torn, which gives you whiplash.She has whiplash emotions and feeling and runs on and on talking to the MMC when she thinks he can't understand her. To clarify, he can, for two whole books this man knows English well enough to understand and her and when he finally speaks to her at the end of this book he's a perfect English speaker.
Fifth, there are tons of native words that are never explained because I'm assuming we find the meaning of the words in book one? The main male character literally puts off speaking to her or having the one person in the book who knows English explain things to her again and again. Each time it leads to bad things. He never learns.
Sixth, he has done horrible things to her in the name of his honor in front of his people in the previous book and little here. While the other man who holds the same position in another tribe has no issue treating her better. This is explained away because of an event in the book that changes her status but he didn't know her prior to this. When he meets her he says he would have her as wife even if her status was the. same. Literally never spoke to her in a language she understands.
Seventh, in the end the mmc tells her everything was her fault though he's sorry she brought it all on herself. She saved his life and set him free in book one and he paid her back by killing everyone and taking her captive. He tells her a story about something the settlers did from that fort and in it he talks about murder and rape. She replies he did the same to her by murdering her people and raping her. To which he replied " well I did it in love and I was gentle". They did it with hate and murder. To which she just accepts as true. Now without reading the first book we don't know if he seduced her or if it was rape ( meaning she was unwilling the whole time. Yes I know! No means no. I'm just saying if somewhere in there she said yes at some point) There is no context or further discussion for us as the reader to really know what happened. We do know that she "loved him at first sight" and he loved her at first sight. We know she goes from hating him and loving him over and over. I get that the author intends for you to see how close hate is to love in the strength of the emotion that they are often confused with one another. But she goes from choosing one man over him to on the next breath clarifying she has no choice. she is just so inconstant. He loves her so much but refuses to talk to her for two whole books and he beats her to save face. He lets another man strip her naked and gives no comfort or explanation as he and another man look under her dress and the third holds her still. He literally thinks Oh I wish I could comfort her or oh I wish I was comforting her instead of so and so. He denies her her only friend because he's jealous (book one) but accepts another as her friend later. I looked on Kindle and sadly downloaded book one before I realized how bad book two was. The premise it leads with is not how the book really plays out. it's literally the first two chapters. It makes it seem like she is at a fort (she is) longing for her native brave to come and steal her back from the people of the fort. She flips out when he arrives and is legitimately terrified and angry that they give her up as a peace offering. Then once she's alone with him she is all I love him and they go back to being lovers . They have two days together mending the relationship (note not a single conversation) but they get torn apart again. They are apart for maybe five days to a week and she is being courted by this other brave and he's amazing. But she believes she's been sold and has learned that she needs to be agreeable in order not to be whipped or treated badly so she is sweet to him and then realizes he's amazing and she is accepted her and the tribe is kind ( the other was not) and she could be happy here. MMC shoes up and she freaks out. she has already decided in her mind to accept the new brave and let him have her body. the only reason is he stops because he plans to marry her in a joining ceremony. She has no idea. Because of a change in a certain situation the MMC is now willing to make her his wife when before he couldn't or wouldn't.
In short this story is a mess. I was so fed up with the conversation they have in the end I think I skipped the last two pages and tossed the book. Book three apparently starts with him leaving her in the night or something. She feels betrayed etc. I just glanced because these descriptions only tell you how the story starts with no hint of where it's going. Today this would be described as him letting her slip away, again, and is now in danger of losing her to another man unashamed to claim her before everyone.
I'm sorry about this being all over the place. I read at night when I'm unwell and this was a total waste of time I kept hoping would get better. I'm hoping I can return book one. lol which I haven't read.
November 20, 2014
This second book in the series picks up where the last left off. Alisha is still Gray Eagle's white who- I mean captive. He's still pretending to not know English. White Arrow and Powchutu still have the hots for her. There are lots of misunderstandings, manipulations and emotional pain for Alisha. The main plot of this book is that Alisha is taken from Gray Eagle by the chief of another tribe when he claims that she is his long lost missing half-breed daughter. She goes from being a white slave in one moment to becoming the beloved Indian princess, Shalee, in the next. And of course, Gray Eagle isn't having that! Determined to get her back, he follows her to the other Indian camp, still not telling her he speaks English, and determined to get her back no matter what it takes.
October 1, 2015
Having enjoyed 'Savage Ecstasy' I was looking forward to 'Defiant' but I was surprised that the first 70 or so pages were just the end of the previous book in more detail!
I enjoyed parts of this book but Alisha's rambling thoughts, constant weeping, doubts and again the endless collection of "I hate you's" started to really get on my nerves.
Plus I still can't believe the 'misunderstandings' were dragged out yet again, and again it's long, over long and yet despite all this I can see me reading 'Forbidden'
Why?
I've no idea but something about these two draws me in and I want to finish their story but the authors not helping at all.
March 3, 2014
I gave this book three stars because it started off good and the last chapter was good, but the middle of this book was annoying. The character Lese went back to her self of he doesn't love me and all the whining. It got really a bad even worse toward the end and then on the second to the last chapter she is finally starting to realize stuff and by the last of the chapter he finally admitted that he could speak her language. I was highly disappointed in how the characters evolved in this book. I would give this book more a two point five if possible.
December 24, 2014
This is as far as I'll go with this series.
This whole book was a repeat of the same concept - GE wants her back, she's afraid/upset/angry at him while some other dude falls for her with the smiling and poor little ol' me who was abused act... and it seems this theme continues with the next book, and if that's not enough they'll apperently have a son who'll continue with the same mind set of "not I can't like her - she's white" and so on the problems will repeat
No more, I can't take it.
This whole book was a repeat of the same concept - GE wants her back, she's afraid/upset/angry at him while some other dude falls for her with the smiling and poor little ol' me who was abused act... and it seems this theme continues with the next book, and if that's not enough they'll apperently have a son who'll continue with the same mind set of "not I can't like her - she's white" and so on the problems will repeat
No more, I can't take it.
February 22, 2012
YES, I like this book very much, it made a great sequel from the first book. I like how he went after her and brought her back to his village. Very sexy...the ending was GREAT.
I did read this several times too...great on a rainy day. After this book I did get tired of the "misunderstandings" between them. Or how dumb Alshia is in the 3rd book....
I did read this several times too...great on a rainy day. After this book I did get tired of the "misunderstandings" between them. Or how dumb Alshia is in the 3rd book....
March 7, 2013
I love all of the books in this series but I sometimes wander just how much a woman can take and still be able to love a man. I'm sure there are people who can find love this strong but luckily I haven't.
April 4, 2018
Ugh, this was such a frustrating book. I felt like it was just saying the same things over and over. I remember now why I stopped reading this series after book two. Why did I put myself through reading this a second time? Blahhhhh.
October 17, 2011
Juvenile writing, ok story.
Read
September 28, 2013I am very interested in reading all of the books beginning with Savage Ecstasy series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2013
I hate foreshadowing in most fiction books! It bothers me because it breaks the readers internal picture. In some suspense books it may be useful, but I found that in this book it was unnecessary.
October 12, 2014
an ok read
July 23, 2021
This second book is the continuation of the first one, Savage Ecstasy. This series is not your mushy romance.... It is a realistic view of the times the characters lived. It is also a great love story. There is much angst and mistrust between Gray Eagle and Alisha. Gray Eagle could not change the ways of a warrior/future chief and Alisha had to learn what that meant in order to understand his position and culture. Gray Eagle, himself, was torn because he loved a white woman (an enemy) and it warred with him as a warrior. Alisha not understanding the Oglala language, was a great barrier, but would not have been so bad if Gray Eagle had told her, he spoke English very well. Both had real trust issues. He was backed into a corner many times by Alisha's actions and had no choice but to punish her in order for her to be accepted by his people. Just when you thought everything was going to work out something else happened. It never seemed as if things would work out. The author did a great job of keeping you guessing. I won’t give it away so that you will read it for yourself. I highly recommend it.
March 16, 2025
Oldes but goodies
The first book was great and kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen around the next corner, I couldn't wait to buy the second book and I have just finished it and it was wonderful I've never been one to write a review and tell everything that's in the book so I'm not going to start now you will just have to read for your self. Janelle Taylor's work is well known especially to us much older ladies that still like a good romance with a open mind and know how things were in the time set ,the authors words flow so smoothly you forget you're reading a book and you're beginning to be the book to me she is that good of a author. Time for number three. Happy Reading
The first book was great and kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen around the next corner, I couldn't wait to buy the second book and I have just finished it and it was wonderful I've never been one to write a review and tell everything that's in the book so I'm not going to start now you will just have to read for your self. Janelle Taylor's work is well known especially to us much older ladies that still like a good romance with a open mind and know how things were in the time set ,the authors words flow so smoothly you forget you're reading a book and you're beginning to be the book to me she is that good of a author. Time for number three. Happy Reading
April 9, 2024
GRAMMAS PORCH BOX
When I was 16 years old, my grandmother had a box of what my father called smut books on her front porch. It was a huge porch.
I pulled savage ecstasy out of it and was hooked from day one . I love this series so much and I wish it was available on Audible so I can hear it but I feel like it might ruin it for me.
It’s one of the best books I have ever read, and it reminds me of my grandmother
When I was 16 years old, my grandmother had a box of what my father called smut books on her front porch. It was a huge porch.
I pulled savage ecstasy out of it and was hooked from day one . I love this series so much and I wish it was available on Audible so I can hear it but I feel like it might ruin it for me.
It’s one of the best books I have ever read, and it reminds me of my grandmother
May 6, 2020
Defiant Ecstasy
I have since the day in the smokehouse when I branded you mine with my teeth. I will love you always. I will never forsake you in life or death. I will always protect you, even with my life. I will rule you justly. I will provide for you and with the help of the Great Spirit, I give you children.”
I have since the day in the smokehouse when I branded you mine with my teeth. I will love you always. I will never forsake you in life or death. I will always protect you, even with my life. I will rule you justly. I will provide for you and with the help of the Great Spirit, I give you children.”
February 6, 2020
An epic tale.
There is so much detail in Janelles books it's amazing. I had a hard time reading everything I wanted to rush to the end to see what happened!
There is so much detail in Janelles books it's amazing. I had a hard time reading everything I wanted to rush to the end to see what happened!
June 10, 2020
I'll use a quote from a Megan Hart book for this one.
" Sometimes a book is just had because it's bad,
But sometimes a book is good because it's bad. "
" Sometimes a book is just had because it's bad,
But sometimes a book is good because it's bad. "
June 8, 2021
Finally!
It's amazing how much writing styles have changed over the decades! These two continuously buttons heads to where it gets to be a bit much.
It's amazing how much writing styles have changed over the decades! These two continuously buttons heads to where it gets to be a bit much.
March 6, 2022
Indian romance
!long and drawn out story. It just kept repeating the Sam events over just different day.. Same arguments just in different chapterz
!long and drawn out story. It just kept repeating the Sam events over just different day.. Same arguments just in different chapterz
September 16, 2022
As amazing as book 1
This was a great sequel...so much heart he and pain, so much love and happiness...I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I got happy...need I say more?...
This was a great sequel...so much heart he and pain, so much love and happiness...I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I got happy...need I say more?...
December 21, 2022
I'm still interested
I could not put the book down, wanted to see the girl happy, and where the story led me to.. oh to the next book
I could not put the book down, wanted to see the girl happy, and where the story led me to.. oh to the next book
Read
March 28, 2023Copy I have is signed by the author so keeping in my library.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
Love author Janelle Taylor
Can't hardly put down any of the many books she has written. And I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series.
Can't hardly put down any of the many books she has written. And I can hardly wait to read the next book in this series.
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