Comanche Heart (Comanche, #2) in Alpha Heroes & Spitfire Heroines

Jan 04, 2009 Auntee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2009_reads, made_me_cry, keepers, catherine-anderson, historical-romance-american

Loved it. Loooved it. Yes I know, it wasn't "Comanche Moon", which IMO is Catherine Anderson's epic romance, and it would be hard to compete with that one. This one was a little different, more of a straight romance between two people who haven't seen each other in 15 years, since they were kids. Both Amy and Swift Antelope(Lopez) have each been through hell during those years and changed so much, I wasn't sure if they could recapture the young love they had when they were a mostly carefree 12 y Loved it. Loooved it. Yes I know, it wasn't "Comanche Moon", which IMO is Catherine Anderson's epic romance, and it would be hard to compete with that one. This one was a little different, more of a straight romance between two people who haven't seen each other in 15 years, since they were kids. Both Amy and Swift Antelope(Lopez) have each been through hell during those years and changed so much, I wasn't sure if they could recapture the young love they had when they were a mostly carefree 12 year old and a blossoming-into-manhood 16 year old. This book details the painful journey they must each take to reclaim the happiness they once shared, and how they battle racial prejudice, deal with regrets, and rediscover the deep love and trust they once shared with each other. I shed many a tear while reading this one, both for Amy and for Swift. Amy was practically a shell of a woman when Swift came back into her life, hiding out behind her teaching job and the protection of her cousin Loretta's family. Sure it was a safe life, but it was no life for the former spirited young girl from Comanche Moon. And she gave Swift such a hard time when he finally came back into her life and tried to make her honor her youthful promise of marriage. Yes, I understood that she was unhappy and afraid of what he'd become on the outside (a notorious gunslinger who rode with comancheros), but I was hoping she'd look deeper and realize this was her Swift, the man who would never intentionally hurt her. Sometimes her reluctance to accept Swift irritated me, even though I couldn't blame her after all that had happened to her. This girl had enough horrors to last a lifetime. Since she clearly hadn't really dealt with her horrific past, I had my doubts that Swift would be able to reconnect with her. But boy he was tenacious and single-minded! Sometimes he was a little ham-handed and insensitive, but I never for one minute doubted his love for Amy. Many a time I thought "Don't give up Swift" whenever Amy tried to shut him out.

I really adored Swift as a hero. I thought he was caring, sexy, sensitive, and wonderful. The things he was willing to do to be with Amy...the guy never gave up. A couple of times he made me cry (the spelling bee; when he decided he would finally leave Amy alone and almost made it out of town; when he finally realized the scope of all that Amy had been through; when he was framed for a murder he didn't commit and still tried to protect Amy's reputation) and I so wanted him to have a HEA, but I was also nervous that he wouldn't get one. Just wonderful storytelling by Catherine Anderson.

And Amy, oh she came a long way. I was so proud of her when she finally found her self worth again--her 'Comanche heart'. Her defense of Swift when he was accused of murder brought tears to my eyes. That's when I was convinced of her absolute love for him.

I enjoyed getting a look into the next book which will be Indigo's (Loretta and Hunter's daughter) story. She reminds me a little bit of the brave and spirited young girl that Amy was. Although I have to admit I was a little surprised with Loretta and Hunter's parenting skills--I thought they gave her waay too much freedom--and Indigo nearly paid for that.

This was a wonderful romance, one I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any reader. Just be sure to read "Comanche Moon" first--you won't want to miss out on the significant backstory that it provides. There's romance, passion, tears, and a bit of suspense, and a very satisfying HEA. What more could you want? 5 stars. ...more

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Jul 11, 2008 MelissaB rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-historical-romance, favorite-romances, native-american-romance, western-historical-romance, historical-romance, 2009-reads, comanche-series, abused-heroine

First off, you really need to read Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson before Comanche Heart because that is where Swift and Amy's story begins. They fall in love at a young age and get betrothed in the Comanche way. Swift Antelope stays with his Comanche tribe during their fight against the whites but promises to come for her when he is finished. She waits years and he never comes, so eventually she ends up in Oregan with her sister Loretta and Hunter.

At the start of Comanche Heart, it has been First off, you really need to read Comanche Moon by Catherine Anderson before Comanche Heart because that is where Swift and Amy's story begins. They fall in love at a young age and get betrothed in the Comanche way. Swift Antelope stays with his Comanche tribe during their fight against the whites but promises to come for her when he is finished. She waits years and he never comes, so eventually she ends up in Oregan with her sister Loretta and Hunter.

At the start of Comanche Heart, it has been 12 years after Swift left Amy. He returns to her farm only to be told she died. Three years later, he makes his way to Oregon to find Hunter and Loretta after years of being a gun slinger and riding with the Comancheros. He is amazed to find his Amy alive and well, living as a school teacher near her sister. Amy has never forgotten her childhood love but is terrified of the hard looking Comanchero Swift had become.

Swift still loves Amy and is determined to have a life with her now that he has found her again. Amy is scared of losing the freedom she has at Wolf's Landing if she honors her promise to marry Swift. While she still loves him, she went through a lot in her life that has left her terrified of intimacy and all but broke her spirit. However, Swift is one determined man who is patient and willing to do whatever it takes to win Amy's trust.

I loved Swift and Amy's story! Amy went through so much in her life that she deserved to find happiness with her love. At first I was a little frustrated that she resisted Swift so hard until I found out the hell she went through while faithfully waiting for Swift to come for her in Texas - then my heart broke for her and I couldn't wait to see Swift heal her with his love. Swift had a hard life in the 15 years since he last saw Amy, but he jumps at the chance to start a new life. He is so kind and patient with Amy - he truly was a hero to me. This love story was beautiful and sweet. Swift and Amy deserved their HEA after living hard lives then managing to work their way through many obstacles to find happiness and a chance for a life together.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys great romance! Read Comanche Moon first though - not only is it amazing but you see the start of this wonderful love story. Comanche Heart will be rereleased in June 2009!
...more

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May 30, 2008 jenjn79 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: stars-4, reviewed, info-full, genre-romance-historical-frontier, status-borrowed, author-catherine-anderson, 2008, z2008-jan-june, series-comanche

While I enjoyed Comanche Heart, I didn't like it anywhere near as much as Comanche Moon. It just didn't have the same power as the first book in the series.

Comanche Moon is a multi-dimensional story in that it wasn't just about the romance, but also about the struggle between Native Americans and whites, the lives affected, the morality of who was right and wrong...the book just had a very well-rounded feel.

Whereas Comanche Heart comes off for me as a bit, well, superficial. Not in a shallow, ai While I enjoyed Comanche Heart, I didn't like it anywhere near as much as Comanche Moon. It just didn't have the same power as the first book in the series.

Comanche Moon is a multi-dimensional story in that it wasn't just about the romance, but also about the struggle between Native Americans and whites, the lives affected, the morality of who was right and wrong...the book just had a very well-rounded feel.

Whereas Comanche Heart comes off for me as a bit, well, superficial. Not in a shallow, air-head sense, but in that it didn't dig very deep. The story was almost wholly about Amy, and Swift trying to convince Amy to give him a chance. There wasn't much else to give the story the same kind of depth that Comanche Moon had. There was a bit about Swift trying to overcome his past, but it almost comes off as a side-note despite what happens at the end. I just would have liked there to have been more to the story than there was.

To that end, I was rather disappointed with Anderson's neglect of Loretta, and especially Hunter in the book. Not that I wasn't surprised by it. It's something I've noticed in other books of a series by Anderson - she doesn't utilize past characters as well as she could have. In this case, it bothered me a little more than usual. I wanted to know more about Loretta and Hunter - how they came to settle where they did, why Hunter took up the job he did, how he dealt with the change in cultures , etc. There wasn't anything like that and it left me feeling a little short-changed.

Like some others who read this book, I was rather annoyed with Hunter's reaction, or lack thereof, to the incident surrounding his daughter Indigo. He pretty much didn't react at all and that seemed really wrong for the character we got to know in Comanche Moon. It didn't fit at all for me.

It sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did. Reading it, though, and having read the first book in the series. I thought Comanche Heart just could have been more. The potential was there, but it didn't quite make it. For me, it was a nice romance, but not the powerful drama that Comanche Moon was. ...more

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May 22, 2008 Christel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: catherine-anderson

Okay if the next 2 are any better than the first 2, I am in serious trouble. Julie let me borrow this book, so I would not have to wait a year for it to be released.

WOW!!!

Amy Masters was abducted by Comancheros when she was 12. Brutally raped and savaged she was rescured by her cousins husband Half-breed Commanche Hunter of the Wolf. Upon returning to Hunter's village she made friends with a young Commanche brave, Swift Antelope. He was also very good friends with Hunter. Before going back to he ...more

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May 11, 2009 Corrine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: american-historical, emotionally-or-physically-scarred, interracial

I didn't really enjoy this book until I put Comanche Moon out of my mind, because to compare the two is unfair. CM is one of those books that come along very rarely and change your life. Unfortunately for me, though it was enjoyable, Comanche Heart doesn't fall into the same category.

We first meet Swift Antelope and Amy as adolescents in CM. It's there that Amy gives her betrothal promise to swift, and it's also there when they're torn apart by the Comanche fight for freedom. Fifteen years later ...more

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Dec 13, 2007 Rhapsody rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fiction, damsel-in-distress

Amy was kidnapped by comancheros and violated when she was 12. After she was rescued, 16 year old Swift helped her get over her trauma. They agreed to marry one day, but Swift, who is a comanche, had to leave her to help his people fight. By the time he came back to her, she had supposedly died of cholera. Not knowing what to do with himself, he became a gunslinger and rode with comancheros for a few years, then, sick of everything, decided to ride to Oregon to join his brother Hunter and start ...more

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Aug 15, 2008 librarygirl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, native-american

Just like Comanche Moon, I couldn't put this book down. I can't wait to read the next two in the series! I have a feeling I'll be picking up more books by Catherine Anderson... ...more

3 likes · Like · see review