Cassie Edwards, Savage Tempest

Savage Tempest

Cassie Edwards

Leisure, October 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0843955341

His father, the tribal chief orders High Hawk to raid the nearby ranches for horses, and to abduct a white woman to prove his prowess and worthiness. High Hawk objects to his father's advice, as stealing is unethical, and kidnapping is an abomination; both activities would anger the whites.

He reconsiders when he sees former Pony Express rider Joylynn Anderson and her stallion, as he finds he covets both. He persuades her to come to his village. She agrees to do so, as she has nothing amongst the whites. Having been raped by Mole an outlaw; most people blame her for his assault and her pregnancy that she has been hiding. At the Pawnee village, the brave Joylynn participates as an equal, performing all tasks expected of a female. As High Hawk and Joylynn fall in love, his mother objects because she wants one of her kind as her daughter by marriage. When Mole leads an assault killing High Hawk's father, he and Joylynn lead the tribe to safer grounds, while pursuing righteousness against a vile killer.

The theme is identical with the gazillion Savage romances that Cassie Edwards has written, and the lead trio are interchangeable with the previous stories, yet in spite of knowing exactly what will occur, as always, fans of the author will enjoy her latest historical. High Hawk is a noble ethical warrior, while the intrepid Joylynn sees the goodness in this man; on the other hand, Mole is a vile killer. In other words, this trio steps straight out of Edwards casting. Still, readers will enjoy this fine tale of the good, the bad and the beauty.