Harlequin Historical #171: Brave Heart

By Lindsay McKenna

Book Overview

Brave Heart by Lindsay McKenna released on Mar 25, 1993 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373287712
• ISBN13: 9780373287710
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Harlequin Books
• Length: 219 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE EVER READ - DIFFERENT

Here is a man who is secure in being what he is, a medicine man of his tribe. Not emotionally wounded. Grounded in his beliefs and willing to take a chance of the flame-haired woman who had taken a chance to save a child, his niece. Being a man, Black Wolf would have thoughts about the woman he is trying to heal but he did practice restraint in not following up on any of them. Deer Woman was a nineteen year old maid who [would you say lusted after Wolf] was determined to be Black Wolf's wife. Now she was a twit. Tall Crane would have liked to court Serena. They all were fascinated by her flame-colored hair. Even the children. Black Wolf lost his oldest sister, Redwing to the miner's attack - his sisters, Evening Star and Little Swallow were spared as Serena attacked the miners with a blinding fury. She would not let them kill a child. The healing of Serena took many, many months and finally settled in when Wolf asked her to look after his little niece, Dawn Sky. The wonderful interchange between Cante Tinza [Serena] and those who took her into their hearts and all the little history that was explained to us opened up our minds to the Lakota way of life. Which should bring about a growth in our understanding of another way of life. [in which the ignoble white man interfered with] For those who feel a kinship with the Native American will thoroughly enjoy this story - remember it is still just a story that is remarkably well done for the subject matter. And I will still vote for the innocent virgin [who has a bit of backbone] over the loose females [ugh!] that seem to people the stories nowadays. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -- Definitely a keeper -- PS - they do have a family.

One word: incredible!!

Serena Rogan has only known pain from men and white society. An immigrant from Ireland, where she starved in the streets after her parents died, she was sold to Blackjack Kingston, a cruel miner who chained her to a bed, raped her for four months, horribly scarred her, and then left her to die in the South Dakota wilderness. Serena, alone in the wilderness, hears a group of Lakota women being raped and comes to their rescue, saving the life of at least one Lakota child with the group, but sustains injuries herself. The Lakota, thankful for her help, take her back to their village, and she is placed in the tent of Black Wolf, the tribe's medicine man.Black Wolf, intune with the spirit world as the medicine man of his Lakota tribe, instantly names Serena "Cante Tinza," or Brave Heart. He can see that her heart is brave, but she has been mistreated for so long, would she ever learn to trust a man and grow to love him? He's determined to be gentle and show her the way love is supposed to be, but there are so many obstacles to their love - Serena's distrust of men, a jealous Lakota maiden, Blackjack Kingston, to name a few - will their tender love be allowed to bloom, or will it be crushed before it has a chance to heal both of them?I was in awe of the historical detail of this book - the author's knowledge of Lakota customs, from the mundane to the sacred, is absolutely incredible! For the historical detail alone, the book earns at least 5 stars, but interwoven with the history is such a tender love story, tears were brought to my eyes several times over. Cante Tinza (Serena) is such a wonderful heroine, and Black Wolf is the perfect hero. Neither are the typical stereotypes found in many historical romance novels. Black Wolf is not an arrogant jerk, but is a healer, a lover, someone who treats women with respect and kindness. Cante Tinza (Serena) is not the starry-eyed virgin who is repulsed by prejudice against Native Americans. It's quite easy to see how love develops between them and sustains them through it all. This book was absolutely amazing and incredible, easily one of my favorite historical romance novels ever! I am definitely placing this book on my keeper shelf, and I imagine that I will read the book several more times in the future, just to immerse myself in such a tender love story between two absolutely wonderful characters.

Great Native American Historical

This is the first book I read by Lindsay McKenna and I have to admit that it is the best Native American historical romance that I've read so far. She left all the sterotypes that seem to attach themselves to these types of books at the door. I really felt like Wolf was a Native American instead of a white man in a Native American body. I liked that she made Wolf the gentleman that Serena/Brave Heart needed after being raped. Like I said before, she writes these types of books well, unlike some writers who shouldn't write these types of books at all. I think my favorite part about the book was the fact that instead of Wolf being this warrior type "I am the man, no one is better than me, I have such a big ego...", he was a medicine man who was not only a good father, but husband as well.

The best indian historical novel ever written!

I have read this book at least five times and will read it more in the furture. I am a lover of indian novels and this is a must read! This is the first story I've read where the hero and heroine relationship does not begin with the heroine being a virgin. Which in any other novel would have condemn the story to destruction from the beginning. But in this novel it was a necessity and therefore gave vibrant life to both main characters and their actions. I have read many indian historical novels in my time, too many to count. Many of them have come close to outdoing this one, but none have succeeded.