Dakota Dreams

By Madeline Baker

Book Overview

Wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, Nathan Chasing Elk dreams of avenging her death after escaping from prison. Then he meets Catherine, who agrees to join him on his dangerous journey. But as they trek through the West, they discover a passion that will change their destinies.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451216865
• ISBN13: 9780451216861
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Signet Eclipse
• Length: 339 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

not my genre, but still a good story

Nathan Chasing Elk has been in the brutal Yuma prison, wrongly convicted of killing his wife, for over four years, when he escapes, his only thought to see his daughter Leah again and to get revenge on the real murder. He's seriously injured in the escape, and is found by Catherine Lyons, who takes him in. Catherine is a young woman, living alone since her parents died and her younger brother abandoned her. Nathan frightens her, but he's also a solution to her most immediate problem: the Apache Marteen is determined to take her for his bride. Catherine has been putting him off, saying that her man is coming for her, but Marteen is losing his patience. Now Catherine can point to Nathan as her husband. After Catherine nurses him back to health, Nathan's eager to be on his way to find his daughter, and Marteen is still determined to get Catherine by whatever means necessary, so Catherine accompanies Nathan on his quest. And of course, they fall in love (this is a romance--it's a foregone conclusion). It's not all that simple, however. Nathan is still a wanted man, still bent on revenge, and, most heartbreakingly, Leah believes he killed her mother. The historical aspects of the story are interesting, and the emotional dilemmas Catherine and Nathan have to face are compelling. There are no easy answers for these two, and that makes it all the more satisfying when they earn their happy ending. I'd definitely recommend this if you're a fan of the sub-genre, but it's not quite enough to make me love it enough to overcome my sub-genre prejudice.

This needs 10 stars

Madeline Baker can write Native American romance better than anyone I have ever read, because to her the story and the Indian hero are more important than the sex. Hope to see a lot more from her.

A FOUR PLUS STAR - RECOMMENDED

Yuma Prison - Arizona Territory. What a nasty Hell hole. How does one survive the brutish mentality of the guards, especially when you know that you are not guilty of the crime for which you are incarcerated? Four and a half years have led Nathan Chasing Elk to the point of trying to excape one last time. He has to find his daughter, he has not heard of her in almost 3 years. Catherine Lyons is struggling to protect herself from Marteen the Apache who wants her for his woman while waiting for her brother, Mark to return. Well she has had it. She decides to strike out for Finley's Crossing and head east. Marteen seems to bring Chasing Elk and Catherine together. Catherine takes Nathan back to her ranch house. As time passes they are both under survalience by the Apaches and decide it is time to move out. Chasing Elk can't leave Catherine behind as she seems to fascinate him. We get to follow them on a dirty, dusty trek across the Territory in search of Leah, Nathan's daughter. Oh, oh Marteen is back. Then a broken leg holds them up until there is danger of Nathan being recognized. There is another long trek to the Dakotas in search of Nathan's mother and her People. This leads to a very important education for Cate and Leah when they finally find and make a summer home [after marriage]with Macawi and her family. Ah, but there is one more desperate rescue that Nathan must perform with the help of his step-father. But, oh boy, Nathan finds out that Jim Buckner is in the vicinity and he decides to wreak his vengence on the man. Even bringing him in to the sheriff does not stop the miscarriage of justice once again. Will Nathan ever get to see Catherine and Leah again? DEFINITELY RECOMMENDED [hey, no premarital sex and the story is still great.]

I loved it!

I couldn't put this book down. It is the first Madeline Baker book I have read, but it won't be the last. I really liked the way she tied in geographic history with a very exciting plot and a very sensual love story. I really appreciated that the characters had high morals and showed that you can have desires and control them until the proper time!! and find REAL love.

tense Indian romance

It has been four years six months and counting since Jim Buckner arranged for Chasing Elk to be sent to Yuma Prison, a hell hole of abuse from the likes of guard Fat Tom. Only revenge and seeing his daughter Leah keeps Chasing Elk going. When an opportunity arrives to escape, he takes it, but is severely injured in the process. With her parents recently dead and Apache Marteen wanting rancher Catharine Lyons as his woman, she so far she has refused him using the excuse that her man is coming for her though she knows she will not have much time left to say no. She either must return to Boston or he will take her as her brother Mark is no protection. When a near dead Chasing Elk reaches her ranch at about the same time as Marteen and his retinue of braves, she claims he is her husband. The stranger agrees. As Catharine nurses Chasing Elk back to physical health and he begins to work the ranch, an attraction between them arises. However, Marten wants him dead; the law wants him in prison; Chasing Elk wants his daughter; Catharine wants his love. However, first his mind must heal if he lives long enough. DAKOTA DREAMS is a tense Indian romance starring a courageous heroine and a battered male with demons screaming at him to avenge the death of his wife and to bring his daughter home, which he wants to believe, is at Catharine's ranch. The character driven tale is loaded with plenty of action as the key players will converge in a showdown. Though the support cast seems somewhat one dimensional, Madeline Baker's latest nineteenth century star-crossed romance contains a fresh fun story line. Harriet Klausner