Cheyenne Princess by Georgina Gentry is a tumultuous historical romance set in 1864 Texas, featuring a complex web of relationships, power struggles, and intense emotions in the Old West.
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Cheyenne Princess by Georgina GentryRating:
Published: 1987
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Zebra Heartfire
Book Series: Panorama of the Old West #2; The Durango Family #11
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Native American Romance, Western Romance, Bodice Ripper, Forced Seduction
Pages: 510
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
This review is of Cheyenne Princess, book #2 in the “Panorama of the Old West” series by Georgina Gentry, and book #1 in the “Durango Family” subseries.
(Reviewer note: Some websites do not categorize Cheyenne Princess as part of the “Iron Knife’s Family” subseries–perhaps because those books were published under either the Zebra Lovegram or general Historical Romance banner and Cheyenne Princess is a Zebra Heartfire. However, I do consider this novel as part of the “Iron Knife’s Family” series).
The Plot
Part 1
It is September 1864 in Fandango, Texas. We meet Cimarron Heinrich, the book’s heroine.
Cimarron lives with the wealthy Ransdorf family, which consists of Cimarron’s maternal Aunt Carolina, her aunt’s husband, Uncle Ransdorf, and her cousins Patience and Prudence. Cimarron’s life is straight out of Cinderella, as Carolina, Patience, and Prudence–none of whom are as beautiful as Cimarron–treat her like dirt.
One night, Ransdorf tries to rape Cimarron, who stabs him. Fearing she killed him, Cimarron runs away and tries to find her brother, Iron Knife, whom she hasn’t seen in many years. (Cheyenne Captive, the first book in the series, explains how Cimarron was separated from her family).
Cimarron makes her way to the Triple-D ranch, where she meets Trace Durango, this book’s hero. As happens so frequently in these 1980 historical romances, upon their first encounter, the hero mistakenly takes the heroine to be a prostitute. So naturally, Trace rapes Cimarron!
With nowhere else to go, Cimarron stays at the Triple-D, where she finds herself involved in the dysfunctional dynamics of the Durango family. The family consists of Trace and his relatives, Luis and Diego, the latter of whom is ill.
Much of the tension between the three Durango men centers on Velvet Eyes, Diego’s Cheyenne wife. Velvet Eyes left Diego, but the reason for her departure is unclear due to conflicting stories.
As time goes on, Cimarron plays Luis and Trace against each other, eventually winning a marriage proposal from Luis, all while mutually engaging in sex with Trace.
Part 2
Other characters and stories connected to the “Panorama of the Old West” series are introduced. One of them is El Lobo, a Comanchero. El Lobo has a history with Cimarron’s family and kidnaps her.
Another new face is Maverick: a half-white, half-Indian teen who arrived at the Triple-D as a half-starved boy. With his help, Trace rescues Cimarron. She then discovers her kidnapping was “an inside job,” but she blames the plot on the wrong person.
After Cimarron returns to the ranch, more Durango family secrets are revealed.
The plot comes to a climax with a violent confrontation. This results in the death of the person behind Cimarron’s abduction.
Trace learns to trust Cimarron, and they marry. The book ends with the Longworths, now impoverished, receiving an invitation to a party hosted by Cimarron.
She and Trace have their Happily Ever After.
The Upside
The last five chapters are the best part of Cheyenne Princess. It is here that justice gets served on so many delicious levels, including Cimarron’s revenge on the Longworths. Very few things make me happier than to see obnoxious boors get their comeuppance.
In addition, there are characters introduced in Cheyenne Princess who will play major roles in upcoming Georgina Gentry books.
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue here; it’s very soap opera-like.
The Downside
I found it hard to like most of the characters in Cheyenne Princess. While I understand Cimarron’s desire to be rich and safe, I didn’t like how she played Luis and Trace against each other. (They were already at each other’s throats; Cimarron just added gasoline to the fire).
I am not a fan of rapist heroes, so no matter how much Ms. Gentry tried to rehabilitate Trace, he just didn’t work for me. There are certain things I don’t allow redemption for in books or real life. Sexual abuse is one of them.
Sex
There are multiple sex scenes involving Cimarron and Trace. Some are mildly graphic.
Heat Level:
The steam factor here is hot and sensual, like many of Ms. Gentry’s romances.
Violence
Be forewarned: the entire “Panorama of the Old West” series is very violent, and Cheyenne Princess is no exception. There are scenes of gang rape, assault, battery, stabbings, burning, attempted rape, sodomy, and murder.
It’s fairly mild here, but all elements mentioned will occur again in future books. So, spoiler alert: expect even more graphic scenes in the rest of the series.
Bottom Line on Cheyenne Princess
Like its predecessor, Cheyenne Captive, Georgina Gentry’s Cheyenne Princess can be a hard book to get through, but if one is willing to persevere, there’s a payoff at the end.
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| Overall: | 3.1 |
Synopsis
MASTER OF HER BODY
When fiery-tempered Cimarron escaped Fandango, Texas, in the pouring rain, all she could think of was how no one would believe she had killed her uncle in self-defense. Then, on a lonely stretch of cattle country, she ran smack into an arrogant, black-haired cowboy …and the innocent blonde realized she ( was in more trouble than she could handle. His ebony eyes glowed with curiosity and desire; his sinewy body stalked her with animal intent. As her breathing quickened and her pulse raced, the half-Indian beauty was terrified of being captured–and yearning to be caught!
MISTRESS OF HIS HEART
Having learned never to trust a woman, the virile vaquero Trace didn’t but the gorgeous dame’s story about getting lost in the dark. She had something to hide –and the hard-muscled ranchhand was determined to find out what it was no matter what. He easily trapped her in his experienced hands, skillfully explored her silken curves …but when she surprised him with the intensity of her response, Trace decided his investigation of her lies could wait. Now was the time to unleash the hidden sensuality of this spirited filly, and forever make her his she-cat, his hot-blooded CHEYENNE PRINCESS.
Comanche Cowboy by Georgina Gentry