Catherine Anderson’s INDIGO BLUE – 3rd in the Series Does Not Disappoint! Daughter of Hunter of the Wolf Comes into Her Own!

 

Set in Oregon in 1885, this is the story of Indigo Wolf, daughter of Hunter of the Wolf and his white wife, Loretta, from Comanche Moon and Comanche Heart. When she was younger, Indigo fell in love with a young man who broke her heart and betrayed her trust, telling her she was just a “squaw” and good for only one thing. Though his attempted rape was thwarted by her uncle, Swift Lopez, Indigo is still scarred by the experience and wary of men who are attracted to her. She has become her own woman, tending to the wild animals of the forest, wearing Indian dress and helping her father with the mine.

 

When a series of mine accidents have her father, Hunter, laid up with injuries, along comes Jake Rand to offer his hand at managing the mine (though he seems to spend little time doing that). In reality, Jake is the oldest son of a wealthy owner of mines, many of which were purchased when the mine owner was in trouble, as Hunter is now. While Jake originally came to purchase Hunter’s mine, when he finds out his father may be causing the mine accidents, he comes in disguise to learn the truth. He didn’t count on meeting the bewitching Indigo who soon has him forgetting he has a fiancé back in Portland. And he shakes Indigo’s world, too. (“The moment she first saw him, she had sensed it—an inexplicable something, a strange feeling of recognition—as if her destiny had finally come calling.”)

 

As with the first two books in the series, Anderson has captured the time period and the Comanche culture with practiced expertise. She makes it look easy when it isn’t. We see Wolf’s Landing and it’s unusual blending of cultures from Jake’s point of view, a stranger to this part of Oregon. Jake is impressed by the love he witnesses in the Wolf family. He has known poverty as well as wealth, but he has never known such simple joys as the Wolf family shares. So when an unusual happening forces a "shotgun wedding" to Indigo, Jake steps up to do the noble thing even though Indigo rebels at the idea of marrying any man.

 

Anderson tells the story of Jake and Indigo beautifully with elegant dialog and believable twists and turns. And wonderful secondary characters! I loved the family priest, Father O’Grady. He and Jake have a very funny conversation about Indigo that had me laughing out loud. 

 

It’s a great read and I recommend it! I do, however, suggest reading them in order.

 

The Comanche Series:

 

Comanche Moon

Comanche Heart

Indigo Blue

Comanche Magic

 

Review: Catherine Anderson’s COMANCHE MOON – Enthralling Saga of Love between a Comanche Warrior and a Fair Maiden of the “White Eyes”

Anderson’s writing is superb and she is a great storyteller. This is the first in her Comanche series—an “epic” historical from the Old West.

Just reading “The Prophecy” at the beginning made me cry, so I knew I was in for a heartrending story. It begins in 1859 in Texas when Comanche brave Hunter of the Wolf’s tribe is slaughtered by the Blue Coats, and his wife, heavy with his child, was raped and slain. He vowed to have his revenge.

Before that, Loretta Simpson’s parents were murdered by the Comanche. And since that day, she has not spoken a word. Half-breed Hunter of the Wolf knows that according to a prophecy, he is to join with a white woman who does not speak and he must treasure her forever. Years later, urged on by his mother, though he hates the white man, Hunter takes Loretta—a blonde mute woman—as his woman, leaving her uncle many ponies, forcibly stealing her away.

Loretta hates the Comanche and is determined to escape Hunter or die trying.

Original cover

Anderson’s descriptions paint vivid pictures, so clear you can see yourself in the action, feel the pain and hear the screams. When Loretta is hot you feel hot and when she is chilled you feel yourself growing cold. She masterfully uses language to put you into the mind of the Comanche (“As had happened so many times in his life, his grief had to walk behind his responsibilities, like a woman behind her husband.”) As Hunter teaches Loretta the Comanche language, we learn it, too. Very clever. The action moves along at a good clip, with just the right amount of introspection.

There are many threads to the plot, all skillfully woven into an amazing story. It’s a story of prejudice, hate and vengeance—and the understanding, love and forgiveness that can change a heart. Trust me, you’ll have trouble putting this one down!

The Comanche series:

Comanche Moon

Comanche Heart (Loretta’s cousin, Amy and Swift Antelope)
Indigo Blue (Hunter and Loretta’s daughter)
Comanche Magic (Hunter and Loretta’s son)

Review: Catherine Anderson’s COMANCHE MOON – Enthralling Saga of Love between a Comanche Warrior and a Fair Maiden of the “White Eyes”

Anderson’s writing is superb and she is a great storyteller. This is the first in her Comanche series—an “epic” historical from the Old West.

Just reading “The Prophecy” at the beginning made me cry, so I knew I was in for a heartrending story. It begins in 1859 in Texas when Comanche brave Hunter of the Wolf’s tribe is slaughtered by the Blue Coats, and his wife, heavy with his child, was brutally raped and slain. He vowed to have his revenge. But even before that, Loretta Simpson’s parents were brutally murdered by the Comanche. And since that day, she has not spoken a word. Half-breed Hunter of the Wolf knows that according to a prophecy, he is to join with a white woman who does not speak and must treasure her forever. Years later and urged on by his mother, though he hates the white man, Hunter takes Loretta—a blonde mute woman--as his woman, leaving her uncle many ponies, forcibly stealing her away. Loretta hates the Comanche and is determined to escape Hunter or die trying.

Anderson’s descriptions paint vivid pictures, so clear you can see yourself in the action, feel the pain and hear the screams. When Loretta is hot you feel it and when she is chilled you feel yourself growing cold. She masterfully uses language to put you into the mind of the Comanche (“As had happened so many times in his life, his grief had to walk behind his responsibilities, like a woman behind her husband.”) As Hunter teaches Loretta the Comanche language, we learn it, too. Very clever. The action moves along at a good clip, with just the right amount of introspection. There are many threads to the plot, all skillfully woven into an amazing story.

It’s a story of prejudice, hate and vengeance—and the understanding, love and forgiveness that can change a heart. Trust me, you’ll have trouble putting this one down!

Original cover

Buy on Amazon.

And for the rest of the series:

Comanche Heart (Loretta’s cousin, Amy and Swift Antelope)
Indigo Blue (Hunter and Loretta’s daughter)
Comanche Magic (Hunter and Loretta’s son)