Lone Eagle (Topaz Historical Romance)
Zondra Poole is the daughter of a white landowner and a black slave.  Her seven brother and sisters looked very black and were sold off by their father.  Zondra is "blessed" (?) with white skin and is therefore not sold off, although she is forced to work in the fields with the other slaves alongside her mother. Zondra hates seeing the differences between her station and her half brothers and sisters lifestyle, as she is forced to toil and ignore her claims to her father and his wealth.  Everyone on the plantation is aware who Zondra's parents are, although this doesn't stop her half brother from trying to force himself on her. This is the final straw for Zondra and she runs away. She ends up hiding in an Indian village, where she finds herself falling in love with the handsome chief of the Crow tribe, Lone Eagle.  Lone Eagle has none of the prejudices of the white people and is able to see Zondra for the beautiful woman that she is.  Unfortunately, both Lone Eagle and Zondra have issues and events in their past and present that they are forced to deal with before they can live in harmony.  Zondra and Lone Eagle learn to lean on one another for support, and this helps to surmount their difficulties as their love for one another grows. I found this book to have beautifully described settings and to be very well written.  It has all the excitement needed in the plot to keep the reader's attention.  Unfortunately, I found that the characters seemed shallow to me.  I'm not sure if they were lost in the story or if they were just not drawn in as much detail as other aspects of the tale.  I never understood Zondra's mother's love for her father.  He sold their other children off and kept working her in the fields despite telling her he loved her.  I understand that society would have frowned on that, but why would she be so enamoured with this man?  I also wanted to know more about Lone Eagle, too.  He was definitely a romantic hero, but I wanted to know what made him tick. I think that Cassie Edwards has written a good book, and for those who like their Native American heroes, this is a good entertaining story.  I just wish their had been more. Cassie Edwards can create a believable and vivid story. Lone Eagle is an enjoyable read.  Michelle Sawyer  --Copyright © 110198 Literary Times, Inc.  All rights reserved--FromLiterary Times