2.4 stars

This read probably/exactly how you would expect a bodice ripper of 1986 to. The hero is banging everyone (but not the heroine's mom this time!) in beginning, he alpha af but also pretty dang sensitive/loving to heroine's needs, the heroine is a virgin but this time she takes her agency in both hands and shoves it at the hero until he bangs her, there is adventure, but the Absarokee tribe (hero) was actually shown in a culturally sensitive light and seems to be fairly well researched, thee drama with relationship Betrayal (misunderstandings forced), and the start of an epic family dynasty.

You can start to see the cringe elements from '70s & '80s bodice rippers falling away and the '90s heroine emerging.

Adventure in the west (modern day Montana), epic leads, villains being villainous, annoyingly forced that made the story feel dragged out Misunderstanding, and, wait for it, FOOTNOTES. I love footnotes, especially historical ones, in historical romance because I'm a geek.

Bodice ripper lite, an interesting story in regards to it's transitional feel. ( )

While I love this book there are times I wish I could go through and get rid of the details. Ms Johnson does her homework about the era and place she is writing about, going so far as to add footnotes to the story. This story is set in the post Civil War West more specifically the territory of Montana. This is a story of one man's attempt to save his people from extinction. Along the way he falls for a Boston debutante that is head strong and intelligent. Blaze is more than a match for Hazard Black. There isn't any of the more explicit language that is part of today's storytelling but Ms. Johnson can still write some intense and steamy love scenes. There are plenty of those scenes scattered through the story. There is also a look into the day to day life of the a Mountain Crow clan. ( )