Scan barcode
mvbookreviewer's review
5.0
You know those books that refuse to let its hold on you go even long after you are done? Yep, Dancing on Coals by Ellen O’Connell is one such novel that I lay thinking about long after I was done. The characters, the passion, the violence and the undying love between two people who are so obviously two halves of one just kept coursing through me, wishing that I could keep on reading their story forever.
The year is 1881 and Katherine Grant is on her way home to New York after travelling throughout the country. The only girl amongst 5 boys, Katherine had grown up running around with her brothers in different parts of the world ever since their mother had died when she was 6 years old. The only reason she had left home unknown to her family had been because they had not believed in her when she had needed it the most, and as Katherine figures, what her family doesn’t know cannot hurt them.
But when armed robbers attack their stagecoach and everyone else but Katherine is killed, her savior comes in the form of Nilchi, an Apache warrior whose lean good looks and fluency with English puts her at ease even with Nilchi’s older brother Gaeten glowering at her, hatred spitting from his eyes at every turn.
But not long after, Gaeten and Katherine are forced to team up, Gaeten’s promise to his younger brother on his deathbed the only reason that prevents Gaeten from testing the sharpness of his knife against the white woman’s throat. Gaeten’s hatred for the White runs and courses deep through his veins. The haze of rage that blinds him is a vicious one ever since his parents had been killed by white men when he had been just 9 years old. But through every harrowing escape that Katherine and Gaeten make together, he comes to realize that even if Katherine is a white woman, the courage of an Apache runs through her blood.
Ellen O’Connell writes romances that are a dying breed in present days. Her honest portrayal of life what it was like back then, the violence, bloodshed, thievery and murder that was part of the daily life comes across vividly and there isn’t one aspect of the novel that I would change. The setting, the characters and the way she brings forth the connection, the sizzling attraction and the oh so strong love between Gaeten and Katherine was just perfect.
Gaeten’s thoughts remain hidden until Chapter 9, the only way to garner his feelings being by how Katherine views his expressions and his behaviour when it comes to her. Even bound by his promise to his brother, Gaeten would like nothing more than to leave her behind, but unbeknown to him, the connection that is forged between them during their escape and trek through the wilderness binds him to her, even when Gaeten tries so hard to deny it. I was halfway in love with him even way before that, the minute he charged into the story on horseback, intent on killing the woman who would later turn his life around. And as the story progressed, I was mesmerized by Gaeten, the way he slowly transforms and leaves behind the black rage that surrounds him, the healing which comes from Katherine’s acceptance of him, just the way he is.
Katherine is the type of heroine that is trademark Ellen O’Connell. She creates them courageous with an inner beauty that makes it inevitable that the reader would fall for her as well. Katherine is a practical woman, who had turned away from her fiance back home when he had done something she would never abide by. Even when fear for her life at Gaeten’s hands makes her tremble, she doesn’t back down, making it that much harder for Gaeten to dismiss her as just another white woman. The way she accepts, loves and desires Gaeten just the way he is makes for one of the best aspects of the story, the way she “tames” her fierce husband reason enough to revel in this story.
Exceptionally crafted as is usual for Ellen’s novels, Dancing on Coals is a novel not to be missed for fans of the genre. To read the beautifully done afterword is enough reason to read this novel, the research that Ellen has done to write this story one that shines throughout and one that I applaud wholeheartedly.
Rating=5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
My quotes included below the review!
The year is 1881 and Katherine Grant is on her way home to New York after travelling throughout the country. The only girl amongst 5 boys, Katherine had grown up running around with her brothers in different parts of the world ever since their mother had died when she was 6 years old. The only reason she had left home unknown to her family had been because they had not believed in her when she had needed it the most, and as Katherine figures, what her family doesn’t know cannot hurt them.
But when armed robbers attack their stagecoach and everyone else but Katherine is killed, her savior comes in the form of Nilchi, an Apache warrior whose lean good looks and fluency with English puts her at ease even with Nilchi’s older brother Gaeten glowering at her, hatred spitting from his eyes at every turn.
But not long after, Gaeten and Katherine are forced to team up, Gaeten’s promise to his younger brother on his deathbed the only reason that prevents Gaeten from testing the sharpness of his knife against the white woman’s throat. Gaeten’s hatred for the White runs and courses deep through his veins. The haze of rage that blinds him is a vicious one ever since his parents had been killed by white men when he had been just 9 years old. But through every harrowing escape that Katherine and Gaeten make together, he comes to realize that even if Katherine is a white woman, the courage of an Apache runs through her blood.
Ellen O’Connell writes romances that are a dying breed in present days. Her honest portrayal of life what it was like back then, the violence, bloodshed, thievery and murder that was part of the daily life comes across vividly and there isn’t one aspect of the novel that I would change. The setting, the characters and the way she brings forth the connection, the sizzling attraction and the oh so strong love between Gaeten and Katherine was just perfect.
Gaeten’s thoughts remain hidden until Chapter 9, the only way to garner his feelings being by how Katherine views his expressions and his behaviour when it comes to her. Even bound by his promise to his brother, Gaeten would like nothing more than to leave her behind, but unbeknown to him, the connection that is forged between them during their escape and trek through the wilderness binds him to her, even when Gaeten tries so hard to deny it. I was halfway in love with him even way before that, the minute he charged into the story on horseback, intent on killing the woman who would later turn his life around. And as the story progressed, I was mesmerized by Gaeten, the way he slowly transforms and leaves behind the black rage that surrounds him, the healing which comes from Katherine’s acceptance of him, just the way he is.
Katherine is the type of heroine that is trademark Ellen O’Connell. She creates them courageous with an inner beauty that makes it inevitable that the reader would fall for her as well. Katherine is a practical woman, who had turned away from her fiance back home when he had done something she would never abide by. Even when fear for her life at Gaeten’s hands makes her tremble, she doesn’t back down, making it that much harder for Gaeten to dismiss her as just another white woman. The way she accepts, loves and desires Gaeten just the way he is makes for one of the best aspects of the story, the way she “tames” her fierce husband reason enough to revel in this story.
Exceptionally crafted as is usual for Ellen’s novels, Dancing on Coals is a novel not to be missed for fans of the genre. To read the beautifully done afterword is enough reason to read this novel, the research that Ellen has done to write this story one that shines throughout and one that I applaud wholeheartedly.
Rating=5/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
My quotes included below the review!
kingabee's review
4.0
Another book Jill made me read in agreement with our plan.
This time she decided to throw me into a 19th century Wild West. This is a rare story about interracial relationship between an Apache and a white woman. The reason it is rare is that, despite a terribly romantic premise, it is really hard to come up with a feasible happy ending for it.
I read it while on a Greek island with views like this:
So it was quite easy for me to transport myself somewhere in New Mexico. Of course, there was a blue sea on the other side but this is irrelevant to this review. It was 35 degrees in the shade and my brain was half-fried, and that’s probably why I enjoyed this book tremendously and I can’t even think of anything snarky to say, which is strange.
To make this weird couple work O’Connell had to get the characters just right. Katherine Grant might be a white woman but she grew up on ships with her father and five brothers running wild. She was a full on 19th century tomboy. A girl who struggled to find her place in the society as much as Gaetan, the Apache hero of the book. Gaetan grew up on a Christian mission where he went to school and was exposed to the ways of the white people. Even though he now resents (and that would be an understatement) the whites (if he didn’t, there would be no story), the cultural damage has been done. He is now stuck between the two worlds, not fully accepted in either.
And this is why these two can realistically fall in love, even though their strong personalities mean it would take them about 200 pages to do so. Gaetan being a sullen Apache doesn’t speak much, I think he doesn’t even say a word to Katherine until somewhere halfway through the book, so there is a lot of shooting, stealing, fleeing, chasing, etc. to feel out the pages and get our hearts racing.
I guess what I liked about the book was that the heroine didn’t need rescuing every second page, which seems to be a leitmotif of many western romances and also that both Katherine and Gaetan stayed true to their characters even AFTER they fell in love. I especially liked that bit when Gaeten acts out late on in the book and wants to show everyone his ownership of Katherine. It was a very authentic scene that showed that even when in love we are who we are.
There was one episode that made me chuckle, because it was rather unrealistic but very much needed to make Gaetan familiar with the white men’s ways of making love. After all who the hell would want to read a romance with no kissing and no foreplay? So ha, ha, Ellen, I see what you did there.
Then of course, there was the ending. A romance book needs a happy ending but there just weren't any happy endings in store for Apaches, so O'Connell had to pile up some lucky coincidences to pull the whole thing off.
All in all, a very strong effort for a self published book. There were no spelling mistakes, no atrociously bad writing and it was historically authentic (although I have little experience in being a 19th century Native American, so don’t take my word for it). The only thing that gives it away as a self-published novel is that god awful clipart cover. One day, when I’m free, I will draw something prettier for it.
This time she decided to throw me into a 19th century Wild West. This is a rare story about interracial relationship between an Apache and a white woman. The reason it is rare is that, despite a terribly romantic premise, it is really hard to come up with a feasible happy ending for it.
I read it while on a Greek island with views like this:
So it was quite easy for me to transport myself somewhere in New Mexico. Of course, there was a blue sea on the other side but this is irrelevant to this review. It was 35 degrees in the shade and my brain was half-fried, and that’s probably why I enjoyed this book tremendously and I can’t even think of anything snarky to say, which is strange.
To make this weird couple work O’Connell had to get the characters just right. Katherine Grant might be a white woman but she grew up on ships with her father and five brothers running wild. She was a full on 19th century tomboy. A girl who struggled to find her place in the society as much as Gaetan, the Apache hero of the book. Gaetan grew up on a Christian mission where he went to school and was exposed to the ways of the white people. Even though he now resents (and that would be an understatement) the whites (if he didn’t, there would be no story), the cultural damage has been done. He is now stuck between the two worlds, not fully accepted in either.
And this is why these two can realistically fall in love, even though their strong personalities mean it would take them about 200 pages to do so. Gaetan being a sullen Apache doesn’t speak much, I think he doesn’t even say a word to Katherine until somewhere halfway through the book, so there is a lot of shooting, stealing, fleeing, chasing, etc. to feel out the pages and get our hearts racing.
I guess what I liked about the book was that the heroine didn’t need rescuing every second page, which seems to be a leitmotif of many western romances and also that both Katherine and Gaetan stayed true to their characters even AFTER they fell in love. I especially liked that bit when Gaeten acts out late on in the book and wants to show everyone his ownership of Katherine. It was a very authentic scene that showed that even when in love we are who we are.
There was one episode that made me chuckle, because it was rather unrealistic but very much needed to make Gaetan familiar with the white men’s ways of making love. After all who the hell would want to read a romance with no kissing and no foreplay? So ha, ha, Ellen, I see what you did there.
Then of course, there was the ending. A romance book needs a happy ending but there just weren't any happy endings in store for Apaches, so O'Connell had to pile up some lucky coincidences to pull the whole thing off.
All in all, a very strong effort for a self published book. There were no spelling mistakes, no atrociously bad writing and it was historically authentic (although I have little experience in being a 19th century Native American, so don’t take my word for it). The only thing that gives it away as a self-published novel is that god awful clipart cover. One day, when I’m free, I will draw something prettier for it.
peytonm's review
3.0
I liked the heroine all right but did not like the hero (his brother was much better in my opinion). The romance didn't seem to have much build up other than that she was hot for his bod. The setting was interesting at least, and the writing was good.
acedli's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
merdenerde's review
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
I enjoyed this. I liked the chemistry between the leads, and the plot was well paced and interesting. There was a certain spark of something missing that meant I was quite easily able to put this down, but there's no doubt that it's well-written with a solid, interesting plot and good romance. Maybe what it was missing was the type of humour I enjoy? I'm not sure.
svemirko's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
suzysuzy34's review
5.0
First historical I've really enjoyed and been hooked for over five years, couldn't put it down. Love the story about the Apache Indians. This author had a wonderful voice and told a brilliant story. At first I wasn't sure I would like Gaeten but I absolutely loved him come the end. I will definitely be reading more of this author books.
trashbinfluencer's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism