Early writers of Native American history tend to fall into two groupings. There are those who relied only on written history, and therefore ignored most of what Indians had to say about their own past; and there were those who tried to serve as a conduit through which the Indians could tell their own history. Happily, Grinnell falls into the second category, and his work turns out to be both interesting, and readable.

Though not as exciting as his better known work, The Fighting Cheyenne, which was a warrior history, this book provides a lot of information about the early history of the Cheyennes, and their migration westward. It also goes into many aspects of their culture and society. Volume one (which is the only one I have read so far) ends with a chapter on Cheyenne tribal government. Here Grinnell does a wonderful job of handling a topic, which is actually rather simple, but which eluded many white historians, such as George Hyde, who insisted on believing that chieftanship must have carried with it certain dictatorial powers. He also shows great insight into the status of women. So many white historians, even today, do not understand the high standing that women held in Plains Indian society.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the Plains Indians, and I am quite anxious to get on to volume two which deals, among other things, with religious practices.

J.V. Brummels is a family man who raises cattle and horses on a ranch, teaches English and Creative Writing at Wayne State University, and somehow finds time to write poetry and novels. Every aspect of his life can be found in Cheyenne Line. These are the keen-eyed observations of an educated man who has also been sanded down by prairie winds. His words are full of heart and marrow, crafted so plainly that you won't have to wonder at their meaning.

"Golden" holds the essence of his genesis.
Mama was a beauty - still is.
And Daddy was a G.I. Joe,
a dog face so country-fried
they called him Broomcorn,
the only nickname he ever earned.

"Plain" sets forth the author's past, present, and future sense of place.
We prosper and we fail.
Sun and rain.
Hail and hoppers
and drought and flood.
Good years we fatten
on the produce of our fields.
Bad years, we cast
our wind-burned sight
down lines scratched
in the dirt....

I was surprised by what I found in Brummel's poems. "Krei" was his touching tribute to a childhood teacher and what it meant to be an educator in the past. Life's truths were discovered and shared while playing cards and mendng fences. "Running with Dogs" and "Teaching the Dawn" revealed a man and his solitary musings. Humor and honor, doing one's best, questioning life, all played a part. I saved my favorite for last. "Dead Men's Fences".
For all my children's lives I've built a herd,
and no one builds without taking, from an Indian
or some other stranger, at best from some ghost
who can only wander his land as a shade,
his herd and tribe dispersed. It seems
all my life I've mended dead men's fences.

J.V. Brummels takes the measure of himself as man and poet in few words, skillfully.

A spectacular photo essay of the Minnicoujou, SihaSapa, Oohenump and Itazipco Lakota, now of the Cheyenne River Reservation. This book provides a marvelous and highly accessible historic record of a people and culture. Many, many photographs are included of both important historical figures of these Lakota bands, many involved in the Little Bighorn battle and Wounded Knee massacre - as well as hundreds of ordinary Lakota who's pride and culture have know been permanently cataloged. Puts Images and real faces on history.

I like this book because it is a catching book and I learnt alot from it.

In 1800, drought has driven the buffalo away while the dryness makes wildfires frequent and nearly impossible to stop. In this environment, the Cheyenne and their rival the Pawnee vie for the dwindling food and water supplies and tempers are quite high.

Two Cheyenne leaders Grey Bear and Lone Hawk disagree on the future of their people. The intrepid Grey Bear wants war with the Pawnee in a winner takes all deadly scenario even though he knows many of his people will die. The cerebral Lone Hawk realizes that the Pawnee share the misery caused by the drought so that he wants both tribes to cooperate for the betterment of everyone. As a fire razes the Cheyenne, two women Touches the Wind and Seeks Fire become involved in the leadership battle that will determine the future of the Cheyenne.

CHEYENNE SUMMER is an exciting, action-packed, but deep look at the Cheyenne. The story line provides an incredible glimpse at a way of life during a major crisis. The characters seem genuine though Grey Bear’s military response seems difficult to accept when so many bellies are empty. Still Vella Munn paints an awesome landscape with strong portraits that show she is quite an artist when it comes historical fiction.

This is a wonderful book and very touching. O'banyon is a wonderful story teller that keeps me up all night reading this book and others. throughout most of their journy Alana doesn't speak a word and he thinks she doesn't speak english, it is only to save his life from a bunch of pathetic outlaws that she utters her first words. He finds her to be a very capable woman, unlike any others he had met before, and then he hopelessly falls in love with her.

This is a must read book! I loved the characters Katy and Iron Wing. The hardship that these two have to overcome from their own prejudices and that of others,but the love that begins is overwhelming. The characters and that in which they endure are memorable and livable. I cried for their hardship and smiled on their happiness. Their are no words to justify this book but BUY it and READ it! See for yourself!

This is one of the most touching westerns that I've ever read. It may not have the same scope, but I enjoyed it just as much as "Dances With Wolves." A wonderful love story with just the right amount of action.

Druxman's screenplay is much better than the movie, which I loved, and his comments on how the film came to be made are fascinating.

This was the first PR book that I read and I'm sorry I lost it several years ago. Maria is the half-Spanish, half-Irish heiress of her father's ranch and is being pressured by a devious, local Spanish nobleman into marriage. In walks Cheyenne Walker, and the two strike sparks off each other when they first meet. Maria is probably the most fiery heroine I've ever read and I really liked her. The story is full of shoot-outs and hanging parties, as was the custom in the old West. The story even has a surprise revelation regarding a member of Maria's household. If you like a fast-paced western with a dangerous hero and a fiesty, gun-toting heroine, read Cheyenne's Lady. I hope the author will follow-up with another sequel.

Shotgun Ridge's matchmakers strike in Mindy Neff's CHEYENNE'S LADY. The four geezers meddle and interfere in the love lives the town bachelors in an effort to prevent the small town from dying out. Llyod, Henry, Vern and Ozzie might be unlike matchmakers, but they are successful. Their latest attempt to bring Sheriff Cheyenne Bodine and surrogate mother-to-be Emily is very promising.

Ozzie switches addresses, resulting in Emily sleeping in Cheyenne's bed when he arrives home. He remembers her reputation for trouble before her family moved away her senior year. He'd always been drawn to her spirit, not to mention her perchance for creating scandal. Now a very pregnant Emily lies in his bed, and his fantasies are slipping into overdrive. He's stunned to learn that Emily carries his brother's children. For the sake of the twins, he insists that Emily marry him. They are already bound by their love for the children, but events may conspire to make their binding even deeper.

When Emily agreed to be the surrogate mother for her sister's babies, her life changed profoundly. In the beginning the pregnancy was wonderful as she shared each step with Debbie and Jimmy. But a fateful car accident has deprived the twins of their rightful parents, and Emily faces parenthood alone. Since Jimmy was Cheyenne's brother, she came to him hoping for help in the weeks ahead. As huge and uncomfortable as she is, he still makes her feel desirable. While she didn't expect marriage, she agrees. She recognizes an intangible connection that binds them as soul mates.

The geezers' efforts at matchmaking and baby holding can't help but charm readers in CHEYENNE'S LADY. Indeed, Neff creates a convincing blend of romance, pregnancy and newborns, without glossing the inconvenience of wet shirts when milk leaks, late night feeds and exhaustion. While Emily denies sainthood and freely admits her fears and insecurities, Cheyenne is humbled by the sacrifices Emily makes with this pregnancy. His own honor and integrity, not to mention natural ability with children, sparkle as well. These are imperfect and loving characterizations that remain with readers long after the last page is turned. Indeed, a character driven romance that explores the joy and pain of birth and death, CHEYENNE'S LADY belongs on the keeper shelf. Very highly recommended.