Beloved Woman by Sheri Peppers – Review

• Title: Beloved Woman
• Author: Sheri Peppers
• Publisher: iUniverse on January 28, 2020
• Genre: Historical Romance
• Pages: 230
• Formats Available: Hardback, Paperback, & Digital
• Rating: 4/5

Trigger Warnings: Graphic Violence, Murder, Unwanted Advances

Many thanks to Sheri Peppers for providing me with a copy of Beloved Woman with a request for an honest review.

Some of the links on this blog are affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Order Now: Amazon US | Amazon UK (Affiliate Links)

---

About Beloved Woman

Beloved Woman, a Historical Romance takes place in 1705 in the Allegheny Mountains, South Carolina. Bryanna, a strong, privileged young English woman loses the love of her life, her father, to a brutal and bloody campsite attack by Iroquois renegades. Injured, and so full of grief, she grows determined to learn the ways of the Cherokee and become a respected war woman called Beloved Woman in the Cherokee town of Toxaway. This is the only way to find her father’s killer and have peace within herself once again. Black Bear, the Cherokee Red Chief is enamored by Bryanna’s courage and beautiful charm, so much that he desires to help her in every way he can. She rejects him blaming all Indians for her father’s murder. Still, his strength and determination bring them together to face amazing obstacles to find the Iroquois renegades who were spreading havoc and murder across the great mountains. Can Bryanna learn the ways of these amazing people in this untamed land, and find her peace, and maybe love, once again?

Provided by the Author for Review Purposes

---

My Review

Sheri Peppers pens a tragic yet heartfelt tome about parental love, revenge, and finding your mate. Beloved Woman leaves no stone unturned. The book easily moves from scene to scene with rugged tenacity.

Bryanna lives a pampered life, but she is stubborn to a fault. Her pride gets in her way in even the most minuscule decisions. Bryanna’s father’s admiration is all she needs to become the businesswoman she claims to want. Raiding Indiana ambush  Bryanna’s trading party and kill everyone present. Bryanna then focuses on finding her father’s killer. To do that, she must engage herself in the lifestyle of a peaceful Cherokee tribe. In the arms of Black Bear, the tribe’s Red Chief of War, Bryanna trains like a warrior. She readies herself for revenge.

Bryanna’s character never felt right to me. I understand that she is a strong woman with her own thoughts, but her pride is overpowering. I didn’t like her much. Her brusk manner turned me off, and I never found it in my heart to like her throughout the entire book. Black Bear is a good character. Yet, he disappointed me by falling in love with Bryanna at first sight. Though, I suppose this yearning means to sway the reader toward the relationship. But, for me, the love story is not what drew me in.

What I most enjoyed about the book was the village of Toxaway. I loved getting to know the Native Americans who made up the village. Their way of life and the love they held for each other made me smile. Black Bear was the pillar of what a great man should be. He held much honor but made sacrifices when he needed to. Unfortunately, one of his sacrifices was his brother. While I agree that Biting Snake’s behavior was wrong, his punishment went far beyond what he deserved. He needed help, not exile.

I liked this story, even with the drawbacks. I loved Storyteller. Her love for her sons and the rest of the village children made her so interesting. Even though Bryanna or anything she brought to the table wasn’t for me, I still enjoyed the story. But, I am at a loss for words because I don’t know how to tell you why I enjoyed it so much. I wish there were more I could say. The only way I can think of to describe my feelings is that my emotions pushed me through. My heartstrings tugged in ways that I didn’t expect. It is my love for Black Bear’s tribe that held my attention. I am sorry I can’t describe this in a way that makes it clear. I fear I have let you all down with my lack of words.

I award Beloved Woman 4 out of 5 stars. There is much to love about this book. The writing feels honest and true. I wish you all to read this story so we can discuss it further. If you do pick it up, please let me know your thoughts.

---

About the Author – Sheri Peppers

Sheri studied writing and screenwriting at University of California Los Angeles, and Moorpark College in California. She is an avid history buff with an emphasis on the American Indian, and a former member of the Romance Writer’s of America. Retired with an 18-year background in aerospace, she now lives in Thousand Oaks, California, where she is working on a sequel to Beloved Woman and plans for several projects.

Author Contact Links: Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads