Comanche Moon

‘‘Anderson comes up with another winner by deftly blending sweetness and sensuality in a poignantly written story." —
Booklist

"Catherine Anderson has a gift for imbuing her characters with dignity, compassion, courage, and strength that inspire readers.’’ —
Romantic Times

‘‘A major voice in the romance genre.’’

—
Publishers Weekly

‘‘Another winner from Anderson’s compassionate pen.’’ —
Library Journal

‘‘Heart-tugger extraordinaire Anderson adds a touch of the paranormal to this poignant and richly rewarding chapter in her Harrigan family series. A subtext to this race-against-time tale is how faith and accepting extraordinary gifts are not mutually exclusive.’’

—
Romantic Times

‘‘A terrific read, with all the depth and emotions that readers of romance love . . . not to be missed.’’

—The Romance Readers Connection

‘‘This smart, wholesome tale should appeal to any fan of traditional romance.’’ —
Publishers Weekly

‘‘Vivid descriptions, realistic family relationships (especially the lively sibling banter), and a dash of suspense make this heartwarming, gently sensual romance a satisfying read.’’ —
Library Journal

‘‘Another heartwarming chapter in the Coulter family saga is on tap in the always wonderful Anderson’s newest release. . . . Anderson is at her best when it comes to telling stories that are deeply emotional and heartfelt.’’ —
Romantic Times
(4
¹
⁄2 stars)

‘‘Anderson understands the inner workings of the human soul so deeply that she’s able to put intense emotion within a stunning romance in such a way that you’ll believe in miracles. Add to this her beautiful writing style, memorable characters, and a timeless story and you have an unmatched reading adventure.’’

—
Romantic Times
(4
¹
⁄2 stars)

‘‘The kind of book that will snare you so completely, you’ll not want to put it down. It engages the intellect and emotions; it’ll make you care. It will also make you smile . . . a lot. And that’s a guarantee.’’

—Romance Reviews Today

‘‘Sweet and sensual.’’ —
Publishers Weekly

‘‘With the author’s signature nurturing warmth and emotional depth, this beautifully written romance is a richly rewarding experience for any reader."

—
Booklist

‘‘Readers may need to wipe away tears . . . since few will be able to resist the power of this beautifully emotional, wonderfully romantic love story.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘A keeper and a very strong contender for Best Contemporary Romance of the Year.’’

—Romance Reviews Today

‘‘Offbeat family members and genuine familial love give a special lift to this marvelous story. An Anderson book is a guaranteed great read!’’

—
Romantic Times
(top pick; 4
¹
⁄2 stars)

‘‘Ben Longtree is a marvelous hero whose extraordinary gifts bring a unique and special magic to this warm-hearted novel. No one can tug your heartstrings better than Catherine Anderson.’’

—
Romantic Times
(top pick; 4
¹
⁄2 stars)

‘‘Emotionally involving, family centered, and relationship oriented, this story is a rewarding read.’’

—
Library Journal

‘‘[A] superbly written contemporary romance, which features just the kind of emotionally nourishing, comfortably compassionate type of love story this author is known for creating.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘Pure reading magic.’’ —
Booklist

‘‘Anderson departs from traditional romantic stereotypes in this poignant, contemporary tale of a love that transcends all boundaries . . . romantic through and through.’’ —
Publishers Weekly

SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
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80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Pen-
guin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a HarperPaperbacks edition.
First Signet Printing, May 2008

Copyright © Catherine Anderson, 1991

All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Dear readers,

For many years now, I have received letters from you about my out-of-print historical romances. Where might you find them? Why do they cost so much? When will my publisher reprint them? I kept promising you that someday it would happen, but as time wore on, even I began to wonder if it ever would.

Now it finally has! New American Library/Signet recently purchased the rights to the first three of those out-of-print books, and
Comanche Moon,
originally published in 1991, is the first to be reissued. I am so excited! To all who have waited so patiently for this day to arrive, thank you. To those who are confirmed contemporary fans, please consider taking this journey with me into the past. A great love story transcends time, and I’m confident that
Comanche Moon
will touch your emotions and linger in your memory.

Comanche Moon
was a true labor of love, a book that came straight from my heart. When it was first offered to publishers in the late ’80s, editor after editor rejected it because the story broke so many established rules of the romance genre. I was asked to change the book if I wanted to sell it, but I refused. In many ways,
Comanche Moon
is a tribute to a wonderful people, the Comanche nation, and after doing four years of research, I couldn’t bring myself to betray them or their culture by altering the story to fit a mold. I believed that readers were more sophisticated than some editors thought, and I was confident they would love the book just as it was, if only they could get an opportunity to read it.

I was right! When
Comanche Moon
finally made it into print its honesty and uniqueness were eagerly embraced by readers, and I will always feel that this story set the tone for my entire writing career. My readers came to expect books from me that didn’t always follow the conventions, emotionally powerful stories that depict the miracle of true love in trying, real-life situations.

I regret that this book has been so difficult to find for so long. The first print runs were small, and many readers kept their copies because the novel was so well liked, making it even harder for other readers to find. Now, at long last, you will be able to purchase as many copies as you wish.

I hope you enjoy reading
Comanche Moon
as much as I enjoyed writing it, and that it finds a prominent place on your keeper shelf as one of your all-time favorites.

All the very best,

Catherine Anderson

This book is in memory of the Comanche Nation, a proud, noble, and often misunderstood people whose population was nearly annihilated by the white men who invaded Comanche territories. As I wrote this book, I felt sad that such a wonderful way of life had to end, and I hope that someday humankind will begin to learn from its mistakes—namely that we are all brothers and sisters. With ancestral ties to the Shoshone, the parent tribe of the Comanche, I felt such a great affinity for the ‘‘True People’’ as I wrote this tale. I will never walk through the ponderosa forests of Central Oregon, their seasonal hunting grounds, without hearing their voices whispering to me on the wind, saying, ‘‘Suvate’’; it is finished.