Across the Sweet Grass Hills

2002 WILLA Award Winner!

Will Red Eagle and Liza find the love they’ve been waiting for?

Liza Ralston has had more adventure in her life than she ever wanted. Leaving her settled existence with friends and family in St. Louis to travel to the Big Sky country of wild Montana with her father, she soon wishes she could turn the clock back.

When their scout is murdered and her father is severely wounded by thieves, the Pikuni tribe led by Crying Wind takes them in. But Liza wants nothing more than to return to St. Louis, despite her growing attraction for Red Eagle, the handsome son of a white trapper and Blackfeet mother. Red Eagle has tried to help Liza and her father, but Liza has a mind of her own. She doesn’t understand that the refined ways of civilized society in St. Louis have not yet reached the untamed land she is traveling now with her missionary father—a man who has secrets of his own that he is unwilling to share. She is left with no choice but to accept the help of Red Eagle’s tribe to save the life of her father. But the events leading up to Baker’s Massacre of 1870 force her to discover a new path for herself—a path leading to love, redemption…and revenge.

Will Red Eagle and Liza find the love they’ve been waiting for? Beauty, treachery and danger lie ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS.

ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS won the 2002 WILLA Literary Award for Best Softcover Fiction, by Women Writing the West. It also placed as a quarter-finalist in the 2000 Chesterfield Film Project.

  • Paperback: 252 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; II edition (December 15, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 149448174X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1494481742
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
4.1
Based on 96 Reviews
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Good story on many levels

I read and listened to this wonderful story as I was given the Audible copy free for an honest review, and bought the kindle version so i could read when I couldn't listen. It was hard get out down, characters were relatable, I felt for them. I felt that the author understood the native American issues, the narrator wss perfect for the telling

Calinurseguy July 10, 2017
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Across the Sweet Grass Hills

Across the Sweet Grass Hills : Gail L. Jenner This is a western, historical romance fiction. Liza ans Red Eagle meet and there is a spark between them. Liza is upper crust society from St. Louis, while Red Eagle was the son of a Blackfoot mother and a wĥite trapper. The trip across Montana is filled with all kind of perils. Will they find love or will they be torn apart. I did enjoy the fact this was a clean book. The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Serena Travis gave each character a voice, even though I felt "read to," instead of a part of the story. "I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

April H. July 6, 2017
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars A sequel please . . ..

While I found Liza to be somewhat insufferable, she was strong and survived and her character grew through the the book. Although she was still a bit "why me" at the end. Red Eagle is a strong character and hopefully Liza will be worthy of him. The historical detail is excellent and highlights a trouble period in U.S.history. Most period books only skirt real history. This book did a good job of portraying a plausible set of events within the troubled times. The only negative about the book is it felt more like a narrative. I wonder if we got into Liza's head more I might not have disliked her character. That being said, it seems a sequel about how Red Eagle and Liza moved forward would be interesting.

Tess Erana September 8, 2015
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars

Good story

Alyssa August 30, 2015
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it! Historical by also entertaining and keeps you ...

Loved it! Historical by also entertaining and keeps you wanting to know what will happen next. Definitely want more of Red Eagle and Liza's story. Must read!

Valerie Strobel June 23, 2015
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

Love it, awesome story

Lilly April 2, 2015
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Across the sweet grass hills.

I enjoyed reading this book, but I thought it could have told me a little bit more about Liza. Either way I still enjoyed it.

whitewolf65 February 8, 2015
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars i strongly suggest you read this book

I enjoy all about the life style and customs of American Indians..this book held my attention from front to back

Maureen Galbraith December 15, 2014
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars

I liked it

Jean Kilian October 11, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

I enjoyed this very much. Of course I enjoy Indian. stories.

Mary C. Capron September 18, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Native American Perspective of The Struggles Ahead.

Gail Jenner is a person who can tell a good story in person or in a book! I had the privileged of being stranded with this author at the Dallas Air port, coming out of Nashville. My son Geno LeSage and I were about a showcase for a young artist in Nashville. My son was a producer at that time. Gail had just visited her son also connected to music in Nashville. It was a crowed lobby with a lot of frustration in the air. I found a vacant seat next to Gail. She seem to have a peace of mind and a friendly smile in the mists of all the confusion. It wasn’t long before we started chatting and Gail open up with this wonderful adventure her niece was involved with. She was a cinematographer working on a movie “Heathen and Thieves.” I found myself captivated by the way Gail told the story. Later I was invited to view the movie in Chico Ca. with Gail and a lot of her family members and friends. I also got to meet her niece and some of the cast when it was finished. I value the friendship I have Gail Jenner. Her book, “Across The Sweet Grass Hills” say a lot about Gail’s knowledge and wisdom about the west from a native American perspective. They lived a hard life to the fullest trusting in the Great Spirit through good and the evil among men. I really could identify with the holy men like Crying Wind and Many words. They both had concerns for their people and the way their world was always troubled. In these times today it looks like America once more may change in a way that never will be the same. Red Eagle reminded me of a Christ type in a raging spiritual battle and Lisa a type of church coming out of a worldly culture and learning to trust her heart, spirit and savior. Very well written Gail !! Thank you for another Great story.

Gene September 15, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

ok

Paula August 23, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

great

Linda Randolph August 9, 2014
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars

good

Mary Jane Sharp July 12, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book

Really enjoyed this book. I am running out of American Indian books! I was very happy with this one . A+

Suzanne Schumacher June 20, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Across the Sweet Grass

Love it because it was also historical and about the Blackfeet in Montana. Grew up near Browning, Montana, (Blackfeet Reservation) and related to the book more so. But I am a history buff and enjoyed reading about the Blackfeet as there is not too much history around about the Blackfeet, mostly the Lakota. Good book, even if you are not a history buff.

mysticview May 10, 2014
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading

This is a story that is almost impossible to put down. The characters are intriguing . The writer makes the story seem very real. I highly recommend this

Jocelyn A. Mumpower April 23, 2014
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars absorbing!

For those who are huge fans of historical Western romances ACROSS THE SWEET GRASS HILLS will be most satisfying as it is romantic & much more. It is a glimpse into how our prejudices are nurtured, our paranoias inflamed, & a view from the other side of the looking glass at a time in our history that was both dreadful & exciting. Quite well done.

Rebecca Brown February 13, 2003
amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Research Woven Seamlessly in this Compelling Novel

The author has written a compelling story about a white woman, Elizabeth Ralston, who falls in love with a half-breed, Red Eagle. Historical information is woven seamlessly into the plot, and the story is believable. This novel is more of a love story, rather than a romance. This is an emotional and informative tale that is suitable for teenagers and older.

LetsBeReal August 20, 2002
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, realistic historical saga

With a previous interest in the time period but not a regular reader of the romance genre, I was very pleasantly surprised by and for quite a while now enthusiastically recommending Gail Jenner's "Across the Sweet Grass Hills." I would like to do the same here. Give a book that should hopefully be the first in a long line of work from Gail Jenner a try if you are a fan of either historical fiction or romantic adventure. The story places courageous, beautiful Liza Ralston and heroic half white, half Picuni, Red Eagle into the events leading up to the little known 1870 Marias Massacre. With a very crisp, fast-paced style, the novel details the trials and struggles of the would be lovers from two worlds at war. In fact, the fine, understated writing style and well explicated characters help give the work a satisfyingly authentic flavor and lift the work above standard genre fare. The meticulously researched details further strengthen the book, but never overwhelm the main story line. This is a very skillfully balanced work of realistic details and poignant historical romance that is sure to satisfy readers looking for adventure, looking to learn about a tragic turn of history, or a touching romance set against war and tragedy.

Barna W. Donovan January 23, 2002
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Tale Guaranteed to Gratify

Gail Jenner has written a gripping tale of one woman's struggle to survive in an unfamiliar world. It's amazing how easy it is for the reader to become engrossed in this woman's life as she encounters both tragedy and triumph in her quest to discover who she is and what she wants. Even as the last word is read, one cannot help but wish there was more to learn, more to experience, more to challenge the young woman so that the tale would never end. Here's hoping that Gail Jenner has a sequel in the works to engage our minds so that we may, once again, escape into this woman's mesmerizing world.

hurli5 March 17, 2001
amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading

Gail Jenners book is fabulous. The plot, the characters,the history, the images it places in your head keeps you turning the pages..wanting more and more. A must read....cant wait for her next book...

Taylor March 17, 2001
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