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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I finally read my first Beverly Jenkins novel, and it definitely won’t be my last.
Beverly does such a wonderful job of painting the reconstruction era setting, and oh man did it have me anxious at times. But there was so much joy and hope!
I loved the characters, Val is so brave and determined, and Drake is a doting hunk of a man. I’m really looking forward to the series continuing, but I’m also excited to dive into Miss Bev’s backlist and read about other members of the LeVeq family.
My only minor complaint - though it’s something I struggle with with all historical romance - so much of the book is taken up by setting the scene & creating conflict that the romance suffers. I just wasn’t fully convinced by their love, lust, yes. Love, hmmm. That said their relationship was very sweet.
Beverly does such a wonderful job of painting the reconstruction era setting, and oh man did it have me anxious at times. But there was so much joy and hope!
I loved the characters, Val is so brave and determined, and Drake is a doting hunk of a man. I’m really looking forward to the series continuing, but I’m also excited to dive into Miss Bev’s backlist and read about other members of the LeVeq family.
My only minor complaint - though it’s something I struggle with with all historical romance - so much of the book is taken up by setting the scene & creating conflict that the romance suffers. I just wasn’t fully convinced by their love, lust, yes. Love, hmmm. That said their relationship was very sweet.
I adored the first half or more of this book. Loved the main characters and their banter, loved how kind Drake is, loved the found family, and the strength of Valinda and how she was really discovering herself.
There was a bit of miscommunication, which I didn't actually find very believable, but at least it was short-lived. And I found the ending a bit quick?
I loved how you really got a sense of the danger Black people were still in, even though slavery had just been abolished, but you also got really lovely moments of Black joy and even play. In Indigo they made mud pies, in this book, they talked about climbing trees and making a tree house. I think I would have loved to see that come to fruition though. I would have liked to see them actually play and not just talk about it.
There was a bit of miscommunication, which I didn't actually find very believable, but at least it was short-lived. And I found the ending a bit quick?
I loved how you really got a sense of the danger Black people were still in, even though slavery had just been abolished, but you also got really lovely moments of Black joy and even play. In Indigo they made mud pies, in this book, they talked about climbing trees and making a tree house. I think I would have loved to see that come to fruition though. I would have liked to see them actually play and not just talk about it.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
No
Rounded up because it did take on a lot, but none of it was unbelievable.
Valinda a northern free black has traveled to New Orleans to teach newly freed blacks. When she finds her school broken into and the few books burning she also is also chased and saved by Drake and his sister-in-law. Kicked out of her room by at night she throws herself on the kindly offered help of LeVeq's again.
Valinda a northern free black has traveled to New Orleans to teach newly freed blacks. When she finds her school broken into and the few books burning she also is also chased and saved by Drake and his sister-in-law. Kicked out of her room by at night she throws herself on the kindly offered help of LeVeq's again.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book was an easy read and very much a slow bubbling tension throughout the book. Many details given to replicate the historical past.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ because I had a great time, I loved the history and characters but good lord if I read about that man (who is not a pirate) being a pirate one more time I was gonna lose it.
Rebel is the first book in the new Women Who Dare series by Beverly Jenkins. We are introduced to a new historical character: 28-year-old Valinda Lacy, set in New Orleans, 1867. It is the aftermath of the Civil War. The backdrop is a busy city of newly freedmen, ambitious women of color, wealth and societal class.
Val is temporarily in town for one sole mission: to educate newly emancipated adults and young children. Her intended husband is away securing a newspaper deal so she has limited time to teach the community before heading back north. Then danger strikes. After discovering her school is destroyed, Val is cornered by sinister men who intend her harm. A brave man named Captain Drake LeVeq comes to her rescue.
The handsome Drake recognizes Val's determination to succeed and help the community. His own mission as an architect is to rebuild New Orleans. He absolutely admires Val but knows she is intended for another. But maybe he can convince her to believe in a love match rather than marry another man out of obligation.
Rebel is so well written. It is informational, captivating, romantic and funny at times. It also addresses racially charged situations and the power of passion. In such a cynical time when marriages were arranged, it gives light to relationships made out of genuine love. Most importantly, this new novel features a strong black woman determined to better her surroundings and not afraid to rebel when necessary. She is certainly a woman who dares!
Once again, I look forward to the history lessons behind every new historical fiction book written by Ms. Bev. Rebel is no exception. The years 1863-1877 are known as the Reconstruction Era in America. Such promise for our nation! Yet here we are today in 2019...
Happy Early Pub Day, Ms. Bev! Rebel will be available Tuesday, May 28.
LiteraryMarie
Val is temporarily in town for one sole mission: to educate newly emancipated adults and young children. Her intended husband is away securing a newspaper deal so she has limited time to teach the community before heading back north. Then danger strikes. After discovering her school is destroyed, Val is cornered by sinister men who intend her harm. A brave man named Captain Drake LeVeq comes to her rescue.
The handsome Drake recognizes Val's determination to succeed and help the community. His own mission as an architect is to rebuild New Orleans. He absolutely admires Val but knows she is intended for another. But maybe he can convince her to believe in a love match rather than marry another man out of obligation.
Rebel is so well written. It is informational, captivating, romantic and funny at times. It also addresses racially charged situations and the power of passion. In such a cynical time when marriages were arranged, it gives light to relationships made out of genuine love. Most importantly, this new novel features a strong black woman determined to better her surroundings and not afraid to rebel when necessary. She is certainly a woman who dares!
Once again, I look forward to the history lessons behind every new historical fiction book written by Ms. Bev. Rebel is no exception. The years 1863-1877 are known as the Reconstruction Era in America. Such promise for our nation! Yet here we are today in 2019...
Happy Early Pub Day, Ms. Bev! Rebel will be available Tuesday, May 28.
LiteraryMarie
emotional
funny
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:
Yes