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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I liked Drake and Valinda. I liked the sense of place (I had recently visited New Orleans and so there was a kind of familiarity to the descriptions that resonated with me.) I liked the LeVeq family and they seem like a fun group of interesting people.
I just feel like a lot of things were quickly summarized--I'm not sure they needed to be shown directly on page, since they were largely about political maneuvering/major events that the characters weren't directly involved with, but sometimes I wasn't quite sure if I was reading a romance, a pop history book, or something else. Still, I did enjoy the prose, and would read another by this author.
I just feel like a lot of things were quickly summarized--I'm not sure they needed to be shown directly on page, since they were largely about political maneuvering/major events that the characters weren't directly involved with, but sometimes I wasn't quite sure if I was reading a romance, a pop history book, or something else. Still, I did enjoy the prose, and would read another by this author.
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Just loved this story. It was set right after the Civil War which was a very tough time as those who gained their freedom were being denied, being tricked into work agreements that were basically slavery in disguise and all the inequities that don’t go away over night and apparently never do. This was about Valinda, a lovely selfless woman trying to survive on useless stipends to educate those who can’t read. And being completely stopped at every turn. She finds a ally in a Free born man of French descent Drake LeVeq. Though he is also black and faces lots of racist dbags his family is prominent and powerful in New Orleans.
That time was awful for women who were trying to be educated, and live without needing a man and then add in race. This book showed the many difficulties and class systems within those who were born free and newly free. It is a romance novel though and there is a lot of spice and seriously Drake had pirate blood and is trying to plunder lol. Also, Val is engaged to another and I kind of was mad at Drake for trying to steal her while he was away. But turns out her fiancee had his own secrets and things to hide and she was just there to hide them for him. So it turns out Drake showing her some things made her realize she would be missing out on a lot in life.
Another absolutely fantastic book from Beverly Jenkins.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Valinda Lacy has arrived in Reconstruction Era New Orleans to educate the formerly enslaved. Captain Drake Leveq volunteers at the New Orleans Freeman's Bureau. Their paths cross in dramatic ways and an already engaged Valinda finds unexpected passion in Drake Leveq.
Beverly Jenkins is a romance novelist and historian. One of the few writers of historical fiction centering black stories in a way that isn't painful to digest or stereotypical. Even when a story includes a slave narrative it is not driven by this narrative. She doesn't use trauma as a singular and sole plot device and her stories are more balanced because of it. Beverly's writing is rich with history and vivid with details. You can read to lose yourself in fiction while learning a great deal of history that is often minimized or ignored!
Beverly Jenkins is a romance novelist and historian. One of the few writers of historical fiction centering black stories in a way that isn't painful to digest or stereotypical. Even when a story includes a slave narrative it is not driven by this narrative. She doesn't use trauma as a singular and sole plot device and her stories are more balanced because of it. Beverly's writing is rich with history and vivid with details. You can read to lose yourself in fiction while learning a great deal of history that is often minimized or ignored!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No