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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
There were lots of cute interactions between the couple or other characters, but I think the book suffered from having too many elements. Both characters start out in different relationships, they both have conflicts with other people in the town, and there are extra plot lines on top of that. Everything felt rushed, but I still had a fun time reading, and I flew through the audiobook.
Again.. I love Beverly Jenkins. That’s all. I love how her characters are all woven into each other & how they love on each other. It’s so refreshing to see. I’m new to historical romance & I don’t think I’ll leave. This was a really sweet story.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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:
N/A
Valinda is a poor teacher, trying to make a difference in New Orleans. When she runs into trouble in the form of some errant soldiers who want to take advantage of her, she is rescued by Drake Le Veq and his sister-in-law. Then, not having anywhere else to turn, she ends up with them. And the fireworks begin.
Drake Le Veq is as smooth as they come, okay? The way he makes his presence and his interest known from the beginning without being pushy was so masterfully written. I felt like I could blush from the way he commanded Val's attention. He was sweet and patient. He admired Val's focus and her dream. Val was so strong and persistent. She wouldn't be deterred. Her setting up a convenient engagement to a friend to avoid her tyrant father's marriage demands was smart and spoke to her commitment. I was glad that her friend was someone she could count on. But her and Drake lit up the sky and I rooted for them the entire way. The way they leaned into their passion was nice. And even though they were cautious with their hearts after their misunderstanding, they didn't let it push them to give up on each other. Also, I was happy for her sister. Lovely.
Drake Le Veq is as smooth as they come, okay? The way he makes his presence and his interest known from the beginning without being pushy was so masterfully written. I felt like I could blush from the way he commanded Val's attention. He was sweet and patient. He admired Val's focus and her dream. Val was so strong and persistent. She wouldn't be deterred. Her setting up a convenient engagement to a friend to avoid her tyrant father's marriage demands was smart and spoke to her commitment. I was glad that her friend was someone she could count on. But her and Drake lit up the sky and I rooted for them the entire way. The way they leaned into their passion was nice. And even though they were cautious with their hearts after their misunderstanding, they didn't let it push them to give up on each other. Also, I was happy for her sister. Lovely.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I cant believe yall aint never tell me about Ms.Jenkins!!!! I am absolutely hooked and about to devour her works like crazy!!! Valinda and Drake were too adorable!!! AA historical fiction?!!!! Like Ms.Shonda the material is right here!!!!!! A must read!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
emotional
informative
relaxing
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
This was a fantastic book. Once again an extremely well researched book by Jenkins. I found the love story believable and I appreciated the secondary plots despite them being really heavy given the horribly racist context of the period. Valinda and Drake are a great couple which I was rooting for all along. I wish there had been more resolution around some of the crimes that occurred but it makes sense that they would remain open ended given the social context of anti-blackness. I particularly appreciated the subtle commentary about how longstanding these issues have been in the Americas.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Violence
Minor: Sexual assault
I picked up my first Beverly Jenkins’ book, Rebel, published this year. It was chosen by my book group to read, and I’m so glad it was.
Although Rebel is supposed to be the first in a new series, I could clearly see that it was connected to other series by virtue of the supporting characters, many of whom are members of the LeVeq family and must have stories of their own. In this book, we focus on Valinda Lacy, an African American woman from New York, who journeys south to New Orleans to teach the newly freed men, women, and children after the Civil War. She only plans to be there for a short period, as she’s engaged to a fellow New Yorker who hopes to start a newspaper back home. However, since he’s abroad seeking financial support for the venture, Valinda makes a courageous choice to travel alone to New Orleans against her father’s wishes to fulfill a dream of her own to teach. Almost immediately upon arriving in New Orleans and beginning her job, Valinda faces challenges brought on by the deep resentments, antagonisms, and continued racism of the immediate post-Civil War period. In no time, former soldiers – white and black – who team up to terrorize the newly free, vandalize the barn Valinda uses for her school, destroy her materials, and attack her. The latter incident attracts the attentions of Captain Drake LeVeq, a former African American soldier who fought for the Union, is an architect, and a son of the well-to-do LeVeq family. He and his sister-in-law rescue Valinda and soon she is taken under the LeVeq family wing. With their help, Valinda sees the possibility of continuing her work in New Orleans, but can she talk her fiancé into starting his newspaper there, let alone convince her family to allow her the freedom to stay. But, most importantly, will she be able to control her growing feelings towards Drake or his for her — especially since the examples set for her concerning male-female relationships have been poor and leave her wondering if she wants to tie herself to any man.
Rebel read to me like an old school romance, which is not a bad thing. I consider Beverly Jenkins one of the grand dames of romance, so I was not surprised by my impression. Although the romance was not especially unique in its portrayal, I did enjoy it. There were odd aspects to it, however. For instance Drake and Valinda did intimate things, but Drake would did not “go all the way” because he felt that was Valinda’s soon-to-be husband’s right. But, since Valinda was so willing to be intimate with Drake, one wonders why he never really questioned that willingness and her relationship with her intended sooner. It was a very odd little dance, with some weird justifications.
In my opinion, the strongest aspect of the book was all the historical details Ms. Jenkins’ incorporated into her story. Although one can imagine that life was very tough for the newly free in Louisiana, the details of the mores of the community — both good and bad — were fascinating. I was also interested in the various groups and where they sat in the hierarchy of the city: the African Americans (both poor and not), the white populace (both poor and not), the Creoles, etc. This was almost a cosmopolitan city in terms of the population, if not in its activities. So interesting. I’d give this book a B+ and would be interested in more stories set in this time and place.
Although Rebel is supposed to be the first in a new series, I could clearly see that it was connected to other series by virtue of the supporting characters, many of whom are members of the LeVeq family and must have stories of their own. In this book, we focus on Valinda Lacy, an African American woman from New York, who journeys south to New Orleans to teach the newly freed men, women, and children after the Civil War. She only plans to be there for a short period, as she’s engaged to a fellow New Yorker who hopes to start a newspaper back home. However, since he’s abroad seeking financial support for the venture, Valinda makes a courageous choice to travel alone to New Orleans against her father’s wishes to fulfill a dream of her own to teach. Almost immediately upon arriving in New Orleans and beginning her job, Valinda faces challenges brought on by the deep resentments, antagonisms, and continued racism of the immediate post-Civil War period. In no time, former soldiers – white and black – who team up to terrorize the newly free, vandalize the barn Valinda uses for her school, destroy her materials, and attack her. The latter incident attracts the attentions of Captain Drake LeVeq, a former African American soldier who fought for the Union, is an architect, and a son of the well-to-do LeVeq family. He and his sister-in-law rescue Valinda and soon she is taken under the LeVeq family wing. With their help, Valinda sees the possibility of continuing her work in New Orleans, but can she talk her fiancé into starting his newspaper there, let alone convince her family to allow her the freedom to stay. But, most importantly, will she be able to control her growing feelings towards Drake or his for her — especially since the examples set for her concerning male-female relationships have been poor and leave her wondering if she wants to tie herself to any man.
Rebel read to me like an old school romance, which is not a bad thing. I consider Beverly Jenkins one of the grand dames of romance, so I was not surprised by my impression. Although the romance was not especially unique in its portrayal, I did enjoy it. There were odd aspects to it, however. For instance Drake and Valinda did intimate things, but Drake would did not “go all the way” because he felt that was Valinda’s soon-to-be husband’s right. But, since Valinda was so willing to be intimate with Drake, one wonders why he never really questioned that willingness and her relationship with her intended sooner. It was a very odd little dance, with some weird justifications.
In my opinion, the strongest aspect of the book was all the historical details Ms. Jenkins’ incorporated into her story. Although one can imagine that life was very tough for the newly free in Louisiana, the details of the mores of the community — both good and bad — were fascinating. I was also interested in the various groups and where they sat in the hierarchy of the city: the African Americans (both poor and not), the white populace (both poor and not), the Creoles, etc. This was almost a cosmopolitan city in terms of the population, if not in its activities. So interesting. I’d give this book a B+ and would be interested in more stories set in this time and place.