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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
3.5 stars really ---
I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series and hadn't realized it was a second book. So i decided to read this one in prep.
Ms. Jenkins is peerless when it comes to creating a sense of place and history for black people in the host-rom. She remains one of the few who writes Western romances on the regular and between that and the black folks getting their flowers, she is a must read.
This book takes place in NOLA after the Civil War and a lot of the book is chock full of great history and info. Like I said.. excels and setting a sense of place.
But I have to admit as much as I liked the story and the characters the romance element felt decidedly backburner. And a little anemic. Not gonna lie.
Still the story and writing was still very good and I enjoyed the read.
I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series and hadn't realized it was a second book. So i decided to read this one in prep.
Ms. Jenkins is peerless when it comes to creating a sense of place and history for black people in the host-rom. She remains one of the few who writes Western romances on the regular and between that and the black folks getting their flowers, she is a must read.
This book takes place in NOLA after the Civil War and a lot of the book is chock full of great history and info. Like I said.. excels and setting a sense of place.
But I have to admit as much as I liked the story and the characters the romance element felt decidedly backburner. And a little anemic. Not gonna lie.
Still the story and writing was still very good and I enjoyed the read.
3.5 rounded up. Cute romance, not girlbossy, which is what I get from the series title.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
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
Another fantastic Black histrom from Ms. Bev! This one is a little harder to read because of the setting -- New Orleans was a dangerous place for Black people in the years immediately following the Civil War, and Jenkins doesn't shy away from that. But the story of Valinda Lacy discovering it as a place where she can live large and experience desire and its fulfilment with Drake LeVeq, descendant of pirates is ultimately joyful as all her books are.
Set in New Orleans in 1867, this book gives history along with the romance. Valinda came to New Orleans to teach freedmen to read but is assaulted. Drake LeVeq and his sister in law come to her aid. Valinda begins to stay with the LeVeq family. I loved the strong family element and history. I liked the bantering between characters. The romance was a slow burn as it built from friendship.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“There were undoubtedly worse things than being an unmarried woman in charge of her own life, free to come and go as she pleased, free to explore pleasure.”
True. And this was a good historical romance. Great, even. The post Civil War New Orleans setting was interesting, and the examples of prejudice, racism and violence made everything feel brutally real. As a contrast, the love story between Valinda and Drake was very sweet. Val was a determined, passionate and a rebel, and Drake was kind, attentive and a pirate at heart, and I liked the two of them together. All in all, this book was wonderful. I expected more tension or conflict through the whole story, or that it would take Val and Drake more effort to resolve everything. Also, the writing style didn't always work for me. That said, I’m glad that I read this book and excited to read more of Jenkins’ works.
True. And this was a good historical romance. Great, even. The post Civil War New Orleans setting was interesting, and the examples of prejudice, racism and violence made everything feel brutally real. As a contrast, the love story between Valinda and Drake was very sweet. Val was a determined, passionate and a rebel, and Drake was kind, attentive and a pirate at heart, and I liked the two of them together. All in all, this book was wonderful. I expected more tension or conflict through the whole story, or that it would take Val and Drake more effort to resolve everything. Also, the writing style didn't always work for me. That said, I’m glad that I read this book and excited to read more of Jenkins’ works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual content, Violence
Debating between 4 and 4.5 stars. It is wonderful, and I loved it, but it fell just short of knocking my socks off, which is one of my criteria for a 5-star book. Full review to come.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
Who knew I liked historical fiction romance? I really enjoyed reading a story set in a time period after the civil war. I liked the research that went into getting events and places right, and I liked that this book was driven by a smart plot with romance thrown in rather than by romance with a plot thrown in. The author was creative with her descriptions and rarely used a descriptor more than once. Toward the end, it felt rushed - certain events were made to feel like nothing when in my mind they could have been a whole separate book, but I liked the characters, I liked the female empowerment, and I liked the romance.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I am so glad I did. The way that Beverly Jenkins mixes the seedier parts of our history with the hope and joy of forever love is beautiful and hopeful. It prompts further investigation into American history while fulfilling your desire for a fluffy storybook fairytale.
Rebel will have you rooting for romance and triumph over racism all in one sitting!
Rebel will have you rooting for romance and triumph over racism all in one sitting!
aah não esperava gostar e me identificar tanto!!! muito fofooos <3 e nossa, o hot é hot msm ksksk