Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins

12 reviews

alyssamakesart's review against another edition

adventurous 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Racism and Racial slurs

Minor: Slavery, Sexual assault, and Gun violence

pucksandpaperbacks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

CW: Mention and description of sexual assault; sexual harassment; racism; racial slur; violence; gun violence; death; mention of slavery and being enslaved; blood; taxidermy; mention of alcoholism; mention of death by child birth, mention of child abuse, sexual harassment, alcoholism,  animal still birth.

Wow! I knew I wanted to pick up Beverly Jenkins for the Diverse Baseline Challenge prompt "historical fiction" for February. But that window is over now that it's almost April.  Regardless, I'm thankful to the challenge for giving me an opportunity to finally pick up her work!

Wild Rain is a slow burn grumpy x sunshine romance between a female rancher and a reporter who comes into town. If you like the caregiver trope - you must pick this up. Set in the wake of the Civil War, Spring takes in Garrett during a blizzard thinking he will only be with her for a couple of days. However, Garrett is in town to interview her brother and doctor, Colt. 

I loved how Jenkins played into the forced proximity trope and it was realistic! Even if it was at the hands of her characters getting injured, haha. What I appreciated and admired most about this romance is how the grumpy x sunshine element unraveled, showing the author's intent for applying it to this story. Spring is bold, fierce, and resilient. She has endured a lot of trauma due to the way men have treated her. Therefore, she wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't allow men to let her in. 

"He was handsome, she supposed, but a pretty face often masked an ugliness inside, so she wasn’t impressed by the strong jaw or the pleasant features it anchored." 

But Garrett (our cinnamon roll) shows her what a healthy relationship and a kind man is. By asserting and accepting Spring's boundaries, listening and accepting her. Very early in the book, Spring declares that she doesn't want to marry and later on we learn she is child free by choice. Garrett is okay with that. Whenever I read romance, I always say this: THIS is a healthy romance. I thought this was great and very refreshing to see a historical romance where the female protagonist is child free and the love interest is okay with it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Racial slurs, Blood, Medical content, Slavery, Racism, Death of parent, Animal death, and Injury/Injury detail

onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism and Slavery

Minor: War

dreezy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

Minor: Classism, Slavery, Animal death, Rape, Blood, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexism

haley49's review against another edition

adventurous emotional relaxing 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

4.75

Everything about this book was done right, from the atmosphere to the mcs to the side characters to the way sensitive topics were handled. Basically perfect but didn’t give 5 star vibes if that makes sense😭

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence

Moderate: Slavery, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, and Death

Minor: Death of parent

wilybooklover's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.5

I loved this! Garrett is a super soft, sweet hero who would do anything for Spring — and who could blame him, because Spring is amazing. He never wants to change her or cage her in; he simply supports her and trusts her to know what’s best for herself. Spring is tough, independent, and more than a little bit prickly (also a complete bad ass), but Garrett earns himself a place in her heart despite all that. 

I also loved that Spring doesn’t compromise on not wanting to marry or have kids, but at the same time doesn’t close herself off from love. So often heroines end up changing their minds out of love for the hero and I am so glad she didn’t. 

The conflict resolution with the villain at the end felt a bit rushed, and the book ended a bit abruptly. I wish there had been another chapter or two to flesh the last part of the story out a bit more (and maybe an epilogue?). But aside from that, this was excellent!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence

Moderate: Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death of parent, War, Genocide, Terminal illness, and Slavery

bookswhitme's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I’ll be the first one to say I’m not a historical fiction girlie, but I absolutely loved this book. Spring was a woman after my own heart and the fact that she never changed herself or ideals, not even once she fell in love, is something I appreciated so much. Her trauma wasn’t taken lightly and it may have shaped who she was, but she was an amazing person through and through. Garrett was a goner from the very beginning and the chemistry jumped off the page. I’m also hoping we’ll get to see his sister out on her own soon! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence and Racism

Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Racial slurs

erinwolf1997's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Sexual content

Moderate: Blood, Death, Racial slurs, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Minor: Medical content

nbeckham's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Fun read. I love the historical details Beverly Jenkins weaves into her books. Loved Spring’s character- so prickly! Also loved that they were a child free couple. Nice to see in romance, it’s pretty rare. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery

annalisaely's review

adventurous emotional informative inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Spring Rain is a wonderful character and I'm so glad to see her in her own book while still getting to hang out with Regan and Anna!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Terminal illness