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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.
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.
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Classism, Slavery, Animal death, Rape, Blood, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexism
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!
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!
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
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
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
adoras's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
My first Beverly Jenkins book! I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Spring and Garrett as individual characters, and the contrast they made as a couple: Garrett steady and open and instantly enamored with Spring, while she is independent and hard and unwilling to ever get married. What I didn't love was how quickly their romance seemed to develop. It felt like he was instantly in love, which seemed abrupt even if it made sense with the time period. And Spring, who is independent at her core, seemed to soften to him very quickly, and fall in love over a short period of time as well. I would have preferred a longer, slower burn.
However, I loved the setting. This felt well-researched and lived in, like I understood exactly how the town worked and how life in general was during that time period. There were a couple of elements that felt a little clunky, like they were there to provide exposition to the reader without feeling completely natural in the mouths of the characters. But I will still definitely check out more Beverly Jenkins in the future.
I really enjoyed Spring and Garrett as individual characters, and the contrast they made as a couple: Garrett steady and open and instantly enamored with Spring, while she is independent and hard and unwilling to ever get married. What I didn't love was how quickly their romance seemed to develop. It felt like he was instantly in love, which seemed abrupt even if it made sense with the time period. And Spring, who is independent at her core, seemed to soften to him very quickly, and fall in love over a short period of time as well. I would have preferred a longer, slower burn.
However, I loved the setting. This felt well-researched and lived in, like I understood exactly how the town worked and how life in general was during that time period. There were a couple of elements that felt a little clunky, like they were there to provide exposition to the reader without feeling completely natural in the mouths of the characters. But I will still definitely check out more Beverly Jenkins in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Racism, and Sexual assault
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