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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!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Racial slurs
theatrealpaca's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
sydapel's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.0
First step in incorporating more authors of color into my voracious historical romance taste! This felt a lot different from any historical romance I've ever read, in such a good way. Set in the beautiful Wyoming mountains and focusing on the history of black Americans during the late 19th century as much as the developing relationship at the core, Spring and Garrett's story is as much about family expectations and prejudices as it is about two people who meet each other where they are. There's very little tension (of the bad kind) between them, and their relationship develops naturally and without the ups and downs common in regency romances. The ending was a little rushed for my taste, but what does it for me was the way the author treated Spring's choice not to have children. Can't wait to go back and read about Colton and Reagan next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
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
megloveswords12's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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 and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Rape, Racial slurs, and Racism
aqtbenz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Rape, Racism, and Racial slurs
historysoverture's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Racism
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual assault
annalisaely's review against another edition
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Terminal illness
sebrittainclark's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexism
crystalisreading's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Wild Rain by Beverly Jenkins is a solid, enjoyable Black historical romance between a tall handsome cinnamon roll reporter/ lawyer/ carpenter from DC and a biracial Black and Shoshone woman rancher from Wyoming who refuses to conform to social norms to make him or anyone else comfortable. Spring Lee is a survivor of sexual abuse, loss, and abandonment who has made her own way in the world, earning the money for land of her own and taking orders--or intimacy--from no one. But the quietly, calmly inquisitive Garrett McCray, a former slave and Union sailor, as well as a trained lawyer and practicing reporter and carpenter, wins her heart with his patience and gentleness and respect and acceptance of her for who she is. This wasn't a super exciting story for me, despite the shooting, the attempted murder, and the attempted financial swindles. Instead, it felt more like Garrett himself--stable and supportive and encouraging and hopeful, full of interesting snippets of Black history and depictions of strong, successful Black men and women building relationships and community together.
Despite Wild Rain being the second in the Women Who Dare series by Jenkins, it is definitely also a follow up to Jenkin's Tempest, from her Old West trilogy. I do think you'll understand this story better if you've read Tempest before, although I honestly prefered this story more. I thought Spring was a much more nuanced and realistic character than the t00-perfect Regan from Tempest, who makes an excellent supporting character this time around, along with her husband Colton Lee and their children and their extended town and family.
The diversity, as I would expect from Jenkins, is good. There are strong independent female characters as well as a primarily Black cast of characters, with some Native representation as well. No LGBTQ+ representation, and most if not all characters are able-bodied, but there's definitely some #MeToo type themes of sexual abuse and violence in Spring's past. The snippets of history that Jenkins includes throughout the book enrich our understanding of underrepresented history, from the role of Black sailors in Union naval efforts during the American Civil War to the public perception and outright bias against Natives from white and Black Americans, especially back on the East Coast, to women in Wyoming having the vote so much earlier than in the rest of the United States. There's even mentions of Black newspapers and Black authors of the time, due to Garrett's career, but also to his bookworm tendencies. I cheered a little when he mentioned reading Frederick Douglass's third autobiography, a book that still resonated powerfully today. Jenkins strikes the delicate balance of acknowledging issues of race and bigotry and violence without weighing this gentle love story down too.
So if you want a historical Western romance that avoids white supremacist tropes and acknowledges at least some issues of colonization, and if you want a sweet romance between two unconventional Black leads, this is the book for you. While there is violence, both past and present, within the plot, the focus is more on human relationships, between the two romantic leads, but also with the community around them.
Jenkins has said that she doesn't know what character the third book in the Women Who Dare trilogy will feature. I'm personally rooting for Garrett's friendly, confident sister. Either way, I look forward to reading what Ms Beverly writes next. Thank you to #NetGalley and Avon/ Harper for sharing a digital #advancedcopy of #WildRain with me in exchange for an honest review.
Despite Wild Rain being the second in the Women Who Dare series by Jenkins, it is definitely also a follow up to Jenkin's Tempest, from her Old West trilogy. I do think you'll understand this story better if you've read Tempest before, although I honestly prefered this story more. I thought Spring was a much more nuanced and realistic character than the t00-perfect Regan from Tempest, who makes an excellent supporting character this time around, along with her husband Colton Lee and their children and their extended town and family.
The diversity, as I would expect from Jenkins, is good. There are strong independent female characters as well as a primarily Black cast of characters, with some Native representation as well. No LGBTQ+ representation, and most if not all characters are able-bodied, but there's definitely some #MeToo type themes of sexual abuse and violence in Spring's past. The snippets of history that Jenkins includes throughout the book enrich our understanding of underrepresented history, from the role of Black sailors in Union naval efforts during the American Civil War to the public perception and outright bias against Natives from white and Black Americans, especially back on the East Coast, to women in Wyoming having the vote so much earlier than in the rest of the United States. There's even mentions of Black newspapers and Black authors of the time, due to Garrett's career, but also to his bookworm tendencies. I cheered a little when he mentioned reading Frederick Douglass's third autobiography, a book that still resonated powerfully today. Jenkins strikes the delicate balance of acknowledging issues of race and bigotry and violence without weighing this gentle love story down too.
So if you want a historical Western romance that avoids white supremacist tropes and acknowledges at least some issues of colonization, and if you want a sweet romance between two unconventional Black leads, this is the book for you. While there is violence, both past and present, within the plot, the focus is more on human relationships, between the two romantic leads, but also with the community around them.
Jenkins has said that she doesn't know what character the third book in the Women Who Dare trilogy will feature. I'm personally rooting for Garrett's friendly, confident sister. Either way, I look forward to reading what Ms Beverly writes next. Thank you to #NetGalley and Avon/ Harper for sharing a digital #advancedcopy of #WildRain with me in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual violence and Sexual content
Minor: Racism