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yourbookishbff's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
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
4.0
I enjoyed this more than Tempest! Spring is such a dynamic character and I loved her development and growth. I also really appreciated how complex Garrett's identity and desires are, given his very different background from Spring (born enslaved vs born free as she was, and significant cultural differences in the two parts of the country). Jenkins is expert in historical nuance and this is no exception. The discussions of race, class and station on page are always so well done. The final conflict felt a bit muted to me and patched up a bit too easily/quickly (and I also didn't feel it was as well seeded?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Death, Sexual content, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Trafficking
Note that racial slurs for Black and Indigenous people are used on page (they are also addressed as bigoted and violent on page).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
stephie_lovesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Racism
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
nbeckham's review
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault and Slavery
now_booking's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I love this author’s work and couldn’t not jump on this new release, a second installment in her Women Who Dare series. Unlike some of her other series, this book isn’t at all linked to “Rebel,” the first book in the WWD series- different worlds, different settings. Indeed, my feeling is that this series is linked by the strong Black unconventional female leads who are living life on their own terms. I think this description could fit any Beverly Jenkins’ heroine personally, but I suppose the heroines in books 1 and 2 are extra daring and out of the usual way. This book IS however linked to this author’s Old West series with Book 3 in that series, “Tempest,” featuring Colt and Regan, characters who also feature prominently in this book as the brother and sister-in-law of the protagonist. Nonetheless, like most of this author’s historicals, each book stands alone and it’s only a bonus if you happen to know the characters previously.
The premise of this book is that female Wyoming rancher, Spring, is one of the few black people in her rural small town, and she has a scandalous reputation from a somewhat wild youth. Now older and a self-made rancher, what people say about her doesn’t matter to her because she has been through fire to get to where she is, she has paid her dues and she’s not in this world to be liked or to be what anyone but herself thinks she should be. When she meets Garrett, a citified lawyer cum newspaperman cum carpenter from Washington DC, come to her Wyoming small town to interview her doctor brother, sparks fly but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to change herself for anyone.
I liked this novel the way I adore anything Ms Bev writes. The storytelling was gorgeous, the history was well-researched and vibrant, the action was good, the characters feisty, the heroine absolutely everything. Garrett is a real delight as a hero- open-minded, non-judgmental, understanding, he’s the perfect match to Spring. I’m a “give me all the babies and marriage” sort of romance reader but I loved that the author took a different path with this heroine, because I recognize that not everyone’s happy ending looks like marriage and children and I think the author did a fantastic job representing this underrepresented sort of heroine in this book. I loved that Spring was always unapologetically and unashamedly herself and just really had no flips to give. It was good to have a hero that for once was the one that compromised and gave up some of his dreams for love. This was fun and deeply emotional and engaging. I listened in audio and I must say like all Beverly Jenkins’ other books, this translated very well and was quite a gorgeous listen. Highly recommend!
The premise of this book is that female Wyoming rancher, Spring, is one of the few black people in her rural small town, and she has a scandalous reputation from a somewhat wild youth. Now older and a self-made rancher, what people say about her doesn’t matter to her because she has been through fire to get to where she is, she has paid her dues and she’s not in this world to be liked or to be what anyone but herself thinks she should be. When she meets Garrett, a citified lawyer cum newspaperman cum carpenter from Washington DC, come to her Wyoming small town to interview her doctor brother, sparks fly but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to change herself for anyone.
I liked this novel the way I adore anything Ms Bev writes. The storytelling was gorgeous, the history was well-researched and vibrant, the action was good, the characters feisty, the heroine absolutely everything. Garrett is a real delight as a hero- open-minded, non-judgmental, understanding, he’s the perfect match to Spring. I’m a “give me all the babies and marriage” sort of romance reader but I loved that the author took a different path with this heroine, because I recognize that not everyone’s happy ending looks like marriage and children and I think the author did a fantastic job representing this underrepresented sort of heroine in this book. I loved that Spring was always unapologetically and unashamedly herself and just really had no flips to give. It was good to have a hero that for once was the one that compromised and gave up some of his dreams for love. This was fun and deeply emotional and engaging. I listened in audio and I must say like all Beverly Jenkins’ other books, this translated very well and was quite a gorgeous listen. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
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