Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Breathless by Beverly Jenkins

9 reviews

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative lighthearted 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

4.5

Portia is an accountant who has NO interest in getting married, mainly because her mom (who was a seggs worker) was awful but also because she just hasn’t liked any of the men she’s ever met and she wants to be independent. Kent, the MMC, is a real-live cowboy, who worked for Rhine back in Virginia City and eventually found his way to the family at their Arizona hotel.

Like most Bevvie Jenks, this book is FULL OF PLOTS. If starts with Rhine, Eddy, Portia and Regan escaping mob violence and ends with a huge plot happening. I loved the exploration of Portia’s relationship with her mom and how that informed her relationship with Kent. I loved how sweet patient and h0rny Kent was. I also loved all of the foreshadowing with Regan, who is the FMC in Tempest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexism

Moderate: Racism, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

jess_justmaybeperfect's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny reflective tense medium-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

The eldest niece of the Forbidden MCs* reunites with a childhood friend at her family’s hotel and ranch in the Arizona Territory. He’s a playboy immediately bowled over by the very serious, very anti marriage, Portia. There is some over explaining that gets distracting at moments but doesn’t take away from the story. 

The romance, treatment of the trauma of Portia’s young life, and study of grief are gentle and moving. I cried.

Willllllllld ending.

Excellent Jenkins style history: Black women’s suffrage; racist violence; class differences; and the appalling treatment of Black Americans and Apaches by the US.

*Eddy and Rhine are doing exceptionally well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racism, Murder, Sexism, and Violence

heather667'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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, and Sexism

Minor: Infidelity, Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, and Infertility

zombiezami's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, Death, Grief, Sexism, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Colonisation, Confinement, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Racism, Abandonment, and Violence

Minor: War, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Blood

sydapel's review

adventurous emotional informative slow-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

3.0

I feel like I've included this in past reviews, but while I do appreciate the historical context that Beverly Jenkins brings to her work, it mostly falls short for me on the emotional front. I wish I felt differently, because she is so iconic and there needs to be room made for BIPOC characters in our historical romance, but I hardly ever feel like I get enough time with the characters to be invested in their relationship. All this being said, I do absolutely love Portia's no bullshit mentality and seeing Rhine and Eddy be so happy together. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Racism, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Gun violence

onlyonebookshelf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Racism, and Slavery

bookbuyingwithkatie's review against another edition

adventurous 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Racism, Abandonment, and Death

thefatpaperback's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Terminal illness, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Pedophilia

pickledradish's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

An extremely charming and fun read, and I learned things about the historical context I hadn't known! If you're in the mood for a light but interesting romance novel, this one fits the bill. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Kidnapping and Sexual content

Minor: Death, Racism, Rape, and Child abuse