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A review by bookishrealm
Night Song by Beverly Jenkins
4.0
This isn't my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but oh my goodness! I wasn't expecting the intensity. Reading this definitely motivated me to dive back into Jenkins' backlist and slowly make my through all of her books. CW: lynching, racism, attempted sexual assault, death, murder, miscarriage
Night Song is the first book published by Ms. Jenkins in 1994. Woven with deep and rich history, the novel follows main characters Cara and Chase. Cara is a teacher in Kansas who first encounters Sergeant Jefferson prior to the beginning of the book. Although there are memories of their encounters, this is the first time that the two get to interact on a more intimate level. What starts off as small banter between the two quickly turns into deep affection. Unfortunately, Chase doesn't see himself in a long term relationship tied to a woman through marriage. A series of events continues to push the two together in hopes of them finally finding their happily ever after.
What Worked: Jenkins is master at crafting prose. I knew this from reading a few of her previous books, but it's been a while since I've read anything. Not only was I captivated by Cara and Chase as a couple, but I was invested in their personal background. There is a lot of Black history woven into the character development. Granted, this is a love story at it's core; however, Jenkins never strays away from informing readers about this historical events that would inevitably shape her characters. Through Cara readers learn more about the inaccurate perception of Yankee soldiers who are often remembered as the "heroes" of the Civil War. Jenkins reminds readers that, they too, had deep rooted racism that traumatically impacted the Black community. Through Chase readers learn about the impact of slavery and the history of the 9th and 10th Horse Calvary also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. I have to admit, I was personally excited to hear more about this because of how I great up learning about the Buffalo Soldiers. Additionally, I adored the relationship between Chase and Cara. Granted, there were a few times that I wanted to slap Chase across the head with the way he handled certain aspects of their relationships. Nevertheless, I could tell that he deeply cared for Cara and definitely did everything in his power to protect her. Additionally, Jenkins knows how to right a damn steamy scene. Oh my goodness. Sure, Cara hasn't previously been with anyone else, but she definitely holds her own in every encounter.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, like many other reviewers, I struggled a little with the ending of this book. I feel like this specific plot point was dragged on a little too long. Granted, I understand the role that he plays in the context of the whole book, but it made me feel a little distracted. I think that it could have been paced a little better.
Overall, this was a great first book from Jenkins. The level of research that went into this book is beyond amazing and coupled with great characters and great storytelling made for a wonderful reading experience. I can't wait to pick up the next book.
Night Song is the first book published by Ms. Jenkins in 1994. Woven with deep and rich history, the novel follows main characters Cara and Chase. Cara is a teacher in Kansas who first encounters Sergeant Jefferson prior to the beginning of the book. Although there are memories of their encounters, this is the first time that the two get to interact on a more intimate level. What starts off as small banter between the two quickly turns into deep affection. Unfortunately, Chase doesn't see himself in a long term relationship tied to a woman through marriage. A series of events continues to push the two together in hopes of them finally finding their happily ever after.
What Worked: Jenkins is master at crafting prose. I knew this from reading a few of her previous books, but it's been a while since I've read anything. Not only was I captivated by Cara and Chase as a couple, but I was invested in their personal background. There is a lot of Black history woven into the character development. Granted, this is a love story at it's core; however, Jenkins never strays away from informing readers about this historical events that would inevitably shape her characters. Through Cara readers learn more about the inaccurate perception of Yankee soldiers who are often remembered as the "heroes" of the Civil War. Jenkins reminds readers that, they too, had deep rooted racism that traumatically impacted the Black community. Through Chase readers learn about the impact of slavery and the history of the 9th and 10th Horse Calvary also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. I have to admit, I was personally excited to hear more about this because of how I great up learning about the Buffalo Soldiers. Additionally, I adored the relationship between Chase and Cara. Granted, there were a few times that I wanted to slap Chase across the head with the way he handled certain aspects of their relationships. Nevertheless, I could tell that he deeply cared for Cara and definitely did everything in his power to protect her. Additionally, Jenkins knows how to right a damn steamy scene. Oh my goodness. Sure, Cara hasn't previously been with anyone else, but she definitely holds her own in every encounter.
What Didn't Work: Unfortunately, like many other reviewers, I struggled a little with the ending of this book. I feel like this specific plot point was dragged on a little too long. Granted, I understand the role that he plays in the context of the whole book, but it made me feel a little distracted. I think that it could have been paced a little better.
Overall, this was a great first book from Jenkins. The level of research that went into this book is beyond amazing and coupled with great characters and great storytelling made for a wonderful reading experience. I can't wait to pick up the next book.