A review by fi_c
Before the Dawn by Beverly Jenkins

3.75

**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers.  I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**

3.75 

Audio (Thomas Penny)

Summary:  After the death of her husband (really her late mother’s partner who she married for reasons of convenience just prior to his death), widowed Leah sets out west to handle some of his business - and finds herself irresistibly attracted to his estranged son Ryder.

Stats: HR Western, M/F, open door, stand alone.

Notes: I enjoyed this - but, like with most Beverly Jenkins’ books, I found the historical interjections a little annoying - they’re too underdeveloped/unconnected to add depth to the plot or world for me, but I appreciate the effort at research.  I found the plot of this one a bit bananas and hard to follow, though I really liked both main characters - and found them to have depth, chemistry and a good balance of feistiness, reasonableness and kindness.

OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Illness/death of estranged parent, alcohol, death/illness of beloved parents (cancer, drowning), marriage of convenience (not to mMC), references to religion/prayer, racism, mentions of slavery (side characters, in the past), allegations of DV/IPV and murder in the past (involving side character), mentions of mining accidents/deaths, legal problems, description of childhood bullying, alcohol, transactional sex, serious illness/poisoning of friend, minor medical care, death, child abuse (in past, mentions, whipping), misogyny/sexism from side characters, description of massacre of indigenous people (including rape, torture, desecration and death of children), descriptions of murder/violence/death of police officers, media harassment, infidelity between side characters,  side character with a gambling addiction, firearms, hunting, FMC punches MMC several times “playfully”, mention of abortion (negative), pregnancy, knife violence, gun violence/shooting, arson/fire, 32F black FMC, multiracial (black/Native/white) MMC, 1880s