haley49's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
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
4.75
Everything about this book was done right, from the atmosphere to the mcs to the side characters to the way sensitive topics were handled. Basically perfect but didn’t give 5 star vibes if that makes sense😭
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence
Moderate: Slavery, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Violence, and Death
Minor: Death of parent
wilybooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.5
I loved this! Garrett is a super soft, sweet hero who would do anything for Spring — and who could blame him, because Spring is amazing. He never wants to change her or cage her in; he simply supports her and trusts her to know what’s best for herself. Spring is tough, independent, and more than a little bit prickly (also a complete bad ass), but Garrett earns himself a place in her heart despite all that.
I also loved that Spring doesn’t compromise on not wanting to marry or have kids, but at the same time doesn’t close herself off from love. So often heroines end up changing their minds out of love for the hero and I am so glad she didn’t.
The conflict resolution with the villain at the end felt a bit rushed, and the book ended a bit abruptly. I wish there had been another chapter or two to flesh the last part of the story out a bit more (and maybe an epilogue?). But aside from that, this was excellent!
The conflict resolution with the villain at the end felt a bit rushed, and the book ended a bit abruptly. I wish there had been another chapter or two to flesh the last part of the story out a bit more (and maybe an epilogue?). But aside from that, this was excellent!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Gun violence
Moderate: Medical content, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Violence, Sexual assault, Animal death, Blood, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent, War, Genocide, Terminal illness, and Slavery
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).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
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