Wild Rain

Honestly, when I read [b:Tempest 35068495 Tempest (Old West, #3) Beverly Jenkins https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1501935222l/35068495.SY75.jpg 56363953], the book where Spring makes her first appearance, I thought she was a lesbian or possibly asexual, but overall very much not interested in men, and I was more than cool with that. But I'm happy to be wrong in this instance - as the author notes in her comments at the end, Garrett is very much a cinnamon roll hero and just what the grumpy (with good reason) Spring needs, I think. Content warnings: gun violence, survival sex work (off-page), abuse by parental figure (off-page), slut-shaming/misogyny. I love the connections to previous books by this author, and I always feel like I've come away learning something from her historical romances. She does the work and it shows in every page.

This is my favorite book I've read by Beverly Jenkins so far. I was in the mood to read a straightforward romance novel, and this book delivered on every front. There are some plot threads partly unrelated to the romance, but the focus is on Spring and Garrett. They're both wonderful characters, and their romance completely enchanted me.

The side characters came alive for me too. I really loved the warm friendship between Spring and her sister-in-law Regan. Also, the scene between Garrett and his father made me choke up because I was prepared to dislike the character, but when he and Garrett finally talked, I saw his perspective very clearly. That scene is going to stay with me.

Her books are not slow-paced, but there's a detailed nature to them that I really enjoy. She always takes the time to describe moments that are ordinary to the characters, but unfamiliar to me because of the historical setting. This quality makes her writing very immersive.

A few content warnings:

Spring was sexually abused when she was a younger woman, and it's referenced explicitly. One of her abusers is a villain in this book.

Racism is part of these characters' everyday lives. The town of Paradise is relatively progressive, but there's racism there too.

There's some on-page violence, and one of the MCs is seriously injured.

I had a hard time with this one. 2.5 stars rounded up. Spri my felt more sad than strong like she was in Tempest. While I appreciated getting to know a new side of her this book just wasn't very funy. I didn't feel the romance either, the relationship seemed physical and I had a hard time really believing their emotional connection. On top of that this had the “brea th less” type of slice of life writing about the town and horses and I just wasn't
Very into it.