Cover Image: Wild Rain

Wild Rain

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Does Beverly Jenkins ever write a bad book? I love her attention to historical detail, her characters, everything! She is always an auto-buy for me.

Was this review helpful?

As per usual, Ms. Bev does not disappoint! I really liked both Spring and Garrett as the main characters - both were unconventional and interesting and their chemistry was palpable from the onset. This author has a deft hand at weaving stories that are filled with people I can envision as part of my ancestry, real history that fills in gaps poorly left my my public school education, and situations that feel suited for not only for the settings of her books but also current times. I look forward to meeting the next “daring” woman (and man) in this series.

4 out of 5 wine glasses.

Was this review helpful?

Beverly gives a very descriptive look at the time period she has picked for these stories. Not only are the characters motivated but personal desires but they are also limited in their choices; Love can often be risky in uncertain times but these characters find love worth the risk. I loved the chemistry between the main leads and enjoyed reading their journey to love.

Was this review helpful?

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit of clever banter!
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine’s perspectives

Should I read in order?
I did not read the first book and I’m not sure if it’s related to the characters in this one. This one felt fine to pick up as a stand alone!

Basic plot:
Garrett is a reporter that has come to do a story on doctors for his Black newspaper out East. He wants to interview Colton Lee, but meets his sister, Spring, and is attracted right away.

Give this a try if you want:
- Wyoming territory in the post Civil War America
- Heroine nurses hero back to health
- Reverse grump and sunshine feel (happy, talkative hero and prickly, closed off heroine)
- Childless HEA and contraception used regularly
- Instalove/lust feel here

Ages:
- heroine is 33, hero is around 32 (These are done from context clues about the amount of time passed from prior events so I could be off)

My thoughts:
I found this romance so refreshingly unique in so many ways! Black characters taking the stage and owning their lives – the strength in both of them is so admirable. The fact that contraception was used and the heroine was adamant that she didn’t want children and didn’t budge on that for ‘true love’. I also enjoyed the reverse sunshine/grump feel – Garrett is just such a joy and as much as Spring pushes back on him initially, he of courses melts her opposition just by being is amazingly endearing, cheerful, gentle self.

I did struggle a bit with the actual romance/sexual tension in this book. There is a feeling of instalust here and they were ready to jump each other pretty quickly. I just didn’t feel the tension building up between them and so their romantic relationship fell a touch flat for me.

This was my first by Jenkins and I was impressed with her writing style and would definitely try more from her!

Was this review helpful?

I am so far behind in my reading it is ridiculous.

I got this book from Net Galley and time along with life got away from me. Today I finally cracked it open and my only disappointment was that I hadn't read it sooner.

Ms. Bev never ceases to amaze me. Her storytelling is so wonderful and breathtaking. Her pen is platinum.

Spring and Garrett were wonderful characters. Spring was an amazingly strong woman. I loved that the meet-cute happened right in the beginning and the growth of their feelings for each other stretched through the entire book. I loved how Garrett didn't want to change her. He loved her for exactly who she was.

This book had just the right amount of everything. In my opinion, it ended the only way it could. This was definitely a 5-star read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Was this review helpful?

A low angst romance between a traumatized woman and a cinnamon roll hero who's a reporter coming into town to do a story on her brother. Spring is a denim-wearing, horse-riding rancher and Garrett is a bookish, formerly enslaved journalist. They meet in a blizzard where she saves his life. He doesn't fall off his horse, but he does fall in love with her. Jenkins does small town, low angst romances really well. Spring is the star of this <i>Women Who Dare</i> series. She's a straight shooter who brooks no nonsense, who hangs out in saloons and is not missish of her sexuality. The roles the two protagonists adopt are true to form. He is the more giving, more accepting person. She takes and usurps. He meets her more than halfway and does the heavy lifting in their relationship. She comes across as standoffish and even selfish at times. However, Jenkins does a superb job of showing Spring rising up to challenge her past and coming to terms with it and growing through that process.

Review will be published on http://keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Was this review helpful?

I have been looking forward to rancher Spring Lee's story ever since she appeared in Beverly Jenkins' Old West series. This week I dove into the Wild Rain and fell for Spring all over again!

The book opens with Spring rescuing reporter Garrett McCray, who arrived in town to write a story about her brother and instead finds himself captivated by Spring. But convincing Spring that his intentions are true is more complicated than he first thinks. Spring is not only fiercely independent, she's been assaulted in the past and hasn't ever known what it's like to be with someone who cares for you. I absolutely loved the tender and gentle way that Jenkins explored what it meant for Spring to discover how different everything in life can be with a partner who loves her at her side.

While Garrett helps to open Spring's eyes, she does the same for him. I really enjoyed the way that Garrett's feelings for Spring made him take a look at the things he originally thought he wanted for his life and the pressures he had put on himself to follow a certain path—especially when he learns that she doesn't want to have children. Plus, we get some excellent caretaking scenes between these two!

As always, Jenkins weaves history so seamlessly into her romances and here explores the history of the Black press, the role of Black sailors in the Navy at the time, as well a look at Indigenous engineers and ranchers. I will add that given Spring's history of assault, readers may want to look up CWs for this one and my DMs are open if you want to chat more about them. The next book in the Women Who Dare series comes out this summer and I cannot wait to read it!

Was this review helpful?

Beverly Jenkins is my queen, and I absolutely love everything she writes. I appreciate her writing, it’s my favorite. Her characters always make me fall in love with them.

This book was definitely not different, my only problem was that it took me a little bit to get into this one therefore I did put it down for a little bit. But I still enjoyed myself.

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity.

Was this review helpful?

Wild Rain is another really fun historical romance from the historical romance queen herself! Loved the tropes in this one: somewhat enemies to lovers, and a couple who doesn't want kids! The banter was really great and the story was propulsive. I think this would be a great HF to hand to someone who is new to the genre. Super solid HEA!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the review copy. This is my first Beverly Jenkins and won't be my last. This book has been featured multiple times in the podcast.

Was this review helpful?

Queen Bev has finally given us a cinnamon roll hero. *sigh*.

Not that I haven’t adored her alphas. The dynamic of an alpha hero tangling with an equally alpha heroine is so fun. The tension! The sparks!

But to have calm, gentle Garrett McCray to cushion Spring Lee’s life... to watch him fall in love with a whole-y prickly, cranky woman - to love her, in part, because of her prickliness - was a delight.

If you’ve already read TEMPEST then you’ll recognize Spring as Regan’s sister-in-law (I haven’t, but I do recognize Regan from FORBIDDEN which is also fantastic and you should definitely read it). And, truly, Spring and Regan’s relationship was my favorite. We talk a lot about the romantic relationships (obviously) but a book sends me if the heroine has a good friend and I adore the way these two women support each other. Heroines were often so isolated in old school romance, I’m so happy that trend is dying and heroines now have support systems.

Finally, we get to add this title to my very favorite list: The No Marriage and No Epilogue Baby List. Please, let us continue to normalize women who don’t want children. 🙌🏼

Was this review helpful?

Oh my god, Beverly Jenkins can do no wrong. This book was everything I needed in a moment where I felt down and upset. A confident, vulnerable heroine being protected by the hero? GIVE ME MORE. Their relationship progressed so naturally and soft that I loved it and believed in the HEA. Also, liked that this was child-free

Was this review helpful?

This was my first Beverly Jenkins book. I didn’t realize it was book 2 of her Women Who Dare series. That being said I enjoyed it just fine. I went back to read the first book just because I enjoyed her writing.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Ms.Bev has done it again! I absolutely LOVED this romance! Sweet, exciting, and sexy I flew through this book in two sittings. Spring Lee is easily one of my favorites heroines. It was nice to see how Garrett fully accepted Spring's past and her decision to not want children. Love this pair so much!

Was this review helpful?

Definitely a new favorite historical romance! Spring Rain is one of the best female protagonists I have read of! She is so so strong and powerful and whilst she has issues with trust due to her past she is so full of passion and love.

One of my favorite parts of this and the first book in this series is how all the women support each other wholeheartedly. There is never unnecessary girl-on-girl hate or prejudice or judgment on others choices and it’s so refreshing.

The romance was passionate and Garett was the cinnamon roll hero of everyone’s dreams. The quiet string silent type he is so gentlemanly and as he is also great with his hands 😉

My one complaint is that there is a lot of info-dumping at times to give context for the time period and whilst it is fascinating and informative it sometimes makes the book feels more historical fiction than romance.

Overall if you want a swoon-worthy romance set in the Wild West between a cynical grumpy lady rancher and a curious respectful journalist grab this book!!!

Was this review helpful?

Another great Beverly Jenkins book. This one did not disappoint. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I anxiously awaited Spring's story and Ms. Bev did not disappoint. Spring has not had an easy life. An independent woman who has endured so much in her younger years, she is content with her quiet life out on her ranch until she stumbles across Garrett unprepared for the winter weather of Wyoming. Sparks begin to fly almost immediately when they are forced to hunker down together. But the best part was that Garrett loved Spring as she was. He didn't try to change her. He was all you want in a cinnamon roll hero - supportive and protective. It was also great to return to Paradise and see some of my favorite characters from Tempest.

Was this review helpful?

An immersive, compulsively readable romance set amidst 19th century Wyoming. Spring Lee, a horse rancher, and reporter/carpenter Garrett McCray share a hard-won independence and a determination to make their own way in life. Their strengths and vulnerabilities complement each other as the chemistry between them builds and the danger around the mounts. Beverly Jenkins' research permeates the story, enriching it with details that add to its authenticity. Spring and Garrett's journey is well-worth taking!

Was this review helpful?

Well, Beverly Jenkins has wrecked me. Honestly, I should just go into any new Jenkins novel with my emotions braced for impact. On the surface, WILD RAIN follows a delightfully grumpy heroine who begrudgingly catches feelings for the sweet, kind man she saves in the middle of a winter storm (hello, forced proximity!)

Underneath all that, is a gorgeously crafted, well-researched historical romance novel about one of the strongest heroines I’ve ever read (total crush on Spring!!) and the man who loves her exactly as she is. IT’S BEAUTIFUL! The way Spring slowly lets her guard down in the face of Garrett’s genuine good guy status still makes me emotional.

I always enjoy how Ms. Bev writes beautifully flawed characters but keeps you rooting for them the whole time. The external conflicts in this book were powerful and added to the fast-paced plot. My heart was pounding during the last part! This is book two in the Women Who Dare series, but I read WILD RAIN as a standalone and you totally can too.

Overall, this is my new favorite Beverly Jenkins book! It will definitely be one of my favorite romances of the year.

**I received a free copy of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Was this review helpful?

Ms. Jenkins is what Id call a feel good writer. Her writing style truly draws you in. I have such vibrant visuals when i read her books. I always learn a new word. Wild Rain is a beautiful story of love, self- worth and all that is in between.

Was this review helpful?