Tag Archives: beverly jenkins

Historical Romance Review: To Catch a Raven by Beverly Jenkins

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To Catch a Raven
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton 
Women Who Dare, Book 3 
Book 36 of 2024

*series info*

Women Who Dare is a standalone series. If you are like me and have the compulsive need to read books in order even if it doesn’t matter, this time it REALLY doesn’t matter. However, the Le Veq family comes into play, especially in book 1, so you could start with that series. I’m doing the opposite and reading that series next because they seem AMAZING, and are also featured a little in this book. 

*book review* 

To Catch a Raven stars Raven Moreaux, who comes from a family of grifters, and Braxton Steel, who has never broken a rule much less a law in his life. But Brax’s father has a less law abiding past – he was once heavily involved with Raven’s family’s “business.” When the past comes knocking at their families’ doors, Raven and Brax have to go undercover – as husband and wife – to steal back the Declaration of Independence from a former Confederate official.

I historically have not been a huge fan of heist novel situations, I can’t keep all the plotting straight and then when they finally actually go get the thing I often feel like I can’t keep up with all of the moving parts. But unlike a traditional heist, we spend at least 50% of the book with Raven and Brax hanging out in the house looking for the Declaration of Independence while also falling in love, so I really enjoyed it! The whole subplot surrounding the woman they worked for and her husband was wild. 

For an opposites attract, forced proximity situation, I always like that tension that builds before they finally get together…but I didn’t feel like that tension really existed before they got together. But Brax seemed to fall hard and fast, and that’s always fun too. Who needs a slow burn anyway? 

I also love the second chance romance between Raven and Brax’s parents that was in the background. So cute! 

Overall, I recommend the whole series if you like strong, independent women and men who fall head over heels for them! 

🎧 Kim Staunton’s narration really grew on me by this book, and I feel like she perfectly crafted the voices for Raven, Brax, and the rest of the cast. I would definitely listen to more audiobooks narrated by her! 

Historical Romance Review: Wild Rain

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Wild Rain
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Women Who Dare, Book 2 
Book 27 of 2024

*Series Info*

Women Who Dare is a series of standalone romances – but if you want to start at the beginning, here’s my review for Rebel, the first book in the series.

*Book Review*

Ok you all know I’m a sucker for a romance with a hyper independent woman who doesn’t have to give up any of her autonomy to be with her man, right? (Or partner of any gender, really.) 

Spring Lee is a bit of a loner when we meet her. She has a lot of walls up because of her past, but when she finds Garrett injured during a Wyoming snowstorm, she shows her inner softness by caring for him. Garrett is a little boring in comparison, but I can forgive a boring man if he’s devoted to his partner! 

Beverly Jenkins doesn’t shy away from dark backstories, and you may want to look up content warnings. 

[book synopsis]

The second novel in USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins’ compelling new Women Who Dare series follows a female rancher in Wyoming after the Civil War.

A reporter has come to Wyoming to do a story on doctors for his Black newspaper back east. He thinks Colton Lee will be an interesting subject…until he meets Colton’s sister, Spring. She runs her own ranch, wears denim pants instead of dresses, and is the most fascinating woman he’s ever met.

But Spring, who has overcome a raucous and scandalous past, isn’t looking for, nor does she want, love. As their attraction grows, will their differences come between them or unite them for an everlasting love?

Historical Romance Review: Rebel

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Rebel
By Beverly Jenkins
🎧 Narrated by: Kim Staunton
Book 18 of 2024

**random ramblings**
I signed up for too many ARCs in January & February and I am so overwhelmed currently that I have found myself reading nothing but backlist books. This was my third book in a row that was published in 2021 or earlier. Please tell me I’m not the only one who occasionally goes full head in the sand about their book commitments. Hopefully next week I’ll start to get back to it! 

**review** 
This was my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but definitely won’t be my last! Captain LeVeq is now one of my top tier boyfriends. 

I like my romances, especially historical romances, to be fairly cozy. Bad things can happen and villains can exist as long as I don’t ever feel like the characters are ACTUALLY in danger or truly isolated. Jenkins brilliantly toed this line. The LeVeq family is the absolute best and I would like them to adopt me please. But the historical setting also felt accurate to the time – New Orleans after the Civil War – and showed the worst of humanity alongside the best. You may want to check the content warnings on this one. 

My favorite female main characters are strong, independent, and intelligent and Valinda was all of these things. She came to New Orleans to help teach the newly emancipated community, and seemed like the absolute best kind of teacher. 

🎧 I loved all of the voices Kim Staunton created for the story, but found some of the narration to be a little monotone. It might be that I had it turned up too fast and I wasn’t hearing all of the nuances though. 

[ book synopsis ]

The first novel in USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins’ compelling new series follows a Northern woman south in the chaotic aftermath of the Civil War…

Valinda Lacey’s mission in the steamy heart of New Orleans is to help the newly emancipated community survive and flourish. But soon she discovers that here, freedom can also mean danger. When thugs destroy the school she has set up and then target her, Valinda runs for her life—and straight into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq.

As an architect from an old New Orleans family, Drake has a deeply personal interest in rebuilding the city. Raised by strong women, he recognizes Valinda’s determination. And he can’t stop admiring—or wanting—her. But when Valinda’s father demands she return home to marry a man she doesn’t love, her daring rebellion draws Drake into an irresistible intrigue.

Black Romance Author Feature

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The post is a friendly reminder for me and anyone else who needs it that Black History Month does not have be focused on Black pain, but can (and should) celebrate Black joy and Black accomplishments!

Last year when the #23for23 challenge began, I learned that while BIPOC authors are underrepresented in publishing generally, the romance genre is especially underrepresented. Across all genres, just 11% of traditionally published books in 2018 were written by BIPOC authors. However, romance novels only had 7.8% written by BIPOC authors (2021). Since 2021, there have been 0 Black romance authors on the NYT print and e-book bestseller lists. 

My goal this year is to read at least 4 romances by BIPOC authors each month, with at least one being a book published this year! I would love to get more recommendations so I can continue to build my tbr!!

Talia Hibbert’s The Brown Sisters are some of my all time favorite romcoms. I would start at the beginning, because I feel like you get to know the whole family unit and that just builds your enjoyment of each book. So, start with Get a Life, Chloe Brown!

Rebel was my first book that I read by Beverly Jenkins, and I can’t wait to read more of her backlist! If you like historical romance, she is an absolute must read.

I usually stick to less emotional romances, but when you want to have your heart cracked wide open in the best of ways, Kennedy Ryan is the writer for you. Before I Let Go might be the most optimistically heartbreaking book I have read. Her backlist is also on my TBR!

I am enough of a sap that The Wedding Date made me cry with joy. Twice. I’ve only read two of the books in this series so far, but I look forward to reading more!

This is my current backlist TBR – I think Pride and Protest will be up first because I just got the sequel sent to me from Berkley Romance.

These are my top 2024 releases. Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my backlist or 2024 release TBRs? I’d love to hear about them!