Rhine Fontaine is the son of a slave and a slave owner, but
has been passing for White for a long time. He is
successful, handsome, wealthy, well-liked by Whites and
Blacks; he's even engaged to a White woman from a
prominent family. Rhine wants to pursue a career in
politics
and with his fiancée's background, he will one day achieve
his goals. Rhine's life is pretty uneventful until he
happens upon a Black woman, half dead in the middle of the
Nevadan desert: Eddy Carmichael. Eddy has had a very hard
life working since she was 12 to support herself and her
sister after her parents died. She is a very good cook and
was on her way to California in the hope of one day owning
her own restaurant, when all the money she had was stolen
and she was dumped on the road by a man pretending to be a
priest. Rhine and his friend Jim Dade were passing by and
they rescue Eddy; Rhine takes her to his room above his
saloon until she's well again. It doesn't take long before
Rhine is completely smitten with the beautiful woman;
if only things were different...
The moment I saw the blurb for FORBIDDEN, I knew I had to
read it. Ms. Jenkins has woven a very beautiful story
around
a very sensitive subject, and I applaud the author's
subtlety, where others could have chosen an easier way out.
The author paints a much nuanced picture of the life of
minorities in 1870s Nevada, focusing on African Americans
after slavery was officially abolished. FORBIDDEN is
very different from any other book I have ever read on the
subject. Given that it is a romance, I had a good idea how
it would all end, but nevertheless, I needed to experience
the journey, and what a magnificent journey it is. Ms.
Jenkins' extremely meticulous attention to historical
detail
is but one of the highlights of this extraordinary book.
The
writing is understated, elegant, seamless; the dialogues
sound totally natural, and the cast of characters is
absolutely wonderful. Rhine and Eddy are superb,
exceedingly
complex; they are both upstanding citizens, but best of
all,
they are not perfect and that's what made it so sublime. I
love how the romance progressed, with all its doubts and
hesitations, with the attraction they couldn't overlook,
but
a relationship seemingly impossible; simply marvellous!
I was expecting a lot from FORBIDDEN, and I got so much
more
than I ever hoped for; FORBIDDEN is a book that will be re-
read many times!
USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins returns with
the first book in a breathtaking new series set in the Old
West
Rhine Fontaine is building the successful life he's always
dreamed of—one that depends upon him passing for White. But
for the first time in years, he wishes he could step out
from behind the façade. The reason: Eddy Carmichael, the
young woman he rescued in the desert. Outspoken, defiant,
and beautiful, Eddy tempts Rhine in ways that could cost
him
everything . . . and the price seems worth paying.
Eddy owes her life to Rhine, but she won't risk her heart
for him. As soon as she's saved enough money from her
cooking, she'll leave this Nevada town and move to
California. No matter how handsome he is, no matter how
fiery the heat between them, Rhine will never be hers.
Giving in for just one night might quench this longing. Or
it might ignite an affair as reckless and irresistible as
it
is forbidden . . .
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