While her intended was on business in Europe, Valinda Lacy traveled to
New Orleans to teach freedmen and their children for a few months.
She loves the city, but it's a dangerous place to be in 1867, especially
for a woman of color. Only a month in, and Valinda's school is
destroyed, her livelihood threatened, but thanks to Drake LeVeq, who
crossed her path at the right time, nothing worse happened. Drake
comes from a caring and influential family, and he willingly helps
Valinda. He is very much attracted to her, but dares not hope for more;
he's an honorable man and she's spoken for. Valinda has never known
love, not even from her own family; her beau is a trustworthy childhood
friend, and a better choice for a husband than whomever her father
would pick for her. But Drake, his loving family, and New Orleans soon
have her questioning her choices.
REBEL is a gripping novel that
tackles life in the aftermath of the American Civil War. It is an homage
to the human spirit as well as a most romantic love story. I think we
sometimes forget that people still did fall in love, even under trying
circumstances. History relates the dry facts, but Beverly Jenkins
reminds us that life went on. People of color fought every day to
achieve the freedom to live in peace and not have to look over their
shoulder because of the color of their skin, but they also loved and
laughed.
REBEL is the first book of Beverly
Jenkins's new series Women Who Dare, and as characters from the
author's previous books pop up, I realized that I need to explore Ms.
Jenkins's catalog for some older books; I will not be the only one
curious about a certain pirate. Beverly Jenkins' crisp and evocative
prose paints an unforgettable portrait of New Orleans. Its sensuous
colors, smells, tastes, and sounds coexisting with potential danger and
death. Drake and Valinda's romance is the ultimate slow burn and
magnificently handled by the author, although I wanted to shake
Valinda a couple of times, because you don't see men like Drake every
day, not even in fiction! I loved that they had real occupations: Valinda
was born to be a teacher, and Drake is an architect, an engineer, a
carpenter, and a smith; and he actually builds things during the course
of the book.
REBEL is just so well written and
flows so seamlessly that you feel transported back in time. The
author's knowledge and research are exemplary, and in the Author's
Note, you will find a short and useful bibliography. Ms. Jenkins is never
heavy-handed but illustrates clearly the era's terrible reality just as well
as she makes palpable the growing passion between Drake and
Valinda. Their romance is really what it's all about: affection, respect,
and always have the other one's back. I'm so grateful for Beverly
Jenkins's historical novels because of heroes and heroines I can look
up to, whom I admire separately and individually, and who behave
bravely and rationally. Her love stories are truly romantic, and the
historical context isn't merely a background but constitutes the fabric
upon which the romance is embroidered, and that is why I keep reading
Beverly Jenkins' uniquely inspiring books.
The first novel in USA Today Bestselling Author
Beverly Jenkins’s 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.
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