Forbidden is a captivating, enlightening and enchanting read with an unforgettable setting and cast of characters. ~ Afrodyt, Guilty Pleasures
Description:
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 . . .
Review copy provided for an honest review
Rhine Fontaine is a former Union soldier living out his life in post Civil War America. He has the
blood of African queens flowing through his veins, but you can’t tell by looking at him. Rhine enjoys the privileges of being a White man, but only he and his half siblings know the truth. He has built a life of wealth, respectability and comfort in a bustling mining town in Nevada. On a return trip through the desert, he and his business partner, Jim, come across a woman, literally half-dead in the middle of the desert.
Eddy Carmichael has a dream of opening her own restaurant. She’d been cooking in the kitchen with her mama from an early age and was quite skilled. Her plan was to move from Denver to San Francisco to start fresh, looking for more opportunities. She quickly finds that the world for a young, beautiful and unaccompanied woman is a harsh and unforgiving place. After her brush with death, she finds herself in Virginia City. Her savior, the devilishly handsome “white” businessman, is kind and attentive and nurses her back to health.
This story has many layers and I found myself enthralled with the historical aspects of American culture in the period known as Reconstruction. Even though this novel is set in 1870, so many of the attitudes and opinions about race relations still echo in our present day. Which is both sad and enlightening.
I found Eddy and Rhine’s romance to be sweet rather than erotic, which was customary behavior at the time. Eddy was smart, hardworking, plain spoken, resilient, talented and wise. She was at times incredibly savvy and also very innocent. I loved how she handled Rhine and all the other men in the town who were tripping over themselves to get her attention. She played her cards right at every turn, even when it seemed to backfire.
Rhine was a fascinating character written with so much depth and complexity. There was nothing about him that I didn’t enjoy, actually. His banter with Eddy was wicked and his heart was golden. This is my first novel written by Beverly Jenkins and she has made a true fan out of me. While I generally favor very descriptive, detailed sex scenes, I found the vague, almost chaste encounters between this couple to be surprisingly satisfying. It kept with the integrity of the time period. Forbidden is a captivating, enlightening and enchanting read with an unforgettable setting and cast of characters.
Sounds good, thanks Afrodyt for sharing your thoughts
Great review! This is such a fantastic novel