Forbidden

Old West #1

by Beverly Jenkins

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 . . .

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Westerns, Audiobook

384 pages, ebook

First published January 26, 2016

About the author

Beverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance.

She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.

Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase. 

To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net. 

Reviews

[Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to read more books by Beverly Jenkins.

This was a perfect historical fiction read with romance so sweet, it ached.
It had a great balance of history and romance and I couldn’t get enough of the focus this book had on the lives of black communities in the 1800s. I was being educated whilst reading and I loved that.


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Smuthathon Day 1.
Challenge: author of colour.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Forbidden was my first book by Beverly Jenkins, but it won’t be my last. I adored this and I can’t wait to read more by this author!

Eddy and Rhine’s story takes place a few years after the Civil War. Eddy is traveling to California for a new life, but due to some issues along the way, she has to stop for a while in Nevada. There, she meets Rhine. Rhine is influential in town, and though he was born to a slave, he is white passing.

Rhine is enamored with Eddy and wants to be with her, but as a ‘white man’ in the town, he can’t. He has to make the choice to let the town know of his true heritage and be with her or to live the comfortable life he’s accustom to.

I know I’m late to the historical romance genre, but I’m so happy I’ve been adding more into my reading. I’m enjoying them so much more than I thought I would.

Audio book source: Hoopla (library borrow)
Story Rating: 4.25 stars
Narrator: Kim Staunton
Narration Rating: 3.5 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 9 hours and 27 minutes

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Beverly Jenkins and it was all I had hoped for and more! It was an awesome story, not just because of the love, but because of historical accuracy, and intentional tactfulness in which the author dealt with the time period's racial tension. I loved that world building and carefully developed, yet complex characters she gave us here.

Rhine Fontaine was a son a slave master and a slave who found out around 8 yrs old that he was light enough to pass as white. So after he finished his tour in the Civil war, he moved away from his hometown and began to "pass" as white man. He built a successful life and only a couple of people knew his secret. One day, he rescued a woman who had passed out from heat and exhaustion, and thus began his introduction to Miss Eddy Carmichael.

Eddy was on her way to California to build a life as a cook. Eddy was a strong and hard working woman who wanted more out of her life and she had no qualms about working towards it. On her journey to California, she was robbed of all her money and left out in the heat to die. When Rhine and his business partner rescued her, Eddy was given an opportunity to stay in town and make a little money to aid her in her dream of opening her own restaurant in California.

The only problem was how she was going to fight her attraction to the green eyed white man who was always being so kind and attentive to her; a dangerous thing in these times where blacks and whites were not accepted as equals enough to be together. Eddy wasn't the only one with the dilemma; Rhine was engaged to woman from a powerful political family whom he needed to continue to push his agenda of gaining equality for the recently freed black people. He couldn't be with Eddy if he was "white" and he couldn't continue as a champion his initiatives as a Representative if he was known to be "black". What path will Rhine choose to follow?

I loved this story. This time period the 1870's can be very emotional for me as I find the topics painful. I always assumed that once black people passed, their lives were carefree and they had achieved that which everyone so desperately yearns for: equality, respect and a fairer opportunity for social mobility. I found that so selfish but then again, I couldn't begrudge anyone their opportunity to be treated with dignity that they already deserved as a human being. But for the first time, the author enlightened me to the obstacles and sacrifices people who Passed made.
I had never considered that before so it was interesting seeing Rhine's inner turmoil. He was a kind and compassionate person, and was working the best way he knew to change the system from the inside. What a battle it was to do so, and maintain his secret. Now Eddy made him want a different life.

Eddy was such a fascinating character. She had inner strength and a tough outer shell. She had been hurt and taken advantage of before, so Rhine had to work hard to gain her trust and ultimately her admiration.

The pace of the story was just right. I never felt bored, nor was I filled with angst. I loved how the love grew and wasn't one of those insta-love stories. Both characters had to let down their armor to experience this and they did! I was just looking forward to the choices the characters had to make and to see how those choices impacted the dreams that Eddy and Rhine had for themselves as individuals. The writing was just smooth as I could picture the story as a movie. This book felt so real and just resonated within me as I reflected on it. This is what I love in HRs, a history lesson and a great love story. I cannot believe this is my first book this author, but it certainly won't be my last.

[EmBibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I can still say that I like Beverly Jenkins writing. However, my biggest complaint here is that the beginning was so slow and their romance was so slow moving. That by the time they were actually together, I’ve had already lost interest. I really liked both characters, but only as individuals. I just wasn’t interested in them as a couple? I guess I just couldn’t see their chemistry and maybe this is because they were only together by the very end of the book. As a book it was good, but as a romance it was just okay.

[sraxe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I'd been waiting a year to read it, and after seeing all the praise it'd gotten within the last year (including being named the best romance by the ALA), I think my expectations were just way too high. It's not a terrible book, and if Goodreads allowed half stars, this would be a two and a half for me. However, as a romance, I didn't feel it was particularly compelling.

One of the tropes it utilizes, which I absolutely detest, is the manwhore/virgin trope. What added to my dislike of it in this book is that it was completely unnecessary. In some books it works because the author uses it as part of the story. In this one, however, other than a line partway through about him bedding women ("The brothers spent the years leading up to the war bedding belles and in some cases their mothers, too."), it's not really mentioned again (other than being evident in how experienced he is when they're together).

Now, in conjunction with that is Eddy and her being a complete and total virgin. This didn't make sense for the story when you really suss it out. In the book, Eddy feels "unaccustomed to so much male attention" when men start to court her after her move. However, it's mentioned more than once, and by many characters, that she's an absolutely beautiful woman. She's not some sheltered woman who'd been away from men all her life. She was a working woman, having worked from the age of twelve onwards, who's been employed at many establishments (like restaurants/hotels/etc.) in one capacity or another. Let's just be real here: Beautiful women, regardless of race, will generally not be unaccustomed to male attention, especially ones working amongst, around, and for men all the time. She also mentions that her parents “loved each other immensely;” that, were she to ever marry, "[she] want[ed] the kind of love [her] parents [had] shared.” She also says that she wants children, but had “put away that dream when [she] was back in Denver.”

So, she's a beautiful woman, worked amongst men, is a wonder in the kitchen, very open and friendly, wanted to marry and have children...but she's somehow so completely inexperienced and this is the first time she's ever getting male attention? COME ON. The fact that she's not just a virgin, but that she's never even gotten a kiss or male attention before, makes no sense to her background. On top of that, the fact that Rhine is a manwhore had no effect on the story, so I don't understand why he had to be one. Why was this trope necessary to the narrative? Especially when it made little sense when you really consider things? It wasn't...other than just to uphold the double standard.

The other thing that made little sense is her encouragement of Zeke. Like I said above, she'd expressed wanting what her parents had had. She always makes note of how her feelings for Zeke are lukewarm and, while she likes him well enough, she really doesn't love him. Why have her encourage him? It was all so unfair to the guy. (And that's not me saying she should give him the time of day if she doesn't want to, but she basically strung him along when her intentions were never really there.) She puts off her feelings for Rhine while continuing to encourage Zeke. She's basically seeing Zeke when she allows Rhine to kiss her...and then doesn't call off her upcoming date with the man. After he shuns her, we're supposed to feel some sort of sympathy for Eddy because Zeke is being "cold" towards her, but why skew it in her favour? She's the one who played the guy, so why's she acting all hurt now that he cut her loose? Eddy was extremely flaky when it came to Zeke. One minute she wants him, and then she doesn't. She decides to pursue things with Rhine, but she still displays hurt for what happened with Zeke. If Zeke hadn't cut things off when he did, would she have continued things as she had? Like I said, extremely unfair to the guy.

As a love interest, I didn't particularly care for Rhine. He was kind of all over the place and I don't feel like he really solidified as a character. It seemed Jenkins wanted to write him one way, but his actions and motivations were painting him to be different than that. Some of his characterization just seemed out of place to me at times. The characters mention a number of times that Rhine helps to quietly finance the businesses and properties of the black community there. That's fine. But then at a later point, he makes a big show of donating an expensive bottle of wine to the orphanage auction, bidding on it himself at a high enough price so no one else can, then donating said bottle someone else. What in the heck was the point of this?? Why did he feel the need to make such a big show of this? Why not simply donate the money quietly and then give the bottle of wine to the couple? I just didn't get the point of it at all and it seemed so out of place and unnecessary. It also didn't make me a big fan of his because he was being such a show-off, basically showcasing his money for all there. It was so self-serving that I just found it to be a turn-off.

Some of Rhine's characterization reminded me of Galen, who was the male protagonist of Indigo, the only other Jenkins book I've read. Like Galen, Rhine's a wealthy man who throws his money around. Galen and Rhine also spent an enormous amount on their heroines, despite their protests (which Eddy tries to do in the end when they're house and clothes shopping). Rhine, like Galen, was promiscuous (and paired with a virginal heroine). Rhine tries to imitate Galen's sort of devil-may-care, cocky attitude, but he couldn't quite pull it off. When Hester (Galen's heroine) called Galen "incorrigible," it worked, but here it didn't. When Rhine was trying to be incorrigible, it didn't come with ease like it had with Galen.

With the similarities between this book and Indigo (right down to the kidnap-heroine-at-gunpoint-and-take-her-somewhere-secluded scene), it felt to me like Jenkins was trying to emulate Indigo (subconsciously or knowingly), but it fell short of the mark, imo. I think that was mainly because Rhine's in-book characterization wanted to take him one way, with his serious politician attitude that simply wants to help his people, but the characterization Jenkins had had in mind for him, with his cocky manwhore attitude, went another. While those two can work together, I don't think they did here.

Aside from Rhine, there is also a whole host of support characters. They're very well developed, which you tend not to see in a lot of books. Jenkins established the community really well and gave them all distinct personalities and reasons for belonging in the narrative. However, I think that ended up taking away from the romance. I felt like Jenkins spent too much time developing the support cast that she neglected the romance and the actual relationship. Eddy had a more established connection with Sylvie, her employer, than I felt she ever really developed with Rhine. Rhine and Eddy were more "black powder" instalove than anything else. What they had for each other seemed really superficial to me—Rhine admiring her beauty and Eddy being taken in my his charm and good looks.

I think that was also an issue with the writing as a whole—it felt more tell than show. (And most often, the tell didn't even make sense.) Jenkins tells us that Eddy has a "temper" but I never really saw it. Her anger/annoyance just seemed the sort of natural reaction anyone would have in her situation. When it comes to them kissing, Eddy relays that it was "masterful" but we don't see it ("He lowered his mouth to hers and the kiss was so masterful and overwhelming..."). Eddy tells the reader that she and Rhine have a "volatile relationship" and I was like huh?? Since when? Where is the volatility? (Them having feelings for each other but refusing to act on them is hardly evidence of volatility in a relationship.) Eddy, when deciding that she wants to push things forward with Rhine, thinks that "for once she wanted to be reckless [and] throw caution to the wind." I was like For ONCE? Wait...didn't you, as a black woman, decide to uproot your life suddenly and go cross-country with white male strangers on TWO separate occasions? And then you take this back to what I was saying above: I was told they loved each other, but I was never really shown it, and thus never really felt it between them.

This also then goes into the sex. The reader never gets a scene of penetrative sex. It's not that that's what I read a book for, but it's that it was built on and on throughout the book. Eddy and Rhine mention more than once how they can't wait until their wedding night—especially Rhine. We get short intervals of them doing almost everything but that, so it's building up to that finale of their wedding night. And then?

And what a wedding night it was. They drove from Sylvia’s to the Union and he carried her up the stairs to his room. As they crossed the threshold, all Eddy could think about was it being the place where her adventure with him began.

But she didn’t get to think much longer because he treated her to a night of lovemaking filled with enough sensuous memories to last a lifetime. He made love to her in her gown and then without it. They made love in the blue armchair, and when he laid her nude body on the table and boldly spread her legs, she was treated to the most carnal feasting of all. “Much better than wedding cake,” he whispered with a grin as she rode out her orgasm.

That's it. That's all of it. It's literally a one-paragraph summary of their wedding night, which is the second last paragraph in the entire book. It was more like a footnote than anything of importance. There were a number of moments in that book that felt anti-climactic, but this was the worst. What an absolute let down.

Two final things I wasn't a fan of: Natalie going absolutely batshit near the end, is the first. What was the point of that? The story could've ended at the point that Doc proposes to Sylvie and things would've been all good. But then this completely unnecessary drama is thrown in. (It felt like Jenkins felt the need to throw in a dramatic conflict there, despite the fact that the story was pretty settled by that point.)

This also led to my second annoyance: the lone Chinese character is killed off here. This man is shown throughout the book but he has no name at all—he's simply "Chinese driver" or "the driver." And then, at the end, when he finally speaks a couple of words, he's shot dead within seconds and it's over. In the end, Eddy is "saddened" by the loss of his life, but she still refers to him as "the driver" here and doesn't even bother to learn the man's name. I was not feeling this disposable Asian business AT ALL.

The thing I really liked about it, though, was Jenkins's being unapologetic with representing racism. She doesn't gloss it over or try to put forth a benevolent Whites story. Aptly enough, she doesn't whitewash it. When a lot of people think abolitionist, they will most likely feel that that person wasn't a racist. I mean...how could they, right? They opposed slavery, so of course they weren't racist! That's where you'd be wrong, though. And that's something Jenkins shows both in the outright racists (like Natalie) or the abolitionists that pat themselves on the back (like the Republicans, such as Natalie's father). The Republican bit is another—unlike the Democrats at the time, the Republicans opposed slavery. (And this was something used over and over again during the past election in order to win the "black vote.")

For example, does the name Hinton Rowan Helper ring a bell? No? Well, his work, The Impending Crisis of the South, which was later released as an abridged version entitled the Compendium, was used as a part of the Republican campaign in 1859. It was a banned book and you'd literally be killed for being in possession of it in some places in the South. It's also one of the works (if you look at Wikipedia) listed under "Events leading to the American Civil War." SO HEY, pretty important for the time. But he wasn't opposed to slavery because of his concern for black people, but because of how he felt whites were suffering. And after the war, this guy came out as a raging white supremacist who referred to non-Whites as "impure-complexioned," feeling that they should all be relegated to "a State or Territory by themselves, ...[and] under suitable regulations, required to remain strictly within the limits assigned them." This man, who was a critic of slavery and is cited as an abolitionist, was violently racist (to the point of pretty much supporting genocide), going on to drench three separate books in his racist vitriol post-war. The preface to the first of these, Nojoque, is:

WERE I to state here, frankly and categorically, that the primary object of this work is to write the negro out of America, and that the secondary object is to write him, (and manifold millions of other black and bicolored caitiffs, little better than himself,) out of existence, God's simple truth would be told [...]

So that's a thing. (He's an absolutely deplorable person, so I put it under a spoiler tag for those who want to skip it.)

The above point is one of the reasons why I wanted to like this book so much. I didn't enjoy Indigo, but I was hoping that I would like this because it was a newer release (vs. a literally 20 year old book). I love the way Jenkins blends history into her romances, particularly without turning them into historical fictions. However, I wish the romance had been more compelling in this than it was. I also wish the manwhore/virgin trope had just been left out here because it's so unnecessary and didn't even make sense for the story.

(This was read as a buddy-read with the Unapologetic Romance Readers group.)

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Why don’t more books like this exist???

Taking place about five years after the Civil War, Forbidden is the story of Eddy Carmichael, a young black woman determined to move to California so she can open her own restaurant. On her way there, she is robbed and left for dead in the desert, where Rhine Fontaine rescues her and saves her life. What most people don’t know, is Rhine has been passing as white for years. He’s become a successful businessman and admired in his community. The attraction between the two of them is obvious, but is either of them willing to take a risk?

First off, I’m going to throw this out there, I love everything in the book except the romance. I felt that part was a wee bit lackluster, but I loved everything else. I am a huge westward expansion fan in terms of history, and I just completely ate up this book. One thing I recently heard discussed in a key note speech was the damage of the “single story” where when one side of history is repeatedly told, it erases the history and stories of other. There were people and communities of color very much involved in westward expansion, and yet we never hear about them. And that’s what made this book so special to me, it’s a story we never really get to see. I loved all the little historical details that Jenkins wove into the story, it was seamless.

While I didn’t love the romance, I did love Eddy and Rhine and I thought they were great together. I just felt the development of their relationship was extremely slow and then extremely rushed, and I wish it had been developed more. Jenkin’s strength in this book is in her character development. I love when I read a book and all the characters feel so tangible and real, and Jenkins nails it with this one. I can’t wait to read the other books in this series, and more books by Jenkins in general.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

This is the first book by Beverly Jenkins that I have read and I really enjoyed it. I do have to admit that I completely judged this book by its cover. I don't think I even read the summary until after I finished the book (I do that quite a lot actually). I assumed based on the cover that this was going to be an interracial historical romance but the story ended up being a bit different than that. The difference was probably even more interesting. This was a book that I ended up reading in less than a day simply because I didn't want to put it down.

Eddy is determined to move to California and open a restaurant. She ends up in Virginia City, Nevada after almost losing her life in the Nevada desert. We learn very early in the book that Eddy is tough and resourceful. She doesn't give up even when things looks impossible. Rhine is the man that rescued Eddy when she was close to death in the desert. He is a prominent citizen in Virginia City and owns a successful business in the town. His life depends on his ability to pass himself as a white man.

Eddy and Rhine are drawn to each other from the very beginning. Eddy has no plans to act on those impulses for a couple of rather important reasons. Eddy's presence in the town really makes Rhine consider some of the choices that he has made in his life and he make a few changes. I liked the chemistry between this pair and thought that they really proved how much they cared about each other through their actions.

This book has a lot of excitement in it in addition to the romance. Virginia City was a wonderful little town filled with wonderful characters. Each town person in the story had their own charm and really added something to the book. It seemed like something was always happening in this town and Eddy and Rhine kept themselves pretty busy both in the town and with each other.

I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. The characters were fantastic and the plot was well executed. I can't wait to start the next book this series!

I won a copy of this book from Addicted to Romance.

Initial Thoughts
This was my first Beverly Jenkins read and I really enjoyed it. Eddy and Rhine were great characters and I really wanted to see everything work out for them. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[K.J. Charles]

Beverly Jenkins is wildly superior to the vast majority of histrom and this is a cracking read about a steel-cored free black woman determined to open a restaurant, and a white-passing once-enslaved man who has built himself a life of privilege that he must renounce to be with her. Lovely historical detail, compelling characters, a well-drawn and involving community, terrific sense of time and place. Goodness she's good.

[Elsa Bravante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo la última página de Forbidden y lo primero que pienso es que huele a clásico, ha sido como ver una película filmada en los años 40 sobre el oeste americano y los años posteriores a la Guerra de Secesión de USA.
La historia de amor de Eddy, de raza negra, y Rhine, mestizo pero que se hace pasar por blanco, es una historia prohibida por la cuestión de la raza. A partir de aquí, las vicisitudes por las que pasan los protagonistas tienen lugar en un ambiente de ciudad minera del oeste americano, en los años de postguerra, con lucha de razas, y es probablemente conseguir transmitir ese ambiente una de las mejores cosas que hace la autora. Ambos protagonistas se han criado bajo unas circunstancias difíciles y buscan cómo poder tener una estabilidad dentro de una sociedad que les pone muchas trabas. Él tiene que elegir qué camino seguir, y ella se muestra fuerte, decidida y no en necesidad de que el héroe la salve. Su romance es dulce, con tensión sexual aunque podría haber tenido algo más, con secundarios maravillosos, el único pero que le pondría es un final un tanto brusco y precipitado con una antagonista y sus acciones que al final parecían poco necesarias y excesivas para redondear la historia.
Beverly Jenkins escribe de forma sencilla, quizás en ocasiones es excesivamente narrativa para mi. Es muy de agradecer que la historia no pierde ritmo, constantemente ocurren cosas, no se queda estancada y así es difícil aburrirse. Hay detalles históricos, es dulce y tiene ciertos momentos, que aunque no muy explícitos, sí son muy sexys.
Todos sabemos cosas de cómo estalla la guerra, cómo se desarrolla, pero muy poco sobre lo que pasa después con esa población negra. Yo, personalmente, he aprendido mucho. Al ser un libro "own voices" la autora se molesta en documentarse y en reflejar lo que ocurrió con una parte de la población, que no solo no fue liberada en todos los aspectos, todavía hoy no ha conseguido esa igualdad real. Muy recomendable, y para muchos de nosotros, no es un tipo de historia a la que estemos acostumbrados.

[Floripiquita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Primer libro que leo de Beverly Jenkins, gracias la #RetoRita2, y no puedo estar más contenta. Quizás falte algo más de romance y sexo entre Eddie y Shine (aunque el aguante y los dedos mágicos de este hombre sean tela marinera), pero el contexto histórico me ha parecido interesantísimo y muy cuidado, pues trata de un periodo de tiempo y una parte de la población estadounidense sobre la que he leído más bien poco. No en vano transcurre tras la guerra de Secesión y tiene como protagonistas a una mujer de color y un hombre mulato, que se hace pasar por blanco.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent and well written story.

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been trying to track down more romance novels with people of color as main characters, and it’s been dishearteningly difficult, especially in my conservative, rural community. Although I suppose I can’t blame my community when I’ve got the whole of the Internet at my disposal, and it’s not like there’s an abundance there either. It gets even harder when I start looking for my preferred subgenre – the historical. This does make sense. It’s not always easy to write an optimistic love story with a happily-ever-after when your characters were likely to face unimaginable hardship, racism, and a general lack of opportunity. I don’t know how Beverly Jenkins does it, but she manages to give us historically accurate romances that are optimistic without ignoring the challenges and dangers of life as a person of color during that time. She writes tough characters without making them hard, and gives them vibrant, supportive communities to carry the hero and heroine through the rougher times. It’s a fine line to walk, and Beverly Jenkins does it very well.

The romance is never super steamy in one of Beverly Jenkins’ historicals, so the thing that brought me back to her, and that will bring me back again, is the way she puts together the foundation of her story. In the notes at the end of the novel, there’s usually some mention of an image or a story from history that provided the kernel of inspiration. In Forbidden, the inspiration came from a report of a black woman walking through the desert with a cookstove balanced on her head. That’s all we know about that particular woman, but through her we get Eddy, the fiercely independent and hardworking cook determined to get to California and open her own restaurant. (Oh, and the story opens in Denver before proceeding briefly to Fort Collins, where I spend a not insignificant amount of time in real life. I love reading about places I know well!) Eddy is very what-you-see-is-what-you-get, but the hero, Rhine, is exactly the opposite. He’s an ex-slave, veteran of the Civil War, successful businessman, and passing for white. Of course, at this time no white man would marry a black woman, and no one as independent and proud as Eddy would ever agree to anything less. Actual conflict ahoy! I love it when there’s a real obstacle to overcome.

Although I’m a fan of the steamier side of romance, I’m also a fan of history. These stories have the ring of truth, and that always keeps me reading. Is it the happier, more optimistic side of the truth? Sure. But that doesn’t make it naïve (plenty of upsetting things happen). All it does is give me that safety net of knowing that I’m not going to be left with high tragedy on my hands. I can only take so much of tragedy. Give me a good romance novel with a strong historical foundation and a sunny ending any day. And people of color as the protagonists? Bonus!

Next up I’m going to have to try the one with the lady pirate…

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm torn on this one. On the one hand, I was really fascinated by the historical setting and all the details about black life in the wild west of the 1870s: Rhine passing for white, politics, Eddy's cooking, community. I learned a lot of cool things! I also really liked the friendship between Eddy and Sylvie.

On the other hand, I just felt like Jenkins didn't sell me on the couple, or on Rhine as a character actually. They had an instant attraction that wasn't developed as the story went on and despite the racial gulf between them, the romance didn't feel like it had high enough stakes somehow? I didn't understand enough about them as a couple to know why they loved each other or to be really invested. Also: not into the virgin / experienced man trope. 😒

The representation of sex workers also naggled me. It really felt like the book was judging Eddy's sister Corinne for doing sex work (even though there were very few job options for black women then!), and saying that she was immoral for choosing to do it. The characterization of Corinne as a horrible cruel mother then seemed like another jab, as if because she was a sex worker she was incapable of being a loving mother. If there had been other representations of sex workers that would have made a difference, but there weren't. Also, why did the unnamed Chinese carriage driver have to die??

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read. I love romance and the sample I read of this story intrigued me. I've never read historical romance so this was among the first. I like that the author was inspired by real life stories she heard. I never read a book where a hero was passing for white so that part intrigued me. This book was just okay for me though. For the most part life was pretty easy and I found that all the conflict throughout the story was tied up neat in a bow by the end. And several questions were left unanswered since she tried to push so many different plot lines. There was also not enough sex. There were a few sexy encounters but there was this big build up the wedding night only to get a non descriptive paragraph about it.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everytime I read this, I like it even more💜

This was surprisingly good. I loved the history in it.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this cover.
Another great read by Miss Bev!!

[Wind · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟🎧 This is a slow burn romance but I’m here for it! We are introduced to Rhine who is passing as a white man. He meets Eddy and she is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen but she’s black and in order for him to be with her he must reveal his true self. I love that Eddy was about her business and stood on business. The ending moved so fast I felt like I missed something.
This was a good story about passing, most books I’ve read about passing the person is usually doing it for self and wants to erase where they came from but Rhine chose to make life better for his own people.

[Ira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I read lots of stories with African Americans as the main characters before, but nobody writes like Ms. Bev.

All those stories, dialogues and her deep knowledge of her culture has made her books stand out from the rest and I’ve learn more about American’s history from her books.
It was a dark time but she always writes something which will make you smiles too and feels hopeful, and I love that, not all depressing.

And her character here? A guy who physically white with mixed parentage and pass himself as a white guy? I found him fascinating and I found from her books here many did the same thing in those time but I’ve never know or read about it before. Yay for you Rhine, show those bigots how idiots they were! 😍. And Eddy, a poor girl who wanted to open her own restaurant? She is priceless!

So yes, I’ve learn something new from your book Ms. Bev and thank you:)

❤️❤️❤️

[Anika · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, for the fans of B. Jenkins earlier works, this is a character we've met before (his sister, Sable is the heroine from Through the Storm, I believe--1998). This story is a taboo subject Jenkins has yet to tackle: Passing. I'm not sure how she managed to make a story about passing romantic, engaging, and fun but, yeah...she did it.

IMO, this isn't one of her "get swept away with these characters for a couple of hours" type of books. But it is, as always, a "get schooled for a couple of hours and not even realize it" book. And I absolutely love that about her. I'm happy this book finds us out west again with a backdrop of a developing city in Nevada. And as far-fetched as the story is (even for this genre), it was still quite an enjoyable read.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~]

DNF @ 17%

Just wasn't feeling it. The writing wasn't bad, but was awkward at times. And the whole "She's chapped like lizard skin from epic sunburn but still gorgeous and I can barely remember I'm engaged" and the "he's so handsome I'll put up with him carrying me to the washroom because apparently while he has a washbasin he's never heard of a chamberpot" is just not my idea of romance. Or showing that these two are meant to be. I'm just past the point of being able to put up with the "he/she is so gorgeous, I can't look anywhere else or remember words" trope. It doesn't work for me.

[Just A Girl With Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

“Your sweetness is so much stronger than their hate.”

Well Ms. Bev did it again. Another seamless story read. Sheer perfection. I remembered Rhine from Through The Storm so I was very much intrigued to see how his story would turn out. His and Eddy’s love story was so beautiful. This story takes place 5 years after the civil war and what I always love about BJ stories is the history that is on
Point is woven through every line and page of the story. I’m made a promise to myself to read her backlist and I look forward to doing that one by one.

[Musings of A Romance Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this is the first book I’ve ever read by legendary historical romance author Beverly Jenkins. After reading Forbidden, it certainly won’t be my last. This story lingers with you long after you’ve read it. The characters. The imagery. The writing. Top. Fucking. Notch.

Eddy Carmichael is the epitome of black girl magic. Born during a time where her skin color and her gender served her a double dose of discrimination, Eddy does not allow who she is hinder her from becoming who she wants to be: A Boss! So, with little money and even less possessions, she sets out to do just that. As she starts her journey to beginning her new life in California, she is robbed and left for dead when she is rescued by the gorgeous, dashing Rhine Fontaine. Rhine discovers Eddy on a hot, deserted road, destitute, dehydrated, and defeated. Being the gentleman that he is, he takes Eddy with him back to his hometown of Virginia City, Nevada, where she can be nursed back to health. These two are instantly taken with each other, except there are a few roadblocks: Rhine is engaged to another woman, and he is white. Or is he?

Being a black man, post slavery (Hell, even today), would not get Rhine Fontaine the finer things in life: power, prestige, respect…So, in order to get those things, he played the one card he had that would guarantee him all the things he wanted in life, and that was to become a “full-time” white man. He already looked the part with his pale skin, silky hair, and green eyes, so why not use those attributes to his advantage. And it worked—until he met Eddy. Would he risk his identity and everything he accomplished for love?

Needless to say, I was enthralled from the first page. Eddy was everything I love in a heroine: brave, determined, self-motivated, confident, and real. She knew the cards were stacked against her, but she didn’t let the circumstances of the times deter her from seeking everything she wanted in life, including Rhine. Your head will explode at the images presented as you read, transforming you back to a time where the modern luxuries we enjoy today didn’t exist. I loved reading about storing food in the “cold box”, gaslight “electricity, and clothes being made by hand. Needless to say, I’d never want to live during those times (for more than one obvious reason), but reading about black people living and loving in spite of the social climate was fascinating from beginning to end.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beverly Jenkins is a Romancelandia legend. Rightfully so. Yet this is only the second novel of hers that I’ve read. Yes, I’m totally side-eying myself here.

Forbidden is a sweet, slow-burn romance. The hesitant longing and the growing affection are palpable.

Time and time again, circumstances seem to cast Eddy as a damsel in distress – alienated from her family, robbed, nearly sexually assaulted. And each time she proves that she is no one's damsel in distress. She has a spine of steel, determined to fulfill her dream of owning a restaurant and maintain her independence. Eddy is smart and brave and honest and I could continue to gush about this wonderful character but I won't.

Rhine, the son of a slave and her owner, has passed as white to obtain much of his success and wealth. But for all that wealth and success, something is...missing. Unfulfilling. Having found Eddy near-death in the desert, bringing her to Virginia City and nursing her back to health, he realizes just what is missing. Rhine made a pretty appetizing hero. Speaking of appetizing - their dinner date? Hot daaamn. He was charitable and kind but also brought the sexy and the strength.

Forbidden puts the "historical" in historical romance. Jenkins infused the story with facts about politics, culture, and race. Having majored in history, I appreciate when authors know what they're writing about. It is clear that Jenkins did her research and did it well while also incorporating it in a relatable manner.

The ending is not without some DRAMA which reads as over-the-top, and I would have liked a bit more steam. But overall, I found the characters likable and the story easy and enjoyable to read.

Read for SBTB January - March 2018 Quarterly Challenge: a book with a title that begins with an F.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I don't know if it is the author's writing style or just this story but there was a bit of a stark back and forth between the characters' dialogue that gave the story a choppy feel to me. I liked the introduction to Rhine but Eddy's jumped so quickly from sister to nice wagon driver guy to evil wagon driver guy that I couldn't settle in with the character; this obviously improved when Eddy finally gets settled but it was an awkward beginning.

There was a little bit of a feeling of insta between Rhine and Eddy because of the inner thoughts we are given and how they don't get a huge spotlight on them specifically together; Rhine is still engaged to someone else until 50% into the book. Even though I wanted more of it, I did enjoy the gradual, almost shy, way Rhine and Eddy begin to spend time together, pretty sweet.

The romance aspect let me down a bit but what I loved was the way the author incorporated the political climate and shifting society after the Civil War, this takes place in 1870. The author manages to take broad issues and apply them down to this little town in Nevada where political dealings within the Republican party, changing attitudes, and segregation are being discussed and affecting people's lives. I got an incredible feel for the times, what individuals were dealing with, and the characters had an authenticity to them; this is what a historical should feel like. Eddy was a wonderful strong woman character but within the framework of her times and no less for it.

[Layeshia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Forbidden! When I first saw the cover art I had to ask myself is Ms. Jenkins writing a new genre of romance (interracial) then I read the blurb and I definitely wanted to read this story. A black man so few skinned just after the Civil War passing as a white man but attracted to a dark skin black woman. How intriguing. I am sure this happen more often then has been talked about. Or written about. I have a great great aunt who could have passed as a white woman but she didn't and she married the darkest Man in her community which turned out to be my great great grandfather! So I know for a fact these unions happened and prospered. I am a living and breathing descendent of this union. Bravo Beverly Jenkins! I always learn something that I didn't know about my race before. I'm always left with a wealth of knowledge once I read one of your novels thank you!!! Love is love no matter the package. Peace and positive vibrations always. L.

[Bj · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 "Crossing-Over for Love" Stars for the story and 3.5 stars for the narration. Review coming soon to AudioGals.

[TinaNoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun story. Very good. Beverly Jenkins writes old skool romances and I am here for it, really.

This is how to do a story on passing. The Civil war is over. Slaves are free. The West is wild.

Rhine Fontaine is the illegitimate son of a white planter and a black woman. But he is fair skinned and light eyes with straight hair. He easily passes for white. It helps that this white half brother, Drew fully accepts him and claims him as his brother.

Rhine isn't just passing to make his own life better, he wants to change the system from within. His plan is to get into politics and help create laws that will benefit the black man. He is well on his way. He is handsome, shrewd, has a thriving saloon and is about to marry the white daughter or a prominent man,.

But his life gets turned upside down when he meets Eddy Carmichael. A young determined black woman who has set out west in order to find her own fortune. She is a great cook and plans to try to open her own restaurant. Through series of misfortunes, Eddy is rescued by Rhine and his partner and finds herself stranded in Virginia City, a small but growing Nevada town.

She is attracted to the handsome 'white' man. But she knows he is out of her reach. All Rhine has to do is admit his black parentage and he could have Eddy for himself, but it would mean the loss of all of his dreams.

I had only planned to read a little bit of this before bed but in a lament that many readers know about I finally, reluctantly put this down after about three hours later. I was completely lured in by Eddy and Rhine's story. It was engrossing and romantic and had such a strong, believable central conflict.

If I had any quibble, it would be that I wished we had more face time with Eddy and Rhine together. I like all the supporting characters but sometimes it felt like Eddy and Rhine got a little lost among the plot. But that is really only a small quibble because the writing is strong and the surrounding story is very rich.

Great book.

[Giselle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this book was a bit longer. I never really believed in the romance because I feel like we didn't see them spend enough time together. Also I didn't really care for Rhine. Being a black man pretending to be a white man, he should know better than to keep pursuing Eddy, a black woman, in public. There are several times where he's talking to her in public and she's asking him to not and trying to walk away from him and the people around them are of course giving her the scathing looks. I really didn't like that about him. He should know better than to put her in such a situation. I really can't forgive him for that. It's not just like it other historical fiction where the woman might be somewhat shamed for being alone with a man or something but in this, she literally is potentially putting her life at risk by associating with him. It makes me so upset. I did enjoy Eddy a lot though. She was pretty wonderful although I wish she had better sense and choose someone better. :D Overall I did like this but it's not a favorite. The end wrapped up too neatly too. It's like they shoved every loose end into the last 10 pages of the book out of the blue. It felt so disjointed. I also must say that I didn't enjoy the possibility of cheating in this book. It almost happened and Rhine was not my favorite mooning after Eddy while being engaged to someone else. Not just mooning but making remarks, flirting, saying that he wanted a dalliance with Eddy while still being engaged to someone else and making innuendos. Totally inappropriate. And on top of that he only proposed to the other girl because she's beautiful. Which just proves that he's stupid and shallow. I think we're supposed to forget the potential cheating and look past his stupidity because the person he's engaged to is a horrible person but that doesn't excuse it for me. The more I think about this book the more disappointed I am in it. I'm hoping my next Beverly book is better than this one.

[Moonlight 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Rebel, wasn’t sold on Sabel’s book but when I saw the plot of Rhine’s book, I was excited to read it. As always with this author, the introduction was captivating. Eddy's hardworking nature was really appealing and instantly made me prefer her to Valinda who received lots of favors without really earning them.

One thing I want to mention though after reading 3 books is, Sally Ann was painted like a villain. I understand her racism was definitely villainous but her hatred of Rhine’s mother definitely should be understood. Her husband was cheating with the woman and giving her children at the same time he was impregnating her. They both had boys first within weeks of each other and then girls shortly after, by the same man. Only a saintly woman would not be jealous so I didn’t like seeing them vilify her for that particular fact.

I think this storyline was very peculiar and interesting. Rhine’s reason for choosing to be white and the inner struggles that came with it. It was a unique take.

Another thing I think I’ve come to really like about this author is how homey her books are. They’re filled more with history and growing relationships than suspense or drama. It has won me over, truly.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another historically accurate romance. This one set in the Old West. Great main characters have a fiery passion for life and each other.