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Reluctant Rebel

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The eyes may be said to be the scouts of the heart, but these two rebellious hearts might as well be blind.

In January of 1917 a young housemaid stood up for herself and thousands of others in El Paso, Texas.

Piedad Arellano rode the streetcar across the Santa Fe Bridge that connected Juarez, Mexico to El Paso to work as a housemaid. When the city began using kerosene and toxic chemicals to “treat” Piedad and the other workers for lice, she took a stand and said, No!

Walter Stevenson is an agent with the newly formed Bureau of Investigation, on a mission to identify the “master spy” being handled by the precursor of the Nazi party.

Their two worlds collide when Piedad is arrested for inciting the Bath Riots and Walt reluctantly comes to her aid.

Spies are pursued, dark family secrets are revealed, and romance may be possible in this historical novel based on the true events of the Bath Riots.

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2022

4 people are currently reading
11 people want to read

About the author

Parris Afton Bonds

82 books52 followers
I am dancing on sunshine that you are visiting my little part of Parris's paradise here on Goodreads.

I write for the reckless at heart Not surprisingly, I identify with my novels' characters, both the protagonists AND antagonists. I suffer with their angsts and bewilderments and rejoice in their joys and triumphs.

And I believe that if we heroically hold fast to our own vision for ourselves in our journey’s confrontations and challenges, Life WILL surely manifest our dreams and goals and visions, as it does for my characters in my novels.

***

Parris Afton Bonds is mother of five sons and author of nearly fifty published novels. She is co-founder and first vice president of Romance Writers of America, as well as, co-founder of Southwest Writers Workshop,

The Parris Award was established in her name by the Southwest Writers Workshop to honor a published writer who has given outstandingly of time and talent to other writers. Prestigious recipients of the Parris Award include Tony Hillerman and the Pulitzer nominee Norman Zollinger.

Declared by ABC's Nightline as one of the three-best-selling authors of romantic fiction, the award winning Parris Afton Bonds has been featured in major newspapers and magazines as well as published in more than a dozen languages. A New York Times best seller, she donates her time to teaching creative writing to both grade school children and female inmates ~ both of which are captive audiences.

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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Murray.
Author 151 books747 followers
February 8, 2022
Parris always writes well and her characters are life-sized and nuanced. Romance is ever-present. But this book is also a morality play about right and wrong, good and evil, justice and injustice. Reluctant Rebel is a significant novel. Highly recommended. Five stars.
Profile Image for Jan Sikes.
Author 31 books257 followers
February 25, 2022
The Reluctant Rebel is a slow burn and takes you inside a place and time in history that few are familiar with. The early 1900s in El Paso, Texas, a Texas-Mexico border town, found the area in a big transition. Daily, Mexican workers crossed the river to work at jobs no one else wanted. They served as maids to the wealthy, took care of their houses and landscaping. But suddenly, one day, there was a disruption to the daily crossings. No longer could they simply walk across. They were subjected to delousing and couldn't enter America without their card verifying the process. This was an inhumane act, as the Mexicans were stripped of their clothing and subject to chemical sprays, head shavings, and body cavity searches. At the same time, Germany was on the brink of invading Mexico and Pancho Villa had been dethroned as governor of Mexico. It was a time of great turmoil. A young Mexican girl, Pia, served as a housemaid to a wealthy woman. Pia was educated and carried a Roget's Thesaurus with her, having a fascination with words. She had dreams and aspirations. She wouldn't be poor all her life. Walt Stevenson worked as a news reporter. But also served as a member of the newly formed Bureau of Investigation. There was a German master spy in El Paso, and he was determined to ferret him or her out. His first glimpse of Pia sent his pulse racing. She was different, with her red curly hair and green eyes. And noticed Walt with the same amount of interest. As this story unfolds, it's undeniable that there is a strong attraction between these two. And there couldn't be a more unlikely pair.
When Pia refused the horrific spraying process and started a riot, it shook the entire order of things. It would take more time and room than I have to talk about the plot of this story. It is deeply woven and includes lots of players, as well as danger and even death. The author did a superb job of recreating this moment of time in history in such a realistic way. I could visualize it all as I read. If you are a fan of historical fiction that is extremely deep, with lots of characters, and well-written, you will devour this book!
Profile Image for Gini Grossenbacher.
Author 4 books152 followers
February 23, 2022
In 1917 Walt Stevenson, war correspondent turned BI undercover agent, arrives in El Paso from Mexico City during Pancho Villa’s revolutionaries and General Pershing’s American Expeditionary Force. El Paso was making brisk international trade, and its smuggling operations were no secret. Espionage agents abounded, in addition to German spies involved in shady political deal-making since America was on the verge of war with Germany during WWI. His purpose in El Paso was to determine the identity of Germany’s master spy, Felix Sommerfeld. Pia Arellano, a housemaid for a German family, feels someone staring at her as she exits the El Paso-Juarez streetcar: Walt Stevenson observes her from down the street. She dreams of a much better life, and she desires to buy land and build a house. After a typhus outbreak in El Paso, the entry point from Juarez changes. Authorities require the Mexican workers crossing into El Paso to strip and spray their bodies with fumigating chemicals. A rumor circulates that inspection officers take naked women’s photos and distribute them. Pia leads a women’s migrant worker riot on the international bridge, and Walt recognizes the same Pia Arellano and admires her defiance.
Pia and Walt’s amorous-but-hesitant relationship develops amidst border skirmishes as many nations vie for guns and ammunition, for cattle in exchange for American money. This activity occurs in light of international espionage focusing on the Zimmerman telegram. Germany promises Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico if Mexico allies with Germany during WWI. Against this turbulent background, Pia offers Walt genuine vulnerability and honest love, but is he ready to accept it? The answer lies within quickly turned pages filled with heart-stopping action, lovable characters, and well-drawn historical details—a sparkling novel that both educates and entertains.
--Gini Grossenbacher
Profile Image for Joy Davis.
Author 32 books95 followers
February 12, 2022
Parris Afton Bonds has created a little masterpiece with Reluctant Rebel. I'm find it full of suspense, history, and action. I do enjoy how the relationship between main characters Pia and Walt developed with such superb suspense building. I'm fond of the plot line between two other characters of a lesser status, Adelaide and Gunther. This is a can't-miss mystery going on. I must say that my favorite character is Pia, the red-haired Mexicana who is so well drawn that I simply can't get her out of my mind. If you love a good historical mystery and an enchanting romance, this is a must-read for you. Taking place in Mexico, the story teaches a wealth of knowledge about how Mexico struggled to gain its independence--and keep it, but in truth, this is a family drama, well executed and emotionally captivating. This is a wonderful book done with precision, emotion, drama, and intrigue!



Profile Image for Anna Casamento Arrigo .
331 reviews62 followers
March 26, 2022
I remember reading’Open Veins of Latin America,’ by Eduardo Galeano, that addressed the history of Mexico, as well as all of Central America: of the atrocities, enslavement of its people, pilfering, stealing, brutalizing,and taking control while destroying anything and everything in their path (all this and so much more when the French and Spanish discovered this amazingly rich and archaeological testament to a resilient group of peaceful indigenous communities-millions died, tortured or ran to the mountains for safety-many descendants,now, calling it home). Parris’ ‘Reluctant Rebel,’ takes us through a magnificently woven tale of espionage, betrayal,love, and strength. Absolutely captivating read! I referred earlier to ‘Open Veins of Latin America,’ because, in my mind, there’s little wonder why so many make the treacherous journey to seek out justice and a better life! Pia, is, perhaps, our Reluctant Rebel, or is she? Great foils exist between Walter and Pia and the unfolding of their dangerous quest will, undoubtedly, have you turning page after page! Another magnificent read with highly engaging characters, an intriguing plot, and a constant shift and twists and turns! I, most definitely, can see this on the screen and, even most definitely recommend this extraordinary book!
2 reviews3 followers
January 19, 2022
I really enjoyed Reluctant Rebel, an unforgettable tale of Pia Arellano, a seventeen-year-old Mexican girl who fought for social justice. Of impoverished circumstances, Pia is teamed with the stalwart and principled Walter Stevenson, a Bureau of Investigation agent, acting under the guise of a news reporter. Irrepressible sparks fly as the two negotiate the world of espionage via spies, and counter spies, and with danger all around.
Two things about the page-turning, Reluctant Rebel stuck out to me. The author, Parris Afton Bond’s uncanny ability to insert the majesty of the English language with taste, texture, warmth, sights, sounds and smells, describing the abject poverty, mountains, and deserts, and making the story come alive in a poignant snapshot of the Texan/Mexico border, pre-World War I. Also, masterful and memorable is a remarkable portrait of the complex young woman, Pia who is smart, eloquent, compassionate, and who demonstrates extraordinary healing and love.
I love books that make my heart dance at the conclusion.
In return for an Advanced Reader Copy, I have written a fair review.
Profile Image for K.D..
Author 38 books67 followers
January 17, 2022
Conflict, danger, politics, suspense...and romance. What more can a reader ask for in a book that teems with characters who step off the page and into your room? Pia, the main character, is a woman ahead of her time and not afraid to be so. You will root for her, be amazed by her, and come to feel as if you know her.
This book is insightful, entertaining, educational, and challenging--challenging to our continuing present-day circumstances and prejudices.
An absorbing read that you shouldn't pass up.
Profile Image for Mary Tate Engels.
Author 24 books12 followers
January 13, 2022
Tragedy and Triumph
Reluctant Rebel is an important, multilayered story for our time, depicting the continuum of abuse and violence along the US-Mexico border. Set in 1917 amid the violence of Pancho Villa and the army of General John Pershing, ordinary lives on both sides of the border are at risk.
Follow the extraordinary life of Pia Arellano as she tries to retain her dignity while earning a living for her family. The young woman is caught up in a border upheaval involving rape, murder, and international intrigue. Pia becomes a warrior woman, fighting for human rights for herself, her sister, and every woman. And yes, a sensuous love story develops for Pia.
Read the Author’s Notes and wonder why we know so little of this history and how we can take up her banner and put a stop to these inhumane acts.
Profile Image for Reva Parks.
1,769 reviews16 followers
April 11, 2022
This book really hit home for me! Of course, we all love a heroine who has a smart way with words and whose attitude makes her a spunky leader. Pia accepted the abject poverty she was born into but found joy in her Roget's and attending free classes at the cathedral in Juarez. The sudden requirement in early 1917 that each Mexican national be striped and fumigated, maybe even completely shaved aroused a protest in her that led to three days of riots with the bridges between El Paso and Juarez shut down.

We forget that this act by the El Paso authorities was admired in German print and copied a couple of decades later against the Jews living amongst them. How odd we say we will never forget this atrocity but forget our own culpability!

For me, it was a reminder of my father who was born that same year (1917) in El Paso. How his family lived in the 'big house' at the 'smelter' for a while before Grandpop moved the family away from the grounds. My own father worked a full-time night shift there for four years while getting his engineering degree. The earliest gifts from my grandparents, agreeing with Walt, came in boxes from Popular. My father never overtly passed on racial biases to his children, but I now remember his comments about he hoped his daughters would not get their ears pierced. We lived in Dallas/Ft. Worth, as far away from El Paso/Juarez as L.A. is as Bonds reminds us.

The reader will love the hunt for the German Master Spy amongst the citizens, the flirts and romances among the outstanding characters, the wild ride along the Rio Grande in a Model T Roadster or through the night desert on the wheels without tires of a Hudson, and the angst of a long dark and damp tunnel from a mountainside home's basement under the Rio Grande to the garage of an old Juarez hotel with a locked trap door not opening because it is guarded by the corrupt ex-Mayor of El Paso. I enjoyed how Bonds has each of the ring working for the Germans to keep the USA involved in war with Mexico come to a bitter end of their own making. I highly recommend Reluctant Rebel.
Profile Image for Vicki Stiefel.
Author 16 books802 followers
April 6, 2022
Wow. I just finished this wonderful novel. I LOVED it!
* Reluctant Rebel
Protesting an injustice can be no small thing. It certainly wasn’t for Piedad, considering she was arrested for inciting riots. Into the mix steps Walter Stevenson, an agent who believes in the law and is hunting a spy. Their chemistry? Electric.
A great start for a novel, but author Parris Afton Bonds marvelous, riveting tale is based on true events.
Bonds knows how to write thrilling romance, and Reluctant Rebel is no exception. Set in and around El Paso Texas, pre-World War II, the seething scene burns with intrigue, passion, and pulse-pounding excitement. It’s obvious Ms. Bonds has done extensive research, which enriches and expands every facet of the novel.
The book launches with Piedad’s protest of the deadly cocktail of vicious chemicals used in delousing (yes, you read that right), and instantly grabs readers who love lickety-split dialogue, powerful characters, and grand descriptions.
Nuanced writing is like a symphony with dramatic pauses, deep bass notes, and plenty of trills that fly high in the sky. Love and kindness, always a hallmark in Bonds’ writing, flow through the book like a beautiful melody.
The landscape is vibrant, the era compelling, and the two leads deep hearts touchingly alive. Rebel is one of those rare pieces of fiction where reality slips away and you’re transported back in time and into other souls. A gripping read and highly recommended.
129 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2022
If you are Texas born and bred or from the Mexican side of the border, you would probably know something about this time in the El Paso/Juarez area, but then you might not know about the Bath Riots of 1917. Parris corrects that failing with her exciting espionage book that introduces us to an unlikely couple, Walter Stevenson and Piedad Arellano, who are thrown together in this fascinating time just before WW I. All of the elements of a great novel that we have come to love from Parris, excitement, suspense, romance, misunderstanding, family secrets revealed.
Ah, but I am now revealing too much of this thrilling story of two people and how they came together; how this came about involved intrigue, some violence and, of course, romance.
Reluctant Rebel is a novel written by Parris Afton Bonds about a part of history that deserves more research by us, the readers. You will want to do just that after following Pia and Walt as they fight for social justice. Taking just the action of the times is something you will want to know more about – which, in my opinion, is what a great book should do.
I recommend it just for the storyline, but it is much deeper than that. Delve into history with Parris as she enlightens you and urges you, through her words, to want to know more about the Bath Riots of 1917.
Profile Image for Heather Ames.
Author 15 books13 followers
December 15, 2022
What's not to like about a strong woman taking her future into her own hands and fighting for her rights? I was there with Pia all the way, feeling for her when she revolted against the gross indignities of that so-called bathhouse and the injustices wreaked on the women who crossed into El Paso daily to clean houses and work for families who had no thought for what it took for them to be there. Parris took what had been deemed a small moment in history and wove it into a story of courage, dignity and resourcefulness in the face of what seemed to be insurmountable odds. Pia survives far more than almost losing her hair in that opening incident, and her resilience bonds her with the reader as she works her way through one obstacle after another in a true take-charge fashion. The ending was far from predictable, and completely satisfying.
Author 69 books45 followers
December 27, 2021
Parris Afton Bonds has once again given us a fascinating window into the past, and a strong, sympathetic heroine, in "Reluctant Rebel." Set in a part of history I knew little about -- the Bath Riots of 1917, triggered by the use of toxic and dangerous chemicals to "delouse" people crossing into the US from Mexico -- we see a young woman, Piedad Arellano, stand up to the powerful and potentially dangerous agents of the US Naturalization and Immigration Service and the FBI. And one of the FBI men -- Walter Stevenson -- is eventually led by his conscience to take her side.

To give away any more of the plot would be a disservice to readers. Handled with Bonds's usual deftness, it's an interesting and compelling read. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Mark Carnelley.
Author 2 books68 followers
June 1, 2022
A book, that truly elicits a range of emotions.

Once again, I am stunningly amazed at how this prolific author can weave such a brilliant tale, revolving around a brief period of time of American/Mexican history, during the early months of 1917.

Amazement, that whilst researching for another novel, this seemingly small incident, would inspire this wondrous historical journey, turning a real-life tragedy into a romance for the ages.

I am also saddened and despairing of the treatment that occurred to these brave folks. It is a period in time, and a historical fact that I was unaware of. Though this tale, and the word craft of Parris Afton Bonds, this event will long be remembered. Viva Parris!!
Profile Image for Charlie Spillers.
Author 3 books14 followers
June 2, 2022
As one reviewer so aptly wrote: "Once again, I am stunningly amazed at how this prolific author can weave such a brilliant tale, revolving around a brief period of time of American/Mexican history, during the early months of 1917."

Which brings me to my point about this amazing, prolific author. Parris Afton Bonds is a wonderful writer who crafts her novels with finely etched characters, fascinating descriptions and compelling plots. As a writer myself, I admire her work. I'm also in awe of her latest adventure, which was to relocate to Mexico and to learn to live and thrive in a small community. She is the reincarnation of actress Diane Lane in the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun:" only for Parris, she is the main character in "Under the Mexican Sun."
Profile Image for EvilAntie Jan.
1,590 reviews13 followers
June 9, 2022
A reluctant read

I love Parris Afton Bond's writing. This book was so difficult to get into. There is a lot of Spanish to decipher and frank!y the characters seemed to disconnect. I tried.
1 review
February 14, 2022
The characters in Parris Bonds books always come to life and can clearly be visualized. None more so than Pia in the Reluctant Rebel! Add to that the story itself. Based on a real person and events, Parris has highlighted for the reader a time in history I was not previously aware of but now known, will not forget. Thank you Parris!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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