Title: Rebel
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Series: Women Who Dare #1
Pages: 384
Valinda Lacy travels to New Orleans to help the newly emancipated community. While she may be determined, she finds that New Orleans is a lot different than New York. When she finds her school has been destroyed and is attacked she runs, right into the arms of Captain Drake LeVeq.
I loved this book. I was afraid the slow building romance wouldn’t be enough for me but I loved it. Val is a determined, kind, and courageous woman. I loved her. Being away from her controlling father means that she can finally be herself. She learns to be free like a child again and doesn’t put up with anyone’s crap. I loved watching her spar with Drake and put down those who were rude. She really learns to embrace herself, and her sexuality, and I just loved every minute of it.
Drake is a pirate, as he frequently tells Val. He is an arrogant charmer who is used to getting his way, especially with the ladies. So when Val doesn’t fall at his feet he really can’t help but fall for her. Drake was so supportive of Val and her dreams. He was raised by a strong woman and it really shows. I really loved his family as well because while they bickered they supported each other.
This book also discusses what the reconstruction era of the U.S. was like. The chaos and frequent attacks against the freedmen is a reality that I feel a lot of romance books overlook when discussing this period. I am just glad that I am finally reading a historical book that shows what it was like, even if this is a fiction.
Overall, this was an amazing slow building historical romance. I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the next book of this series. Also I love this cover.
Red-Haired Ash Reads 