All of the books in the pile were for my classroom library, and I was four dollars short from getting the loyalty card stamp at my favorite independent book store. So back to the shelves it was so I could meet the minimum $30 purchase stamp. It took a while, but I finally settled on an author and genre of romance I'd never read: Beverly Jenkins and African American historical romance. The selection turned out to be a satisfying one.Set in 1881, Beverly Jenkins' Jewel (2009) is the story of Jewel Crowley and Eli Grayson of bucolic Grayson Grove, Michigan, an all-Black township established in the 1830's by Eli's grandparents. Lifelong residents of the town, the romance brews when Eli, founder and editor of the defunct The Gazette, begs Jewel to pose as his wife for a day to seal the deal with newspaper magnate G.W. Hicks who wishes to revive The Gazette by adding it to his holdings. Conflict arises when Hicks announces to the surprised town folks that he is thrilled to begin his partnership with Mr. and Mrs. Grayson.
A scandalous past and fear of the wrath of Jewel's father and five brothers compel Eli to make an honorable woman out of Jewel--despite her light objections. What follows is Eli's post-nuptial courtship and seduction of Jewel as he attempts to make a lasting marriage out of their union as opposed to the temporary one that Jewel envisions. After all, she does not wish to be another notch on the bedpost of the Colored Casanova of Cass County.
It seems as if in writing her historical romances, Jenkins aims to entertain and educate. What really surprised me, though, was how much the historical element of the novel did not take away from my enjoyment of it.
The critical role of black newspapers in the post slavery era is the focus of this novel. Referencing some relevant people and events of that time, Jenkins authentically integrates historical information in a way that the history does not distract from the story. Her research is evident, as is her care in crafting an engaging story.
As far as romances go, Jewel is solid, though Jenkins fails in fulfilling a subplot that she had set up to be of more importance to the main plot than it turned out to be. Regardless, she has made me interested in reading more of her novels, which, nowadays with the romance authors I've been reading, is quite a feat.
Crossposted here
The critical role of black newspapers in the post slavery era is the focus of this novel. Referencing some relevant people and events of that time, Jenkins authentically integrates historical information in a way that the history does not distract from the story. Her research is evident, as is her care in crafting an engaging story.
As far as romances go, Jewel is solid, though Jenkins fails in fulfilling a subplot that she had set up to be of more importance to the main plot than it turned out to be. Regardless, she has made me interested in reading more of her novels, which, nowadays with the romance authors I've been reading, is quite a feat.
Crossposted here
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