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Old West #1

Forbidden

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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 . . .

370 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 26, 2016

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About the author

Beverly Jenkins

65 books4,228 followers
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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,009 reviews
January 18, 2022

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As a nod to black history month, my romance group decided it would be fun to read a historical romance novel featuring two characters of black ancestry. We chose this book. I was really excited about this pick, because I've quickly grown to love Beverly Jenkins's work. Her writing style is reminiscent of Lisa Kleypas and Courtney Milan. Her headstrong heroines and swoony males, remind me of Kleypas, as well as how much attention she pays to the side characters, even having them walk in and out of later books. She reminds me of Courtney Milan in how she focuses her efforts on empowered women and people of color, which is so important because of how those narratives are often pushed aside.



FORBIDDEN is about a black woman named Eddy Carmichael. Both her parents are dead and she's estranged from her prostitute sister. After being robbed, she decides to head out to San Francisco while depending on the kindness of strangers to get there because her sister won't give her a dime. Of course, she gets robbed again, and then left for dead in the middle of the desert by a con artist just as soon as he discovers she won't trade him her body.



Rhine Fontaine, the hero, is the one who finds her and helps nurse her back to health. Rhine, the dreamboat on the cover, is a wealthy business owner and an active player in Nevada's Republican political scene. He's also the son of a slave, and has been "passing" for White for all these years because of the many opportunities it offers him that he wouldn't have access to otherwise. Rhine never questioned that decision until he meets Eddy and finds her much more appealing than his fiancee, a white society woman who is absolutely determined to wrap him around her finger.



I was actually picturing the hero and heroine in my head as Tiana and Naveen from The Princess and the Frog. Eddy is an excellent cook (oh my God, the food descriptions in this book) and wants to one day have her own business or at the very least be totally self-reliant. Rhine, on the other hand, is a smooth-talking ladies' man who knows he is good looking and entirely too used to getting his way because of it. I wasn't completely sold on the romance between them at first because when Rhine meets Eddy, he's already engaged to another woman and makes advances towards her anyway. She turns him down and in the end, he decides to break things off with Natalie, his fiance, not just to be with Eddy (although mostly) but also because he realizes that she isn't a nice person.



Funny, how it often takes another woman to make dudes realize that in fiction...



I've only read two books by Jenkins, the other was DESTINY'S EMBRACE, but I'm already noticing some common themes. Jenkins seems to favor the "virgin and the rake" trope: both heroes in these books were man-whores, and both heroines were virgins. The heroine is both these books is so beautiful that she literally (especially in the case of DESTINY'S) has to fight off a line of suitors. Jenkins is also a fan of history, so a significant portion of the book usually focuses on some aspect of that - well outside the degree necessary for simply setting the scene. DESTINY'S EMBRACE talks a lot about the history of California, especially in Yolo County. FORBIDDEN discusses Republican and Democratic politics in the U.S. before they switched platforms, as well as racism.



I'll admit that the ending made me raise my eyebrows a bit because it felt so dramatic. But given what I knew about Natalie's pride and her desire for others to see her as superior, I guess it felt like what happened could have happened. Maybe. I also felt like Rhine's "big reveal" was rather anticlimactic. A lot of people owed him money and probably resented his power. Given what I know about bigotry and cognitive dissonance, I'm sure that far more people would have been quick to attempt petty revenge once he told everyone the truth about his heritage. That said, it sure was satisfying to see Rhine anticipate their every move and put them all in their place. Take that, bigots!



FORBIDDEN was a quick, fun read. It had some problems, sure, but I loved the characters and it has some pretty steamy scenes between the hero and the heroine that were much better written than the ones in DESTINY'S EMBRACE. Plus, I haven't been feeling well lately so it was nice to read something light. The research Jenkins did for this book was obvious, as was the care she put into developing the secondary characters and making them all feel three-dimensional. Reading this reminded me that I still have THROUGH THE STORM to read, which is about Rhine's younger sister, Sable. Maybe I'll pick that one up next. There may be a Rhine cameo in it for me. ;)



3.5 stars
Profile Image for Carmen.
2,070 reviews2,258 followers
February 11, 2017
His invitation to dinner had been surprising and, yes, insulting, if she were being truthful. Did he believe she thought so little of herself that she'd keep time with a man engaged to be married? She supposed with his looks and money some women might have jumped at the chance to take him up on the offer, but she was not one of them. Did he often dally with women outside his race? Was he one of those men who slaked their lust with women of color but treated their own women like fragile regal queens? Was that why he proposed what he had? Eddy doubted she'd ever get answers to the questions, but decided she was okay with the not knowing. Her new life didn't include him anyway.

Actually this book was great. Jenkins sets her black historical romance novel in the Old West. I love the Old West. The book is strong - she weaves an excellent plot and the romance isn't weak, either.

Eddy (I was never sure whether to pronounce this in my head as ee-dee or eh-dee) is making her way to California to open her own restaurant. On the way she meets a lot of people, including a fucking piece of shit who poses as a Catholic priest who takes all her money, orders her to have sex with him, and when she refuses he strands her in the middle of the desert.

That's how Rhine finds her, near-dead. He and his business partner, Jim, take her back home to their rooms above the saloon so she can recover.

Rhine is a rich, politically active saloon-owner with eyes on running for office. Everyone thinks he's white, and he's been passing since after the Civil War. But he really was born a slave, a product of rape between the plantation owner and his slave mother. As a result, he has both black and white siblings.

Despite the strong attraction between Eddy and Rhine, she knows they can never be together because he is a white man. (Or at least everyone thinks he is.) Not to mention, he's engaged to be married to a white, rich woman. Hence the title: FORBIDDEN.

Let's break this down.

PROS:

-Old West setting. Exquisite. I don't know about you, but I love fantasizing about this time period. The reality was awful, I wouldn't want to live there - but the idea of cowboys, saloons, whorehouses, shootouts, sheriffs, horses, Native Americans, and train robberies is very exciting to me. Just a very exciting setting, especially for a romance.

- History. I learned a lot from this book. Jenkins cites her sources in the back. Prepare to be educated - but not in an annoying or preachy way. I really enjoyed this. The time is 1870. Grant is president.

- Black and white tension. The tension between the relatively newly freed black people and the white people who don't know how to deal with this new reality makes the book really pop. The looming threat of everything Rhine would lose if he were exposed as a black man gives everything a more exciting edge and makes Eddy and Rhine sneaking around to meet in secret necessary.

I also like how Jenkins stresses and illustrates how passing for white allows Rhine to do so much good for the black community. He gives loans, he mortgages property, he uses his saloon to host black celebrations (weddings, etc.) when there was no other possible way for people to get these things. He serves on councils and is active in politics and fights hard for civil rights and keeping schools desegregated. As a black man he'd never be able to do these things.

The idea of someone passing as a different race is fraught with all sorts of dangers, but I think Jenkins did a good job of showing both the pros and cons of our hero passing for white.

- The Heroine. I really like Eddy. She is a fighter. I like how she fights everyone. She refuses to allow the scumbag any sexual liberties and instead takes a chance she will die in the desert. When found by Rhine and scooped up, she's yelling and fighting him even though she's nearly unconscious and close to death. We know how hard she's been working all her life.

"I've worked six days a week since I was twelve years old, and I've never been bedridden in my life. This lying around is hard for me."

she informs Rhine. When asked about her hobbies, she

"Do you have a hobby or a favorite pastime?"

"Yes. Sleeping," she said with amusement.

"Sleeping?"

"I worked fourteen-hour days. I'd go home, grab a bite to eat, and go straight to bed because I had to get up before sunrise and do it all over again. There wasn't time for pastimes or amusements."


This is my kind of woman. I really feel her when she says,

She thought back on how achingly weary she'd been day after day during that first year and how scary life had been. Her hands had cracked and bled from all the lye, and her knees had fared no better from being on them constantly, but her skin had toughened up and so had she.

"It must have been hard."

"It was. In many ways it still is, but if I don't work, I don't eat. It's pretty simple if you think about it."


WORK OR DIE. Hmmmm, such reality. I love it and I love it even more because I know that wealthy Rhine is going to ease her burden and even though she will keep working and earning money (something very important to her), she will be able to relax finally and enjoy herself a little. The reader will be excited and looking forward to this, all the sweeter because Eddy has had such a hard life.

She always fights. She stands up to men who say rude things to her. She's honest about her romantic interests and doesn't bother lying to men. At one point she brains a man with a whisky bottle (he deserved it) and she never backs down from anything.

"Good morning, Eddy."

She didn't look up. "Good morning."

He came over to the table. "You know, it's a shame your skin is so dark. You're well-spoken, clean, mannerly. You'd make someone a perfect wife, but - "

She did look up then. "Do you always insult women with knives in their hands, Mr. Brown?"

Upon viewing the gleaming blade, his eyes widened. "Uh, um..."

She pointed said knife at the doorway. "Leave."

"I wasn't trying to insult you. I was just stating fact."

"Go!"

He bid a hasty retreat.

Wondering where he'd been when the Good Lord began handing out brains, she went back to what she'd been doing.


Even the hero - especially the hero - doesn't escape her straight talk.

As she moved on to the second cake, she saw him reach into his coat and extract some money. She froze. "And that is for?"

"I convinced [spoilers removed] and he gave me all he had."

She relaxed. "Oh."

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Thank you."

"Did you think I was trying to buy your services?"

She told the truth. "Yes."

"You're not a whore, Eddy."

"I know that but I wasn't sure you did."

He sat back. "Damn woman."

She shrugged. "Like you said: hard nut to crack. I've no experience with a man like you, Rhine, or truthfully, any man." She looked away. She was a novice at this and he needed to know that.

"Will you at least give me a chance to prove myself?"

"To what end? A few days ago you were [spoilers removed], and now you want me to believe you're genuinely interested in me as something other than a dalliance."


This is at 59%! This book is definitely a slow burn. They don't have their first kiss until 60%.


CONS:

- I think this could have used both a little more sex and a little more sexual tension. Even if Jenkins didn't want to put more sex in here, I still think she could have amped up the sexual tension a bit. This could have been SUCH a sexually charged book in about 80 ways, but it just wasn't. She didn't milk it for all it was worth, and I personally think she should have. I would say mild sexual tension instead of the 'intense' tension I wanted. There WAS sexual tension - it wasn't completely absent, but I feel like she could have cranked it up a few notches.

- The female villain in this novel was a little hard to believe. Jenkins has her by the end of the book. I was like o.O I just didn't see that as keeping with her character, but I guess Jenkins wanted the book to end very dramatically. I wasn't buying it.


How was the sex, Carmen?

I have a lot to say about this. Let's break it down.

1.) I liked "I'm going to carry you in my arms" and "I am not going to hurt you, don't worry."

2.) I liked the little romantic scenes and dialogues between them.

"That's the first time you've ever used my given name."

Looking up into his pleased and oh so wickedly handsome face, she fumbled for a reply, "I needed your attention."

"You have it."


Oooh. :)

3.) Then we have a little bit of a mixed bag: The reason Eddy capitulates to having dinner with Rhine is because she is afraid if she doesn't seize this chance, she might die a virgin and unloved.

I could buy this. She does have a lot of suitors, as a very attractive woman who works with the public (cooking for a boardinghouse), but many of the men she is not attracted to, and those she are have problems - like forbidding her to work if she married them etc.

However, when she says this to Rhine

If he still wanted to have dinner with her, she would. As she'd told Sylvie, she hoped it would be the cure she needed to move on with her future, but more importantly, looking down the road of her life, she saw no opportunities for her to experience what it meant to be with a man who desired her.

Believable.

Knowing she'd probably chop him up and season him like the chicken she was still working on, he asked anyway. "Have dinner with me."

"Fine."

He almost fell off the chair. "You're saying yes?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know what it means to be desired."

Eyeing her wondrously he paused. "Say that again."

"You heard me the first time. I want to know what it means to be desired."

He was admittedly speechless. Still filled with wonder, he scanned her slowly. The thought of fulfilling her wish made his groin tighten with appreciative anticipation.

She shot him a sly smile. "Am I too bold?"

"No. Not at all." Still studying her, he crossed his arms to keep himself seated because he wanted to pick her up, carry her home, and take his time showing her just what being desired meant.

"You look pleased," she said.

"I'm more than pleased."


My problem isn't with this, it's that afterwards the two of them often refer to what they are doing sexually together as "tutoring" "lessons" and "learning" which is utterly disgusting to me. I hate this teacher/student shit in bed. I HATE IT. I don't care if she is a virgin and he's... not a virgin. I feel like this kind of talk is humiliating. If this was a kink it would be one thing (one thing I would hate, but still understandable) but in a relatively vanilla relationship it is a huge turn-off for me. Yuck.

4.) I like that he asks her permission before touching her vulva. This is considerate and shows good manners and I like that he's giving her a choice instead of just doing stuff to her without seeking her permission.

5.) I like the fact that he fingers her to orgasm a lot. He gets her alone, fingers her to orgasm, and then just takes her home. He doesn't demand any kind of sexual favors in return, and he's 'saving' oral sex and p-in-v sex for I found this really sweet and so nice to do for her. What a mensch.

6.) He has some nutty ideas about sex, though.

"I probably don't have time to treat you to an orgasm, but then again you were quite quick last night."

"Is that a bad thing?" she asked, her face serious.

"No darlin'. Not at all. In fact it was beautiful. You'll have more stamina the more we play."


I have some serious problems with this. One, there's nothing wrong with a woman being able to cum quickly. It's a blessing. Two, there's absolutely no reason for her to build up her stamina. Why on EARTH would she want to do such a thing? Three, it's false that the more they make love, the more difficult it will be to bring her to orgasm. THE END.

Is Rhine just unaware women are capable of multiple orgasms?!!??!!?!? Inquiring minds want to know.

7.) "Are you ready to come?" he asked in a voice as dark and hot as the night.

Dear Heroes,

Please stop talking during sex. PLEASE. You don't have anything to say that is going to add here! It's very rare a book has dirty talk that pleases me. In most cases, I just want everyone to shut the fuck up, but heroes are usually the main culprits. Jeez Louise. JUST MAKE LOVE TO HER. Stop saying stupid shit while she's trying to enjoy herself. FFS.

Love, Carmen.

8.) "I've never sat on a man's lap before. Can you feel me shaking?"

"I can, so just relax. We have all evening."


OKAY, but isn't he feeling nervous about this seduction? Uncertain? Unsure? Worried he's doing the wrong thing, pushing too hard, going too fast?

Why are women the only ones nervous about sex in romance novels?

I know if I was seducing a virgin, especially as one as easy to hurt and damage as this one, I'd be fucking nervous.

I hope this isn't one-sided. It would be refreshing if a romance author admitted a hero was a little shaken and nervous about what he and the heroine were going to do in bed, and perhaps wondering if it would go well and if he'd be able to please her. This would be interesting and also humanizing for the hero. Right now heroes are always written as if they are gods, with no doubts or fears about their sexual prowess and their ability to give the heroine multiple orgasms the first time, and every time.


Tl;dr - I'm wavering between a 4 and a 5 on this one. It was really good. It exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend it. However, I like my books a little sexier. This just wasn't meeting my sexual requirements. YMMV. I know a lot of people like less sex in their romance than I do, this might suit.

A great historical romance, and a unique one as far as black romance goes, as well. High marks.

Categories: Historical Romance, Slow Burn Romance, Black Romance, Antebellum/Civil War/Reconstruction Romance, Cowboy/Western Romance.
Profile Image for Warda.
1,257 reviews21.5k followers
August 26, 2020
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.


—————————

Smuthathon Day 1.
Challenge: author of colour.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,081 reviews34.6k followers
February 27, 2021
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

Profile Image for Ezi Chinny.
2,608 reviews517 followers
February 5, 2016
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.
description

Profile Image for EmBibliophile.
581 reviews1,763 followers
March 19, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Rachel  L.
1,940 reviews2,399 followers
May 15, 2020
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.
Profile Image for sraxe.
394 reviews448 followers
September 7, 2017
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?

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.)
Profile Image for Carole (Carole's Random Life).
1,887 reviews542 followers
February 7, 2017
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.
Profile Image for Elsa Bravante.
1,145 reviews198 followers
February 28, 2018
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.
Profile Image for K.J. Charles.
Author 63 books9,743 followers
Read
April 2, 2018
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.
Profile Image for Floripiquita.
1,388 reviews165 followers
January 1, 2019
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.
Profile Image for Tim.
2,259 reviews229 followers
June 8, 2023
I found this to be an excellent and well written story.
Profile Image for Meagan.
1,317 reviews48 followers
February 9, 2017
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.
Profile Image for Ms. Woc Reader.
595 reviews814 followers
March 14, 2023
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.
Profile Image for CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian.
1,204 reviews1,643 followers
July 14, 2018
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??
Profile Image for Ira.
1,099 reviews112 followers
April 14, 2018
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:)

❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~.
1,704 reviews126 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 28, 2022
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.
Profile Image for Anne Boleyn's Ghost.
372 reviews66 followers
March 18, 2018
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.
Profile Image for WhiskeyintheJar.
1,369 reviews631 followers
September 18, 2016
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.
Profile Image for Layeshia.
372 reviews
December 2, 2016
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.
Profile Image for Anika.
77 reviews24 followers
February 1, 2016
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.
Profile Image for Musings of A Romance Junkie.
308 reviews89 followers
October 9, 2016
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.
Profile Image for Tina.
1,793 reviews313 followers
June 20, 2016
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.
Profile Image for Lu🌸.
521 reviews99 followers
March 17, 2020
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.
Profile Image for Laura.
722 reviews180 followers
October 11, 2022
Another historically accurate romance. This one set in the Old West. Great main characters have a fiery passion for life and each other.
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,180 reviews961 followers
December 31, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance Summary

Rhine Fontaine left the south to find success and fulfill his dreams and had to pass for white which he was able to do because of his mixed heritage. And with Rhine choosing a bride of the best connections, he doesn't believe that he is missing out on anything. Until he meets beautiful and passionate Eddy Carmichael.  A woman he discovered abandoned in the desert heat, and saved her life. Rhine is intrigued by Eddy and he finds himself torn between the attraction he feels for Eddy and his responsibilities. But Rhine also is forced to face what he can truly live with and if keeping himself as "white" is the best thing for him when he is denying a part of himself. Eddy wants a better life, to have her own place of work, to be independent. She barely makes it from Colorado to Arizona alive, and even though its not her desired destination she can't find it in herself to leave quite yet. She also discovers a man tempts her but he is also a man that could break her heart if she lets him get too close...

The Hero
Rhine Fontaine grew up as a slave. His father was white and the master of the plantation and his mother was one of his fathers slaves. He is the descendant of a great african queen. But as soon as he could, he left the south as a free man and even though he is still searching for his sister Sable, he wants to make his own way and life. Rhine hides his true self from many in the world, no one knows that he is really black and was once a slave. It has allowed him many opportunities but it has also taken something away from him. Rhine is our hero of the story and there is much to love and admire about him. He takes what he can and makes his own way in life. I loved his determination and his drive. There is quite a many facets to his character, and you see more hidden depths to him in each page. I loved discovering more about him and the way he grows in different ways.
The Heroine
Eddy Carmichael is a talented cook, and even though she lost her parents at a young age. She has a sister who sells her body for money and has two girls that Eddy adores but she knows that she needs to take the chance to start her own restaurant in California. Eddy is our heroine and she is such a great match for our hero Rhine. She is opinionated, strong willed and has her own dreams she is determined to make come true. Eddy is smart and sassy and she is very well rounded. You can easily get behind her. I was really impressed in the way that she handled Rhine and even some of the other men she associates with. She keeps them on their toes and you have to admire that.
Plot and Story Line
Forbidden is a first book of a new series by Beverly Jenkins, and to be honest I am an idiot in waiting so long to read this one. I have no idea why I waited but I finally got my hands on this one and I am so glad that I was able to and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. As typical with any Beverly Jenkins romance, I was hooked from the start. We set off at the beginning of Rhine's journey. Before he makes his trek west, while he looks for his sister which he has no luck there. Even from the beginning here, we see his drive and determination to make a better life for himself. Then we skip ahead some years where Rhine has been posing as a white man. It allows him quite a bit of freedom and great opportunities. Then we learn more about our heroine. I love how wise Eddy is in so many little ways. She is talented, and smart but she is also kind hearted. We see how close she is to her nieces that she is forced to leave behind. Then we see how she gets taken advantage of with her money stolen, and almost raped and left in the desert to die. She is rescued by Rhine and his business part and friend Jim. Rhine and Eddy become quite close as she starts to recover from almost dying. Even though Rhine is engaged, we see from the beginning that its purely a marriage of convenience and his fiancee is a bit cookoo. I didn't like her at all so I couldn't understand why Rhine could engage himself to such a woman. What I liked about this book was the romance and how real these characters felt. Each characters that comes into play just wraps their way around you like a warm blanket. The actual romance between Rhine and Eddy was full of struggles and also personal growths that bring them closer in the end. The banter between these two is prime and golden and you just can't get enough of it. Their interactions were quite charming. The chemistry is a mixture of innocence and yet sensually explicit. Only Beverly Jenkins can pack a punch like this one and make you fall in love along the way. I can't wait for book two.
The Cover
What a gorgeous cover, I just love the PINK!!! And the pose between them is such a "teasing yet one full of longing" and portrays their story so wel.
Overall View
Forbidden is a fantastically written romance that takes you to the old west, a journey of self discovery, sizzling chemistry, packed with history, a diverse and a breathtaking love story!!!
Click To Buy On Amazon
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