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I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Book Review- The Taming Of Jessi Rose

by | May 14, 2016 | Book Reviews | 5 comments

Book Review- The Taming Of Jessi Rose

Book Review- The Taming Of Jessi RoseThe Taming of Jessi Rose by Beverly Jenkins
Published by Avon on October 1st 1999
Genres: Historical Romance, Interracial Romance, American West
Narrator: Thomas Penny
Length: 10 Hours and 57 Mins
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
ISBN: 0380798654
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-half-stars

No Man Could Tame Her
Jessi Rose Clayton would do anything to keep the family ranch from falling into the wrong hands-even agree to take on a rough-and-tumble outlaw as her protector. With his rugged, handsome face and muscular bronze body, Griffin Blake can draw a sigh from a lady's lips almost as fast as his strong, sculpted arm can draw a gun from its holster. But Jessi Rose has no intentions of falling for his charms. No, her relationship with him is strictly business.
Until He Came Along
Robbing the railroad is Griffin Blake's game, but he has no choice. Either he agrees to help Jessi Rose or he gets sent back to jail-so he arrives at the ranch ready to help the ornery female protect her land. But underneath Jessi's all-business exterior is a femininity she's kept hidden for far too long-making Griffin think it might be time to tame this wild Texas rose.

My Review Updated

Summary 

Jessi Rose Clayton, is a fighter and is just as capable at running a ranch as anyone. She is determined to keep the family ranch from falling into the hands of the local tycoon who is taking property left and right. Her father has been murdered, but not even the sherrif who was her fathers best friend, will help her. She is the caretaker of her nephew who is the heir of the ranch. Then they reach out for help an outside source. A native seminal US Deputy Marshall Dixon Horse, who is a friend of Griffin. Griffin finds himself in jail for seven years for the train robbing that has become a life profession. Griffin has his own reasons for being a train robbers, including getting revenge for his mothers death. When Dixon gives him an offer to help out a lone woman and her nephew and in exchange he will get freedom and become a US deputy. Griffin is appalled in the beginning, but knows he has little choice in the matter. So he heads to Texas to help out Jessi Rose Clayton, a firecracker of a woman. At first Griffin’s job is to aid Jessi in bringing a certain man to justice, but he is soon enthralled by Jessi and her fighting spirit and the little boy who needs a safe haven, not being threatened day and night. But a love blooms between Griffin and Jessi, a love they learn is worth fighting for!

Plot and Story Line 

The Taming Of Jessi Rose is one of my all time favorites, I had so much love for this book and boy can Beverly Jenkins write a story. She wows me each and every time and we get another somewhat connected book here. This time we have Griffin’s book. Griffin is the brother of the hero in Always and Forever. I just had a blast of fun with this book, and since this was free through my library, I grabbed it up. Because honestly what a treasure of a read this is, and I am really loving the progression of this book.

We get some fun characters that really added some more lighthearted fun to the more serious toned plot that brought about a balance I wasn’t expecting to find. We of course have Dixon Horse, who I have seen in three different books and want his book so badly!! 🙂 Then we have Preacher—now he was fun. His story I am looking forward to (at least I am hoping he has a book) He loves his bible but also  can be very rugged. Now for my favorites The TWINS!!! Now I was first introduced to these boys in Something Like Love which features Neil’s story. Now these two are a riot and so outrageous at times, and loved their humor and certain “games ” that they like to play with bad men. *grins* those who have read this already know exactly what I am talking about here. But what I adored was seeing these characters come together to help out one woman and a little boy and get some justice.

Jessi Rose was a very unique heroine and loved her to pieces. She is strong, resilient but has her own vulnerabilities that seemed realistic and believable. She has suffered through some horrors in her past, and now is fighting with everything she has to protect her nephew and keep the land her father died to protect. She can be quite stubborn at times but I like that she accepts help when she knows that she needs it.

Now Griffin was a cool hero and I wanted more of him. He is a bit of a bad boy, because HELLO—he is a outlaw and robs trains. Although to his credit has never killed anyone and does it in a very playful and mischievous way so I was cool with his past especially when you see what he went through when his mother died which just about broke my heart in the beginning.

The plot of the story is so engaging and I got so wrapped up in this book, I just didn’t want to put it down, I listened to it every moment I could!! I loved the villain of the story, because wow is he cunning and greedy. This element of the story I think was pretty vital and added some tension to the story that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats. The romance between Griffin and Jessi Rose is so tender and sweet at times, it almost made me cry. Once they come together, it is just perfect seeing them find contentment and happiness that neither of them ever has had before. Especially for Jessi Rose. She has been dealt a very bad hand in life, but it hasn’t broken her and I loved seeing her find a happy ending she deserved.

Narration 

This narrator, Thomas Penny, is slowly winning me over. I am loving his voice. Normally male narrators it takes me a while to like since they aren’t as common as female narrators. But I felt he handled every aspect whether big or small of the story so brilliantly. I adored the way his tone of voice altered with change in emotion and keeps you engaged.

The Cover 

I have much love for this cover!! I love the pink dress, its so pretty. I do love this romantic pose though, it just fits this pair so well. Love the horse in the background!!

Overall View 

The Taming Of Jessi Rose is a spectacular read that had me enthralled from the very beginning. It’s heartwarming, witty, with a taste of mystery and danger and some passion rolled in—-creates a work of art!!! It shows the history of what blacks had to go through in this era and setting and it kept me raptured and learning something new. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

About The Author Updated

About Beverly Jenkins

Beverly Jenkins is an African-American historical romance writer. She and her family live in southeastern Michigan. Born in Detroit, she graduated from Cass Technical High School and attended Michigan State University where she majored in Journalism and English Literature.
Ms. Jenkins has written sixteen books to date and has received numerous awards for her works, including: the Detroit Free Press Book of the Year, three Waldenbooks Best Sellers Awards; two Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times Magazine; a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer’s Guild, and in 1999, Ms. Jenkins was voted one of the Top Fifty Favorite African-American writers of the 20th Century by AABLC, the nation’s largest on-line African-American book club. In May of 2002, Ms. Jenkins published her first historical novel for young adults, titled: Belle and the Beau. Her second YA, Josephine and the Soldier followed in 2003.
Ms. Jenkins has been featured in many national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Dallas Morning News and Vibe Magazine. She has lectured at such prestigious universities as Oberlin University; the University of Illinois; and the University of Michigan. She speaks widely on both romance and 19th century African-American history at libraries, schools and organizations including Romance Writers of America, and the Afro–American Historical and Genalogical Society. She is active in her church and community, and in November 2001 was a recipient of the YWCA Woman of Achievement Award.
In February of 2004, Ms. Jenkins’ first contemporary novel of romantic suspense, The Edge of Midnight was released. Sexy/Dangerous, her fourth novel of romantic suspense will be in stores in November 2006.

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5 Comments

  1. Blodeuedd

    Oh right, the horse book 😉

    Reply
  2. Sophia Rose

    I love how you describe it with fun overlaying a serious plot. Ugh, I need to read all these, too.

    Reply
  3. Sharonda

    I’m so digging your reviews on her books!

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      haha thanks!! I just adore this author. I can’t seem to get enough. And she does great with historical context and I am loving the diversity of it. So rare to see in historical romance.

      Reply
  4. Eva

    oh another Beverly Jenkins to add to my wish list! Great review, I’m finally starting the one I purchased this weekend and I can’t wait — will report back! Totally agree re this cover!!

    Reply

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