Vivid by Beverly Jenkins

A review of my first african-american historical romance.

My rating: 3.75 stars

Dnf: @ 80%

Number of pages: 400

Tags: Historical romance - African-american romance - Adult ficiton

Author synopsis: “It's 1786 and Dr.Viveca Lancaster is frustrated by the limits placed upon female physicians of color. When she is offered the chance to set up a practice in the small all Black community of Grayson Grove, Michigan she leaves her California home and heads east. The very determined Viveca is one of the few nineteenth century Black women to graduate from the prestigious Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania but she needs more than determination to face down handsome Nate Grayson, the Grove's bull-headed mayor.Nate Grayson goes to the train station expecting Dr. V. Lancaster to be a man. When the lovely dark-skinned Viveca introduces herself he is speechless, then wants her back on the train and out of his town. It's 1876 and women aren't supposed to be doctors, men are. However he isn't prepared for her stubbornness and fire, nor for the vivid way she heals, then steals his heart.”

What did I think of Vivid?

I’m a simple woman you see.

I see a review of a book that summarizes it into a DILF eating you out repeatedly in the forest, on the porch, and other places in the year 1876…

I buy it.

Then when I begin the book and one of the first scenes is the fmc shooting at the mmc because he’s being rude:

“"I need to borrow your rifle, sir."

The farmer seemed so surprised by her authoritative manner he handed it over without a word. Vivid quickly checked the shells, closed the chamber, sighted, and fired.

The first shot blew her target's hat off his head and sent it flying into the dust. She handed the wide-eyed farmer back his weapon, smiled politely, and waited for Nate to come to her.

She didn't have to wait long”

And I’m fucking hooked!

Now here is when my simplicity turns against me, when I’m half way in the novel and the two mc’s are already together! That is the only reason I stopped reading, there was no reason for this sweet and wonderful story to be 400 pages. If there is no angst, I simply have to go. I’m no interested in what seems to be one very long epilogue.

However, if not for that, this book would have been 4.5 stars. It was whimsical, fun, enchanting, steamyyyy, and very educational.