Bookfanatic reviewed on
Helpful Score: 1
A very sweet touching love story set in the South in the late 60s. He's a handsome, privileged young White man from a prominent family in the town. She's the pretty, kind, very smart daughter of their Black housekeeper. They were childhood friends, but at a very young age his mother forced them to break off their innocent friendship. They meet again in college years later. This story picks up from the time they meet as adults.
I wasn't alive in the 60s nor have I lived in the Deep South, but the author manages to convey the difficulties of living in that era and falling in love outside your "group". She doesn't shy away from the prejudice faced by such a couple. A lot of IR love stories tend to shy away from the bigotry or only show a small facet of it. This book is different. One really understands the risks both characters were taking. Of course, the heroine was taking a far bigger risk than the hero.
This is different from any other IR love story I've read. It's one of the best love stories I've read. This story feels so real. You almost think these two are a real couple. Recently, I read about Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case of the 1960s that struck down laws preventing white and black Americans from marrying each other. Mr. Loving was white and his wife was black. Being Plumville made me realize what the Lovings must have gone through. There is a brief reference to the case by the hero so that was a nice touch.
This book is also true to the customs and values of the time. This was a time when men courted women. It wasn't about getting to third base on the first date. I loved how the hero courted her. He's such a good guy. He's romantic and sexy, but very respectful of her values and inexperience. There are so many romance books, and so many IR romance books, that are just about soulless raw sex devoid of any emotional connection, but you don't get that in this story. These two have their intimate moments, but it's beautifully done because of the strong connection they share.
I just wish the book was longer. I would have loved to read more about these two.
I wasn't alive in the 60s nor have I lived in the Deep South, but the author manages to convey the difficulties of living in that era and falling in love outside your "group". She doesn't shy away from the prejudice faced by such a couple. A lot of IR love stories tend to shy away from the bigotry or only show a small facet of it. This book is different. One really understands the risks both characters were taking. Of course, the heroine was taking a far bigger risk than the hero.
This is different from any other IR love story I've read. It's one of the best love stories I've read. This story feels so real. You almost think these two are a real couple. Recently, I read about Loving v. Virginia, the Supreme Court case of the 1960s that struck down laws preventing white and black Americans from marrying each other. Mr. Loving was white and his wife was black. Being Plumville made me realize what the Lovings must have gone through. There is a brief reference to the case by the hero so that was a nice touch.
This book is also true to the customs and values of the time. This was a time when men courted women. It wasn't about getting to third base on the first date. I loved how the hero courted her. He's such a good guy. He's romantic and sexy, but very respectful of her values and inexperience. There are so many romance books, and so many IR romance books, that are just about soulless raw sex devoid of any emotional connection, but you don't get that in this story. These two have their intimate moments, but it's beautifully done because of the strong connection they share.
I just wish the book was longer. I would have loved to read more about these two.
