
I laughed, worried, cried, and rejoiced – and when a story can do all of that, you know it’s a good one. I love how all of the components work together to weave a tale and spin this marvelous romance. There are also some bad men who come to town, causing grief for the pair and the citizens of Paradise. I enjoyed watching both deal with these issues, both via internal monologuing and discussing them with other characters. In addition to their budding romance, each has to deal with family issues and come to terms with what a future may look like. Their interactions are honest and open, creating a bond that is immensely special. Spring acknowledges that sometimes a girl gets tired of fighting alone. He then apologized and asks if he over-stepped. He says to her that he knows she doesn’t need saving, but he couldn’t help himself.

One of my favorite moments in the book comes after Garrett defends Spring’s honor. He allows her to take care of him and sees her as an equal. He admires her unconventionality and understands she doesn’t need saving. She also has the support of friends and family to keep her going. She has the ability to deal with and move past those who want to pull her down.

However, Spring survives her past and makes her own way, writing her own rules. There is ugly racism and misogyny, including references to non-consensual sex and physical abuse, all part of what life was like for a Black woman during the times. (I’ve learned that this series is a mix of supporting characters from previously published works.) An Old West romance at its core, the story features a strong, unconventional woman and the man who supports her. Jenkins’ Women Who Dare series, it is unrelated to the first book and completely standalone.

Wild Rain is a wonderful historical romance filled with action and adventure. Luckily, Spring happens upon him and brings him back to her place to rest and recover. On his way into town, he is thrown from his horse and gets stranded in a snow storm. Garrett, a lawyer-turned-journalist has traveled from Washington, DC, to Wyoming to write a story on Dr. She’s had a rough past, but the town’s folk let her actions remain in the past. Spring is an independent woman, owning and managing her own ranch. The mostly White residents live in harmony with the few Blacks and other non-White residents, including rancher Spring Lee and her brother, Colton Lee, the town doctor. Paradise, Wyoming, isn’t like the cities back East.
