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A proposal she had no choice but to accept . . .
Though Eli Grayson is one of the most handsome, charming, and intelligent men in Grayson Grove, no one will take a chance on a confirmed bachelor. Unwilling to give up his dreams, Eli convinces his friend Jewel to pose as his wife. Their masquerade is to last just one night . . . but when word gets out, Eli and Jewel must tie the knot to save his career—and her reputation.
Became a love she never expected . . .
Angry at being forced to turn her life upside down, Jewel never imagined that a white-hot passion would consume her once she and Eli became husband and wife. Sharing a bed has turned their prim friendship into a sensuous love affair . . . but when a woman from Eli's past returns to stir up trouble, he and Jewel will learn just how far they'll go to protect the precious gem of their newfound passion.
Though Eli Grayson is one of the most handsome, charming, and intelligent men in Grayson Grove, no one will take a chance on a confirmed bachelor. Unwilling to give up his dreams, Eli convinces his friend Jewel to pose as his wife. Their masquerade is to last just one night . . . but when word gets out, Eli and Jewel must tie the knot to save his career—and her reputation.
Became a love she never expected . . .
Angry at being forced to turn her life upside down, Jewel never imagined that a white-hot passion would consume her once she and Eli became husband and wife. Sharing a bed has turned their prim friendship into a sensuous love affair . . . but when a woman from Eli's past returns to stir up trouble, he and Jewel will learn just how far they'll go to protect the precious gem of their newfound passion.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 29, 2008
99 people are currently reading
906 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Jenkins
71 books4,837 followersBeverly 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. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
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. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
March 23, 2016
Read for the BJ book club. Loved the book & conversation both. Sweet, spicy, perfect small town historical romance. Because it's BJ, you learn some history they missed in school as well. Highly recommended.
August 19, 2025
A marriage of convenience that quickly turned into real love. I enjoyed this book.
Read
August 23, 2020An enjoyable tale of a marriage of convenience (for him, not her, and she isn't pleased about it) turning into a love match. There's some serious themes and a proper evil villain, and the small town is a hotbed of seething passions in the best Ms Bev fashion. Also the hero is grappling with having done something genuinely and unforgivably bad (not to the heroine) and that doesn't find an easy resolution, which makes it all chewy. Plus, loads of really interesting stuff on the Black press in the US.
October 20, 2022
It’s always a good time to pick up a Beverly Jenkins read. This is one of the last few I have left to read from her backlist and I adored it right from the start! It’s a friends-to-lovers turned fake relationship turned marriage of convenience between step-siblings! Jewel takes place in Grayson Grove, Michigan, the town was established in the 1830s by the hero, Eli Grayson’s grandparents who came from Carolina to what was then-Michigan territory.
When an investor comes to town to help with his newspaper, Eli Grayson is overjoyed! That is until the businessman tells him he only hires married men and expects Eli and his wife at dinner that evening, Eli promised they’ll be there but only one problem…Eli isn’t married. Cue Eli running to his friend Jewel and asking her to pose as his fake wife for the dinner. Jewel and Eli are also step-siblings, her father and his mother married 6 years ago. Eli convinces Jewel to help him and tells her they can easily get away with posing as a fake married couple for one night/one dinner. Everything is going fine until the investor makes a speech at dinner in front of a crowd about the “married couple”. When the town gossip starts spreading the news about their marriage and even starts a rumor that Jewel is pregnant too, Eli ends up proposing a marriage to save her reputation. While Jewel sees this as a marriage of convenience, with a divorce in the near future, Eli is ready to make it a real marriage!
I adored Jewel and Eli together! We see this town and characters featured in the previous book, Vivid (another of my favs). Jewel and Eli just have a very easy relationship with natural chemistry, their steamy times are so good 🔥, and I liked how open and honest he was about his past with her. There is some ex drama that comes back into town to ruffle up some things. This was just a great Bev read that I don’t see talked about enough!
When an investor comes to town to help with his newspaper, Eli Grayson is overjoyed! That is until the businessman tells him he only hires married men and expects Eli and his wife at dinner that evening, Eli promised they’ll be there but only one problem…Eli isn’t married. Cue Eli running to his friend Jewel and asking her to pose as his fake wife for the dinner. Jewel and Eli are also step-siblings, her father and his mother married 6 years ago. Eli convinces Jewel to help him and tells her they can easily get away with posing as a fake married couple for one night/one dinner. Everything is going fine until the investor makes a speech at dinner in front of a crowd about the “married couple”. When the town gossip starts spreading the news about their marriage and even starts a rumor that Jewel is pregnant too, Eli ends up proposing a marriage to save her reputation. While Jewel sees this as a marriage of convenience, with a divorce in the near future, Eli is ready to make it a real marriage!
I adored Jewel and Eli together! We see this town and characters featured in the previous book, Vivid (another of my favs). Jewel and Eli just have a very easy relationship with natural chemistry, their steamy times are so good 🔥, and I liked how open and honest he was about his past with her. There is some ex drama that comes back into town to ruffle up some things. This was just a great Bev read that I don’t see talked about enough!
September 23, 2019
Fun, light, brain candy🥰
October 15, 2025
Jewel, the poor girl who gets treated for exhaustion in Vivid, is the FMC of this one. The MMC is Nate Greyson’s cousin, Eli.
So much happens in this one despite action barely leaving the town of Greyson.
So much happens in this one despite action barely leaving the town of Greyson.
August 25, 2025
3.5 stars
September 28, 2015
As with all of Beverly Jenkins books that I've read (this is now the fourth), what I enjoyed most, and what sets her books apart are the historical details, and the obvious pains she takes to maintain fidelity to time and place. I love that she sprinkles in little factoids about what else was happening in the world at the time, be it the Women's Suffrage Movement, or the rise of Jim Crow. I also enjoy that the romance itself is true to the time -- marriage is viewed as much as an economic and social necessity as it is the product of a love affair. I can't imagine that I would read something of this author's and be dissatisfied.
July 21, 2020
I liked it, but I was bored at times. How many times did we have to read about Eli's previous sexual adventures or how good he considered himself in bed. I'm glad that Jewel did not feed too much in to his ego. Lol! They were cute together and it was nice to see Jewel appreciated for how good of a woman she was and for Eli to finally mature to the man Jewel deserved.
I was hoping Cecile would cause more havoc between them to add more spice to the story, but sadly she didn't. I was hoping for a different ending for her.
I was hoping Cecile would cause more havoc between them to add more spice to the story, but sadly she didn't. I was hoping for a different ending for her.
March 4, 2011
I guess what was disappointing was that Cecile didn't get the kind of just reward that she deserved. Death doesn't seem fair. Other than that, it was long and just okay.
July 21, 2020
Jewel was a fun read. There’s sassy dialogue and a way too crazy villainess, but I really enjoyed the conversations between Eli and Jewel best even when they weren’t burning up the sheets:) Mentions of Black newspapers and printing press provided an interesting side bit and of course, the town folk gave plenty of comic relief and thoughtfulness.
December 12, 2020
First of all, can we talk about this cover? It's so gorgeous. I paused reading so many times to flip back and look at it.
Second of all, I was so charmed by Eli. The way he grew as he fell in love was adorable.
And lastly, if you love historical romance I would definitely recommend this one. Historical romance is a genre that, for me, is rarely rated more than three stars because while I enjoy them a lot, I tend to forget what happens in them after a few weeks.
Second of all, I was so charmed by Eli. The way he grew as he fell in love was adorable.
And lastly, if you love historical romance I would definitely recommend this one. Historical romance is a genre that, for me, is rarely rated more than three stars because while I enjoy them a lot, I tend to forget what happens in them after a few weeks.
June 7, 2009
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book after reading the first couple of pages, but I found myself not able to put it down after a while. Great story and beautifully written...loved it!
April 12, 2019
Originally Reviewed on Bewitching Bibliophile
This is has been on my bookshelves for a while and I put it on my Top 19 for 2019 TBR list, and I'm so glad I pulled it to read. I dived into this one right after reading Vivid (which I reviewed yesterday). I have been on a Beverly Jenkins binge and I can't even begin to explain how much fun I have been having. There is nothing like reading a romance with characters that look like you, talk like you and behave the way you behave, seeing yourself in the romances you read matters so much and I am loving it!!! Now Jewel's story is one of my favorite kinds of tropes, a friends to lovers story with a bit of twist due to their attempt at running a con on a business investor. Ohhh this is good.
Eli Grayson is the cousin/ best friend of Nate from the first book (Vivid) and he's been running a successful newspaper for the his town that had at it's height reached as far as Chicago with it's readers, however with the increased violence and the new Jim Crow laws being put into effect his efforts to educate the masses are being thwarted. When he gets the opportunity to meet with a well known successful Black newspaper owner he's ecstatic until the owner lets him know he only works with married men. Eli is a well known bachelor, but he can't let such a good opportunity pass him by so he asks one of his best friends to pose as his wife for a private meeting and from there we get one hell of a story.
I loved Eli and Jewel together. They were so much fun especially because Jewel didn't know how to be anything but herself which she thought was nothing Eli would really be interested in. Like most of the women in town she's educated, smart, handy with a gun and determined to aide the race in anyway she can. She's part of the townswomen who are attending meeting to get the vote for women and as the men in town like to joke "working on taking over the world". I absolutely loved her, confident and brash at times and shy and uncertain in some areas, Jewel was a complex woman who wanted more but was happy with the life she had. She's the only girl in a caravan full of men who are loving and overprotective so she thought she wasn't ever going to be married.
Eli on the surface seems like your typical playboy bachelor, and as we get to know him we discover he has deep regrets about his youth and the people he hurt then. He's living his life in a way to never hurt anyone again and when his scheme blows up and he realizes he could seriously hurt Jewel's reputation he stepped up to the plate and took responsibility. Getting to know Eli and see his fears, and to see how much his past was affecting him, made him so real and relateable. Don't we all have things we regret and wish we could take back??
Together they try to make the situation ok and as they go along and Eli realizes Jewel could be the woman for him?? Lord listen, when Beverly writes these men determined to court the women?? She pulls out all the stops. Eli determined to court Jewel, is a man on a mission. I loved that when Jewel felt she would be unable to handle Eli because he knew so much more than she did, she went to the women she could trust and asked for help. Their romance was at times sweet and at the same time very erotic.
While I could sit here and gush about their romance, this story of course wasn't just about them. We had the past coming back in a bitter way intent on making mischief where there was no need for any. And like all things that should remain in the past, this one stirs up a whole heap of mess, which leads to a murder, and then a hunt for a killer hidden among the townspeople. We have other townspeople falling in love as well (someone who well deserves it), we get to see how Nate and Viv are doing. We of course get a bit of history lesson as well and just have a grand ole' time.
I read this in a day because I was so invested in the story. I needed to know what kind of high-jinks Eli and Jewel were going to get into. How this small lie to make his business successful again was going to shake out and what would happen as they try to make this marriage of convenience real. I can't recommend this enough my loves. I loved this story. I talked back to this story; I was cussing out the villains, I freaked out in the last few chapters as everything came to a climax; I giggled with Jewel when she read the book ( you'll know what I mean when you get there). These are characters you fall in love with, root for and miss when you put the book down.
I'm hoping Beverly goes back to the town of Grayson Grove and lets us know about the brothers and their love stories.
★★★★★
RECOMMENDATIONS
Breathless by Beverly Jenkins
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
Ravished by Amanda Quick
Happy Reading my loves,
This is has been on my bookshelves for a while and I put it on my Top 19 for 2019 TBR list, and I'm so glad I pulled it to read. I dived into this one right after reading Vivid (which I reviewed yesterday). I have been on a Beverly Jenkins binge and I can't even begin to explain how much fun I have been having. There is nothing like reading a romance with characters that look like you, talk like you and behave the way you behave, seeing yourself in the romances you read matters so much and I am loving it!!! Now Jewel's story is one of my favorite kinds of tropes, a friends to lovers story with a bit of twist due to their attempt at running a con on a business investor. Ohhh this is good.
Eli Grayson is the cousin/ best friend of Nate from the first book (Vivid) and he's been running a successful newspaper for the his town that had at it's height reached as far as Chicago with it's readers, however with the increased violence and the new Jim Crow laws being put into effect his efforts to educate the masses are being thwarted. When he gets the opportunity to meet with a well known successful Black newspaper owner he's ecstatic until the owner lets him know he only works with married men. Eli is a well known bachelor, but he can't let such a good opportunity pass him by so he asks one of his best friends to pose as his wife for a private meeting and from there we get one hell of a story.
I loved Eli and Jewel together. They were so much fun especially because Jewel didn't know how to be anything but herself which she thought was nothing Eli would really be interested in. Like most of the women in town she's educated, smart, handy with a gun and determined to aide the race in anyway she can. She's part of the townswomen who are attending meeting to get the vote for women and as the men in town like to joke "working on taking over the world". I absolutely loved her, confident and brash at times and shy and uncertain in some areas, Jewel was a complex woman who wanted more but was happy with the life she had. She's the only girl in a caravan full of men who are loving and overprotective so she thought she wasn't ever going to be married.
Eli on the surface seems like your typical playboy bachelor, and as we get to know him we discover he has deep regrets about his youth and the people he hurt then. He's living his life in a way to never hurt anyone again and when his scheme blows up and he realizes he could seriously hurt Jewel's reputation he stepped up to the plate and took responsibility. Getting to know Eli and see his fears, and to see how much his past was affecting him, made him so real and relateable. Don't we all have things we regret and wish we could take back??
Together they try to make the situation ok and as they go along and Eli realizes Jewel could be the woman for him?? Lord listen, when Beverly writes these men determined to court the women?? She pulls out all the stops. Eli determined to court Jewel, is a man on a mission. I loved that when Jewel felt she would be unable to handle Eli because he knew so much more than she did, she went to the women she could trust and asked for help. Their romance was at times sweet and at the same time very erotic.
While I could sit here and gush about their romance, this story of course wasn't just about them. We had the past coming back in a bitter way intent on making mischief where there was no need for any. And like all things that should remain in the past, this one stirs up a whole heap of mess, which leads to a murder, and then a hunt for a killer hidden among the townspeople. We have other townspeople falling in love as well (someone who well deserves it), we get to see how Nate and Viv are doing. We of course get a bit of history lesson as well and just have a grand ole' time.
I read this in a day because I was so invested in the story. I needed to know what kind of high-jinks Eli and Jewel were going to get into. How this small lie to make his business successful again was going to shake out and what would happen as they try to make this marriage of convenience real. I can't recommend this enough my loves. I loved this story. I talked back to this story; I was cussing out the villains, I freaked out in the last few chapters as everything came to a climax; I giggled with Jewel when she read the book ( you'll know what I mean when you get there). These are characters you fall in love with, root for and miss when you put the book down.
I'm hoping Beverly goes back to the town of Grayson Grove and lets us know about the brothers and their love stories.
★★★★★
RECOMMENDATIONS
Breathless by Beverly Jenkins
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins
Ravished by Amanda Quick
Happy Reading my loves,
December 6, 2021
Eli Grayson's grandparents founded the progressive town of Grayson Grove, Michigan. Eli founded and edited a newspaper but competition forced him to close doors but he's still hopefull to reopen again. When an investor show up in town and offer him a deal, Eli can't hide his enthusiam! The man only make affairs with married men? No problem. Eli suddenly is a married man. His friend, Jewel, will probably accept to help him in pretending to be his wife for an evening, right?
Jewel can't find suitors because her father and numerous brothers are too intimidating. Not that she wants to marry anyway. She's not opposed to it, she just like the freedom to do what she wants and continue to run the family's house. She always had a crush on Eli but never believed in her chance to win the ladies' man's heart. But what was supposed to be just one evening suddenly turn into a marriage of convenience that Eli wouldn't mind making real. He just have to convince his stubborn friend first.
I liked the history part and the heroine's feisty attitude. Jewel and Eli were cute together but I wasn't such a fan of him, not just because of his past mistakes and ladies' man way but some of his outbursts was too intense for me.
Jewel can't find suitors because her father and numerous brothers are too intimidating. Not that she wants to marry anyway. She's not opposed to it, she just like the freedom to do what she wants and continue to run the family's house. She always had a crush on Eli but never believed in her chance to win the ladies' man's heart. But what was supposed to be just one evening suddenly turn into a marriage of convenience that Eli wouldn't mind making real. He just have to convince his stubborn friend first.
I liked the history part and the heroine's feisty attitude. Jewel and Eli were cute together but I wasn't such a fan of him, not just because of his past mistakes and ladies' man way but some of his outbursts was too intense for me.
Read
August 27, 2021This is a fun one, and uses some tropes I love a lot but don't see as often: fake marriage and marriage of convenience. The concept is seriously excellent, and I also like how it's a friends to lovers where the circumstances cause a change in perception. Though Jewel had a crush on him before, she too sees him in a new light. As much as I enjoyed the romance, the drama of it was not my favorite, particularly the evil, overly sexual woman who , which feels super sex-shamey. There could have been more nuance and interest there, but the evil people are EVIL. Didn't make the book a bad one for me, but it did lower it for me a bit.
February 19, 2024
Tropes:
~fake dating
~marriage of convenience
~friends to lovers
~rake hero
I really enjoyed this one! Jenkins always gives such a rich history and setting in her romances, and in this one I also really connected to the romance itself. Friends to lovers isn't a trope I usually go for, but I was definitely won over by it in this book. Watching Jewel and Eli fall for once another was so swoony and fun. I will admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the OW drama, but otherwise this was a great read!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"Every woman that you knew brought you here
I wanna teach you how forever feels"
~fake dating
~marriage of convenience
~friends to lovers
~rake hero
I really enjoyed this one! Jenkins always gives such a rich history and setting in her romances, and in this one I also really connected to the romance itself. Friends to lovers isn't a trope I usually go for, but I was definitely won over by it in this book. Watching Jewel and Eli fall for once another was so swoony and fun. I will admit that I wasn't a huge fan of the OW drama, but otherwise this was a great read!
If this book was Taylor Swift lyrics:
"Every woman that you knew brought you here
I wanna teach you how forever feels"
July 21, 2020
Absolutely loved getting more of the backstory on Cecile, learning about Jewel and Eli, and revisiting Greyson Grove. It was definitely an enjoyable read and one that I found myself having great trouble putting down.
November 10, 2022
A friends to lovers, marriage of convenience treasure
I don’t think there’s any trope Ms Beverly hasn’t written well but this was particularly fun. I really enjoyed seeing these two come together. As always, the host of supporting characters was also a treat.
I don’t think there’s any trope Ms Beverly hasn’t written well but this was particularly fun. I really enjoyed seeing these two come together. As always, the host of supporting characters was also a treat.
July 29, 2023
Not sure why it took me so long to read this book but what a lovely read as we near the end of #JenkinsJuly 🥰 I really liked seeing Eli and Jewel grow into their relationship and that the villains got what they deserved!
March 21, 2021
Good
Dragged a little toward the last 1/3. Lots of twists. Good history. I love this author and this is another page turner.
Dragged a little toward the last 1/3. Lots of twists. Good history. I love this author and this is another page turner.
September 27, 2022
DNF after chapter 5, 3 hours into the audiobook.
June 26, 2025
A Beverly Jenkins book is the perfect antidote to a high-stress day.
January 5, 2025
5🌟
I love Bevkins books! These historical romance will give you a story and history lesson if you didn’t already know. I love the character developments and how these Black loves will win everytime. We need to see Black characters in this light. You, Miss Jenkins, should be protected at all cost ❤️❤️✨🤍
I love Bevkins books! These historical romance will give you a story and history lesson if you didn’t already know. I love the character developments and how these Black loves will win everytime. We need to see Black characters in this light. You, Miss Jenkins, should be protected at all cost ❤️❤️✨🤍
April 27, 2024
Jewel is the second book in The Grayson Family standalone series.
Everybody knows Eli Grayson enjoys his bachelor lifestyle. When a job opportunity presents itself, he has to find someone to pretend to be his wife in order for him to have a chance at getting the job. Eli convinces his friend, Jewel, to pretend to be his wife. Only once word spreads that she is his wife, they have to marry for real to save her reputation. As much as Jewel hates the situation at first, the idea of Eli being her husband begins to grow on her.
After reading the first book in this series, I was curious to see how Beverly Jenkins would present Eli as a hero of his own book. He has done some things that many hate him for but I knew under his bad choices there was a man who was working hard to redeem himself. It wasn't until Jewel came around that he felt worthy of love and he would stop at nothing to convince her to stay married to him.
Eli and Jewel's relationship develop slowly, as she began to see a different side of Eli that others didn't have the privilege of seeing. I loved that she gave him a chance and that they found love with one another.
Pick this up for a marriage of convenience historical romance with a redeemed hero!
Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: infidelity (not between the main characters), murder
Everybody knows Eli Grayson enjoys his bachelor lifestyle. When a job opportunity presents itself, he has to find someone to pretend to be his wife in order for him to have a chance at getting the job. Eli convinces his friend, Jewel, to pretend to be his wife. Only once word spreads that she is his wife, they have to marry for real to save her reputation. As much as Jewel hates the situation at first, the idea of Eli being her husband begins to grow on her.
After reading the first book in this series, I was curious to see how Beverly Jenkins would present Eli as a hero of his own book. He has done some things that many hate him for but I knew under his bad choices there was a man who was working hard to redeem himself. It wasn't until Jewel came around that he felt worthy of love and he would stop at nothing to convince her to stay married to him.
Eli and Jewel's relationship develop slowly, as she began to see a different side of Eli that others didn't have the privilege of seeing. I loved that she gave him a chance and that they found love with one another.
Pick this up for a marriage of convenience historical romance with a redeemed hero!
Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: infidelity (not between the main characters), murder
August 21, 2015
Jewel was one of Ms. B’s books that I’d never read. I’m not sure why that is since I’ve tried to get my hands on all of her books. And, like every other time, Ms. Jenkins did not disappoint.
Returning to Grayson Grove, Michigan—the setting from Vivid—was a great ride for me. I was interested in seeing what happened to the people of the town after Nate Grayson and Vivid Lancaster rode off into the sunset. As always, the scenery descriptions zapped me right into the beautiful town and its surrounding areas.
The book opens with a little mystery (sorry, I can’t spill) and then we are reintroduced to Eli Grayson—Nate’s handsome cousin. Eli, who had some less than admirable traits in the past, has tried to live on the straight and narrow. He’s a journalist by trade, but the local paper he ran has closed due to lack of funds. The Gazette is Eli’s passion and he’d do anything to try and get it back up and running. When the owner of a thriving Black newspaper enters the picture, intent on investing the money to help The Gazette, Eli sees this as a way to get back to doing what he loves. However, G. W. Hicks only invests family men—Eli has to have a wife.
Enter Jewel Crowley, who we met in Vivid as well. Jewel is fiercely loyal to her family and takes care of her father, Adam (who is married to Eli’s mother coincidentally), and her brothers—and loves doing it. When Eli comes to her with a proposal—they would pretend to be married for one day then when Hicks leaves after investing in The Gazette it would all be over—she is skeptical but agrees to it. After all, who can resist Eli Grayson? (Not me.) Jewel has even harbored a crush on him for years.
Of course, it couldn’t be that easy. That’s when the fireworks start for these two. One night of pretending becomes a real marriage of convenience—which I have to say is one of my favorite premises. Give me a marriage of convenience and I’m all in.
Once again, Ms. B gives us a passionate love affair. These two are on FIYAH! Eli is strong and intelligent (my kind of man; gray eyes, hot body, and all). Jewel is smart and beautiful (and a fire cracker). Perfect Couple (and if you haven’t read my thoughts on perfect couples, click here). I was hooked from the beginning. There was mystery, intrigue, and the supportive characters were colorful and extremely important to the story. I especially loved that Maddie (another character from Vivid) was featured and had her own mini-love story. All in all, I was so happy that I had a chance to read Jewel. I enjoyed every bit of the story.
Returning to Grayson Grove, Michigan—the setting from Vivid—was a great ride for me. I was interested in seeing what happened to the people of the town after Nate Grayson and Vivid Lancaster rode off into the sunset. As always, the scenery descriptions zapped me right into the beautiful town and its surrounding areas.
The book opens with a little mystery (sorry, I can’t spill) and then we are reintroduced to Eli Grayson—Nate’s handsome cousin. Eli, who had some less than admirable traits in the past, has tried to live on the straight and narrow. He’s a journalist by trade, but the local paper he ran has closed due to lack of funds. The Gazette is Eli’s passion and he’d do anything to try and get it back up and running. When the owner of a thriving Black newspaper enters the picture, intent on investing the money to help The Gazette, Eli sees this as a way to get back to doing what he loves. However, G. W. Hicks only invests family men—Eli has to have a wife.
Enter Jewel Crowley, who we met in Vivid as well. Jewel is fiercely loyal to her family and takes care of her father, Adam (who is married to Eli’s mother coincidentally), and her brothers—and loves doing it. When Eli comes to her with a proposal—they would pretend to be married for one day then when Hicks leaves after investing in The Gazette it would all be over—she is skeptical but agrees to it. After all, who can resist Eli Grayson? (Not me.) Jewel has even harbored a crush on him for years.
Of course, it couldn’t be that easy. That’s when the fireworks start for these two. One night of pretending becomes a real marriage of convenience—which I have to say is one of my favorite premises. Give me a marriage of convenience and I’m all in.
Once again, Ms. B gives us a passionate love affair. These two are on FIYAH! Eli is strong and intelligent (my kind of man; gray eyes, hot body, and all). Jewel is smart and beautiful (and a fire cracker). Perfect Couple (and if you haven’t read my thoughts on perfect couples, click here). I was hooked from the beginning. There was mystery, intrigue, and the supportive characters were colorful and extremely important to the story. I especially loved that Maddie (another character from Vivid) was featured and had her own mini-love story. All in all, I was so happy that I had a chance to read Jewel. I enjoyed every bit of the story.
December 20, 2022
As wonderful as expected from this author.
I really enjoyed this fantastic fake marriage trope romance set in the the world of Grayson Grove, a Black small town that was introduced to us in the book Vivid. In this second book in that series, we get to know side characters from Book 1 better. The premise is that Eli Grayson, a recovering black sheep of the family and newspaper man, asks Jewel Crawley, a practical, no-nonsense young women who’s been caring for her father and brothers since childhood, to enter into a pretend marriage of in order to convince an investor from the East to rescue his paper. When they have to turn their make-believe marriage into a real one in order to protect Jewel’s reputation, the two opposites seem like they will never attract despite a hidden attraction between them.
I liked this a lot- it was great seeing Jewel and Eli’s characters grow and develop throughout the book. I particularly liked Eli’s journey to forgiving himself for his betrayal of his cousin (Nate) and his mistakes with women which come to hurt Jewel. I loved Jewel as a character and how strong and stubborn and honest she was so that she didn’t cut her nose to spite her face and was willing to take a risk for happiness.
If there’s anything I wish could have been different, I wish Nate and Vivid had featured in this book. I understand why they didn’t- so that Eli could be thrown in uncomfortable situations for growth, but I missed having them. I also wish Maddie could have had a separate book of her own because she’s such an interesting character and I’m so curious about her happy ending which kind of happened mostly off the page of this book.
However, this was a pure delight to read. The secondary characters that make up the friends and family of Eli and Vivid in their small town are compelling and a enjoyable to read. The author delivers a lot of historical contextual fact within this book and embeds it nicely in the storyline so that both heart and mind are engaged. This book is nearly 15 years old and it stands up fairly well to contemporary scrutiny for problematicness. I definitely recommend checking this out, especially if you’ve read the more popular book in this series, Vivid.
I really enjoyed this fantastic fake marriage trope romance set in the the world of Grayson Grove, a Black small town that was introduced to us in the book Vivid. In this second book in that series, we get to know side characters from Book 1 better. The premise is that Eli Grayson, a recovering black sheep of the family and newspaper man, asks Jewel Crawley, a practical, no-nonsense young women who’s been caring for her father and brothers since childhood, to enter into a pretend marriage of in order to convince an investor from the East to rescue his paper. When they have to turn their make-believe marriage into a real one in order to protect Jewel’s reputation, the two opposites seem like they will never attract despite a hidden attraction between them.
I liked this a lot- it was great seeing Jewel and Eli’s characters grow and develop throughout the book. I particularly liked Eli’s journey to forgiving himself for his betrayal of his cousin (Nate) and his mistakes with women which come to hurt Jewel. I loved Jewel as a character and how strong and stubborn and honest she was so that she didn’t cut her nose to spite her face and was willing to take a risk for happiness.
If there’s anything I wish could have been different, I wish Nate and Vivid had featured in this book. I understand why they didn’t- so that Eli could be thrown in uncomfortable situations for growth, but I missed having them. I also wish Maddie could have had a separate book of her own because she’s such an interesting character and I’m so curious about her happy ending which kind of happened mostly off the page of this book.
However, this was a pure delight to read. The secondary characters that make up the friends and family of Eli and Vivid in their small town are compelling and a enjoyable to read. The author delivers a lot of historical contextual fact within this book and embeds it nicely in the storyline so that both heart and mind are engaged. This book is nearly 15 years old and it stands up fairly well to contemporary scrutiny for problematicness. I definitely recommend checking this out, especially if you’ve read the more popular book in this series, Vivid.
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December 23, 2009"http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1231221.html[return][return]Browsing through LibraryThing one day, I noted that Beverly Jenkins, of whom I had not heard, was one of the highest rated authors by the owners of her books - not many, but enough to reassure me that this was not astroturfing. Her particular subgenre - African-American historical romance - is not one that I had ever considered sampling, but I thought, what the heck, and BookMooched a couple of her books.[return][return]Jewel is actually a rather nice book. I particularly appreciated the historical setting, a Black community in the northern USA (specifically, Cass County, Michigan) in the 1880s. It's not an environment I had ever thought much about, and Jenkins has clearly done her homework: the book is perhaps intended partly as a didactic device to educate readers about that period of Black history, especially the increasingly important role of journalism, and I was happy to be educated. [return][return]I'm not a connoisseur of romance novels so feel less qualified to judge the plot. I found the setup a bit implausible (the eponymous heroine, a 24-year-old virgin, agrees to pose as a friend's wife and then finds inevitably that the fiction becomes reality). But the execution was entertaining, with lots of sexy newlywed moments. There were no really nasty characters in the book except for the husband's ex-girlfriend, and she is suitably dealt with. An uplifting and cheering read."
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