Customer Reviews

Josephine and the Soldier

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Reviewed by Brenda Turner

Seventeen year old Josephine Best had a life long dream to own her on beauty shop.

JoJo didn't bother with affairs of the heart, because she had more other important things on her mind. With the war coming to the end, JoJo had her sights set on marketing her hair products. JoJo was not looking for love, when she met George Brooks, a wounded soldier on medical leave. George convinced her to allow him to court her.

Casanova, Adam Morgan has known Josephine most of her life. When he joined the military she was young girl who was always getting trouble. Upon his return, he met a gorgeous, sophisticated, extraordinary young women who stole his heart away.

When Adam found out that the young lady was JoJo his best friend's younger sister he could not believe his eyes. Because his reputation preceded him JoJo had no mind to consider Adam as a beau, even though she was attracted. Both JoJo and Adam tried desperately to stay away from each other. But one kiss let them know that it was impossible. Their heart had already been pierced by cupid's arrow and they had eyes only for each other.

Touché to Ms. Jenkins on this excellent bouquet of emotions. A magnificent romance that brought memories of my first real love. I rated this great piece of art 5***** stars.

This book is a great story and is somewhat a secondary book to Belle and the Beau.

The leading character in this story is Josephine Best, Daniel younger sister, and is very set in her goals. She owns a hairstyling shop, been to college, and is dating George Brooks who is passive and not really her type.

Then she meets Adam Morgan, Daniel's friend from way back, who is famous for his charm with the ladies. Jojo knows that she can't get caught up in that... but somehow she just cant help it. She tries to resist Adam. But does it work? Do these two who seem destined to be together work it out? Or does this romance fall apart?

I highly recommend this to anyone who love historical romance... definatly a five star book!!

Josephine Best is seventeen years old, and she has a different plan for her life than most young women her age in 1864. Raised in a progressive free black family that ran a station on the Underground Railroad, Josephine has been encouraged since she was a child to follow her dreams, even if they were not traditional ones for a girl to have. Josephine has attended the Women's Program at Oberlin College and now runs her own hairdressing shop in her hometown. Most of the girls her age are thinking about marriage. Josephine might be too, but she fears if she marries she will be forced to give up her business. Then Adam Morgan returns injured from the war. Adam was one of her older brother Daniel's childhood friends, and tormented her mercilessly when they were both children. But now they're both all grown up and discovering feelings for each other that they never would have expected. Beverly Jenkins has written a second book for the Avon True Romance series that is just as good as her first, Belle and the Beau. I recommend this book to all readers who love the Avon True Romance series.

JoJo, as she is affectionately called, is quite the accomplished lady of color. Despite slavery alive and well in the south and the Civil War raging, Josephine Best at age seventeen has finished Oberlin College and now owns her own beauty salon in Michigan. Her best friend is engaged and other girls preen and tweeter over young men, but she has much bigger plans like marketing her own hair products. Everything would be fine in her life except she misses her beloved father and brother, Daniel, both who are away fighting for the Union. But it is important JoJo keep her spirits up for the sake of her mother and her sister-in-law Belle, Daniel's wife, who desperately miss their husbands.

George Brooks is a soldier among a group of other wounded soldiers staying at a local boarding home. He is nice enough but then another soldier enters the picture. Adam Morgan was JoJo's brother's best friend and as she remembers quite the scoundrel. Adam, his brother and Daniel used to tease JoJo unmercifully and bestowed upon her the nickname "Pest". But what Adam sees now is a lovely blossom; beautiful to behold. JoJo is wary of his flowery words; as a matter of fact, she remembers him adept at charming the ladies, "picking flowers from the field". JoJo is not up to being one of his conquests and resists his advances. Besides, George is a respectable suitor, even if he does have issues about women being independent.

This was such an enjoyable story. We met JoJo in The Belle and the Beau and this spitfire's story was begging to be told. As always in Jenkins' stories, readers are graced with not only superb storytelling and colorful, engaging characters, but an enjoyable lesson in Black History. We get to see black people, who were free and living well despite slavery that showed compassion for their enslaved brothers and sisters and gave of themselves. The abolitionist and women's movements are featured prominently and give positive, believable evidence that black people were vital parts of these historical actions. This series is equally satisfying for adults as well as teens. I can hardly wait for the next installment.

Dera R. Williams
APOOO BookClub

If you have read any other books from this series, you know that they are simply fantastic. Belle and the Beau features JoJo, who's story is in Josephine and the Soldier. JoJo is Daniel's little sister, the man that Belle married in the aforesaid novel.
JoJo's story is my personal favorite in the series(so far). In Belle and the Beau, Adam Morgan and his brother Jeremy used to tease their best friends little sister all the time, calling her "Pest" and aggravate her to no end. When the brothers move to Canada, the Best family thinks that that is the last they will ever see or hear from the Morgans. But it's not!
Adam is injured in the civil War and returns to his old town where several soldiers are staying. Mrs. Best offers him a place in their home, since she always loved the Morgans like her own sons.
When Adam see his little "Pest" again, he doesn't even recognize her! She is grown up and beautiful, taking his breath away. However, the Jo remebers Adam and Jere was that they unending charm towards the ladies, always "picking flowers", and they stayed that way. That is, until Adam sees JoJo.
JoJo treis to ignore the way Adam makes her fell, but she simply can't. She has her eye on another man, after all, who's asked to call on her. But, then how does Adam make her feel in ways that no other man ever has? She loves him, and he her, bu whereas Adam is willing to admit to it and put an end to his "flower picking days", JoJo does not believe him....yet.
Read this book, but only after you read Belle and the Beau. Knowing the two's history together makes this even more charming and hilarious then it would be, READ IT!

I am an avid reader of all of Beverly Jenkins books, but I almost skipped this one because I thought it would be to childish. Well, I was happily surprised. The story of Jo and Adam is very sweet and made me remember a time when I was just seventeen and falling in love for the first time. The story is full of humor, romance, history, and just a little touch of danger. I especially liked Jo's friend Trudy. I knew a girl just like that in high school!

Readers of Ms. Jenkins other books will be able to sense the same style of writing throughout. The leading lady (Jo) is headstrong and not willing to be a traditional woman who is meek and bidable and just waiting for marriage. The leading man (Adam) is just way too handsome for his own good and is used to women falling all over themselves just to be with him. Sound familiar???? The story also takes place in Whittaker where the book Indigo is set. Bea makes an appearance in the storyline.

I was also able to locate a copy of Belle and the Beau so I'll read that one also. So glad I didn't skip this wonderful story.

The women of the Best household, use their skills to earn money while the men are away. Belle works as a seamstress in the area. "Jojo" Best, the pesky little sister of the earlier novel (Belle and the Beau) has become into Miss Josephine Best. She has completed her studies at Oberlin. She has continued her interest in hairdressing and has established a local shop.
The Bests also are doing their part to support the war effort. They are part of the Free Produce Movement and boycott all goods made by slave labor. Mrs. Best is a much sought after speaker for abolitionist causes. And, like their neighbors, they offer support to wounded soldiers and veterans. They read and write letters to and from loved ones. They entertain the men by playing musical instruments and reciting poetry. They also offer smiles and listening ears.

It is during the weekly after-church visits to the soldiers that Josephine catches the eye of George Brooks. He begins to pursue her and she is flattered by the attention. Later, Adam Morgan, a friend of Jo's brother, returns wounded from the war. He, too, is attracted to Josephine. He is also conflicted by his ongoing relationship with the Best family as Daniel's best friend and his feeling for the new JoJo. The question is who will she choose? The family friend who doesn't try to tame her, or the new soldier that treats her like a lady?

Frequent readers of romance and avid Beverly Jenkins readers might find it a bit predictable. But it's targeted for a younger age I believe. It is still a sweet book.

i love this book. i originally checked it out at the library after weeks of anticipation. i read it in one day! a few weeks later i bought it! its that good!

A sequel worthy of the paper it's printed on! Set five years after Belle and the Beau, it's war time in the United States and most of the men are off fighting in the Civil War, leaving few men behind for the ladies to pick. Not that Jojo is looking for a suitor, mind you. Despite her intentions, she soon ends up with two men vying for her heart. Old fashion gentleman George vs. old family friend, and Casanova, Adam. Obviously, we know who will win this battle, but it's such a fun story that includes the same banter and heart as the original. I love how you journey so far with the characters, feeling as if you've known them forever (but not as in stuck with them forever). You truly get a chance to know them and step into the their world, and see how they grow and mature as they, the people around them, and their circumstances, change. Ms. Jenkins did a stellar job bringing all of her lovable characters back to life in this enchanting sequel. If you loved Belle and the Beau as much as I did (which was a LOT), then don't miss this book!