Rebel Carter’s Heart and Hand was added to my TBR list after seeing a TikTok of recommendations that were intended to add diversification to your spice. It is a sweet, interracial menage set in 1880s Montana. I’m not sure why it was on SpiceTok, because while the sex scenes were plentiful and sweet, they were not particularly spicy – unless maybe a novel automatically gets lumped in that category if the main relationship is mfm?
Julie is the daughter of a prince of New York’s elite and a mixed race Creole girl who fell in love during the Civil War. She grew up a part of Society but never really belonged. Having no interest in marrying any of the chumps she grew up with, she attended Vassar and got her degree. Bored and in need of a change of scenery, she responds to a mail order bride ad. No cooking or cleaning required, but she would have to teach at the local school.
I have a really hard time believing that Julie’s parents would allow her to go on this adventure. It’s not like she’s poor or has to worry about financial security. Anyway, Julie makes the month-long journey by train to the wilds of Montana to meet her new fiance. Only it turns out to be two fiances instead of one, because these two men have done everything together since serving in the Civil War at age 13. Julie KNEW this but didn’t tell anyone because she was afraid her parents would stop her.
That’s the introduction to the story. I’m not going to tell you more and be spoiler-y. Like I mentioned above, this is a sweet romance with plenty of love making. If you’re looking for super spicy, this is not the book for you. It’s excellent reading if you want something light and enjoyable that will allow you to shut your brain off and not require deep thinking of any kind. I also recommend it for adding diversity to your list and supporting a black author.