Teresa July is a strong young woman who lives in the Old West during the Nineteenth century. Teresa July is a Black Seminole. She grew up in a household filled with brothers. She loved each brother deeply. That love made her want to follow them everywhere even in to trouble. She ends up walking on top of trains and robbing banks. Soon Teresa lands in jail. When she meets parole, she is sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She lives with Molly Nance and her son, Madison. I liked Teresa because she's such a strong young woman. I hated the fact that she had become involved with crime. Thank goodness for Molly Nance who teaches her how to be a lady. This means Teresa must give up her Colt gun and holster and her leathers. However, Teresa's is wild spirited. This part of her personality seems unchangeable. I think the wide open spaces of the Texas and Mexican border and Kansas might have made her such a free spirit.
" I was born under an open sky. Plan to be buried that way. I'm okay with not being able to rob trains anymore, but if I stay here, I'll shrivel up and die."
Teresa is talking about the East coast. There are many cultural events going on in the community of Philadelphia. There are black Shakespearean actors, handsomely dressed men and beautifully dressed women going to the theatres. There is plenty of excitement. Still, Teresa misses home, her horse, Cloud and a different type of life altogether.
" As the cab joined the slow moving line of hacks, carriages, and buggies trying to get to the front of the theater, Teresa could feel the excitement in the air. The paved walks leading to the theater were filled with people dressed up their evening finery. They all looked so dignified. She had never seen anything quite like it."
In Wild Sweet Love Beverly Jenkins makes every page come alive with American History and with descriptions of gowns, chandeliers and passionate love. Madison is all that any one woman could desire. He's intelligent, a gentleman, and there isn't a scared bone in his body especially when it comes to protecting the women in his life. When he loves a woman, he loves all of her. I thought surely he would take back his love after seeing Teresa totally drunk. I really felt embarrassed for her. It's these type of characters that made me unable to put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed this
thoughtful and rich romance.
yale
jimcrow/storieswells
academyofmusichistory
"
The Academy of Music was located on Broad Street. Modeled after La Scala in Milan, Italy, it was known as the best acoustical theater in the nation. It's doors had opened in 1857, but it didn't allow all Black productions to use the facilities until 1876."
