Being Plumville

I love this book! This book will put you through several emotions. You'll laugh, you'll tear up (or cry), you'll scream/squeal, and you'll be on the edge of your seat, gripping your Kindle/book. I discovered Savannah J. Frierson from Good Reads, when I was searching for NA/BW romances. (She has a book called Go With Your Heart, that I also loved!) Once I found her, Being Plumville was recommended to me and I was hooked from the prequel alone! Her writing will suck you in and you won't be able to put it down. I finished this in two days! I loved the way this story developed. I loved the way the author tied in the historical aspects of the times. You will hate some people and you will love others. The racism is real, but so is the love of Benjamin and CoraLee. It's an emotional roller coaster ride and I was grinning my head off, when I finished. This is the kind of book that you can read over and over. The "sex" scenes aren't raunchy. And even though I like those kind of sex scenes, you don't really miss the typical raunchy sex, that's in most novels, because the story is that damn good! Buy it! Trust me, you won't regret it! IR fans and romance fans in general will love this story!

Being Plumville is a decent sized book, 20 chapters, 314 pages long. Normally I could finish that in 2-3 days but it took me a week. Although a sweet romance, it also contains weighty subject matter. It's one of my favorite books, but it's still weighty. But understandable based on it's setting - time period and location. The character Benny struggled with who he truly was and what other people wanted him to be. Throughout the book, he broke through the expectations placed on him and became his own man, had his own opinions and thoughts rather than go along with ignorant ideas. The character Ceelee was brave in standing up for her rights and for the rights of others but when it came to her relationship with Benny, she lacked the courage Benny had. She struggled with her feelings for Benny and the expectations of her society. She had a lot of fear and doubt. That struggle and fear caused her to run away several times, hurting him and herself in the process but eventually, slowly she came around, overcame that fear to be with the man she wanted and Benny never gave up on her. She too had to become her own person and broke free from the box others tried to put her in romantically and otherwise. One of her main supports was her brother to me who told her basically to stop caring about pleasing other people, live for yourself and you only have to answer to yourself and God at the end of the day. I feel like Benny was far more courageous than ceelee, he took the risks good or bad and never denied her, constantly trying to prove himself to her. I know that ceelee was scared but it was a little frustrating she wouldn't take those too at the same time. She eventually did but I just wish she stood up more for what she wanted. I don't know anything about the 60s or 70s but I'd like to think given interracial marriage became legal in 1967, there were places she and he could go. Eventually they do though.

From the moment I found an excerpt of "Being Plumville", I could not stop reading. I ordered it the night I read the excerpt and it was only because of the view limit that I stopped. It definitely draws you in as you hope and pray that Benjamin and Coralee will defy everyone around them and make their relationship work. The two characters seem so good for each other, clearly fated to be together despite the racial differences in divided South. The tension between two main characters is quite tangible even from their first encounter and you feel that tension yourself as you read. There was always the feeling of something simmering beneath the surface. Perhaps that is what propelled me to continue to read - aching at every obstacle that relationship faced, and giddy about Coralee and Bejamin's romantic interludes. Eventually the book does reach a pinnacle, and we find out whether or not their relationship withstands Plumville's influence. (Of course there are some twists and turns thrown in for good measure.) What I loved was that I was so motivated to read by the strength of the character's interest and attraction to one another, and I appreciated the attention paid to the personalities of Benjamin and Coralee. So, I really enjoyed Being Plumville overall. I do have some reservations about the book. There are a lot of sentimental moments and after a while the 'forehead kisses','gentle cupping' and other gestures, become a little trite. I always got the feeling that it was sometimes too much. Another slight problem I had was I felt that even though Coralee and Benjamin's relationship was the main focus of the novel, there was not a great amount of time spent on how it progressed through conversation. We were told that they shared their dreams and desires with one another, but not enough of these conversations were described in great detail. Thus, I got the feeling something was missing there, even though I fully felt that they cared for one another. With that said, Frierson certainly does a good job building the tension between the characters. The moments between Benjamin and Coralee were beautiful. They made me swell with eagerness for their relationship to last and for their moments to continue between them. You really could sense their attraction, and the frustration and confusion that arises out of their unexpected feelings for one another seems so authentic. I also loved that she was so careful with making their inward struggle about whether to be in a relationship together so real and so accurate. It was, of course the late 60s in the Deep South and that needed to be accurately portrayed and Frierson, I felt, handled it well. I highly recommend this book for a fast read. It's interesting and really romantic.

This is a true love story that develops over time. It is not instant love at first sight nor the wham -bam thank you ma'am story line. You get a glimpse of the characters when they were children. Then time passes and they are reunited at a college they both attend and their feelings grow as events occur on campus that involves both of them I loved Benny in this story. IMO, he was very affectionate towards Coralee and was willing to be ostracized and ridiculed because of his love for Coralee. He was a white quarterback who was not supposed to fall in love with her because she was AA. He was clueless as to the effects this could have on her. She was afraid of her love for Benny. Society would not approve. Her daddy would have a fit, and her college friends would call her names and deal with her no more. Would their love overcome this? You must read it and find out! I have read this book maybe 4-5 times since I have bought it and I love it more each time I read it. My favorite parts were their Valentine's date. So romantic and sweet, I also enjoyed the Easter dinner that both families attended where Benny professes his love for Coralee. The way the author described everyone's facial expressions had me hollering with laughter. It was as if I was sitting at the table with them and could actually see each person there. This author has truly captured the essence of true love, romance as well as the trials and tribulations this interracial couple endured to hold on to their love for each other. Definitely more than a 5 star book! Definitely a great read!

"Being Plumville" is an old fashioned love story set in the 1970s in the South that sticks with you long after the book ends. Benjamin Drummond and Coralee Simmons were best friends as children. Until Benjamin's mother noticed that her little boy was too attached to her maid's African American daughter. It was decided that the children should simply disappear from each others lives. So, the two friends are parted and only see each other in passing. Fast forward several years, now Benjamin is a senior in college who is flunking English. He needs a tutor and the smartest girl in class is Coralee Simmons. Their relationship is strictly business at first, but then these two slowly begin to rebuild their friendship. The friendship then deepens into love. I loved these characters. Benjamin was everything that a girl could want. Smart, handsome, sweet and responsible, he takes care of Coralee and understands that love is rare and worth fighting for. Coralee was a perfect match for him. Kind, loving, smart and gentle, Ceelee made Benny want to be a better man. I understood these characters. I could respect their choices and understand their motivations. These were characters that I could identify with and root for. This book was great. It pulled me in from the first scenes in the Prologue and never let go. The language was lyrical and smooth. I felt transported to that time. Everything worked here. I can not recommend it enough. It was the sweetest love story that I have read in a very long time. It is well worth the cost. Ceelee and Benny were made for each other.

I'm pleased to report that I listened to the reviews of my peers and bought this book, I was not disappointed. Official "Ro" Reasoning: (-0 Stars) This was an extremely well-written novel. One of the best written I've read. There was no problem following the progression of the story and everything progressed beautifully. (-0 Stars) There was wonderful character development and strong supporting characters. The love between Ben and Coralee was strong and Ben was willing to give it all up to be with Coralee. He treated her with such respect and love that even those who didn't agree with their love (their friends) had no choice but to accept it. (-0 Stars) The storyline was realistic and believable. There was nothing that stood out as utterly ridiculous. Also, the time peroid in which Ms. Frierson wrote refreshing and definitely unique in the interracial romance world. This is an excellent book and a must read for all lovers of interracial romances. Totally worth your money. Official "Ro" Rating: 5 Stars, Highly recommended.

This was really good and a couple times had me near tears. There were a couple things that kept me from giving 5 stars, mainly because it took so long building up to the reveal. We knew it was coming but nearly 80% of the book was way too long and the ending was rushed. But I'll definitely read this author again.

If I could've given it 10 stars, I would have done it in a heartbeat. I did not want this book to end. Excellent character development, great dialogue and a super story. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all who want to understand how difficult it was to be in an IR back in the 60's even though the Loving case had already been adjudicated. Bigotry, segregation and racism were still very much the law of the land in the US, especially in the South. It was very telling that the author also discusses how this same hatred was evident toward whites (and toward blacks who dared to venture outside the black community) by the black community. Those who loved across color lines had to be completely committed to the cause and to each other in order to survive. It may be easier now but it behooves us to remember those who came and suffered before us so that we are able to love freely whom we choose.