MY BUFFALO SOLDIER

Barbara BK Reeves

Genesis Press

1-58571-013-X

May 2000

(4) Wayne Jordan

Contemporary Romance

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

REVIEW: 

With the exception of Beverly Jenkins, and the few books from the early Arabesque years, there are few historical romances that have black protagonists, and focus on the African-American experience.  With, MY BUFFALO SOLDIER, Barbara BK Reeves goes a step further and makes a significant contribution by creating a story that transcends the boundaries of race and time.  Her hero is black; her heroine is white.

MY BUFFALO SOLDIER is about forbidden love; about the relationship between a white woman and a black man in a period when such relationships were considered taboo.

From the time he meets Enid Jamison, Sergeant Nick Balfours’ attraction to her is intense.  An education man, he recognizes the folly of his feelings for the beautiful sad widow.  He does, however, realizes that the widow is not immune to him, and erects walls against her every attempt to be friendly.  When Enid is kidnapped by a group of Apaches, Nick know that he loves her, and goes to rescue her.  He can no longer deny what is inevitable.

What is wonderful about MY BUFFALO SOLDIER is how Ms. Reeves skillfully and realistically handles this relationship.  Some of the most sensuous words describe the difference between hero and heroine, but words that go much further that mere description; words that brim with emotion:

Her hand was soft and white, his hard and black—an intriguing combination. In the uncertain light of the patio, he saw that her eyes were ineffably sad.  Everything about Enid Jamison disturbed Nick—all that composed beauty, so cool and remote.

MY BUFFALO SOLDIER is not a gentle book.  Of the numerous romances I’ve read over the years, it the first one I’ve read when a man actually masturbates.  But this is in keeping with the intensity of the characters’ feelings, and is in no way distasteful.  There is a kind of desperation in the sexual tension between Enid and Nick.  The love scenes, too, reinforce this intensity, and are so hot, readers are sure to read them over and over again.  The following passage demonstrates this fervent desperation:

Nick knew he must hold back, mustn’t scare her with this last coupling.  But he didn’t want to restrain himself.  Rising inside him was this wild, savage pain.  He ached and found himself wanting to ravish her mouth and body, to wound and leave his mark, many  marks on her

A dark anger warred with tenderness inside him, and the pain was worst.  He pressed his lips together hard, trying to regain control.

With this interracial story, Ms. Reeves, creates a story that is both tender and passionate.  Both Enid and Nick are sensitive individuals, and the ability to hear their every thought helps us to understand their strength of character.

MY BUFFALO SOLDIER, however,  is not a perfect book.  Its final few chapters seem rushed, and lack the emotion of the earlier part of the book--but that’s a minor grouse.  MY BUFFALO SOLDIER demonstrates that Ms. Reeves is a talented writer, and one worth watching.

wayne@romanceincolor.net (1st May 2000)