The Woman Who Loved Jesse James
Author: Cindi Myers
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
ISBN: 10: 1611940826
ISBN: 13: 978-1611940824
ASIN: B0072NM18W
Jesse James is heralded as one of the most notorious outlaws in American history, but much less discussed is the fact he had a wife and children and what life must have been like for them. Cindi Myers as an author puts herself in the shoes of the kind of woman who would fall for a slightly younger man and stick with him no matter the deception and danger, who is his cousin Zee Mimms, and try to depict based on known history what Zee may have been like. What excited me was that the book covered so much more than watching Jesse James from a pair of female eyes. There are periods of the book where Jesse is away for various reasons, and readers are allowed to explore Zee finding her place as a woman even when it didn’t fit the expected societal norms. You see why she’s willing to stand by Jesse James and how it is much more complex than following him like a blind sheep, and yet the very qualities that embody her resilence are also in some ways character flaws. I also appreciated that the book focused on the home life and character of Jesse James, and his exploits only discussed when people noted rumors or read newspapers, so that when the inevitable ending comes you do feel sympathy for both Zee and Jesse. While likely not completely historically accurate and a bit embellished, the result remained an incredible story about character that I struggled to put down because I didn’t want to stop reading.
Please be advised that there are some physical intimacy scenes that are necessary to the plot and written tastefully.
A free copy of this book was furnished by the publisher for review via NetGalley, but providing a copy did not guarantee a review. This information is provided per the regulations of the Federal Trade Commission.
