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Formats
Paperback Details
  • 08/2023
  • 978-1735345307 B0CDQYM9MS
  • 156 pages
  • $15.99
Ebook Details
  • 08/2023
  • 978-1735345307 B0CDQYM9MS
  • 156 pages
  • $5.99
Tashia Hart
Author, Illustrator
Native Love Jams
Tashia Hart, author

As the village of Rainy Bay works out the kinks in their first Indigenous Food Days, Winnow works out the kinks in her love life. Hired to forage and cook for the festival, Winnow arrives in the rural Minnesota community to find her host Niigaanii, is as annoyingly attractive as he is unwelcoming. Can Winnow and Niigaanii pull thorns from the past and harvest the love they find in a berry patch?

Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 7 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: The plot is based on a romance that has a rocky start, but Hart draws readers in with a bit of mystery and appealing characters. Fans will be invested in the main couple's outcome.

Prose: Hart uses unique and original language patterns of the area and culture, adding to the novel's setting and tone while allowing readers to experience more than just the central romance; this story will create lasting imagery while appealing to the senses.

Originality: Authentic language and Hart's conscientious writing style make this a unique book that provides readers with a rich sensory experience. 

Character/Execution: Hart's strong but charming characters are delightful, not only in their quest for romance but also in their determination to overcome challenging circumstances—and to take chances when it counts. 

Date Submitted: August 28, 2023

Reviews
Anishinaabe author Hart (Gidjie and the Wolves) turns from middle grade to adult romance with this sweet, slim volume about two Native foodies finding each other. Jam-maker and chef Winnow Hart has taken some blows recently, including a broken engagement and someone vandalizing her commercial kitchen. She heads to the northern Minnesota hamlet of Rainy Bay to forage and cook for an Indigenous food festival, hoping to get her groove back. Fellow festival employee Niigaanii has long been a fan of Winnow’s jams but, not realizing whom she is at first, the two clash. Before the start of the book, Winnow’s ex-fiancé framed Niigaanii for vandalism, landing him in prison, and he takes out his resentment on Winnow—until he learns who she is, that she’s broken up with her fiancé, and that they actually have a lot in common. The pair build a believable rapport, but their slowly growing connection reads more like friendship than romance. The flirtation is mild and things stay strictly PG, despite a laugh-out-loud scene in which Winnow has a full conversation with a dildo she’s named Peter. Hart stands out in her sensitive portrayal of characters from many Indigenous nations, an underrepresented group in contemporary romance. Readers seeking gentle plotting and Native inclusivity will find plenty to enjoy. (Self-published)
Mona Susan Power

"Native Love Jams is a joyful, sexy, lush-language, fabulous read! Hart's characters burst from the page in all their quirky, endearing aliveness, and her stunning descriptions of territory and delectable food will make you hungry for more. Treat yourself to this celebration of Indigenous love!"   --Mona Susan Power, author of A Council of Dolls

News
08/19/2023
Book Signing at Zenith Bookstore for Bookstore Romance Day

 Saturday August 19th, 2023 @ 1-3 pm

Formats
Paperback Details
  • 08/2023
  • 978-1735345307 B0CDQYM9MS
  • 156 pages
  • $15.99
Ebook Details
  • 08/2023
  • 978-1735345307 B0CDQYM9MS
  • 156 pages
  • $5.99
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