SIMPLE JESS by Pamela Morsi is a great example of an unusual historical romance with characters who steal your heart. I’ve been anxious to read Jesse Best’s happy-ever-after since meeting him in MARRYING STONE. A challenging read, this book delves into disability in a way I’ve never experienced before in romance. Recommended Read!
Why was this book in Dorine’s TBR? I was recommended Pamela Morsi’s books in 2013 when I read a review of THE LOVESICK CURE (Book 3) at Goodreads. After much discussion with several readers there, I bought three books in this series without ever reading anything by Morsi.
After reviewing MARRYING STONE in 2017 for this same challenge, I couldn’t get Simple Jess off my mind. How would Morsi develop a simple man into a convincing romance hero? I already loved Jesse as a person, but how would she convince me that a woman could respect him for who he is and not try to change him or make him “better” somehow?
I also didn’t want to see Jesse matched up with a special needs gal. That would be too easy and predictable. I wanted to discover the hidden gem inside Jesse, and this is exactly what Morsi does. Althea’s awakening toward Jesse is believable and sweet. Amazing!
That doesn’t mean SIMPLE JESS is an easy journey. Far from it. It’s often quite awful and hard to endure. I even wanted to smack Althea a time or two for her attitude toward Jesse.
SIMPLE JESS is hard to read because of how Jesse Best is treated for his inability to think as quickly or clearly as other men. Damaged during his birth, Jesse has lived with his disability in a loving home. But being a good son isn’t enough, now that he’s a man. He doesn’t hold grudges or place blame, but the negative nickname of “Simple” attached to him by everyone is unthinkable. It was common historically, but that doesn’t make it any easier to read, knowing that it’s highly likely that special needs adults are still treated in a similar manner.
What bothered me most was that Jesse was told to ignore his feelings for women, not really preparing him for those emotions when he falls in love. When Jesse realizes he’s in love, he doesn’t think he’s worthy. His community is shocked because they think Jesse will always be Simple Jess, still a young boy in a man’s body. Should they be afraid, or is he the same good person he’s always been?
On the other hand, widow Althea Winsloe’s situation as a single mother is equally disturbing. Surrounded by family as owner of the best piece of farmland in the area, they expect her to marry no matter how she feels about the prospects. It seems inevitable that Jesse and Althea will find one another, but will Althea get over her own insecurities about Jesse’s inadequacies?
What is done to Althea next is horrible. She is disrespected in public and forced into an unbelievable decision. There is a creepy candidate for her future husband who may be a trigger for women with an abusive past. This book covers several taboo subjects ironed out by people who were not very accepting of anyone different from themselves. If you have craved different in your romance reading, this book was probably once a very brave ambition for any author.
There’s nothing simple about SIMPLE JESS as a person or as a story. The journey is complicated, laugh-out-loud funny, sad, sensual, and full of love. If you’re looking for amazing characters in a remote area of the Ozarks, with all their faults and goodness combined, begin with MARRYING STONE, but be sure to have SIMPLE JESS at hand to read next. You won’t regret it. The only reason this book didn’t get a 5 rating is because there were enough typos to pull me out of the story.
Q: Now I desperately need Oather’s story. Does anyone know if it exists? THE LOVESICK CURE is the third book and I have that, but it takes place years later – I wasn’t sure if that would answer my questions. I still need to purchase MR. RIGHT GOES WRONG – do you have suggestions of books by Morsi? Loving her style, especially the Ozarks setting.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. Digital copy purchased.
Series: Marrying Stone, Book 2
Category: Historical Romance
Publisher: Kiel Publishing (June 1, 2011)
ISBN: 978-1507649312
Rated 4.5 out of 5
