Review: Tempest by Beverly Jenkins
Tempest by Beverly Jenkins Published by HarperCollins on January 30th 2018
Genres: African American, Fiction, General, Historical, Romance
Pages: 384
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From USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins comes a new novel in a mesmerizing series set in the Old West, where an arranged marriage becomes a grand passion . . .What kind of mail-order bride greets her intended with a bullet instead of a kiss? One like Regan Carmichael—an independent spirit equally at home in denims and dresses. Shooting Dr. Colton Lee in the shoulder is an honest error, but soon Regan wonders if her entire plan to marry a man she’s never met is a mistake. Colton, who buried his heart along with his first wife, insists he only wants someone to care for his daughter. Yet Regan is drawn to the unmistakable desire in his gaze.Regan’s far from the docile bride Colton was expecting. Still, few women would brave the wilds of Wyoming Territory for an uncertain future with a widower and his child. The thought of having a bold, forthright woman like Regan in his life—and in his arms—begins to inspire a new dream. And despite his family’s disapproval and an unseen enemy, he’ll risk all to make this match a real union of body and soul.
Tempest could have easily been named Temptress because that’s what Regan Carmichael became to her husband, Colton Lee in Beverly Jenkins latest novel.
When Colton Lee finally met Regan Carmichael his mail-order bride, it was courtesy of a bullet she put in his shoulder. To say that these two were off to a rocky start would be an understatement. Nothing says I’m ready to be your wife like an unintended bullet.
Dr. Lee is a widower with a six-year-old daughter and when Regan arrives, he expected her to be docile, amenable, and ready to be a housewife as he’s always believed a ‘good wife’ should do. Colton’s definition of a good wife is quickly turned on his head when the trailblazing Reign arrives in Wyoming territory. Colton and the town of Paradise didn’t stand a chance against the younger Fontaine sibling.
It was hard for Dr. Lee to reconcile the gun-toting, farm working Regan with the woman he corresponded with through letters. He soon finds out that She is exactly what the doctor needs.
As these two navigate their way through this new relationship and possible feelings of love, not everyone is keen on their relationship. Mean family members, jealous women and a man with a misplaced vendetta threaten to end Colton and Regan’s relationship before it truly begins.
As always, Jenkins touched on quite a few historical facts in this novel. The Rock Spring massacre is one that she mentions at length that I have plans for reading more about. Colton also mentions in the novel that he wanted to become a doctor after hearing learning about Dr.Alexander T. Augusta, who I learned was the highest-ranking black officer in the Union army and first African American professor of medicine. Here’s an article I found with more information about Augusta.
Back to the two protagonists: Regan was a hoot and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her love match with the good doctor. I didn’t think so based on the Regan I read about in previous books but she made a great mama to Colton’s daughter, Anna. Speaking of, Anna was simply the cutest thing as she grew into her own and honestly may have been my favorite part of the story.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and I wouldn’t mind seeing a few stories come out of the small town of Paradise.
As always, Tempest was a great Jenkins novel. While I am sad to be leaving the Old West and the Fontaine family with the end of this series, I am excited to see where Mrs. Jenkins will take us next.
P.S. If you haven’t and want to read about Regan’s Uncle and Aunt, Rhine, and Eddy – check out Forbidden.
Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.
You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.
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