01/04/2016 In this appealing launch of a series set in the 19th-century American West, veteran romance author Jenkins (Destiny’s Captive) introduces the warm and supportive mining town of Virginia City, Nev., where a diverse community mostly manages to live in harmony. Eddy Carmichael is a lovely young African-American woman on her way to California from Denver, with the goal of opening a restaurant. Robbed by a man posing as a priest and left in the desert to die, she is rescued by one of Virginia City’s most noted citizens, Rhine Fontaine. Rhine was born a slave, but he’s light-skinned enough to pass as white and has used this to rise to prominence in the town, less for his own gain than to advance the rights of the African-American community. He owns real estate and a popular saloon, sits on the town council, and is engaged to the daughter of a prominent white family. Rhine is captivated by Eddy’s courage and beauty, but he knows their love is forbidden by those who think they are from different races, and revealing the truth would jeopardize everything he has fought for. Jenkins combines vivid characters and sexual intensity with historical accuracy in a story and setting that will appeal to her core fans and newcomers alike. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary Agency. (Feb.)
“It’s possible that no one sets the scene for romance better than Beverly Jenkins…This is historical romance at its very best.” — Washington Post, praise for FORBIDDEN
“Award-winning Jenkins begins a new series, set in 1870s Nevada and featuring Rhine Fontaine…The characters are strong and appealing in this excellent western historical romance, with its fascinating background and modern implications. Fans of Linda Lael Miller’s westerns may also enjoy much-loved Jenkins’ newest.” — Booklist, praise for FORBIDDEN
“For readers who enjoy love stories with steamy interludes against historical backdrops, Jenkins’ latest is not to be missed.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“As always with Jenkins’s works, this fantastic novel features richly layered historical fiction and captivating romance in equal measure.” — Culturess (Top Romances of 2016)
“When die-hard romance readers start rattling off the preeminent writers in the genre, one of the names you ought to hear every time is Beverly Jenkins.” — Jezebel.com
“In this appealing launch of a series…Jenkins combines vivid characters and sexual intensity with historical accuracy in a story and setting that will appeal to her core fans and newcomers alike.” — Publishers Weekly, praise for FORBIDDEN
“If you like vivid characters inhabiting underexplored but fascinating American history, in stories overflowing with scorchingly unresolved sexual tension, this is definitely a book for you.” — NPR (Best Books of 2016)
“Empathetic characters, a compelling romance, and gripping Old West history, including the rampant racial prejudice and injustice following the Civil War, combine in this first in a riveting new series from award winning writer Jenkins.” — Library Journal (starred review)
If you like vivid characters inhabiting underexplored but fascinating American history, in stories overflowing with scorchingly unresolved sexual tension, this is definitely a book for you.
It’s possible that no one sets the scene for romance better than Beverly Jenkins…This is historical romance at its very best.
Award-winning Jenkins begins a new series, set in 1870s Nevada and featuring Rhine Fontaine…The characters are strong and appealing in this excellent western historical romance, with its fascinating background and modern implications. Fans of Linda Lael Miller’s westerns may also enjoy much-loved Jenkins’ newest.
praise for FORBIDDEN Booklist
When die-hard romance readers start rattling off the preeminent writers in the genre, one of the names you ought to hear every time is Beverly Jenkins.
As always with Jenkins’s works, this fantastic novel features richly layered historical fiction and captivating romance in equal measure.
Culturess (Top Romances of 2016)
It’s possible that no one sets the scene for romance better than Beverly Jenkins…This is historical romance at its very best.
Her stories are delicious and always leave behind both feelings of satisfaction and want...for her next novel.
Jenkins infuses her dynamic stories with memorable characterssassy heroines and alpha heroes who fight injustice and compel readers to cheer them on.
Pure delight.
Premier writer Jenkins delivers a thrilling, sensual novel that brims over with history, passion and, most of all, her signature wit and unforgettable characters.
Second Helping is a must read. A fantastic sotry that is unforgettable
The adventurous and colorful characters are very entertaining, comical, heartwarming and loveable...so rich with dramatic twists, turns and adventure.
Romance in Color on A SECOND HELPING
There is beauty in Jenkins’ storytelling that should the standard by which to judge fiction writing...Brava Ms. Jenkins.
This series is a winner.
Jenkins is a gifted storyteller who knows how to bring special spark and sass to romance.
Material in the genre of African-American historical romance is not plentiful, but Jenkins is the pre-eminent voice. She delivers another gem with this first in her new Destiny series.
Romantic Times BOOKclub praise for DESTINY'S EMBRACE
★ 02/15/2016 Rescued by handsome businessman Rhine Fontaine after being cruelly stranded in the Nevada desert on her way west, Eddy Carmichael soon finds a position as a boarding house cook among the welcoming colored community in Virginia City. As one of the few black women in the rough mining town, Eddy attracts her share of admirers. Still, when the chemistry sparks between her and Rhine, she tries to resist, believing that nothing can come of it. VERDICT Empathetic characters, a compelling romance, and gripping Old West history, including the rampant racial prejudice and injustice following the Civil War, combine in this first in a riveting new series from award-winning writer Jenkins (Destiny's Captive). Issues of interracial romance, "passing," and life-changing choices feature well in this captivating story. Jenkins lives in Michigan.
★ 2016-02-17 A biracial saloon owner hides his heritage after the Civil War but can't bring himself to marry a spoiled white woman instead of the strong African-American woman who's taken his fancy. Jenkins (Homecoming, 2015, etc.) explores the years after the Civil War with the story of Rhine Fontaine, the son of a white plantation owner and the enslaved descendant of African queens. Rhine's light skin and green eyes allow him to pass as white, and he rises to prominence in the town of Virginia City, Nevada. He's a man of property, a rising local politician, and he's engaged to be married to a beautiful white socialite. Only his business partner and his half brother know the truth about his parentage. When Rhine comes upon an African-American woman who's been robbed and left to die in the desert outside town, he brings her back to Virginia City, nurses her back to health, and helps her find a job cooking at a local boardinghouse. Eddy Carmichael's cooking may be divine, but she's spent much of her life scrubbing floors to avoid ending up a prostitute like her younger sister. She's thrilled by the new job and determined to save up money to open her own restaurant. When Rhine casts aside his fiancee and starts hanging around Eddy's kitchen, she's sure his motives are anything but honorable. For Rhine, the idea of marrying Eddy makes him reconsider his decision to renounce the African side of his ancestry. In spite of a few forgivable anachronisms, Jenkins' prose is lively and fluid, her characters complex and engaging, and her plot full of interesting side stories. For readers who enjoy love stories with steamy interludes against historical backdrops, Jenkins' latest is not to be missed.
While this romance set in the Old West is somewhat slow to unfold and the ending is surprisingly rushed, Kim Staunton’s warm and skilled narration amply compensates. This is the first title in a new historical series by Jenkins. Eddy Carmichael dreams of owning her own restaurant, but when she’s robbed and left for dead in the desert, her dreams could be done for. Rhine Fontaine is living a dangerous lie: He’s passing as white during Reconstruction. And he’s never once regretted his choice—until he meets Eddy, and finally realizes everything he’s given up. Staunton’s theater experience serves her well in creating a memorable cast of characters. Especially gratifying is her avoidance of equating shrillness with a child’s voice. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine