Tempest

Starred review from November 27, 2017
Legendary historical romance author Jenkins brilliantly touches on painful, significant historical and cultural references without dulling the shine of her inspiring, heartwarming third Old West romance (after Breathless), this one set in 19th-century Wyoming and starring two appealing African-American protagonists. Mail-order bride Regan Carmichael mistakes her intended, Dr. Colton Lee, for one of the bandits who’ve just attempted to rob her stagecoach, and shoots him in the arm. Widower Colton was looking for a mother for his daughter, not a love match. He was highly impressed by Regan’s letters and offered for her, but he had no idea she would be such a handful. At first, he doubts they’ll mesh well, but he quickly changes his mind when she wins over his daughter, his sister, and most of the other townsfolk. Regan longs for a loving marriage but accepts Colton’s statement that his heart will never be involved. She’s determined to be the best wife and mother she can be, and her selfless behavior and witty demeanor eventually bring Colton around. The story will evoke laughter, tears, and shivers of fear, and every word earns its keep. The amusing dialogue, lively characters, and vivid descriptions of the Old West make this even-paced romance a winner.

December 1, 2017
The final installment in the RITA-winning author's Old West trilogy (Forbidden, 2016; Breathless, 2017).Regan Carmichael gets her first good look at the man she's supposed to marry moments after she puts a bullet in him. She can't help but notice that he's quite handsome--and distinctly unamused. As far as Dr. Colton Lee is concerned, this unorthodox introduction does not bode well. All he'd wanted in a mail-order bride was a quiet, cultured woman to raise his daughter, Anna. His advertisement said nothing about requiring a woman who could handle a rifle. Clashing personalities is an essential genre trope, of course, but Jenkins makes her hero and heroine vivid, nuanced creations. Regan has lovely manners and a sophisticated wardrobe, but she knows how to muck out a stall--not to mention how to hold her own with the stern, proud, withdrawn Colton. Colt isn't just a man who's still in mourning after six years; he's also a doctor who blames himself for his failure to save his wife. There's plenty of small-town intrigue and family drama to move the story along. And Regan and Colton enjoy a very satisfying sex life from their first night together. This series is notable for depicting African-American love in a subgenre best known for its unfortunate depictions of Native Americans when it comes to characters of color. Throughout the narrative, Jenkins provides details that remind the reader that her main characters are not white. There are references to "Colored newspapers" and the black regiments in the Civil War. Regan studied at Oberlin, and Colton got his medical degree at Howard--two important institutions in the history of African-American higher education. When he reminisces about traveling to Washington, D.C., from the Wyoming Territory, Colton remembers seeing black people working in a diverse array of jobs and even running their own businesses. Race is not a central facet of the story, but it's not invisible, either.Another smart, entertaining historical romance from Jenkins.

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January 1, 2018
Regan Carmichael's story begins with a bang when she shoots her mail-order husband, thinking he's yet another stagecoach robber. Dr. Colton Lee thinks he wants a ladylike, adoring wife who could help raise his daughter, Anna. Instead, Regan dazzles the doctor and his daughter with her intelligence and skills in shooting, cooking, fishing, building, and more. She also uses her wealth to make their home modern and comfortable. Several townsfolk and Lee's family are not happy with the intrepid Regan and the changes she brings to the Lee household and the community, to the point that Regan herself is shot and threatened. Colton, however, is increasingly happy with his wife, and their growing love in the face of such adversity is conveyed with Jenkins' trademark intelligence and warmth. Many minor characters add flair to the fast-moving story, and Lee's formerly ostracized sister, Spring, is especially appealing. The western-expansion history Jenkins covers in her Old West series (Forbidden, 2016; Breathless, 2017) is fascinating and unique. Readers will enjoy the entire trilogy, though Tempest can stand alone as an excellent, memorable read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)