Through the Storm

LOOK AT THAT COVER! I swoon.Beverly Jenkins is one of my favorite romance authors. I love that she writes historical romance from the perspectives of Black men and women in history, and that all of her books are filled with historical factoids that are true, that I never learned about in school. For example, in this book, I learned about "contraband camps," or the refugee camps that slaves fled to during the Civil War.THROUGH THE STORM is about Sable, who is Rhine's sister from FORBIDDEN. Characters from INDIGO also make a cameo, and the rest of the LeVeq brothers have their own love stories in subsequent novels, so those Easter eggs are also something you can pretty much count on in Jenkins's books. THROUGH THE STORM opens with a bang, with Sable's aunt telling her about her heritage as an African queen, and the prophecy of fate, before setting the house and their master ablaze. Sable escapes in the chaos, heading North, where she meets Harriet Tubman. (WOOHOOOO!)Tubman takes her to one of those aforementioned camps where she meets a man named Raimand, who is a charming Haitian officer of high rank. The attraction between them is instantaneous, but he wants her as his mistress, and Sable, with her new freedom, doesn't want any sort of ties or obligations to bind her anew. With the threat of her previous master pursuing her like a shadow, Sable finds a path for herself in the camp, before she's forced to flee again even further North.I liked THROUGH THE STORM a lot, although I think the beginning is better than the last 25%. I would give the beginning 4 stars, the middle 3.5 stars, and the end 3 stars. I didn't like Raimand as much as I liked some of Jenkins's other heroes, specifically Griffin and Rhine. He's a bit too "alpha" for my tastes and it was a bit off-putting that he had a mistress, even though I understand that this was pretty typical for the age, and it did happen while he and the heroine were separated. The sex scenes in this book were also pretty cheesy.For those who don't like mistresses and OWs, she's basically the chillest mistress ever. When Raimand goes to break things off, she's just like, "Oh, okay, that's cool." My jaw just about dropped. I guess I've been reading too many bodice-rippers with crazy OWs who are willing to move heaven and earth to wreak vengeance upon the heroine. I must say, that was pretty refreshing.As always, Sable was a great heroine. I thought it was interesting that she had tribal tattoos burned in her skin by her aunt, and I loved that she was willing to shove the hero aside the moment he became an impediment to her own well-being. Even if I don't love all of Jenkins's books equally, I can always count on the heroine being strong and competent and full of agency.Also, the villain in this book was AWFUL. I like that he got his comeuppance, although it wasn't as satisfying as in the books when the heroine gets to deliver that comeuppance herself.Overall, THROUGH THE STORM was a pretty good book. It's not my favorite Jenkins book and I did skim a little towards the end, but it had everything about her books that keeps me coming back-- strong heroine, caring alpha hero, fast-paced action, lovable side characters. Even the cheesy sex scenes have their charm because they are preceded by steamy banter and prompted by love.If you're tired of wallpaper regency novels, give Beverly Jenkins a try!3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars

Through the StormThis book featured a character that we were introduced to in Indigo, Raimond LeVaq, who was the life long friend of Galeno Vachon. Sable Fontaine, a former slave, was his love interest. I really enjoyed getting to know both of them. Raimond and LeVaq were both born into the Creole society of New Orleans.The Creoles are primarily result of African women and French slaveholding men. The slave women' offspring were generally educated in France. They maintain themselves by marrying others like them. The female children of these African women were often used as Fancy Women, sex slaves for the sole pleasure of rich white men. They would even have annual balls to present the girls to be chosen as mistresses.They saw themselves as a distinct from their darker, African looking brethren and sisters. Many of them were slaveholders and obtain great wealthy. Though they tried to distance themselves from the darker blacks, white society would not let them escape their African origin.We first meet Sable on the plantation. She escapes before she is sold. She has a dream that she will meet someone. And guess who later finds her and directs her to a contraband camp? No other than the infamous, Arminta. Y'all may her as Harriett Tubman. This is Sable first encounters her future human, Raimond LeVaq. We also become reacquainted with his able assistant, who we also met in Indigo, Renaud.This is the basic setting of the book. I absolutely loved it. Again, a great story, with a little erotica, and very interesting characters, and a little African American history, makes for a great read. The stories are very realistic and told in an engaging manner.I have read some books about the confusion during and after the Civil for black folks. The Redemptionists (Confederates) did everything in their power to re-enslave our ancestors by forcing them to work for planters, stealing children, beating the former enslaved for saying they were free, etc. Just by the knowledge she drops, I know she is a serious history buff.She puts these various aspects together so brilliantly. Before you know it, you have had a good read and been educated at the same time.Yet both went against the grain and married formerly enslaved women, marrying completely out of their class.There were a few editing issues. The first I notice was on the same page Raimond calls him mama, mama. The next paragraph he calls her mother. Overall, I have very few issues with this book. I loved the cover. I give the artwork 5 stars and the content 5 stars.I recommend all of Ms. Beverly's books, even the ones I have some issues.*Note: For those interested in reading a little history, I would like to suggest Gwendolyn Hall's Africans in Colonial Lousiana: The Development of Afro-Creole Culture in the 18th Century. This book is very enlighening. It sheds some light about the Africans and the Creoles who are one in the same.

This book is the first of the LeVeq Series. Raimond LeVeq and Sable which is the sister of Rhine from the book "Forbidden." Sable is a slave and her mistress, which is the wife of Sable's father decides to sell her off despite her father's rejection. After, Sable's aunt dies in a fire and she learns of her queen ancestry, she escapes with the help of Harriet Tubman that leads her to a freedom camp, where she meets Captain Raimond LeVeq. Raimond is the eldest brother of the LeVeq family. Attraction between the two falls deep, until Sable finds out that her new slave owner is on the camp looking for her, she flees with one of the female workers in the camp and her white associate. Hesitate, Sable takes some of Raimond’s money with the intent of someday paying it back. Now Raimond is mad, not just because she stole the money, but he feels she has betrayed him, and she is a spy; Sable is guilty by association. Sable ends up in New Orleans and encounters Raimond once again and at first, they have this love/hate relationship because he is still mad, but his desire for her never goes away. Because of a situation, Raimond must marry, and through his mother's influence a marriage was arranged between him and Sable. Through everything that happens, Raimond realizes that he cannot live without her. I absolutely loved this book; it was an excellent and unforgettable read. The narrator was good, however sometimes she forgot the accents. ★★★★★

I loved it, well rounded characters, gripping plot. Just great I would definitely recommend to anyone ever it's a brilliant read

Beverly Jenkins has outdone herself again. Picking up this book has educated me more about the race and all we are and more.

Excellent