Customer Reviews

Always and Forever

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4 star:		(3)
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If you are a big Beverly Jenkins fan, then you will love Always and Forever. This books was done in a way that only Beverly Jenkins can.

We met Grace Atwood and Jackson Blake in the book Topaz. I loved Grace, she didn't allow anyone to have her back against the wall. She could go with the best of them.

Jackson was on the run and had been for years. When Grace asks him to become the wagonmaster for about 35 mail-order brides, he felt this would be his opportunity to go back to his hometown and get his business straight. What Jackson hadn't planned on was Grace lighting his fire and BOY did she.

Some familiar characters from Beverly's previous books are present: Griffin (Jackson's brother) from the Taming of Jessi Rose and Mr. and Mrs. Dix and Katherine Wildhorse from Topaz.

As usual you get a wonderful history lesson. If you have not read any of Ms. Jenkins books, then start with Night Song, Vivid, Indigo, Topaz, Through the Storm, and The Taming of Jessi Rose. Make sure you have a cool glass of ice water, you will definitely need it.

Hot, Hot, Hot! This novel was another masterpiece written by Beverly Jenkins. I absolutley loved the story plot and the characters in this latest novel. I enjoyed the professional status that Grace Atwood held in the novel, and the way the two characters ended up together. It was apparent that Grace felt heartbroken being left at the altar, but she couldn't have begun to imagine what lay on the other side of the door for her. Passion, and Love like she had never known. As always the History in the novel is so enligthning. Beverly you are number one on my list as favorite authors! Keep up the good work, and hurry up with the next one!

I always purchase Beverly Jenkins' books when they are released and hold onto them until I have some relaxed uninterrupted time. That time was over the Xmas holidays when I was on vacation. It has been sunny here in the Bay Area and I wanted to get out in it but I had a hard time moving in the morning for two days straight because I was engrossed with this book. We met the protagonists Grace Atwood and Jackson Blake in "Topaz" another great book where we met Katherine and Dix Wildhorse. Grace has commissioned Jackson to lead a caravan of mail-order brides from Chicago to Kansas where there is a new black settlement in 1884. Kate is a lady banker from the representative black community in Chicago. Representative is what Dubois called the talented tenth. We see here that after the Civil War that all blacks were not scruffling out a living ath the mercy of whites. There were people like Grace who could trace their lineage for several generations and came from free people of color as well as slaves and who were well off economically. Jackson came from Texas where he was raised by his preacher father from a meager background. Jackson was a lawman and when his father was murdered by the Rebs he wanted to avenge his death only to be run out of Texas to save his life. Now it has been ten years and he wants to go back and clear his name and now the hellion Grace his up in his face demanding he escort the brides. They are both so stubborn and headstrong they butt heads at every end but their attraction is undeniable and fiery. Although this is historical fiction, Jenkins weaves actual black historical events and characters into the storyline. She tells about Jean Baptiste DuSable, a black Frenchmen, who discovered Chicago. We hear about the Black Seminoles and a little of their history. We meet Frederick L. Barnett, a black newspaperman who found the Conservator at a ball. African American history is viewed here not only from a slavery prospective but shows the strides and gains blacks made before, during, and after the war. I am eagerly awaiting the next book.

In 1884 Chicago, one hour before he was to marry Grace Atwood, Garth Leeds informs her that he is marrying Amanda Young instead. Rather than weep about his treachery, Grace accepts her cousin Price Prescott's offer to escort women to a small remote Kansas town to become the wives of the Black veterans of Lincoln's war that live there.

Worried about the Jim Crow laws that are suffocating the recently freed Black population, Grace decides to use a wagon train to deliver the 30-35 brides. Finding a dependable guide proves educational to Grace until she interviews former sheriff Jackson Blake. Her first meeting with Jackson proves enlightening as Grace enters a whorehouse where he mistakes her for one of the girls and begins kissing her. Jackson decides to leave Chicago even if he cannot go as far as his beloved Texas, being wanted there. He accepts the job of wagonmaster even though Grace never actually offered it to him. On the trail, the passion between Grace and Jackson ignites into a deep abiding love, but he knows he offers her nothing due to his "criminal" past.

As always, Beverly Jenkins provides her fans with a fabulous, fast-paced ethnic historical romance. The story line is filled with action, tension, and a humorous verbal duel between the lead charcaters, who are heroic, intrepid, and simply wonderful. Readers obtain a fascinating glimpse at the plight of the Black two decades after the Civil War allegedly emancipated the slaves. Anyone who enjoys a superb Americana ethnic romance will achieve tremendous pleasure from ALWAYS AND FOREVER.

Harriet Klausner

Girlfriend Jenkins continues to crank out amazing, torrid romances with fiesty, take-no-shorts sisters, strong brothers, and a dash of history right in the mix. the trip across the West was a fun ride, the charcaters were all developed, and the attraction between Jackson and Grace could melt the pages!!! It also caught us up on Katherine and Dixon, thank goodness. If you are a BJ fan, you have no excuse.....GET IT!!! She delivers like the UPS!!!

A fresh voice! A new kind of historical romance! Imagine one strong-willed, recently altar-jilted Black female taking on a project to deliver 30-plus Black mail order brides from Chicago to Kansas in 1884. Although Jim Crow was alive and thriving, this story, thankfully, does not dwell on it, but rather uses racism as a reality-based backdrop for the atmosphere of that time period. ALWAYS AND FOREVER focuses on the relationship between the lead woman, Grace Atwood, and the wagon master, Jackson Blake. The author skillfully develops the characters and takes us through each of the controlling motivations in their lives. This is a very beautifully told and passionate love story. I am now a Brenda Jenkins fan.

Beverly Jenkins is just simply an incredible, multi-talented author. "Always and Forever" was a wonderful reading experience. This novel has so much to offer. The story of woman banker and cowboy taking a group of "mail order brides" cross country touched me in so many ways. From start to finish I was there with them -- I laughed, I cried, I felt their pain, their joy, their fear and their frustrations. It's such a heart-rendering story. Ms. Jenkins is noted for weaving quite a bit of real life history into her stories. She caught my attention and I fell hard for her novels when I read "Vivid". Since that time, I've read each and every one of her novels ("Vivid, Night Song, Topaz, Indigo, Through the Storm, and The Taming of Jessi Rose"). My advice to all of you, who want read a great novel, with a touch of historical facts, Beverly Jenkins is one author you want to add to your to buy list and one you'll want keep on that list. Every time I say she can't possibly improve on this last novel, she proves me wrong by doing the possible by generating another great book. Keep it up Beverly.

I vaguely remember picking up my first Beverly Jenkins' novel. I was intrigued by the attractive African American couple posing against a western, historical background. Now I anxiously look forward each fall, to her annual contribution to the genre of romantic black history. Beverly's romance writing is as embedding as a brand. Jenkins has established a loyal readership because of her ability to develop characters like Grace Atwood and Jackson Blake, whose personalities clash and ignite right on the pages of her book. "Always and Forever", is an ample mix of adventure, courage, perserverance, sexual attraction, action and romantic love. You will immediately become "pulled", into the fiery love match between Grace and Jackson. These two are the epitomy of what true love is all about. "Always and Forever" is another excellent romantic adventure by Beverly E. Jenkins.

Ah! Ms. Jenkins has done it again! Always and Forever is not only a love story but a great historical reflection, showing what strong willed African American woman have always done to survive.

The women on the journey from Chicago to Kansas City were just 38 of the nearly 800,000 in the historical setteling of the middle south after the civil war, thrown in with a little love, this story is a definite must read for anyone who has never picked up one of her books.

Ms. Jenkins is in that special catetory of writers when it comes to reflection of life for blacks after the civil war. I can't wait for her 8th novel.

Ok, if anyone is reading reviews and have an ear to Mr. Johnson over at BET, you may want to pass along to him that Ms. Jenkins needs a serious look-see for something substantial or if anyone has a ear to the major networks she needs a mini-series to bring her books to life.

Beverly Jenkins does it again. Being a die-hard romantic, as well as a writer of romantic fiction, I have read numerous romance novels. Upon completing "Always and Forever" (at 5:35 a.m. this morning), I made a decision. Beverly Jenkins is my all-time favorite romance writer. Not only does Ms. Jenkins write the heck out of a romance novel, but in each of her books, she provides a generous dose of African-American history. I am always amazed at how she weaves the love stories of her protagonists with our people's history so eloquently. Her characters-Grace Prescott and Jackson Blake, the main characters of "Always and Forever," being no exception-are always exciting and fun. Her heroines are women I admire, women who make me proud to call them sister. Her heroes are always to die for. What men!!! Whew! Even the supporting "actors" leave indelible impressions. And girlfriend writes a mean love scene. Lordie, lordie. Each time I read a novel by Beverly Jenkins, and I've read just about every one of them (and the one I haven't I'm buying today), I am filled with a warm, cozy feeling. Her stories evoke smiles, laughter and tears of joy, each and every time. I find myself cheering when her heroes and heroines accomplish whatever mission or goal they set out to achieve. When I come to the end of her novels, although I hate to see her stories end, I am never left wanting. Beverly Jenkins is awesome. Her writing is awesome. Her characters are awesome. If you want to read a book that will leave you with a feeling of joy and happiness, read anything written by this incredible sister.