Customer Reviews

Bring on the Blessings

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Beverly Jenkins, who is best known for her historical and contemporary romance novels, brings readers yet another story to fall in love with. Bring On The Blessings is the story of Bernadine E. Brown and the blessings she brought to Henry Adams, Kansas. The town was in desperate need of money and they had no clue how to raise the money. Trenton July, the Mayor, decided to put the town up for sale on eBay. After all, it was worth a try. Bernadine was blessed with money, good looks and smarts. She decided to put her money to good use and purchase the town.

When she arrived in Henry Adams, Bernadine was not prepared for the warm welcome she received. However, underneath the warm smiles and gestures, everyone wanted to know what she intended to do. First, she brought in contractors to restore and rebuild. After all, they could not let one of the country's oldest all-Black towns disappear. Second, she had to sell them on her idea of bringing in foster children to raise and love. Not just any foster children; there was an eight-year old pastor, an eleven-year old car theft, a fourteen-year old fly-girl, an overweight genius, and a ten-year old mute.

Beverly Jenkins has written a story like none I have ever read before. Bernadine was confident and determined to bring love to a group of unwanted children. She wanted to restore a piece of history. Like all of Jenkins novel, she revisits favorite characters from her historical novels, the July Family, and the history her fans crave. Jenkins brings a cast of new characters that are funny, loving and admirable. Even though it was not her typical romance novel, I dove into the novel and cheered and cried with each blessing that was brought to this town. She also left room for sequels, which I am sure her fans will surely want after reading this novel. Jenkins proved that there is more to her than just romance.

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

Bring on the Blessings was such an enjoyable read. I could not put this book down. All of the characters were very likable...well except Cletus, Riley and the crooked banker. I found Bernadine to be a very strong, loving, yet no nonsense woman. Her dedication to breathing life into the small Kansas town, providing for its citizens and a group of foster children with some serious issues was heartwarming. I did not want this story to end. If your looking to be thoroughly entertained do not pass up your blessing...Bring on the Blessings is waiting for you.

I'm a big fan of Beverly Jenkins books and I was taken back when I realize this wasn't like her other books. But this was better. I enjoy the book and I could hardly wait to get home and finish reading it. I'm sad that I finished the book but it was good and I just loved how funny it was with the judge falling and knocking himself out. I couldn't stop laughing. But to anyone who buys this book. It's good and you will enjoy it.

The premise of the book, is that Bernadine Brown caught her husband cheating, She is awarded 275 million in the divorce settlement. She has the philosophy that when much is given much is expected of you.

There is a black township of Henry Adams that was founded by freed slaves. The failing town has been put up for auction on e bay and Ms. Browns buys it.

What follows is a heartwarming narrative of what it takes to be a community and that the saying that it takes a village to raise a child is true.

It is Bernadine dream to give homes to some foster children and she chose this town to be the focal point.

The characters in the books have their foible's but as in real life they have a chance to be nurtured and grow.

I highly recommend this book. It even has a bit romance for us lovers of this genre.

I enjoyed this book overall but was very disappointed in the ending. While I understand the author wants to set us up for the sequels, she handled it rather poorly.

An amazing eye opener! Expect the unexpected! A woman of color turns a town right side up for the better for nothing more than to give life to a town that was almost non existent. Giving hope and the ability to dream for kids that had no one or nothing to hold on to. While at the same time, allowing the elderly to enjoy life again and be apart of something much greater than the town they lived in. Enjoying the young and being pivotal in shaping and molding who they become in the future. This book is the epitome of kindness, generosity, and the true meaning of being blessed. It truly makes sense why some people are wealthy because there is no better gift than helping others and making a difference.

A lovely little story about Bernadine - a woman who receives a great deal of money in a divorce settlement, who then decides to purchase a town that is being sold on ebay. The town and its few remaining inhabitants will, in turn, provide stability and a safe haven for some foster children who have been through some tough times.

This story was a pleasure to read. Some of the passages literally had me in tears. I was a little disappointed with the ending and the episode with Riley and Cletus was a bit far-fetched. This was just enough to whet my appetite and hope for a sequel. Get it from the library.

Bernadine took Luke 12:48 to heart when she opened her heart and wallet by buying the town of Henry Adams, bringing blessings, prosperity and orphans in need of love and change. Those of us familiar with Ms. Jenkins' historicals were delighted to see the July descendants still making a ruckus and causing heartbreak wherever they went. This book didn't have her usual hotness but the characters' lives are so interesting, that it was nice getting to know them. One character, 11yo car thief Amari, if you don't love him right off the bat, stop reading, this story isn't for you. I loved it and read in a day and a half and am on to book 2.

I enjoyed this book because it made you think of when folks where gentler and cared more about people other than themselves. The main character decides to buy a town and offer homes to foster children. I really enjoyed that the storyline which had great characters and a touch of suspense. I hope there are more tales coming from this quaint little town.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was truly a breath of fresh air. It was a nice story about community with a little love story on the side. I was disappointed when the book ended and cannot wait for the sequel I know will follow.