Destiny's Embrace (Destiny Trilogy, 2)

Don't be fooled by the bodice ripper cover & pose. While I adore the genre, and that was what originally made me gravitate towards this book, bodice rippers represent a specific type of romance that many may find unpalatable, and suggestive cover aside, this book is definitely not a bodice ripper at heart!Mariah Cooper grew up in Philadelphia with her seamstress mother. Her life has been difficult. She's been bullied for being poor and looking different. Since she was a young girl, her mother has abused her verbally and physically, working her like a slave and insulting her looks and making her feel like she's unworthy of love.Finally, Mariah can't take any more, and with the help of a sympathetic aunt, she finds herself with a rail pass to a place in California called Destiny Ranch, to answer an advertisement in the classifieds looking for a housekeeper.Logan Yates is the stepson of the fierce and beautiful Alanza Yates. He's a hard-working rancher, but also a hopeless slob (and a bit of a hoarder, if we're being honest). He's also a devil with the ladies and has absolutely zero intention of settling down. Few women have ever told him no, so he's flabbergasted when Mariah comes in like a whirlwind and immediately begins stirring things up. She's not above lashing him with her tongue or kicking him in the knee if he gives her trouble, either.DESTINY'S EMBRACE isn't exactly an enemies-to-lovers romance, but many of the same themes are there. It's a reformed rake romance, but with a spirited, resourceful, clever heroine that will appeal to fans of Courtney Milan. Sometimes heroines are given interests that are never mentioned again and I loved that Mariah's sewing was made such an important aspect of her life. She was also a very strong female character and had a great sense of humor. That parade of suitors was, hands-down, my favorite part of the book. I guffawed.As much as I liked Mariah, my favorite character in this book would have to be Alanza. She was so cool. I kind of hope that the author writes a prequel about her and her two husbands, because she was such a strong woman, and I loved her relationship with her three sons, and how that translated to a willingness to accept Mariah as a surrogate daughter as well. She had a lot of love to give, that was obvious. I loved the interactions between the five of them on the ranch.The California setting was also really great, because I've actually been in Yolo County many times, and I have seen the orchards it described so beautifully. I learned something new about the potential origin of my home state's name, too! Apparently, it is named after a mythical island of kick-ass black Amazons who had battle-trained griffins. If that isn't the OG of origin stories, I don't know what is.I did have a few nitpicky issues. I thought Mariah gave into Logan too quickly, especially considering what happened to her mother. She had held steadfastly to her principles until that point, and it felt really out of character to me. I also thought that the climax between her mother and Tillerman was a bit abrupt. I was expecting more drama, I guess. Her mother was such a horrible person...maybe I've been reading too many bodice rippers with vindictive revenge schemes, but it felt like Mariah's mother got off way too easily. Also, the sex scenes could be pretty cringeworthy. At one point in the narrative, Mariah's breasts are referred to, unironically, as "the twins." *cringe*Overall, DESTINY'S EMBRACE was a really great book. I really think fans of Courtney Milan should read Beverly Jenkins. Not only are their writing styles similar, and their heroines both full of spirit, but they both try to provide non-white perspectives in historical romance, which is something the romance genre definitely needs more of. I can't wait to read more of Jenkins' work!3.5 to 4 out of 5 stars!

Mariah had a tough life. From the time she was old enough for her mom to use and abuse her she did. Nothing she did was ever good enough. She was too fair skinned, no one wanted her with those “witchy” eyes, so on and so forth. She never experienced the norms that other children did, not even a birthday party. The only people who ever showed her love was Kay, her bestie and her Aunt. After 30 years and a fight with her mom, she’d had enough. She moved in with her Aunt, made her best friends wedding gown, and decided to leave Philadelphia for California. There was an advertisement for a housekeeper for a wealthy landowner. A week on the train and a trip out west turned timid Mariah into take no crap Mariah. Her new boss, Logan Yates was a piece of work and thought he was going to push Mariah over the edge and make her quit...he met his match. Her bossiness and inability to bend to his will leaves him frustrated, enraged, and aroused. His mother is entertained because she sees Mariah as just what Logan needs and after hearing her story wants to protect her and make her part of Destiny Ranch permanently. Innocent Mariah doesn’t know why Logan makes her feel the way he does, why does her body respond the way it does when he’s around, and she wants him to teach her why. In doing so, Logan may abort all plans to never marry and make Mariah his forever.Such a great read, but Beverly Jenkins never disappoints! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Was there anything not to like about Destiny's Embrace? No, not at all! Again, as with any of Ms. Jenkins novels this one was well written with fully developed characters and settings. As one who loves a good cowboy movie, this was my Black Cowboy love story and what a story it was! In the vernacular of my late husband, "they're wearing 'em low tonight, honey!" That was his way of telling me that a really good Western was coming on TV that night.As with BJ's historical romance novels -this was a really good Western love story, replete with ebony and bronze characters that were believable and passionate. This story takes the heroine far from the sophisticated streets of Philadelphia to the untamed and still evolving California. A mistreated seamstress meets a headstrong cattle-rancher boss, of which immediately the romance begins to simmer and eventually sizzle. This all takes place with a few verbal and fiery discussions along the way, but all done with the rising heat of desire.Now you may ask - what made this story bittersweet for me? It was the subject matter that Ms. Jenkins chose to address ---parental abuse. I won't reveal the details and spoil this for those of you who have not yet read the book, but I will say that this story was so personal to me that I wept several times and had to put it down for just a little while. Nevertheless, as an adult-survivor of maternal abuse, I seldom encounter writers who have the courage or interest to write about this painful ordeal, especially in fiction. Ms. Jenkins does a phenomenal job of describing the worthlessness and agony that a young woman feels and overcomes as she develops her own, self-loving personhood. This is the story of a woman who finds the fortitude to demand a healthy relationship with her suitor as she develops her inner strength. Weeping aside, I also found the signature BJ laughter and historical inferences such a treat.I enjoyed every word of Destiny's Embrace and recommend it highly! By the way, I have already pre-ordered the second Destiny book of this three-part series. If you are already a BJ fan, you will know that she often incorporates other characters from past novels. This one introduces us to brand new folks for us to love and claim as our own. Get this book, I tell ya!

I enjoyed this book so much. Mariah’s journey was so compelling. Alanza and Logan felt very real and I loved the historical backdrop and the romance.

I have been looking for black romance novels that didn't have the usual gangster, bitter woman, or other woman stereotypes and with this book I got exactly what I wanted. Far from the erotica category and with much history included, this is the first book of Beverly Jenkins that I have read and I have already ordered 4 more!

I was so hooked on this book I managed to finish it in ten hours! Very well written which managed to bring the characters, setting and the story to life. It's my first romance novel I've read and it has set the bar pretty high. I'm on the second book now.

O que primeiro me atraiu no livro foi ser uma história sobre negros, durante a leitura apreciei várias coisas, a boa base histórica, bons personagens, mas apesar de tudo ainda é um livro comum, não há muitas diferenças da maior parte dos livros de romance históricos, ou de época. É o mesmo tema de mocinhos brigões e que se apaixonam. É legal para quem gosta, eu gostei, mas se está procurando uma história bem mais movimentada e diferente, o segundo livro dessa série é mais do seu gosto.

She does it again great read.