Sexy,Smart fiction: Book review Beverly Jenkins

So for the longest time I’d been crying the blues about the lack of variety in black cinema, books and entertainment in general. I wanted to see someone who looked like me as an action hero. Or fighting to survive some epic adventure in faraway realms. As a major Sci-Fi/fantasy zealot these are the fables that brought me hope as a child and inspired me to be courageous as an adult. From Princess Belle facing the beast to save her father to Superman vowing not to kill even the foulest living creature. Still I thought it would be nice to see my own people spin grander tales than romantic comedies, hood and historical dramas, and comedies. This was in fact the major motivation behind me creating my own fantasy adventure series entitled ‘Escape from camp 8’ about interdimensional travel and an ancient order of watchers and protectors.

   But eventually I realized I wasn’t making the effort to find things like this in books at least. They say its hard work finding a good book anyhow. Turns out in the age of google it’s pretty easy. I just typed black historical fiction and I came upon the most refreshing set of novels by one of new personal heroes. The Divine Ms. Beverly Jenkins. Where there is a veritable smorgasbord of historical fiction revolving around slavery which is needed because as Edmund Burke said, “Those who don’t learn history are destined to repeat it” but I was never able to find accounts of black history that did not revolve around slavery. Until I came upon Ms. Jenkins

  

She writes action adventure tales that include some fascinating historical facts and have a bonus romantic element. But most importantly she banishes the notion that all black people lived in abject misery before, during and immediately after slavery. Or that we had never left the continent of Africa except for in chains. Of course slavery was a reality of the times so during each of her herione’s quest for prosperity, slavery is an important back drop but not the main event. Take ‘Midnight’ pictured above. The free black daughter of a free black tavern owner lives a double life as a spy deemed ‘Lady Midnight’ for the revolutionary army. Yet must also contend with her cruel father who just happens to be very faithful to the British crown. But things really heat up when she meets smuggler and mercenary Nickolas Grey.

     Or take the intriguing indigo or Hester Wyatt. A former island slave who was forced to mix blue dyes with her bare hands from a young age. After escaping she becomes an important staple in the Underground Railroad to help others to freedom. Which leads to her pairing with a freedom runner with the same mission, the infamous Black Daniel who is actually Galen Vachon Heir to one New Orleans wealthiest free black families.

 

And a three part mini-series revolving around three headstrong, rough and tumble brothers from a large ranch in the only state named after a black women, California. In the first book of the series we meet a myriad of lovable characters. Starting with crushed flower Mariah, a startling beauty shunned by everyone, including her cruel mother, for her rare golden eyes against her brown skin. When the beauty escapes her servitude to her cold mother she ends up at Rancho Destino or Destiny Ranch. The childhood home of the vivacious Alanza of a prominent Mexican family before the war that made California and Texas American territories. Here is where we learn that California is named for the mythical black warrior princess Calafia who was said to command griffins in battle and have an island lair full of gold.

   The story centers on her oldest son Logan, who is actually her full black stepson of her deceased husband’s first wife. The head strong rancher and horse tamer is immediately entranced by the now plucky Mariah and her golden eyes. But the adventures of Rancho Destino don’t stop there. As we meet Alanza’s second son half Mexican and black lawyer Andrew Yates. This tale breaks with the traditional theme of historical romance novels and pairs the prominent Drew with an adventuress to put it nicely or prostitute. The beautiful Wilhelmina or Billie had a hard knock education as the daughter of prostitute. But stole the young lawyer’s heart with her bear shooting street fighting style. The story is replete with interesting historical facts and voodoo folk lore.

Finally in the third addition we meet the third son. Noah a successful ship captain who gained a taste for the open seas when he was horrifically shanghaied by a pirate who saw fit to put a disfiguring scar on the wealthy young black and Mexican man’s ‘pretty face’. Only to strand the still spirited young man on a forced labor prison on a secluded island. Once free Noah is left to battle the demons of his past. That is until he is made to feel alive once more when his boat is stolen by a beautiful she pirate and Cuban revolutionary Pilar.

  

And that’s just the beginning of Ms. Jenkins diverse tales. She covers everything from the heroic buffalo soldiers to black bounty hunters, lawman, cowboys, spies, and all manner of learned men. Not to mention headstrong plucky women who are black lady doctors, business owners and are in control at a time when that just wasn’t a women’s place. So girls around the world and men too, do yourself a favor and check out a Beverly Jenkins Novel.