I previously enjoyed a Beverly Jenkins historical romance,
DESTINY'S
SURRENDER, so I was delighted to get another one in her
Old
West series. These are very lively books about
strong women.
In the 1800s young Portia Carmichael and her family narrowly
escape a racist mob. BREATHLESS, leaving their burning home,
they flee. Later they establish a successful hotel near
Tucson, Arizona Territory. Portia, now mid-twenties, has no
time as the manager for trifles of the heart, and her sister
Regan tries to persuade her otherwise. They lead very
respectable lives, apart from Regan collecting and
delivering mail with her mule.
Kent Randolph arrives on his big blue roan stallion while
the ladies are preparing a wedding anniversary dinner for
their aunt and uncle, the hotel's owners. Kent, son of a
doctor, hasn't seen them in years, but his own life has been
pretty eventful, and he's learned some hard lessons as a
drifter. He thinks he could do a lot worse than settle here
with the lovely girl he used to call Duchess, Portia. Easier
said than done, especially as so many well-placed gentlemen
in town also admire her.
I love the details. Through hard work and honest dealing,
the hotel allows the ladies to wear dresses (with corsets)
from San Francisco, dine off china plates, and keep their
own Appaloosa mounts. Tucson is considered the Wild West,
but accessible enough for rich Easterners to come and
vacation on ranches. Contrasting memories of the days when
the girls wore charity clothing or flour sack dresses remind
us that life was still tough for many people. And I love
that Portia is still well able to shingle a roof. We learn
that legal deeds may sometimes be challenged because of the
seller's race, even though everyone appears to be on an
equal footing. Apart from Geronimo and his escaping Apaches
that is. And women in Arizona still don't have a vote!
BREATHLESS is a great multicultural romance, casting a light
on the part of the Wild West story we don't often read, also
showing the hard work of hospitality businesses. There's so
much happening that the adult romance feels understated but
no less physical. Beverly Jenkins really gets under the skin
of her heroines and clearly enjoys telling their stories.
A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the
handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the
sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today
Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins
As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory,
Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely
missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize
that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are
plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as
tempting as the family friend who just rode into town…and
none has looked at her with such intensity and heat.
Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave
Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning,
intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard
lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the
value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s
found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with
her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest
challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win…
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