Destiny's Embrace by Beverly Jenkins



California, here I come!

The Bethel AME church scenes are very inspiring along with African American heroines and heroes like Jim Beckwourth and also Native American tribes. There is a wonderful romance between Logan and Mariah. Since Mariah is not bad to look at, she gets a big share of men who come to date her. This part of the novel is very funny.It seems men will do anything to get a woman's attention. There is Reverend Dennis who comes a courting also.

My favorite part of the novel is Logan's shopping trip with Mariah Cooper. He has it. So she can pick out all the furniture she wants and also romantic negligees and beautiful jewelry which I wanted to wrap around my neck and put on my ears. "Earbobs, a few necklaces for special occasions. A bracelet or two and oh, a wedding ring." His special name for her is querida. Yes, there is a bit of the Spanish culture in the novel. I am tempted to take a course in the Spanish language and in Spanish Architecture.

I also like the relationship Mariah shares with the three brothers and with their mother, Alanza. For once, this is a mother in law and daughter in law relationship that looks promising. However, the relationship Mariah has with her mother is terribly sad. It's about control possibly. Therefore, kind and loving relationships matter because Mariah doesn't come from a happy past.

Did the place matter? Yes, the setting is Philadelphia and mostly California. I love old, old Philadelphia and would like to read more about that city's History. As always, Beverly Jenkins makes American History come alive.
http://www.beverlyjenkins.net/web/ser...

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