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Destiny #3
Destiny's Captive
In national bestselling author Beverly Jenkins' Destiny series, the Yates men play hard and live hard. And when they find that special woman, they fall hard . . .
Noah Yates fully believes in the joys of a happy family and a good wife. But that's not the life for him. No, he would much rather sail the wild seas in search of adventure, not tied down. But then the unthinkable happens . . . he finds himself literally tied down. To a bed. By a woman.
And Pilar isn't just an ordinary woman. She's descended from pirates. And after giving him one of the worst nights of his life, she steals his ship! Now Noah is on the hunt, and he'll stop at nothing to find this extraordinary woman . . . and make her his.
Noah Yates fully believes in the joys of a happy family and a good wife. But that's not the life for him. No, he would much rather sail the wild seas in search of adventure, not tied down. But then the unthinkable happens . . . he finds himself literally tied down. To a bed. By a woman.
And Pilar isn't just an ordinary woman. She's descended from pirates. And after giving him one of the worst nights of his life, she steals his ship! Now Noah is on the hunt, and he'll stop at nothing to find this extraordinary woman . . . and make her his.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published September 30, 2014
230 people are currently reading
2427 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Jenkins
70 books4,831 followersBeverly Jenkins is the recipient of the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for historical romance.
She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
She has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured both in the documentary “Love Between the Covers” and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Since the publication of Night Song in 1994, she has been leading the charge for inclusive romance, and has been a constant darling of reviewers, fans, and her peers alike, garnering accolades for her work from the likes of The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and NPR. Her critically acclaimed Blessings series has been optioned for film by John Legend’s and Mike Jackson’s production company Get Lifted, and Hollywood and Broadway powerhouse Deborah Martin Chase.
To read more about Beverly and sign up for her newsletter, visit her at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
August 14, 2020
this probably had my favorite first meeting of any romance. the heroine is a pirate and steals the hero's ship, he vows to find her again and get revenge -- but then he falls in love with her
July 31, 2020
My favorite of the series! But are we surprised? The heroine knows how to use a sword and literally steals the hero’s ship right after tying him up 😂
December 9, 2021
Favourite in the series. Reading a Beverly Jenkins story feels like coming home.
Her romances always have a backdrop of struggle but I enjoy that contrast; of something so beautiful existing alongside the injustice and cruelty people of colour and Black people were subjected to.
Her romances always have a backdrop of struggle but I enjoy that contrast; of something so beautiful existing alongside the injustice and cruelty people of colour and Black people were subjected to.
Read
January 27, 2020A terrific conclusion to this series, which stars three absolutely glorious heroines. Pilar is a thief, Cuban rebel, and gun runner who steals Noah's boat and draws a sword on him at a party. Match made in heaven. She also executes, nearly literally, a fantastic "saving her man" bit of violence. A star.
CW: spoilers here for discussion of rape.
It is notable also that though Noah finds joy and healing in his relationship with Pilar, great sex does not cure trauma. In the end Noah takes responsibility for his own emotional needs (please note he *never* dumps that on Pilar, I love this man). He confronts his past and takes steps himself to work on healing.
This whole trilogy is an incredible example of how historical romance can work even in brutal hateful times, without sugar coating anything. A triumph.
CW: spoilers here for discussion of rape.
It is notable also that though Noah finds joy and healing in his relationship with Pilar, great sex does not cure trauma. In the end Noah takes responsibility for his own emotional needs (please note he *never* dumps that on Pilar, I love this man). He confronts his past and takes steps himself to work on healing.
This whole trilogy is an incredible example of how historical romance can work even in brutal hateful times, without sugar coating anything. A triumph.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2020
I absolutely love Beverly Jenkins and I was so excited when I saw this was a pirate romance. In the beginning, Pilar steals Noah's ship and he's determined to find out who she is and to get it back. Little did he know he'd fall in love in the process.
For this series, I've noticed that the beginning of the books are always so action packed and the angst between the couples is so strong, but once the couple decides to be together about halfway through, it kind of just continues on. Then, there's some action in the end to make us invested in the story again. All three stories have followed this pacing. While I love the beginning, I always find myself just kind of along for the ride for the rest of the book and not loving it as much as I did in the beginning. It's still a good story, but I would like a faster pace.
I loved the beginning of this one and how Noah couldn't believe a woman stole his ship. Noah is definitely a damaged hero and I really loved how he was able to open up to Pilar. Pilar was a fun character and I enjoyed how she wasn't used to being a prim and proper lady. I appreciated how Noah took that in stride and actually admired her even more for her bold personality and "manly" skills. Noah's mom has had a side-story throughout this whole series and I enjoyed watching her get her HEA! And it was a lot of fun seeing all of the characters from the previous books with their families interacting with our couple in this book. The pacing was slow in places, but overall this was a great end to a great series!
For this series, I've noticed that the beginning of the books are always so action packed and the angst between the couples is so strong, but once the couple decides to be together about halfway through, it kind of just continues on. Then, there's some action in the end to make us invested in the story again. All three stories have followed this pacing. While I love the beginning, I always find myself just kind of along for the ride for the rest of the book and not loving it as much as I did in the beginning. It's still a good story, but I would like a faster pace.
I loved the beginning of this one and how Noah couldn't believe a woman stole his ship. Noah is definitely a damaged hero and I really loved how he was able to open up to Pilar. Pilar was a fun character and I enjoyed how she wasn't used to being a prim and proper lady. I appreciated how Noah took that in stride and actually admired her even more for her bold personality and "manly" skills. Noah's mom has had a side-story throughout this whole series and I enjoyed watching her get her HEA! And it was a lot of fun seeing all of the characters from the previous books with their families interacting with our couple in this book. The pacing was slow in places, but overall this was a great end to a great series!
December 29, 2021
heartbreakingly sweet
I adore this whole series...
4,5⭐
I adore this whole series...
4,5⭐
February 14, 2019
Um, wow.
I feel like I held my breath the last hour or so of this book, so heartbreaking but full of so much hope and perseverance and resiliency. So proud of you Noah♥️
I loved Pillar and Noah’s romance. Pillar is a woman who can hold her own. She’s tough and has so many street smarts. And I loved that her toughness is what drew Noah to her.
AND IM HERE FOR ANTONIO😂 every scene with him made me laugh.
And I’m an Alanza-stan♥️ loved her. Sad this is over.
I feel like I held my breath the last hour or so of this book, so heartbreaking but full of so much hope and perseverance and resiliency. So proud of you Noah♥️
I loved Pillar and Noah’s romance. Pillar is a woman who can hold her own. She’s tough and has so many street smarts. And I loved that her toughness is what drew Noah to her.
AND IM HERE FOR ANTONIO😂 every scene with him made me laugh.
And I’m an Alanza-stan♥️ loved her. Sad this is over.
December 22, 2022
This is the final book in the series. I will miss the Yates family. The youngest son an adventurer crosses paths with a female pirate. Noah has no desire to marry. Yet this strange woman intrigues him. The historical accuracy adds richness. A fine ending to a very enjoyable historical romance series.
June 22, 2020
Having some issues posting to Booklikes, will post there when I get a chance.
Trigger warning: Rape and PTSD
So "Destiny's Captive" is the third and last book in the Destiny series. I have to say that the main reason why I didn't give this five stars is that I thought that Jenkins didn't do a great job with exploring the whole PTSD story-line. I know that this was of course written in consideration of the times of the day, but I thought everyone was acting way too much like [redacted] should just get over things. We get a glimpse into what happened and it's shocking and heart-breaking so I thought that everyone could have been more sympathetic. That said, I loved the love story between Noah and Pilar. The two of them worked well together. I also have to say that once again Jenkins does a good job of tying things into the time that the book was written. We get some ugly looks at segregation in this one with the two characters having to ride a train and being forced to segregate because they are not white. We also see how women even if they are capable, would not be able to run a business like the daughter of one of Noah's potential business partners wants to.
"Destiny's Captive" follows the Noah Yates. We have heard and seen glimpses of him in the first two books, but not much. We know that he is gone a lot and that his family misses him. We also heard in the first two books how he was kidnapped (or crimped) and forced to work aboard a ship before his family found him. Noah feels adrift and knows that he is not the same person he was before this happened and his family feels pained that he keeps them at a distance now. When Noah's ship is stolen though by a female pirate (Pilar), he promises to find her and get his ship back. When Pilar is almost captured she and her family make their way to her uncle in Florida. Pilar is wondering what is next for her when in walks the man whose ship she stole!
I thought that Jenkins does a great job of setting up Pilar and Noah. I do think as some other reviewers noted there's a bit too much going on in this one. And though I liked how Pilar and Noah eventually get together, I wish that we had more interactions with the brothers and sister in laws in this one since this was the last book. I thought the writing was really good and I did enjoy the romance scenes between Pilar and Noah. The flow worked for the most part until we got towards the end.
The setting of this book seems even more brutal than the previous books in this series. Jenkins includes the practice of crimping or shanghaiing in this one and we get to read what was done to Noah and others. I read up on crimping or shanghaiing and was shocked it took to the 1900s before the practice was outlawed. We also get to read a bit about Cuba's efforts to liberate due to Pilar's backstory.
The ending I think wrapped things up too quickly. We go from Noah being hurt to all of a sudden a secret being revealed and no one really getting a chance to deal with things. I also didn't like the fact that everyone acted as if [redacted] was in the wrong.
Trigger warning: Rape and PTSD
So "Destiny's Captive" is the third and last book in the Destiny series. I have to say that the main reason why I didn't give this five stars is that I thought that Jenkins didn't do a great job with exploring the whole PTSD story-line. I know that this was of course written in consideration of the times of the day, but I thought everyone was acting way too much like [redacted] should just get over things. We get a glimpse into what happened and it's shocking and heart-breaking so I thought that everyone could have been more sympathetic. That said, I loved the love story between Noah and Pilar. The two of them worked well together. I also have to say that once again Jenkins does a good job of tying things into the time that the book was written. We get some ugly looks at segregation in this one with the two characters having to ride a train and being forced to segregate because they are not white. We also see how women even if they are capable, would not be able to run a business like the daughter of one of Noah's potential business partners wants to.
"Destiny's Captive" follows the Noah Yates. We have heard and seen glimpses of him in the first two books, but not much. We know that he is gone a lot and that his family misses him. We also heard in the first two books how he was kidnapped (or crimped) and forced to work aboard a ship before his family found him. Noah feels adrift and knows that he is not the same person he was before this happened and his family feels pained that he keeps them at a distance now. When Noah's ship is stolen though by a female pirate (Pilar), he promises to find her and get his ship back. When Pilar is almost captured she and her family make their way to her uncle in Florida. Pilar is wondering what is next for her when in walks the man whose ship she stole!
I thought that Jenkins does a great job of setting up Pilar and Noah. I do think as some other reviewers noted there's a bit too much going on in this one. And though I liked how Pilar and Noah eventually get together, I wish that we had more interactions with the brothers and sister in laws in this one since this was the last book. I thought the writing was really good and I did enjoy the romance scenes between Pilar and Noah. The flow worked for the most part until we got towards the end.
The setting of this book seems even more brutal than the previous books in this series. Jenkins includes the practice of crimping or shanghaiing in this one and we get to read what was done to Noah and others. I read up on crimping or shanghaiing and was shocked it took to the 1900s before the practice was outlawed. We also get to read a bit about Cuba's efforts to liberate due to Pilar's backstory.
The ending I think wrapped things up too quickly. We go from Noah being hurt to all of a sudden a secret being revealed and no one really getting a chance to deal with things. I also didn't like the fact that everyone acted as if [redacted] was in the wrong.
December 25, 2021
4.5 Stars rounded up
How could I not love this story???
A pirate heroine🥰
Just perfection.
Original Review:
I enjoyed this installment. Romance isn't growing on me as a genre but I remain appreciative of the history included in the story
How could I not love this story???
A pirate heroine🥰
Just perfection.
Original Review:
I enjoyed this installment. Romance isn't growing on me as a genre but I remain appreciative of the history included in the story
November 25, 2022
Love this series and cannot wait to read more by Ms. Bev!!!
Read
February 11, 2020I've been wanting to read more of Beverly Jenkins' work since the day I read REBEL and a book that centers a badass pirate woman?? SIGN ME UP! It sounded like a good place to start. Regardless of the fact that...this book is the third in a series I haven't started. But ANYWAY, that's besides the point, since I will eventually read them.
I loved every single relationship in DESTINY'S CAPTIVE, so much so that I actually preferred some of them to the actual romance. The romance was cute and the banter super entertaining but , the brotherly relationships Noah had with his siblings, especially Drew, had my heart soaring. Not only that, but the way they welcomed Pilar into the family and started seeing her as their sister they must protect and look out for without the blink of an eye. It really warmed my heart, and I know now without a doubt that the author really knows how to write family into her romance books, making it prominent without overshadowing the romance. I also adored Alanza, Noah's mother, her protectiveness but also how far ahead of her time she was and how unconditionally loving she was of both her sons and their wives, embracing them with no judgement and no questions asked.
The romance was really fun to read, especially the first half of it where there was abit of a chase and animosity and tension between Pilar and Noah. Pilar is a woman after my own heart, she's a badass Cuban woman who knows how to wield a freaking Rapier and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I also liked Noah's character and that he has PTSD from being shanghaied. Which brings me to the history in this book, I really liked the historical aspects of it and how they were integral aspects of the story and influenced the way the main characters interacted with the world and how it interacted with them.
But, BUT although I enjoyed this story for most part, there were two main things that bugged me:
1- The PTSD exploration wasn't...great in my opinion. It was well done for most of the book but it wasn't given the proper space to be explored and the way it was wrapped up at the end just...annoyed me. It felt like Noah was cured after some reflection and in the blink of an eye. Maybe that's not how the author intended it but there was this one scene after being heavily triggered where he decided to relive it all and that seemed to have cured him? Because the topic wasn't broached again or even acknowledged and he seemed completely fine. It didn't help that this was left to the last 8% of the book and that the ending was pretty rushed.
2- Some of the sex scenes were very...cringey. There was this part where Pilar was poking fun at Noah and when he said something like "my wife shouldn't poke fun at me, she literally said "Then you can poke me as a punishment" and I DIED. DECEASED. I WANTED THE EARTH TO OPEN UP AND SWALLOW ME WHOLE THE CRINGE WAS TO REAL. And the rest of it, that wasn't cringey, was okay. And mostly fade to black! So if you prefer your romance with minimal sex this is one for you!
I loved every single relationship in DESTINY'S CAPTIVE, so much so that I actually preferred some of them to the actual romance. The romance was cute and the banter super entertaining but , the brotherly relationships Noah had with his siblings, especially Drew, had my heart soaring. Not only that, but the way they welcomed Pilar into the family and started seeing her as their sister they must protect and look out for without the blink of an eye. It really warmed my heart, and I know now without a doubt that the author really knows how to write family into her romance books, making it prominent without overshadowing the romance. I also adored Alanza, Noah's mother, her protectiveness but also how far ahead of her time she was and how unconditionally loving she was of both her sons and their wives, embracing them with no judgement and no questions asked.
The romance was really fun to read, especially the first half of it where there was abit of a chase and animosity and tension between Pilar and Noah. Pilar is a woman after my own heart, she's a badass Cuban woman who knows how to wield a freaking Rapier and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I also liked Noah's character and that he has PTSD from being shanghaied. Which brings me to the history in this book, I really liked the historical aspects of it and how they were integral aspects of the story and influenced the way the main characters interacted with the world and how it interacted with them.
But, BUT although I enjoyed this story for most part, there were two main things that bugged me:
1- The PTSD exploration wasn't...great in my opinion. It was well done for most of the book but it wasn't given the proper space to be explored and the way it was wrapped up at the end just...annoyed me. It felt like Noah was cured after some reflection and in the blink of an eye. Maybe that's not how the author intended it but there was this one scene after being heavily triggered where he decided to relive it all and that seemed to have cured him? Because the topic wasn't broached again or even acknowledged and he seemed completely fine. It didn't help that this was left to the last 8% of the book and that the ending was pretty rushed.
2- Some of the sex scenes were very...cringey. There was this part where Pilar was poking fun at Noah and when he said something like "my wife shouldn't poke fun at me, she literally said "Then you can poke me as a punishment" and I DIED. DECEASED. I WANTED THE EARTH TO OPEN UP AND SWALLOW ME WHOLE THE CRINGE WAS TO REAL. And the rest of it, that wasn't cringey, was okay. And mostly fade to black! So if you prefer your romance with minimal sex this is one for you!
May 18, 2024
Hmmmm I liked it and it’s way better than my average 3⭐️ read, but it’s my least fav of the series.
February 19, 2021
Ugh this was so sweet I officially adore Beverly Jenkins and her writing
October 19, 2015
Definitely another great read by the wonderful Beverly Jenkins! This story is about the final Yates brother Noah. Noah is a troubled young seamen who meets very Beautiful Cuban girl by the name of Pilar. Pilar and her family are Cuban rebels. That means they do whatever they have to do to survive to the next day if that means steel Rob swindle they'll do it hopefully no one gets hurt in the process. Palaro and her family needed a ship to transport guns to the rebels and the only ship that was available was Noah's ship. Noah under estimated The very small boned Pilar and a sword fight. He ended up tied up and left without his boat. Somehow he made it home to California and of course he could not tell this to his family. I will straighten bear sling to get beat by a woman. They later meet at a party and as they say the rest is history very enjoyable novel as usual you learn a little history when you read any of Beverly Jenkins' stories. And as usual there's always the right mix of romance and erotica. Five star read.
May 12, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this one. Noah Yates is definitely my favorite of the Yates Bros. Shanghaied at age 18, he's got some serious angst to work through and it creates some decent tension with his relationship with the heroine, Pilar. However, after Billie's bust-'em-up ending in Destiny's Surrender, I was all tuned up for a book full of action, piracy and sword fights. Sadly, I didn't get it. The couple heads back to Noah's mother's ranch shortly after they marry where Pilar shops, hosts her family and attends parties. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with any of that but ... it feels anti-climatic to say the least.
March 18, 2023
3.5 stars rounded down.
I liked so much about this book, but many parts of the end didn’t work for me.
I don’t believe that the pirate, revolutionary Pilar from the first section would be happy living in San Francisco as a shipyard owner’s wife.
There needed to be some resolution with what’s-his-name and with Noah’s trauma from being kidnapped and SAed. But the shooting comes out of nowhere. And then Noah pushes Pilar away so strongly both in his recovery and after he sees his former captor. It’s one thing if that’s a point of conflict they work through, but then he just disappears on his pregnant wife for months, shows back up, and that’s supposed to be their happy ending?? I don’t buy any of it. Let us see them work out that resolution!
Steam: 3
I liked so much about this book, but many parts of the end didn’t work for me.
I don’t believe that the pirate, revolutionary Pilar from the first section would be happy living in San Francisco as a shipyard owner’s wife.
There needed to be some resolution with what’s-his-name and with Noah’s trauma from being kidnapped and SAed. But the shooting comes out of nowhere. And then Noah pushes Pilar away so strongly both in his recovery and after he sees his former captor. It’s one thing if that’s a point of conflict they work through, but then he just disappears on his pregnant wife for months, shows back up, and that’s supposed to be their happy ending?? I don’t buy any of it. Let us see them work out that resolution!
Steam: 3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
Ok first of all, I’m dumb and impulsively picked this up without realizing it’s part of a series HAHA. So I’m definitely going to read the first two now.
I was swept away from the very first page honestly. Beverly’s writing is always incredible, and I genuinely have loved everything I’ve read of hers so far. This one MIGHT be my new favorite though 😭
It takes place after the ten year war in Cuba, and Pilar is a descendant of pirates. Her grandfather and his brothers ran a smuggling business and when they died during the ten year war, Pilar and all her female relatives took over running things. Which is just so fucking cool. She then steals his ship to use in the rebellion to fight against the Spanish colonization of Cuba. Now, Noah, during the ten year war, was kidnapped and held in an island prison camp for 6+ months, and endured a LOT of trauma. All in all, excellent plot that had me on the edge of my seat and swooning from start to finish.
The way Noah falls head over heels for her the second he sees how she handles a sword gave me LIFE, and the way they evolved as a couple?? Please the romance in this was off the charts remarkable. Beverly also writes some of the best intimacy scenes I’ve ever read. They just feel so raw and authentic, it feels like I’m intruding on a private moment.
I was swept away from the very first page honestly. Beverly’s writing is always incredible, and I genuinely have loved everything I’ve read of hers so far. This one MIGHT be my new favorite though 😭
It takes place after the ten year war in Cuba, and Pilar is a descendant of pirates. Her grandfather and his brothers ran a smuggling business and when they died during the ten year war, Pilar and all her female relatives took over running things. Which is just so fucking cool. She then steals his ship to use in the rebellion to fight against the Spanish colonization of Cuba. Now, Noah, during the ten year war, was kidnapped and held in an island prison camp for 6+ months, and endured a LOT of trauma. All in all, excellent plot that had me on the edge of my seat and swooning from start to finish.
The way Noah falls head over heels for her the second he sees how she handles a sword gave me LIFE, and the way they evolved as a couple?? Please the romance in this was off the charts remarkable. Beverly also writes some of the best intimacy scenes I’ve ever read. They just feel so raw and authentic, it feels like I’m intruding on a private moment.
February 25, 2023
4.5 stars
I can already tell, me and Queen Beverly are gonna have a wonderful year together. This was so so good.
Similarly to Mariah from the first book in this series, Pilar was just everything to me. I mean, her and Noah meet when she literally ties him down and takes his ship from him. An icon!! Her badass traits (swordplay, survival skills, general bad bitch energy) were nicely mixed with some emotional vulnerability, which made her more three dimensional. Also appreciated that her strong-willed nature didn't change after getting with Noah, and she stayed true to herself throughout the relationship. Also, her connection with Alanza??🥺 so sweet! All the family moments in this book really warmed my heart.
This book worked slightly better for me than the first because I connected with the hero more. Noah's backstory made him such a well-realized character, and I particularly loved how he had to consciously work through his trauma at the end rather than relying on Pilar as a cure. His determination to win her over was everything to me, especially because he didn't want to change her. I also loved how Pilar brought out the lighter side of him that had been lost due to his past, and the way they bantered with each other made me smile multiple times while reading. Watching him slowly open to her throughout the story was just perfection.
I really appreciate that Beverly writes historical romance in the Americas that doesn't sugarcoat the realities of the past but also depicts Black folks finding joy. The insight into some Afro-Cuban history was also informative without feeling like a textbook. As someone who has been hesitant to fully dive into HR, I'm so excited to find authors that prioritize diverse stories like Ms Jenkins, Cat Sebastian and KJ Charles, and also encouraged to keep searching for more.
Overall, I had a great time with this book, and I'm excited to continue my journey into Beverly Jenkins' backlist. (Also, I didn't pick up the second one because it's accidental pregnancy, which isn't my jam....but the FMC is a sex worker, which could be interesting, and I liked them in this book?? Idk, we'll see).
I can already tell, me and Queen Beverly are gonna have a wonderful year together. This was so so good.
Similarly to Mariah from the first book in this series, Pilar was just everything to me. I mean, her and Noah meet when she literally ties him down and takes his ship from him. An icon!! Her badass traits (swordplay, survival skills, general bad bitch energy) were nicely mixed with some emotional vulnerability, which made her more three dimensional. Also appreciated that her strong-willed nature didn't change after getting with Noah, and she stayed true to herself throughout the relationship. Also, her connection with Alanza??🥺 so sweet! All the family moments in this book really warmed my heart.
This book worked slightly better for me than the first because I connected with the hero more. Noah's backstory made him such a well-realized character, and I particularly loved how he had to consciously work through his trauma at the end rather than relying on Pilar as a cure. His determination to win her over was everything to me, especially because he didn't want to change her. I also loved how Pilar brought out the lighter side of him that had been lost due to his past, and the way they bantered with each other made me smile multiple times while reading. Watching him slowly open to her throughout the story was just perfection.
I really appreciate that Beverly writes historical romance in the Americas that doesn't sugarcoat the realities of the past but also depicts Black folks finding joy. The insight into some Afro-Cuban history was also informative without feeling like a textbook. As someone who has been hesitant to fully dive into HR, I'm so excited to find authors that prioritize diverse stories like Ms Jenkins, Cat Sebastian and KJ Charles, and also encouraged to keep searching for more.
Overall, I had a great time with this book, and I'm excited to continue my journey into Beverly Jenkins' backlist. (Also, I didn't pick up the second one because it's accidental pregnancy, which isn't my jam....but the FMC is a sex worker, which could be interesting, and I liked them in this book?? Idk, we'll see).
October 26, 2014
I hate to be the one to NOT like a Beverly Jenkins book. I mean she is the GODDESS of AA romance novels. Literally. Her book, Through the Storm, I read back in high school and since then I have been the ultimate fan. Besides the fact of giving such rich characters in Raimond and Sable, Ms. Jenkins had dropped GINORMOUS golden nuggets of AA history (a staple that holds true in just about all of her historical novels). Things that you don't get taught in HS due to ignorance or laziness.
Unfortunately, this book does not meet the standard of the usual fabulousness that can be found in Ms. Jenkins' catalogue. There were numerous times throughout the book that I went against the urge to just put it down because the story line and interactions were so ill contrived. I pushed forward and continued reading on the strength that this is Ms. Jenkins and not some two-bit hack writer and wanting to catch up on the characters that were introduced in the first two books of the series.
Noah and Pilar were okay as characters. After the prologue of Noah being shanghaied and Pilar the confiscating his boat, the book just fell off. More than once I got the impression that rather than enjoying the characters she was writing, Ms. Jenkins just wanted to get the series over with. Where there were clear oppurtunities for depth, conflict and growth, the cookie cutter approach was taken and that left me sorely disappointed.
While I am always going to be a BJ fan, this book is not the best introduction to her historical romance works.
Unfortunately, this book does not meet the standard of the usual fabulousness that can be found in Ms. Jenkins' catalogue. There were numerous times throughout the book that I went against the urge to just put it down because the story line and interactions were so ill contrived. I pushed forward and continued reading on the strength that this is Ms. Jenkins and not some two-bit hack writer and wanting to catch up on the characters that were introduced in the first two books of the series.
Noah and Pilar were okay as characters. After the prologue of Noah being shanghaied and Pilar the confiscating his boat, the book just fell off. More than once I got the impression that rather than enjoying the characters she was writing, Ms. Jenkins just wanted to get the series over with. Where there were clear oppurtunities for depth, conflict and growth, the cookie cutter approach was taken and that left me sorely disappointed.
While I am always going to be a BJ fan, this book is not the best introduction to her historical romance works.
February 9, 2021
A wonderful ending to the Destiny trilogy!! This historical romance has everything: a badass pirate heroine (she steals the hero’s ship!), a soft boi hero with a tragic past, sword fighting, a wonderful family dynamic, and plenty of 🔥🔥🔥. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a pirate romance centering on POC characters! Can’t wait to read more from Beverly Jenkins ASAP.
P.S. we follow Alanza’s love story (the brothers’ mom) throughout the 3 books, and it made me soooo happy to finally see her HEA!! Such a sweet “side romance”
P.S. we follow Alanza’s love story (the brothers’ mom) throughout the 3 books, and it made me soooo happy to finally see her HEA!! Such a sweet “side romance”
September 20, 2025
Enjoyed Noah’s story. Noah was able to find what he needed. The Yate’s men really love there really women. This was such a good series.
July 16, 2014
A delightful historical romance, Destiny's Captive was a lovely read. With thrills, dark secrets, diverse settings and tons of sweet romance, this book was wonderful.
I really liked the different settings in this book. Set in the 1870s, we got a look at Cuba at the beginnings of another revolution, Florida, and California. It definitely made the book interesting and a different type of historical romance.
Pilar was a great heroine. She was very strong, resilient, and independently minded, but also kind and loyal to those she cared about. I thought she was a likable, lovely character.
Noah was also wonderful. He had a dark past that made him ruthless but, underneath that, he was sweet and kinder than he first appears to be. I thought it was sweet how devoted he was to Pilar, once they found themselves together, willing to face even the demons in his past for her sake. I thought he was great.
The romance was lovely. Pilar and Noah were a perfect match, both strong-willed and loyal to a fault. And, they definitely had some steamy chemistry between them turned the heat level up. I thought they were a wonderful couple.
The plot was well paced and I was kept interested the entire way through, though there were a few points where the plot stalled for a bit. But, it wasn't to the point of being a big problem. There were thrills and twists along the way, as well as a few surprising secrets. I enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Destiny's Captive was a wonderful historical romance that I really enjoyed reading. It was a lovely book, with lush settings, dark secrets, and delightful romance. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I really liked the different settings in this book. Set in the 1870s, we got a look at Cuba at the beginnings of another revolution, Florida, and California. It definitely made the book interesting and a different type of historical romance.
Pilar was a great heroine. She was very strong, resilient, and independently minded, but also kind and loyal to those she cared about. I thought she was a likable, lovely character.
Noah was also wonderful. He had a dark past that made him ruthless but, underneath that, he was sweet and kinder than he first appears to be. I thought it was sweet how devoted he was to Pilar, once they found themselves together, willing to face even the demons in his past for her sake. I thought he was great.
The romance was lovely. Pilar and Noah were a perfect match, both strong-willed and loyal to a fault. And, they definitely had some steamy chemistry between them turned the heat level up. I thought they were a wonderful couple.
The plot was well paced and I was kept interested the entire way through, though there were a few points where the plot stalled for a bit. But, it wasn't to the point of being a big problem. There were thrills and twists along the way, as well as a few surprising secrets. I enjoyed the story and the ending was lovely.
Destiny's Captive was a wonderful historical romance that I really enjoyed reading. It was a lovely book, with lush settings, dark secrets, and delightful romance. Romance lovers, this is a book worth checking out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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March 3, 2020This was a very fun read and I'm always a sucker for pirate books + strong family relationships, but the way PTSD was handled in this book just... wasn't very good.
July 23, 2023
TW: mention of hero being sexually assaulted. please tread carefully. It's not graphically described or anything but the mention of it could be triggering.
Finally got to read another Ms Bev book and I really enjoyed it! It was interesting learning the history the author shared and I loved Pilar alot! The meeting between her and Noah and him promising to find her after she made off with this ship. perfection!
This man literally fell in love with her after she cut him in a sword fight?? like. how could you not love him.
Pilar was a force to reckon with from the start and even after she is now brought into Noah's world of finery she takes no shit from anyone !
Noah is fighting some demons from his past and coming down to the end had me wanting to fight everybodyyyy who hurt him! But he and Pilar were able to get through it.
Finally got to read another Ms Bev book and I really enjoyed it! It was interesting learning the history the author shared and I loved Pilar alot! The meeting between her and Noah and him promising to find her after she made off with this ship. perfection!
This man literally fell in love with her after she cut him in a sword fight?? like. how could you not love him.
Pilar was a force to reckon with from the start and even after she is now brought into Noah's world of finery she takes no shit from anyone !
Noah is fighting some demons from his past and coming down to the end had me wanting to fight everybodyyyy who hurt him! But he and Pilar were able to get through it.
October 4, 2014
Pilar, has been a rebel fighting for freedom since she was fifteen years old. She comes from a family of thief's and forgers, they have done what is necessary to survive. but when her father is wrongly accused and hanged, she knows that the fight for Cuban Independence is up to the rebels to convince change in the government. When she decides to start gun running, she finds the perfect ship for it and the owner doesn't suspect a thing. Noah Yates, loves the sea, and despite being taken captive at a young age and forced into labor and other horrible circumstances, he loves sailing and being on the ocean. While in Cuba, he finds himself capture and his ship seized, and now he will have to give up his precious ship, but he vows vengeance, and knows he will find the one woman that has humbled him more than any other. When Pilar and Noah do find each other again, Pilar never expected to see the one man she least expected to see, or to see a attraction to him that makes her body buzz with excitement, and soon she is faced with a decision that could change her life forever.
Destiny's Captive is the third and final installment from this wonderful trilogy about the Yates family. Although I am secretly crossing my fingers that Pilar's younger sister gets her own story. Anyway, this was so much better than I ever expected it to be. I will be honest I haven't read this author since I was a teenager, when I got hooked on the Avon true romance series, and that is when I fell in love with romance novels, and Jenkins was one of the main authors that pulled me right into this genre and I have never looked back since. But I have no idea why I haven't read more of her books until now. I can tell y'all that is so going to change. Even though this is the last book of the series, it definitely can be read as a stand alone if need be. Now would I have preferred to have read this series in order? Yes. But life isn't fair that way for me, and most times I end up reading a series out of order just like this one. But I am okay with that, since this story was packed with everything I was expecting and beyond.
The characters in this story are quite different than what you think when you read the blurb. Noah, has suffered quite a bit, and still is suffering the effects of his younger years.On the surface Noah is a hard and rough around the edges, but at the heart he is a teddy bear when it comes to the woman who makes him feel more alive than he has ever felt in his life. Every time they have a fight or argument his blood heats and his senses go on alert in anticipation and he begins to see that Pilar is a woman worth fighting for and their future together. Seeing Pilar and Noah together, was quite intense at times. They definitely have passion and desire going for them, but there is also something more that you sense from them as a couple. They both have done and see horrible things, but when they come together, they start to see a future they could have. Pilar is the saving grace for Noah, you see how she affects him, but in a very positive way. I found Destiny's Captive to be a stunning romance full of history, culture, desire and a romance to make you melt. Unforgettable with every scene, and will burn in you!! FANTASTIC!!
Destiny's Captive is the third and final installment from this wonderful trilogy about the Yates family. Although I am secretly crossing my fingers that Pilar's younger sister gets her own story. Anyway, this was so much better than I ever expected it to be. I will be honest I haven't read this author since I was a teenager, when I got hooked on the Avon true romance series, and that is when I fell in love with romance novels, and Jenkins was one of the main authors that pulled me right into this genre and I have never looked back since. But I have no idea why I haven't read more of her books until now. I can tell y'all that is so going to change. Even though this is the last book of the series, it definitely can be read as a stand alone if need be. Now would I have preferred to have read this series in order? Yes. But life isn't fair that way for me, and most times I end up reading a series out of order just like this one. But I am okay with that, since this story was packed with everything I was expecting and beyond.
The characters in this story are quite different than what you think when you read the blurb. Noah, has suffered quite a bit, and still is suffering the effects of his younger years.On the surface Noah is a hard and rough around the edges, but at the heart he is a teddy bear when it comes to the woman who makes him feel more alive than he has ever felt in his life. Every time they have a fight or argument his blood heats and his senses go on alert in anticipation and he begins to see that Pilar is a woman worth fighting for and their future together. Seeing Pilar and Noah together, was quite intense at times. They definitely have passion and desire going for them, but there is also something more that you sense from them as a couple. They both have done and see horrible things, but when they come together, they start to see a future they could have. Pilar is the saving grace for Noah, you see how she affects him, but in a very positive way. I found Destiny's Captive to be a stunning romance full of history, culture, desire and a romance to make you melt. Unforgettable with every scene, and will burn in you!! FANTASTIC!!
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August 15, 2017Descended from a long line of pirates, when Pilar Banderas steals adventure-seeking Noah Yates’ ship, it’s not greed that propels her theft but a desperate effort to protect the beloved women of her family, who are her sole responsibility. Laugh and cheer as Pilar shows arrogant Noah what it really means to be heroic. Bonus: On the gorgeous cover of this romance novel, the heroine is ripping the hero’s “bodice.” —Katharine Ashe (https://www.bookish.com/articles/pira...)
February 14, 2024
✨Book Review✨
Noah Yates believes in love and the entity of family but he is convinced that having his own wife and kids one day is not in the cards for him. So, instead of being tied down, he much rather sail the world seas in search of adventure. That is until he comes across a Cuban pirate who steals his ship and leaves him tied to a bed. Oh, did I mention that the pirate was a female?
Pilar Banderas is from a family of pirates. Living a very humble life in Cuba Pilar and her family must fight for everything. So they, rob, steal, lie, whatever it takes to put food on the table. one day Pilar needs a boat to smuggle and sell some handguns, when she notices Noah Yates's ship, it’s the perfect size for the mission she needs. What she wasn’t expecting was for Noah to be determined to find her and his ship.
Noah told Pilar he would find her if it was the last thing he did, and he meant just that, but what he wasn’t expecting, was to be captivated by this beauty and her strong deniable presence. Pilar stole Noah’s heart with one sword fight. He fully intended to turn her into the authorities, but after their fight, he was convinced that he had found his wife, now he just needed her to see how perfect they were for each other.
I was so happy when my girl Pilar stopped fighting her feelings for Noah and just allowed herself to be loved properly for the first time. She had never had a boyfriend so being someone’s wife was brand new.
But Noah was patient and such a gentleman, he didn’t even rush their wedding night activities. Pilar having to leave her family and the only life she’s ever known in Cuba and move to California with her new husband was extremely hard for her but she lucked up with the Yates family, they were just so loving and welcoming. I truly enjoyed this series and can’t wait to read more by Beverly soon.
Some of my Favorite Parts:
1. Doneta helping Noah court Pilar and telling how love works according to her romance novels.
2. Alanza and Max finally getting married! 🥰🥰 My girl screamed 😝
3. Pilar teaching Logan how to properly break a horse.
4. The brothers being overprotective of Christopher and Doneta.
Book: Destiny’s Capture
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🥵🥵🥵
Noah Yates believes in love and the entity of family but he is convinced that having his own wife and kids one day is not in the cards for him. So, instead of being tied down, he much rather sail the world seas in search of adventure. That is until he comes across a Cuban pirate who steals his ship and leaves him tied to a bed. Oh, did I mention that the pirate was a female?
Pilar Banderas is from a family of pirates. Living a very humble life in Cuba Pilar and her family must fight for everything. So they, rob, steal, lie, whatever it takes to put food on the table. one day Pilar needs a boat to smuggle and sell some handguns, when she notices Noah Yates's ship, it’s the perfect size for the mission she needs. What she wasn’t expecting was for Noah to be determined to find her and his ship.
Noah told Pilar he would find her if it was the last thing he did, and he meant just that, but what he wasn’t expecting, was to be captivated by this beauty and her strong deniable presence. Pilar stole Noah’s heart with one sword fight. He fully intended to turn her into the authorities, but after their fight, he was convinced that he had found his wife, now he just needed her to see how perfect they were for each other.
I was so happy when my girl Pilar stopped fighting her feelings for Noah and just allowed herself to be loved properly for the first time. She had never had a boyfriend so being someone’s wife was brand new.
But Noah was patient and such a gentleman, he didn’t even rush their wedding night activities. Pilar having to leave her family and the only life she’s ever known in Cuba and move to California with her new husband was extremely hard for her but she lucked up with the Yates family, they were just so loving and welcoming. I truly enjoyed this series and can’t wait to read more by Beverly soon.
Some of my Favorite Parts:
1. Doneta helping Noah court Pilar and telling how love works according to her romance novels.
2. Alanza and Max finally getting married! 🥰🥰 My girl screamed 😝
3. Pilar teaching Logan how to properly break a horse.
4. The brothers being overprotective of Christopher and Doneta.
Book: Destiny’s Capture
Author: Beverly Jenkins
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🥵🥵🥵
April 20, 2022
Overall, this was a sweet story of two people who meet in the most unexpected way and fall in love. I enjoyed both Noah and Pilar as characters. They have realistic doubts and struggles, and I was rooting for them to be happy.
Romantically, however, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. After they get married and spend the night together, things are basically smooth sailing until the 90% mark. It's not that the book was plotless after their marriage, but that the plot mostly consisted of Noah and Pilar traveling to California and Pilar befriending Noah's family. There is basically no conflict until much later in the book. I would have preferred that there be a bit more inter-character conflict, or perhaps not even conflict, but a way for Noah and Pilar to work together to a shared goal. They just sort-of float along. This is in stark contrast to the beginning of the book, where Pilar kidnaps Noah and steals his ship.
I think I was a little mislead by the blurb on the back of the book. I thought this would be a story about Noah pursuing Pilar after she steals his ship, and that the book would be a game of cat-and-mouse until they finally got together. I thought there would be much more piracy and seafaring. Instead, after their fateful encounter, Noah quickly finds Pilar at a party and nearly strong-arms her into marriage. A few scenes later, they're wed and on their way to SF, and Pilar is lost to all thought, melting in Noah's arms any time he so much as grazes her cheek with his lips. It's not that the book took a bad turn, only an unexpected one, and I wish the majority of the book was more like the conflict at the start.
Romantically, however, I didn't really feel the chemistry between them. After they get married and spend the night together, things are basically smooth sailing until the 90% mark. It's not that the book was plotless after their marriage, but that the plot mostly consisted of Noah and Pilar traveling to California and Pilar befriending Noah's family. There is basically no conflict until much later in the book. I would have preferred that there be a bit more inter-character conflict, or perhaps not even conflict, but a way for Noah and Pilar to work together to a shared goal. They just sort-of float along. This is in stark contrast to the beginning of the book, where Pilar kidnaps Noah and steals his ship.
I think I was a little mislead by the blurb on the back of the book. I thought this would be a story about Noah pursuing Pilar after she steals his ship, and that the book would be a game of cat-and-mouse until they finally got together. I thought there would be much more piracy and seafaring. Instead, after their fateful encounter, Noah quickly finds Pilar at a party and nearly strong-arms her into marriage. A few scenes later, they're wed and on their way to SF, and Pilar is lost to all thought, melting in Noah's arms any time he so much as grazes her cheek with his lips. It's not that the book took a bad turn, only an unexpected one, and I wish the majority of the book was more like the conflict at the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2020
It turns out all I really needed this week was a pirate romance. Pilar and Noah were GREAT foils for each other while also being perfect for each other, and I just loved his whole family so much that I'm gonna need to read the books about the other sisters-in-law, particularly Billie. Also, baby jail for the toddlers! Love it.
This one was longer and more complex than most of the romances I've read lately, but it allowed for beautiful character development and quite a few subplots about the Spanish colonization of Cuba, Cuban rebellion, segregation in the southern U.S., and the business of being a woman in the 1800s, to name a few.
There's sex, of course, but it's not explicit most of the time; more of a setup then fade-to-black. And, you know, sword-fighting as foreplay, because pirate romance. :)
TW: pregnancy (healthy), rape of male character (off-page).
This one was longer and more complex than most of the romances I've read lately, but it allowed for beautiful character development and quite a few subplots about the Spanish colonization of Cuba, Cuban rebellion, segregation in the southern U.S., and the business of being a woman in the 1800s, to name a few.
There's sex, of course, but it's not explicit most of the time; more of a setup then fade-to-black. And, you know, sword-fighting as foreplay, because pirate romance. :)
TW: pregnancy (healthy), rape of male character (off-page).
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