Tempête

Old West #3

by Beverly Jenkins

Regan Carmichael a accepté d’épouser Colton Lee, un jeune médecin veuf avec qui elle entretient une relation épistolaire. Mais son arrivée à Paradise est mouvementée car, par suite d’un quiproquo, elle commence par tirer sur son futur mari ! Cet homme austère et conservateur a du mal à imaginer l’épouse parfaite sous les traits de cette pétroleuse qui sait aussi bien réparer un toit que manier la carabine. Pire : à ses yeux, une honnête femme n’a pas de désirs charnels. Or Regan est de nature fougueuse et n’a pas l’intention de brider sa sensualité…

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Westerns, Fiction, Audiobook

367 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2018

About the author

Beverly 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. 

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

Honestly, any book where the heroine semi accidentally shoots the hero and then tells him off for not accepting her apology with sufficient grace is a winner with me. A glorious read. Regan is a life-enhancing heroine who is unembarrassed, sexual, independent, kind, happy to fall in love but never needy. She's marvellous, and it's a joy to see her remake the grumpy widower Colt and his bullied daughter, while also teaching him to let go his damn fool ideas about women. I glommed this in a sitting and enjoyed every page.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

As a romance, this book was really lacking for me. I really loved when this book started and Regan ended up accidentally shooting the man she had come to town to marry. From there, though, I think that her relationship with Colton developed really quickly and they were already established fairly early on in the book. Then, most of the book had to do with Regan making her place in town, proving she was an independent woman, and helping her new step-daughter feel like an actual kid who was loved. Everything in the plot overshadowed the romance and it definitely read much more like a historical fiction than a historical romance. I loved how Regan made a place for herself in town and how she was trying to prove to everyone, including her new husband, that women deserved rights and could do things, like buy something at a store without their husband's permission.

I think that this series just isn't my favorite from Beverly Jenkins. It's a lot slower-paced than her other books and the romance really takes a back seat to the rest of the story. There are definitely some steamy moments, but I didn't feel the connection and development I really wanted from their relationship.

[Rebekah Weatherspoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!
I think this is one of Bev's funniest books. Reagan is hilarious and I love the way Bev gave her funny internal monologues even when Reagan decided to bite her tongue. Dr. Lee was very sweet. A wonderful new husband and a great father to his adorable daughter Anna. All of Bev's books are on my keeper shelf, but this hops to the top of my insta-recommend list.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Regan is a mail-order bride traveling to meet her soon to be husband and new daughter. The beginning of the book started out exciting, as Regan shoots her betrothed (oops) but all that is figured out soon enough.

I liked the romance between Colt and Regan and I loved watching Regan with their daughter. There was some drama towards the end that was a bit predictable but overall I enjoyed this one a lot!

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Kim Staunton
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 9h 17m

[Warda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series has come to an end. It’s been so great spending time with this family and their adventures.

I cannot wait to read more by this author. And to know that Spring will get a story makes me so happy. She was an incredible side character in this book.

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was such a light read that I'm actually surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Plus, there was a dead spouse trope, one of the least favorite trope of mine. But hey, it actually handled quite well.

Regan, what a perfect heroine. Too perfect sometimes but I'm not looking for imperfections right now. I just want to enjoy a book.

Now, Colton Lee, he's your beta hero. If you love a beta hero, here's your guy. I'll let you have him.

Overall, it's a pretty fun and light read. Perfect for the mood I'm in.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly could not love the heroine in this book more-- she was such a great balance of being independent & confident but not TSTL or afraid to ask for help when she needed to. I loved that she owned her own life choices & strengths, and honestly, just loved spending time with her. I'm a sucker for a marriage of convenience, so that trope worked well for me, and all in all, this was a delightful reading experience!

[Melanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS!

After all, how many men met their prospective brides via a bullet from her Winchester?

So much fun!!

Dr. Colton Lee's mail-order bride turns out to be so much more than their correspondence implied. Regan Carmichael may be well-educated and capable of running a household, but she's also out-spoken and a crack-shot. Their relationship starts off with a real BANG! when she accidentally shoots him, thinking he's part of a gang of stagecoach robbers.

I loved the way the author played the hero and the heroine off of each other. Colton was a bit staid and crusty, while Regan was life and adventure personified - making it a lot of fun to hang out with them.

Their eyes held. She still wore a trace of a smile and she sparkled like sunbeams on a stream. In spite of his inner battle, he was becoming ensnared by her exuberant charm and wasn't sure what to do about it.

Add to that Colton's sweet six year old daughter who's in desperate need of a champion, and I was completely entertained. In fact, I read this one almost in one sitting.

If you're looking for an easy-going, super-low angst read that will have you smiling throughout, this book is for you!

[Hannah B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

THAT ENDING LMAO also the rest was great and lovely and hot literally every time Anna called Regan mama or when Colt professed his love for Regan I WEPT but my god THAT’S how you deal with villains I’m cackling 🤭🤭🤭🤭 and there was in fact kidnapping ✌️✌️✌️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️*/5

*Still pretty light in the details but I felt every scene in my BONES. Undress me and evaluate my health daddy!!!

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wyoming Territory Spring 1885 is were Regan Carmichael hopes to start her new life as the wife of Dr. Colton Lee. She is a mail order bride and meeting her soon to be husband for the first time. Her first encounter with her beloved ended with her shooting him, in his shoulder, with her Winchester. Dr. Lee was not impress.

She finds him handsome and old fashion in his thinking. She looks for the scandalous, charming, and romantic person he has hidden inside not the serious and dedicated medical physician. Can Regan have both? With the help of the town's people of Paradise, Regan begins to find out. She wins over Colton's sister Spring, his six year old daughter Anna, and the women of the Paradise Ladies Society. But what about Colts' grandfather Ben, his daughters' great-aunt Minnie, and Colt himself. Follow Regan's quest for true love 💘 you will not be disappointed.😃

Quotes

She's always been forthright because she found truth to be a better road than lying.

"Then let's do something unusual because I don't want the gown ruined."

His beady little eyes took her in. "I hear you have quite a nest egg. You should let my bank manage it. After all, we men know more about finances than you little ladies do."

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book highlighting a member of the Fontaine family. Regan is quite the character. She chooses to be a mail-order bride, trek across the country to a State she's never been and marry a man she's never met. Many challenges ensue, but it all works out in the end.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely escape.
Brain candy of the finest order.

This was cute and again I love the history.

[Aubrei K (earlgreypls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved except not the part where he told her to clean her room at the end 😶

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So soooo good!! 4.5 stars.

[Katie]

My first Beverly Jenkins! And it was goooooood. Mail order bride (MORE OF THESE, PLEASE) and low key romance in which they COMMUNICATED. Good kid writing.

The external conflict was maybe a bit much, but I don't caaaaare. So much better than stupid relationship conflict.

[Obsidian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that I had liked this one better. It was a great story though to just get lost in on a long weekend. It didn't hit the spot, but it was a nice way to pass the time.

"Tempest" is the third and final book in the "Old West" series. Regan has decided to leave her family behind in Arizona to journey to Wyoming territory to be a mail order bride to Doctor Colton Lee. Regan and Colton have an unconventional meet cute that leaves both of them wondering if they should marry. The two do with Colton telling Regan he is only doing so because his daughter (Anna) needs a mother and she is not to expect him to love her like he did his first wife (ouch). Regan is fine with that and wants to make sure that Anna has a great childhood and she supports Colton as his wife. The two butt heads throughout the story and have to deal with someone out there being after Regan. There are some interesting side characters in this one that I hope Jenkins revisits one day.

The two main characters did not hold much of my interest though. Probably because the side characters such as Spring (Colton's sister) were much more interesting. We do have both of Regan and Colton dealing with the fall out from being black in the 1800s though. Colton is a good doctor, but still has some in the town that won't send for him because of his race. Regan is a heiress due to her Uncle Rhine. And she still has to deal with some of the townspeople telling her that she has to go through her husband before she buys things. I do like Regan's approach to raising Anna though.

The writing was good and Jenkins always does her research. We get into a bit of the hostility and the racism that Chinese Americans were dealing with in the U.S. at that time. The flow of the book though doesn't really work very well. I think that at times the story is treading water. There's no big conflicts going on besides Colton and Regan deciding if they care for each other. Colton's first wife's aunt is a pain, but she comes in and out of the story. Colton's grandfather is another one, but once again, he comes in and out of the story.

The ending was okay, but just a bit of a letdown because the story of some of the other characters felt so unfinished.

[Sarahcophagus · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Jessica Trent (Lord of Scoundrels) meets Eloise Bridgerton (To Sir Phillip, with Love), marriage of convenience, rich multicultural small town vibes, a mix up meet cute, and a totally in denial ‘I’ll never fall in love again’ hero, who gets completely undone by the headstrong Regan who is not the sort of wife he was expecting from his ad. And I was not expecting much after the last book ends with Regan bizarrely deciding that her newest adventure would be to become a mail order bride to a complete stranger doctor who lived hundreds of miles away. But in such a perfectly surprising turn of events, and compared to the first two books which were mostly perfunctory and, because of historical realism, depressing, this book was so much more fun.

I loved that the Regan, was the one who was doing the spoiling and doting - it’s a Bev Jenkins book so I think, by law, someone has to be absurdly wealthy, paving the way for most of the book’s problems to be solved - but it was nice change of pace for it to be the heroine throwing her weight around for a change. Although I wasn't totally on board with how much Regan went about spoiling her stepdaughter, Anna. It felt a bit much like buying her way to her affection, especially by the end when Regan was constantly providing huge presents like an entire wardrobe/bedroom remodel and a pony. Which is annoying because there's so much good content contrasting how loving and patient Regan is with Anna (Regan telling Anna she’s lucky to be her stepmom and that Anna was very special to have had two moms who loved her was so sweet) compared to how Anna was treated by her wicked rigid caregiver aunt from before Regan came to town. But the emphasis on materialism because Anna “deserved it”, made their instant bond feel a little bought rather than earned through trust.

[hea booktubes · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by Beverly Jenkins. I see why she’s so beloved.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regan Carmichael answered Dr. Colton Lee's ad and left her family and home to become a mail-order bride. Just for that, I knew that this heroine would be a courageous and unconventional lady, but I was still pleasantly surprise by how fiery and badass she was😂. Talk about a memorable first meeting when just after her stagecoach has been attacked by outlaws and she defended herself, Regan mistake the next men riding their way for their friends and shot her soon-to-be husband in the shoulder!

More bother by his friends and townfolks ribbing than the injury itself, Colt makes it clear to her right away that their marriage won't be a love match and he only needs a mother for his six years-old daughter. No problem for Regan, she's a resourceful woman and little Anna needs love and affection more than discipline. And she easily makes friend with the man's sister, an independent woman like her. But if she can show the good doctor that some of his old thinking are wrong, that's just fine. And if it allow her to find a path to her husband's heart along the way who is she to argue with love?

Another romantic and fun love story, with educational history lessons about not only Black people but Chinese history in this case, what more could I ask for when those characters make you want to be friends with them?

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a feeling I will never shut up about my love for this book.

First of all, let me say that TEMPEST is definitely one of my favorites of this year even though this year is barely starting, I just know this book is going to be there until the end. It's just so goooood.

Ms. Beverly Jenkins is an outstanding author and I am so happy that I keep and will continue to read her books. Her books are filled with so much care and love you can feel it in the pages, in the words, in the way she treats the story and its characters. Tempest has all the things that make it a perfect romance novel for me. And it was! A perfect romance novel!

I want to say that cover is GORGEOUS. To be honest I adore every single Avon cover they keep releasing and Tempest is just too beautiful for words. It represents the characters inside so well and I'm grateful to Avon for doing it justice.

[Kristiej · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5

I read my first Beverly Jenkins book in February and enjoyed it so much I picked up a number of other books including this one. This book is connected to Forbidden and Regan, our heroine, is the niece of the heroine of Forbidden. She is a bit on the wild and adventurous sort and has decided to become a mail-order bride. Her intended is Dr. Colton Lee who coincidently is the older brother of the heroine of Wild Rain, another book I read in February so I kind of felt I already knew these characters. Without question the star of this book is Regan. She is everything a well written heroine should be. Colton is the local doctor and a widower with a young daughter. He needs a wife because her current caretaker is strangling the life out of Anna, his daughter.

They have a bit of a rocky start as she shoots him, thinking he’s an outlaw. You see, she is a strong, take care of the problem kind of woman. She is also kind, generous, loving, nurturing and all kinds of other things that make for a memorable heroine. Colton is a stuffed shirt at first and compares his first wife, a rather timid, obliging wife and the opposite of Regan in every way.
One of the bonuses I’m discovering with the author is we also get an interwoven history lesson and it’s not always easy to read how unfairly people of colour were treated. But it’s true history and it is our past. And sadly, so much of it is continuing on even in today’s times.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest (Old West #3) by Beverley Jenkins was such a pleasant surprise. Romance isn't really my thing and I usually like my westerns gritty or with a dash of fantasy or steampunk, but this was actually pretty delightful. The characters of Reagan and Spring were my favorites. I wasn't particularly interested in Dr. Colton Lee and like usual I could have done without the graphic romance with a capital R stuff. I totally wouldn't have minded if we just got to follow Reagan's or Spring's adventures without the love story.

[Emilia Redington · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆☆☆☆

[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into it expecting to love Regan, but ended up loving all other characters too..
this was AMAZING! I am so happy I have Spring's story to read next..
There are few authors that would make me eager to read western historical romance Beverly Jenkins is one of them!!

[TinaNoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. I never thought I'd say that about A Bev Jenkins book. I always know that she writes a great story and always drops some knowledge of African American history, but "cute" is not a way I'd characterize her generally.

But yeah, this had some nice wit and Regan, the heroine, was the MVP. I love a good heroine -- smart, no bullshit and root worthy.

Good book.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A really great and satisfying ending to a trilogy that started off so incredibly rocky. I loved this one and I think I loved it more than book two which is saying a lot because that one was so wonderful. There was just something about this one though that did it for me. Mail order bride, single father, strong heroine, steamy romance, action, family drama. It had it all.

We meet Regan in book two and I was so excited to get to her book because she has such a fascinating life. She decides to become a mail order bride just for the fun of it and that alone drew me to her. She’s free spirited and kind but she takes no mess from anyone. She shot at Colton when they first met. That was their meet cute! She’s a riot and I love how she took to Colton’s young daughter, Anna, so quickly. She was such an adorable and precocious kid. They took to each other immediately and it was so cute.

Colton and Regan’s relationship is on the slow burn side of things because Colton starts off only wanting her for Anna but when he starts to let his guard down it was great because it felt natural. They both brought out the best in each other but they were both very interesting characters in their own right. Also, the sex scenes in this one were A-1. Particularly the night of their wedding. Whew! *dabs sweat off of forehead*. They are a very passionate couple with some serious chemistry to say the least.

The ending was great and I was happy to see the characters from book two (Regan’s sister and family) show up. This was a very lovely read and I would definitely recommend this series.


{Challenges completed:
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[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Tempest is the third and final book in the Old West trilogy that Beverly Jenkins has brought to us. I will admit I was a bit nervous about this one, because I did struggle a bit with book two (probably me more than anything else) especially since there is a book from this author I haven't loved. This story is a bit different and boy I had a blast with the trope that is introduced. There is something about "Mail Order Bride" themes in western romances that just click with me. What I love about this trope is that WAS a real thing. It happened quite a bit in the 1800's, especially since women were uncommon out west. So to see a favorite author use this concept into one of her books gave me all the happy feels.

So what is Tempest about? What makes this story so fantastic and every romance reader should read? Well let me tell you all the juicy fun that this book implements. Tempest is a story that begins with our heroine, Regan, who has agreed to be a mail order bride. Regan unlike her sister, is the exact opposite. She is looking and wanting love and marriage and a family. She has wealth, she has had adventures, but now she wants passion and love. Which is so refreshing. A heroine that is looking for love and a relationship....yes this story rocks just with the goals that this heroine has. She knows what she wants and is going to go after it. So after sharing letters of correspondence with a widower, she agrees to travel all the way from her home in Arizona to Wyoming. But what begins as a hopeful union with her husband to be...though a set of circumstances and mistaken identity, she shoots him accidentally and isn't their future off to a good start....but while Regan is hoping for a marriage of love and intimacy...she learns that Colton isn't wanting love and an emotional relationship like he implied in the letters. He only wants a mother for his daughter. Well isn't that just a kick in the face? But Regan is hopeful that all of her dreams will come true and will fight for it...

Tempest is a story of thrills and adventure from the very beginning and I was sucked right into the story. This story worked for me in every way and one of my favorite books from this author. This book is just my "catnip" and I was eager for more. We of course know Regan from previous books in the series. We see how much she loves her family but she also has dreams of her own that she is going after. We have a hero who lost the woman he loved and the mother of his daughter. We have a charming little girl who is being smothered by her aunt and needs joy in her life and is in need of a mother like Regan. At first, things are pretty rocky between the three. However what is the first step is the relationship between Regan and Anna (Colton's six year old daughter), just seeing a young girl being oppressed from her mother's aunt and then being taken in by Regan, we see a strong bond form between Anna and Regan and it was pretty intense emotionally seeing Anna grow and become a child again and not afraid of her own shadow. Then we see the relationship that begins to form between Colton and Regan. And oh man I loved these two together so very much. It starts as just a physical and sexual connection that these two form. But it soon becomes apparent that it just more than sex for Colton and Regan. It's real emotion that slowly builds and the climax is picture perfect. It comes at the right moment and seeing this family overcome obstacles, deal with their small town community, some villains who want to separate the family and seeing history come alive brings a story that is full of joys and tears....sorrows and laughter and more than enough sexy times to satisfy any romance reader.

Overall a story you can delight and savor....a tale that will keep turning those pages and leave you wanting more of this wonderful world Beverly Jenkins has gifted to us!! REMARKABLE!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised with Tempest. Tempest is book 3 in Beverly Jenkins Old West Series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. This book held my interested from the start and I thought the author did a great job with the suspense, romance and the challenge of being a black woman in the late 1800's.

Regina is smart, feisty and hopeful that her intended would fall in love with her. I liked her from the beginning. She immediately took charge of any situation. I found her to be a refreshing leading woman who spoke her mind, whether it was popular or not.

Despite being a doctor Colton Lee is a bit naive when it comes to dealing with woman. He's heartbroken after losing his wife but knows he needs to find someone to help raise his daughter.

I liked watching their friendship blossom into more. I definitely enjoyed reading how Regina put him and others in their place. She was a great role model for his daughter and other women in the area.

The drama and suspense that was created by the author helped keep the book moving however I think it was a bit drawn out at the end.

Now that I've finished I'm looking forward to reading the others in the series.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest is the third in Beverly Jenkins Old West series, I hadn't read the first two, however it stands well by itself, although while reading it I decided I wanted to read the previous two and get to know the relatives belonging to Regan.

Regan is a mail order bride - a fun trope for sure. However what I liked about Regan is that she is no quiet, stand back kind of woman. She knows how to front up, speak her mind while looking you in the eye. Right from the get go, when we meet her in the stage coach travelling to her destination and they are set upon by thugs she shows her mettle. What a surprise they got.

Regan is a real treasure, and soon Anna the young six year old belonging to Colt Lee is totally smitten and her daddy isn't far behind. Regan can pretty much do everything - ride, shoot, is well able to cook and is quite a handy woman about the house. Her only fault seems to be her inability to keep her room tidy!

The story moves along at a smooth pace, the local people are very much part of the story and Spring - Colt's sister is another delight. Wouldn't mind seeing her have her own book! The Wyoming setting which shows the early days of settlement was both entertaining and informative. Beverly Jenkins shows up the nasty side of injustice towards people such as Native Americans, people of color and the Chinese. She includes horrific details of one historical event which is very sobering, yet we need to know.

On the whole a delightful read, this was my first historical romance by Beverly Jenkins and I look forward to reading more from her.

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo Beverly Jenkins for this third installment! Another excellent addition to the Old West series.

We met adventurous romantic Regan Carmichael in book 2, Breathless. She answered an advertisement for a mail-order bride to a widower with a 6yr old daughter who resides in the Wyoming Territory. So Regan moved from the Arizona Territory in hopes of finding love and a family of her own.

Dr. Colton Lee was shocked when he met Regan because he was expecting a more conventional woman, not one who could shoot, muck a stable, and highly opinionated. While he found her attitude jarring, he quickly realized Regan was what his young daughter needed to draw her out of her shell since she has been withdrawn. Could he handle Regan's fire though?

The narrator Kim Stauton really did this book justice. It was a treat to my ears.I loved this book like I loved book 1. Regan was such a strong heroine that I enjoyed Colton's discomfort. She was exactly what he needed and they brought out the best in each other.
The author's writing was so smooth, engaging and thought-provoking. I loved Colton's flexibility. He had ideas of how women should behave, but as he saw Regan didn't fit that mold, he adjusted to make allowances for her views and independent spirit. Anna was a sweet young girl and a great glue to Regan and Colton.
If you enjoy characters with strong convictions, family centered actions and a great view into the Old West, then you have to give this series a shot. You won't be disappointed.