Hi frens,

Resonant by Jeremy Jacobson comes out THIS Tuesday, 10/13. I fell in love with the book from the moment I read it and knew I had to share it with you all. It really is the best blend of classic epic fantasy plot and construction with a fresh new take. Don't believe me? Listen to some of your faves!!!

Here is a list of the amazing authors and creators like @Jaysen Headley and @Michael Kist who have read Resonant and loved it.

It would mean the world to me and our author Jeremy if you pre-ordered his debut today. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads TBR as well!

YA dark Urban Fantasy, mixed with horror/thriller elements. Armitage will leave you guessing what comes next.

There was a recent trend that started popping up on my Threads. Stacks and bookcases of Beverly Jenkins books were tagged by #blackbookthreads. I loved seeing all of them and decided to make a post celebrating Beverly Jenkins and also readers that hold her near and dear to their hearts.

Who is Beverly Jenkins?

Beverly Jenkins is a pillar of Historical Romance. Her strong heroines always pack a punch and leave you thinking about the story long after you finish the book. Since her debut with Night Song in 1994, Jenkins has become a staple of the genre and is known for her exceptionally researched stories and rich, layered characters.

She received the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, along with the 2016 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for historical romance. A nomination for the NAACP Image Award in Literature is also on her impressive list of awards. Her over 30 novels have been highlighted in The Wall Street Journal, People, NPR, and other major publications.

Her books critically acclaimed, but Jenkins is also known for her kindness. K.E. Adéwùmí mentioned she 'really does have a good heart. She’s funny, she’s incredibly gracious. A small group of booktokers had a zoom call with her and she took time to talk about her writing craft, upcoming books and just chatted. It was so great of her to do that.'

What Was Your First Beverly Jenkins Novel?

Beverly Jenkins has written over 30 novels, so there are numerous books that a reader could first pick up. My first read was Night Hawk. Shameka Erby's was Topez. K.E. Adéwùmí wrote, "Rebel--I saw that cover at [Barnes & Noble] and never looked back." Over the years, the covers have gone from oil paintings to photos, but the heart of the covers still hit readers. LiteraryJaslyn's first Jenkins novel was Indigo. Ashley C and Brithenovelette both wrote Forbidden. Depending on the era or period you want, there's a Beverly Jenkins novel for you. Jewel was Samirah Khair's first. As you can see, there's a wide range of books to disappear into. If you aren't looking for a historical romance, Jenkins even has a contemporary romance series called the Blessings series along with romantic suspense.

What's Your Favorite Thing About Her Books?

Historical romance is such a unique subgenre of romance, particularly with Black centered stories. Black history so often can be about pain, because it was. There was so much horror, hardship, and terrible societal parameters. But even within these unjust parts, people still lived and hoped. They still found love, friendship, and family.

Jenkins balances all of these pieces while creating compelling characters that you root for. Samirah Khair's favorite part about the novels is, "The raw emotion you feel while reading them." You'll leave her novels learning and immersing yourself in these various time periods.

Brithenovelette said, "[My favorite part is] the research and historical accuracy. A librarian will never leave any important information out AND will include a bibliography in case any nincompoops [want to] come for her knowledge!"

Jenkins balances compelling characters while sucking you into the world she created. Ashley C expanded upon this notion, "[My favorite part is] the history and the amount of research and care that is done when writing. I love how she writes a woman who is strong and soft, a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what’s right. Seeing Black love displayed in her books in a time period that shows the hard realities for Black people is refreshing and necessary."

Time and time again readers come back to the historical aspect of Jenkins' novels. Jenkins doesn't glamorize the history but instead steps headfirst into it to show readers that Black people found love. LiteraryJaslyn wrote, "[My favorite part is] The history. It’s not just historical romance; these stories are filled with historical knowledge that I have either heard very little about or nothing at all. She can write the most stubborn man who by the end of the book has put down his stubborn ways for the woman he loves. I also can appreciate the mystery element she sprinkles on us because I always notice there is someone who is up to no good." Jenkins has a way of touching readers and leaving them not only with characters they root for, but also a refresh or an introduction to historical periods.

Out of Everything You've Read, What's Your Favorite?

When an author has a vast backlist, it can be hard to nail down a favorite. But readers were able to nail down some of theirs. Samirah Khair said Jewel. K.E. Adéwùmí said Indigo. "The story is a standout," she wrote. "I think Auntie Bev took a huge risk with making the female protagonist a former slave. As someone who is the descendant of the enslaved, seeing someone like Hester get the HEA she deserves is inspiring."

LiteraryJaslyn named two novels as her favorite. "Rebel or Night Song. Beverly writes [in a way] that is enriched with history but also leaves you breathless with the sweet yearning. Rebel was fun it was exciting and Drake and Valinda had the perfect romance. He protected her and validated her feelings, took care of her needs and provided for her when things got rough. Building her a new school was the cherry on top and it just showed how much he valued her happiness. In Night Song this was the perfect forbidden romance. Cara Lee and Chase are the epitome of 'the heart wants what it wants'. One thing I love about Beverly Jenkins is not only does she know how to write a good man, but she knows how to write a good woman into her stories. Valinda and Cara Lee are definitely two women I would befriend in real life."

Ashley C had a similar response: "Indigo because it shows a woman who has given her life to a greater cause and that it’s ok to be taken care of and loved properly by a man who refuses to let you settle and suffer when he has so much love to give and wealth to share."

Over and over again the books may differ, but the responses keep coming back to two ideas. Readers love the complex characters and the historical accuracy brought in the novels. I asked the question to other readers but had to sit with the question for myself. What is my favorite Beverly Jenkins novel? Is it Destiny's Captive with a pirate heroine? Or Rebel, that's set during Reconstruction? I can't forget Wild Rain, with Spring, a woman out west that not only has her own ranch but trains her own horses. It was a very hard decision, but I'd pick Wild Rain and Destiny's Captive as my favorites.

What's In A Cover?

Jenkins' covers are beautiful. Historical Romances usually feature the couple or one of the characters on the front cover. Jenkins' covers feature Black people, a stark difference for a subgenre that usually doesn't. With vivid colors and the characters front and center, her stories showcase Black love throughout history. Covers are the first way to pull in readers, so I asked what their favorite one was.

"Night Song because the raw passion calls you," wrote Shameka Erby. K.E. Adéwùmí also said Night Song because, "the woman on the cover is a Jet beauty of the week - so some 90’s nostalgia & Black History. As well as original Topaz-- it’s simply hot."

LiteraryJaslyn: This is hard. So I’ll do a big 3 and an honorable mention.

1. Indigo

2. Winds of the Storm

3. OG Night Song

HM: Topaz

Ashley C mentioned the original Indigo cover. "Hester finally lets her hair down and she is allowing herself to be free and happy without worrying about society. And Galen looks so good behind her holding his beautiful petite."

Brithenovelette: "Destiny’s Captive because I love a good pirate, doubly when they’re Black!"

Samirah Khair: "Captured. There’s something about the visual of being on a boat in the middle of the ocean with a handsome man that super sexy. I haven’t read it yet, but that’s what I get from the cover."

Me: "These are some of my favorites, but it was super hard to narrow the list to four. They all have pieces I really like. The colors, the outfits, the setting. They're beautiful to look at as pieces of art. I said Destiny's Captive, Captured, A Chance At Love, and Always And Forever."

I love book collections, so I created a collage of our Beverly Jenkins collections!

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Go check out the contributors because they're amazing!

Shamekawrites

K.E. Adéwùmí

LiteraryJaslyn

Ley_ash

Brithenovelette