Topaz

Rating:
Summary: HOT, FIERY, TALE FOR THE AGES...
Review: "Topaz" was so good I couldn't put it down!!! When this reporter goes from finding evidence to a "shotgun" marriage, I couldn't wait to see how it would all wrap up. That trip to the West with the "mail-order" brides was good too: you could feel the both of them being drawn together in spite of themselves. And the love scenes---WOOOOOO!!!! Made me jump my own man after reading them!!! Beverly Jenkins has a fan for life!!!! Hurry up with the next one Girl!!

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!!
Review: After reading everyone's comments about the book, I couldn't resist reading it for myself and I wasn't disappointed. I couldn't put the book down. It's definately a must read!!!!!!!!! Now if only I could find a modern day version of Dixon Wildhorse.

Rating:
Summary: A "steamy" romance with excellent historical content.
Review: Beverly Jenkins gets better with each novel. I became a fan with Nightsong but found that Topaz is an excellent "steamy" novel with an accurate sometimes enlightening historical content. The romance formula is apparent but engrossing as she weaves a tale of the Black Seminole and their migration from the Florida coast west through tracing the of roots of Dixon Wildhorse. He crosses paths with a newspaper woman who wants to trap a bad guy but ends up writing about mail order brides and their attempt to travel west. I've read all her books and can't wait for the next.

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Summary: Top Reader from Ann Arbor,MI 10-31-97
Review: Beverly Jenkins has done it again! This book was terrific! As always she captures love, passion and adventure all in one great story. This book has the stubborness and solice attitude that many women need to have today. Dix had all the courage and will of the "Black Men" of his time. Not to many people knew of black Marshal's, and thanks to Mrs Jenkins we know. Dix showed Katherine how much passion could embrace your heart. Instead he fell in love to! Thank You Mrs. Jenkins for this wonderful book. Maybe for the fifth book Beverly could add the characters form all four books and have them come together. Since in this book Chase and Dix know each other how about making them all be friends and help each other, with full detailed passion feeled adventures! How about it? Remeber to dedicate this 5th (Best Seller)to me! I truly admire you as a woman and a great story teller. You bring all my fantasies into one adventure.....

Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC!!!!
Review: Beverly Jenkins has done it again!! I loved this book!! Dix was so lively and exciting!! Makes me want to go out and find my own Marshall. I admired Kate's independence and the soaring attraction she developed for Dix. Mrs. Jenkins is a gifted storyteller, incorporating romance and black history. I am huge fan of her work!! I have read Indigo, NightSong, and Vivid and I loved every last one of them. Galen Vachon and Dixon Wildhorse are my favorite male characters. I am eagerly anticipating her next novel!! Keep up the good work!!!

Rating:
Summary: The love is so real, you can feel it!
Review: Beverly Jenkins has really out done herself with an eloquent story of love and adventure that weaves in African American Historical facts. She uplifts the readers spirit with the possibility of a truly passionate love that it highlighted with true love of the heart. Oh to meet a man like Dix Wildhorse!

Rating:
Summary: A love story African Americans are proud of!
Review: Beverly Jenkins has the uncanny ability to incorporate American/African American History into some of the most outrageous plots and thus create a historical but often witty love story. Unlike 'Night Song' and 'Indigo' (also by Jenkins), which were anchored in pre-Civil War or post-Civil War African American history, 'Topaz' opens with a reporter breaking into her fiance's safe in order to retrieve evidence of his wrong doings. Of course she is caught, dressed as a man and the fiance plays the ever more deceitful ogre that he is. But then along comes Dixon Wildhorse, her Black Knight in silky dark brown muscled armor. Of course, she's grateful for the rescue until she discovers she's promised in marriage to Mr. Wildhorse in order to save her father from a federal prison sentence. And thus begins to fight, the humor and the romance. To begin with, Katherine is no well-prepared bride, and Dixon doesn't mind her inability to 'bake bread'. Katherine is strong willed, quick tempered and sassy, whereas Dixon is calm, cool, and collective, but never arrogant. And dear old Dad never changes his immoral/illegal ways of living, hoping that since his son-in-law is a U.S. Deputy Marshall, his crimes will be overlooked. However, there are some holes in the story; for instance, Katherine was kidnapped for a map of gold (thanks to dear old Dad's lies) and Katherine's assistant in the safe break-in was murdered, however, no further information on him appeared. And Katherine's fiance seemed to follow her across the country for revenge even though he was busy stealing from the Native Americans. But still, I give this book a four star rating. I thoroughly enjoy Beverly Jenkins. She presents sensual, exhuberating and exhilerating scenes which satisfies your knowing that your ancestors had a passion for life, love and nature. There was more to life than just plowing behind a mule and struggling on dirt farms which barely produced enough to feed families let alone pay the landowner. Yes, we are a people of love and hope!

Rating:
Summary: Yes, you CAN judge a book by its cover!
Review: Beverly Jenkins' Topaz is an exceptional book. Set in the 1800s, it is the story of newspaperwoman Katherine Love and a Black Seminole marshal, Dixon Wildhorse. The book is suspenseful, humorous, informative and very, very romantic. The story of two strangers from opposite ends of the country who literally come together in an arranged marriage is a classic. The reader learns and gets to know the characters as they get to know each other. Beverly Jenkins has written a story that lends itself to the visual. I, for one, would love to see a screenplay of her novel. It is rich and colorful. It is funny and sad. We learn about the Buffalo Soldiers, the Black Seminoles and other tribes, how mail order brides made it across the country and what married life was like during the 19th century. The strength of Ms. Jenkins work is that she is informative, without being preachy. The bibliography at the end of the novel is a must for those who want to do more reading and research. Topaz is Ms. Jenkins' most recent work. It was the first African-American historical romance novel I've read. It made me want to read more works by the author. I did and I wasn't disappointed. Her work keeps getting better. I look forward to her next book.

Rating:
Summary: Topaz
Review: Beverly this was a great book! I have read Vivd, Topaz, Night Song, Indigo and The Taming of Jessie Rose. Dix and Kate are a couple made for each other. I loved the jail seen when Kate got arrested and the events before and after the wedding scene. My favorite men are Chase(Night Song), Dixion/Dix(Topaz)and the hunk Gaylen(Indigo)I never read romance books but a friend of mine had me read Night Song and I have been hooked ever since. Keep writing, I'm waiting to read your books. Gwendolyn in KCMO.

Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book!
Review: Dixon Wildhorse is truly something! This is honestly a great book! It not only contains tidbits of history but, is built around a great story with wonderfully developed characters. With Through the Storm and Topaz, you'll never go wrong! Also, look for characters Grace Atwood and Loreli Winters who debut in this book, but later star in their own books (Always and Forever & A Chance At Love, respectively).