Jena's Choice by Beverly Scott

Jena's Choiceby Anonymous

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September 10, 2004: This is the third Beverly J. Scott book I've reviewed. Every book she writes is exciting, entertaining, delightful, sunsuous, and more. She's gained a loyal following for good reason. The setting of Jena's Choice is late 1860s Texas. Eighteen year old Jena Grant has had too much sorrow in her young life. First her parents died in a freak accident. Then her older brother Jared is killed by a back shooting coward, leaving a grief stricken Jena and her younger brother Randy to manage their large cattle ranch. Jared is barely in his grave when Everett Walker comes calling with an ultimatum. Jena must either marry one of his sons or lose the ranch. Everett and his son Carl are bullies, neighboring ranchers who rule that area of Texas through intimidation and violence. Jena knows only too well the kind of man Carl Walker is, and vows to control her own fate. Flint McKay was Jared Grant's best friend for years. Flint is a half breed Apache living in a white man's world. He and his little sister Marissa were orphaned at an early age. His parents' deaths remain a mystery. When Flint offers to marry Jena, she decides to go with the familiar. She's known Flint for years and trusts he is a decent man. Despite Flint's wishes otherwise, their marriage is a business proposition, nothing more. Jena has vowed that no man or husband will ever share her bed. Everett Walker wants Flint, Jena, and Randy dead, and he wants the Grant ranch by any means. Carl Walker wants Jena. She's been his sexual obsession for several years. Her marriage to an Indian enrages him. The Walkers and their cohorts use every means at their disposal to rid themselves of anyone who stands in their way. Flint proves himself to be a devoted husband and an efficient overseer of the ranch. Jena learns surprising secrets about her handsome husband and her brother Jared. Flint honors their business arrangement, but sets out to teach his fearful wife the full meaning of love and desire between a wife and husband. The story sizzles as Ms. Scott allows the chemistry between Flint and Jena to slowly simmer over time. She also does a thorough job of developing her characters as they are forced to face the prejudices of the times. Indians, Mexicans, and blacks are reviled. Prostitutes are treated as less than human cast offs by townsfolk. And yet it is Flint's Apache relatives, a loyal black man, Jena's Mexican cook, and several prostitutes who rally to the Grant's defense against the Walkers. Action and adventure, love and romance, courage and devotion -- all contribute to the story in tantalizing ways. If you're a fan of tasty romances laced with action, be sure to check out Jena's Choice.