Product Description

Belle

After a grueling escape north, Belle Palmer is free, yet lost and alone. Separated from her father on the harrowing journey, Belle has nowhere to turn until she finds shelter with the Bests, the first free family she's ever known. For the first time in her sixteen years, Belle is able to express herself freely-except where her feelings for a certain dark-eyed young man are concerned.

Daniel Best is headed for great things. Educated and handsome, at eighteen he is full of the promise and dream of his people, and is engaged to the prettiest (if the most spoiled) girl around. So when a bedraggled stranger arrives in his household and turns into a vibrant, lovely young woman, his attraction to her catches him entirely by surprise.

While Belle is determined to deny her feelings for him, Daniel is caught between his conscience and his infatuation with her. That the two belong together is undeniable, but that it could ever happen seems impossible.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #354123 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-01
• Released on: 2002-04-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-In Jenkins's first young adult romance novel, Belle Palmer escapes from slavery in antebellum Kentucky and finds freedom in Michigan with the help of an abolitionist family. A former slave herself, Mrs. Best helps the reticent 16-year-old blossom into a confident young woman, while Mr. Best is the model of a man dedicated to family. Belle is soon drawn to Daniel Best, 18, who has an "intended," albeit a haughty one. With the passage of time, Belle learns to navigate her new way of life, and Daniel learns important lessons about when to let go and when to follow one's heart. Primary and secondary characters are well drawn. The novel is heavily punctuated with facts about African-American history, and, true to the genre, a happy ending follows the bittersweet story. This empowering tale is a great starting point for readers new to romances, but fans of the genre will not be disappointed.
Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author
Beverly Jenkins is an African-American historical romance writer. She lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband and their two children. Born in Detroit, she graduated from Cass Technical High School and attended Michigan State University, where she majored in journalism and English Literature.

Ms. Jenkins has written eight books to date, for which she has received numerous awards, including two Waldenbooks Best Sellers Awards, a Career Achievement Award from Romantic Times magazine for Best Western Historicals, and a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer's Guild.

Ms. Jenkins has been featured in many national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, People magazine, The Dallas Morning News and Vibe magazine. She has lectured at such prestigious schools and universities as Oberlin College, the University of Illinois, and the University of Michigan.

Beverly Jenkins's adult titles include Night Song, Vivid, Indigo, Topaz, Through the Storm, The Taming of Jessi Rose, Always and Forever and Before the Dawn.

Customer Reviews

A charming historical romance for teenage girls.
Belle has lived all her sixteen years in slavery. As a young girl she lost her mother, who was sold away. Her father has decided that he wants a better life for himself and his daughter, so they flee Kentucky, hoping to reach freedom in Canada. But the two are separated, and Belle finds herself lost and alone in Michigan. She is found by the side of the road by Daniel and Josephine Best, the children of free black parents who operate a station on the Underground Railroad. Belle finds herself taken in by the Bests, being treated like a member of the family. But while enjoying her newfound freedom, she also longs for news of her father. And though she doesn't mean to, Belle finds herself falling in love with Daniel, even though he is already engaged to another. Can they ever be together, and will Belle ever find her father again? I highly recommend this book to teenage girls who enjoy historical romances.

Excellent Read
After reading the first review of this book I had to have my own say. If you have ever read anything written by Beverly Jenkins you will LOVE this book. Although there is no "sex" in Belle and the Beau but she takes you there and your like....dayam keep going. After meeting her in a book signing in Dallas, I learned that before I read the book that reading this will help young girls understand how men are suppose to treat young ladies and that is with RESPECT.

After I read the book, the light did go off in my head. This was a much need book because young ladies today do not know how they are suppose to be treated. Belle and the Beau was not written to focus on slavery because according to Beverly "slavery is not romantic". I think it was great to see how people especially black people treated each other.... with love, respect and they looked after each other.

So ladies and gentlemen give Beverly your support and BUY Belle and the Beau.....you will love it!!!! Dont forget to pick up her other novels they are the BOMB!!!!

Shows promise
In an engaging story of pre-Civil War times, Ms. Jenkins brings readers a heroine worth routing for, along with a setting and plot that have a ring of authenticity. Ms. Jenkins has obviously done the research needed to draw readers into history and show them what it might have been like to live and love in such a turbulent time. Her heroine is a likeable young lady, and if the hero doesn't leap off the pages with as much personality as Belle, he is at least good-hearted and inoffensive. The story doesn't delve far into the darkest experiences of slavery, but does offer interesting information on the Underground Railroad and the odious ways of slavecatchers. The True Romance series shows promise as a vehicle for introducing young adult readers to the romance genre in a gentle, educational manner, if the target audience can find it on the shelves. Worth checking out.