Through the Storm by Beverly Jenkins
A Review By: DWP
Essence and Blackboard best-selling author Beverly Jenkins writes passionate, historically-grounded stories of betrayal and redemption.
Beginning in 1864, Through the Storm chronicles the tumultuous lives of onetime lovers Raimond Le Veq and Sable Fontaine. The Le Veq family was a proud, prominent black New Orleans family until their fortune was plundered in the chaos of the Civil War. It's the charge of former Union Major Raimond Le Veq to restore the lost wealth of his family.
Raimond once loved a woman--the lusty, beautiful, and complex former slave, Sable Fontaine--but she coldly betrayed him during the war. When Raimond's mother inexplicably chooses Sable as his bride-to-be, Raimond doesn't know if he will ever be able to trust the treacherous Sable again.
Review Notes:
Audio Book Publication Year: 2009
An installment in a Series? Yes; Book 1 of 3-Book Series
Narrator (s): Kim Staunton
This powerful read follows Sable Fontaine, a woman who was as brave as she was beautiful, and a proud straight-shooter Union Major, Raimond Le Veq. Beverly Jenkins did an amazing job mixing history with fiction with her very detailed writing. The story was so sexy and funny and nothing like you’d expect.
Kim Staunton is a very articulate speaker and the natural huskiness to her voice gives the story a sensual tone. She brought a sophistication to Sable that showed her intelligence while also broadcasting Sable knowing who she was. Sable's character went through a lot in her life but she never stopped being herself nor the woman she was raised to be. She was all around sassy and Kim Staunton showed that in her voice. Now when it came to Raimond Le Veq, Staunton didn't change her voice when doing him, but somehow still gave a masculine vibe. He was a great representation of what a black man from that time was. He was hard-working, determined, and what every man strived to be. Even though Staunton didn't change her voice, it was still easy to realize which character she was speaking for. This was such an epic tale and a delight from beginning to end.
Kim Staunton isn't my favorite narrator, but her voice was made for historical fiction.
Reading Recommendation? Yes!
Rating: 5 (I need another one!)
Content Warnings? None
