A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS - Melanie Schuster
BET/Arabesque
October 2004
SYNOPSIS: A woman finds that Christmas wishes really can come true when her prank marriage turns into a real union and a love to last for all time.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4) Michelle Henley
REVIEW: From the time they’d initially met, Angelique Deveraux has gotten completely under Adonis Cochran’s skin. An unexplainable feeling, since she’s clearly not his “type.” Unknowingly complimenting one another physically, they are thrown together by virtue of being related via family marriages.
Vehemently trying his hardest to display his displeasure of her, Donnie gives Angel a hard time every time they are together. However, on a return trip from her parents’ home, she happens to run into Donnie at her sister’s house. Low and behold, Donnie would be there as well visiting and his first inclination is to throw the first barb Angel’s way. She ignores him, refusing to allow his usual contemptuous mood to spoil her visit with her family. This is the first time that they both realize an undercurrent of unexplainable feelings for one another. With the help of family and a good friend, Angelique and Donnie begin to spend more time together outside of family functions. Fighting against strong sexual tension and attraction for one another, they are thrown into an unexpected compromising situation. Will they make the best of it or continue on their path of denial?
The early set-up of unexplained animosity introduced in Ms. Schuster’s previous novel is picked up but not belabored, allowing for the development of the blossoming romance between Donnie and Angel. Melanie builds each character and their feelings for one another allowing the passage of time to allow this impending love affair to bloom.
Ms. Schuster takes the reader on a wonderful ride through romance and love, making one still believe that true love can be found despite all odds. She develops her characters in such a way that even if one had not read the previous book a sense of the characters could still be achieved.
A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS is my first read of Melanie Schuster’s and it will definitely not be my last. I recommend this latest novel of Ms. Schuster’s. She is an author to be reckoned with and has earned her place amongst the literary divas of romance.
michelle@romanceincolor.com (7th December 2004)