|
ADMISSION OF LOVE Niobia Bryant BET/Arabesque August 2002 (4) Melanie Schuster |
Contemporary Romance |
|
PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
|
|
|
|
|
REVIEW #2 (Read Review #1): |
|
|
There is a wonderful freshman class of writers at Arabesque, and Niobia Bryant is no exception. ADMISSION OF LOVE is an exciting, fresh, funny debut novel that you won’t want to miss. Chloe
Bryant, supermodel, is ready to retire. Although
she is at the top of her field, she has had enough of the glitz and glitter and
wants to settle down. What better
place to escape the urban jungle than her late mother’s home town, Holtsville,
South Carolina? Her dear mother
left her 12 acres in that pretty, pastoral town, and Chloe sets about building
her dream house. Lucky for her that
the brothers Jamison are the best builders and contractors in that area… Unlucky
for Devon Jamison that Chloe Bryant is coming to town.
His twin brother DeShawn is thrilled, as is everyone else in Holtsville.
Devon, however, has been that route.
He knows first-hand what a beautiful, empty-headed, selfish woman can do
to a man. He went through it all
with his last love, Elissa. He knew
Chloe Bryant’s kind, all right, and he wanted nothing to do with her. Fortunately
for them both, Mother Nature often takes over where common sense leaves off.
Although their first meeting was less than amicable, sparks flew when
Devon and Chloe met. And the electricity was unmistakable, even though they tried
to ignore it. Devon didn’t want a
city woman, spoiled and useless. Chloe
didn’t want a country man, stubborn and opinionated and determined to prove
his assumptions about her were correct. But
somehow, they managed to get past their distrust and suspicions and form a bond
of passion, even though neither one wanted to submit to an Admission of Love. I
loved Chloe. She is bright,
independent, generous and sweet, but feisty!
I loved the fact that Chloe had flaws, like vanity, cursing like a sailor
and I especially liked the fact that she wore a weave.
This is one of the few times that an author admitted in print that lots
of folks augment that hair! Hey, if
you can’t grow it, sew it, you know? Chloe
also wasn’t taking any crap from that fine, sexy Devon Jamison, his very
jealous and over-zealous ‘best friend’.
And she took even less from her creepy ex-boyfriend who couldn’t buy a
clue in a $1.00 clue shop. Chloe
read like a real woman. Contributing
to that was the way Ms Bryant cleverly interspersed bits from Chloe’s
childhood, conversations she had with her late mother.
We really get to know Chloe, as well as the moody Devon.
Devon was also not a textbook hero, which was refreshing.
He had his moments of pure macho stubbornness, as well as moments of
weakness. In short, he was a real
man. The
other characters, including Nana Lil, Devon’s grandmother, his best friend
Alicia, and his twin brother Deshawn are engaging and lively and help propel the
book, which is, of course, what they are supposed to do.
I was particularly taken with Chloe’s best friend Anika whom I think is
going to lead DeShawn, a true player, on a merry chase someday. At least I hope she will. I hope to hear a lot from Ms Bryant in the future. New writers of talent and imagination are what will keep multicultural romance in the forefront for years to come. And that is an admission of admiration for ADMISSION OF LOVE. |
|
|
2002 |
|
