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CHANCES
Pamela Leigh Starr Genesis Press December 2000 (4) Jeanette Cogdell |
Contemporary Romance |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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REVIEW: |
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If you haven’t read CHANCES, then you are truly missing out on a hidden treasure. Ms. Starr’s first book FATE featured the interracial couple Scott Halloway and Vanessa Lewis. CHANCES, the sequel to FATE is about Vanessa’s older sister, Monica and new guy in town, Devin Preston. CHANCES takes a look at starting life anew by daring to love again and learning that you can actually experience true love more than once in your life time. Monica Jones is a young widow with three small children. She married her first and only love Keith and they had a wonderful marriage. After Keith’s death, Monica is left with only memories of what true love is and plans to hold on those memories forever. Devin “Bug” Preston, a self-made millionaire architect has never been in love and was shocked by the emotions Monica evoked in him. Could this be love? He didn’t know but decided that he was going to find out. Devin is Scott’s best friend from college and has left the life of the rich and famous to get back to doing what he loves best. He loves designing historical homes and being involved in every aspect of his projects; even working with the laborers and getting his hands dirty. Devin and Monica’s shaky relationship didn’t get off to a great start. Their first meeting was at her sister’s house when it was revealed that Devin was Monica’s new neighbor from hell. The one who kept strange hours and played loud music in the wee hours of the morning. He was also the neighbor whose rottweiler she had just called the SPCA to come pickup. No, there would be not “welcome to the neighborhood casserole” for him. Monica wanted nothing to do with Devon. After yelling this to him, she couldn’t help staring into his eyes and praying that he would kiss her. Devin was patient with Monica hoping she would realize they were meant for each other. He pursued her and she played hard to get offering him nothing more than friendship. He met her and the kids every morning before they went off to work and school. He arranged his exercise schedule so that he would be at the gym when she and the kids were there. They spent weekends together, still Monica held out telling him merely how good a “friend” he had become. When Devon changed his tactics and became the “chasee” instead of the “chaser”, it lead to an unplanned night of passion. Monica soon finds herself pregnant with Devin’s child. She feels guilty for tainting her dead husband’s memory. Devin is thrilled and wants to marry her. He loves Monica and her children and wants to make them his family, but most of all, he wants Monica to love him in return. This was such a wonderful story that I didn’t want it to end. I’m praying that Ms. Starr continues the saga with other members of the Lewis family. The relationship between Devon and Monica was nothing short of perfect. They had a love that wouldn’t be denied. The conflicts that drew them together made for one of those love-hate relationships that make these romance novels a pleasure to read. Ms. Starr’s expressive
descriptions of the French Quarter and other sections of New Orleans gave me a
sense of having been there. If an
author can describe a city and upon later thinking on that scene I have to
wonder if I was actually there or not, then they have definitely done their job. A word of warning: Being the “hottie” that I am, four sentences to describe what should have been the most amazing love scene between these two wonderful characters, was a bit of a disappointment, but hey, it’s still a great book. |
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jeanette@romanceincolor.net (1st December 2000) |
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