CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Sandra Kitt

0-451-20048-9

Signet

July 2000

(5) Wayne Jordan

Contemporary Romance

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

REVIEW: 

A year seems a long time to wait for a book from one of my favorite authors, so when my review copy of Ms. Kitt’s new book arrived, I devoured it in one night.  My immediate conclusion - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is one of Ms. Kitt’s best books.  In the cover blurb of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS, the publisher promotes the book as “a richly emotional story of two people struggling to make sense of their lives in the aftermath of a violent chance encounter.”   CLOSE ENCOUNTERS lives up to this promise with its probing look into the lives of two very special characters.

During a police operation, Carol Taggert, an innocent bystander, is shot.  The beautiful black woman who he believes he has accidentally shot, affects police officer, Lee Grafton, in an unusual way.  Concerned for her prompts him to visit her in the hospital, and he finds himself attracted to the gentle vulnerable woman.  Carol, too, finds herself attracted to the caring sensitive man.  What develops is a relationship that is marred by mistrust and prejudice, but one which slowly strengthens as Carol and Lee get to know each other.  But what becomes more important is the deep spiritual tension that exists between the two protagonists - the inevitable knowledge that they were meant for each other.

His hands settled on her waist and then slid around to her lower back, drawing her against him.  That slow and tentative movement made Carol recognize that what had happened was happening to both of them.

They were connected for life.

By Chance.

Or fate.

Or need.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is a well-written book.  The close encounter that causes Carol and Lee to meet is central to the development of their characters and relationship.  Both Carol and Lee are profoundly affected by this close encounter.  Carol is able to take a good look at her sterile life, and reach out for love, trust and acceptance.  Lee must come to grips with the fact that he almost killed an innocent person, and that he also needs love.

The final scene in the book sums up what is wonderful about the Ms. Kitt’s writing.  With simple effective words she lets us see how far her protagonists have come.  With Lee’s simple gift, we see the kind of love that each of us is searching for.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is more than a love story.  It focuses on how specific incidents in our lives can affect us in so profound a way that an inner probing takes place that forces us to look deep inside and acknowledge the weaknesses in our characters, and personalities.  As a result change is inevitable.

This latest release from Ms. Kitt is a major achievement.  Years after her first book, Ms. Kitt, a writer of immense talent, Ms. Kitt has again created two memorable character and a story that touches the soul.  Now, I have another year to wait…

wayne@romanceincolor.net (1st July 2002)