 Contemporary Romance |
COURAGE UNDER FIRE Candice Poarch BET/Arabesque July 2003 (2+) Alicia Thomas |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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After Lieutenant Colonel Neal Allen rushed into the Pentagon building on September 11th to rescue others, Nurse Arlene Taft was assigned to care for his injuries. Now 18 months later, fate throws them together again.
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REVIEW: |
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COURAGE UNDER FIRE begins with the promise of constant fireworks. Arlene Taft loses her husband, Ronald, when he dies on a boat with his mistress. She reunites with her childhood nemesis, Neal Allen. Neal receives medical care from Arlene because of the injuries incurred while assisting people hurt by the attack on the Pentagon. The attraction Arlene feels conflicts with the young boy she used to know. These sensations excite and confuse each of them.
Neal constantly watches Arlene with growing curiosity. Arlene’s words and actions during his recovery do not line up with the information Ronald gave his sister. Neal’s sister is the mistress of Arlene’s husband. Neal assumes that Arlene knows not only about his sister but of his niece, April, who is Ronald’s eight-year-old daughter. Neal wonders at the growing attachment between April and Arlene given the circumstances. He decides to let the attraction go because April’s welfare must be his main concern. Yet when they meet again years later, they decide to throw caution to the wind.
The pacing starts off great. The need to see how the truth will be revealed to Arlene keeps you turning the pages. Ms. Poarch’s character descriptions give a complete picture, which makes me want to see Neal and Arlene get together. April is the one consistent character through the book that keeps it moving. Her character has the most sense and savvy.
I have a hard time dealing with the fact that Neal does not confront Arlene with what he knows. He exposes his niece to Arlene without knowing what her motives or intentions are toward April. The multiple levels of conflict confuse rather than lead the characters to resolution. Each conflict, whether internal or external, drives Neal and Arlene farther apart to the point that I lost some empathy for them as a couple. Their assistance to the young couple while interesting does nothing to move the story forward. Having read all of her previous work, this is the first book I believe where Ms. Poarch fails to deliver.
COURAGE UNDER FIRE speaks to the ideals of family and forgiveness. Unfortunately this story does not finish as strongly as it begins. |
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alicia@romanceincolor.com (30th June 2003) |
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