ENCHANTED HEART - Felicia Mason
Kensington/Dafina
July 2004
SYNOPSIS: In the latest novel from award-winning author Felicia Mason, a playboy heir gets a does of his own love-'em-and-leave'em medicine from a leggy beauty who forces him to confront their error of his ways.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4) Tricia-Ann Blades
REVIEW: ENCHANTED HEART is a sensual, sizzling love story which is interwoven with deceit, infidelity and neglect. Two persons, two drastically different lives, two successes gained differently yet similar in the ways their hormones drive them, bringing them together with such power that nothing or no one can stand in their way. Lustful beginnings, hot between the sheets, enraptured endings reminding the reader of where men and women are supposed to meet.
“Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my pleasure.” This quotation aptly describes the main character of ENCHANTED HEART - Lance Smith. He is a man of great means, born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth. Money holds no value to him. It is a commodity that can be used to wine and dine the women in his life, placate when necessary but never to be focused on accomplishing something greater. As he seeks pleasure, part of his past haunts him and as a result though he has dreams, that which is hidden in the closet, prevents him from being focused on obtaining his dream. Felicia Mason, however, does not leave this character in this manner but through a series of events, the author successfully molds him into the man he becomes.
Vivienne La Fontaine is the supporting character within this novel. Beautiful, vivacious and serious about her dreams, Vivienne battles with the skeletons in her closet in order to become the success she dreams about. Her encounter with the Lance propels her into the arena she desires but it also places her in the position she never thought she would find herself. She battles the demon of lust, she faces the pain and deceit of her past and she is able to rise above the miry depths that threaten to engulf her.
Within a novel of this depth, there is always a villain or at least one who appears to be. Virginia holds this role. But one wonders what would have driven this woman to the villainous ways one sees exposed. It is through her that one experiences the twists and turns of the novel. She controls her family with an iron fist, opposing anything or anyone that she believes would destroy it. It is through this character that one pointedly sees the theme of infidelity and its effects. Virginia tries to curb the generational practices that face her but to no avail. That which was hidden must come out in the open and unfortunately Virginia learns this the hard way.
The other supporting characters, Cole and Sonja, Jack and TJ, Gayla and Tarique, add the necessary flavor to the novel. Their dialogue and situations mirror that of the main characters but offer the necessary contrast to create a good storyline. Infidelity becomes a possibility because of neglect, beauty is seen as not only skin deep but it is a thing of the heart and the reader recognizes that love is worth fighting for even when circumstances do not seem favorable is. ENCHANTED HEART also teaches us that deception, the love of money, infidelity and neglect only causes destruction in the lives of individuals and we could do well to avoid them.
An excellent read!
tricia@romanceincolor.com (1st September 2004)