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HEART'S CHOICE - Celeste O. Norfleet Harlequin Kimani/Arabesque July 2010 |
SYNOPSIS: Before he was a football legend, Devon Hayes had fantasized about actress Jazelle Richardson. Now that's he's famous in his own right, meeting Jazz through The Platinum Society seems like destiny. But Jazz wants something Devon can't give her--a life out of the spotlight.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE |4| Susan Plummer
REVIEW: The first novel in the Match Made series HEART'S CHOICE by Adrianne Byrd put readers on cloud nine and this second installation HEART'S CHOICE by Celeste O. Norfleet will keep them there.
After a near career ending injury followed by a nasty scandal, football superstar Devon Hayes is revamping his image. The first thing is to settle down and get married. Unfortunately, Devon’s fame makes it difficult to find a woman interested in him and not his millions. Who better to sift the wheat from the chaff than Platinum Society’s matchmaker, Melanie Harte. Melanie knows the perfect woman for Devon; Hollywood actress Jazelle Richardson but Jazelle doesn’t date athletes. This might seem like an insurmountable obstacle but not for Melanie who senses all she has to do is make the introductions and let chemistry do the rest. Despite Jazelle’s initial skepticism she and Devon connect on a level she didn’t expect. There is one problem. Devon’s desire to remain in the spotlight is exactly the opposite of what Jazelle desires.
The novel reads like a screen play as the author sets up each scene before continuing the story. This style creates anticipation and I could hardly wait to see what was coming next. There is so much more to Jazelle than her beauty and fame which Devon smartly picks up on. Devon is also the complete package with looks and wealth but he knows it can be a double-edge sword; often attracting the wrong people. This makes them both a bit skittish about dropping their guard. On the surface they might seem incompatible but they are perfect for each other. The other characters who make up the story also feel very real and relatable.
HEART'S CHOICE unfolds between Sag Harbor and Los Angeles and both are integral to the plot. Devon and Jazelle live in Los Angeles but they find each other in Sag Harbor. Whether the dialogue is between Devon and Jazelle or Melanie and her staff; it is pure entertainment. Jazelle’s dry whit and Devon’s sharp comebacks are simply humorous.
There is so much to love about HEART'S CHOICE. The plot pulls you in and the characters win you over. The novel also touches on mental illness which is a subject that affects many people. Above all HEART'S CHOICE will give readers a reason to laugh, feel empathy and experience a truly beautiful love story.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 1st September 2010