|
HEARTS OF STEEL Geri Guillaume BET/Arabesque July 2002 (3+) Jeanette Cogdell |
|
PLOT SYNOPSIS: This first in a series of novels about the extraordinary Johnson family introduces businesswoman Shiri Rowlan and football star Jack "JD" Deneen, who meet on a flight to Birmingham, Alabama. After several chance encounters, the elder women in the Johnson clan are determined to put their matchmaking skills to good use and bring Shiri and JD together
REVIEW: Escorting a pair of giant teddy bears home for her grandparent’s anniversary gift, Shiri Rowlan meets football star, Jack “JD” Deneen. Once her mother, aunts and grandmother learn of this, they are determined to get the two together. Each year, they secretly choose a family member to play cupid with. Dropping the card Jack gave her with his number on it, Shiri sealed her own fate. The match making was on.
Jack is used to having his way with women. After all, he is a football star (not even the NFL). He doesn’t understand this strong attraction to Shiri, but he gives into it and pursues her relentlessly. Shiri is on the fast track to climb the corporate ladder and doesn’t have time for Jack or any man. Jack wins her over, but a life-altering occurrence caused him to give up everything he’d ever wanted.
This is Arabesque’s first installment of the Family Reunion trilogy. Indeed the story should introduce the Johnson clan; however, too much time was devoted towards getting acquainted with Shiri’s family as opposed to Shiri and Jack getting to know each other.
The story is told in the first person, moving from the hero’s point of view, to the heroine’s then back again. This lead to some repetition in the beginning but tapered out as the story went on.
The transitions between several chapters were choppy and a little confusing. It didn’t take away from the story; however, you were left having to fill in the blanks.
Ms. Guillaume passed on a great opportunity to instill some medical knowledge, which this reader felt would have been welcomed and quite appropriate given the subject matter. Towards the end of the story, you’re left once again to fill in the blanks. Plus there were too many loose ends to make assumptions about.
The story was a very interesting one with such a wide variety of characters, but withholding the details of the romantic reunion proved to be a disappointment.
2nd July 2002