KISSED - Carmen Green
Kensington/Dafina
November 2004
SYNOPSIS: The highly acclaimed author of COMMITMENTS delivers a compelling romantic tale about a passionate ambassador who is forced to use all his diplomatic skills to win back the attentions of his wife
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4) Jennifer Brathwaite
REVIEW: In Carmen Green’s latest sojourn with the men of the Crawford family those readers long starved for more time with them
are presented with a very good novel that asks the reader two questions. First, how do you measure success, and second, can true happiness be
found in someone else’s dreams.
After having devoted 20 years of her life to her husband, Cheryl Crawford tries to cash in on the love & devotion she has put into her
marriage in order to pursue a personal dream. Unfortunately her husband, Justin Crawford, isn’t willing to sacrifice the life he has made and
allow his wife’s goals to be tantamount. His behaviour puts a major wedge in their relationship and tests whether or not they’ll stay together
as husband and wife. Making matters more complicated is Chad Brown – Cheryl’s suitor and Justin’s employee.
Most of the book moves well, the pace being so nicely interwoven that all events, emotions and relationships are believable and engaging. That
being said, the end of the book comes with such breakneck, whiplash speed, that even though the foundation for the ending was laid throughout
the text, if one blinked, it would missed.
The characters in
KISSED are, as to be expected, wonderful! The Crawford brothers are as delicious as usual and those who have had the pleasure of
reading their stories in any of Ms. Green’s other novels will love seeing them again. Other characters such as Chad, Shaw, Jett and his
girlfriend are all also extremely well written.
While interesting, there are perhaps a few too many locations in the text for any one to be utilised to any extent and thus none have as much
of an impact as it should. The book’s dialogue on the other hand is more of a factor in the story and helps to increase the reader’s
enjoyment. All of the conversations are believable and endearing – the peanut butter conversation between Cheryl and Justin is cute and makes
them sound like the long married couple that they are.
Overall the book is great. It has the sexy quality that is almost palpable that one has become accustomed to in a Carmen Green novel. Even
though at times the reader may feel somewhat frustrated, it is in a good way, as it comes from being so invested in the characters. Although,
again, the ending comes entirely too quickly, that can be forgiven.
KISSED is a story with the classic ‘Mahogany’ message about what is really important in life and values such as being true to oneself.
This novel is a definite buy, especially for Carmen Green and Crawford men fans.
jennifer@romanceincolor.com (5th December 2004)