Carl Weber

Dalfina

1-57566-696-0

September 2001

(4+) Wayne Jordan

Contemporary Romance

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

REVIEW: 

For years, I’ve strictly read romance fiction, and only started reading mainstream fiction when writers like Nora Roberts, Barbara Delinsky made the move.  A long time fan of romance novels, the current increase of mainstream fiction by romance authors has introduced me to new exciting writer…

With the recent move by Francis Ray, Brenda Jackson, Kayla Perrin,, Gwynne Forster, and other African-American romance authors to mainstream, this mainstream, so-called woman’s fiction genre, should see increased sales.  It is inevitable that fans of theirs will follows.   It was surprising, however, to realise that authors like Mary Morrison, Colin Channer, Mary Monroe, and Carl Weber have been published for several years, and are already writing the stories I’ve recently started to read.  I must thank Tri-Com publicist, L. Peggy Hicks, for introduce me to this wonderful sub-genre, and the work of the talented authors she represents.

MARRIED MEN is the first book I’ve read of Carl Weber and it is definitely not my last.  MARRIED MEN is the story of four friends – Allan, Wil, Kyle and Jay.  Each of the characters’ stories is important to the other characters’ stories, and emphasizes closeness of their relationship.  Despite having to tell the stories of four characters, Weber effortlessly intertwines the lives of each of these characters without confusing the readers - a technique that could only be handled by an author of immense talent. 

Kyle and Allan’s stories are my favorites of the four.  Kyle’s focuses on his relationship with his white wife and how a false arrest affects this relationship and leads to their breakup, and eventual divorce.  Weber’s ability to dig deep into the minds of each of his characters makes this plot line worth every cent of the book’s cost.

Allan’s story is one of a man who is controlled by the women in his life - his demanding mother, who refuses to let him grow up, and the sly money-grabbing wife, Rose, who everyone except he is able to see the true Rose.  Eventually, it takes a tragedy for him to see her for what she is.

One of the fascinating things about MARRIED MEN, is how Weber is ability to present four very flawed friends, who are at times so full of their macho self that they could easily have disgusted the readers, and still make me care about what happens to each of them.   Why does this happen?   Because each of us have met one or more of these characters – men who on the surface appear strong and in control of their lives, but underneath are vulnerable sensitive men who are human enough to make mistakes, and are willing to learn from those mistakes.  Neither one of the four men is perfect, but men who’re capable of mistakes, and who are willing and man enough to admit when they have fouled up.  Maybe I see it this way because I’m a man, and can easily empathize with their confused search of identity.

In MARRIED MEN, Weber takes a original approach by looking into the lives of four very different, but very similar men.  He takes each of them on an emotional rollercoaster, but show us how at the end of it all, each is able to survive because they have each other.  With the success of movies like THE WOOD, and THE BROTHERS, MARRIED MEN is a welcomed addition to the growing examples of stories about black brother hood…

And after reading the teaser of Mr. Weber’s BIG MOMMA DRAMA, 2003 is going to be a great year!

wajordan@caribsurf.com (2nd October 2001)