 Contemporary Fiction |
ONCE AND AGAIN Deirdre Savoy BET/Arabesque May 2001 (4+) Wayne Jordan |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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REVIEW: |
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When Dee Savoy came on the romance scene in late 1999 with SPELLBOUND, I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that she would be one of the few who become true stars. With her second release, ALWAYS, just one year later, her work showed a maturity and fluency of style not seen in a writer with just one book under her belt. Her May 2001 release, ONCE AND AGAIN is sheer perfection, and another example of why Ms. Savoy is now considered one of Arabesque’s best. “Nathan’s Story”, the name I affectionately call ONCE AND AGAIN, is quintessential Savoy. It contains all of the characteristics readers have come to expect of a story from Ms. Savoy, and so much more. Most readers will remember Nathan Ward from Ms. Savoy’s sophomore effort, ALWAYS. Though he was only a secondary character in the book, it was only because the hero of the book, Michael Thorne, was such a strong individual that Nathan did not take over. He was definitely clamoring for his own story, and ONCE AND AGAIN is that story. Nathan has always been in love with Daphne Thorne. Fifteen years earlier their relationship had came to an end, and they had lost contact with each other. When Nathan finds himself in trouble the turns to Daphne, and finds himself unable to deny his attraction to her. This time Nathan enters Daphne’s life with his daughter in tow, but he is determined to win back her love, and knows that the only way he can do this is the gain her trust again. Nathan is not your typical romance hero. At the beginning of the book, he’s jilted at the altar, and is happy beyond belief. The woman who has jilted him is his daughter’s mother, a woman he feels nothing for. One of the funniest scenes in the book occurs when the priest brings a note to him at the church. Nathan sat on the red-carpeted stairs leading up to the altar, threw his head back and laughed. I’m not coming. The three most welcomed words he’s ever seen. Never in a million years would he have expected Monica to renege their deal. He laughed until tears ran down from his eyes and his rib cage hurt. With this I realised that ONCE AND AGAIN was going to be about a very special hero. And the reader will not be disappointed. ONCE AND AGAIN is Nathan’s story in every sense of the word. The Nathan we see it this book is a more mature individual and ready to take on the responsibility of raising a child on his own. This is his way of proving to himself that he is someone. Scenes with Nathan and his daughter, Emily, are moving tributes to fatherhood. And it is scenes like these that convince Daphne that Nathan is worthy of her love. It's not surprising that Ms. Savoy dedicated this novel to her father, Eugene Nelson Savoy. If Mr. Savoy is the inspiration for Nathan, he must be a wonderful man. It is impossible to forget the love scenes in ONCE AND AGAIN. The book shimmers with sensuality, and should definitely be read when the lights are low, and there is romance in the air. There are times when the loving is tender and slow, but then there are other times when the flames burn with such heat and the passion is hot that readers must be sure to keep the air conditioning on. ONCE AND AGAIN is a memorable romance that is sure to delight Ms. Savoy’s many fans, and satisfy those female readers who feel in love with Nathan. Ms. Savoy weaves a story that should be savored slowly. It is like a fine multi-coursed meal that should be enjoyed during every course. My taste buds were definitely satisfied! And I’m definitely hungry for more. Ms. Savoy has done it again! |
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wayne@romanceincolor.net (30th April 2001) |
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