~ Review: Once in a Blue Moon ~

PLOT SYNOPSIS:  Denise is sent by her boss to rescue the National Library's computer network security system, but she isn't prepared for her encounter with the handsome and brilliant software designer she must work with.

REVIEW:  ONCE IN A BLUE MOON was a bit hard to get into.  Not just because it didn’t hold my attention, but also because the story’s conflict was based solely on race.  Playing the race card in love relationships in this century is passé.  Interracial relationships are widespread and they’re widely accepted.  If anything the lovers, be they black, white, red, yellow, purple or orange will do anything to be together.  That includes putting their love first and family be damned!.  This wasn’t the case with Denise Adams.

Denise works for the Library of Congress in their Information Technology Division.  She is assigned to assist the contractor working on their network security project.  He has fallen behind and Denise is sent to get him back on track.  Having just ended a three-year relationship with her semi-fiancé, Denise is glad for the distraction, even if it is with Ian the terrible.

Ian Phillips is having a tough time getting over the death of his best friend.  Along with feeling guilty over the incident, Ian doesn’t have the best bedside manners in the workplace.  He’s distant, gruff, snide and argumentative.  His life was in a rut until the day Denise walked in.  If there were supposed to be fireworks going off when they met, this reader didn’t see them.

Spending three months together working on the project, Ian and Denise become friends (sort of).  He was attracted to her, but how she feels about him isn’t clearly defined.  Ian asks Denise out once the project is completed and they begin a love affair – a “secret” love affair.

Ian charges ahead with both barrels open, but Denise isn’t sure she wants to be in an interracial relationship.  She fears her “all white people are evil” thinking oldest sister would disown her if she found out.

Denise is 27 years old, very smart and talented in her field, yet she bows to her family’s opinion of her life and decisions.  This is the same family, who wasn’t there, with open arms and words of support, when she caught her ex in bed with another woman.  Him they accept.  Ian she’s concerned they won’t. This reader knew after the first couple of chapters that good old dependable Denise was not going to be the strong African American woman desired in my romance novels.

The attraction between Denise and Ian seems implausible, while the story fails to convey a loving relationship between the two.  Even though Ian’s personality is a hard one to cozy up to, by the climax, I was pulling for Ian and hoping he would dump Denise for a sistah who is more deserving of his devotion. Along with this, the conflict was too pat and the reader has to read the entire book to get to the attention-grabbing chapters.

For a first venture, Ms. Cole devised an interesting story, but more attention needs to be directed towards developing the chemistry associated with a romantic connection.

jeanette@romanceincolor.net

2nd July 2002