Contemporary Romance

SASS

Linda Hudson-Smith

BET/Arabesque

1-58314-396-3

February 2003

(2+) Leslie Cannon

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

While in Paris, Sass Stephens bumps into her former lover, photographer Kristopher Chandler, who years ago had left her pregnant. Having moved on and establishing herself as a news correspondent, Sass finds herself falling for Kristopher once again. But a secret comes back to haunt her and threatens their second chance at love.

REVIEW: 

Having come to admire Linda Hudson-Smith’s work at the start of 2002 when I read her novella, “Forbidden Fantasy” in Arabesque’s LOVE IN BLOOM Valentine’s Anthology, and coming to further respect her talent with the later release of ISLAND INTERLUDE, I was beyond ecstatic when I saw SASS was in fact her literary creation. In fact, ecstatic might be putting it mildly, I literally screamed out loud.

Knowing what Ms. Hudson-Smith is capable of as an author, I was rather disappointed with the characters that headlined her latest novel. When Sass Stephens meets back up with her former sweetheart, Kristopher Chandler, I expected to see a little more resistance from Sass regarding letting Kristopher back into her life. Especially with Kristopher walked out on Sass while she was pregnant with his child.

And though, Ms. Hudson-Smith tries to convey Sass’ inward struggle through Sass’ conversations with herself and others, Sass’ actions are a little too on the contradictory side for the struggle to be believed.

Also with a name like Sass, not to mention a wonderfully done cover that complements the title quite nicely, I expected to see a strong, self-assured heroine. The Sass in this novel, however, is depicted in such a manner that I hesitate in using the term “heroine” when referring to her.   Though I understand heroines must have flaws and struggles, but Sass is flawed just a bit too much for me to develop the needed level of respect that a reader should have for one of the main characters.

Kristopher was better depicted as a main character, though I’m still not quite certain if I see him as ‘hero’ material. Ms. Hudson-Smith did give him some commendable qualities in that he was apologetic to Sass, was generous with his wealth and willing to stand his ground and show himself worthy to her family members.  He, however, was too cocky for my liking. Though he claimed to love Sass, that were several times where it seemed as it was going to be his way or no way, not exactly a good attitude for a romance novel’s hero to possess.

Ms. Hudson-Smith’s scenery depiction is, as always, very well done. Her detailed descriptions allow readers to easily travel from place to place with the characters. I love the vast array of places Ms. Hudson-Smith always takes readers in novel, places she always brings alive with her masterful arrangement of words.

Where Sass falls short, however, is that readers are not able to develop the needed respect or empathy for the main characters, to help push Sass from being just a series of nicely arranged words, to an unforgettable novel. 

leslie@romanceincolor.net (30th December 2003)