THE AMBASSADOR'S VOW - Barbara Gale
Silhouette Special Edition
October 2002
SYNOPSIS:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4+) Wayne Jordan
REVIEW: I’ve always enjoyed interracial romances, and see them as very special stories. Individual who dare to love based on the heart and disregard skin color are heroic in their ability to defy social norms. And I say social norms because we would be unrealistic to see our world as a perfect world, as we know that there are still many persons, black and white, who still frown on interracial relationships.
I want to begin by saying that THE AMBASSADOR’S VOW is a very special book. Special, not only because it’s Harlequin/Silhouette first interracial romance, but because it is not a diluted romance that hints at the hero’s blackness and sidestep issues of color. Ms. Gale’s editor must be complimented for daring to embrace a love story that demonstrates Harlequin/Silhouette changing policy about books that deal with characters of color.
Now on to the story…
When Daniel Boylan arrived at his parents’ home to attend his sister’s engagement party, he has two surprises. Firstly, he discovers that his sister’s fiancé is white, and by the end of the night, finds himself intrigued and half in love with his sister’s very white best friend, Katherine Harriman.
What develops is a love affair that both Daniel and Katherine enter with caution. Daniel is especially concerned with the implication that the relationship has for his professional future. The front runner for the job of Ambassador to France, Daniel knows that he is a role model for many of the nation’s black people. He feels as if he would be letting down them down by marrying Katherine. However, the situation is taken out of his hands when his current girlfriend announces that she is pregnant and he is forced to marry her. Katherine is devastated and the promise of love, and a future with Daniel comes to a crumbling end. She runs away…
Ten years later, Daniel receives a call from Katherine begging for his help. Their son, a son, he has never known about, is seriously ill.
At all levels THE AMBASSADOR’S VOW is a wonderful absorbing read. A reader who has a love for the secret baby plotline, I was moved by the scene in which Daniel first meet his son. Daniel is a wonderful creation; a man who recognizes that he made a crucial mistake years before, and wants to do his best to rectify the situation; a man who is still haunted by the beautiful white woman he fell in love with years ago. Katherine too, is a strong character. Her response to Daniel’s betrayal is realistic, and her willingness to forgive the past speaks much of her character.
Though the story opens with Ambassador Boylan receiving the call for Katherine, their early relationship is told in a vivid flashback, leaving the second half of the books to deal with their reconciliation, and address the issues and misunderstanding that still threaten to destroy their love.
In a year when romance is not necessarily at its best, and when readers and reviewers are peeved by romances that allow social issues to overwhelm the romance, Ms. Gale pens a story that at no time allows issues of color to control the story. Yes, THE AMBASSADOR’S VOW is about the problems that interracial couples must confront, but never does the romance become secondary. This is Daniel and Katherine’s story; a story that focuses on conflicts that may arise in any relationship.
With intense sexual tension, and love scenes that will have readers raising the air conditioning, Ms. Gale skillfully weaves a tale that is one of the best romances I’ve read for the year. Yes, I am sure that THE AMBASSADOR’S VOW will give rise to some debate, but for now, I’ll just sit here and savor this moment, and thank Ms. Gale for giving this hard-working reviewer/teacher/aspiring author, several hours of reading pleasure!
waj@romanceincolor.com (12th October 2002)