Eboni Snoe

BET/Arabesque

1-58314-338-6

September 2002

(3+) Jeanette Cogdell

PLOT SYNOPSIS: 

The conclusion to the Family Reunion series finds Essence Stuart confronting her biological father, politician Cedric Johnson, after he cruelly rejects her. Essence also has a chance encounter with detective Titan Valentine, who Cedric has hired to investigate her. When they fall in love, it takes Grandfather Johnson's meddling to get the couple to admit their feelings and take a chance at love.

REVIEW: 

Finding out who her father is on her mother’s deathbed, Essence Stuart decided to contact him after she buried her mother.  This is a difficult decision for Essence since the man her mother said is her father turns out to be, Cedric Johnson, the uncle of her best friends Brenda and Shiri.

Essence contacts Cedric, tells him who she is and what her mother revealed to her.  He denies it, and then proceeds to make arrangements for Essence to be investigated.  His political career is at stake and he has to protect it; never mind that he had engaged in an affair with Essence’s mother and dropped her like a hot potato when she informed him that she was pregnant.

Cedric’s campaign manager hires his own son, detective Titan Valentine, to find out all he can about this evil person, Essence Stuart.  Titan promises to find this woman and expose her for the “prostitute masquerading as a massage therapist” that she is.  He meets Essence at the Johnson family reunion and is intrigued by her - only he doesn’t know who she is.  Essence too experiences an attraction to Titan.

Later when she sees Cedric talking to Titan, she goes over to introduce herself.  Cedric mistakes her for a cousin until he learns her name.  He then proceeds to tell her off and Titan’s demeanor does an about face.  A long time family friend, suddenly Essence feels like the unwanted guest and leaves.  Titan follows her to her room, seduces her then leaves her standing there proving she was exactly what he thought of her.

What follows then is a bizarre trip to Titan’s grandmother’s house where Essence finds herself accompanying him.  (I’m still pondering that one)  However, the scenes at the nightclub I found most interesting.

Being a romance series lover, I had such high hopes for this series, but have to admit that I was very disappointed.  In the two previous books in this series, HEARTS OF STEEL and A FAMILY AFFAIR, Essence was portrayed as the cousin to Brenda and Shiri.  You learn in this book that she is what we southerners call a “play cousin”.  This really threw me and actually angered me too.  Why was this not revealed before?

The relationship between Titan and Essence began on a hostile note and left a bitter taste in my mouth that I couldn’t seem to get rid of.  His later acts of kindness couldn’t obscure the supposedly sensual scene that occurred in Essence’s bedroom.

I have to give Ms. Snoe credit with her development of the relationship between Titan and Essence.  It wasn’t overshadowed by the political topic and the story itself could have easily become a political/suspense/mystery.  She remained true to the genre and I commend her for that.

For future series, I recommend that the authors compare notes to keep the characters consistent throughout the books.  This is a pet peeve with readers like myself who thrive on these series.

jeanette@romanceincolor.net (1st October 2002)