 Contemporary Romance |
TRUE DEVOTION Kim Louise BET/Arabesque December 2002 (2+) Debra Ross |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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Marti Allgood took up painting to heal, not to make a profit. But wealthy art collector Kenyon Williams believes she can be the next great African-American woman artist. As Marti's career blossoms, so does romance with Kenyon. Convinced his past will destroy their love--and their child's future--Kenyon ends the relationship. But the price of letting go may be too high for even a rich man to pay. |
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REVIEW: |
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Kenyon Williams is heir to a successful family business that he does not want. The shame he feels about his family’s history has made it impossible for him to accept his legacy, and he feels he is unworthy of a personal relationship. Marti Allgood is a commercial artist who paints for herself in times of pain or loneliness as a form of therapy. She has endured many personal losses and is wary of any future involvement. When the two meet the physical attraction is strong and immediate.
In TRUE DEVOTION, Ms. Louise introduces us to a two individuals who want to be together, but have past hurts and demons to overcome. Kenyon and Marti both have strong, forceful personalities. Their feelings for each other, and the new life they have created, catch them both by surprise. Watching them come to terms with their situation and really get to know each other, without the interference of others, are the most satisfying parts of the story. The tender loving care that Kenyon shows Marti, once he has accepted their circumstance, is quite touching. The patient reader will enjoy watching this couple fall in love.
However, TRUE DEVOTION has several weaknesses that make getting to the true romance of the story a challenge. The circumstances leading to Kenyon and Marti’s meeting are rather unrealistic. Marti frequently comes across as childish and immature. Kenyon’s obsession with his family’s history, to the point of hindering his own happiness, puts him in a very weak and unflattering light. The relationship problems of secondary characters are a distraction from the main story, and too much time is devoted to the “sister girl” friendship of Marti and her two best friends. The reader must tolerate several layers of this “filler” information to get to the heart of the story.
I have read and enjoyed Ms. Louise’s first novel DESTINY’S SONG. TRUE DEVOTION is a sequel to the first novel. Some fans of Ms. Louise’s earlier work may enjoy revisiting characters from that book. However, I felt that the presence of the characters from DESTINY’S SONG were a bit overbearing. I enjoy sequel romances, but the presence of previous characters should contribute to the flow of the current story. In TRUE DEVOTION the previous character’s presence, at times, seemed forced and unnecessary.
Ms. Louise is a good writer; I would recommend DESTINY’S SONG as a true representation of her talent. |
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debra@romanceincolor.net (11th December 2002) |
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