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ADMISSION OF LOVE Niobia Bryant BET/Arabesque August 2000 (5) Nathasha Brooks-Harris |
Contemporary Romance (Debut) |
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PLOT SYNOPSIS: |
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REVIEW #1 (Read Review #2): |
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Every
now and again, there is a buzz about a particular book from readers who post
their opinions on online romance novel lists. The last time, that buzz was about
Brenda Jackson’s FIRST AND
DESIRE--and every word was true. This time, that buzz was about ADMISSION
OF LOVE by Niobia Bryant. This reviewer was excited to be assigned that
particular book and wondered if the book was really “all that.” The
heroine, Chloe Bolton, is a gorgeous supermodel who has it all: a burgeoning
career, plenty of money, great looks and she has visited places that most people
only dream about. She is at the top of her field and has every major award to
prove it. She has a sprawling New York apartment decorated to perfection, but
she has only been there 30 times because her life has been lived out of designer
suitcases in every major city across the globe. She grows tired of living such
an empty, meaningless life and desires to live more normally with social
connections, friends and a real home. Enter
Devon Jamison, a handsome contractor whose very being is shrouded in arrogance.
Still reeling over the breakup with his ex-girlfriend, he takes an instant
dislike to Chloe. He has seen her type before and is sure that she is nothing
more than a beautiful airhead who happens to be filthy rich. He thinks that she
is shallow and has nothing more to offer anyone but her good looks. Their
paths cross when Chloe retires and returns to her deceased mother’s home in
Holtsville, South Carolina and hires Devon’s company to build a mansion on the
land her mother left her. Devon doesn’t think that she’ll stick around long
enough to see her house built, much less live in it because she’ll feel that
the rural town is too small, too backward and doesn’t have enough action to
keep her interested or happy there. He assumes that she’ll return to New York
because a woman of her stature is sure to get bored with Holtsville and crave
the fast-paced city life. He vows to stay away from her and have as little
contact with her--except when it’s absolutely necessary in order to transact
business. They
fight like proverbial cats and dogs. They don’t get along and they one up each
other at every turn. They exchange bitter, hurtful words and they do everything
to hurt one another. But they never count on their hearts betraying them. One
day, Devon lets his guard down and he sees Chloe differently and realizes that
she isn’t stupid, nor an airhead, nor just a fashion plate. He sees that there
is more to her than what everyone sees on the outside. At that point, their
relationship changes and the passion between them turns romantic and the rest is
the stuff of which great romance novels are made. ADMISSION
OF LOVE is an excellent book. Bryant
is a new author and it is clear from this fine novel that she knows what she’s
doing. The book is definitely character-driven because all of her characters are
rich and three-dimensional. Chloe and Devon are well-drawn and have great depth
as are Deshawn (Devon’s twin), Cyrus ( a nosy elder from the town), and Pookie
(a nasty around-the-way girl who has a thing for Deshawn). However, the best of
the supporting characters is Nana Lil, Devon’s grandmother. Chloe
becomes attached to the wise old woman who spouts the country witticisms and has
delicious plates of Southern cooking always ready because all of her relatives
are dead and she needs someone. Chloe’s mother was Lil’s best friend, so the
attraction is mutual. Nana Lil is also the source of the greatest emotional
investments as well because there are some tear-jerking scenes that will make
even the most stoic readers reach for the Kleenex. The
online boards raved about Bryant’s love scenes and they didn’t exaggerate.
The new author knows how to put together a love scene that involves the five
senses. When Chloe and Devon finally give into the fire that burns between them,
it is both magical and earth-shattering. They go from having sex to lovemaking
to making love in one scene and it’s all believable. It’s as if Bryant took
the act of making love apart and reconstructed it on an emotional and romantic
foundation. She used every bit of information she had about Chloe and Devon and
incorporated it into those love scenes--and there were plenty. What she did is
akin to an orchestra using every available instrument to contribute to the one
desired sound. Because of that, the
love scenes were fluid, tight and interesting. He took sex to a brand new height
and then some! Bryant
also dealt well with the subject of death. She took a usual grim subject and
turned it into one of grace, elegance and dignity. She made dying almost an art
and not something to be feared. It was beautiful the way her characters died and
did their thing from up above. The
plot was well-executed because everything was there for a reason. Not a word or
punctuation mark was out-of-place. The pacing moved quickly and Bryant keeps
readers on the edge wondering if Chloe and Devon will ever get past their
misunderstandings and arguments and finally admit their love for one another.
The setting plays well into the plot because although part of the novel takes
place in New York, her vision of the
Big Apple seems different from what is usually written about it. Setting the
novel in Holtsville lends a certain something to the novel and it sounds so
pretty and peaceful, that readers are apt to look on the map and find it to move
there themselves. In short, everything about ADMISSION OF LOVE is good. It’s a book to be read immediately and then read again. Bryant is Arabesque’s newest shining star. That company has a pure gem in her because she can surely write and should be lauded for her fine efforts the first-time around. It’s very rare that a new author writes such a great book that’s such a keeper. Usually, that happens after they’ve written several books and have had time to practice the craft. Not so with Bryant who got everything right this time. It is this reviewer’s hope that Arabesque Books knows what it has in Niobia Bryant and treats her right. Readers are sure to see her name on a regular basis. Anyone who likes good, straight ahead romance is advised to read ADMISSION OF LOVE. It won’t disappoint, that’s for sure! |
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nathasha@romanceincolor.net (August 2000) |
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