Love on the Line

December 22, 2008
Laura Castoro's newest explores blended family relationships. Thea Morgan had a brief fling with Xavier Thornton when she was 16 but then Xavier went on to athletic fame, Thea married a white man, had a blue-eyed daughter and became a young widow. When the story starts, that daughter, Jesse, is about to go to college, and Xavier, now a pastor, has found Thea again, and they are engaged to be married. However, when Xavier becomes the minister of a smalltown Arkansas church, hostile churchgoers, the demands on Thea's time and a profound unhappiness with smalltown life take their toll. Meanwhile, Jesse is having trouble fitting in at college. Thea and Jesse are well-drawn characters, strong independent women who readers will love. Xavier, however, is far too perfect to be interesting; it doesn't matter who he is, but merely what he represents—a good man and a relationship worth fighting for. While this African-American novel won't distinguish itself in the field, it is a satisfying read.

February 1, 2009
Thea Morgan, a widow, has worked many years to reach the top of her profession, andas an African American woman, shes had to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. Then she marries former sports celebrity Xavier Thornton, who has left wealth and fame to answer the call of the ministry. When Xavier says yes to an appointment at a small AME church in Arkansas, the charismatic athlete is greeted with open arms. The congregations reaction to Thea is another story altogether. Her skin is suspiciously light, and she has a career of her own. They expect what they consider to be a traditional preachers wifea soft-spoken, modestly dressed woman whos ready to volunteer at the church at the drop of a hat. In the meantime, Theas biracial daughter, Jesse, is having identity problems of her own. Castoros many-facetednovel honestly addresses significant universal issuesthe give-and-take of marriage, self-sacrifice, the search for identity, prejudice, and preconceptions. Readers who enjoy emotionally fulfilling stories will find that this one more than fits the bill.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)