In Love and War

by Denene Millner, Nick Chiles Narrated by Caroline Clay, Dion Graham

Overview

Denene Millner and Nick Chiles are authors of the Essence best-seller Love Don't Live Here Anymore. In Love and War is the tale of fiery college administrator, Zaria Chance, and strong-willed teacher and basketball coach, Kenneth Roman. The two may seem to be opposites, but they can't ignore an attraction as fierce as theirs. With a lively narration by Dion Graham and Caroline Clay, this novel will enthrall listeners with its honesty, sensuality, and playfulness.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

The husband and wife authors of Love Don't Live Here Anymore team up for another look at contemporary African-American relationships. Busy, uncompromising Zaria Chance has raised her son, James, and her daughter, Jasmine, without help from their no-account jailbird father. Now that she's comfortably settled in suburban Teaneck, N.J., with a job in a college bursar's office, the last thing she's looking for is another man to mess up her life. When Kenneth Roman, a social studies teacher concerned about James's bad behavior in the classroom, comes butting in, Zaria tells him precisely what he can do with his advice-while secretly checking out his basketball coach physique. Romantic sparks fly, but Kenneth somehow neglects to tell Zaria about his four-year-old daughter, Lane. As his feelings for Zaria grow, it only gets harder to explain. The too-thin plot hinges unconvincingly on this flimsy complication, which could easily be cleared up. The novel could also stand to lose 50 pages-Zaria's feisty monologues become repetitive. Yet for the most part, these sharp-tongued, intelligent protagonists crackle with life. Millner and Chiles round out the cast with spicy secondary characters like Zaria's drama queen sister, Mikki (heroine of Love Don't Live Here Anymore), and a host of kibbitzing colleagues and friends, creating a textured portrait of the suburban community. The discussions of African-American social issues can be heavy-handed, but Millner and Chiles's entertaining-and instantly recognizable-portrait of two stubborn singles should keep readers satisfied. (Jan.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Another contemporary romance from the authors of Love Don't Live Here Anymore (2002), etc. Kenneth Roman doesn't know quite what to say to a beautiful single mother who doesn't want to listen. As a teacher and coach at a Teaneck high school, he's seen a lot of kids get into serious trouble, and Zaria Chance's son James may be headed in the wrong direction. He's only trying to do the right thing by telling her about James's difficulties-but, damn, talk about ingratitude. As far as Zaria can see, Mr. Roman has her pegged as a welfare queen from the 'hood, even though Zaria's been raising her James and Jasmine alone ever since their no-account daddy disappeared, and she just so happens to make $60,000 a year as a university financial officer. If he doesn't believe her, he can go and ask Principal Bell, a strong black woman herself, who won't take kindly to any man questioning a black woman's mothering. Sure, the principal's seen plenty of triflin' heffas who never should've had kids come and go, but Zaria isn't one of them. Kenneth has to agree, to his chagrin, as he finds out more about Zaria and her family. Maybe his guilty secret is getting in the way of his better judgment: his own daughter Lane doesn't live with him, and he's not as a good a father to her as he wants to be. There aren't enough hours in a day to do his job, get some exercise, keep up with family and friends, and maintain a social life-though there's no one special in his life right now, besides Antoinette, who likes to show up every so often in nothing but a gold lamé raincoat. Zaria doesn't have a man and doesn't want one-but Kenneth Roman keeps coming around and she's beginning to like him .

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171225551
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	09/17/2010
Edition description:	Unabridged

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