Real for Me
In his predictable, raucously overwritten debut novel, Pete tells the story of a bride-to-be who suddenly discovers that her fianc‚ may be stable and successful, but not the man of her heart or dreams. Glover McDaniel, a strong, independent African-American woman with a job at the local state employment office, couldn't ask for better husband material than Lionel, a securities broker at a prestigious firm, but the romance has slowed and she can't figure out why. Along comes Maxwell "Max" Guillory, a ruggedly handsome "bad boy" with an unused business administration degree and an undying love for basketball, flag football, partying and women of all types. Life is good on the L.A. club scene, where beauty, attitude, brand names and flashy cars spell temporary contentment. But Max is slowly discovering that fun is not all he wants out of life, and on a trip to the employment office, he meets Glover. The star-crossed lovers confront many obstacles Glover's engagement to Lionel being the most significant but after a few sexually charged meetings in public places, it is clear where things are headed. As the plot speeds to a familiar close, Pete tacks on a hokey surprise ending, a slapdash conclusion that neither shocks nor adds anything worthwhile to this flawed romance effort. As strident as its opening rendition of an alarm clock going off "Beeeeeeeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeep!" this novel lacks the polish of better efforts in the genre, but fans of Omar Tyree and Eric Jerome Dickey desperate for filler reading may give it a chance.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.