What The Heart Knows
While the storytelling in Johnstone's mainstream fiction debut is earnest and heartfelt, this tale about a May-September affair between a small-town Southern girl and a hard-nosed businessman never develops into anything more than an extended romantic cliche. Larry Baldwin, 40, is smart and tough, a former Green Beret who leaves the New York rat race for a new business venture in his native Georgia. Baldwin's new boss, prominent local businessman Vic Goodman, turns out to be a sleazy redneck who proves difficult to deal with until the hired gun wins him over by enhancing his company's bottom line. When Baldwin's head is suddenly turned by troubled, down-and-out Cody West, however, he finds himself compromised by the pretty 22-year-old's bad history with Goodman and the differences between his own values and those of his free-spirited newfound love. Matters turn melodramatic before long, climaxing in a violent confrontation between Baldwin and Goodman's son, a drug-dealer who's been harassing Cody for years. Johnstone, author of several westerns (Talons of Eagles) and thrillers, moves his tale along at a sprightly clip. But his characters and story line are formulaic, much of the writing is blustery or mawkish ("Cody... ah, Cody. She was like the wind...."). His fans will probably be counting the days until he once again saddles up.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.