When I think of classic romance by African-American authors I think of the
big four: Beverly Jenkins, Rochelle Alers, Francis Ray, who sadly,
passed away earlier this month, and Brenda Jackson.
Brenda Jackson is the first African-American author to have
a book published under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line and the first
African-American romance author to make both the USA Today and the New York Times
Bestsellers List.
She has published more than 90 novels in her career. Two of
her most popular series, The Madaris and the Westmoreland families are
commemorated with a bi-annual readers' cruise. I have read many of her books, but not
the book that started off the Westmoreland dynasty Delaney's Desert Sheikh.
Because of a misunderstanding, Delaney Westmorland and Jamal
Ari Yasir are forced to share a cabin for a month. Jamal is a prince of a small
country in the Middle East and Delaney has recently graduated from medical
school. Although they are physically attracted to one another, the differences
in their cultures cause a great deal of friction.
The theme is a classic, a young prince who is expected to
marry falls in love with an independent woman from America. Can he change his chauvinistic
attitude toward women? Can she give up her career to become princess? Will
there families approve? If you are a romance reader, you know the answer to all
these questions.
Jackson puts a twist on this theme by having the love story
between two people of color. She does an expert job with dialogue and sensual
scenes. I enjoyed watching them get to know each other and fall in love in
spite of their cultural obstacles.
I give it an A- for classic theme, great chemistry, and
letting love conquer all.
