Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 9, 1994 TAG: 9404110158
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by HARRIET LITTLE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
By Lavyrle Spencer. Putnam. $22.95.
At one point in this novel, when swans floated by, their ``heads and necks formed a heart'' and the image is repeated on the dust jacket. We're thus assured here of a romance with a capital ``R'' that never falters in its delivery.
Already a bestseller, ``Family Business'' gets off to a Kleenex start when Christopher Lallek's best friend and fellow police officer, Greg Reston, dies in an accident. Chris turns to Greg's family for both support and comfort, naturally. But he soon finds compassion turning into passion for Greg's widowed mother Lee.
Lee's family, for the most part, finds a romance between a 30-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman offensive for a variety of reasons. The stage is then set for major problems for all involved.
Never challenging, the plot resolves itself in standard romantic fashion. And, as expected, sexual encounters abound. The real surprises here are the realistic details of some of the minor characters. Spencer creates believable people, if not believable endings to problems.
Harriet Little teaches at James River high school.
by CNB