cover image You're All I Need

You're All I Need

Karen White-Owens, Kensington/Dafina, $6.99 mass market (352p) ISBN 978-0-7582-2960-1

Passive characters and a lack of conflict make this interracial contemporary romance a slow, dull read. African-American administrative assistant Tia Edwards is surprised to find herself attracted to a white man: sexy French attorney Christophe Jenkins. When Tia's boyfriend cheats on her, Chris demonstrates his growing affection for Tia by following her to her parents' house after work, setting up a bit of racial tension that never goes anywhere. Much of the relationship development is glossed over ("They'd grown closer... Chris had become a great friend") in favor of mundane details and side tracks, such as the wedding of characters from 2009's I Can Make You Love Me. The only real conflict appears when Tia decides to follow Chris back to France. The ending sidelines the ostensible heroine and hero for a summary resolution via a sitcom-like conversation between Tia's sister and mother. This lackluster romance is one to miss. (Oct.)