Stay the Night

In her fourth contemporary romance about the beautiful and accomplished Terrell sisters (after 2007's The Art of Love), Safaa focuses on the eldest sister, Adana, a confident Virginia lawyer. Adana loves her work but is dissatisfied with colleagues who value her for her background rather than for her talent. Traveling to Kenya to visit her sisters, she meets attorney Kamau Mazrui and sparks fly, even though he's mourning his recently deceased wife. After Adana shares a night of passion with the handsome Kamau, he helps her prepare for a big case about to go to trial. When she returns to Virginia, they continue their sizzling relationship long distance, but commitment issues challenge their future. There is a warm, appealing bond among the sisters, but Safaa unrealistically downplays the cultural differences between America and Kenya, making the romance feel just a little too easy. (Dec.)