What the Heart Knows: A Love Story

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. (Aug.)