Three sisters fall for the same man in this first mainstream novel by romance writer Snoe (A Diamond's Allure
; The Ties That Bind
). Responsible Brenda, passionate Cora and religious Annette are raised by their single mother, Laura, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Trouble arrives in the form of ambitious businessman Michael Dawson, who becomes a tenant in their building. He's Annette's first love, but the two are separated when Annette persuades her sisters to go with her to Zambia as missionaries. Tragically—and rather abruptly—Annette dies of jungle fever. Cora, distraught, stays in Zambia; Brenda returns and spends time with Michael, but is rebuffed when she confesses her feelings. Cora finally returns to St. Petersburg and begins an affair with Michael that poisons her relationship with Brenda. Unable to tolerate the resulting tension, Cora abruptly heads back to Africa, leaving the field clear for undaunted Brenda, who finally convinces Michael to marry her. This is scarcely the novel's halfway point, and Snoe piles on further plot complications: Cora's return; another marriage; a miscarriage; the establishment of a controversial community arts center; and several dramatic deaths. The sisters' story is told by an old neighbor woman who talks to the spirits and dispenses potions, her narration adding yet another layer to this warmhearted but overburdened tale. (Nov.)
