What do you think?
Shades of Desire
Forbidden . . . Untouchable . . . Taboo . . .
"I can't believe it," Danielle said. "Granted he's gorgeous, but I never thought you would go to the other side . . . no white man can really love a black woman."
Jeremy Collins is the most tempting man Jasmine Smith has ever met. He's smart, handsome, a successful freelance journalist, and, most of all, passionate and honest about his feelings for her.
Jasmine witnessed her best friend's heartache in loving a white man--the recriminations and anger from friends, strangers, and worse, from families whose ultimatums could shatter even the strongest bond between lovers. Were her deep feelings for Jeremy strong enough to prove to the world that love isn't about color or race . . . just a man and a woman who belong together?
"I can't believe it," Danielle said. "Granted he's gorgeous, but I never thought you would go to the other side . . . no white man can really love a black woman."
Jeremy Collins is the most tempting man Jasmine Smith has ever met. He's smart, handsome, a successful freelance journalist, and, most of all, passionate and honest about his feelings for her.
Jasmine witnessed her best friend's heartache in loving a white man--the recriminations and anger from friends, strangers, and worse, from families whose ultimatums could shatter even the strongest bond between lovers. Were her deep feelings for Jeremy strong enough to prove to the world that love isn't about color or race . . . just a man and a woman who belong together?
212 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 3, 2008
Although this book didn't move me like some IRRs that I've read, it was very good. Things I liked about it: Instant connection between the couple. They saw each other across a crowded room and it was lust/love at first sight. Jeremy saw Jasmine and he knew he had to be with her. Sigh. Another plus was the noticable absence of excessive "What will the world think drama." There was very good sexual tension between the couple, and it didn't take very long for lust/desire to become love. If a book starts with the lust premise, that's the way I like it.
Things that make it not as good as other IRRs: I felt the characters were a little too pretty and perfect. I don't like the unnecessary drama, but neither Jasmine or Jeremy were especially tortured or flawed. In a way, that made them less real to me. It was a bit on the short side. It was like a fairy tale without the obstacles to overcome and the tasks to fulfill. My favorite fairy tales have unique people with a disadvantage but still manage to beat the odds and do the impossible to get their happy ending. This was noticeably absent in this book.
However, I will always cherish this book and it will be an eternal keeper on my shelf because it is simply a story of two people connecting on a physical and a deeper emotional level, and making the decision that they wanted to spend their lives together. And when it comes to interracial romance, that always wins me over.
Things that make it not as good as other IRRs: I felt the characters were a little too pretty and perfect. I don't like the unnecessary drama, but neither Jasmine or Jeremy were especially tortured or flawed. In a way, that made them less real to me. It was a bit on the short side. It was like a fairy tale without the obstacles to overcome and the tasks to fulfill. My favorite fairy tales have unique people with a disadvantage but still manage to beat the odds and do the impossible to get their happy ending. This was noticeably absent in this book.
However, I will always cherish this book and it will be an eternal keeper on my shelf because it is simply a story of two people connecting on a physical and a deeper emotional level, and making the decision that they wanted to spend their lives together. And when it comes to interracial romance, that always wins me over.
September 7, 2015
I absolutely love the book!! It touches a subject that's still sensitive even in today's society. And interracial couples, marriages and relationships are more common these days. I've also have seen pictures of interracial couples back in the mid 20th century and interracial relationships we're still very very taboo. So, it still may be a sore subject for a lot of people, but for me,AMAZING and it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!
January 8, 2011
I read this way back in 2001, and seeing a black woman in a clench embrace with a white man made me instantly grab it from the bookshelf. I would like to give the author, Monica White, an "A+" for writing a romance novel featuring interracial characters long before the genre grew into the juggernaut that it is slowly becoming.
I was a little disappointed in the execution of the story. I would have preferred for Jasmine, the female protagonist, to have been a bit more gutsy, and less concerned about how other people think. Being in an interracial relationship myself, the only issues that concern me is my happiness. Granted, the genre has progressed far beyond the they won't accept our relationship theme, but ten years ago, it was pretty much the accepted standard.
Of course, the crux of the story is how other people deal with interracial relationships, and Ms. White handled this issue rather well, and at times the sentiments expressed by some of the characters (like Jasmine's brother), made me squirm with uncomfortable recognition. Of course, Jeremy is simply swoon-worthy. He sees Jasmine, he wants Jasmine and he doesn't care what other people think.
All in all, this was a brave first novel. I hoped Ms. White would continue to write, and grow into her own as a novelist, but I haven't seen anything from her of late.
I was a little disappointed in the execution of the story. I would have preferred for Jasmine, the female protagonist, to have been a bit more gutsy, and less concerned about how other people think. Being in an interracial relationship myself, the only issues that concern me is my happiness. Granted, the genre has progressed far beyond the they won't accept our relationship theme, but ten years ago, it was pretty much the accepted standard.
Of course, the crux of the story is how other people deal with interracial relationships, and Ms. White handled this issue rather well, and at times the sentiments expressed by some of the characters (like Jasmine's brother), made me squirm with uncomfortable recognition. Of course, Jeremy is simply swoon-worthy. He sees Jasmine, he wants Jasmine and he doesn't care what other people think.
All in all, this was a brave first novel. I hoped Ms. White would continue to write, and grow into her own as a novelist, but I haven't seen anything from her of late.
January 21, 2011
This book has the subtlety of a fist to the face. Because of the shortened length, emotions and plot developed like you were watching it in fast forward. The stylistics of the writing has no finesse, and lover boy says some mini speeches about love that content-wise makes me all mushy, but in reality would take one hell of an actor to recite without sounding like a total idiot.
I may be running into IR fatigue, because I keep running into the same racial issues brought up with zero variation, delivered in the same in-your-face way. Why are the black people always so bent out of shape? Maybe that's how it is in reality (though I doubt it), but I'd like some portrayals of racism that is a bit sneakier than black folks going "I'll never work for a white man! They're out to get me! RAWR!"
I may be running into IR fatigue, because I keep running into the same racial issues brought up with zero variation, delivered in the same in-your-face way. Why are the black people always so bent out of shape? Maybe that's how it is in reality (though I doubt it), but I'd like some portrayals of racism that is a bit sneakier than black folks going "I'll never work for a white man! They're out to get me! RAWR!"
May 5, 2010
It was a short story that jump to fast to all the milestones of each character in the book.I could not feel what they were at emotionally. It could have been a little longer.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews