"Is love truly color-blind?"

For Cassy Thompson, having Chandler Raven make love to her is a dream -- really, that's what it is. Increasingly, she has been having very explicit dreams about this man, dreams she has very little chance of ever fulfilling. Unless, that is, she uses the Talisman. Passed to her by her dying grandmother, it is a small charm with a great power. It has the power to bring the possessor a lifetime of love -- or unhappiness, if not used correctly and wisely.

Chandler has a ebony figurine given to him by his grandfather. Cassy looks amazingly like it, which is perhaps why she figures so prominently in the very erotic dreams he has. Yet Chandler is convinced that he and Cassy must not become lovers, not necessarily because Cassy is black and he is white, though this does play an unacknowledged part in it, but more because she is his employee. Of course it does happen (this is a romance, after all) and when they do finally get together, there is something about it that seems like they've been together before. Now they must find out why this is so, and if the attraction they feel for one another is really their own.

This was a very good romance, with a plentiful amount of sexual content. The story deals a lot with the bi-racial relationships. Though I'm not really in a position to judge this type of situation, the actions of the characters came across as very genuine to me. I think it was handled well. Chandler has a very interesting friend, whose story, "Bloodlust II", is also available from Ellora's Cave. I do wish the actual origins and functions of the Talismans would have been made a bit clearer.

Sensuality--NC17. Fairly descriptive sex; anal sex; blunt language; masturbation

Personal note: I feel that Ellen, Steve's (Chandler's nephew's) mother should have been admired for standing by her convictions, also, instead of coming off a the mean old bad momma. This part of the story really bothered me, even though her actions could be attributed to prejudice.

Reviewed by Flora Bell
Posted March 5, 2002