UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Karyn Langhorne
Avon Books (Multicultural)
ISBN 10-0-06-084789-1
May 2007
Contemporary Romance

 
 
When it comes to politics, education, and love, people do things that they normally wouldn’t do. As if that isn’t enough throw in a African American woman that is a throwback of the sixties era with a good old southern gentlemen and the “T” in trouble just gets larger. For Erica Johnson it only means trouble with a capital T as she takes on the members of Capitol Hill for more funds for education and ending the war. As a school teacher in an underprivileged community nothing is more important than providing children with a quality education. So she planned to attend a legislative session where funding for education is being discussed, and finds herself in a head to head battle over school funding with a southern politician who believes that the war is necessary. Erica was prepared for being arrested, but not for the crazy feelings that stirred within her heart.

Senator Mark Newman has served his country and has a strong belief in protecting this country from terrorist. He also believes in children getting a good education just not that there necessarily has to be a trade off between the two. From the moment Erica entered the room with her radical looks and graphic t-shirt something attracted him to her. When she made a sudden outburst against the war he was shocked and concerned for her safety as the Capitol Hill police prepared to arrest her. Being caught off guard she offers him a challenge of explaining to her fourth grade class why war is more important than education. Startled by her accusations he's left speechless as he reflects on how his reputation could be changed, he is up for re-election in a few weeks. Thinking quickly, he decides on how to take this challenge and work it to his advantage. What happens after that isn’t part of his original plans but with love there is never a plan, it just happens.

As Mark and Erica fight it out in the worlds view, privately there seems to be a peace between their hearts. As they work through their own issues someone starts planning an attack to stop the budding relationship that Erica and Mark seem to have. Erica has her eyes on the one woman that she believes is behind the threats, however Mark thinks that things will blow over. When he’s poisoned he realizes that this issue is more than an inconvenience it’s now life or death. Working together to identify the person behind his poisoning Mark and Erica make an announcement to flush the person out of hiding.

Ms. Langhorne has written a delightful story that takes on one of today’s toughest issues and makes it an enjoyable story. As you read Erica and Mark’s story it makes you think about what it’s really like to see life from the everyday person’s perspective. These two are more than Democrat vs. Republican, Black vs. White, they are people we encounter everyday. Each with strong views on the prospects of war and the lost of life for a country that should maybe be focused on other more important issues. As you read the story you are forced to not only focus on the issues but also on the fact that love can overcome any obstacles between people. A definite summer read.

Reviewed by Lora McDonald
Rating 4