STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
Michelle Monkou
Kimani Press
ISBN 10:0-373-86034-X
September 2007
Category Romance - Multicultural

Stacy Watts is finally on her way to living a comfortable lifestyle as a hip-hop singer/actress, when the bottom falls out. She is being threatened with blackmail by her ex-manager/boyfriend, who is willing to spread secrets about her former life. Not sure what to do her new manager helps her in developing a plan to beat him at his own game. To pull it off she needs the help of a friend, Omar Masterson, which happens to be in town to do an interview with her. Stacy decides that asking him to pretend to be in a relationship with her is the best answer to her problems. While her manager thinks that she is crazy, Stacy trusts him more than any other person to stay a safe distance away from her so she proceeds with her offer.

Omar Masterson has accepted a new job and is excited about the opportunity to interview Stacy. Since their meeting a short time earlier he had developed an interest in her from a personal perspective. Shocked at the brutal rudeness of Stacy’s manager when they are introduced, he momentarily has second thoughts about how the interview will turn out. Putting that aside he becomes more interested in Stacy when she propositions him to pretend to be her man. Eager to please Omar is all over this opportunity to be the man of Stacy’s dream, even if it is only for a short time.

As the two of them get into character for this little game of charades, other things in Stacy’s past start to surface. Juggling between today’s reality and the truths and hurts of the past are proving difficult for Stacy. Omar is trying to understand but often his actions make Stacy feel worst and insecure. The question that lurks in Omar’s mind is will anything ever make Stacy truly happy, or is she destined to be her own worst enemy.

STRAIGHT TO THE HEART is the third book in the Masterson family series. This is the story of Omar Masterson and how he handles finding the love of his life. Just as in the first two books; this one is interesting and enjoyable.

Reviewed by Lora McDonald
Rated 4