Emotions [Hardcover]

Mccann Timmothy B (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McCann (Forever; Until; Always) turns out another succinctly titled contemporary romance aimed at African-American audiences, this time focusing on two individuals who find each other while trying to find themselves. Nearing 40, successful sitcom actress Joi Weston is forced to give up her dreams of a Hollywood career when the Tinseltown powers that be decide she's too long in the tooth to star in a feature film. Frustrated, she moves to Florida, where her husband of 18 years, Phillip, is launching a political career. Despite the couple's occasionally rocky past, Joi trumpets: "I'd never have an affair." Famous last words. Enter slightly younger hunk Michael Brockmier, an aspiring writer with his own identity crisis: unable to get his work published, he becomes part of a scam in which he's the front man for a more talented but reclusive writer. When Joi and Michael meet, passion ensues, threatening Joi's marriage even as it affords the lovers the opportunity to come to terms with their lives. McCann gets the celebrity downside of successful authorship in the current publishing climate right, but scores with little else. Most of the Composition 101 admonishments Michael receives could be leveled at McCann as well. No metaphor goes unmixed, no cliche unused; cardboard secondary characters and Hallmark-ready platitudes round out the list of offenses. A neat ending in which everybody finds redemption may supply instant gratification, but it falls far from offering true satisfaction.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Joi Weston, a beautiful television star, and her husband, Phillip Evans, a successful businessman, are having marital problems. Just as Phillip embarks on a political campaign, Joi meets the handsome Michael Brockmier. The relationship that develops only magnifies the self-doubt and unfulfilled dreams that Joi has begun to feel. Michael and Joi share a deep passion that includes the sensual taboo of a younger single man and an older married woman. As each deals with the unsatisfying aspects of their personal and romantic lives, they find that they are passionately drawn to one another. Yet, as with any relationship, there are complications, and Joi is forced to make choices that are far-reaching and lifelong. After much soul searching, Joi and Phillip learn that their relationship is far stronger and more important than any indiscretions that either of them have had. McCann has written another complex tale about a relationship that offers hope and forgiveness. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575667851
• ISBN-13: 978-1575667850
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,219,323 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Never Say Never, May 23, 2002

By 

Nicole McCurty (Chesapeake, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Emotions (Hardcover)

McCann's, latest novel, Emotions will take you through a range of just that. I was angry, sad, happy and jumping for joy in the same story. The few encounters between Joi, a former actress and now housewife, and Michael, a struggling writer living in his father's shadow, turns out to be a complicated mess with life-altering effects.

This story is engaging and filled with surprises. The relationships between Joi and her husband, brother and father were realistic and at times painful. I adored Mike's eye-opening relationship with Ani, his literary partner-in-crime. They made an unlikely pair but brought out the best in each other. However, I often felt like I was reading two different novels. I think Mike and Joi's stories could have stood on their own without even meeting each other. This was still a good read (as with all of McCann's work) but I felt the piece that tied Joi and Mike together was left out of the puzzle. If you are a fan of McCann's work, then I would definitely add this to your summer reading list.

Reviewed by Nicole
APOOO Bookclub

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED IT, March 21, 2002

By 

Kathleen Cooper - See all my reviews

This review is from: Emotions (Hardcover)

Life isn't predictable and I was so happy to see neither was "Emotions". It's the story about a fading black film star name Joi who's glory has come and gone, a woman who went from starring on Broadway to playing a foster mother to a little white kid on television. It's about Joi waking up one morning and wondering if all the sacrifices she's made was worth it.

Then there's Michael, a black writer, trying desperately to step from under his literary-famous dead father, of which he bears the same name. He struggles to create a novel worthy of his name and finds himself unprepared for what that battle will mean.

Michael and Joi are worlds apart both in age, marital status and even states, meet. They are both looking for something and though they both think they know what that something is, they really don't know until they find it.

I loved this novel for a lot of reasons: the characters were fully created and experienced all the emotions of the human spirit. It took me into the world of politics, Hollywood, and black fiction and I got see up close and personal all the games that are played out on a day to day basis. The secondary characters held just as much importance as the first and what I expected to happen, didn't, which is just how life often works. "Emotions" was a refreshing break from the run of the mill stories out there and I look forward to more from this author.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Author Timmothy B. McCann... Thank You From The Heart, October 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Emotions (Hardcover)

How Do You Say Good Bye To A Friend?

For seven years I have written professionally and for seven years you have shared with me your likes, and dislikes about my words. Sometimes I was able to move you... some times I was able to touch you... some times I may have even confused the hell out of you. But it was my endeavor to at all times make you think.

I have written my last sentence. And when I say that's hard to type as a man who once declared "I write for the same reason I breathe," it's true. Why? The industry is changing and I have not willfully changed with it. While reviewing a contract for a 5th and 6th novel, it became apparent to me that if I signed it-I would be signing away apart of my soul and if you have read me you know I would never do such a thing.

When I wrote UNTIL... it was written from the heart. It was a story I wanted to hear so I wrote it and the same holds true from each subsequent novel.

No, everyone did not love my work... but then again every one does not even love the Bible so this I understand. But for the readers out there who felt cut off when the site was closed down. For the readers out there we felt shunned when they could no longer e mail me their thoughts. For the fellow novelist out there that felt I walked away from friendships, I apologize. Please charge it to my head and not my heart because you will never know how much it means to look at AMAZON and see a note posted by readers from all over the world. To my author friends I felt like a divorced spouse... who's friends all are married. I trust you will understand.

Remember how you felt when you found out there was no Santa? That's how I felt when I decided to move forward in my life. I mean... my 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9th novels were outlined. I wanted to tell you these stories and I now I will only have them in the attic for my kids to read.

Speaking of kids. They are now 12 and 13 and as a single dad my days are numbered so I decided that it was time to enjoy the moments I still have with them.

But at the end of the day I was just a brother telling stories. You honored me by reading them as you honor me by reading this letter. For this I will forever be grateful.

In closing my first novel posed the question, "have you ever seen someone for the first time and just knew how much you missed them?" After writing this letter to you... after a seven year love affair, after having my heart broken by conditions beyond my control, after apart of me having drawn its last breath, I now understand....

Until...

Timm