Heart's Desire (Arabesque) [Paperback]

Monica Jackson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Arabesque | Publication Date: July 1, 1998

From the moment Kara Kincaid had learned that the senator for whom she works was the father that had abandoned her and her mother years ago to pursue political ambitions, she has sworn revenge. Now, her goal is in sight. Kara sets her sights on his loyal, honest, right hand man, Brent Stevens. As they are both drawn into a dangerous game of desperate secrets and passionate schemes, Kara finds herself caught between desire and disaster.

Editorial Reviews

Review

While dying from cancer, Kara Smith's mother tells her that her father isn't dead, but living the good life as Congressman Sidney Eastman. He'd refused to marry her because of her lower class background, and darker skin. With revenge in mind, Kara, a thirty year-old virgin poses as a high-class prostitute at a Washington cocktail-party and seduces the hero, Brent Stevens, into taking her back to his room. The next day Kara shows up with papers from Brent's briefcase that would indict the congressman in a banking scandal. She blackmails Brent into giving her a job as the congressman's legislative assistant. While settling into her new life, Kara meets her father, her stepbrother and sister, and stepmother. She also meets up with Taylor - her psychic next-door neighbor, who becomes her best friend. Jenny Eastman, the heroine's stepsister and Brent's ex-fiancée, refuses to accept the hero doesn't love her. Kara feels sorry for Jenny and realizes her stepsister is an alcoholic. Just as Brent and Kara's relationship heats up, Jenny is involved in an auto-accident and the information Kara had on the congressman is leaked to the public. A tangled web unfolds, threatening to destroy them all.Heart's Desire is an Arabesque Romance - a line developed around multi-cultural heroes and heroines. I found the plot intriguing; Monica Jackson put so many twists and turns into the book that it was definitely not boring. I did find it hard to believe that a strictly brought up, thirty year-old virgin would pose as a prostitute, however, or that in one year's time she could learn everything it took to be a legislative assistant. And I felt the characters had too much baggage to be likable - I never sensed they could ever lead normal lives. I do believe, however, Monica Jackson is an author to watch. She has a humorous touch to her writing and certainly can spin a story. And despite the fact that this tale had flaws, I'm looking forward to her next book which features Taylor, the psychic next door neighbor, and a private investigator who solve a series of murders together! Monica Jackson spins a dark tale of political intrigue that will keep you locked into the pages until the very end. Phoebe Imel -- Copyright © 050198 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Pinnacle (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786005327
• ISBN-13: 978-0786005321
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #912,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Monica's wanted to write ever since she could hold a pencil. She had surgery in 1994, the longest time off work (as a registered nurse) she'd ever had in her life. She used the time to write her first novel and sold it to Kensington for the Arabesque line in 1995. In 1997, it finally appeared on the shelves. That book MIDNIGHT BLUE, was produced as a BET television movie of the week in 2000. Eight novels and eight novellas and short stories later from that first book, she's now a national bestselling author (says so on the books!).
Obligatory Props

Monica has won awards for her work, and has been nominated for Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. She's appeared in several radio and television appearances and has given workshop presentations. She has done television spots and also has been featured in a People magazine article, unrelated to her writing, but hey, it counts.
Awards

Nominated for Romantic Times Career Achievement award
Nominated for the Black Alliance's Golden Pen Award
Winner of Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award
Winner of Romance in Color's Award of Excellence Award
Winner of Romance in Color's Reviewer's Choice Award
Awarded the rare Romantic Times Gold Medal 4 1/2 star rating twice
Awarded Romantic Times Top Pick six times
Awarded Romantic Times 4 1/2 star rating five times
National and Blackboard bestselling author

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting!!!, October 23, 1999

By 

Janice Sims "a reader & a writer" (Central Florida) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heart's Desire (Arabesque) (Paperback)

I don't want to be a plot-spoiler. I want you to read this novel for yourselves. But, I WILL say that if you like a fast-paced novel that grabs your attention from the beginning and doesn't let go until the very end, then this is the book for you. Kara and Brent are a very human couple. Their first meeting is unconventional, to say the least! Everything about this novel is unusual, which is why I liked it so much. Ms. Jackson isn't afraid to push the envelope. It's not your average romance novel. These characters don't always behave according to societal rules. But then real-life is not cookie-cutter perfect. Nor is Kara or Brent. They have their problems, and they overcome them. Very inspirational for those of us who like a dose of reality in our modern-day fairy tales. Excellent job, Ms. Jackson!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE!, June 3, 2000

By 

Betty Holloway (NEWARK, NEW JERSEY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heart's Desire (Arabesque) (Paperback)

But we find in this web of deceit, the hunter gets captured by the game! Ms. Monica Jackson has penned a beautiful tale of how revenge can turn around and bite the one in pursuit.

Kara Smith learned on her mother's deathbed that her father (who deserted them before Kara was born) was none other than a prominent government official, Congressman Sidney Eastman. She is so incensed at this knowledge that she devises a plan to bring the Congressman down.

Brent Stevens, the Congressman's Administrative Assistant is the instrument Kara initially uses to bring her plan of revenge into play. But she didn't figure on falling for the prey she had set up.

The stage is set and he web begins when Kara meets Brent at a party and passes herself off as an easy "woman of the night." This in itself goes against the grain of Kara's upbringing. Her mother had provided an environment of the strictest religious edits,in which romance of the soul was a definite no no.

Though the sexual tension was quite evident in this first meeting, the fulfillment was not to be. Kara accomplished her goal if stealing papers from Brent that would be detrimental to his employer (Congressman Eastman) if they should ever become public.

Now the roller coaster of deceit really gets started. But the ride would take Kara on many unanticipated adventures.

Now the net of deceit must expand to include meetings between Kara and her siblings Jenny and Dante. The introduction of these characters really add much drama to the situation.

Ms. Jackson pens a romance tale that whets our appetites for more of the same. I personally have ordered all the rest of her books and look forward to reding them with as much enthusiasm as this one.

A winnah!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like a Pot of Stew, April 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Heart's Desire (Arabesque) (Paperback)

This book was so good it was like a pot of stew. It had a little bit of everything in it; romance, villains, heartbreak, etc... It definitely was hard to put this book down!