Customer Reviews

Hello Again

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Thirty-one year old David Blackshear won the lottery, collected
millions and bought every material thing his heart desired
before he came to his senses. Now, on his thirty-sixth birthday,
even though he has several prominent business ventures, David
realizes something is missing in his life; he is a lonely man. His
loneliness makes him remember a five-foot-six body, dark flashing
eyes, and the whiff of summer breeze tantalizing his nostrils. But
he also remembers her look of disdain because she thought he was
just a blue-collar worker. That one look stopped him cold and
cemented his belief that women are materialistic gold diggers. But
he still cannot forget her face.

Margo Sterling had one of the worst days of her career. A friend
and confidant stole her advertising idea and with it he landed a
lucrative contract with another agency. That was the day David,
posing as an Amtrak bag handler, decided to flirt with her. But
that was not the day to flirt with Margo, she did not even want
to look at a man.

Needing a tight new ad campaign for one of his companies, David
hires an advertising firm and specifically requests the person
behind a commercial he liked. He is shocked when he comes face
to face with the woman who has haunted him for the last five
years, Margo Sterling. Margo is also shocked to learn David is
the man behind the successful company. But why did he hire her?
Is he just another man with an ulterior motive? In spite of their
jaded views about the opposite sex will they be able to move
beyond their distrust and explore the emotions flowing between
them?

HELLO AGAIN is the story of two people coming to terms with life
after much drama and much danger has almost destroyed them. David
and Margo have regrets about past actions but are still hesitant
about trusting again. Doris Johnson takes readers to the limit;
she shares the extremes to which people will go when fear rules
the heart. Realistically told, she shares the good, the bad and
the ugly of feeling too much too soon. This is an entertaining
read. (RAW Rating: 4.5)

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

On the immaculately designed cover of Hello Again by Doris Johnson there are seven words that stand out boldly and assured that catch the readers attention immediately: "Sometimes a second look leads to love..." With that in mind, we know that we're not about to witness the tired boy-meets-girl, girl-goes-gaga-over-the-guy scenario, but rather a more subtle approach to the contemporary romance novel.

Hello Again begins rather slowly, with gradual crescendos leading to poignant climaxes throughout. In fact I thought - after having read the first chapter - that I would put the book down and let it gather dust on my literary armoire. Johnson starts her novel with an ample amount of back-story which often leaves the reader unamused and wondering whether the $6.99 ($9.99 for Canadians) plus sales tax was actually worth the expenditure. A lot of back-story which, frankly, I could have done without. Perhaps the author thought it best to slowly reel in the reader for the ensuing drama to come. I did not.

But indeed the following chapter makes my hypothesis correct. After having witnessed chapter one's tedious lull, chapter two shines like the sun bouncing off the water. Here Johnson lets her skill whet the readers' appetites, letting it splash just a bit, though thoroughly towel worthy. Here is where I realized that this is a novel that is surely worth the read!

[pg. 22]
"Come, live in the world you deserve."
The sultry voice of the female commentator faded as did the commercial, with the beautiful model gazing up at the man of her dreams basking in his appreciation of the scent of her, as if her skin was the elixir personified.
---

At this point we are introduced to the star of the novel, Margo Sterling. Johnson swiftly and very adeptly takes us on the adventure of high-price living and first-rate romance co-starring David Blackshear who had previously become an instant multimillionaire. After winning the New York State Lottery Mr. Blackshear has become a well-known target in his various business dealings and his philanthropy endeavors. So much so in fact that he becomes jaded - suspicious even - of women whom may or may not be attracted to his dollars, rather than the man beyond the money.

Enter Margo Sterling: who incidentally is not unused to being successful in her own right. She blows David off, taking her career frustrations out on the man who is to become her partner. To say that this meeting was love at first slight (pun intended) for David would be an understatement. And this is where Johnson shows us just how bright her authoring ability shines with this story of love lost, meticulous dedication & love found anew.


[pg. 125]
Driving on the Belt toward Queens, David was somber...
Man you're messing up as bad as Mrs. O'leary's cow. The great fire of Chicago started by that bovine was nothing compared to the fire in his belly when it came to Margo Sterling...
"Employer, employee, be damned," he muttered.
---

While there are certain adages that briefly come to mind when describing this novel - money talks & bullsh*t walks among others - don't judge a book by its cover is clearly not one of these. And like the cover of Hello Again - this novel is not lacking in the beauty department. Whether it be the language or the saucy-descriptive love scenes or the shop-talk about cycling and advertising, one can be assured that Hello Again is one classy novel with the sophisticated cover to match.
Seductive & Intense!

by Jacquii Cooke
Mahogany Book Club
Albany, N.Y.

Life has changed drastically for David Blackshear since he won the lottery and enough money to live out all his dreams. One of the biggest changes is his inherent distrust that women are more interested in his money than him.

Months before the start of his tale in "Hello Again", David came across Margo Sterling who capture his full attention. Having met Margo on one of the most challenging days of her life and career, David - who is moonlighting as a bag handler at the train station - takes her brush off as her disdain for attention from a "blue-collar" worker. Despite his first impression that she is a gold digger, David simply can't get Margo off his mind.

This interesting tale takes off as Margo and David come face-to-face again as David seeks help promoting his bicycle business from the promotional whiz behind many campaigns he has admired - this expert is by chance Margo.

Margo and David's bumbling attempts at exploring their mutual attraction face many blows due to David's hesitance about her potential "money-seeking" character and Margo's personal demons as well.

This tale carries a bit of mystery, in addition to fairly captivating romance.

What's the best cure for loneliness? Can prejudgment be the barometer to allow discernment a better part of a first impression? How do two people come to terms with trustworthiness? These are the questions that author Doris Johnson brings to life in this story depicting Thirty-one year old David Blackshear and Margo Sterling who are jockeying for position with each other in matters of the heart. The author introduces David albeit, rather tediously in the beginning as she attempts to set the stage in telling his story. It gets better though, as she manages to balance prologue, the middle passage and epilog as the storyline finally paints the picture for the colors to make this tale blend. The missing element in David's life harkens back to the woman who has haunted him for the last five years. Questions abound akin to the opening queries that are main ingredients to this story. As I read the book, I continually marveled at how the author kept me in suspense in spite of my mind racing ahead to ponder results contemplated as I tried to anticipate the next move! David and Margo allowed their jaded views of each other hang perpetually enough to give me a sense of urgency parallel to the plot. I kept asking myself: Will they be able to move beyond their distrust and explore the attraction and desires flowing between them?

HELLO AGAIN is a good story. Read the story of two people coming to terms with life after allowing second-guessing and mistrust to undermine the need to put one step forward. The regret of the past is the theme most stressed here to illustrate why two unwilling people will only allow time a measurable ally to finally staunch the angst that has periled them. Misplaced drama and much emotional danger have almost destroyed them.

It's been quite some time between her last novel and I for one have waited patiently for this author to step up to the plate again. Doris Johnson takes readers to the limits that are warranted without overstepping boundaries that has always given her leeway to write like the seasoned veteran she is. There was much intrigue and anticipation as the story reached its zenith. When fear is precedent against wanton desire, oftentimes unexpected circumstance will dictate the outcome. The characters in this story, along with time and place give it a flavor commensurate with an appetite for readers to expect more from Ms Johnson. Here's hoping that more is in store and we won't have to wait so long! This is a good read as it commanded a rate of 4 out of 5 stars from me.