Customer Reviews

Welcome to Leo's

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Second Chance" by Rochelle Alers. In Washington DC, fifty-three years old widow Leigh Walcott badly twists her ankle. She is rushed to the emergency room of a nearby hospital where she meets Dr. Scott Alexander. They are immediately attracted to one another, which is a surprise for Leigh who has not thought of a male in three decades since her husband died. Over a series of dinners at Leo's supper club they fall in love.

"Eye of the Beholder" by Donna Hill. Tara Mitchell takes her best friend English professor and gospel singer Jae Crawford to Leo's to celebrate the latter's birthday. Though feeling out of her element at the nightclub, Jae meets Clyde Burrell and soon love is on the menu.

"Main Agenda" by Brenda Jackson. Four years ago, Raven Anderson and Lincoln Corbain met and shared a romance on a Black College Weekend in Daytona. Lincoln wanted to continue their relationship, but never found Raven when he traveled to Tallahassee to see her. Now she has entered Leo's as he sits at the bar. Can the memory of that glorious weekend become more than just a personal history tidbit and turn into a lasting relationship?

"Sweet Temptation" by Francis Ray. Howard University teacher and Texas Ranger Chase Braxton and confectionery shop owner Julie Ann Ferrington go on a blind date to Leo's. The two immediately hit it off as sparks fly.

Fans of urban contemporary romance, especially African-American tales, will fully relish this anthology. Each story is well written and quite entertaining. The four lead couples are charming as they welcome the readers into their hearts.

Harriet Klausner

St. Martin's Press really has a good thing going with the anthologies with the best of the romance writers. From Rosie's Curl and Weave, to Island Magic to Della's, they are back with the supper club Leo's located in Washingto DC.Rochelle Aler's A Second chance looks at love with the mature Leigh and Dr. Scott Alexander. Can Leigh let go of the past and find love with Dr. Scott?My favorite story Donna Hill's Eye of the Beholder. Plain Jae comes to Leo with her friend and when she is left alone for a moment she is spotted by the charming Clyde. She wows them at the supper club with her voice, but can she forgive Clyde for his lies?Brenda Jackson's Main Agenda is another great read. The Anderson sisters only know they have to be sucessful and accomplish all of their goals before they would even consider marriage. When Raven runs into an old flame, Clint, can she see past her goals and find love?Francis Ray, Sweet Temptation finds Chase, a Texas lawman in DC. he agrees to a blind date with a reluctant partner Julia. Julia find her way into his heart by tempting his sweet tooth.Overall these authors gives the reader enjoyable reading about finding love at a supper club called Leo's

These ladies are LETHAL!! Welcome to Leo's is a tastefully crafted ensemble of amorous, sensual, and eloquent stories about love, surrender, trust, and understanding...all centrally located at the fictitious supper club, Leo's, in our Nation's Capital.

This esoteric compilation fuses the writing talents of Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, & Francis Ray, who each present a story that rapturously embraces a common theme...finding love at Leo's. Each author's unique ability to create longing, sexual tension, euphoria, and passion makes 'Welcome to Leo's' a delightful read. The effulgent love stories intertwined with the artistic capability of these authors to verbally pluck emotions and visually elicit stimulating images of ardor, makes this chronicle of tales extremely difficult to put down, but very easy to finish.

My personal favorite was the short story `Main Agenda', which extended the satisfaction of success in a women's life to include love instead of excluding it. Make sure you allot enough time to read this book from cover to cover, because after you start reading it, you won't want to put it down.

These four authors have established themselves in the black romance genre and in romance period as excellent writers with a large following. In the tradition of Della's House of Style the protaganists meet and romance in a common place, Leo's. Leo's is a deluxe supper club in Washington D.C. that caters to the movers and shakers, buppies, and those in the know. In Main Agenda by Brenda Jackson, an attorney sees the woman at Leo's who rocked his word five years prior during spring break. He let her go before, but now he has a chance to rectify that. She, on the other hand knows he was the ONE but she is carrying baggage about relationships that will not allow her to put love in the equation that might jeopardize her career. In Rochelle Aler's Second Chance, an event planner sprains her foot, end ups in the emergency room, and gets treated by the head of the department. This widower lost her husband and son to an accident thirty years ago and closed her heart to romance. The doctor at fifty-five has never married or had a serious entanglement, that is until this lovely lady needs his professional care. In Eye of the Beholder by Donna Hill, a church going professor captures the attention of a player who represents entertainers at Leo's. He lies about his profession because he feels he wouldn't stand a chance with her. She is drawn to his caring manner. Can their love stand the truth? In Sweet Temptation by Francis Ray, a Texas Ranger is in D.C. teaching a class and gives a call to the owner of a candy/gift shop as a courtesy to his supervisor's wife. He figures he is not in her league, but when she sends him a gift basket he is intrigued. They meet at Leo's and sparks fly. These stories will make you want to hop a plan to D.C. and find out if there really is a Leo's.

I loved Rosies Curl n Weave & Dellas House of Style

In Welcome To Leo's the atmosphere is not a hair salon where love is sprung in each story. This time it all happens in this eloquent supper club owed by the Hardcastle men and a female cousin.

In the first story Rochelle Alers's Second Chance no matter what the age or circumstance you can always find love again, even after losing your husband and 6 month old child.

Donna Hill shows us in Eye of The Beholder that church going conservative dressers can also look good in a knee high a-line dress and find Mr. tall dark and handsome.

Main Agenda by Brenda Jackson spins a tale of 3 beautiful successful sisters obsessed with the words their mother left, they each almost lose out on true love until.....the baby of the bunch shows them you can have it all.

Francis Rays Sweet Temptation.

All in all this was a wonderful refreshing book as always when you get this dynamic 4 together.

"Welcome to Leo's" is a clear-cut winner with 4 breathtaking stories from 4 of my favorite authors, Brenda Jackson, Francis Ray, Rochelle Alers and Donna Hill. Each story carries its own weight from start to finish and each left me with that special feeling that comes after reading a first-class novel. I honestly can't say which story I enjoyed more as they were all beautifully written. There are definite highs and lows in each story but finding that special someone has never been smooth sailing. As we all know, romance can certainly be found in a variety of places even when we're not looking for it. "Leo's" was the perfect setting for each of these 4 masterpieces. My advice to those of you who enjoy reading high-quality material, is to go out and purchase this novel as there is no doubt in my mind that once you start reading "Leo's", you won't be able to put it down until you've reached it's conclusion. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!

I love the concepts of Leos and wish it was real so I can visit, especially on Open Mike Night.

Second Chance by Rochelle Alers
***Cute story about a middle-aged couple finding love which makes it a unique, not enough chemistry though.

Eye of the Beholder by Donna Hill
****Great story about a religious young lady who goes from having a dull life to stepping up to the mic on Open Mike Night.

Main Agenda by Brenda Jackson
*****Excellent story. If the others seem to be dragging, skip to this story and then go back to them. Strong, intelligent woman determined to make her mark in the world without a man, how in the world does she deal with love, though? I brought this book because I was searching for more of Ms. Jacksons work. I recently read Delaneys Desert Sheikh which is a Silhouette Desire Romance Book not even 200 pages. Excellent love story, this author knows how to write them.

Sweet Temptation by Francis Ray
****Great story. Make you want to go find you a ranger. Career oriented couple who definitely do not want a long distance relationship. Love has a way of changing the way you look at things.

4 very talented writers have done it again. They have depicted romance in a whole new light.

Rochelle Alers with "Second Chance" has captured a romantic story with a more mature couple. Leigh & Scott fall in love and they are over the age of 50. You know age is number & shouldn't prohibit us from giving or receiving love & Leigh & Scott show us that after your youth has escaped you and your careers are in full bloom, you still want the comforting arms of a special someone to hold you tightly. Very enjoyable.

Donna Hill with "Eye of the Beholder" Jae and Clyde are dynamic and their story tells that you have to get to know a person from inside out, you can't allow stereotypes to persuade your opinion of someone. Jae a Christian woman with morals and minimal experience with men, and Clyde an upscale entertainment manager with access to whatever type of woman is reevaluating his life and chose in women. Now when the drama unfolds and this Choir Song Bird and Mr.Talent Seeker finally come together, it is pure sensual music to the ears and heart. Love conquers all.

Brenda Jackson and "Main Agenda" Now its true, Brenda is a good friend of mines, so you would assume that I can't be judgemental, but you know what... Friendship and admiration have nothing to do with my review on this story. Brenda has done it again, she has brought together some females with issues and men who are irresistable and determined. Willow Anderson Daughters Falcoln,Robin,Raven are successful and determined along with beautiful, but they were groomed to be. They have no time for committed love. Interest in a man will destroy you. So stay focused on your dreams and leave love to the weak. Well that's until Franco Marcus Renoir, John Augustan, Lincoln Corbain step into the pathway of the Anderson sisters. Now this story definitely displays "Birds of a feather, flocking together!"

Francis Ray with "Sweet Temptation" Now this story will have you craving expensive chocolates. Julia is the type of woman who works hard, wants the best and will achieve on her own. Chase can be found in the dictionary under MAN= Hardworking, stubborn, play no games, straight to the point. Now when these 2 stop playing phone tag and meet, it is a pure and delicious meeting. You never know where your heart will lead you. Against all odds, they overcome the obstacles of 2 people living in 2 different environments,with different social accolades, but with one realization, that you can conquer all in love. Julia proves that you can have the strawberries and the chocolate forever. Chase and Julia don't have to give up their independence to become a unit. They make falling inlove a very Sweet Temptation.

I knew Welcome to Leo's was going to be a great read because of the authors. St. Martin's chose four of the best authors. I love reading all of these ladies books and don't have to read the back or know what to story is about to buy their work. They have all proven themselves to be wonderful writers with their own unique writting styles.

Second Chance by Rochelle Alers was a heart-warming story of a woman given a second chance at love with a sexy doctor named Scott Alexander. Leigh meets Scott when she twists her ankle crossing a busy DC street. Even though they are older, I could see the attraction between them. Scott who has never been married or in love for that matter was really taken with the beautiful Ms. Leigh Walcott. Leigh on the other hand was fighting her attraction to the handsome doctor.

Jae Crawford could go against the best of them when it came to singing. She was a down home girl who didn't have any fun. Her girlfriend Tara invited her out to a supper club called Leo's for her birthday. Jae reluctantly accepted and their is where she met Clyde Burrell. Clyde was handsome and all of that, but Jae was really skeptical about talking to this strange hunk. Clyde who is actually the talent director for Leo's liked Jae from the start. Once he talked to her, he found her to be a wonderful and warm woman he wanted to get to know better. Their story was beautiful with the fairy tale ending.

Raven Anderson and Lincoln Corbain in Main Agenda by Brenda Jackson had been lovers four years ago. When they saw each other again at Leo's, the fire was still there. Lincoln had wondered why he let the lovely Raven get away from him after their Rendevous on Spring Break four years ago. He promised himself that he wouldn't let her get away this time. Raven promised herself that she wouldn't allow a man to destract her from her life goals. Lincoln didn't make it easy on her. Unfortunately, her sisters had the same idea. Their goals were their main agenda.

Sweet Temptation was a great story about a stern Texas Ranger and a Confectionery Shop owner. Chase Braxton has to teach a class at Howard University and was told by his superior wife to call a friend she knew there and she would bake him his favorite cookies. He reluctantly agreed, because he knew he loved sweets. He called the young lady, but theyn kept missing each other. Finally, the beautiful Julia Ferrington invited Chase to dinner at Leo's. Chase couldn't believe how beautiful Julia was. Julia knew she wanted Chase even if it was only for a couple of weeks. The passion between the two was definitely a Sweet Temptation.

Each author did a wonderful job at making Leo's come to life. It is really too bad there isn't a Leo's around. Congratulations ladies.

If you have never read any of these ladies work,and I must say all of their books are good, I would recommend the following to get you started:

Rochelle Alers - Hideaway (series of Cole Family) Donna Hill - Private Affair, Pieces of Dreams Brenda Jackson - Tonight & Forever (series of Madaris Family) Francis Ray - Forever Yours (series of Taggart Family)

If you need a quick "pick-me-up" by reading a short romance story, WELCOME TO LEO'S is the book for you. There are four unique vignettes by four authors with different writing styles, instead of one complete novel. The reader may see himself or herself in one of these dramas. The stories involve those who thought they were too old, too religous, too career-oriented or just plain too busy. The protagonists struggle with overcoming their beliefs and giving in to true, deep feelings of love and passion. Though short, each story is discussed in detail. Each one uses the Leo's, a popular supper club in Wahsington, DC, as an exciting meeting place and a romantic backdrop. This is a romance reader's dream. I loved each writer's style.