Customer Reviews

A Younger Man (Silhouette Desire # 1479)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a Silhouette romance story, you can be sure to have a man, a woman, a situation and then a happy ending. In Rochelle Aler's, A Younger Man, this formula is nicely done with the older woman, younger man theme. Veronica Johnson-Hamlin, a widow, is stranded on a road near her North Carolina mountain summer home when a handsome daredevil on a motorcycle offers his assistance. Though she tells him she has called her auto club, he insists on fixing her tire. Kumi Walker likes the package and everything that goes with it. He figures she is a few years older than his 32 years, but age is nothing but a number. All he wants in return is a home-cooked southern meal. He has been living in Paris for the past ten years and is now back temporarily to help his sister establish her new Bed & Breakfast Inn. He is estranged from his father, a physician, who as a member of an old southern black family, expected him to become a third generation doctor. A rebel, Kumi went into the armed forces and then went to France where he went to the culinary institute and is a renowned chef.

Veronica's southern dinner is a hit with Kumi and he is good company but she is hung up on the ten-year age difference. However, he loves her prematurely white hair and her beauty is undeniable. Gradually she finds out that they have much in common, herself also a renegade, having left her long established elite Atlanta family after college and studying art in France. A near assault in college hinders her feelings for intimacy and she eventually marries a man who is thirty years her senior and impotent. She loved her husband, a wealthy surgeon but his greedy grown children have tried to make her life miserable since his death, contesting the will and accusing her of influencing their father. It is one of the reasons she left Atlanta and retreated to North Carolina; to put some distance and time away from wagging tongues. She has sold her art gallery and is in the process of deciding her next move. Kumi has brought passion into her life. Will his family see her as another form of his rebellion? How will her family react to bringing him to her family reunion? And what will happen when it is time for him to return to Paris where he plans to open his own restaurant. Will either of them be able to walk away from a passion that is like no other?

This is an entertaining story that didn't have many surprises but was nevertheless a fun, escapist read that features the mores of old black southern families. I recommend this book with a hot bath, a glass of wine and candles.

Dera Williams
APOOO Bookclub

Rochelle Alers first book with Desires was excellent. She introduces us to Veronica Johnson and Jerome 'Kumi' Walker. Veronica tries to fight the attraction she feels for Kumi because of their age difference, but Kumi is determine to break down a barrier that she has.

Ms Alers is always known for her HOTT, Passionate love scenes. And she does not disappoint us in "A Younger Man." For those who are looking for a quick excellent read, I recommend that you go to the nearest store and pick this up. Remember that Desires only keeps their books on the self for a short period so don't hesitate because you may miss out.

Executive Chef Jerome Kumi Walker left Paris and is in the North Carolina in order to help his sister, Debbie with her new Bed & Breakfast but quickly falls in love with a woman for the first time in his life. Veronica Johnson-Hamlin has a flat tire and is waiting for her auto club to show up, well Harley riding Kumi shows up instead. Veronica is afraid to allow him to assist her due to an attempted rape when she was in college. Kumi notices her hesitation and quickly assures her that he only wants to help her and not leave her on the deserted road sitting in an expensive vehicle. He changes the tire in less than 15 minutes and she tries to pay him $40, he asks for a home cooked meal instead. She reluctantly agrees knowing he can't be interested in her because... he is "too young for her", she's a widow of an impotent husband 32 years her senior who she loved and has conveniently repressed her desire to be sexual with a man because of the attempted rape. Kumi has other plans and being the bold, self assured, hot, sexy gentleman that he is, cares less that Ronnie is 10 years his senior and has a head full of gray hair. He immediately shows/tells her that he wants more than one Sunday of home-cooked meal.

This is the second story I've read by this author who in my opinion must believe that romance does not die with age. This couple confronts various issues making their road bumpy but their love for each other was never in question. This story shows much improvement from her short story "Second Chance" in the Welcome to Leo's Anthology, in my opinion.

Ms Alers has done it again. This book hits home with a lot of older women/younger men readers and I am sure there are some who worry about situations such as this. It was good to read about an older woman and not some twenty something. Veronica and Kumi made a good couple though the cover did not fit the description of the characters in the book, maybe I am the only reader that tends to keep looking at the covers when the characters are described in the book. The love scenes were HOT. Still hope for us "older girls". Looking forward to Ms Alers next book.

When Jerome Kumi Walker encounters Veronica Johnson-Hamlin on the side of the road as she waits for help with her flat tire, he is both impressed and amused at the independent streak that only barely allows her to accept his assistance. When Kumi requests a home-cooked meal as a way for Veronica to repay his favor, she again reluctantly accepts. After sharing that meal, Kumi is strongly drawn to Veronica, while Veronica thinks Kumi - 10 years her junior - is too young and probably too inexperienced for her.

Kumi sets out on a mission to prove Veronica wrong. As he begins to court her he senses that much of her resistance is related to a painful past that she's unwilling to share. Kumi, however, is not deterred, as he is dealing with his own personal family drama, and sets out single-mindedly to woo Veronica.

This tale is satisfying in its allowing each of the characters to grow and develop individually as the romantic interaction between them unfolds. I really enjoyed this story.

Veronica is a widow at the age of 42. She had marry a man who was thirty years older than her. She has left their home behind and retreated to their vacation home. On her way back to her country home she gets a flat tire. Along comes kumi Walker. A tall black chocolate brother who instantly takes a liking to Veronica. At first she shuns him off because of his age. They eventually become friends and then lovers. Great read I like how Kumi fights for Veronica after many times she tries to get him out of her life and tells him she is too old for him. You can feel the deep love he has for her. I especially like the part when he says "you have been torturing me since i have met you so why shouldnt i torture you, you know what i want" and thats when she agrees to marry him. Wonderful black romance book excellent.

Rochelle Alers writes a story of a widower who believes she has everything and is content until she meets Kumi Walker an ex-marine turn chef. Veronica knows she and Kumi could never have a relationship because of their age differences but she is willing to have fun with him. Little does she know Kumi has fallen in love with her and wants her to be his forever. As the two accept their future, Veronica's past comes back to affect her and Kumi's future; Kumi makes it known he will give his life for her to keep her happy.

"A Younger Man" is an excellent book reminding people that age is only a number. The book would have been a five had the author been given a chance to flesh out her plot and story more. As an avid reader I felt as of certain aspects of the story were skipped or as of pieces were missing. The story feels as if its missing pieces and there isn't a way to relink the pieces.

Other than the Hideaway Series, A Younger Man was definitely one of the best love stories I've read by Rochelle. I've notice some people had a problem with the story because of the age difference and felt that the author wasn't being realistic. I'd have to admit that it was quite a bit of years older. But,he was able to fufill all his dreams through that old woman. There are younger women out there who are not capable of giving Kumi what that older woman gave him. This story shows that age is not such a big deal after all, as long as you're happy.

It has been a very long time since I've read a category romance, having long since grown tired of the formulaic situations and characters, but this well-written book makes me glad that I took a chance on a recommendation from a friend.

This wasn't an overly gratuitous tale about a younger man and an older woman, and while there was a little of that annoying hand wringing on the part of the lead character Veronica (does it make much sense to have her be asexual because of an attempted rape? Come on, this woman wasn't born in the dark ages, she was supposedly educated--she'd have known that what happened to her wasn't her fault. The idea of making her slightly virginal isn't realistic). Thankfully, the entire book wasn't spent dwelling on the issue. Of course, because she had married an older man, it was natural that some of her family and peers might look slightly askance at her choosing a mate in the oppsite direction.

Kumi Walker was the perfect beta male--a strong, positive man with his own cross to bear. Too bad some of these category stories don't allow much in the way of deeper development, I would have liked to have seen more interaction between him and his father. At least he was more than ready to have a serious relationship with a classy and well-educated woman, like Veronica. I also liked the fact that he was a well-traveled young man who spoke French fluently. A nice romantic touch.

What I really loved about this book (and one of the main reasons I gave it 5 stars) was in its portrayal of wealthy and educated black people who ARE NOT rappers. Ms. Alers' gives the reader a bit of history into the lives of old black money in the South. The family moments are wonderful as well.

I have read the majority of Rochelle Alers books, and I have enjoyed everyone of them. This sister knows how to write. Anyone that enjoy a good romance novel with plenty of passion should read this book. Since it is a Silhoutte Series, it is very short and to the point. All I'm going to say is when you read it you are going to wish you could clone Kumi and bring him home with you. In case you are wondering, he is the younger man in the story. Go get it, you won't be disappointed.