UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Author: Karyn Langhorne ISBN: 0060847891 6/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: AVON

Black activist Erica Johnson wears her causes on her sleeve—literally. With her class of beloved fourth graders depending on her to represent their concerns, Erica's ready to confront goldenboy conservative senator Mark Newman. And she's willing to suffer through a night in jail and a battle of wits with a real-life war hero, if it will help get the children the money they need. Mark Newman's a worthy adversary. But there's a more human side to the ambitious politician with the dreamy blue eyes—from the physical pain of his war wound, to his grief over his wife's death. Though they disagree on every hot-button issue, Erica and Mark can't resist their attraction or ignore the unfinished business between them—much to the delight of those trying to use this new relationship against the senator. And when Erica starts receiving some particularly vicious hate mail she has to decide if this handsome dream from the right/wrong side of the political fence is worth risking her heart for ... and maybe her life.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

UNFINISHED BUSINESS is not a book for everyone. Set amidst the wrangling of Washington politics, it is filled with topics that grace nightly newscasts on a daily basis. The story is sometimes gritty, often daring, but always well-written. Nestled in among the messier aspects of a political campaign is a love story. And it is a love story that is very beautiful.

Erica Johnson is an opinionated teacher who meets war hero Senator Mark Newman on the floor of the Senate hearing room at the Capitol—when she stands up and disrupts the hearing taking place with her 'Books Not Bombs' t-shirt. Within minutes, the pair is pulled into a swirling mess of news clips and headlines, thrown together in a way that neither could have anticipated. Their story is highlighted, overly much in my opinion, with the fact that the Senator is Caucasian while Erica is African American. I simply saw the characters struggling within their respective worlds to find their way to each other, rather than a story of racial differences.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS by Karyn Langhorne is an interesting book which is thought-provoking as well as satisfying. I found it interesting and those who like edgy, politically conscious novels will, too.

Kay James