Elda Minger, The Kiss

The Kiss

Elda Minger

Berkley, Mar 2006, $6.99

ISBN: 0425296815

Though she is twenty-nine, Tess still seeks approval from her stepmother and father though none seem forthcoming. She never makes any decisions as she allows her parents to more than just direct her; they control her existence. They arranged for her to marry Paul, who she knows she does not love and doubts she likes or respects and assumes he feels likewise about her.

As the days to the wedding dwindle, Tess' misgivings grow. Finally the night before, she sneaks out of her home where she runs into Will, whom she knows as a friend of her maid of honor. Though she enjoyed dancing with Will, being the dutiful daughter she goes home to marry Paul. However, the day of the nuptials at the church Tess catches Paul with his former girlfriend in a compromising position. She considers ending it right there; ignoring her parents' pressure to marry Paul anyway. Tess knows her love is waiting for her in Los Angeles if she has the guts to make her own decision for the first time in her life.

THE KISS is an interesting contemporary tale starring a cast that is purposely stereotyped, especially in relating to one another. Will is the knight in shining armor; Tess is the damsel in distress needing rescuing; her parents control their daughter though rationalized as for her own good but turns them into an "evil" stepmother and a pathetic father; and finally Paul is the flawed "villain" failing to protect the damsel from bad things, but also causing them. This comes together nicely as the audience wonders if Tess will follow form and go down the aisle to wed Paul or find independence and courage to run off into the sunset with Will.

Harriet Klausner