Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, Monica Jackson, Francis Ray, A Whole Lotta Love

A Whole Lotta Love

Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, Monica Jackson and Jessica Francis

Signet, Aug 2004, $6.99, 384 pages

ISBN 0451210905

"Over the Rainbow" by Donna Hill. Ray Morgan, owner of a Harlem soul-food restaurant, always provides extra portions to customer, model photographer Russell McDaniel because she would like to make it with him. Russell offers Jessica a plus-size modeling job, which she accepts though that means he remains off limits to her as company policy disallows fraternization between workers..

"Tempting Fate" by Brenda Jackson. Full-figured lingerie model Justice Manning and top photojournalist Blake Savoy find they want one another as they work on a sexy shoot. However, Justice has doubts about any relationship after growing up in a household filled with battles and Blake doubts he wants to make any efforts anyway.

"When Wishes Come True" by Monica Jackson. For her thirtieth birthday, singer Topaz Sinclair wishes for true love. When her school boyfriend Ray Gaines returns into her life, she thinks it is kismet, but ignores his pal Jon Bynum, who has loved her forever.

"The Wright Woman" by Francis Ray. In Dallas, size 20 Stephanie Wright works as an assistant manager of a boutique when Michael Dunbar enters the store searching for his shopaholic mother. Michael is stunned to find he has an instant attraction to Stephanie, but believes women only want him for his wealth.

A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE is a delightful anthology starring four feisty, plus-sized, African-American women who offer their hunks love handles with confident demeanors. The entertaining tales star charming protagonists, though none of the big babes seem to have the slightest esteem problem as they lift themselves and easily their chosen mates to A WHOLE LOTTA LOVE.

Harriet Klausner