All That Matters (Arabesque)

Rating:
Summary: A captivating romance
Review: I'm so pleased the author refrained from inundating us with that in your face...urban... vulgarity that we see so often in contemporary ethnic romances. The setting takes place in the sultry city of New Orleans. I must say that Courtni Wright superbly captured the essence of New Orleans' Creole society. The intricately well written charachters were very easy to relate to and quite refreshing. No reader need fear being offended by brash sexually explicit scenes. The author is quite delicate and shows a great deal of propiety in dealing with the subject. I recommend this book for anyone of refined taste wishing to settle back and enjoy a lovely and intriguing romance.

Rating:
Summary: Ok, now that's what I 'm talking about!!
Review: Ok, Wright has done it with this one! Honey really blow Stephen's mind. This book was a good book. I love to read about old southern society living that has continued down to the present as old time traditions. Wright really showed me something with this piece of work. It had a lot more dialogue then Wright usually uses in her novels, that's always a plus! Nice work Wright!

Rating:
Summary: FASCINATING SCENARIO
Review: The lastest novel from Courtni Wright, ALL THAT MATTERS take place in New Orleans, known for its mystical attitudes and beliefs, combining magic, myths, potions, and voodoo, enhancing the reader's imagination.

ALL THAT MATTERS begin with Heroine, Elizabeth Katherine Tate(Nickname, Honey), coming home to New Orleans after the death of her mother and being away ten years. Honey's dream has always been to buy back and restore the family's home, so her family could enjoy the happiness she enjoyed as a child.

Remembering, how things had changed after the death of her father, how she and her mother could no longer afford the house, and the luxurious life style her father had provided. When arriving in New York, Honey's mother had no idea of how they would survive, until good fortune, and Honey's striking looks are discovered.

In New Orleans, and fed up with a Model's life style, Honey contracts a modeling job with Saint Philippe, designer and friend. Saint Philippe very much aware of the gossip in the close-knit community, decides to become Honey's guardian, cautioning her on the do's and don'ts of a beautiful young woman. Saint Philippe decides to have one of his infamous parties to introduce his gorgeous new model to society's elite, and of course, show off his wonderful creations. Honey meets Stephen Turner, Attorney and son to one of the oldest families in New Orleans, as the party progress Honey and Stephen feel a strong attraction growing between them.

After leaving Church one Sunday, Honey was drawn to a big, beautiful white house, that she remembered visiting with her father and mother, but they were never allowed to enter, instead, finding the broken look on her father's face, and tears in her mother's eyes, sadden her. Preparing to leave, a beautiful, elegant young woman, Jacqueline du Prix, who guards her family secrets, approached, asking if Honey was looking for someone, Honey explains her curiosity in the house, and the two women befriend each other, not realizing the radical changes about to take place in both their lives.

Jacqueline du Prix, daughter of Madeline du Prix, Countesan(kept woman)comes from a history of beautiful, elegant women, unfortunately, they also bring the stigma of their profession, which has passed down for generations. Behavior of the du Prix women has left Jacqueline lonely and ostracized for many years. Honey and Jacqueline's friendship grow. With whispers of Jacqueline following in her ancestors foot steps, Honey confront Jacqueline, Honey decide to help clear Jacqueline's reputation, enlisting the help of Stephen.

As the novel continues, secrets unfold, sins of the fathers, link Honey, Jacqueline, and Stephen. The ingenious way Ms. Wright wrote the unfolding secrets, were the signs of true mystery writer. Although, entirely too much emphasis was placed on the morality and values of the so called Elite and Honey, in away, contradicting the sins of the past, destroying any hope of reality for this story.

Indeed, the mystical beliefs, and picturesque description of New Orleans in ALL THAT MATTERS was believable, unfortunately, the story line was not of the same quality.