Overview
"The novel's narrator - a Los Angeles-based writer - is still reeling from being dumped by Nicole, the love of his life, his best friend, and true soul mate. After seven good years and nearly making it to the altar, she dropped the bomb, saying she couldn't go through with it, then moving north to Oakland to be with her other lover - the beautiful Ayanna." "Still, Nicole is not satisfied. She needs to push it further, find out if she can have it all. By luring her former fiance back into her new life, she's playing with fire, not to mention the feelings of the two people who love her most in the world. She's opening the floodgates to anger, passion, pain...and exhilarating honesty."--BOOK JACKET.Between Lovers is sure to be another runaway bestseller from one of our most popular and uniquely gifted authors.
Synopsis
With each new novel, Eric Jerome Dickey has established himself as one of the freshest and most exciting writers on America's contemporary fiction scene. His latest book is no exception. Set in the San Francisco Bay area, Between Lovers brings together three irresistible characters. The novel's narrator-a Los Angeles-based writer-is still reeling from being dumped by Nicole after seven good years followed by an aborted trip to the altar. Nicole grew up during their time together, and changed-she became a successful career woman, moved north to Oakland, and fell in love with another woman. But she's still not satisfied. She likes what she has, but misses what she had, and wants to find out if she can have it all. She's playing with fire, not to mention the feelings of the two people who love her most in the world, but Nicole lures her former fiancé back into her new life, opening the floodgates of anger, passion, pain...and refreshing honesty. How these three fascinating people handle this unusual and complex love triangle makes for one of Dickey's most provocative and unforgettable novels.
Between Lovers is sure to be another runaway bestseller from one of our most popular and uniquely gifted authors.
Library Journal
Set in the African American community, Dickey's books (e.g., Cheaters) have explored such issues as fidelity, interracial dating, and the influence of career, family, and friends on one's love life. In the abridged version of Between Lovers, a provocative contemporary romance, Richard Allen's narration hits all the right notes. The novel's protagonist, an unnamed Los Angeles-based writer, was left at the altar by Nicole, his girlfriend of seven years. After moving in with her lesbian lover, Ayanna, a fiery and successful attorney, Nicole reestablishes a relationship with her jilted fianc and eventually persuades her two possessive lovers to join her in a love triangle. The triangle, which becomes spiritual as well as physical, proves first destructive, then healing. While Dickey's dialog sparkles, as usual, his characterization and plotting rise to a new level in this intense and imaginative work. While the explicit love scenes among the three characters could well offend some listeners, this thought-provoking production is recommended for most adult collections. The author's dialog and characterization also shine in the unabridged set read by Dion Graham, but the plot strains with the length. Public libraries with a strong following for this best-selling writer may want the unabridged tapes, while for most popular fiction collections the abridged program will suffice. Beth Farrell, Portage Cty. Dist. Lib., OH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Editorials
From Barnes & Noble
The Barnes & Noble ReviewEric Jerome Dickey -- a writer celebrated for his subtle depictions of the nuances of relationships -- continues to grow as an artist. Between Lovers, an extremely ambitious work that represents novelist at the height of his powers.
The story’s narrator is a successful African-American novelist involved in an intriguing love triangle. The object of his affections is a woman named Nicole, with whom he has been hopelessly in love for seven years. Despite the fact that Nicole left him waiting at the altar only to move in with another lover -- a lover who happens to be a woman -- he can’t get her out of his mind. All he knows for sure is that he loves Nicole too much to give her up with a fight. But his adversary, a tough-spirited, strong-minded, and passionate woman named Ayanna, is no ordinary adversary. As for Nicole, she wants them both, and her machinations pull the three of them along on a sensual but twisted journey, culminating in a tragedy that will forever change the way they view one another, as well as themselves.
Dickey’s prose is both evocative and provocative. The anguish of all the people involved comes across with crystal clarity. It’s tempting to search for a bad guy amid all the pain and confusion, but Dickey wisely fails to provide one. Instead, he offers up an achingly poignant, not-so-simple story about three people in search of a very simple thing -- love. (Beth Amos)