Welcome to Leo's--Where Anything Can HappenA proper lady lets loose on Open Mike Night--and opens her heart to a different kind of man...A Texas RAnger and a candy shop owner have a blind date--with a deliciously unexplected outcome...A widowed party planner meets a handsome doctor, but fears losing her heart for the second time...A journalist runs into an old college flame--she's determined to be all business, but he ahs another agenda...Welcome to Leo'sA stylish D.C. supper club patrons come to enjoy rich, savory gourmet food, sip intoxicating cocktails, and drick in the soulful sounds of live music. It's the perfect place to dine, unwind, catch up--and mayhbe even fall in love...
Rochelle Alers was born in Manhattan, New York, USA, where she raised. She obtained degrees in Sociology and Psychology, before started to work. She is a member of the Iota Theta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and her interests include gourmet cooking and traveling. She has traveled to countries in North, Central and South America, and Europe. She is also in accomplished in knitting, crocheting and needlepoint.
Published since 1988, today a full-time writer, has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today's most prolific and popular African-American authors of romance and women's fiction. With more than fifty titles and nearly two million copies of her novels in print, she is a regular on the Waldenbooks, Borders and Essence bestseller lists, regularly chosen by Black Expressions Book Club, and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Pen Award, the Emma Award, Vivian Stephens Award for Excellence in Romance Writing, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award. She also wrote as Susan James and Rena McLeary.
Rochelle Alers lives in a charming hamlet on Long Island.
Welcome to Leo's features four novellas by trailblazing authors of Black romance. Each story centers Leo's, a popular supper club in Washington D.C. The first novella, by Rochelle Alers, is a story about a second chance at love. The hero and heroine are in the mid-50s. The second novella, by Donna Hill, features a heroine that was raised in the Church that steps out on faith in a relationship with a so-called sinner -- the entertainment director of Leo's. The third novella, by Brenda Jackson, features a heroine who is determined to accomplish her dreams before allowing space for love and marriage in her life. Lastly, the fourth novella, by Francis Ray, features a Texas Ranger and a D.C. socialite who have just six weeks to decide if their love relationship is worthwhile. Each author does a splendid job of incorporating Leo's into the background of their stories, and I felt that their characterizations of the club's owners were in-sync across the anthology to the point that I am curious about the owners' love stories. Let's Get It On, featuring novellas by the same authors, is the follow-up to Welcome to Leo's and next on my list.
This book was published in 2000. It still has some very old-fashioned ideas about what characteristics are attractive in a man. Of the stories, I think I preferred Francis Ray’s story the most. Obviously, the benefit of these short story collections is that the reader gets an opportunity to sample a variety of authors’ writings.
It was a compelling and enjoyable read by the best romantic writers in the business. Each story was eagerly devoured by me. In fact, I am going to order this book as a hard copy for my home library. What story is my favorite? I can not choose. Thanks ladies for providing such good entertainment. I regret that Ms. Ray is not physically here anymore; but her stories make a great legacy. Superb reading pleasure awaits all who reads it.
Each Author are very good writers I really enjoyed the emphasis on Leos. Leos sound like a very magical place. I would more reading from the great authors.