Grant’s sequel just as enjoyable

• By GREG LANGLEY
• Books editor
• Published: Nov 9, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Last year, Denham Springs writer Elaine Grant published Make-Believe Mom, a novel about a woman veterinarian who relocates to the town of Little Lobo, Mont., from South Carolina. There the woman vet meets a widowed rancher with a large family. A romance ensues and the two get married. It had all the elements of a typical romance novel — guy meets gal, they misunderstand each other, then they do understand each other and get together. But it was not a formulaic offering. For one thing, Grant made good use of the Western setting and delved into the dynamics of trying to build a blended family.

That strong setting set her book apart from other romance novels, and she returns to exactly the same place in her new book, An Ideal Father (Harlequin Super Romance, $5.50 paperback). In fact the vet, Kaycee Calloway, and her now-husband, rancher Jon Rider, are secondary characters in this new book. The main focus, though, is on café-owner Sarah James — a secondary character in the first book — and a new male character, Cimarron Cole.

Cimarron restores old houses. He is a solitary sort with all sorts of emotional baggage from a bad family background. In fact, his whole family is gone except for his brother R.J., who sometimes helps him restore houses. They’re on a project in Louisiana when the story opens and R.J. has tricked Cimarron into babysitting his 5-year-old son, Wyatt.

“A sultry Louisiana breeze drifted by, stirring the leaves of an overhanging oak branch, leaving Cimarron’s skin hot and sticky. He longed to suck in the cool, clean air of Idaho, but he’d been gone so long now the place didn’t seem like home anymore. Besides, there was nothing left there for him. No home, no family. Even R.J. didn’t know where their good-for-nothing father was — or so he said. And the sad thing was, Cimarron doubted his brother would be around for Wyatt any more than their own father had been around for them, once the rodeo bug bit him again and he got bored with ‘daddying.””

When R.J. dies in an accident, Cimarron finds himself stuck with Wyatt because there is not another blood relative. He doesn’t know what to do, but he’s finished the Louisiana job and is ready to move on and restore another old house he’s bought in Montana. It turns out that the old house in Montana is one that Sarah had hoped to restore and make into a bed-and-breakfast. Only her ne’r-do-well brother has up and sold it to Cimarron. When she meets Cimarron, sparks fly. Some good, but mostly not.
Grant exploits the tension over the house and the romantic attraction between Sarah and Cimarron to build her story. Like the first Little Lobo book, this one has all the elements of a classic romance but also something more. Grant’s books have a clear message: a loving, committed relationship is great for adults and when adults are in such a relationship, it’s also great for their children, too. With some of the soft-core trash that masquerades as romance novels these days, a well-written and enjoyable book that is spicy without being slutty is a welcome contrast. Put Grant’s book on your Christmas list for the romance fan you know.

Smith reading
On Sunday, Nov. 16, LSU Readers & Writers will present performance poet Patricia Smith at 5 p.m. in the Bo Campbell Auditorium in the Cox Communications Academic Center on the LSU campus. Smith, who was inducted into the International Hall of Fame for Writers of African American Descent in 2006, will read from her new book about Hurricane Katrina, Blood Dazzlers. The event is free and open to the public.

Smith is a four-time national individual poetry slam champion. In Blood Dazzler, Smith tracks Hurricane Katrina as it transforms from Tropical Depression 12 into a full-blown mistress of destruction. Assuming the voices of flailing politicians, the dying, their survivors and of the hurricane itself, Smith follows the woefully inadequate relief effort and stands witness to families held captive on rooftops and in the Superdome. Her poems have also been published in The Paris Review, TriQuarterly, AGNI and other literary journals and in many anthologies.

Smith is a staff instructor at Cave Canem, a retreat for African-American writers, and she teaches their New York regional class in Manhattan. She was the McEver Chair in Writing at Georgia Tech University in 2004 and has taught poetry and memoir writing at New York’s Writers Voice. She speaks often in schools, hoping to foster a love for the energy of the written word.

Rheta Grimsley Johnson
Author and newspaper columnist Rheta Grimsley Johnson will be promoting her memoir, Poor Man’s Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Country, at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. Following the presentation, Johnson will sign copies of the book. For over a decade, Johnson has spent several months a year in southwest Louisiana working and falling in love with the culture. She bought a home in Henderson and began to put down roots. Poor Man’s Provence follows her journey in Cajun Country. A native of Colquitt, Ga., Johnson grew up in Montgomery, Ala., and studied journalism at Auburn University. She has covered the South for more than three decades as a newspaper reporter and columnist. Her reporting has won numerous awards and her syndicated column appears in 50 newspapers nationwide. For more information, call (225) 231-3745.

Toni McGee Causey
Take a trip into the wonderful world of words and meet visiting author and screenwriter Toni McGee Causey at the Ascension Parish Library Galves branch, 40300 La. 42, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. Causey will discuss her first two novels, Bobbie Faye’s Very (very, very, very) Bad Day, and Bobbie Faye’s (kinda, sorta, not exactly) Family Jewels, which introduce readers to the chaotic, rollercoaster, take-no-prisoners world of her Cajun action-adventuress, Bobby Faye Sumrall. A reception and book signing follow the program. Sales are cash only, so please, no checks or credit cards. Due to the very (very, very, very) popular nature of this program, registration is required. Register by calling (225) 622-3339.

Martin reading
At 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, poet Clare L. Martin will read original poetry at Casa Azul Gifts, 232 ML King Drive in Grand Coteau.
Martin’s creative writing has appeared in several literary journals, including Farmhouse Magazine, Blood Lotus, Blue Fifth Review, Wheelhouse Magazine, Inch, Eclectica Magazine and The Dead Mule. Her poem “4-Way Stop at Dusk” has been selected for inclusion in the anthology Best of Farmhouse Magazine which will be released fall 2008.

Martin is also the playwright of Waterlines, part of the theater project Sustained Winds, a collaboration of Louisiana artists responding to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The performance will be followed by an Open Mic of poetry and music in which everyone is invited to participate. This free event takes place from 7-9 p.m. Free black beans and rice will be served.