Book Review: Spotlight

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Spotlight     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Carole Bellacera
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romantic Suspense
Forge, Jul 2000, 331 pp.

They are connected in two ways. Both have suffered losses of beloved brothers due to violence. He lost his sibling during a Northern Ireland rally that turned ugly in 1972. In 1985, she lost her twin, a police officer, when a suspect shot him. Their love of rock music also links the duo. Irishman Devin O’Keefe is becoming a music superstar, as the lead singer of O’Keefe while American Fonda Blayne is an up and coming photojournalist working for SPOTLIGHT magazine.

In 1990, Devin’s manager feels a photo-book of the group’s American tour will make them international headliners. Though he prefers only to do the music, Devin agrees on the condition that Fonda does the book because he is impressed with her work. She agrees. As they tour together, Devin and Fonda fall in love, but other individuals in his life have a different agenda that involves Northern Ireland.

SPOTLIGHT is an exciting contemporary tale that uses music and romance as a means to provide insight into the complex Northern Ireland issues. The story line is enjoyable and the lead couple is a dynamic pair. The support cast provides focus to how complicated the issues in Northern Ireland really are. With this tale and BORDER CROSSING, the SPOTLIGHT is sure to fall on Carole Bellacera.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner