Though successful at work, Theadora Morgan struggles with her personal relationships. Her almost sixteen year old daughter is giving her a hard time over trusting her with boys. Her Aunt Della is giving her a hard time over attending her sister's third wedding though Thea and Selma are far from being close to one another. Her white in-laws want their granddaughter raised Caucasian-American though their son is dead and Thea is half African-American.
Thea attends Selma's wedding where the worst yank occurs as she meets her first love African-American minister Xavier Thornton. Ignoring her deep feelings that still exist for Xavier, Thea tries to live up to the image that her extended family expects of her even though they pull her in different directions. However, Xavier refuses to drop out this time as he knows he loves Thea, but she harbors a secret that will probably end several of her relationships if it surfaces.
Laura Castoro provides more than just an enjoyable relationship drama as she digs deep into the issue of racial classification in a world that is increasingly rainbow-ethnic. The story line centers on Thea as the pivotal point with several spokes going from her to various other characters. Because the under siege Thea seems so real, fans will feel for her daily plight as everyone tries to paint her to fit their by the numbers portrait of her. In turn she makes the novel as she learns you can't please everyone so it is time to start with yourself. CROSSING THE LINE is a powerful contemporary relationship drama that showcases the abilities of a wonderful author.
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- present (2000-2010)
Romance/Romance Problems
Yes
Kind of romance:
- rekindling lost love/marriage
Inside culture (main char)
- Black
Family, loving relations
Yes
Special relationship with
- daughter
Culture clash?
- family young v. old guard
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Woman's story?
Yes
Lover is
- of a different race (interracial loving!)
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- business executive
Age:
- 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Black
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- none
Setting
United States
Yes
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- a lot of stream of consciousness
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
