Jeannine D. Van Eperen Reviews

Added January 8, 2005

Love and All That Jazz

Author: Jeannine D. Van Eperen
Publisher: Port Town Publishing
Available At: www.porttownpublishing.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $8.96
Author Email/Website: www.geocities.com/Paris/Cathedral/5285/
Reviewer: Sharyn McGinty
Rating: 7.75 Gargoyles

Tender, emotional and heartwarming, Love and All That Jazz will make you fall in love with love.

Late to her brother's wedding, Regina didn't recognize anyone at the reception, not being able to find her relatives in the crowd of people. Further adding to her bad day, she spills her champagne on a gorgeous man and instead of being angry asks her to dance. As they dance, the world fades away and nothing matters but the two of them and their dance. When the dance ends, the man she now knows as Tony is pulled away by an incredibly beautiful woman. Regina returns home, knowing she'll never forget Tony.

At work on Monday, her assistant accuses her of being love. Regina scoffs knowing she'd never see him again. To her surprise while grocery shopping she sees a picture of the two of them dancing together. In the picture, it seemed they were deeply love. Regina buys the magazine, reads the article and learns her dancing partner was none other than the bride's father and famous jazz pianist, Anton Fremont II. She knows then nothing will ever happen between them.

Tony couldn't stop thinking about his lovely dancing partner Regina, which was amazing considering how his ex-wife Angel was trying to manipulate him again. Thank goodness, he was going to be in Paris recording for the next few weeks and would be able to escape Angel's clutches. The recording over, he returns to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his extended family. To his great surprise and immense happiness, Regina is there.

Regina was surprised at how happy she was to see Tony. Was it possible he felt the same way about her? She was just a travel agent and he was a famous jazz pianist. Would a relationship between them even have a chance?

I knew when I began reading Love and All That Jazz I would enjoy it. Having read and reread Jeannine's previous novel, Hearts in ¾ Time, too many times to count I knew I was in for treat. Regina and Tony were amazing, both deeply in love with the other, both scarred from their past relationships and utterly devoted to their families. From their initial meeting at Ann's wedding reception to the very last chapter, the intensity between them is palpable. Even when things look horrible, they still hold onto their love for each other.

I was a bit disappointed at how easily Tony kept giving into his ex-wife's complaints and manipulations. It was very hard to feel sorry for him after a while because he didn't ever see it coming. However, his devotion to his children, Ann, Andy and the twins made up for that. He rearranged his life for them, made sure they weren't stuck in some daycare, and always made time in his day to spend time with them. Regina's concern for her daughter was just as touching.

Jeannine is a talented author, writing with fluidity and grace. I highly recommend Love and All That Jazz. It's a joy to read.

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Added March 19, 2004

Hearts in 3/4 Time

Author: Jeannine D. Van Eperen
Publisher: Port Town Publishing
Available At: www.porttownpublishing.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $7.95 paperback
ISBN: 0-9740833-9-9
Author Email/Website: www.geocities.com/Paris/Cathedral/5285/
Reviewer: Sharyn McGinty

Jerome Tyrakowski, the young conductor of the Metropolitan Symphony, was furious. He had told the woman at the travel agency he wanted first-class tickets for a direct flight from Chicago to Seattle. What did he get? Stops at six different airports. He called the travel agency and demanded to speak with the person who had taken his order. After telling the woman exactly what he thought of her abilities and being assured the tickets would be changed, he said he would have someone pick up the tickets. He walks into the travel agency and to his great surprise; the Ms. Jones who messed up his tickets wasn't the old woman with the Nez-Percé spectacles but a raven-haired beauty.

He knew in that moment he had to see her again and asks her to meet him for dinner. It's only when he starts to introduce himself does he realize he's made a mistake. How can he, Jerome Tyrakowski, ask this beautiful woman out to dinner when he just spent thirty minutes giving her a tongue-lashing? In desperation, he uses his nickname, Jody.

Samantha couldn't believe she accepted a dinner invitation from someone she just met; yet it was impossible to deny the spark she felt when he looked into her eyes. What could wrong? Chicago was a big enough city, they could easily walk to a restaurant and she wouldn't even have to get into a car with him. That in mind, she can't help being excited and anticipating dinner with Jody.

Jody and Samantha are irresistibly drawn to one another from their first date. Yet because of several mistakes, Samantha is dismissed from her job at the travel agency. To make matters worse, neither thought to get the others' home telephone number. In such a big city, how will they ever find each other?

It is a mere stroke of luck that Jerome and Samantha met again. To no one's surprise, the passion between the two hadn't died. As they begin a serious relationship, Jerome is torn between telling Samantha the truth about his identity and the way he feels just being plain-old Jody. Will he tell her the truth before it is too late? How will Samantha handle being lied to after all these months?

Engagingly funny and decidedly attention-grabbing from the first sentence, Hearts in ¾ Time is nothing short of brilliant. Jerome and Samantha were fully fleshed-out characters; you knew so much about them in just a few short pages. Ms. Van Eperen wove in music knowledge and previous bits of her characters childhood deftly, creating an even deeper bond between the characters and her readers. And her secondary characters were nothing to sneeze at either; there were a couple I would love to see again, especially Mrs. Ellsworth, an elderly classical music aficionado and major supporter of the Metropolitan Symphony.

My most favorite part of the book is where Jerome is picturing Samantha in a June Cleaver-type role, baking cookies in a frilled apron while Samantha sees herself in a very-career oriented role, being congratulated on doing such a fine job running a hotel. I couldn't stop laughing and envisioning the rude awakening they were headed for eventually. Jerome's dedication in finding Samantha after their first date won my heart. There was no doubt he truly cared for her if he was willing to call every Jones listed in the Chicago telephone book looking for her!

I didn't like the fact he kept lying to her about his identity, although I could understand his reasoning behind it. I was so immersed in the characters and their story that when Samantha learned of Jerome's deception, I could barely continue reading. Knowing Samantha's beliefs, I knew there was no way for them to be together and I couldn't bear knowing they wouldn't be. Well, do they end up together? You'll just have to read Hearts in ¾ Time, an amazing novel by an extremely gifted author.

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