Arabesque, $5.99, ISBN 1-58314-173-1
Contemporary Romance, 2000

Destiny’s Song is a noteworthy debut from author Kim Louise. Sure, there are times where the perfect courtship between two beautiful people can be overly sweet at times, but still, the relationship between Destiny Chandler and songster Xavier Allgood remains compelling and always readable.

Yes, he’s an R&B star with the voice that can melt butter on hot popcorn better than Prince or Maxwell can, I’m sure. He also happens to be the big shot client of Destiny’s friend. Destiny is staying at her friend Davis’s place to get away from the memories of an abusive ex, and she happens to be singing and swaying that sexy rump of hers to Xavier’s music when Xavier happens to drop by.

Xavier, intrigued and, er, interested, makes the move, and ends up at the punishing end of Destiny the new Martial Artist’s deadly chops. Hiiii-yaaa!

Oops.

Still, after a few cuddly dates, those two start seeing stars in each other’s eyes and all. But Destiny isn’t sure if she’s ready to love again, and Xavier isn’t sure if celebrity relationships can work (you know, the paparazzi and all).

Xavier and Destiny’s romance is leisurely and sweet, sometimes to the point of saccharine overdose. Nothing really happens. Still, the prose and the author’s storytelling style succeed in luring me into the story. I find myself curious to see where the story goes even when, of course, I know the clothes have to fall off and someone will have to call the preacher. The story does falter a lot when the author mixes in the usual bag of Arabesque tricks. Yes, the evil ex-girlfriend thing, ugh.

The story also touches on issues of domestic violence, but not that deeply to overpower the sweet courtship of luuurve between Xavier and Destiny. There are some rough edges and the story can sure use a booster kick when it comes to pace (sometimes it seems as if nothing is ever going to happen), but for a debut, Destiny’s Song is very readable.