Love on the Line

by Laura Castoro

Book Overview

In the follow up to her popular novel CROSSING THE LINE, Laura Castoro continues to tackle the difficult and universal issues surrounding race and family in these modern times, in the deeply emotional journey of a mother and daughter trying to find their place in the world

Thea Morgan--no, Thornton--is thrilled about starting life with her new husband Xavier, After so many years apart, it was truly a blessing that they found each other again...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061542768
• ISBN13: 9780061542763
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Aren't we all just trying to find our place to belong, and be ourselves?

Thea Morgan is ready to take a leap of faith for a second chance at love. Ready to start a new life with her former high school sweetheart Xavier Thornton. After some history together, laden with secrets, they've both led full lives in their time apart, so they come back to each other as different people than they once were. Thea is a powerful businesswoman, a mother, a widow after the unexpected death of her first husband, Evan, and she's struggling with the pressures and prejudices of a society that questions her ethnicity, being born light-skinned with sandy brown hair and light eyes. Her younger sister perpetually teased her about not being a full-blooded sista, and yet, in some ways, seemed a bit envious of Thea's light complexion, despite the hardships and prejudged opinions thrown upon her. Further adding to the fray of her heritage was her belated husband Evan being white, and the daughter they had together, Jessy, has also been "blessed" with even fairer skin, blonde hair and striking blue eyes. Though at times she's played her questionable background to her favor, she's dealing with an identity crisis of her own. Xavier is a former professional athlete turned minister and as he and Thea move towards getting married and starting the life they've always hoped for together, he's poised to accept a preacher's position in a small southern town. There are high expectations of Xavier, but even higher ones for Thea, and she's got an uphill battle in trying to keep her high-paying corporate job and trying to be the perfect supportive wife of a preacher. Some of the church's parishioners are especially hard on her and waste no opportunity in belittling her and criticizing any thing that shows Thea is giving less of herself than expected for being a preacher's wife. Jessie, Thea's daughter, is trying to find out where she fits in, in all of this, as she watches her mother focus on Xavier and she feels neglected and left out of her mother's new life. She heads off to college in a northeastern town on a soccer scholarship. She's learning to stand up for herself in pursuing a position on the school's soccer team, and she's finding out after the sheltered life she's led up until now, that the grown up world of sex and love and relationships is a tricky task to navigate. //Love On The Line// is about sacrifice and the inherent desire to be accepted for who you are. It's about the age old prejudices that exist even today in regards to race, a woman's place in the home, as opposed to being a viable hard-working businesswoman, and trying to find a happy medium to live in, in hopes of pleasing everyone--which we all know is impossible to achieve. Laura Castor draws us in to Thea and Jessie's lives and we cheer them on and hope for them to see all their efforts and ambitions rewarded. It's easy to relate to the desire we all have--to be allowed to be the people we are--and the constant effort it takes to be a part of something, and find our pl

Easy readying - grab your towel and head to the beach!

I love this author's books. They are nice beach reads or when I need something that isn't heavy (not that I read a lot of heavy stuff if you look back through my book reviews!). I was torn a bit because part of me really wanted to smack Thea some of the time, and for different reasons. I think I was just as confused as she was between her two lives/houses. Ultimately, it is a touching story, I just wish there had been some more interaction with her daughter, I felt she got left out at times. One of the things this author excels at is character development and imagery. Several times I would laugh at the ongoing picture in my head. Especially of the old church ladies. This is definitely worth a read. Grab a copy and find a nice spot on the deck outside.

fine inspirational

Four years have passed since her white husband died. African-American Widow Thea and their daughter Jesse have moved on. Mom has an influential well paying job and a new "old teen" love in her life Pastor Xavier Thornton; while her mixed race child who can pass for white is a terrific athlete starting college. Xavier proposes and she accepts though her work keeps her in a different state than his. Xavier's Arkansas church frowns on his wife for her frequent absences, her white like attitude and her daughter's white like looks. Thea loves Xavier and what she does for living, but begins to understand the pressure mounting on her spouse. She is also worried about Jesse, who is unsure of her heritage even as her blue eyes and light skin give her a choice until someone reveals her mixed bloodlines. This is an intriguing look at defining one's race in modern times when the child is the offspring of mixed races. Thea and Jesse make the tale work as each face complex identity issues with courage and strength. Although Xavier is more a caricature of the ideal husband-father-community activist than a person, fans will enjoy this fine inspirational as Thea knows he is a good man but loves her work and Jesse knows what she should do, but that is not easy to do. Harriet Klausner