ZINNA - Kira Chase
eXtasy Books - www.extasybooks.com
ISBN: 1-55410-731-8
October 2006
Erotic Contemporary Romance - F/F
Flame Rating: 3 (Scorcher)

New Orleans, Louisiana - Present Day

Zinna has always dreamed of leaving New York and moving to New Orleans.  An insecure budding artist, she believes she can reach her true potential if given the chance to paint in the French Quarter.  Zinna can’t fathom why her longtime girlfriend Megan can’t understand her urgency to move.  In fact, she is tired of explaining why she is compelled to leave.   She makes up her mind to leave New York without Megan to show her how serious she is about moving.  Without leaving Megan a note, Zinna heads to New Orleans.  She has not looked for employment or a place to stay, but she knows that if she does not follow her dream now, she never will.

Luckily when in New Orleans, Zinna meets Turner Wyatt, a talented saxophone player who offers her friendship and a place to stay.  Turner introduces Zinna to his makeshift family, and with their help, she slowly finds her place in New Orleans.  She hesitates to contact Megan because she knows that she would relent and head back home if Megan asks.  Instead, she ignores her heart’s yearnings and throws herself into her craft.  When she can’t put it off anymore, Zinna decides to give Megan a call.  Poor Zinna actually expects Megan to jump and run to New Orleans at her request.  She never considered that her abrupt departure would have such an impact on their relationship.

Megan, understandably, is broken hearted that Zinna left without a word.  Afraid of being hurt again, Megan refuses to join Zinna in Louisiana.  She wants to give Zinna the space and separation she needs to pursue her dreams.  Zinna didn’t realize how much she has depended on Megan for love and support until it is gone.  She realizes that her long time dream may not be what she really wanted after all.

ZINNA is a novel that abounds with rich characterization.  Zinna is a complex character who selfishly attempts to make her dream become her lover’s dream.  While in New Orleans, she does a lot of soul searching and finds that she has quite a few personal issues to work on.  Compassionate secondary characters are instrumental in helping her make her dream a reality.  Turner’s makeshift family includes cross dressing Kyler who instantly accepts Zinna for who she is.  Charity is the family’s mother figure who takes Zinna under her wing and offers her invaluable advice.  Turner, a caring man, is drawn to Zinna from the first moment he sees her.  He is the one who really encourages her to master her craft.  Megan is portrayed as a strong woman who is willing to sacrifice her happiness to make sure that Zinna’s dreams come true.

ZINNA is not an erotic story.  Instead, it is a book about a soulful, intense yearning that will capture readers’ hearts.

Ariel Summer