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A review by mochagirl
Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey
3.0
The title of Eric Jerome Dickey's latest novel, Chasing Destiny, has a dual implication because Destiny is a troubled teen who is `acting out' in the middle of her parent's messy divorce and it also alludes to an underlying theme of how far the lead characters are willing to go to change or control their fate.
Keith and free spirit Billie (aka Ducati because of the motorcycle she rides) have been lovers for about a year and the story opens with her announcing she is pregnant and him announcing he has decided to reunite with his wife, Carmen, and his fifteen-year-old daughter, Destiny - setting the stage for drama ala Dickey style. Carmen, a high powered Los Angeles attorney, is obsessed with Keith, an unemployed engineer, and wants to keep her man and her marriage together at all cost. As the story matures it is revealed how manipulative, vindictive, and conniving Carmen can be and we learn the fruit (Destiny) does not fall far from the tree.
Unbeknownst to her parents, Destiny has serious problems of her own. After sneaking out of the house for a harmless night of partying, she shamelessly victimizes and disfigures another in a "girl fight" to gain some street credibility and naively becomes a victim herself of a violent, brutal act that can ruin her future and embarrass her family. When she learns that her activities have been recorded and are being sold throughout the "hood" on DVD by her so called "friends;" she sets out to correct her mistakes and exact a little revenge but her plans go terribly awry and she is in even deeper trouble. In the meantime, Carmen conspires against Billie andKeith is agonizing over following his heart to start a new family with Billie or uphold his eighteen-year marriage vows and return to his old family, Carmen and Destiny.
Without spoiling the story - let's just say everyone's desperation reaches a boiling point and things quickly spiral out of control with unexpected results. Toward the middle of the book, I found myself rapidly turning pages to read about Destiny's confrontation with the videographers, how Carmen's threats to Billie turn physical and life-threatening, and what Keith's ultimate decision would be. The ending was a bit abrupt, but tied up nicely.
Dickey's talent and experience is evidenced in the handling of the multiple storylines and the intricacy of subplots and multi-character interrelationships. EJD fans will not be disappointed with this offering - although there is nothing new about this piece because it contains the classic components, vibe and cadence found in his last few novels -- it is a novel filled with a colorful supporting cast, a few steamy interludes, and witty dialogue just in time for a Spring release.
Keith and free spirit Billie (aka Ducati because of the motorcycle she rides) have been lovers for about a year and the story opens with her announcing she is pregnant and him announcing he has decided to reunite with his wife, Carmen, and his fifteen-year-old daughter, Destiny - setting the stage for drama ala Dickey style. Carmen, a high powered Los Angeles attorney, is obsessed with Keith, an unemployed engineer, and wants to keep her man and her marriage together at all cost. As the story matures it is revealed how manipulative, vindictive, and conniving Carmen can be and we learn the fruit (Destiny) does not fall far from the tree.
Unbeknownst to her parents, Destiny has serious problems of her own. After sneaking out of the house for a harmless night of partying, she shamelessly victimizes and disfigures another in a "girl fight" to gain some street credibility and naively becomes a victim herself of a violent, brutal act that can ruin her future and embarrass her family. When she learns that her activities have been recorded and are being sold throughout the "hood" on DVD by her so called "friends;" she sets out to correct her mistakes and exact a little revenge but her plans go terribly awry and she is in even deeper trouble. In the meantime, Carmen conspires against Billie andKeith is agonizing over following his heart to start a new family with Billie or uphold his eighteen-year marriage vows and return to his old family, Carmen and Destiny.
Without spoiling the story - let's just say everyone's desperation reaches a boiling point and things quickly spiral out of control with unexpected results. Toward the middle of the book, I found myself rapidly turning pages to read about Destiny's confrontation with the videographers, how Carmen's threats to Billie turn physical and life-threatening, and what Keith's ultimate decision would be. The ending was a bit abrupt, but tied up nicely.
Dickey's talent and experience is evidenced in the handling of the multiple storylines and the intricacy of subplots and multi-character interrelationships. EJD fans will not be disappointed with this offering - although there is nothing new about this piece because it contains the classic components, vibe and cadence found in his last few novels -- it is a novel filled with a colorful supporting cast, a few steamy interludes, and witty dialogue just in time for a Spring release.