Jaded: A Lovely Diamond in the Rough For The Holidays

By Stanley Bennett Clay, in books
Friday, December 21 2007, 10:05AM

Reviews by Stanley Bennett Clay

I confess. I am a sucker for a good love story. But Kevin E. Taylor's Jaded, a tender, life-affirming tale of romantic, committed, respectfully considerate, and passion-filled love, swept me off my feet!

Proving that nice guys can finish first, Joshua Knight, an ad agency executive, and Elijah Monroe, a music producer, meet in a Harlem record store specializing in lost and/or hard-to-find musical treasures, a fitting metaphor for the predicament these two handsome and successful thirty-something African American men have found themselves in, having both been wounded by previous break-ups.

With everything they have going for them—good hearts and loving parents that easily trump their tremendous good looks and admirable career successes—it is surprising and not so surprising that they have dodged Cupid’s arrow so cautiously. These are two smart and sensitive men, and although the attraction is immediate, they take it slow, very slow, and that slow-dance to happily-ever-after is a beautiful detailed account of a dreamlike courtship.

Which brings me to the book’s title and cover art, both of which I found misleading in their suggestion of something more sinister than what this simple hearts-and-roses story conveys.

There is little ugly conflict in Jaded and there are no real villains. Even though Eli’s ex is a bit of a dog, he’s more of an idiot than an Eviline, and Josh’s break-up with his ex seemed more like a no-fault divorce. Neither of our heroes is really jaded. They are merely cautious men, being careful not to repeat past mistakes, respecting love and each other enough to consider the smallest detail as they build a trust and, hopefully, a life together.

For good measure, author Kevin E. Taylor throws in a great best friend for Josh who is, for a change, not some cynical bitchy queen. Carlton, who’s enjoying his own blissful romance, is the kind of best friend we all long for, supportive, uplifting, positive, psychiatrist, brother, minister, and muse.

Even Mr. Henderson, the wise old man in the Harlem record store where our heroes first met, is a touchingly inspirational character in many surprising ways.

There’s also the remarkable Tasha, Josh’s caring and efficient executive assistant. Her loving care for her boss professionally and her literally putting the icing on the cake of Josh and Eli’s romance, makes her more like a big sister than an employee.

This book is filled with wonderful, kind-hearted people, that, as perfect as they seem, always come across as real flesh and blood individuals who simply, and with little effort, conjure genuine emotion.

You might find yourself crying several times—I certainly did—at the sheer beauty of how people truly in love treat each other, talk to each other, respect each other; how that kind of romantic love can transform all those that surround it. Even Harlem takes on a special gleam under this romantic spell.

If I had a complaint, I would have to point out that there are some serious editing problems with Jaded. Mostly copy edits—misspellings, incorrect tenses, some arbitrary style switching, miscalculated font usage,and a non-traditional layout and paragraphing that can be distracting, problems associated with so many self-published books. But it is my hope that a major publishing house picks up this diamond in the rough, cleans it up, and puts it back out there. The story, the characters, and the writing are just that good. And even better is the spirit.

Author Kevin E. Taylor’s bio states that he is a pastor of Unity Fellowship Church in New Brunswick, NJ. I suspect that his congregation is very happy to have someone like him to shepard them, someone who can so effectively express the positive side of love, who can so clearly and affirmatively bring us into the wonderful lives of this same gender couple, no matter our sexual nature, for this story is universal, applicable and relatable to all.

Anyone who cast doubt on the power and beauty of love and romance after reading Jaded is the jaded one. This valentine-of-a-book couldn’t be more the opposite.

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