Ute Carbone

This story was a fun read made more enjoyable by two very likeable main characters. Discovering that the story takes place in my stomping grounds of upstate New York was a pleasant surprise. Stephanie’s bad experience with a former boyfriend has made her reluctant to risk her heart again. When she tells her sister that her ideal man is “Superman”, I had to roll my eyes. What mortal man can fill those shoes? Or should I say, can fill out that costume. Having Doug, the hero, show up at her niece’s party dressed as the Man of Steel was such a cute turn of events.
Doug’s taken with Stephanie right away, but she’s a hard sell. Doug may not have super powers, but he’s smart, good looking, a devoted teacher and all around good guy. Still, he finds himself firmly in the friend zone. Stephanie, in the meantime, is wooed by a local rocker and a hunkalicious firefighter while trying to save the local theater where she’s employed.
Stephanie’s boss Clayton and Clayton’s crabby mother are among the supporting characters that add to the fun. The efforts to save the theater, a local landmark, from demolition and to make it a thriving concern in the community make an interesting subplot. There’s even a bit of mystery as our hero and heroine realize that someone is actively trying to undermine their efforts to save the theater. Oh, and did I mention that a wackadoodle named Merry becomes obsessed with Doug?
I only wish there hadn’t been quite so many obstacles in the way of Doug and Stephanie, or at least that the author had allowed them to get together sooner before the obligatory “black moment” that temporarily tore them apart. I was a bit miffed that Stephanie made Doug wait so long before realizing he was “the one” and I wish Doug had given his inner nice guy a kick in the pants and been more assertive with her.
Though the heat rating of the story is sensual, in my opinion it’s fairly mild. The one lovemaking scene between Doug and Stephanie, is short and not explicit. I’d recommend Searching for Superman to any reader who enjoys light, sweet romance with a generous dash of humor.… (más)

Lose yourself in this

I just love reading a writer whose confidence in storytelling almost radiates from the page. This is an immersive historical novel that explores deep into the emotional landscape contained within. Novels about people falling in love abound – but stories about the nature of love itself are rarer. Ute Carbone tackles something so common among couples but rarely if ever noticed or spoken of. When a couple form a relationship they influence how each other think and act. Over years this develops. Often the greater the degree of this is an indicator of the strength of the relationship. The author has nailed it perfectly and the results are breathtaking. This is a story about what a couple of strong people who accommodate and bend to each other’s demands through love and profound respect can achieve. I’ve seen it in real life – but here someone has embodied it in fiction. Superb.… (más)