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Arlington Heights
by Erica Lewis
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS is author Erica Lewis’ second novel following the auspicious debut of THE MANSION.
It is gratifying to observe an author’s steady growth as demonstrated by this very fine, fresh new novel that addresses the course of a gifted and beautiful black woman who overcomes the stigmata of a youth of mistakes to become one of the more powerful forces in New York’s fashion and business scene.
Lewis takes us on a journey that speaks not only to the incredible climb up the ladder of success, but also takes the courage to unveil all of the consequences of decisions made along the way by a woman so focused on escape from her past that she nearly loses her soul.
Arlington Cavanaugh as we meet her is a stunningly beautiful black woman who has reached the age of thirty-five and knowing she is past her prime as a model, has committed her life to the building of a highly regarded fashion magazine, HEIGHTS.
She has surrounded herself with a devoted staff and yet sees the need to expand her investment to secure the continued success of the magazine. Her eye is on the wealthy white male magnate Harper Kingsley, a man who is at the top of his game in business and in manipulating people to achieve his gains. Arlington is as attracted to Harper as he is to her and the initial ploy of a business partnership results in a one-time evening of passion, an event that will color the remainder of the story.
Though Arlington is focused on the good life, she finds her sensuous side attracted to a jazz player/photographer Robert Alexander, a handsome and attentive black man who is all heart and who is bruised by his own past. They begin an affair that is everything Arlington needs emotionally and physically, but her eye is still focused on success and she begins to make business deals with Harper Kingsley.
Arlington’s past as a poor little girl from a small town in Louisiana who became pregnant at age thirteen only to have her mother Mildred insist that for Arlington’s sake the child once born be considered Mildred’s child - Arlington’s little sister Lauren - and because of her mother’s sacrifice Arlington has been able to sequester her secret in order to gain her goals. Yet now with two men in the picture in her magazine’s light, things begin to alter.
The truth comes out, Lauren’s discovery that her sister is her mother fans the flames of resentment, and many events transpire that involve Arlington’s exposure, two murders, a failed romance, loss of position - all at the accompaniment of Arlington’s finally returning to her roots, realizing the truly important aspects of life.
Lewis fills the pages of this page-turner novel with the eloquent language and atmosphere of the wealthy aspects of New York and also manages to relate the passages about Louisiana in a dialect that flows more naturally than most authors have attempted. The reader is at once drawn to the positive characters in the book and repulsed by the evil ones, only to discover the full spectrum of each personality portrayed: Lewis shines a light on the whole person, allowing us to understand that there are no absolutes when it comes to people’s characters.
It is a beautifully paced novel, one that once started pulls the reader in like a magnet and holds the story in the mind long after the final cover is closed. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS is a well written novel: it also has many philosophical lessons that ease into the mind - a gift from a fine writer who obviously is concerned about the way we all elect to live our lives. Highly recommended for a very wide audience.
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