Blurb ~*~
Anything but normal…
Dani Shane just wants her daughter to have what she never did—a normal life. But “normal” leaves the equation when sixteen-year old Riley is found talking to Dani’s only friend, Alex—who has been dead for forty years.
In the small river town of Bethany, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now that she’s back, so is Alex. Mischievous and sexy and still hot enough to melt her shoes. Between his popping in at inopportune moments and her having to hide her daughter’s new talent, Dani fears that her plans for staying under the radar may be short-lived.
As Dani scrambles to get solid footing under her family, secrets buried for forty years begin to unearth themselves. She and Alex have always been connected, but he is hiding something. The computer is making her hear things. Weird memories that she doesn’t recognize keep popping up in her mind. Then there’s that little thing she hasn’t told her daughter yet—that some of the people she sees aren’t breathing.
Dani Shane just wants her daughter to have what she never did—a normal life. But “normal” leaves the equation when sixteen-year old Riley is found talking to Dani’s only friend, Alex—who has been dead for forty years.
In the small river town of Bethany, Dani never fit in. Being different pushed her to the fringes of society, and even leaving town for two decades didn’t stop the talk. Now that she’s back, so is Alex. Mischievous and sexy and still hot enough to melt her shoes. Between his popping in at inopportune moments and her having to hide her daughter’s new talent, Dani fears that her plans for staying under the radar may be short-lived.
As Dani scrambles to get solid footing under her family, secrets buried for forty years begin to unearth themselves. She and Alex have always been connected, but he is hiding something. The computer is making her hear things. Weird memories that she doesn’t recognize keep popping up in her mind. Then there’s that little thing she hasn’t told her daughter yet—that some of the people she sees aren’t breathing.
Excerpt ~*~
Starting
over sucks, but at forty it sucks the life out of you. This thought squeezed my
brain on the six-hour drive to Bethany from Dallas. I second-guessed my
decision for the ninety-ninth time, eyeing every exit ramp as a potential
escape hatch. As we got closer to the dark clouds looming above my hometown, in
a Ford Escort with no air-conditioning and my sixteen-year-old daughter hanging
her naked legs out the window to dry her pretty little coral toes, I felt the
options slipping. One by one.
Not
that I wasn’t grateful to have a destination. My dad loves me, and he’s never
judged. But this time was no visit. It was the real deal, with bath towels and
Tupperware and everything that would fit in a U-Haul trailer. My head started
to bang out a rhythm just thinking about it, but I knew it was the smart thing
to do. I’d tried everything after losing my job, and despite the number of
times I pushed reality aside, it kept waving at me.
I
had Riley to think about. I had to keep a roof over her head, and I couldn’t
afford to be choosy on what roof that was. We would be okay. I glanced over at
her, eyes closed, jamming to whatever her iPod was pumping into her head, and I
prayed she would be okay. That she wouldn’t be tainted by association with me.
“So,
when do we get to Podunk?” she said after we drove through Restin, the nearest
big town. Not big like high-rises. Big like it has a Walmart.
4 Star Review ~*~
There is so much, yet so little to say about The Reason is You. Sharla Lovelace creates a story that is unlike many others on the market today. It is nice to read a story that doesn't leave you hanging for the next one and has characters that worm their way into your heart while showcasing life lessons in amazing ways. Between the excerpt and blurb above, you get a great feel for Dani and some of the trials she has had to face and continues to face even at 40.
Dani wants to give her daughter a normal life, but how can she do that when she isn't 'normal' herself. After dealing with years of being an outsider amongst her peers she has to figure out how to explain to her daughter what is going on. You see, Dani can see and speak to ghosts and she has just recently learned her daughter can too. When it's an ability you have been teased over and shunned for, how do you tell your 16 year old daughter how to handle it.
Back in her hometown, Dani has to deal with her childhood 'friend' Alex ~ who is a ghost ~, finding a new job in a small town, and her developing feelings for her boss, Jason. The storyline makes for some interesting situations that will make you laugh and cry. Dani's journey is highly emotional and life changing. Sharla Lovelace does a fantastic job of giving taking us on Dani's journey and creating a cast of characters that are thought provoking as well as easy to relate to.
AUTHOR Bio and
Links ~*~
Sharla Lovelace is the
National Bestselling Author of THE REASON IS YOU, BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, and the e-novella JUST ONE DAY. Being a Texas girl through and through, she’s
proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her family, an old lady dog, and
an aviary full of cockatiels.
Sharla is available by Skype
for book club meetings and chats, and loves connecting with her readers! See
her website www.sharlalovelace.com for book discussion questions, events, and
to sign up for her monthly newsletter.
THE REASON IS YOU (available in trade paperback
online and in stores)
Mass Market version
(978-0425254868) with new cover available May 7th, and for preorder
now!
Tagline: “Sometimes
falling into the past is the way forward.”
PURCHASE LINKS:
Trade
size and ebook versions also available anywhere books are sold.
Sharla will be awarding a custom tote bag with book swag, a themed recipe card and $20 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Please make sure to leave your email address!
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-blast-reason-is-you-by-sharla.html
Thank you so much for hosting me, and I'll pop by again later. Today is the release day for THE REASON IS YOU, so it's actually available now! Thank you also for taking the time to review my book, I'm glad you enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteGreat review, sounds good.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
The story sounds interesting
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Wow! I can't WAIT to read this! I love that cover, too ; )
ReplyDeleteI wonder what kind of events or people inspired the author while writing this book!?
Thanks for the giveaway!
mestith at gmail dot com
The book sounds so interesting! Thank you for the giveaway:) lisak0368@gmail.com
ReplyDelete