Category Archives: Sourcebooks Landmark

February 2, 2014 · 11:55 pm

Review: The Curl Up and Dye by Sharon Sala

curl upTitle: The Curl Up and Dye by Sharon Sala
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Those were the best days of her life…

“Poor LilyAnn,” the local ladies lament. “She sure is stuck in the past.”

Eleven years ago, LilyAnn Bronte was the Peachy-Keen Queen of Blessings, Georgia—the prettiest, smartest, and most popular girl in town, going steady with the star quarterback, a high school career on the fast track to success. Then Randy Joe was killed in Iraq, and somehow LilyAnn just let herself go to seed.

Ruby, Mabel Jean, Vera, and Vesta of the Curl Up and Dye have been itching to give LilyAnn a makeover, but she knows it would make more than a new hairstyle for her to get her life back.

Until one fateful day, when a handsome stranger roars into town, and LilyAnn has a revelation.

Maybe the best is yet to come..

The Review:

Sharon Sala’s newest release, The Curl Up and Dye, is an emotional journey for LilyAnn Bronte as she finally lets go of her grief and unexpectedly discovers love. This heartwarming novel has plenty of sass and down home Southern charm, but it is the warm and caring cast of characters that make it such an outstanding read.

The sound of a hot rod pickup truck is what finally shakes LilyAnn out of the haze she has been living in for eleven long years. This former Miss Peachy-Keen Queen has been mired in grief and living in the past so long she barely recognizes the out of shape and uninspiring woman she has become. A fleeting attraction to the driver of that souped up truck inspires LilyAnn to get out of her rut, get into shape and begin living in the here and now. Stunned by the unexpected reaction of her best friend and next door neighbor, Mike Dalton, LilyAnn has a few more lessons to learn before she can finally see what has been in front of her all along.

Aiding LilyAnn and Mike in traversing their evolving relationship is a cast of lively and eclectic characters. Their biggest supporter is the indomitable Ruby Dye, owner of the local beauty shop. Her well-intentioned meddling leads to unexpected consequences for their rapidly deteriorating relationship. However it does force LilyAnn to see Mike in a whole new light. Unfortunately, Mike stubbornly resists LilyAnn’s efforts to make peace and in doing so, he unwittingly puts not only their future, but LilyAnn, in danger.

Sharon Sala’s The Curl Up and Dye is an entertaining novel that has a engaging cast of characters and an eminently appealing setting. The storyline is sweet but there is just enough drama to keep it interesting and unpredictable. Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys homespun stories with plucky, courageous heroines and adorable, affable heroes.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Rated B+, Review, Sharon Sala, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Landmark, The Curl Up and Dye

January 26, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft

artTitle: The Art of Falling by Kathryn Craft
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: A

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

One Wrong Step Could Send Her Over the Edge

All Penny has ever wanted to do is dance—and when that chance is taken from her, it pushes her to the brink of despair, from which she might never return. When she wakes up after a traumatic fall, bruised and battered but miraculously alive, Penny must confront the memories that have haunted her for years, using her love of movement to pick up the pieces of her shattered life.

Kathryn Craft’s lyrical debut novel is a masterful portrayal of a young woman trying to come to terms with her body and the artistic world that has repeatedly rejected her. The Art of Falling expresses the beauty of movement, the stasis of despair, and the unlimited possibilities that come with a new beginning.

The Review:

The Art of Falling is a spectacular debut novel that is utterly captivating from beginning to end. This in-depth look into the world of dance is quite fascinating and Kathryn Craft does not gloss over the physical and mental toll the sport can sometimes take on dancers. Poignant and powerful, this emotional story of friendship, healing and new beginnings is thought-provoking and compelling.

Her whole life has been dedicated to dance, but broken in both body and spirit, Penelope “Penny” Sparrow is trying to make sense of her life after surviving a horrific fall. With no place else to go, she finds herself back in her mother’s house where she is forced to come to terms with her lifelong struggle with body image. But it is through the two people she meets at the lowest point in her life that Penny learns life’s most valuable lessons. Angela Reed offers Penny something that has long been absent from her life: friendship, unconditional love and acceptance. Marty Kandelbaum literally saved Penny’s life and his gentle wisdom and his willingness to take a chance on love after tragedy provides her a new perspective on both her past and her future.

Penny is in a very dark place at the beginning of The Art of Falling. Her body is not typical for a dancer and she has fought to find her niche in the dancing world. When her dream job and romance end, Penny is overwhelmed with doubts about herself-her talent, her body and her accomplishments. In the aftermath of her fall, Penny battles depression as she faces her fear that she might never dance again but with the encouragement of Angela and Kandelbaum, Penny comes to a new understanding of herself and the people in her life.

Angela and Kandelbaum are an excellent cast of secondary characters and I absolutely adored them. Angela is upbeat and positive despite her health issues and their friendship is a wonderful chance for Penny to focus on someone but herself. Kandelbaum is a sweet, spiritual man with a very calming presence and although he has suffered a great loss, he is a ray of sunshine. Their friendship reminds Penny of how much she let slip away when she became so focused on her career and the man who ultimately betrayed her.

One of the most difficult story arcs is Penny’s relationship with her mother Evelyn. Penny’s disdain of her mother’s weight overshadows all of the good that Evelyn has done for Penny. Penny is concerned about the health risks obesity poses for Evelyn, but it also propels Penny to count calories and meticulously maintain a strict diet. Evelyn is not the typical stage mother, pushing her daughter to succeed. Instead she gives Penny the opportunity to pursue her dream even when that means stepping out of Penny’s life. Although Penny does not always see it, Evelyn is her biggest supporter and she goes to great lengths to protect Penny. It is intensely gratifying to see them repair their fractured relationship and come to a better understanding of each other.

Kathryn Craft’s The Art of Falling is a beautiful mix of heartache and hope as Penny finds her way back from the brink of despair. The mystery surrounding her fall is intriguing and uncovering the truth takes the reader and Penny on a phenomenal journey of growth and self-discovery. An impressive first novel that I heartily recommend.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fiction, Kathryn Craft, Rated A, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, The Art of Falling

November 4, 2013 · 11:56 pm

Review: Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson

Title: Lies You Wanted to Hear by James Whitfield Thomson
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Lucy’s two young children have been gone for nine years now, an unbearable burden that haunts her even more because of her role in what happened. You can hardly see a glimpse of that carefree girl Lucy was before she married Matt. She was a magnet for men who were bad for her—men like Griffin. With shattering, unthinkable turns that will wrench every mother’s heart, this suspenseful story probes the issue of how well you know the person you married. How much can you trust them with your heart—and with your future?

The Review:

James Whitfield Thomson’s extraordinary debut novel, Lies You Wanted to Hear, is a compelling story about the disintegration of a marriage and its messy aftermath. Impossible to put down, this spellbinding tale of love gone wrong will leave readers questioning what choices they might make under similar circumstances.

Lucy Thornhill is on the rebound following the demise of her long term and tempestuous relationship with Griffin when she agrees to a blind date with Matt Drobyshev. Hard working, loyal and all around good guy Matt immediately falls for Lucy and although he clearly sees her faults, his feelings for her make it easy for him to overlook them. While Lucy likes Matt, she is not in love with him but she continues to date him although she still harbors feelings for Griffin. When Griffin re-enters her life, Lucy makes a fateful decision that sets into motion a chain of events that spans over twenty years.

Lucy and Matt are richly drawn and highly complex characters. Lucy is overwhelmed by motherhood and plagued by feelings of inadequacy. Matt is very comfortable and at ease with fatherhood and he remains deeply in love with Lucy. Following the birth of their second child, Lucy suffers from a severe bout of post-partum depression and despite Matt’s patience and understanding, their marriage never quite recovers. Once again, Griffin’s reappearance in Lucy’s life spells disaster for the struggling couple.

Lies You Wanted to Hear is written in first person from both protagonists’ point of view. The chapters alternate between Matt and Lucy’s perspective and provide the reader with each characters’ viewpoint of unfolding events. Lucy’s actions and dishonesty paint her in a very unflattering light for much of the story. It is much easier to sympathize with Matt, especially when the marriage begins to unravel. But in the aftermath of Matt’s questionable decision, Lucy becomes the more sympathetic character and by the novel’s end, she is one who undergoes the most dramatic transformation.

Lies You Wanted to Hear poses some very interesting questions about the unwitting repercussions of the choices we make. Many readers will be able to relate to the struggles of both characters and all will be left wondering what they would do if faced with the same situation. All in all, an amazing first outing by James Whitfield Thomson that I highly recommend.

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Filed under Fiction, James Whitfield Thomson, Lies You Wanted to Hear, Rated B+, Review, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Landmark

May 31, 2012 · 3:57 am

Just Say Yes by Phillipa Ashley

Title: Just Say Yes by Phillipa Ashley
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Review Copy Obtained from Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

There’s one question a girl should always say yes to…

But Lucy Gibson said no. On national TV. Now she’s hated by nearly everyone.

Fleeing the spotlight’s glare, Lucy holes up in a cottage in the country, where she just might find the right reasons to say yes after all…

The Review:

A lighthearted and easy read, Phillipa Ashley’s Just Say Yes is a vastly entertaining romance with plenty of substance and depth. When her relationship with Nick Laurentis falls apart on national television, Lucy Gibson finds herself splashed all over the tabloid news. Tired of being in the limelight, Lucy and her good friend Fiona escape to Cornwall for a month long holiday. Basking in her anonymity, Lucy enjoys the opportunity to re-evaluate her life and her relationship with Nick. An unwanted attraction to the über sexy (and already taken) Josh Standring proves to be an unexpected complication to Lucy’s already complicated life.

Lucy Gibson is a fabulously flawed but completely sympathetic heroine. Her relationship with Nick is fairly casual with an emphasis on sex so naturally she is stunned when he proposes her to national TV. She is not only suspicious as to why he proposed to her, but she is unsure of what her emotions are for her slightly unreliable boyfriend. I like that she resisted the enormous pressure to accept his proposal and that she took the time to scrutinize her misgivings about her future with him.

Josh Standring is the quintessential bad boy who has cleaned up his act. With a bit of playboy past, he is now in a steady relationship with Sara. With their relationship off to a rocky beginning, he and Lucy share an uneasy friendship. When their friendship turns to desire, Josh must examine his inability to take the next step in his relationship with Sara.

The secondary cast of characters is rather eccentric yet extremely likable. Fiona is utterly delightful and absolutely hilarious. She always supports Lucy even when she thinks Lucy is making the wrong decisions. The other character I absolutely adored is Lucy’s neighbor and best mate Charlie. Their scenes are quirky and laugh out loud funny.

What makes Just Say Yes a truly enjoyable read is the growth of Lucy’s character. She seizes the opportunity to make some much needed changes in her life and finds love where she least expects it. When her relationship with Josh hits a snag, she accepts responsibility for her role in it and she continues to make positive changes in her life.

Just Say Yes is a fast paced novel with an appealing and unique storyline. While the story sometimes goes in a predictable direction, Phillipa Ashley keeps the story fresh with surprising twists and turns. A truly outstanding read that I would recommend to anyone who reads contemporary romances.

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Filed under Contemporary, Just Say Yes, Phillipa Ashley, Rated B, Romance, Sourcebooks, Sourcebooks Landmark