Thursday, October 24, 2013

Perfect Timing

Perfect Timing
Laura Spinella
Berkeley Trade Paperback Original
October 1, 2013

Idgie Says:

I put this review out a few weeks ago, but just received some new and interesting goodies to share about the book so we're having a "do over" here with a  Q & A and also an excerpt link - both below -  Enjoy!
 

The story is in the style of contemporary romantic fiction (not a romance book, it's a fictional novel involving romance) - not a bad thing, just letting you know the basic feel of the book. It has near rape, running from the event an false blame, a sudden marriage where minds are changed quickly - followed by 6 or so years of confusion, incorrect stories and straight out lies until the two protagonists come together again to straighten it all out.  The characters are likable and you feel aggravation as they continue to muddle things up.

It's a nice escapist novel that's hearty enough in size to really sink into.  You do tend to tap your fingers in frustrated anticipation, waiting for secrets and truths to come to light, but that's part of digging into a story. Sometimes a book just needs to take you away for a while, and this one does just that.


Book Description:
There’s rock, there’s a hard place, then there’s Aidan & Isabel.

What’s a Jersey Girl to do when she moves to Catswallow, Alabama? Isabel Lang finds the answer in an unlikely bond with the musically gifted Aidan Roycroft. The two share everything from a first kiss to startling family secrets. But when Aidan is accused of a violent crime, the two flee to Las Vegas where Isabel’s future comes tumbling down.

Seven years later, the past is buried, including any relationship with Aidan. Isabel is busy running a radio station and closing in on commitment with Nate Potter, a guy who defines ideal. Life seems cozy until new station management demands a sudden-death ratings grabber, putting everyone’s future on the line. What should be a simple solution leads to a stunning revelation as Isabel is forced to call on the past and the only rock star she knows.
________________________

Go HERE for the excerpt!

________________________

Q & A with Laura!




Q) You must have lots of ideas for books.  Why this story for your second novel, and what’s in it for readers?

A) That’s a two-part answer. The “rock star” fantasy is universal. I liked the idea of delivering a story that touched on the idea, but used it in a relatable context. I thought a singular childhood friendship could create an unbreakable bond—a relationship that could survive something as blinding as fame. The second part is more personal. My daughter, who’s a tough critic, loved this story when I first wrote it. (Since there are some steamier scenes, I should mention she’s 24) After toying with different storylines for a follow up to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER, Megan all but insisted, “Aidan and Isabel!” I’d almost forgotten how much I loved the characters, and immediately found myself re-involved with their story.

Q) Can you give us a thumbnail sketch of PERFCT TIMING’S premise?   

A) As noted, Aidan Royce is a rock star. And in his element, he earns his ovation. But that’s not what this story is about; it’s about the rhythm of lasting friendship, and the beat of a love story subject to incredible odds. It’s about family and figuring out what makes you truly happy, then being brave enough to embrace it. PERFECT TIMING is relationship fiction set to the sometimes extraordinary and always precarious tempo of life.


Q) Some people will label this a romance, but in bookstores readers will find PERFECT TIMING in the women’s fiction section. How do you define the difference between the two genres? 

A) I write women’s fiction with a heavy thread of romance. Does it straddle the line? You bet. Is that a good thing? I like to think so, but I’ll never forget my agent warning me that this is an “uneasy place” in the world of novels. Ultimately, it comes down to writing what you like to read. Personally, I need to find more than a romance in a book, but I always look forward to the love story.

Q) What’s in your writing space that you can’t do without?

A) Postcards! I have a collection of vintage postcards from my hometown, Bayport, New York. (I also have a great collection of Athens, Georgia postcards, but that’s a different wall) These postcards are all black and white, framed, and arranged in a collage over my desk. Like any writer, I get stuck—a lot. Staring at the Bayport cards is both inspirational and calming. I find my “center” there; it’s kind of like chamomile tea on paper. 

Q) What’s next for Laura Spinella?

A) Well, Laura Spinella’s going to dedicate some serious time to promoting PERFECT TIMING. During and after that, I’m working on revisions for my next book: COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES. It’s a slight departure for me, with an unusual twist on a psychic element and a love story that I never expected to write.


_____________________________

Event Dates:

Sunday, October 27th
Please join me & many of your favorite authors at the Writerspace Halloween Mash this Sunday, from 8pm ET to 11pm ET. Authors will be chatting and giving away Kindles, autographed books, gift cards and more. You don’t have to be present to win, but you must be registered. To register, and for details on all participating authors and prizes, visit Writerspace Halloween Monster Mash!

Saturday, November 9th
2-4 p.m.
Book Signing
Barnes & Noble
270 Hartford Ave.
Bellingham, MA

Saturday, December 7th
1-3 p.m.
Book Signing
Tatnuck Booksellers
Rt 9 & Lyman Street
Westboro, MA

Laura is always up for a book club gathering!
To make a date, just fill out the form on the contact page.