Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're taking a look between the pages of a Contemporary Women's Fiction title that came to my attention thanks to Liz at Liz D Publicity & Promotions. It celebrated its book birthday this past October with Parvati Press, but that just means that if it strikes your fancy, you don't have to wait for it to release in order to get your hands on a copy. ^-^ Gotta love it, right? Okay, so let's get to the nitty gritty and see if we have a match made in bookish heaven for YOU! Today's book of choice now on deck is...
The Year of Loving
by
Traci L. Slatton
9781942523062
Parvati Press
About the book...
Art gallerist Sarah Paige’s world is crumbling. One daughter barely speaks to her and the other is off the rails. Sarah is struggling to keep her gallery afloat in a tough market when she learns that her most beloved friend has cancer. In the midst of her second divorce, two men come into her life: an older man who offers companionship and stability and an exciting younger man whose life is as chaotic as hers.
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
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On the surface, we have a woman (Sarah) caught between ages, pulled two ways by desire, and struggling to make all the pieces fit one big puzzle in an effort to reach happily-ever-after. At its heart, it's a story of one woman truly finding her way back to herself.
Did I agree with all her choices? No...in fact, I was actually very surprised by the ending and who she ended up or rather didn't end up with. I was thinking something completely different, but then again, that resistance to fit what I think, or what anyone thinks for that matter, is what makes Ms. Slatton's character that much more real. The way Sarah struggles to deal with her friend's illness (though I do wish there was actually more time spent on this, despite it not being the focal point of the story...I loved this character!), the constant battle between her and her daughters (let's now even mention the ex) to find some common ground let alone agreement on pretty much anything, and even the yoyo not-a-relationship status she puts herself and the two contenders in, all add up to one independent, not-perfect-but-still-trying-mightily woman that will capture your attention, if not your heart.
Overall, I do believe it is well suited for the genre selected and that it will find (if it hasn't already) a good audience ready to soak up Sarah's story and match their own life experiences to hers as well. There are several areas where the story does tend to drag a bit, but they are few and easily fended off by trying to solve the many riddles of WWSD (what-will-Sarah-do). FYI...not for the kiddos as there are some scenes that tend towards adult audiences specifically, including an unusually creative use of a baggie. I shall say no more. *smirk*
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About the author....
Traci L. Slatton is the international bestselling author of historical, paranormal, and romantic novels, including Immortal and Broken; the award-winning dystopian After series, which includes Fallen, Cold Light, Far Shore and Blood Sky; the bittersweet romantic comedy The Love of My (Other) Life; and the vampire art history romp The Botticelli Affair. She has also published the lyrical poetry collection Dancing in the Tabernacle and The Art of Life, a photo-essay about figurative sculpture through the ages. Her book Piercing Time & Space explores the meeting ground of science and spirituality.
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Special thanks to Liz at Liz D Publicity & Promotions for the copy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, the publisher, or those promos on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so seek thee out a copy at your favorite virtual or brick and mortar retailer.
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
2 comments:
Dear Gina, Many thanks for your thoughtful and well-written review of The Year of Loving! warm regards, Traci L. Slatton
A wonderfully concise review, thanks Gina.
Loving the sound of the characters. However as I lost my dear friend to cancer in December a book that I'll keep in mind though I don't think I could bear to read it at present.
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