The Reason is You [Paperback]

Sharla Lovelace (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 3, 2012

In the small river town of Bethany, Dani Shane 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, with her sixteen year-old daughter Riley in tow, Dani is back in Bethany looking for a fresh start. Too bad her plans for staying under the radar are about to be thrown out the window.

Mischievous and sexy, Dani's old friend Alex still has the power to rock her world, but there's a big obstacle standing in their way--Alex has been dead for forty years. With a ghost popping up at inopportune moments and sparking conversations with her teenage daughter, Dani scrambles to find solid ground and get a grip--both on her sanity and her heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book's opening reads like women's fiction — a freshly impoverished and romance-challenged heroine moves back home and reinvents herself, finding love in the process. But by page 2 I knew Lovelace was going to yank that expectation away from me and shape it into something astonishing and glorious, then thrust it back at me and dare me not to love it. And I did. I loved it….The Reason Is You is a splendid debut and an all-consuming reading experience. November is an awfully long time to wait for Lovelace's next offering, Before and Ever Since." --USA Today

"A hauntingly beautiful story from a writer with a fresh new voice." --Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author

“Sharla Lovelace is going on my auto-buy list. Wow! I loved this book. The Reason is You is an impressive debut novel about love and loss, family bonds and family secrets, redemption and starting over. Oh, yeah, and also ghosts!.... I would highly recommend The Reason is You to fans of romantic women’s fiction."–Novel Reflections

“The Reason is You, Sharla Lovelace's debut novel, transported me to a small town, complete with small-town drama, a slight Southern feel, and a whole lot of love-triangle action!  It was easy to identify with Dani, our protagonist….The relationships within the story are complex and fleshed-out, enabling the reader to be in the moment with the characters.  Great debut, Ms. Lovelace!” –Twimom227

About the Author

Sharla Lovelace once hunted for crab in a Honduran jungle and explored an unknown cave on her belly through a rabbit hole. Not in the same night. Now, she lives in Southeast Texas with her family, an old lady dog, and 19 cockatiels. If you wonder how she writes with all that noise—the birds actually have their own house outside.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; 1 edition (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425247120
• ISBN-13: 978-0425247129
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #422,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharla Lovelace is the Nationally Bestselling Author of THE REASON IS YOU, BEFORE AND EVER SINCE, and 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.

You can follow her as @sharlalovelace on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for those romantic at heart April 3, 2012

By Kat~ Forever Book Lover 

Format:Paperback

I loved the blurb, I think that is what caught my interest, but it was the writer's style and storytelling that kept my attention all the way through until the last page. And even then, I said I wanted more!! At first I didn't understand the cover, but after reading the book, it is just perfect!! I am not going to give it away, you must read the book!!

It started out a bit slow, but I now understand that the author was setting the stage, building the plot and the characters. I honestly don't really know where to start, there was so much in this book. I was so torn between Alex and Jason. Oh my the tears I shed when the decision was made for her. Oh how I fell in love with Alex and my heart sadden for all he lost and what was in his reach, but really wasn't. Their "first" kiss was electrifying.

This book was emotional charged, I cheered, I laughed and cried. I loved the discovery period between Jason and Dani. I loved the relationship and honest conversation Dani had with her daughter, Riley. You don't want to miss Miss Olivia, she is a hoot! This story touched a upon "bullying", being an outsider, about love lost and love found and finally acceptance.

"One single perfect white rose, lying in front of the cake. Jason is the second and greatest love of my life, my future, my best friend.
He's my everything now. Alex gave me that gift."

I hope I did this book justice in my review. I almost cried writing this, remembering all the potent scenes between the characters. I quite honestly will read this again, it is a must read book. Bravo to Sharla Lovelace for having a hit with this one!! All I can say is follow the tour, know that I am not along with my thoughts and buy the book when it is available. I debated between a 4.5 and a 5, in the end it deserved all 5 hearts!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very engaging read! May 1, 2012

By Deborah L Scalf

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I love it when I begin a book then just can't put it down! Sharla Lovelace's writing style is very engaging and just draws you into the lives of her characters. She has a wonderful descriptive talent without going overboard--the town and people truly come to life as you progress through the story. I look forward to future books written by this new author!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful women's fiction April 24, 2012

By Maria E. Geraci

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Single mom Dani returns to her hometown of Bethany, Texas after losing her corporate job in Dallas, a fact her sixteen year old daughter Riley isn't too thrilled with. Dani moves in with her father and takes a job at the local bait store. If that doesn't sound dismal enough, Dani's past comes back to haunt her. Literally. Dani sees ghosts. She talks to them too. And they talk back.

Growing up, Dani was an outsider. Now, at 40, she's still an outsider. Her best friend, Alex, is a ghost who's been dead for 40 years. Dani first began seeing Alex when she was a teenager. Their relationship is sweet and sexy and mysterious. Things get complicated when Dani realizes that her teenage daughter can see ghosts too. Plus, there's a budding romance with a real flesh and blood living man--Dani's boss, Jason, who's got some baggage of his own.

I absolutely loved this novel. I especially loved the scenes between Dani and Riley, which feel so real. The ending had me sniffling, but was totally satisfying!