Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Guest Book Review and Giveaway: The Curl Up & Dye

By Connie Fischer

**Giveaway is now closed**

LilyAnn Bronte is a sweet, young woman who goes through life on autopilot. She has spent all of her life in the small town of Blessings, Georgia, where everyone knows everyone else. When she was in high school, she was the most intelligent, lovely, and popular girl and with her equally popular, steady boyfriend, Randy, her future looked bright. However, after the horrific events on September 11, 2001, Randy was one of the first to sign up to go to Afghanistan. Sadly, a month later he returned - in a casket. For years, LilyAnn mourned him, wearing black and making daily treks to his grave.

 Today, she works as a clerk in the local pharmacy and lives alone in the house she grew up in. Her Mama and step-father have moved to another city. Her routine is always the same with the one bright spot of the week being getting her hair done on Fridays at The Curl Up & Dye Salon. The gals who work there are great friends and a lot of fun. They always seem to have their fingers on the pulse of the gossip in town as well.

Next door to LilyAnn lives Mike Dalton. He and LilyAnn has been friends since childhood. His parents have also moved away leaving him to live alone in his home. Mike has always loved LilyAnn but she only looks upon him as a friend. It saddens him to see that she has gained weight and doesn't seem to care much about her appearance.

Enter bad guy, T.J. Lachlan. New to town, he is a cocky, self-assured jerk who thinks he can woo all of the women around and take advantage of them. Surprised and pleased that she can still attract men, LilyAnn decides it's time she looks into getting a makeover to bring her out of her funk and to improve her own self esteem. When T.J. tries to "hit" on LilyAnn and she ignores him, he is furious and out for revenge. What happens next is shocking.

There are lots of great characters in this book with all kinds of local gossip. I laughed and I had tears in my eyes as I read this book and could not put it down until I had finished it in one day. Don't think that this book is a just another gentle, small town story. There are some events that will show you otherwise. I'm betting readers will be telling their friends that The Curl Up & Dye is one they really need to read….just like I'm telling you.

Connie Fischer is a retired office manager from NASA. Loved books from the time she could read. Spent childhood summers in her front yard tree reading Nancy Drew books and biographies. Loves historical and contemporary romance novels, chick lit and anything British. Is a reviewer for the blog, bookworm2bookworm. Her goal for 2013 on Goodreads is to read and review 100 books and she's way ahead of schedule. Lived in Paris, France for a number of years. Living now in southwest Florida. Ahhh...life is good!

Thanks to Sourcebooks for the book in exchange for an honest review. They have one copy for a lucky reader in the US or Canada!

How to win:
Please tell us about the bright spot in your week or something you look forward to doing each week.

One entry per person.

Please include your e-mail address or another way to reach you if you win. Entries without contact information will NOT be counted.

US/Canada only. Giveaway ends February 24th at midnight EST.

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30 comments:

K said...

Making right decisions with my diet :) (merzibz@hotmail.com)

Kim V said...

I look forward to getting the kids off to school and finishing my daily tasks so that I can have my afternoons free to read.
K3kdpv@gmail.com

Ro said...

Having my granddaughter over every Wednesday.

Kritters Ramblings said...

My husband works most Friday nights, so I love to get home from work and do some cleaning and curl up in a quiet house with a book!

kdurham2@gmail.com

Mrs Mommy Booknerd said...

Helping in my kids classes weekly...love seeing what they do all day and watching them love learning!

Nova said...

I love to take one evening a week after dinner and watch a "girl" movie in my bedroom; complete with snacks & drink. My sons are usually in their room or downstairs, so i can watch my chick flick in private.
sparkle40175 AT hotmail DOT com

Jessica said...

Definitely going to my favorite spin classes and then hitting Starbucks after. =]

Thanks!
-Jessica M
walkingcorpse11@hotmail.com

StephTheBookworm said...

My favorite part of the week is spending time with my husband on weekends because he works the night shift during the week and I work days so we don't see each other.

Stephaniet117 at Yahoo dot com

Janine said...

I have many bright spots this week. one is this fabulous weather we are having right now.

kinini01@hotmail.com

rhonda said...

My husband &hi are lucky enough to have lunch together everyday really special. Lomazowr@gmail.com

Bonnie K. said...

I look forward to the weekend when my husband is not working.

bluedawn95864 at gmail dot com

Rita Wray said...

I look forward to seeing my grandkids every week. They always put a smile on my face.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Glenda said...

Having time to read at the end of the day.... Maybe more time on my days off.

jodi marinich said...

love the title jmarinich33@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

My bright spot this week is going to lunch with my sister tomorrow.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

bn100 said...

look forward to Sunday dinners

bn100candg at hotmail dot com

Stephanie said...

I look forward to having the weekend off.

skk25@aol.com

Lisamarie said...

I am looking forward to a Wine Tasting Event with my Sister-in-Laws on Sunday.

tropicalsunlover05(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I work nights so I don't often get to put my kids to bed so on at least one of my nights off we curl up in my bed to read stories together. I LOVE it! I don't know what I'll do when they tell me their too big for bedtime stories and cuddle time.

Christi
monsterhead01(at)Comcast(dot)net

susieqlaw said...

I love talking to my niece!

sendsusanmail at gmail dot come

rubynreba said...

Having a play date today with my 3 year old grandson has been fabulous!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Jennifer L. said...

I went skating with my son today. It was so much fun.

Anonymous said...

Mondays I usually get a phone call from my daughter, my only child, who lives out of state with her husband and my grand-dog.
(judyinazusa@yahoo.com)

Jennifer Huelsebusch said...

My bright spot is my day off!!

Jhuelsebusch@sbcglobal.net

Jeryl M. said...

I look forward to hanging out with my family on the weekend.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Terri. said...

My favorite part is being with family.

Anonymous said...

I always look forward to Saturday and having time with my daughter and grandkids.

Ann Ellison
abilene_nana@yahoo.com

Ro said...

Picking up my granddaughter from school and spending the afternoon with her. I think of nothing else,no worries etc, but play with her.

Unknown said...

My bright spot this week is going to MOPS and spending time with other mothers of toddlers and preschoolers!

bjoneill@hotmail.com

Melissa said...

Thanks to everyone for participating and sharing the bright spots in your week. The bright spot in my week is Shabbat because I get to unplug for a while and read a lot. :) This week, it's extra special because it's also my daughter's birthday!

Thanks to Sourcebooks for sharing the book with our winner.

Random.org chose one winner from all entries with contact info (one entry per person).

Congrats to Jennifer Huelsebusch!