The Reason is You Tour ~ Interview, Review and Giveaway ~Sharla Lovelace

Today, I am welcoming Sharla Lovelace, the author of The Reason is You,  a contemporary romance with a paranormal twist,  which releases today from Berkley Publishing. Sharla is touring blogs promoting her book, the tour will run from April 2 - 20, 2012.

Along with the interview and review, you will also have a chance to win  a $20 Amazon or BN gift certificate, see below for details.

FBL ♥:Tell us a little about what it means being a character driven author. How did you meet Dani and know she was the “one”.
All I knew about this story WAS Dani. My characters typically come to me, and she came and hung out with me for probably 6 months before I actually wrote a word about her. I knew her name was Dani Shane, and that she was tired. She was driving down an interstate in an old car with no air conditioning, trying to figure out what she was going to do next, and her teenage daughter wasn’t making it easier. Everything else came afterward.

FBL ♥: How did you find your originality in your writing?
I’m not sure. LOL. I’ve always been a little snarky, and I watch WAY TOO MUCH television. Maybe that’s where my style came from.

FBL ♥: What books are on your nightstand, waiting to be read?

Actually, they’re in my Nook, and I can’t even begin to name them all. When I’m writing, I don’t read much, so I try to cram them all in between. I read Karen White’s THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET and I still need to read the next two in the series. I started THE HELP, then saw the movie, so that kind of took my motivation away to finish it. I have Roni Loren’s debut CRASH INTO YOU in there and Jennifer Weiner’s BEST FRIENDS FOREVER and THEN CAME YOU that are calling to me. And Sophie Kinsella’s new one I’VE GOT YOUR NUMBER is a must.

FBL ♥: If you were writing a book about your life, what would the title be?
IN NEED OF A CLONE

FBL ♥:I read you have a fear of tall bridges. Will you tell us more about how that came about.
My mom did it to me. LOL. Just kidding. I have no idea why I’m crazy like that. I can be the passenger and be okay. But if I’m driving…and one of those springs up…blood leaves my hands and feet…and head. Anxiety attack from hell. I’ll plan my routes around big bridges for that reason. Maybe I was thrown from one in a previous life….hmmm, there’s a thought.

FBL ♥: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? *Without giving SPOILERS* 
Probably the beginning, because of the rekindled flirting between Dani and Alex. Before things get heavy.

FBL ♥:How did you come up with the title?
It was a three-way email bounce among myself, my agent, and my editor. It was originally “Seeing Alex” as a working title, then my agent renamed it for submission, then my new editor wanted it renamed again. Took a week or so of bouncing ideas around, but then THE REASON IS YOU came from an actual line toward the end. We all jumped on it.

FBL ♥: Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Thank you!!!! To everyone who takes the time and the money to buy my book and put themselves in a story with Dani, follow her around with all the crazy stuff going on in her life…thank you so much!!! I hope you enjoy it! And if you’d like a signed bookplate to go inside it, see my website contact info to request one!

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-A-Million ~ Powells Books ~ The Book Depository

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 former 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...

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!!

My Rating:

                  

Sharla 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 by the Neches River 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. THE REASON IS YOU is her debut novel.

When she's not writing, doing the day job, or doing the family thing, she's stalking her Twitter feed.

Sharla can be found at:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads

Sharla will be giving away a $20 Amazon or BN gift certificate to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.  So please take a few moments and comment below. You can increase your chances of winning by visiting the other blogs on the tour and leaving a comment.