You and Only You

Written by Sharon Sala

Narrated by Amy Rubinate

Mike Dalton has secretly loved LilyAnn Bronte since they were children together in the small town of Blessings, Georgia. But one fateful day T. J. Lachlan roars into town and starts showering LilyAnn with his charm, and Mike feels his dream of them being more than friends slipping away.

LilyAnn, as anyone in Blessings will tell you, let herself go after her fiance was killed in Iraq. The attention of the handsome new guy shocks her into a revelation: She's ready to live again, and maybe the best is yet to come. The thing is, everybody in Blessings is sure that it's Mike and LilyAnn who belong together, and they're willing to do whatever it takes to make LilyAnn realize that the love of her life has been by her side all along.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781494586683

Sharon Sala

Sharon Sala is a member of RWA and OKRWA with 115 books in Young Adult, Western, Fiction, Women's Fiction, and non-fiction. RITA finalist 8 times, won Janet Dailey Award, Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine 5 times, Winner of the National Reader's Choice Award 5 times, winner of the Colorado Romance Writer's Award 5 times, Heart of Excellence award, Booksellers Best Award. Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Centennial Award for 100th published novel.

Reviews for You and Only You

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

Sharon Sala's newest release, The Curl Up and Dye, is an emotional journey for LilyAnn Bronte as she finally lets go of her grief and unexpectedly discovers love. This heartwarming novel has plenty of sass and down home Southern charm, but it is the warm and caring cast of characters that make it such an outstanding read.

The sound of a hot rod pickup truck is what finally shakes LilyAnn out of the haze she has been living in for eleven long years. This former Miss Peachy-Keen Queen has been mired in grief and living in the past so long she barely recognizes the out of shape and uninspiring woman she has become. A fleeting attraction to the driver of that souped up truck inspires LilyAnn to get out of her rut, get into shape and begin living in the here and now. Stunned by the unexpected reaction of her best friend and next door neighbor, Mike Dalton, LilyAnn has a few more lessons to learn before she can finally see what has been in front of her all along.

Aiding LilyAnn and Mike in traversing their evolving relationship is a cast of lively and eclectic characters. Their biggest supporter is the indomitable Ruby Dye, owner of the local beauty shop. Her well-intentioned meddling leads to unexpected consequences for their rapidly deteriorating relationship. However it does force LilyAnn to see Mike in a whole new light. Unfortunately, Mike stubbornly resists LilyAnn's efforts to make peace and in doing so, he unwittingly puts not only their future, but LilyAnn, in danger.

Sharon Sala's The Curl Up and Dye is an entertaining novel that has a engaging cast of characters and an eminently appealing setting. The storyline is sweet but there is just enough drama to keep it interesting and unpredictable. Definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys homespun stories with plucky, courageous heroines and adorable, affable heroes.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

LilyAnn Bronte was once the envy of her high school classmates. Sweet, popular and beautiful she was valedictorian, head cheerleader, crowned ‘Miss Peachy-Keen Queen’ and dating star quarterback, Randy Joe. But then Randy was killed in Afghanistan, having enlisted after the tragedy of 9/11, and LilyAnn’s blessed life fell apart. Grieving for her fiance, she withdrew and ten years later she is overweight, out of shape and alone, still visiting Randy’s grave every week. Its the arrival of a handsome stranger in town that finally inspires LilyAnne to reinvent herself, unaware that his notice is not something you would want.While a large part of this story is about LilyAnne’s efforts to rebuild her life, the focus is firmly on the romance between LilyAnne and her neighbour, Mike Dalton. Having been in love with LilyAnne since the tenth grade, Mike is hoping that the changes she is making will include the way she sees him, but she remains largely oblivious until Ruby, the owner of the Curl Up and Dye Salon, chooses to give them both a little push. The development of their romance is beset by miscommunication, misguided attempts at provoking jealousy and the misinterpretation of intentions, and though a happy ending is never really in any doubt, it is satisfying when LilyAnne and Mike finally get it together.What did surprise me was the subplot involving the stranger, T.J. who proves to be a nasty piece of work. I really wasn’t expecting some of the violence that occurs during the course of the novel, and it may be confronting for some readers caught unawares.To offset the drama there is humour and southern snark, quirky characters and a charming small town atmosphere. The Curl Up and Dye beauty salon is the place to which all the characters gravitate, best introduced in Sala’s prequel novella, Color Me Bad, in which LilyAnne briefly appears.The Curl Up and Dye is a quick, engaging read blending romance, drama and humour. Well known for her romantic suspense fiction, Sharon Sala is sure to pick up some new fans with her foray into southern fiction who will be looking forward to revisiting Blessings as the series progresses.