Book Review: Perfect Timing

Author: Laura Spinella
Publication Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade

What’s a Jersey Girl to do when she moves to Catswallow, Alabama? Isabel Lang finds the answer in an unlikely bond with the musically gifted Aidan Roycroft. The two share everything from a first kiss to startling family secrets. But when Aidan is accused of a violent crime, the two flee to Las Vegas where Isabel’s future comes tumbling down.

Seven years later, the past is buried, including any relationship with Aidan. Isabel is busy running a radio station and closing in on commitment with Nate Potter, a guy who defines ideal. Life seems cozy until new station management demands a sudden-death ratings grabber, putting everyone’s future on the line. What should be a simple solution leads to a stunning revelation as Isabel is forced to call on the past and the only rock star she knows.

She supposed love could have that effect – leaving a huge margin for error.

In most Southern-set movies and almost all novels, the courthouse sat opposite the jailhouse. She guessed it was a cliché derived from fact.

He tucked his hair back on the other side, making solid eye contact, never having felt so sure about anything. “I’m interested in the chapel. Marry me, Isabel.”

Isabel Lang works at a radio station, and has just received news that her ratings are suffering and she needs something huge to save the station and bring the ratings up once and for all. Aidan Roycroft is a boy and a rock star from her past, whom she does not wish to see again for various reasons. But Isabel realizes that her job is more important than any stinging memories from the past and decides to give Aidan a call. Although, Isabel may not be as ready as she thought to face her past and her lost relationship with Aidan again.

I loved the fact that the relationship between Isabel and Aidan was grounded in the past and readers needed knowledge of their past together to understand that. Their past and the situations and circumstances they dealt with were truly heartbreaking, but seeing them rise out of that and break through it all was really powerful. I loved the flashbacks and being able to witness firsthand how much Aidan and Isabel had actually grown as characters and people throughout the story.

Spinella has a perfected her craft when it comes to writing flashbacks, heartbreaking scenes, powerful dialogue, and sturdy characters. I was so lost in the language of this book, but in the best way possible. It was all so mesmerizing. When an author can write as well as Spinella did in this book, you know they will be able to write about anything. This book touches on some very heart wrenching issues and does talk about rape, a topic which I will never choose to read about purposefully. Spinella has not written this book in an uncomfortable manner, but rather so that we readers can truly experience and understand why Aidan and Isabel feel for each other and about their past.

***A copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Berkley Trade in exchange for my honest review***