Unstrung

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Published by: Montlake Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2017
Pages: 402
ISBN13: 978-1503937352

 

Synopsis

Publishers Weekly—a top pick for spring, starred review

Even as a violin prodigy, Olivia Klein courted trouble. But when her volatile marriage to high-stakes investor, Rob Van Doren, takes another wrong turn, Olivia acts out once too often. A night of bad behavior results in community service hours. Time is to be served with Theo McAdams—a music teacher with whom Olivia forms an unlikely bond. As she inches toward a better place, even hopeful that her marriage will survive, life surprises Olivia in the form of her first husband.

Years ago, while wearing out her welcome at her last college stop, Olivia fell in love with Sam Nash. Their impulsive marriage came to an abrupt end after a fateful car crash and harsh parting words. Olivia never expected to see him again, especially when Sam moved on to find fame as a pro baseball icon.

But now Sam Nash is back, and he wants her forgiveness. He also wants to recapture the love affair they gave up on years ago. Olivia is torn between reinventing romance and saving her marriage. To her surprise, it's the presence of a young music teacher—and the lessons from a reckless past—that may bring harmony to Olivia’s off-key life.

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Praise

"In Spinella’s wrenching tale of love and loss, one woman must come to terms with her past and the decisions that have shaped her life. Spinella has filled her incredibly emotional novel with multifaceted characters, and nothing is as simple as it seems in this true page-turner."
Publishers Weekly, starred review Read the review

Publishers Weekly chooses Unstrung as an overall most notable and anticipated books for spring! Read More 

Publishers Weekly chooses Unstrung as Top Ten Romance book for spring 2017!  Read More

Travelling Book Junkie names Unstrung to their most anticipated books for February 2017! Read More

"As the reader gets deeper into the story they discover Olivia’s life appears to be one thing on the surface, but like a Russian nesting doll there are secrets hidden beneath the layers... I can say I would certainly read another of Ms. Spinella’s books.  She has a terrific wit, and creates dialogue that sets the tone and gives breath to each character... I’m always amazed when I read a work of fiction where the author has created a world that comes to life, a living drama before my eyes.  Those are the best kinds of reads.  That’s what this author has accomplished with “Unstrung.
—Romance Dish Read More

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Excerpt

Chapter One

Suffolk County Court
Boston, Massachusetts

Olivia

Sasha nudges me. Not only am I to move my head—propped on ink-stained fingers—I’m to stand. Following her lead, I rise and squint at the judge, a dour looking man cloaked in black. He moves with condemning authority. My hazy gaze registers pilgrim.
Burn the witch!

It reverberates across three-hundred years and into this modern-day courtroom. A baritone voice announces Judge Nicholson. Gravity dominates and I begin a slow sink into the chair. Sasha grabs my arm. “No, no… no, Liv. Don’t sit.” I’ve never noticed the grating tone of Sasha’s voice—a woefully out of tune E-string. Slapping my hands on the table, I thrust upward. Good thing the fingers are insured. I jerk my arm from Sasha’s grip. I need legal counsel, not corporeal support. I can stand on my own two feet. I’ve been doing so for forty-six years. The judge hammers his gavel like a blacksmith on steroids. Mercy would be a direct hit to the head.

“Could you please not do that?” I ask.

“Pardon?” His eyes match all his narrowness.

“The gavel—must you? I’m erect. What more do want?”

“Miss Pease,” he says, addressing my best friend, who at the moment is dressed as my attorney. “The Starbucks your client frequents may not have opened yet, but even at this early hour she continues to test the law.” He glances at some papers. “Disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, criminal mischief, resisting arrest. It will pale compared to the charges she’s already facing, but if she likes, I have no issue adding contempt to the list.”

“Absolutely not, Your Honor. Our apologies to the court. Mrs. Van Doren has had an incredibly upsetting night.”

“Pfft... ” I breathe, stealing a backward glance at Rob, who is the lone spectator in the galley. “The only incredibly upsetting part is that I didn’t smash the taillights on his Porsche before the cops showed up.”

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