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The Year of Loving
Art gallerist Sarah Paige’s world is crumbling. One daughter barely speaks to her and the other is off the rails. Sarah is struggling to keep her gallery afloat in a tough market when she learns that her most beloved friend has cancer. In the midst of her second divorce, two men come into her life: an older man who offers companionship and stability and an exciting younger man whose life is as chaotic as hers.
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
- GenresFiction
430 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2016
3 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Traci L. Slatton
17 books244 followersTraci L. Slatton, author of FALLEN and COLD LIGHT, is a graduate of Yale (84) and Columbia (88). She lives in Manhattan, and her love for Renaissance Italy inspired her historical novel IMMORTAL and her contemporary vampire art history mystery THE BOTTICELLI AFFAIR. FALLEN is the first in a romantic trilogy set during the end times; COLD LIGHT and FAR SHORE further the dystopian tale. DANCING IN THE TABERNACLE is her first book of poetry. She also wrote a sculpture book, THE ART OF LIFE, with her husband. THE LOVE OF MY (OTHER) LIFE is a bittersweet rom-com that addresses the question: What worlds would you move to be with your soulmate?
Her latest book is a manual for do-it-yourselfers entitled HOW TO WRITE, PUBLISH, AND MARKET YOUR BOOK YOURSELF, A Manual for the courageous and persistent.
For more information please visit http://www.tracilslatton.com
Her latest book is a manual for do-it-yourselfers entitled HOW TO WRITE, PUBLISH, AND MARKET YOUR BOOK YOURSELF, A Manual for the courageous and persistent.
For more information please visit http://www.tracilslatton.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 11, 2016
Her world was crumbling ~ She was drowning in emotional chaos
Traci L. Slatton is offering TWO eCopies of this powerful MUST READ
Click on Banner to enter!
In two words I can give my recommendation of Traci L. Slatton’s The Year of Loving, READ IT!
In today’s society life comes at us from all angles at a rapid-fire pace, good or bad and there comes a time when one doesn’t know how much more they can take. That time has come for Sarah Paige and she is struggling to regain her sense of balance, self-worth and to find a place to heal and feel good about herself. Divorced almost twice, a mother of two, a business owner barely staying afloat, Sarah is caught in an emotional threshing machine as her embittered ex-husband does all he can to undermine her relationship with her daughters, turning them against her with his lavish gifts and endless bankroll. When her best friend further shatters the fragile hold she has on life, all Sarah has left is the tenuous hold she has on controlling her own life.
Two men want Sarah, one is far too young, self-absorbed in his own life, one is older, powerful and used to taking control of every situation. While both have their good sides, Sarah is not ready to commit to anyone until she can rein in her own personal issues. For anyone who has ever felt like it is you against the world, like your heart is being stabbed repeatedly with a rusty blade or like a cockroach under someone’s shoe, you will relate to Sarah in all her flawed glory.
Traci L. Slatton has NOT created a Shrinking Violet in Sarah, or a woman who spends her energy wallowing in self-pity. Sarah is a strong woman, vital and oh my, her wickedly wry sense of humor is priceless! Her headstrong determination sometimes is her worst enemy, but hey, no one is perfect. I almost needed a leather strap to bite on when she tangled with her daughters and their callous attitudes when her concern WAS to be a good parent who tried to set high standards for them, knowing she was powerless to help them see that her boundaries were far healthier than their father’s “gifts.” Another connecting point for so many. Love her, hate her, Sarah is real, she feels, she tries to do what is right, no matter what, but she is a woman alone and she recognizes that, too, no excuses, no apologies.
If you are looking for a meaningful read that feels so very real, look to Traci L. Slatton’s The Year of Loving and feel the power in the words she has written for today’s society. Definitely a Gem to be read and felt!
I received this copy from Traci L. Slatton in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Parvati Press (October 10, 2016)
Publication Date: October 10, 2016
Genre: Women's Literature - Contemporary
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Traci L. Slatton is offering TWO eCopies of this powerful MUST READ
Click on Banner to enter!
In two words I can give my recommendation of Traci L. Slatton’s The Year of Loving, READ IT!
In today’s society life comes at us from all angles at a rapid-fire pace, good or bad and there comes a time when one doesn’t know how much more they can take. That time has come for Sarah Paige and she is struggling to regain her sense of balance, self-worth and to find a place to heal and feel good about herself. Divorced almost twice, a mother of two, a business owner barely staying afloat, Sarah is caught in an emotional threshing machine as her embittered ex-husband does all he can to undermine her relationship with her daughters, turning them against her with his lavish gifts and endless bankroll. When her best friend further shatters the fragile hold she has on life, all Sarah has left is the tenuous hold she has on controlling her own life.
Two men want Sarah, one is far too young, self-absorbed in his own life, one is older, powerful and used to taking control of every situation. While both have their good sides, Sarah is not ready to commit to anyone until she can rein in her own personal issues. For anyone who has ever felt like it is you against the world, like your heart is being stabbed repeatedly with a rusty blade or like a cockroach under someone’s shoe, you will relate to Sarah in all her flawed glory.
Traci L. Slatton has NOT created a Shrinking Violet in Sarah, or a woman who spends her energy wallowing in self-pity. Sarah is a strong woman, vital and oh my, her wickedly wry sense of humor is priceless! Her headstrong determination sometimes is her worst enemy, but hey, no one is perfect. I almost needed a leather strap to bite on when she tangled with her daughters and their callous attitudes when her concern WAS to be a good parent who tried to set high standards for them, knowing she was powerless to help them see that her boundaries were far healthier than their father’s “gifts.” Another connecting point for so many. Love her, hate her, Sarah is real, she feels, she tries to do what is right, no matter what, but she is a woman alone and she recognizes that, too, no excuses, no apologies.
If you are looking for a meaningful read that feels so very real, look to Traci L. Slatton’s The Year of Loving and feel the power in the words she has written for today’s society. Definitely a Gem to be read and felt!
I received this copy from Traci L. Slatton in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Parvati Press (October 10, 2016)
Publication Date: October 10, 2016
Genre: Women's Literature - Contemporary
Print Length: 432 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 21, 2016
4 stars
About the book: Release Date October 10, 2016
Art gallerist Sarah Paige’s world is crumbling. One daughter barely speaks to her and the other is off the rails. Sarah is struggling to keep her gallery afloat in a tough market when she learns that her most beloved friend has cancer. In the midst of her second divorce, two men come into her life: an older man who offers companionship and stability and an exciting younger man whose life is as chaotic as hers.
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
•••••
REVIEW: THE YEAR OF LOVING by Traci L. Slatton is a contemporary, adult, romance story line about one woman’s struggle in both her personal and professional life. Mother of two, twice divorced art gallerist Sarah Paige has a toxic relationship with her daughters thanks to their father-a man who uses his money and family name to destroy the relationship between the girls and their mom.
Sarah Paige is a forty-something, fiercely independent woman struggling against professional and personal bankruptcy, in the midst of her second divorce, the continued and complicated estrangement from her daughters, and the difficult acceptance of her best friend’s cancer diagnosis. To complicate matters Sarah finds herself attracted to and drawn towards two men each offering something different but wanting a relationship with our story line heroine. What Sarah offers to each man does not allow for any permanency –she is unwilling to give up control over any aspect of her life.
THE YEAR OF LOVING focuses on one woman’s difficult battle with the world around her. The hardships of a struggling business, and wanting to remain independent juxtaposed to a series of misfortunes and personal failure. Sarah is a woman with a vulnerable side that forces our heroine to lash out and alienate the people she loves, as she attempts to reconcile the conflicts in her life. Some times the best action is to walk away and start over.
THE YEAR OF LOVING is a story of hardships and struggles; embittered exes, and troubled and rebellious teens caught between the destructive nature of battling parents. Traci L. Slatton writes a tale of one woman’s emotional journey into the abyss of relationship failure, financial strain, and an independent nature that comes across as complicated and unrelenting. The premise is intense; the characters are controversial and tragic. There are moments of heartbreak and grief; acceptance and moving forward; falling in love and letting go of the past. THE YEAR OF LOVING is a revealing, realistic and sensitive story with a passionate heroine whose life is slowly unraveling.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
About the book: Release Date October 10, 2016
Art gallerist Sarah Paige’s world is crumbling. One daughter barely speaks to her and the other is off the rails. Sarah is struggling to keep her gallery afloat in a tough market when she learns that her most beloved friend has cancer. In the midst of her second divorce, two men come into her life: an older man who offers companionship and stability and an exciting younger man whose life is as chaotic as hers.
Sarah’s courage, humor, and spirit strengthen her, but how much can she bear, and what sustains her when all else falls away?
•••••
REVIEW: THE YEAR OF LOVING by Traci L. Slatton is a contemporary, adult, romance story line about one woman’s struggle in both her personal and professional life. Mother of two, twice divorced art gallerist Sarah Paige has a toxic relationship with her daughters thanks to their father-a man who uses his money and family name to destroy the relationship between the girls and their mom.
Sarah Paige is a forty-something, fiercely independent woman struggling against professional and personal bankruptcy, in the midst of her second divorce, the continued and complicated estrangement from her daughters, and the difficult acceptance of her best friend’s cancer diagnosis. To complicate matters Sarah finds herself attracted to and drawn towards two men each offering something different but wanting a relationship with our story line heroine. What Sarah offers to each man does not allow for any permanency –she is unwilling to give up control over any aspect of her life.
THE YEAR OF LOVING focuses on one woman’s difficult battle with the world around her. The hardships of a struggling business, and wanting to remain independent juxtaposed to a series of misfortunes and personal failure. Sarah is a woman with a vulnerable side that forces our heroine to lash out and alienate the people she loves, as she attempts to reconcile the conflicts in her life. Some times the best action is to walk away and start over.
THE YEAR OF LOVING is a story of hardships and struggles; embittered exes, and troubled and rebellious teens caught between the destructive nature of battling parents. Traci L. Slatton writes a tale of one woman’s emotional journey into the abyss of relationship failure, financial strain, and an independent nature that comes across as complicated and unrelenting. The premise is intense; the characters are controversial and tragic. There are moments of heartbreak and grief; acceptance and moving forward; falling in love and letting go of the past. THE YEAR OF LOVING is a revealing, realistic and sensitive story with a passionate heroine whose life is slowly unraveling.
Copy supplied for review
www.thereadingcafe.com
March 23, 2017
#FirstLine ~ In the beginning, there was my bohemian poet mom and square attorney dad, who met at a concert and shared only three interests in common: rock and roll, Renaissance art, and me, Sarah Melissa Paige conceived in the backseat of a Chevy Impala to the strains of Deep Purple.
This book is a realistic romance that will have you guessing and touches on many areas...love, motherhood, life, struggle, romance, friendship, betrayal and so much more. The main character is raw and harsh, but also funny and smart. This book is one that romance readers will certainly enjoy.
November 25, 2016
MY THOUGHTS
This book is a romantic adult book. The main character is a divorced, not once but twice, woman who has an art gallery. She has two children of which her relationships are not good. One barely speaks to her and the other is, lets say, way out there. She is struggling with her art gallery and also with her personal life. A lot of her bad relationships with her two girls is due to their father. He has money and also the name to go with it. He uses this to keep the rift going between his ex-wife and his two girls. Probably a lot of divorced women feel this today. Being in her forties, Sarah is strong and doesn't rely on anyone. As if this wasn't enough to keep her life dangling, she finds out her best friend has cancer. She is having trouble accepting this. She has a tendency to keep people at a distance. I don't know if that is to keep from getting hurt further or why? The author gives examples of every day events that a woman deals with, or tries to deal with. On top of this there are two men she has taken a fancy to. Two very different men. Both are interested in Sarah but both have different things to offer her. She doesn't want a man to control her or her life. She just isn't willing to let go of the one thing she has, independence. Emotions will ride high as the reader turns the pages. Can Sarah let herself fall in love, move onward and let go, let go of the past that haunts her everyday. The author gives a story of everyday, realistic life where sometimes struggles get the best of us and we push those that love us away. Real life, real problems, that's what this book is about. Sometimes you just do your best, but sometimes your best isn't good enough. Sometimes it takes, never looking back and starting over. Those t hat have gone through a divorce, have teenagers, a business and are struggling to keep it all together may relate to this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Word Slinger Publicity and voluntarily decided to review it.
This book is a romantic adult book. The main character is a divorced, not once but twice, woman who has an art gallery. She has two children of which her relationships are not good. One barely speaks to her and the other is, lets say, way out there. She is struggling with her art gallery and also with her personal life. A lot of her bad relationships with her two girls is due to their father. He has money and also the name to go with it. He uses this to keep the rift going between his ex-wife and his two girls. Probably a lot of divorced women feel this today. Being in her forties, Sarah is strong and doesn't rely on anyone. As if this wasn't enough to keep her life dangling, she finds out her best friend has cancer. She is having trouble accepting this. She has a tendency to keep people at a distance. I don't know if that is to keep from getting hurt further or why? The author gives examples of every day events that a woman deals with, or tries to deal with. On top of this there are two men she has taken a fancy to. Two very different men. Both are interested in Sarah but both have different things to offer her. She doesn't want a man to control her or her life. She just isn't willing to let go of the one thing she has, independence. Emotions will ride high as the reader turns the pages. Can Sarah let herself fall in love, move onward and let go, let go of the past that haunts her everyday. The author gives a story of everyday, realistic life where sometimes struggles get the best of us and we push those that love us away. Real life, real problems, that's what this book is about. Sometimes you just do your best, but sometimes your best isn't good enough. Sometimes it takes, never looking back and starting over. Those t hat have gone through a divorce, have teenagers, a business and are struggling to keep it all together may relate to this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and Word Slinger Publicity and voluntarily decided to review it.
November 11, 2016
Great book with a main character that I'm not sure how she keeps going. A few time in this story I was waiting for her to give up, I think most people would with everything she was dealing with. I liked how the author kept me wondering what now!! Boy she didn't let me down either. This book has great ups and big downs and yes I cried a few times. The author makes this like a friend that you taking with and helping on this path. Great story!!
March 24, 2017
"As always, I enjoy when the characters are flawed and make mistakes like the rest of us. The protagonist, Sarah, has had quite a few doosies in her life and will probably make more, although she does grow and become a better version of herself throughout the pages. Dr. Scott kind of irked me a few times with his assumptions and favors..."
Read the entire review here: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
"Copyright Night Owl Reviews".
Read the entire review here: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
"Copyright Night Owl Reviews".
November 18, 2016
Sarah Paige has done her best to keep her world together. Everywhere she goes, another piece of her existence crumbles. It pains her to know that she and her children aren't as close as they should be. Though she'd like to change that fact, she's not quite sure how she should go about it. Determined to hold on to the little she has left, she'll do everything possible to maintain her sanity. Little does she know just how much her life will continue to change.
A bittersweet, yet heartwarming story, we get to see just how much Sarah changes and grows throughout the course of her existence. She's a woman who's endured so much. A woman who feels like she's floundering in a dark abyss. She wants to change things, not only for herself, but those around her. At times, she feels like she'll never get to where she wants to be. She's used to being very independent, hating the fact that she sometimes needs to rely on others. Nevertheless, she ends up finding the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
Traci has written a story that anyone can relate to. It's a story of a woman's struggle to overcome the adversities in her life. Granted, not everything is as easy as they may seem, but Sarah makes do with the cards she's been dealt. She'll lash out often, of course, but that's the beauty of trying to start life over again. She gets to choose the path she wants to walk on and live life her way no matter how hard it may seem.
This is one of those books that make you feel things from the moment you start reading. Sarah finds herself in situations that a good many in this life have gone through. Everything she experiences are vividly shown, allowing the reader to relate to her experiences. Life is hard, but every goal we set for ourselves is achievable. This is something the author shows us the more we progress through the story. I like the way Sarah chooses to assert herself instead of drowning in her sorrow. Little by little, she finds her way again despite the odds. Her strength and courage come through clearly, allowing the reader to understand the choices she makes every step of the way.
A bittersweet, yet heartwarming story, we get to see just how much Sarah changes and grows throughout the course of her existence. She's a woman who's endured so much. A woman who feels like she's floundering in a dark abyss. She wants to change things, not only for herself, but those around her. At times, she feels like she'll never get to where she wants to be. She's used to being very independent, hating the fact that she sometimes needs to rely on others. Nevertheless, she ends up finding the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
Traci has written a story that anyone can relate to. It's a story of a woman's struggle to overcome the adversities in her life. Granted, not everything is as easy as they may seem, but Sarah makes do with the cards she's been dealt. She'll lash out often, of course, but that's the beauty of trying to start life over again. She gets to choose the path she wants to walk on and live life her way no matter how hard it may seem.
This is one of those books that make you feel things from the moment you start reading. Sarah finds herself in situations that a good many in this life have gone through. Everything she experiences are vividly shown, allowing the reader to relate to her experiences. Life is hard, but every goal we set for ourselves is achievable. This is something the author shows us the more we progress through the story. I like the way Sarah chooses to assert herself instead of drowning in her sorrow. Little by little, she finds her way again despite the odds. Her strength and courage come through clearly, allowing the reader to understand the choices she makes every step of the way.
December 10, 2016
Sarah's personal life is unwinding: her art gallery is struggling to stay solvent in a tough market, her parents are dead, both her marriages have ended, her children are a mess, and her best friend has cancer. What else could go wrong in her life?
Change is the last thing she wants in her stormy world; but it assumes the guise of two very different men who enter her life, seeking a relationship with her. Each brings something to an already-full table. Should Sarah even be thinking about imbibing?
In many lives, tribulations hit all at once. A year of emotional hell and change is not an unusual occurrence in the course of life; but what is unusual in The Year of Loving is that two very different ways of giving and receiving love and support are added into a life already poised on the brink of disaster.
As readers follow Sarah's transformative process, past influences, and present challenges, they come to realize the options always inherent in the opening or closing of any door and the self-driven opportunities that can be faced even at the age of 50. As Sarah discovers she's never too old to forge new paths in life, so she enters into heady romantic possibilities that differ from any choices she's made in the past.
The Year of Loving chronicles an independent woman's struggles for achievement in many different ways. Don't expect a knight in shining armor to sweep into her world: her romantic interests are flawed, only human, and anything but dominating controllers. Do expect a sassy, candid tale of emotional and physical scars, distraction and commitment, conversations that reflect real-world experiences, a healthy dose of humor and a learning process that links choices of the past to realities of the present.
The result is a lively, fun romp through life that carries readers through the options and choices of a heady year in which everything changes and Sarah learns how to live the life she chooses not just in response to, but in spite of, the swirl of relationships around her. Women will find it the perfect leisure or beach read.
Change is the last thing she wants in her stormy world; but it assumes the guise of two very different men who enter her life, seeking a relationship with her. Each brings something to an already-full table. Should Sarah even be thinking about imbibing?
In many lives, tribulations hit all at once. A year of emotional hell and change is not an unusual occurrence in the course of life; but what is unusual in The Year of Loving is that two very different ways of giving and receiving love and support are added into a life already poised on the brink of disaster.
As readers follow Sarah's transformative process, past influences, and present challenges, they come to realize the options always inherent in the opening or closing of any door and the self-driven opportunities that can be faced even at the age of 50. As Sarah discovers she's never too old to forge new paths in life, so she enters into heady romantic possibilities that differ from any choices she's made in the past.
The Year of Loving chronicles an independent woman's struggles for achievement in many different ways. Don't expect a knight in shining armor to sweep into her world: her romantic interests are flawed, only human, and anything but dominating controllers. Do expect a sassy, candid tale of emotional and physical scars, distraction and commitment, conversations that reflect real-world experiences, a healthy dose of humor and a learning process that links choices of the past to realities of the present.
The result is a lively, fun romp through life that carries readers through the options and choices of a heady year in which everything changes and Sarah learns how to live the life she chooses not just in response to, but in spite of, the swirl of relationships around her. Women will find it the perfect leisure or beach read.
August 1, 2018
Review originally posted on Ctrl, Alt, Books!
Traci L. Slatton is one of the most underrated authors I have come across. I have yet to read one of her works that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and The Year of Loving is no exception. It was beautifully written and evoked a wide range of emotions. I went in to reading this story, not really certain how things would pan out but the synopsis left me intrigued.
The book gained my interest from the very first page, although there were times when the story slowly progressed. Sarah, the main character, has so many struggles going on in her life, it’s a wonder that she was able to cope with it all. There were times that I was concerned that maybe she wasn’t coping well at all. Sarah’s story made me feel, truly feel, as if I were a part of her life and I was her long time friend. Her story made me shed tears for her, for what she had to deal with. Her family was falling to pieces, her love life was laughable at times, her best friend had cancer and she had to deal with the loss of a pet.
Traci has such a way with words. I absolutely love the way she writes! The details and description bring you into the story. I don’t know much about art, but after reading Sarah’s story, I feel more knowledgeable in the subject. The book is written in such a way that you really connect with all of the characters, whether you like them or not. I had to keep reading to know what happened next in Sarah’s life, even if that meant I lost a little (a lot) of sleep in the process. Truly a great story and a must read!
5/5
~Layna
Traci L. Slatton is one of the most underrated authors I have come across. I have yet to read one of her works that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy and The Year of Loving is no exception. It was beautifully written and evoked a wide range of emotions. I went in to reading this story, not really certain how things would pan out but the synopsis left me intrigued.
The book gained my interest from the very first page, although there were times when the story slowly progressed. Sarah, the main character, has so many struggles going on in her life, it’s a wonder that she was able to cope with it all. There were times that I was concerned that maybe she wasn’t coping well at all. Sarah’s story made me feel, truly feel, as if I were a part of her life and I was her long time friend. Her story made me shed tears for her, for what she had to deal with. Her family was falling to pieces, her love life was laughable at times, her best friend had cancer and she had to deal with the loss of a pet.
Traci has such a way with words. I absolutely love the way she writes! The details and description bring you into the story. I don’t know much about art, but after reading Sarah’s story, I feel more knowledgeable in the subject. The book is written in such a way that you really connect with all of the characters, whether you like them or not. I had to keep reading to know what happened next in Sarah’s life, even if that meant I lost a little (a lot) of sleep in the process. Truly a great story and a must read!
5/5
~Layna
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews