Lyla's Song
Kay Layton SiskContemporary romance
Available from Wings ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-406-X
March 2005
| This is the story of Lyla Lee and Eddie T, both musicians. Eddie T is on a month's vacation in a house in a small town in Texas following a stay at a drug rehab center. While in Texas, Eddie T is posing as Sam Thomas, chauffeur to Fletch, his group's manager who is posing as an eccentric Hollywood writer. The group's name is Bone Cold--Alive (BCA). Sam and Fletch have rented a house from Lyla Lee who runs the local convenience store/gas station. Other characters on the scene include Harrison, Lyla's 8 year old son, Dub and Red, Lyla's father-in-law and mother-in-law, Tib, a friend since childhood who is in love with Lyla, Arial, Harrison's teenage babysitter and a regular parttime worker for Lyla, Bertie, an older woman in town who is like Lyla's grandmother, and Sally, Lyla's 60ish short-order cook who knows everyone in town. All of these characters are very lively and very active in the story. The women are especially sassy. They are also very protective of Lyla. Lyla had been a widow for 7 years. Sam had had a drug problem since his late teens. The month off following his rehab stay was scheduled by Fletch to allow some time for the tabloid frenzy to die down about Sam who had a bad boy reputation. When Sam and Fletch arrive in Jinks, Lyla drives out to the house and has them follow her. The first thing Sam notices when he walks inside is the grand piano. He is a little upset because the piano is locked. Lyla unlocks the piano and Sam sits down to start playing. Sam has a lot of questions about his landlady Lyla and about the beautiful grand piano and how it came to be in the house. However, things seem to be a mystery and all anyone will say is that Lyla hadn't played the piano in a very long time.
I was very moved by the characters of Lyla and Sam, especially Lyla. Sometimes when a person who is very creative suffers a great loss, their creativity is shut down for awhile because it hurts to feel that much. But gifts of the impact of music tend to come back when time has allowed some healing. That portion of the story was beautifully written and very moving. This story is an emotional one and shows the challenges a couple face when they come from two different worlds. However, like most good love stories, the story also shows that love is worth the work. I recommend this book to everyone.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Ellen |
