As in her deservedly popular Out of the Blue, Mandel here displays her talent for establishing a strong female lead in an appealing milieu with an equally intriguing love interest. Frank-talking Long Island native Bess Stallone ("no relation") is a gifted pianist, fascinated and formed by music from an early age, but in every other way an unlikely virtuoso. With her difficult family life, wrong-side-of-island provenance and paralyzing stage fright, she's the perfect narrator to spin out Mandel's trademark self-deprecating humor. Bess has gotten into Juilliard and attracted the attention of the brilliant and renowned pianist David Montagnier, who wants her to be his partner—at first on stage, and later in the bedroom. In a series of skillful scenes, Mandel takes Bess from down and out to what seems like the life of her dreams. But David, however potentially compelling as a character, remains a gorgeous cipher until the end, while good guy Jake, Bess's high school buddy, is telegraphed too clearly as being the one Bess is destined to be with. Mandel could have written a much deeper book, since both David's past with his tragic mother, Aimee, and Bess's history with Jake would have added weight and balance. The strong supporting characters and an ending that almost satisfies wrap up a package that leaves the reader wanting more. National radio ads; print ads in
Romantic Times; New York media and bookstore appearances. (Apr.)
