Spotlight on Guessing At Normal by Gail Ward Olmsted

Jill Griffin has mastered the art of being invisible, so when she falls in love with sexy rocker James Sheridan, at first she is content to live in his larger than life shadow. Building a ‘normal’ life together under the glare of the media is challenging and further complicated by constant touring, James’ partying and the mixed signals she gets from James’ twin brother Alex.

 

When her poems and journal ramblings become the songs on James’ best-selling album, Jill has to step out of her comfort zone and figure out how to live her life in a spotlight all her own. With no road map to follow, she struggles to navigate her way in her search for happiness.  As her professional success threatens her relationship with James, Jill questions whether she can make a living writing love songs without the love of her life.

 

Praise for Guessing at Normal

"Olmsted has surpassed herself with this breathtaking second novel! Guessing at Normal is a compelling rock and roll romance that morphs into the journey of a woman learning how to live with a tough love, no matter where life takes her. Throughout the book, I found myself excited for Jill, worried for her, wanting to shake her, and cheering for her. And rock and roller James Sheridan is such a delightful surprise! Though he is a bad boy and a rat at times, his charm and sincerity, and the depth of his love for Jill, are undeniable and irresistible. Olmsted brilliantly unfolds the story, letting you feel all the highs and lows right along with Jill. Olmsted doesn't tell the story – she lets you live it. I confess I am no music aficionado, but the chapters titled after songs struck a cord with me as I read, as did the song lyrics peppered throughout the story. The music makes this wild emotional ride truly poignant. Whether you love music or pop singers or not, once you pick up this novel, you won't want to put it down. The heroine Jill's lust for life is infectious as you become embroiled in this overwhelming love story. Olmsted has knocked my socks off with this second novel of hers!" - 5/5 review by Goodreads reviewer Geralyn Corcillo

"I received an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This book reminded me a lot of "Where the Heart Is" which is one of my all time favorite books. The story line was not really similar, other than being about a singer and a song that was written because of a relationship with the female protagonist,mbut I felt like Jill and Novalee had a lot of parallels. The writing style was unique and fresh, never boring. I absolutely loved the song titles as chapters. My only complaint was that it felt a little rushed toward the end...I think it could have been longer with a little more detailed. But I must say that the ending caught me by surprise and I loved the overall message. Very well done Gail; I must go back and read "Jeep Tour" now :)." - 5/5 review by Goodreads reviewer Heather Balog 

"It's one of those books you don't want to finish because you don't want it to end. No guessing here...Pure Enjoyment!" - 5/5 review by Goodreads reviewer Donna Lukenbill

 

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About the Author

My first visit to Sedona, AZ prompted me to start writing JEEP TOUR, my first novel. I fell in love with the red rocks and blue skies. My second novel is Guessing at Normal, a rock and roll romance. I am currently working on a sequel to JEEP TOUR, which will be based in Ireland. A hopeless romantic, I am married to the love of my life. I am mom to two young adults and three cats, and I

enjoy reading, boating, music and travel.


I am a professor in the School of Business & Information Technology at Springfield Technical Community College in Springfield, MA. I was the recipient of the Deliso Endowed Chair Award and was recently recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’s Department of Higher Education as one of “29 Who Shine”.

Learn more about Gail and her books on Amazon and connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.