Heart and Soul

A pianist must battle her fears to find both success and love in this novel from a New York Times–bestselling author and "wonderful writer" (Luanne Rice).   Bess Stallone is a self-taught musical prodigy from the rough side of Long Island, and the only thing she has in common with her Julliard classmates is her passion for classical music. But despite her extraordinary skill on the piano, and her seemingly brash personality, she is paralyzed by stage fright and self-doubt when she tries to play for an audience.   Virtuoso David Montagnier is drawn to Bess's wild talent, and when he takes her under his wing, it may be her chance to overcome her insecurities and escape her blue-collar existence. But David has his own secret demons, and the road before Bess holds obstacles she never expected, in this "compelling drama [with] fully dimensional characters" by the bestselling author of Out of the Blue ( Booklist).   "Mandel displays her talent for establishing a strong female lead in an appealing milieu with an equally intriguing love interest." — Publishers Weekly   "With wit and wisdom, Sally Mandel illuminates our deepest hopes and secret fears, showing us what matters most." —Deborah Smith, author of The Stone Flower Garden