This was a sweet book by an author I hadn't read before. Quick and easy read with a work twist in the middle.

This was an incredible book by Nance Sparks. I’ve read a couple of other books by this author and she is quickly becoming a favorite. The emotions in the story ranged from sorrow to hopelessness to finally working through grief and slowly trusting another person. Another reason that I enjoyed this book is because for the first half of the story it mainly comprised two characters, Sam and Jennifer. Sam lost her spouse, Kara, to a car accident over a year ago. Sam meets Jennifer at a local bar and grill when Sam can’t get through the first ten minutes of a group grief counseling meeting. Sam escapes to the bar and grill. Later Jennifer shows up a Sam’s place of work as a contract programmer from New Mexico. Their relationship slowly develops from there.

About halfway through the book there is a twist that I never saw coming. It keeps the reader engaged and progresses the story through the end and solidifies the relationship between Sam and Jennifer. 4.5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really good story. This book had a little bit of everything I love about a slow burn romance. This book had grief, sadness, and finally moving on and finding a different happiness after the death of a spouse. I loved the characters of Sam and Jennifer they were well written, and the romantic relationship between these two was very sweet with just the right amount of drama. The support characters. I thought were written just right to keep this story interesting and not bog it down with unnecessary details. The twists and turns of this story kept me on the edge of my seat throughout this book, and I loved every minute of it. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

This was an absolutely adorable story about moving on after the death of a spouse. It was a bit slow burn, but it picked up towards the last third and smacked you in the face with a plot twist that I didn't see coming.

I really loved this book. I liked that it had older women who were settled in their careers and lives. Jennifer is a consultant hired to help fix computer issues at Sam's company. Sam is still reeling from her wife's death. Jennifer is able to help Sam move forward and start to live again. Both just thinking to remain friends. They start to do things together and admit that they have feelings for each other. I like the slow burn of the relationship. It is more realistic and believable. There is further trauma but i don't want to reveal too much. I have not read anything else by this author but i will add her to my authors to read. This book is well written and a very good story. You would not be disappointed to buy this book.

I received a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was my first book by Nance Sparks and did not disappoint. I’m always drawn to books that the MC deals with the partner’s death, it makes me think a lot and wonder how people can overcome the pain and how my family and friends would react if it happened to me. I think the author gets the balance right here, both MCs are lovely and the chemistry seems natural between the 2. There was a plot twist that didn’t see it coming and made that Sam and Jennifer didn’t spend much time together and I would have liked that.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Sam has lost her wife they were happily married and now she just going through the emotions she hasn’t been getting much sleep because she keeps having reoccurring nightmares. Sam doesn’t know who she is without her wife and although friends and colleagues tries to get her to live her life while helping her grieve. Sam meets Jennifer who was offer a contract at her job as IT specialist at a technology company. Jennifer loves living in New Mexico but lately has lost her trust because of fires constantly threaten her home. Sam and Jennifer grow closer when Jennifer helps Sam find out who she is without her wife as Jennifer who never been attracted to women before is starting to feel more then friendship with Sam. I enjoy this read sweet romance with enjoyable characters.

Sweet romance about two women who meet later in life. Sam is recovering from the loss of her wife when Jennifer enters the picture. It's nice to find a romance novel about two women in their late 40s/early 50s. I enjoyed the journey with its twists along the way. Not too much angst, really, but a lot more honesty about feelings and situations than you might find in novels about younger couples.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A story of love and loss and a friend that doesn’t let you give up.
Sam has given up on love and her friends are trying to pull her back to life.
Jennifer has given up her home after yet another wildfire and she’s found a job working with Sam.
These two form a friendship with only a few bumps along the way, well until those bumps turn into a giant obstacle which lands Sam on the radar of the FBI.
This is a sweet story if finding love again and holding on tight.


Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks. For this ARC

Life has little meaning since Sam Phillips lost her wife in a tragic accident. All Sam can manage to do is work and avoid the rest of the world. Her job as the IT specialist at a technology company keeps Sam’s brain engaged as she works with integrating customers to their program. Lately there has been major issues with their core program that are beyond the company’s programmer’s ability.

The company hires Jennifer Delgado, a contract programmer to untangle their ones and zeroes. Jennifer has lived the life of a nomad working from contract to contract for over twenty five years. Although she loves the challenges of each new job, the loneliness in her life has become more pronounced since she turned fifty. Sharing Sam’s office space has sparked a work friendship that is turning into so much more for Jennifer.

Sparks offers us a realistic view of grieving through Sam’s eyes. She is learning how to be herself and with herself without her wife of thirty-four years. Jennifer’s attraction to Sam adds a midlife sexual awakening to the story.

There is a bit of repetition as the point of views change back and forth from chapter to chapter. As well, the bit of mystery added in the last quarter of the book is a twist from the normal angst but very see through.

Starting Over is a mature romance from Sparks. Even with the few missteps this is an interesting, thoughtful and entertaining read.

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
L

I’ve enjoyed the Sparks books that I’ve read so far. And this was an enjoyable read too.

It was an easy read and quick to hold my interest. I liked reading about two older MCs for a change. Seems most sapphic characters are 32-35.

Sam had lost her wife of 32 years to a tragic car accident. Sam is severely depressed having lost the love of her life. She works long hours and has reoccurring nightmares and can only sleep a few hours each night. Jennifer is a divorced straight woman who moves to Minnesota for a consulting job at Sam’s company. Jennifer is drawn to Sam at their first meeting and recognizes her depression. Jennifer takes on the job of making Sam happy again.

I enjoyed the first half of this book, the final third was a bit anticlimactic. I would have like to have had more of Jennifer’s thought on her feelings for Sam and the change of her sexuality. The feelings and thoughts Sparks wrote seemed genuine, I justbwanted more.

The bit of mystery in this story was ok, but pretty simplistic.

ARC received from Net Galley for a voluntary and honest review.

Sweet, slow burn f/f romance
When I started this book I was very much in the mood to read a sweet, slow-burn romance and Starting Over fit that bill beautifully. The two computer specialists, Sam and Jennifer, meet on the job in rural Minnesota: Sam has lost her wife and does not know how to come back from that and Jennifer lost her trust in living in New Mexico where fires constantly threaten her home. I totally loved to see the tentative and believable meeting, their developing friendship which turns into more between those two. The romance part is especially well written for Jennifer who never has been attracted to woman until she meets Sam.
There is a good addition of life outside cities. And what fun to have two main characters, both mature women around 50, a femme and a butch, who are really into haut couture and appreciate to dress up. I love women who excel on their job and are into tech - another major point in favor for this book.
Sweet romance, rural setting, nice characters …. let‘s say Sparks has always a surprise up her sleeve for her readers.
Only the end was a bit too drawn out in my opinion. One chapter could have sufficed and concluded the story nicely.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldstrokes Books for the Arc. The review is left voluntarily.

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for a copy of this ARC for review.
This was a sweet love story. I did enjoy it, however found the writing broke the flow a bit. I also found that it was a very quick process for Sam to heal and work on her grief.
A sweet story but didn't hook me in.

Starting Over is a tender and emotional tale of loss and love. Sparks does a commendable job here; the love story comes across as genuine and real. Sam and her wife shared a life of nearly 30 years; losing her guts Sam. Sparks handles this honorably though; she gives the characters as well as the readers time to accept the loss of Sam’s wife. Sparks understands it’s imperative not to rush the grief. She gives it time to breathe. She threads the process of letting go and moving on into the storytelling beautifully, paving the way for some heartfelt and touching scenes. She crafts vivid pictures with her words, capitalizing on the emotions of loss tenderly and considerately. Readers can not help but empathize with Sam. Her conflicted heart and Jennifer’s desire to heal it is too engaging and alluring to ignore.

Readers easily embrace the leading ladies in this romance. Sparks develops Sam and Jennifer nicely, presenting them as likable, relatable characters. Creating characters that readers find worthy of investment is essential to the success of any romance novel, and this isn’t a problem here. Both Sam and Jennifer resonate with readers. Sam and Jennifer are both multidimensional characters unaffaid of showing their vulnerabilities and insecurities. They each have compelling backstories—especially Sam—that explain why they are the way they are. Readers understand their motivations and actions. Because they do, a deeper emotional connection is developed with these characters. It all works to create a romance that captures readers’ hearts and keeps them turning pages.

Final remarks…

Romances that contain the themes of loss and grief often feel cliched and contrived. Starting Over doesn’t though. This novel works because it’s built on a relationship that’s grounded, authentic and genuine. Sparks crafts the romance in such a way that it feels believably sincere and honest. She capitalizes on the emotional depth of the characters and their relationship. There’s a chemistry between these two ladies that’s compelling. Readers see their potential, and they root for them. Starting Over reminds readers that love endures and heals, even when one thinks it’s lost forever.

Strengths…

Nicely developed
Touching
Engaging
Tenderly written

Sparks does a great job on the technical aspects of this novel and the handling of grief. However, I found the romance to be a bit lacking.

Over a year after the death of her wife Sam is stuck. She’s pushed everyone out of her life and work is the only thing keeping her going. When an issue with the software at Sam’s company brings Jennifer to town, the two hit it off right away. Jennifer seems to be the perfect person to help Sam get unstuck and Sam's presence helps Jennifer realize that maybe she doesn’t have to spend her life alone.

Despite Jennifer and Sam immediately being drawn to each other and feeling comfortable around each other that doesn’t really translate to the page. Instead, this ends up being a relatively simple romance with limited chemistry. The plot was good so even if the narrative left me wanting more I wouldn’t completely write this off as not worth reading. It was nice to see a romance with two older characters.

About two-thirds of the way through this one I knew there was one major conflict left. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the conflict I expected. I assumed it would be around Jennifer’s contract ending and her leaving which is a common source of conflict in books like this. I think it’s a bit overdone though so it was nice to see something different that was set up by the profession of the main characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Nance Sparks delivers a grief driven novel that isn’t maudlin. After a car accident takes her wife of 34 years Sam Phillips is stuck in her grief. She functions by working extra hours at her IT job but has cut herself off from old friends. Jennifer Delgado is an in demand programmer. She accepts a contract at Sam’s work to help with coding issues that are plaguing the company. At their first meeting there is a spark of attraction and first step is becoming friends.

I like how respectful Jennifer is helping Sam move forward from grief. Small changes to make her sleep better and such. This is a toaster oven romance as well because Jennifer has never been attracted to women. It all feels organic and is not a huge issue for either of them. In fact other than some surprising drama later in the story that gets resolved quickly there isn’t much more to the story.

I like seeing a romance for someone in their 50’s and the “dates” are simple outings. The story really falls on two MCs and they are lovely together. But I wish there was a little more to the story. I also wanted an epilogue to know what life looks like for them a little further along. I enjoyed the story but it didn’t capture me emotionally. I will continue to look forward to anything by the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

When you read a Nance Sparks book, you know you're reading a character-driven story, which is sharing space with technical knowledge, in this case computers and how they're programmed, how they can be manipulated and how crimes can be committed secretly and online.

But don't let that deter you from this heartfelt, sometimes sad and thrilling story about Sam, who lost her wife in a tragic accident about a year ago, and Jennifer who is an in-demand computer programming whiz, but who has literally and figuratively burned out in New Mexico. Sam and Jen are destined to meet when Jen becomes employed at the company where Sam works.

What follows, or what I will say about what follows, is a ride through a touch and go relationship, a whodunit internet crime situation, which begs for a happy resolution and a mutual understanding between Sam and Jen.

Sparks's books are always enjoyable, satisfying reads, but IMO, this book elevates Nance Sparks into the upper echelons of elite authors.

So highly recommended!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a really wonderfully put together story! It was a little slow at first but it picks up and turns into a beautiful story of 2 people on opposite ends coming together to find out about themselves again. I appreciated that both FMC were older in age, I truly do not see that often and it was nice representation for that age group!

I gave 4 stars ONLY because I felt a little jumbled at some points. Like things would be thrown in left field that didn’t quite make sense but then they’d be done in a flash. Idk I felt like I would’ve either liked it fully or none of the side elements. Other than that though, loved it!!

Thank you to @netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: May 16th, 2023

This short book was a quick and easy read. The book depicts the love and attraction between two older women in a lighthearted cheesy way.
There was an interesting plot development, the only real plot point that didn't revolve around grief or romance, but this didn't get the time it deserved and is 'resolved' almost immediately.

"Starting Over" is a sweet story about not only starting over in midlife but rediscovering who you are. Will Sam continue being the person she was with her wife or will she find parts of herself she hasn't tapped into yet with the help of Jennifer? Sam's journey with grief and trauma was relatable and at times palpable. And just when you think Sam is picking up the pieces there's a knock at the door with a twist you don't see coming.