Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson is filled with all the wonderful elements we have come to know and love in the previous three books of the series. This fictional place on the Dorset Coast is magical in its ability to heal hearts. We would all like to escape to such a haven from time to time: a place of natural beauty and caring community with intriguing residents. The novel is filled with delightful moments of laughter, wit and winsome humour: refreshing as a rising sea-breeze. Here characters learn to live again, take a deep breath, wander on the beaches and work through their plight. In this special community, like in real life, there is also sadness, loss, fear and grief but passion always runs at its core. Positive and negative experiences litter the pathways but hope is like a neon sign in this emotional landscape. In fact, if you could set up a sign on the road to Starshine Cove, it would say: Enter Here for Second Chances.

Connie runs the local bakery. She was an important chef in the past. She lived a pretty dangerous and reckless existence. A party girl of the highest order. But then life took her on a detour and she ended up at Starshine Cove. We are taken back to her life before to see who she was then and all the issues she had. But on an escape she crashes her car and meets Simon, the man of her dreams, and he ends up becoming her husband and the father of her children. During this time she matures; taking on a whole new dialogue and direction. And for a heavenly season, she reaps all the joy and love imaginable. Until something drastic happens that turns her world upside down. A loss that seems impossible to recover from.

I coasted easily through the first three quarters of the story until the last quarter when it truly gripped my heart hard. Connie, now in her fifties, is faced with an old acquaintance and romantic feelings stir. A part she thought was dead. Just when she begins to set sail with her once locked up emotions, reality hits again. But I cannot say what happens without giving away a plot twist. I will admit, though, the shocking news is a hard pill to swallow—considering all she has been through. But I have to declare Debbie Johnson does an amazing job delivering the verdict and outcome.

If I could shout from the rooftops one major message that runs through the heart of this story, it would be the wise words of Connie’s friend Ella. No one can predict the future or know how much time we will have with those we love. So take every opportunity available now. Live for today. Tomorrow will come soon enough with its unpredictability, heartaches and loss. Get past any fears, hesitation, conflicts or differences. Take advantage of those precious moments that exist in front of you. In Connie’s life, she met the man of her dreams unexpectedly and she was blessed with many happy years, but he was suddenly taken away. Yet as sad as that was, life did not have to end for her—as her father-in-law, kept reminding her. When she allowed herself to live again, another surprise came along, much later in her life. She was presented with a second chance to reopen the door of her heart.

This novel is essentially a love story: full of hope, light and positive vibes and a message that resounds through the ages to live for today. Stop fretting about trivial things. Enjoy what time and love you have been given. There might be a whole new world on the horizon! I enjoyed Starting Over in Starshine Cove and particularly loved the lead up to the ending. Powerful truths swept over my heart like the waves on a shoreline. It reminded me there is starlight even in the dark spaces of life like the glittering caves in Starlight Cove! That we often find beauty and love in some unusual places and sometimes in the arms of those who may come our way. And like Connie, we can start a new chapter in life and move forward. 4 Solid Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

In the fourth in Debbie Johnson's Starshine Cove series, it's refreshing to focus on Connie, who runs the local café. She has appeared in the first three books in the series, and now this 55-year-old gets her own story.

It starts with a flashback, showing Connie as a flamboyant celebrity chef who is about to seal a deal that will take her to the next level. But her personal life has gotten out of control and she is on the verge of a breakdown. Fast forward to present day, when Connie has become a treasured member of the Starshine Cove community, but she is still mourning the unexpected and untimely death of her husband and soulmate after five years. When her daughter brings home her college roommate for a visit, Connie is startled to meet someone from her long-ago past, and she is shaken out of her complacency with a view of how her life might change once again.

Connie is a lovely character, engaging and mature. She has found her niche cooking great food in a small-town environment and reveling in her friendships. The potential romance is not my favorite in the series, but I did enjoy the characters of Connie's friends and daughter, and the book continues the series' life-affirming, heart-warming tone.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Este año, libros como este fueron mi salvación y me ayudaron a evitar caer en un bloqueo. Los sentí como si estuviera platicando con una amiga después de no verla por un tiempo y ponernos al día.





Connie es una mujer de cincuenta y tantos años que, de repente, se siente sola, ya que sus hijos han crecido y están viviendo sus propias vidas. Cuando murió su esposo, sufrió profundamente, lloró la pérdida y, cinco años después, aún lo extraña. Sin embargo, también desea tener compañía de nuevo, pero no sabe cómo hacerlo sin sentir que lo está traicionando. Lo que no esperaba es que conocer al padre de la mejor amiga de su hija cambiaría todo. Él entiende perfectamente sus sentimientos, ya que también vivió un gran amor y lo perdió. De repente, Connie comienza a sentir mariposas cada vez que pasa tiempo con él. ¿Podrá dar el siguiente paso o se quedará viviendo en el pasado?




Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the other Starshine Cove books I was delighted to get a first read of Starting over in Starshine cove.
Being familiar with Connie who runs the local
Bakery from previous books it was lovely to discover her character more and how she ended up living in the little community. Completely relatable to other mums who are experiencing their children flying the nest and navigating grief and starting over.
Zack coming back into her life made Connie re evaluate her life and what she needed and wanted for herself.
A thoroughly enjoyable read!

So good to be back in Starshine Cove with the most wonderful group of characters. When can I move there is my question!
I love keeping up with this series of books and it feels so real and vivid thanks to this amazing author’s descriptions.
I’m not going to ruin the book for you all but let’s just say that Connie finally gets her happy ever after and she deserves every last second of happiness coming her way.
Off to buy the book for my friends!

Connie is a 5 star mitchellin celebrity chef. Loves living life on the edge hardly stopping to rest and often turning up in the same clothes as the night before still drunk.
Until one day driving too fast as usual she she just drives aimlessy till she stops litrally in a ditch in starshine cove.
Thats were she met her husband and started a new life new cafe and a slower pace of life.

Thirtyfive years later and three kids later after her husband died she bumps into an old face from her past that shes not sure shes happy about.

A new episode in the Starshine cove books.

I love everything Debbie Johnson writes and I was very happy when I received an advanced reader copy of her latest instalment in the Starshine Cove series: Starting over in Starshine Cove.

After reading about several other women from the village in previous books, this story focuses on Connie, who runs the village’s cafe. Connie lost the love of her life in a car accident years ago and when she meets Zack, who she used to know when she was young, she is not sure she is ready for something romantic. They become great friends but then things turn south….

I loved returning to Starshine Cove. I definitely want to go on a holiday there even though I know it does not exist in real life. The village and the people in it seem so real. I very much hope this will not be the final part in this series and I will be on the lookout for Ms Johnson’s next book!

Starting Over in Starshine Cove
by Debbie Johnson
Pub Date: Feb. 19. 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
From the beloved bestselling author of the Comfort Food Café series, this is a heart-warming tale of second chances, self-discovery and the extraordinary healing power of community. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson and Heidi Swain.
This was a feel good read and I enjoyed all the feels. From laughter to crying it has it all.

I really enjoy this series in the small hidden village of Starshine Cove. This time we follow cafe owner Cally. With her kids now leaving the nest, a new grief of the loss of her husband years before hits along with the changes in her life. An old acquaintance turns life upside down and offers new love. I enjoyed the romance. It would read ok alone, but best in order.

This is the fourth book in this series and recommend reading them all from the beginning in order to fully be embraced into the magic and sparkle of Starshine cove.

This time we are reunited with familiar faces and some new ones too and this instalment focuses on Connie’s story. There are a lot of relatable issues covered and this is a story of second chances with a real community feel thrown in. the story really makes you think that none of us know what is round the corner and how we should try and make the best of things while we can.

This story made me laugh and cry and in equal measure and I am looking forward to the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson.

Ms. Johnson has become one of m very favorite authors. She's who I go to when I'm in need of a comfort read. The Starshine Cove series has everything I look for in a comfort read book, and the magic of this book is as perfect as it gets.

Dnf

When her saviour comes along after she crashes her car and she loses her breath because he's so handsome, I thought "nope".

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Sometimes I just need a warm, cozy trip to a small town full of delightful people and this book delivered. A story of second chances and the joys of taking a leap into the unknown. Starshine Cove is a place I'm tempted to visit again.

3 1/2 stars

Connie changed her life completely twenty and something years ago. She left London and she built herself a new and totally different life in Starshine Cove. She found love, she had childrens and she was happy. Five years ago she lost her husband. She's busy, she's part of the community but sometimes she feels alone. Until she meet Zach, a person of her past.
This is a lovely romance, well written and quite cosy. I loved all the carachters very much. It was definitely a feel good story.

Another wonderful visit to Starshine Cove. It was lovely to finally hear Connie's story in full. Warm and delicious in every way.

I love this series. Such a beautiful story, this had all the 'feels'! It was really nice to find out exactly how Connie ended up in Starshine Cove. She's had a great life since arriving - meeting the love of her life, having 3 kids and running the successful Cove Cafè. Now, the kids are living their own lives and her husband tragically passed away 5 years earlier. But then a blast from the past arrives and things take a rather sweet turn. Can she take a chance on another love despite never knowing how long we'll have with someone? A very sweet, touching story!
Thanks to Netgalley, Storm Publishing, and Debbie Johnson for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

None of us knows what tomorrow may bring.

That was the big takeaway from this one. The characters were interesting and though I wasn't particularly drawn to Connie as the book opened, I definitely warmed up to her quickly. While it's true that none of us know what will happen tomorrow, good or bad, it's lure is the possibilities. Connie has made a life for herself in Starshine Cove after the tragic death of her beloved husband while raising the children to be strong and go out on their own. It's when one of them brings home a new BFF from college that Connie's life takes another turn. That new BFF's father just happens to be the very man who once offered Connie a chance at the fast paced celebrity life she'd been obsessed with despite feelings of emptiness. Zack brings possibilities, in other words. The question is, will she open herself up to them.

I won't detail the plot, the blurb does an excellent job, but will say that I liked the characters and was rooting for them. Heck, even Connie's doctor/friend had words of wisdom to offer, both medical and emotional. That should give you a hint as to a twist in the road to happily ever after. Yes, the story is full of genuine friendship, humor, and the usual fears we all face as we age and face changes. The change in Connie from the opening prologue throughout the book is impressive, showing the potential that has been there all along. All the feels are there, that's for sure, especially the emotional tendency to erect barriers/borders to protect out own emotions. Change can be both tempting and threatening, let's just say. How Connie works her way to opening herself to love manages to make you occasionally want to laugh and cry at the same time, odd as that sounds. Isn't human nature amazing? Zack is a dear and you're definitely going to like him as well ans the extended families. It's good to see family support, which isn't always a given in such books.

Bottom line, I wound up liking this one more than expected. I have read Johnson in the past and enjoyed them but didn't think I was quite in the mood for a sweet romance. Shows how much I know, huh? The setting in Starshine Cove sounds lovely and Connie's place in it an inspiration. My thanks to #StormPublishing for reminding me with this early peek how much I have always enjoyed Debbie Johnson's books. I will definitely be on the look out for the next ones.

Was the beginning confusing to anyone else? Maybe it's just the format on the e-reader, but the timeline jumping was hard to follow. Second-chance romance with a little bit of angst in a cozy cove setting.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a refreshing change to the typical romance novels that I have been reading lately. The story is about Connie and Zack, who reunite later in life after their daughters become roommates at University. After losing their spouses, both Connie and Zack are reluctant to let down their barriers and love again, but a medical crisis convinces them to take a chance on one another.

It was a slow start to the novel, but once it picked up it was a really endearing story. It’s a soft, cozy love story, perfect for anyone who just wants to curl up and enjoy a light read.

This was a thoughtful and uplifting read and I loved how this was told from the viewpoint of Connie, an important fixture of Starshine Cove, as previous books have featured newcomers which is fine but I really loved the character development of this. There’s a lot of warmth in this and so much relatability for older women and not just in terms of kids leaving home and modern day dating either but the whole mentality almost. It was interesting to have the prologue introducing the life Connie used to lead compared to where she is now and look at how she’s altered so much of her perspective but the core qualities are still there. There’s a maturity to this that I love but it’s not lacking in humour either and I found it highly engaging and uplifting and it was such a pleasure to read I seemed to have finished it in no time.