The details…
Sam Phillips is going through the motions. She was happily married for thirty-four years when a car accident stole her wife and destroyed her perfectly planned future. Now, it’s all she can do to exist day by day. The one thing that keeps her going is her IT administration job at Walsh Software Design. All seems lost when software stability issues threaten her career, until a hotshot programmer struts into her world and makes Sam want to feel again.
- Title: Starting Over
- Author: Nance Sparks
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
- Publication date: May 16, 2023
- Available formats: ebook, paperback
- Digital file size: 1449 KB
- Print length: 240 pages
- Genre: contemporary romance
- Themes: women loving women, loss, grief, marriage, emotional healing, finding love again, friendship
- Tropes: grieving widow, work colleagues, friends to lovers
The blurb from the publisher…
Jennifer Delgado doesn’t do cold and snow, but when a fluke February wildfire in the Southwest means evacuating for the third time in two years, it’s time for a change and she accepts a contract job in Minnesota. The weather is nothing compared to the unexpected feelings she develops for Sam. Jennifer has no idea if she can mend Sam’s broken soul, but it’s never too late for starting over.
My thoughts…
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
This book is available from…
A bit about the author…
Nance Sparks is a Goldie Award winning author of lesbian romance. She lives in south central Wisconsin with her spouse. Her passion for photography, homesteading, hiking, gardening and most anything outdoors comes through in her stories. When the sun is out and the sky is blue, especially during the golden hour, Nance can be found on the Wisconsin River with a camera in hand capturing shots of large birds in flight. To learn more about Nance, check out her website and social media.
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