Review: Starting Now by Debbie Macomber

Title: Starting Now by Debbie Macomber
Blossom Street Series Book Nine
Publisher: Random House/Ballantine Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 354 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber returns to Seattle’s beloved Blossom Street in this heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what’s truly important in life.

For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career—her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now.

With no job prospects in sight, Libby reaches out to old friends and spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner; Lydia’s spirited teenage daughter, Casey; and Casey’s best friend, Ava, a shy yet troubled girl who will shape Libby’s future in surprising and profound ways.

As A Good Yarn becomes a second home—and the women a new kind of family—Libby relishes the different person she’s become. She even finds time for romance with a charming and handsome doctor who seems to be her perfect match. But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.

Warmly told and richly textured, Starting Now is filled with the promise of new beginnings and the unending delights of companionship and love.

The Review:

What is most important in life? A successful career? Friends and family? In Debbie Macomber’s newest release, Starting Over, Libby Morgan discovers the answer to this question when she loses the job she has dedicated herself to for the past several years.

Confident she will soon have a new job after she laid off, Libby’s self-esteem is at an all time low when she is still unemployed several months later. Trying to get her life back on track, Libby joins a gym to lose a few pounds and she convinces her friend Hamlin to become her exercise partner. But it is Libby’s fortuitous stop at A Good Yarn on Blossom Street that proves to be the most life altering. With her passion for knitting reignited, she is soon a frequent visitor on Blossom Street where she forms close friendships with owner Lydia Goetz, Lydia’s daughter Casey and Casey’s friend, Ava.

Forced to slow down and re-evaluate her priorities, Libby’s journey takes her life in very unexpected directions. She discovers the importance of friendship and finds comfort in volunteering at a local hospital. She begins a romance with Phillip Stone, a doctor who has learned the importance of balancing work with a personal life. Her rapport with Ava provides her the opportunity to become a mentor for the troubled young teen.

Libby and Phillip have a lot in common. Both have lost relationships in the past due to their dedication to their careers. Phillip has made serious changes to create life outside of work, and he makes it a priority to maintain his hobbies and friendships. Libby is a little slower to learn this lesson and this quickly puts their future in jeopardy.

This ninth installment in Debbie Macomber’s Blossom Street series is a little more serious than the previous novels. Starting Now is a compelling story that is full of emotional ups and downs. The various storylines provide unexpected twists and turns and the story moves in unanticipated directions. An absolutely delightful romance that demonstrates many valuable life lessons that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Ballantine Books, Blossom Street Series, Contemporary, Debbie Macomber, Random House Publishing Group, Rated B, Review, Romance, Starting Now

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