More Than a Job

Starting Over #1

by Lynette Endicott

Paige Hamilton is forced to seek a new life when her consuming, 24/7 job ends at the hands of a new company owner. But Paige is a survivor, and begins to build a new life, one that may even have room for romance. A handsome stranger helps her through the transition, and soon she falls fast and hard for Joshua Robinson.

Then she discovers he is the cruel owner, and that the company she loved -- the company that cared so much about the adults with disabilities who lived in their homes -- is in a downward spiral that puts the life of one of her friends at risk.

Romance, job loss, life coaching, hidden family treasures, and a secret about an uncle she'd never met -- Paige learns that life is More Than A Job.

142 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2012

About the author

I was 14 when the editor of our church's publishing house taught a journalism class at church camp. My Dad took the photos, so it was easy to write and illustrate an article about an event that week. The editor added in excerpts from the other kids in the class and my first article was accepted for publication. Through the next four years, eleven more were published. I had encountered my dream - to be a writer.

In the intervening years - more than forty - I continued to write for fun. I kept several fiction stories through multiple edits, certain that one day someone would publish them. That would only happen, though, if I submitted them for publication. At the urging of Tami Dee, the co-author on the Time After Time Saga, I finally submitted the first two - and to my amazement her publisher bought them both, and suddenly the dream was unfolding for me.

Join me on this journey of writing contemporary romantic fiction, meeting and learning from other authors, and getting the word out on that next book. I've lived in Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas and now in California. I have a husband, daughter and son-in-law, two grandchildren, and between us we've rescued and adopted three dogs, three cats, and a bird. I collect castles, read, and garden.

http://www.amazon.com/Lynette-Endicot...

Reviews

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not engaged or pulled in. I wanted it to be over.

This is Christian Romance or Inspirational Romance. I did not know that. There was nothing on the cover or inside to tell me that. It’s not a genre for me.

The story is too cloying/sweet. An incompetent new boss arrives and fires Paige. She makes a list of her goals and dreams: move into a house, plant a garden, get a pet, etc. She then thinks “God will start moving beside me to help me make this transition.” Within a few minutes her father arrives and hands her the deed to a house. She just inherited her grandfather’s house. She goes to the house and discovers newborn kittens in her yard. The cat’s owner (neighbor) gives her two of the kittens. There are several references to God and gifts from God during the story.

I don’t know how to explain what was missing. It was mostly external events. Paige moves into a house, does some remodeling, has a party, investigates something, learns something. Happy ending. Things were too goodhearted.

Paige meets a guy. It’s insta-love. Their love felt too fast, too deep. I did not see how they developed feelings for each other. The descriptions of their love were poetic, which could be nice. But for me it felt exaggerated, for example: “Magic weaved through them...they were building something deep and true between them. Something that had always been there. She touched a chord within him that connected right to his soul.”

I did not like the fight/separation. Paige learns something about him and makes a wrong assumption. She is mad and avoids him. Later when she sees him, everything is ok, no problem. They should have had a conversation about why things happened to make her mad. And why she forgave him. It felt empty – not fully developed writing.

Another thing bothered me – contrived conflict. She gives the guy her phone number, and then does not answer her phone for two weeks. He keeps calling and wondering.

There is no sex in the story. I’m ok with or without, but some readers want to know this.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 129 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day mostly Southwestern Missouri. Copyright: 2012. Genre: inspirational contemporary romance.

[Debora Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute joy to read! I have actually read it twice! Romance can be so much fun!!

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about endings and beginnings. I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series! Highly recommend!

[Samaris Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

P.J (Paige) has always been an advocate for people with disabilities. She has sculpted her career out of not only helping those people but helping others learn to care for them as well. This has left her little time for anything even resembling a social life. Her friends are mainly co-workers and some of the residents and their families. She suffers a hard blow when she is let go from her position because while it is her job she is so invested it is way more to her. On that same day she literally runs into the man who will change her life for the better. While at first she seems to think her life is coming to an end she gets some great help from some friends, support from her family an d starts to open herself to God’s gifts once again.
Joshua can’t get the blue eyed beauty he ran into out of his mind. He has tried to reach out to her on various occasions with no luck. He happens to run into her on one of his runs and their relationship takes off from there. Both of their feelings are strong and neither is quite prepared. Joshua has only told Paige a generalization of what he does and when his profession comes to light it causes major issues.
This story is well written with some great underlying messages. You can feel the passion these two share not only for each other but others as well. It is also not without some major twists that will have your head spinning I can’t wait to see what the next installment in the series brings

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary romantic fiction combines the story of job loss with personal rediscovery for the heroine, Paige. The author touches on some issues of programs and services for people with developmental disabilities as a backdrop for a family secret that Paige uncovers and must unravel. The handsome Joshua has great softer side qualities as well as making the important business decisions that need to be dealt with before the lives of the people he serves are in greater danger. Enjoyed it.

[Lynette Endicott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paige has to figure out what to do next in her life because the job she loved is gone. What will she do when she learns that her rescuer is the new owner at her old workplace? And that he has put someone she cares about at risk? This is the first published in a series of three Starting Over books, but stands alone. As the author I don't think I am supposed to rate it, though.

[Antoinette Famiano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. A quick read, but a great story. Working with special needs people is a challenge and this book reveals some of the challenges people go through in their lives. Paige is a true person who really believes in what she does. She deserved to find someone as caring as Josh to be part of her life. It is a real feel good story and I enjoyed reading it.

[Alicia House · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book, I can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series. It is very easy to relate to Paige as she navigates through her journey of set backs and blessings. Both inspiring and entertaining, very enjoyable story.