Starting Over

by Cheryl Douglas

Eve Bolton is at a crossroads in her life. After caring for her beloved aunt during a terminal illness and coming to terms with the fact she may never be able to get pregnant, she retreats to her childhood home, where she’s not just the wife of a business tycoon, she’s someone the townspeople know and love. This gives Eve a sense of identity she thought she lost.
When her husband asks her to come home, she decides it’s time for her to start over… alone.

Alex Bolton has been so preoccupied running his family’s business that he lost sight of what’s important. Eve. He knows she’s been going through a difficult time, between trying to get pregnant and losing the woman who raised her, but he never expects her to tell him she’s leaving him. He knows he has a lot to make up for, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes. The question is, will it be too late to save their marriage?

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Second Chance

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2013

About the author

Cheryl Douglas is a USA Today Bestselling author who kicks back in the country surrounded by farm land and nature. Her life revolves around family, country music, sports, travel, caffeine, chocolate, and deadlines.

Reviews

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads
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Dan had been her rock for the past three months while she’d helplessly watched cancer steal her aunt’s energy and enthusiasm for life. Dan was Eve’s first love, but since she’d left Richmond to go to college almost twenty years ago, she’d relegated him to the back of her mind so she could focus on building a new life with her husband.

“Did you call Alex?” Dan asked, sliding his hand into the front pocket of his worn jeans.

“He’s in Seattle on business.”

Dan scowled. “He should be here with you. What the hell is the matter with him?”

Dan had been hearing Alex’s excuses from Eve for three months.

“Does he still love you?” The fact that she couldn’t answer that cut Eve to the core.

If he dropped to the ground and begged her to give him another chance, to let him prove he was worthy of her love, would it erase all the nights she’d waited for him at home?

“How are you holding up, Eve?” He cupped her shoulder. It was the first time he’d touched her in months, and she was both relieved and mortified his casual caress affected her so deeply.

She was ashamed to admit that she’d questioned his fidelity when his excuses became more frequent.

Alex had gotten caught up in running his family’s company, leaving Eve alone to find her own place in his world. Except she never did. She filled her days with freelance editing work that she found satisfying for a while, volunteered when she was asked, but something was always missing.

“Man, there’s no easy way to say this,” James said, grimacing. “Your wife’s been unhappy for a long time. You were just too wrapped up in your own shit to see it.”

Alex looked at his own bare hands. He’d taken off his wedding ring too soon. He’d given up on his marriage too soon.

[Kace | The Booknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIRST READ: 2014
RE-READ: 2016

LOVE IS SWEETER THE SECOND TIME AROUND.

That phrase was pretty much applicable in this book. First, I wasn't planning to read this one yet, but I'm glad I did. This was a heartbreaking but wonderful and believable story, with a sigh-worthy, tear-jerking, and very satisfying ending. It was probably one of the best books I've read lately. I was immediately invested in the story and the characters. 

This story is about Alex and Eve. They were happily married for years until Eve divorced him. I won't go into details; you have to read and find out why they ended their marriage. But she's pregnant and found out the day he gave her the divorce papers. What lousy timing! I hope that her current condition will be another reason for them to be together again. It was undeniable that they still loved each other very much. But they were just too hurt and too stubborn to admit it.

Eve was such a strong heroine. I understand why she did that. She's hurt and vulnerable, and she needed her husband, but Alex seemed oblivious to it. As for Alex, I wanted to kick his ass from time to time, but my heart broke for him when he realized he lost the most important person in his life.

"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?"

That's true. He took everything for granted, especially Eve. And when he was given a second chance with Eve, he grabbed it and gave his whole heart to make it right finally. He must find a way to earn her trust and show her that he has changed. He just had to be patient and let her decide when she was ready. And when that moment finally came, it was adorable and sigh-worthy. I was happy to see Alex and Eve get their much-deserved second chance and happy ever after.

Favorite line/qoutes:

Love. Gratitude. Appreciation. Devotion. His world began and ended with the gorgeous woman in his arms and the tiny baby she carried. He knew they would always have his heart in the palm of their hands.

[Michele ~ la Smoocherina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read. I loved the premise of a man losing his wife and trying to win her back. I thought the story was pretty realistic. There weren't a lot of sex scenes and they were mildly done, but they had the right tone, :)

[Bella Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read. Husband and wife at different cross roads...will they take the road that leads them together or apart? You will have to read yourself to find out. I loved this book!