Where It All Began

by Lindsay Gibson

From a beautiful new voice in contemporary romance comes a touching story, perfect for fans of RaeAnne Thayne, Denise Hunter, and Debbie Macomber.

Still reeling from the shock of her ex-fiancé leaving her at the altar, Willow Anderson flees to Martha’s Vineyard after almost a decade away, forcing her to confront everything she’d left behind.

Her father suffered from a horrible fall off a horse at their family farm, and Willow has to return to the scene of a traumatic accident from her youth. Just as she begins to navigate taking care of her father’s farm, her first love, Grayson Turner, walks back into her life. And he’s got a secret that could change everything.

A heartwarming summer romance that will sweep you away to the sparkling New England coast, full of healing, family ties, and best of all, love.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Family Drama, Contemporary

305 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2025

About the author

Lindsay’s first book, her memoir, Just Be: How my Stillborn Son Taught Me to Surrender, won the Book Excellence finalist award in 2018. She has been featured in Elephant Journal, Green Child Magazine, and Self Magazine.

Lindsay Gibson is the bestselling author of emotional New England romance and mystery, and she also brings heart to young readers through her children’s series Obi the Dobi. Her debut, The Christmas Promise, became a #1 Christmas bestseller on Amazon and was featured on Everyday Eyecandy’s list of “Over 50 Most Read Kindle Unlimited Christmas Romance Books.” Her novels continue to reach wide audiences, with Fly Away Summer landing in the Top 50 for Feel-Good Fiction and The Christmas Coin breaking into the Top 5 eBooks in the Christmas category.

Her writing career began with her award-winning memoir Just Be: How My Stillborn Son Taught Me to Surrender, a 2018 Book Excellence Award finalist. Since then, her stories of love, mystery, and family legacy have been featured in Elephant Journal, Green Child Magazine, and Self Magazine.

A native New Englander, Lindsay now splits her time between Connecticut and coastal South Carolina, where she juggles storytelling with raising three daughters and laughing alongside her Irish husband, whose brogue still makes her blush. She also shares weekly reflections on wellness, character connection, recipes, and more through her blog Well Plotted.

Lindsay is available for book talks, speaking engagements, and interviews both online and in person.
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Email: authorlindsaygibson@gmail.com

Website: www.lindsaygibson.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/lgibsonauthor Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorlindsaygibson Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorlindsaygibson

Reviews

[Amber]

Lindsay has done it again. Another great book. Perfect for lunchtime or beach reading. Lindsay’s books are always so descriptive that her reader can immediately imagine what every character and location looks like. Her books are like great Hallmark movies. This book is no exception. It was a relaxing read that was perfect for my lunch breaks. The characters were relatable and the storyline kept me wishing that I could read all afternoon. I’m already looking forward to her next one!

[Jennifer Vido]

Where It All Began is a heartfelt story about family, connection, and forgiveness. What really stood out to me were the layered relationships between Willow, Grayson, and Tyler. Each one shares a deep bond with Terra Cove on Martha’s Vineyard, and the island itself feels like another character—holding their dreams, memories, and heartbreaks.

Family sits at the center of every decision they make, and it was fascinating to follow their journeys from high school friends to adults balancing loyalty, second chances, and the weight of the past. The story is profoundly relatable and beautifully written. It’s one of those books that sweeps you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go.

The unexpected twist that upends everything for Willow adds both tension and emotional punch, keeping the pages turning right through to the end. I’d jump at a chance to revisit these characters and see where life takes them next. Warm, compelling, and full of heart, Where It All Began is an absolute standout.

Thank you to Harpeth Road Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Selman]

Wow! What a wonderful story. This is my first book by Lindsay Gibson and it will not be my last. This book has all the feels. It’s emotional, heartfelt, romantic, and heartbreaking. This book will touch your heart from the very beginning and leave you wanting it to never end. Thank you for letting me experience this special story of second beginnings. I absolutely loved it!!

[Donna Cassity]

Where it All Began by Lindsay Gibson is one of those stories you need to read beyond our hopeful wish of a perfect world. From cover to cover this book will draw you into the complexities of life as the characters Willow, Grayson and Tyler grow up through a trauma on prom night of their senior year in high school. As teenagers who didn’t know how to navigate the shock of a well kept secret that held a ripple effect of hurt in their lives and who eventually grow into adults who are healed, this story is a page turner. A story of love unfolding giving the reader a real life look at what happens when attention is fixated on the hurt and that kept all three characters in a negative loop. As a young therapist, Willow learned to navigate this as she allowed herself to go back to her past and see what is possible. This story about how trauma that can rob the soul is a deep lesson in forgiveness and letting go so that a new, healthier life can be built. Scripture tells us “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you…”-Matthew 6:14 It’s not about denying the hurt, but about releasing it.
Gibson shows how forgiveness unlocks the heart to receive freedom where real love can abide. Her artful crafting of the story and characters leads the reader to seeing how Willow was able to let go and allow the sensations, rhythms and experiences of life to lead her toward love and to thrive. And ultimately how all three characters matured from teenagers spinning in a web of hurt to adults who let go and allowed love to win. Lindsay Gibson is an expert on how trauma is healed in real life, and weaving it into her stories. I can’t wait for her next book.

[Caroline’s Page~Turners]

Willow Anderson’s dream wedding turned into a nightmare when she was left at the altar. How could she possibly bounce back from such a devastating experience? Seeking a fresh start, she returns to her childhood home, Terra Cove on Martha’s Vineyard.

Tragedy strikes when Willow’s father, the patriarch of their family farm, tragically falls off a horse. This traumatic accident forces her to confront her past. Determined to take care of the farm, Willow decides to stay. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when her first love, Grayson Turner, her first love walks back into her life. Did she ever truly get over him? But Grayson has some secrets he’s been keeping, and how will these secrets change Willow’s life once again?

“Where It All Began,” is a heartwarming and heartbreaking novel by Lindsay Gibson. It is a captivating tale of hope, forgiveness, and romance. The author’s beautiful cover immediately draws you in, and you won’t want to put it down until you’ve turned the last page. This phenomenal story will linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading it.

I loved the amazing description of the New England Coast. The charm of Terra Cove transported me to a place I would love to visit. This story of family, new friends, old friends and second chances at true love is one that I highly recommend. Absolutely a ten star read.

[Kat Hartwell]

Again, Lindsay Gibson does it again. I have read some reviews and SOME WERE WAAAYYYYYYY HARSH... clearly they have no clue what therapist does, or how therapist cope or view their way of the world, along with different trauman between Grayson. Tyler and their families along with the affair drama.. Yall need to chill, remember they were 1-8 yes an adult but a YOUNG ADULT.. sooo they were young... so overall this book was yet amazing, and beautifully written, and it flowed well, I was not confused or disconnected in any way while reading. Author is a friend of mine and I would message her my thoughts or my AH-HA or WHYYYYY or any moment of the book. She is an amazing person and amazing writer, out of all the books I have read of hers, The Christmas Coin is my FAR FAVORITE book.... I am excited to see her upcoming new books coming out later this year and 2026!!!!! lets go!!

i would recommend this book but HARSH REVIEWS... cmon yall.....

[Cindy Marie]

OBSESSED with this book

I want to point out that I've recently chatted with Lindsay bc we live in the same area and when she told me she was an author, I realized I had already read some of her books. This book is BY FAR my favorite. The love, the friendships, the family, horses, all of it was so special. I couldn't stop thinking about the book and was anxious to get back into the story after the kids went to bed. Thank you Lindsay for a love story I'll forever remember.

[John Pitcock]

What a wonderful love story..!! This book had countless similarities to my life experiences. My eyes were racing to get to the end of the book. 1st Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

A special thank you to my favorite author while I wait for Lindsay Gibson’s next Christmas book.

[Yvette Jarrell]

📘ARC Book Review✨
Where It All Began by Lindsay Gibson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Available May 27, 2025

From the very first chapter, I was hooked! Where It All Began is an emotionally rich, beautifully written second chance romance that swept me away to the dreamy shores of Martha's Vineyard. Lindsay Gibson paints the coastal charm of Terra Cove so vividly, I could practically feel the salty breeze and hear the waves crashing in the distance.

This is not just a love story-it's a layered, heartfelt journey of healing, growth, and facing the past. The romance is tender and bittersweet, with a delicately crafted love triangle that pulls you into the complexity of human connection and the choices we make. Willow Anderson's return home is filled with raw emotion, family secrets, and the slow-burning rekindling of a love once lost.

There's so much to love in this story:
* A gorgeous New England setting
* A swoony helicopter ride
* Emotional horse therapy scenes
* A powerful theme of forgiveness
* And characters you'll root for every step of the way

Willow and Grayson's chemistry is undeniable, and their journey toward each other felt both natural and deeply earned. I adored the close-knit community, the way family and friends show up for one another, and the touching surprises planned by Grayson and Wesley (prepare to melt!). Ivy, the ultimate best friend, is someone we all need in our lives.

Watching Willow, Grayson, and even Tyler grow through heartbreak, misunderstanding, and tough life choices was incredibly rewarding. Gibson handles themes of loss, love, and second chances with grace and sincerity. The character development is real, messy, and beautiful.

"Giving her heart to the one who held it first, was a risk worth taking."

And that epilogue? Pure perfection.

You'll laugh, cry, and want to book a trip to Terra Cove before you've even turned the last page.

This is my first book by this author and I can’t wait to read her other books.

Thank you to the author for the advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy]

Willow Anderson is a jilted bride who needs a change of scenery. She is thinking about returning home or returning to the scene of the crime, so to speak. When her father is critically injured after falling off of a horse, it is like the stars aligned to bring her back home to Martha's Vineyard and her family farm. Willow left more than 8 years ago after a traumatic experience which altered her life's course and left her heartbroken and somewhat bitter. Her past still haunts her daily.

Grayson Turner is a ghost of her past. They loved each other so much until that fateful night, but neither Grayson nor Willow have ever truly gotten over their lost love. Grayson is also keeping a secret which will upend Willow's world. He just has to figure out how to tell her. In this case the truth may not set him free.

This story was filled with rich emotions and breathtaking scenery. The author does a fantastic job of building characters that come alive in the mind the reader. A poignant look at love and hope, as well as healing while also repairing the relationship of a flawed family in all its messy glory. I sighed, swooned, and even shed a tear or two. If anyone has ever deserved a second chance, it was Willow and Grayson. Debbie Macomber fans will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Harpeth Road and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon]

I really enjoyed this book. Our story begins on prom night when Willow is left questioning her long time relationship with boyfriend Grayson. His best friend, Tyler arrives to pick her up telling her Grayson no longer wants to be with her with no other explanation about what happened. This ends their relationship as Tyler takes his place. Fast forward when we rejoin after Willow graduates from college and is set up in her career. She has moved to another state and in a relationship with Tyler and has never returned home. Her father ends up in the hospital and Willow must return. Will she find out the truth about what really happened? Will Grayson come talk to her and explain things? Will Tyler come clean on what really happened? Will she grow back in love with her hometown? You won't want to put this book down; it keeps you really engaged and wanting to keep reading way past your bedtime! :)

[Patty]

Second chance romance, 3.5 stars

With 8 years of secrets and misunderstandings between them, when Willow returns to Terra Cove, Martha’s Vineyard, there are bound to be awkward situations. Her main focus is her father’s hospitalization and rehab after a fall, and helping with the family business. Her life is in turmoil, having been text-dumped on her wedding day to childhood friend Tyler, and her questions about why other childhood friend/first love Grayson left her.

I thought this was a good book, loved the family support for everyone. Didn’t care for Tyler’s actions throughout the story, and felt that Willow, a therapist, was acting a bit immature. But overall, a nice, clean read by a new to me author.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books]

What a beautiful read this proved to be,
Filled with secrets and family history.
A teen romance was thwarted, she ran away
Now, eight years later, she'll come to stay.

Left at the altar two weeks before
Willow gets a call home she can't ignore.
Her father is injured, she needs to get there
Facing the past at last if she dare.

A lovely story, a second chance romance
But who will be the one with whom she'll dance?
A love triangle, lies and surprises are all in store
She needs the truth even more.

Great characters and setting with community, too,
With medical emergencies and much to get through.
But will she still feel the need to run away
Or will she return this time to stay?

I really enjoyed this fabulous book
And highly recommend you give it more than a look!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Elizabeth]

This book ran the gamut of emotions but is a great summer read! With the setting of Martha's Vineyard and Mystic Connecticut, readers are taken through flashbacks to present day events to share Willow, Tyler and Grayson's interconnected stories. I loved the varying timelines and the varying points of views. It gives me the chance to get to know the different characters with a little more details to their personalities and makes me feel more connected to them. I love when a story connects me to the characters and makes it feel as if I am walking along with them through the story. I didn't want the story to end! Thank you to Lindsay Gibson and Harpeth Road Press for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

[Hannah Symonds]

This story is about Willow who has to get away from her old life, things had gone from bad to worse and she just needs to escape so she goes back to Martha's vineyard where she has not been for a very long time. But the past comes back to haunt her, with her father needing her help more than ever can she take on the ability to look after him and the family farm by herself? it was a great paced story that fills you with comfort. I liked how the story flowed and the story itself was captivating and easy to follow along with. I liked Willow and I also liked seeing the connection between her and Grayson after not seeing each other for a long time. It was a great read. I look forward to Lindsay's next book.

[Savannah Carlisle]

When Willow Anderson returns home after almost a decade away, she has to face two men: the one who left her at the altar and the one who broke her heart in high school. And...the guys have a secret of their own they need to tell her.

This story had so many layers! There was nothing formulaic about this story. It was SO original!

I also loved the gorgeous Martha's Vineyard setting. It made me want to book a trip ASAP! I've never been but have always wanted to go, and this book only inspired me more.

This book is a sweet/clean read, meaning it's no spice and no swearing. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator.

If you're looking for a heartwarming summer romance, add Where It Began to your TBR!

[J.]

This isn't the first book I've read by Lindsay Gibson, but it's my favorite! Her New England coastal settings are gorgeous, and her characters stay with you long after you finish the story.

I enjoyed the unique take on a sort-of love triangle that delves deep into childhood friendship, the mistakes made, and the regrets that ensued. I was rooting for Willow and Grayson from the beginning, but I also couldn't help feeling bad for Tyler, even though he made some questionable choices. But to be fair, Grayson, Willow, and Tyler each made regrettable choices that haunted them in the following years from high school into young adulthood.

If you like your romance books with beautiful settings, emotional depth, and relatable characters, check out Lindsay's work!

[Eris]

This is a good book. The three main characters are Willow, Grayson, and Tyler. Willow and Grayson dated during high school. The night of senior prom, Willow and Grayson were going together to prom, Tyler showed up and told some lies about Grayson. They were all three best friends. Willow was upset and went away to college. Eight years later, Tyler and Willow were supposed to get married, but Tyler broke up with Willow. Her family call her and tell her to come home because her father is in the hospital. She comes home and sees Grayson. They start visiting together. They fall in love.

[Amanda Burbank-oates]

This is the first book by Lindsay Gibson that I have read. It sure did not disappoint. From start to finish I could not put this book down. The way she guided the story through heartbreak, tragedy, and lies into forgiveness, love, and redemption was beautifully done. If you are looking for a sweet romance to read this summer, don't hesitate to pick this one up. I received a gifted copy of this book, but this did not impact the opinion of the book.

[Sheri]

I really loved this book! It might make you cry a little. Willow and Grayson have been friends since childhood. Their journey back together includes healing from old childhood wounds. It's heartbreaking and heartwarming. There are several surprises I never could've guessed. The writing is descriptive enough to pull you into the small town and want to live there too. Not to mention all the wonderful characters! I highly recommend this book!

[Booknerdia]

Where It All Began by Lindsay Gibson reads like a bad Hallmark movie. This novel, once again, showcases Gibson's style: forcing a story to unfold in a manner that makes no sense, overhyping the drama, ignoring all the holes, and hoping the reader won't notice.

For a detailed description of all the problems found in this book, see my full review here: https://www.booknerdia.com/post/revie...

[Cindi_loves_to_read]

Where It All Began by Lindsay Gibson. This book!! She describes picturesque New England and Martha's Vineyard so well. I believed that I was right there!
She created heartfelt chemistry between her main characters, Willow and Grayson.
Willow whose wedding never happened and Grayson, a lovable local.
I loved this story about family and home and it's definitely a favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing for an early copy. I loved it!!

[Melissa Henderson]

From beginning to end, this story captured me and wouldn't let go. Heartbreak, an unexpected life change, and journeying through memories from the past, Willow Anderson has decisions to make. Secrets can change everything. Romance, trust, hope, and much more, are found in this wonderful story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

[Sheri Fields]

thank you NetGalley for the read, I could only give 2 stars sorry. This was a bit far fetched for me, I mean really, although a sweet story it was a bit hard to believe, I mean really how could anyone keep a secret like this for 8 years.. just saying. I was kind with my two stars I feel bad giving books one star...

[Kathy Henson]

Love never fails

Always love a happy ending. And real life events along the way. Just to be reminded we all have our life trials but sometimes it’s worth it in the end

[Audrey Lancho]

Be prepared for an emotional and romantic ride! Gibson shines––her writing is stellar as she describes the picturesque New England and Martha's Vineyard setting, as well as how she creates the chemistry between her characters. Grayson is a lovable hero and handsome to boot. The author spotlights each character's emotions in depth in each chapter, making this book feel like a deep talk with your best friend, and also leaning towards a women's fiction feel rather than pure romance. This is a story about family and home and it definitely warmed my heart!

[Charlotte Hayes]

An emotional, introspective journey about family, healing, and uncovering the truths that shape who we are.

[Sarah Carper]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lindsay Gibson’s books have been high on my want to read list. This was the first one I’ve had a chance to pick up. The cover of this first caught my attention. And the synopsis confirmed I needed to read this book. Overall, I found the story to be okay. I loved the family aspects of this story, but I found many of the characters to be unlikeable, which makes it hard to get past when reading. I still look forward to trying the author’s other books!

[Carlie]

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Slow and repetitive. Annoyed me right from the start and didn’t get any better.