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Time To Begin: Family Life Romance (Women's Fiction)
The moment she and Rani get divorced, Amalya finds out she’s pregnant again. With Rani’s baby. The last pregnancy ended badly and destroyed their relationship. It takes her a very long time to tell her news to Yona, her mother, and Anna, her best friend. And Yiftach, her old-new guy. And Rani.
Time to Begin is a beautiful and versatile novel about people who are forced to choose new paths, because the old ones have disappeared beneath their feet.
Why was she thinking of Yona right now? That’s what was making her feel sick. Amalya sat on the stairs and put her head between her knees. Rani leaned down and put a hand on her forehead.
“Stop, I’m fine.” She pushed his hand away. She tried to get up but stumbled and when she grabbed the railing she bent her fingernail and it hurt so much that she accidentally bit her tongue.
“Ouch,” she blurted. Tears filled her eyes.
Rani grabbed her for support. “That’s it, I’m driving you, I don’t care. Where’s your bike?” he asked, not letting go.
“Over there.” She motioned with her head.
He helped her down the stairs. “I don’t understand who rides a bike to their own divorce ceremony,” he said again.
Don’t worry about it, you don’t have to understand me anymore. You have no further obligations. No children, no dogs, only two small goldfish in a round bowl.
He unlocked the chain with his typical care as Amalya leaned on a nearby fence. He loaded the bike onto his shoulder with such precision that it never even touched his clean shirt. With his free hand he held onto Amalya and they walked away from the rabbinate together, legally and religiously divorced.
Time to Begin is a beautiful and versatile novel about people who are forced to choose new paths, because the old ones have disappeared beneath their feet.
Why was she thinking of Yona right now? That’s what was making her feel sick. Amalya sat on the stairs and put her head between her knees. Rani leaned down and put a hand on her forehead.
“Stop, I’m fine.” She pushed his hand away. She tried to get up but stumbled and when she grabbed the railing she bent her fingernail and it hurt so much that she accidentally bit her tongue.
“Ouch,” she blurted. Tears filled her eyes.
Rani grabbed her for support. “That’s it, I’m driving you, I don’t care. Where’s your bike?” he asked, not letting go.
“Over there.” She motioned with her head.
He helped her down the stairs. “I don’t understand who rides a bike to their own divorce ceremony,” he said again.
Don’t worry about it, you don’t have to understand me anymore. You have no further obligations. No children, no dogs, only two small goldfish in a round bowl.
He unlocked the chain with his typical care as Amalya leaned on a nearby fence. He loaded the bike onto his shoulder with such precision that it never even touched his clean shirt. With his free hand he held onto Amalya and they walked away from the rabbinate together, legally and religiously divorced.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
17 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 2, 2017
Read all the way through but it was so hard. I could not get into this book. To many characters and individual stories going on that it makes you loose focus on the main character.
January 12, 2015
I received this book through a promotion in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.
For me, this story was hard to get into. The beginning didn't catch my attention or keep it. It wasn't until further into the story that I started to really enjoy it.
I found it confusing at times when it came to some of the characters. There wasn't much of an introduction to them. Most of the time, names were mentioned and you got to know the characters and who they were and how they related throughout the book.
Many of the characters had different personalities that stood out and made it easier to remember who was who.
Amalya and Rani are the two main, main characters. They're getting a divorce after six years of trying to overcome struggles in their relationship. Rani seems like a good, supportive guy, but I wish he fought for Amalya more. Although, Amalya seemed like she could be very stubborn, like her father.
After the divorce, Amalya found out she was pregnant with Rani's baby. After previous troubles with pregnancies or trying to get pregnant, Amalya had her fears regarding this pregnancy. She tried to keep it to herself for as long as she could. Rani, of course, had found the ultra sound picture. He had more faith that this pregnancy could work out. He seemed to be more of the planner or the person who looked for the good in a situation.
I kept finding myself wanting to know what would happen between Amalya and her old high school guy, Yiftach. I wish there was more with him in the story.
Many of the other characters in the story also had their own issues to deal with, such as: a death/car accident, trying to find one's self, adopting a child, finding time between their personal life and their professional life, dealing with a failing relationship, etc.
For me, this story was hard to get into. The beginning didn't catch my attention or keep it. It wasn't until further into the story that I started to really enjoy it.
I found it confusing at times when it came to some of the characters. There wasn't much of an introduction to them. Most of the time, names were mentioned and you got to know the characters and who they were and how they related throughout the book.
Many of the characters had different personalities that stood out and made it easier to remember who was who.
Amalya and Rani are the two main, main characters. They're getting a divorce after six years of trying to overcome struggles in their relationship. Rani seems like a good, supportive guy, but I wish he fought for Amalya more. Although, Amalya seemed like she could be very stubborn, like her father.
After the divorce, Amalya found out she was pregnant with Rani's baby. After previous troubles with pregnancies or trying to get pregnant, Amalya had her fears regarding this pregnancy. She tried to keep it to herself for as long as she could. Rani, of course, had found the ultra sound picture. He had more faith that this pregnancy could work out. He seemed to be more of the planner or the person who looked for the good in a situation.
I kept finding myself wanting to know what would happen between Amalya and her old high school guy, Yiftach. I wish there was more with him in the story.
Many of the other characters in the story also had their own issues to deal with, such as: a death/car accident, trying to find one's self, adopting a child, finding time between their personal life and their professional life, dealing with a failing relationship, etc.
January 23, 2022
Plot sounded interesting, but that's it
I started reading this book because it sounded like an interesting story. A woman discovers she's pregnant just as her divorce is finalized and has to decide how to move forward. It's supposed to be a love story. Does she go back to her husband? Does she fall in love with someone new? I have no idea because I couldn't get further than 20% of the way through!
The writing style is horrible. It's slow, the dialogue is stilted, and the narrative in a lot of places is just plain irrelevant and boring. And whose story is it anyway? It's supposed to be Amalya's story, but then the author takes you to another character, then another character, then another character, and this far into the book, the characters' individual story lines still haven't come together.
There's a five-year-old character who speaks like a 12-year-old, so clearly the author has no idea how to write in a five-year-old voice. And the straw that broke the camel's back? When Amalya is talking with her new neighbors and tells them to call her Milly because the only person who calls her Amalya is her mother. But I have news for you...up until this point in the book, absolutely NO ONE has called her Milly. At that point, I closed the book and it will be deleted. I just can't bring myself to even try to finish it which speaks volumes to how much I disliked it.
I've read other reviews that talked about what a great love story it is. I don't see it...and I won't. Skip this one!
UPDATE: I did finally finish this. The review stands.
I started reading this book because it sounded like an interesting story. A woman discovers she's pregnant just as her divorce is finalized and has to decide how to move forward. It's supposed to be a love story. Does she go back to her husband? Does she fall in love with someone new? I have no idea because I couldn't get further than 20% of the way through!
The writing style is horrible. It's slow, the dialogue is stilted, and the narrative in a lot of places is just plain irrelevant and boring. And whose story is it anyway? It's supposed to be Amalya's story, but then the author takes you to another character, then another character, then another character, and this far into the book, the characters' individual story lines still haven't come together.
There's a five-year-old character who speaks like a 12-year-old, so clearly the author has no idea how to write in a five-year-old voice. And the straw that broke the camel's back? When Amalya is talking with her new neighbors and tells them to call her Milly because the only person who calls her Amalya is her mother. But I have news for you...up until this point in the book, absolutely NO ONE has called her Milly. At that point, I closed the book and it will be deleted. I just can't bring myself to even try to finish it which speaks volumes to how much I disliked it.
I've read other reviews that talked about what a great love story it is. I don't see it...and I won't. Skip this one!
UPDATE: I did finally finish this. The review stands.
February 19, 2015
Can you imagine showing up to your divorce hearing that comes at the heel of a miscarriage, only to find out that you are pregnant by your now ex-husband?
Well, that is exactly what happens to Amalya...now she has a secret.
This book was a great afternoon read, and I found myself feeling for Amalya, she has so much on her plate now, being divorced and pregnant, but also trying to move on with her life, as she attempts a relationship with her old high school flame.
The author does an excellent job of introducing you to the characters in this book, she goes into great detail about their features and personalities. You walk away feeling like you know them on a personal level.
If you are looking for a new afternoon read, then you have to give Time To Begin a shot.
*I received the item in this post complimentary for review purposes. All opinions found within are purely my own*
Well, that is exactly what happens to Amalya...now she has a secret.
This book was a great afternoon read, and I found myself feeling for Amalya, she has so much on her plate now, being divorced and pregnant, but also trying to move on with her life, as she attempts a relationship with her old high school flame.
The author does an excellent job of introducing you to the characters in this book, she goes into great detail about their features and personalities. You walk away feeling like you know them on a personal level.
If you are looking for a new afternoon read, then you have to give Time To Begin a shot.
*I received the item in this post complimentary for review purposes. All opinions found within are purely my own*
March 6, 2015
This was a tough one to get into for a few reasons. There were so many characters that it was overwhelming and difficult to keep up. There were also a lot of references to Jewish culture, which I am not at all familiar with, which made it difficult to understand. Overall, I did enjoy this book, though. The characters are well-defined and multi-faceted. The author really describes and explains who they are. This is a great story of family, friends, and dealing with difficult times in our lives. This book deals with life in a very realistic way, all of the characters have their own struggles and complications that anyone can relate to. Overall, I enjoyed Time to Begin and recommend it.
*I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are 100% my own.
*I received a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are 100% my own.
January 13, 2015
Time to Begin is a contemporary romance novel that will take you the most intimate world of a woman…her thoughts, her dreams, her hopes, and her sorrows…Amalya, the main character if the book, finds herself pregnant with the man that she is getting a divorce from, Rani…Ironically, their love story is ending because of a previous pregnancy that ended horribly wrong…This is a woman at crossroads…This is a story that will have you hoping and dreaming.
In Time to Begin, Vered Schnabel delivers a fascinating well written story and powerful characters that you will fall in love with. This book is simply amazing…highly recommended!
In Time to Begin, Vered Schnabel delivers a fascinating well written story and powerful characters that you will fall in love with. This book is simply amazing…highly recommended!
February 5, 2015
You're immediately drawin' into this heart-warming family story. Time to begin is not only of Amalya and and her Ex-Husband Rani, but also Amalya's mother Yona, her best friend Anna, and Yiftach, her new love interest. The characters make you feel like you know them. This story is simply beautifully written. I found myself reading it while my kids napped and I couldn't put it down. You felt Amalya's pain, pregnant and now divorced. This story takes you thru an emotional ride. I highly recommend to all my love story novel readers! You will love it!!!
March 20, 2015
life
What a good book filled with characters so full of the parts of life we all encounter: angst, love, doubt and confusion. This tale pulled at my emotions and left me with a sense of hope.
What a good book filled with characters so full of the parts of life we all encounter: angst, love, doubt and confusion. This tale pulled at my emotions and left me with a sense of hope.
November 4, 2015
Did Not Finish. I couldn't find any connection with the large, jumbled cast of characters and their various plot lines. The premise of the story was intriguing, but the reality didn't live up to the idea.
August 3, 2015
the book sounded so interesting but the writing style does not work.
there are so many different characters and none of them are introduced as to who they are! it was like reading mini stories..maybe it is explained further in the book...I do not know
couldn't read this book
there are so many different characters and none of them are introduced as to who they are! it was like reading mini stories..maybe it is explained further in the book...I do not know
couldn't read this book
March 28, 2015
this story was very hard to get into. I Normally don't have that problem reading but I was super lost. just couldn't keep up with the characters.
August 30, 2015
I had a hard time keeping up with the story. So many things were happening and the flashbacks were too many. The ending did surprise me but I enjoyed that it ended well.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews