What do you think?
Rate this book
Fresh Start
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jan 26Meet Kate Chen.
She's got a loyal heart, eyeliner sharp enough to cut a man, and a vendetta against her college fling-turned-foe-turned-coworker, Brandon Roberts.
Thanks to the devastating trifecta of the museum where she works nearing bankruptcy, her manipulative parents, and her stupidly hot ex refusing to give up on second chances, Kate is forced to confront her messed-up past or risk losing the future she’s always wanted.
Kate decides a New Year’s resolution to take a chance on love might be the catch-all solution to her problems.
But once she begins to receive mysteriously creepy text messages, she realizes that her new lease on life may not be what she once thought.
Will she find the culprit's identity, self-acceptance, and the unconditional love she’s always wished for?
Or will she only end up reliving her past?
Fresh Start is a closed door, second-chance romance with heartbreak, healing, and humor.
She's got a loyal heart, eyeliner sharp enough to cut a man, and a vendetta against her college fling-turned-foe-turned-coworker, Brandon Roberts.
Thanks to the devastating trifecta of the museum where she works nearing bankruptcy, her manipulative parents, and her stupidly hot ex refusing to give up on second chances, Kate is forced to confront her messed-up past or risk losing the future she’s always wanted.
Kate decides a New Year’s resolution to take a chance on love might be the catch-all solution to her problems.
But once she begins to receive mysteriously creepy text messages, she realizes that her new lease on life may not be what she once thought.
Will she find the culprit's identity, self-acceptance, and the unconditional love she’s always wished for?
Or will she only end up reliving her past?
Fresh Start is a closed door, second-chance romance with heartbreak, healing, and humor.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 28, 2026
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, Kate and Brandon’s story is one roller coaster of emotions. These two have been through it, and while they will make it through to the other side, it’s a hard earned HEA. Wow!
Not going to lie, when I saw the length of this one, I was surprised, but once I realized the depth of the story and the back and forth format between when Kate and Brandon first met and the present, it all made sense. Truth be told, I enjoyed it so much that I flew through it.
Kate and Brandon have a past, and Kate is both surprised and annoyed when she finds out Brandon now works at her job. She insists she can’t stand him and can’t be around him but is that really the truth? Because the lingering looks and unresolved tension say otherwise. Brandon was the one man Kate truly let in, and when a misunderstanding broke them apart, it completely shattered her. Now she’s walled herself off, refusing to be that vulnerable again.
Brandon was all in for Kate, and that same misunderstanding made him believe she wasn’t willing to choose him the way he chose her. Working together is hard, watching her date others is even harder, and wanting more with her feels impossible. They’ve tried before and failed… so is it worth risking their hearts again?
You all the banter, Brandon’s feelings for Kate (so sweet!), and the emotional highs and lows of these two were a bit of a tearjerker, and I was there for it! I cannot wait for Tucker and Julia’s story, I could sense it coming and I’m so excited!
Rating:4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!
Additional Notes:
This is a secular, closed door romance. This is not an exhaustive list, but content notes include:
* Innuendo
* Alcoholism
* S-x outside of marriage
* Closed door: level 3
* Two female side characters engaged to each other
* A line Christian readers may want to know about: “I close my eyes for a second, praying to whatever god is responsible for complicated women with matcha addictions and daddy issues.”
Not going to lie, when I saw the length of this one, I was surprised, but once I realized the depth of the story and the back and forth format between when Kate and Brandon first met and the present, it all made sense. Truth be told, I enjoyed it so much that I flew through it.
Kate and Brandon have a past, and Kate is both surprised and annoyed when she finds out Brandon now works at her job. She insists she can’t stand him and can’t be around him but is that really the truth? Because the lingering looks and unresolved tension say otherwise. Brandon was the one man Kate truly let in, and when a misunderstanding broke them apart, it completely shattered her. Now she’s walled herself off, refusing to be that vulnerable again.
Brandon was all in for Kate, and that same misunderstanding made him believe she wasn’t willing to choose him the way he chose her. Working together is hard, watching her date others is even harder, and wanting more with her feels impossible. They’ve tried before and failed… so is it worth risking their hearts again?
You all the banter, Brandon’s feelings for Kate (so sweet!), and the emotional highs and lows of these two were a bit of a tearjerker, and I was there for it! I cannot wait for Tucker and Julia’s story, I could sense it coming and I’m so excited!
Rating:4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!
Additional Notes:
This is a secular, closed door romance. This is not an exhaustive list, but content notes include:
* Innuendo
* Alcoholism
* S-x outside of marriage
* Closed door: level 3
* Two female side characters engaged to each other
* A line Christian readers may want to know about: “I close my eyes for a second, praying to whatever god is responsible for complicated women with matcha addictions and daddy issues.”
December 18, 2025
Wow!! Just wow!! This story of Kate and Brandon was just phenomenal! I was laughing, I was crying, but most of all I was routing for these two to be together!
Kate is the epitome of confidence, or so she wants everyone to think. Her life is much more complicated than she’d let anyone know. At least that’s her now. She did let one person in but that ended in disaster. She thought after not seeing Bronson for 6 years that she was doing fine, until she sees him in the break room of the museum she works at.
Bronson is charming and smooth. He can get any girl he wants, except one he let slip through his fingers 6 years ago. But fate has brought him and Kate together again and he wants to do everything he can to get her back.
This story is about growth in one’s life and self love. There’s a bit of mystery with an unexpected twist of emotions. I devoured this book any chance in could get! You won’t regret reading this wonderful book!!
Kate is the epitome of confidence, or so she wants everyone to think. Her life is much more complicated than she’d let anyone know. At least that’s her now. She did let one person in but that ended in disaster. She thought after not seeing Bronson for 6 years that she was doing fine, until she sees him in the break room of the museum she works at.
Bronson is charming and smooth. He can get any girl he wants, except one he let slip through his fingers 6 years ago. But fate has brought him and Kate together again and he wants to do everything he can to get her back.
This story is about growth in one’s life and self love. There’s a bit of mystery with an unexpected twist of emotions. I devoured this book any chance in could get! You won’t regret reading this wonderful book!!
December 10, 2025
Oh. My. Gosh!! This story is an epically amazing, roller coaster of emotions, with fiery banter and the best tension filled romance, with a mystery that made my heart pound so hard!
No spoilers, but oh my heck, the mystery!! 😱
Full review to come-10/10 absolutely a must read.
Thank you Melissa for my ARC-I am SO happy I did not have to wait until January to read this book.
No spoilers, but oh my heck, the mystery!! 😱
Full review to come-10/10 absolutely a must read.
Thank you Melissa for my ARC-I am SO happy I did not have to wait until January to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an amazing stand alone. You can read fresh canvas if you want to know the other characters too but not necessary.
It’s a great second chance at love story mixed in with him saving her but ultimately her learning about her strengths. I loved the boxing lessons in it. Wish there was more. But it’s defiantly on my shelf again for a re read.
It’s a great second chance at love story mixed in with him saving her but ultimately her learning about her strengths. I loved the boxing lessons in it. Wish there was more. But it’s defiantly on my shelf again for a re read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews