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Nugget #4
Starting Over
The mountain town of Nugget, California, may be tiny, but with its breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and lovable locals, it has everything. Not to mention it’s the perfect setting for firsts—and seconds—of all kinds…
On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn’t want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she’s going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss…
The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could’ve hired Sam is beyond him. Nate’s known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he’ll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam’s got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone…
On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn’t want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she’s going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss…
The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could’ve hired Sam is beyond him. Nate’s known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he’ll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam’s got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone…
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2015
158 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Stacy Finz
37 books547 followersStacy Finz is an award-winning former newspaper reporter. After more than twenty years covering notorious serial killers, naked-tractor-driving farmers, fanatical foodies, aging rock stars and weird Western towns, she figured she finally had enough material to launch a career writing fiction. She is the author of the Nugget Romance series (Kensington/Lyrical Press) about a small mountain town that has a strange way of giving people unexpected reasons to start over--and find the most irresistible chances to fall in love. Look for her Garner Brothers series (Zebra) in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 6, 2019
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
I know it doesn't seem like it since I've taken so long to review this series but I really did enjoy it. I just happened to have read a ton of books this year and have tried to fit them all in to be review. I'm going to work really hard to get the rest of the series reviewed this year.
Fingers crossed!
Up this time are Nate and Samantha! I really enjoyed them. Poor Nate was so worried about what would happen to his business if his sister and he left Sam in charge of anything. I mean, she has to be flighty she did walk out of her wedding didn't she?
Turns out that Samantha has more up top than anyone ever gave her credit for. Some of that's her fault she allowed her life to be lead. She didn't stand for herself.
I didn't really care for Nate when I first met him in his sister's book and I have to say that at times he ticked me off in this book too. But as time went on he grew on me. I saw him start to take time for the little things in life. To live and enjoy those around him. He worries so much about business and the people he's in charge of that he forgets to breathe.
Another person I didn't care for was Sam's dad. He was not likable at all when you meet him. How she turned out so wonderfully I have no clue.
What I loved is the fact that Nate even though he worried Sam couldn't handle things was so proud of her when she did. They really build each other up even if they don't realize it. It's what makes this an enjoyable romance to read.
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I know it doesn't seem like it since I've taken so long to review this series but I really did enjoy it. I just happened to have read a ton of books this year and have tried to fit them all in to be review. I'm going to work really hard to get the rest of the series reviewed this year.
Fingers crossed!
Up this time are Nate and Samantha! I really enjoyed them. Poor Nate was so worried about what would happen to his business if his sister and he left Sam in charge of anything. I mean, she has to be flighty she did walk out of her wedding didn't she?
Turns out that Samantha has more up top than anyone ever gave her credit for. Some of that's her fault she allowed her life to be lead. She didn't stand for herself.
I didn't really care for Nate when I first met him in his sister's book and I have to say that at times he ticked me off in this book too. But as time went on he grew on me. I saw him start to take time for the little things in life. To live and enjoy those around him. He worries so much about business and the people he's in charge of that he forgets to breathe.
Another person I didn't care for was Sam's dad. He was not likable at all when you meet him. How she turned out so wonderfully I have no clue.
What I loved is the fact that Nate even though he worried Sam couldn't handle things was so proud of her when she did. They really build each other up even if they don't realize it. It's what makes this an enjoyable romance to read.
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August 18, 2015
ARC REVIEW
Back again in the quaint little town of Nugget California. In the last book Second Chances we are introduced, quite dramatically, to Samantha Dunsbury and almost immediately you see sparks fly between her and Nate Breyer. Nothing really bad happens in this story for the exception of the cook leaving the Lumber Baron Inn with no notice, the Abernathy's still trying to sabotage the Baron, and the stubbornness and blind dislike Nate has for Sam.
Nate has his reasons for not liking Sam, but those reasons are erroneous. Nate was in love once she was from a well off family, stupid rich, and she was flighty, flaky, and seriously something wrong with her psychologically, not that Nate realized any of that he was blinded by love. But when she left him and ended their engagement he applied that stereotype to every woman from a rich family. When Sam showed up in Nugget and was given the job of events planner by Maddy, Nate figured it was just a passing phase for a socialite like Sam and she would quit as soon as she got bored just like his ex.
Samantha Dunsbury blew into Nugget and instantly won the hearts of all the locals, for the exception of Nate. Sam needed a place to start over and Nugget seemed like just the place. She drove off the night before her wedding after overhearing some truly hateful words her fiance, a man who proclaimed to love her, said about her everything just seemed to click into place that the path she was going on was the wrong one and if she continued down it she would be miserable. So off she drove until she was all the way across the country from her overbearing father and unfaithful fiance. The job as events planner for The Lumber Baron is the perfect job for her and with Maddy on maternity leave she is having to deal with Nate a man who doesn't trust or like her. She is determined to prove Nate wrong that she is there to stay.
As much as Nate doesn't want to like her the more time he spends with her the more he likes her. When things start to go wrong Sam is there to see things through and succeed, Nate is forced to realize she is nothing like his ex. The attraction is there already so the romance and love falls in line pretty quickly. The admittance and sharing of said love is a little more complicated.
Starting Over is a fun and witty read, overall, it's a great book.
Back again in the quaint little town of Nugget California. In the last book Second Chances we are introduced, quite dramatically, to Samantha Dunsbury and almost immediately you see sparks fly between her and Nate Breyer. Nothing really bad happens in this story for the exception of the cook leaving the Lumber Baron Inn with no notice, the Abernathy's still trying to sabotage the Baron, and the stubbornness and blind dislike Nate has for Sam.
Nate has his reasons for not liking Sam, but those reasons are erroneous. Nate was in love once she was from a well off family, stupid rich, and she was flighty, flaky, and seriously something wrong with her psychologically, not that Nate realized any of that he was blinded by love. But when she left him and ended their engagement he applied that stereotype to every woman from a rich family. When Sam showed up in Nugget and was given the job of events planner by Maddy, Nate figured it was just a passing phase for a socialite like Sam and she would quit as soon as she got bored just like his ex.
Samantha Dunsbury blew into Nugget and instantly won the hearts of all the locals, for the exception of Nate. Sam needed a place to start over and Nugget seemed like just the place. She drove off the night before her wedding after overhearing some truly hateful words her fiance, a man who proclaimed to love her, said about her everything just seemed to click into place that the path she was going on was the wrong one and if she continued down it she would be miserable. So off she drove until she was all the way across the country from her overbearing father and unfaithful fiance. The job as events planner for The Lumber Baron is the perfect job for her and with Maddy on maternity leave she is having to deal with Nate a man who doesn't trust or like her. She is determined to prove Nate wrong that she is there to stay.
As much as Nate doesn't want to like her the more time he spends with her the more he likes her. When things start to go wrong Sam is there to see things through and succeed, Nate is forced to realize she is nothing like his ex. The attraction is there already so the romance and love falls in line pretty quickly. The admittance and sharing of said love is a little more complicated.
Starting Over is a fun and witty read, overall, it's a great book.
July 25, 2015
**3.5 stars**
The Nugget series is one of those series that I enjoy because I love that small town feel of it. You get to not only come to know the H/h but all of the various, quirky characters that inhabit the town and end up wanting to know more and more about all of them. So I was excited to get my hands on Starting Over after getting a glimpse of the tension between Nate and Sam, and while I enjoyed the book overall I have mixed feelings about Nate and Sam.
Sam/Samantha I actually really liked, and that was before finding out what happened with her worthless ex-fiance, Royce. She wanted to be known for more than her last name and social status and made it happen. She found her niche at the Lumber Baron and made friends with the various characters in Nugget by just being the sweet, caring and helpful person she was. Nate, oh Nate. I have a love hate relationship with him. On the positive side, he was caring, protective and considerate of those he called friends and family. He’d do anything for them and did. On the negative side, he was simply an asshat to Sam. Yes, he had his reasons and in the beginning I could understand why he treated her the way he did, but as it progressed it really just made him appear petty and cruel, especially when he would get all jealous and possessive and then do a total 180 and push her away.
Nate’s treatment of Sam, and even some of Sam’s actions, though not as thoughtless as Nate’s, had me questioning if they were supposed to have an HEA. Much of their relationship revolves around business matters and while there was some fun bantering going on between them, they never really had true heart to heart moments as far as I was concerned. Nate wouldn’t stop comparing her to his own ex and give her the benefit of the doubt, even after she’d proven time and time again she wasn’t what he assumed her to be like. And Sam stubbornly refused to explain what made her become a runaway bride. I understood her reason for it, and actually commend her for it, but had these two truly communicated things may have happened a little differently. And then there is the ending. Again I have mixed feelings, but it is what it is.
Now while the H/h didn’t fully do it for me, I still enjoyed spending time in the little town of Nugget. We get to catch up with all of the quirky, fun, sweet and nosy people of the town and meet a few new ones. Both Lucky and Brady have definitely peaked my interest and I cannot wait to see what she has up her sleeves for both of them.
The Bottom Line: Though I didn’t fall in love with Nate and Sam (You can’t win ‘em all) I still found this book to be as well written and engaging as the rest of the series and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
~ ARC received from Kensington Press-Lyrical Shine via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
The Nugget series is one of those series that I enjoy because I love that small town feel of it. You get to not only come to know the H/h but all of the various, quirky characters that inhabit the town and end up wanting to know more and more about all of them. So I was excited to get my hands on Starting Over after getting a glimpse of the tension between Nate and Sam, and while I enjoyed the book overall I have mixed feelings about Nate and Sam.
Sam/Samantha I actually really liked, and that was before finding out what happened with her worthless ex-fiance, Royce. She wanted to be known for more than her last name and social status and made it happen. She found her niche at the Lumber Baron and made friends with the various characters in Nugget by just being the sweet, caring and helpful person she was. Nate, oh Nate. I have a love hate relationship with him. On the positive side, he was caring, protective and considerate of those he called friends and family. He’d do anything for them and did. On the negative side, he was simply an asshat to Sam. Yes, he had his reasons and in the beginning I could understand why he treated her the way he did, but as it progressed it really just made him appear petty and cruel, especially when he would get all jealous and possessive and then do a total 180 and push her away.
Nate’s treatment of Sam, and even some of Sam’s actions, though not as thoughtless as Nate’s, had me questioning if they were supposed to have an HEA. Much of their relationship revolves around business matters and while there was some fun bantering going on between them, they never really had true heart to heart moments as far as I was concerned. Nate wouldn’t stop comparing her to his own ex and give her the benefit of the doubt, even after she’d proven time and time again she wasn’t what he assumed her to be like. And Sam stubbornly refused to explain what made her become a runaway bride. I understood her reason for it, and actually commend her for it, but had these two truly communicated things may have happened a little differently. And then there is the ending. Again I have mixed feelings, but it is what it is.
Now while the H/h didn’t fully do it for me, I still enjoyed spending time in the little town of Nugget. We get to catch up with all of the quirky, fun, sweet and nosy people of the town and meet a few new ones. Both Lucky and Brady have definitely peaked my interest and I cannot wait to see what she has up her sleeves for both of them.
The Bottom Line: Though I didn’t fall in love with Nate and Sam (You can’t win ‘em all) I still found this book to be as well written and engaging as the rest of the series and can’t wait to get my hands on the next one!
~ ARC received from Kensington Press-Lyrical Shine via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
July 1, 2015
* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review *
3,5 stars
Last month, I read the first of the Nugget Series, Going Home and I really like it. I was really curious about Nate, the main character's brother and I was glad to see Starting Over was available on NetGalley. While this book isn't my favorite of the year so far, it was enjoyable and is a nice summer read.
The story begins with Maddy, the main character of Going Home, is on mathernity leave and can't assume the responsability of organizing events for the inn she owns with her brother Nate. Samantha, a recently out-of-the-lifestyle socialite is hired by Maddy to take over for the year. Let's just say Nate isn't a happy camper and is quite mad to be stuck with a woman with no work experience. Moreover, Sam left her fiancé at the altar, a sore point for the left-at-this-altar Nate. The whole of the book is Nate in a back and forth between being attracted to Sam and not trusting her personally and professionally. I hate when people judge someone based on someone ele's actions and I got quite tired of Nate's attitude so, despite the fact that Sam was great and the plot was entertaining, I had to give this book 3,5 stars.
June 7, 2015
Even though this is the fourth book in the series I adored it more then the first book. This one was more focused on the two main characters then the whole town.
I didn't like Nate in the beginning and by the way he was acting towards Sam he was a total ass but as the book progressed Nate got better. I loved the way Sam and Nate would bicker. Even though they were fighting attraction their relationship worked out for the best.
I think Nate was a little unfair to Sam but I liked how Sam stepped up to the plate and tried her hardest to do her job and be really good at it. One thing that bothered me was that they didn't really have a relationship outside the work place it in general. I mean they sleep together then they kind of break up only to find Nate confessing his love. I just wish their was a bit more to this story.
Although this was a romance it seemed the focus was on building the hotels and making it work and not their love life. I am curious to see what happened to lucky and why him and his love broke up all those years ago. Hope their story is next.
I didn't like Nate in the beginning and by the way he was acting towards Sam he was a total ass but as the book progressed Nate got better. I loved the way Sam and Nate would bicker. Even though they were fighting attraction their relationship worked out for the best.
I think Nate was a little unfair to Sam but I liked how Sam stepped up to the plate and tried her hardest to do her job and be really good at it. One thing that bothered me was that they didn't really have a relationship outside the work place it in general. I mean they sleep together then they kind of break up only to find Nate confessing his love. I just wish their was a bit more to this story.
Although this was a romance it seemed the focus was on building the hotels and making it work and not their love life. I am curious to see what happened to lucky and why him and his love broke up all those years ago. Hope their story is next.
July 2, 2015
This is the fourth book in the Nugget series by Stacy Finz. I read the first book and really enjoyed it. I have not read books two and three but didn't really need to in order to love this story. I certainly will catch up with the two I missed because the people of Nugget are truly interesting characters!
This story centers around Nate and a New York City socialite named Sam. I loved Nate in the first book, I adore him in this book. He comes off like a jerk, but you can't help but believe there is more to him than that. Nate is still harboring some serious resentment about his ex-fiance Kate, running out on him before their wedding. Sam left her fiance on their wedding day and made headlines in the society pages. She fills in at the inn while Maddy is on maternity leave. Nate treats her horrible, but soon finds that he can't fight the attraction he has to her.
This is a great addition to the series. I can't wait to finish the other books.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This story centers around Nate and a New York City socialite named Sam. I loved Nate in the first book, I adore him in this book. He comes off like a jerk, but you can't help but believe there is more to him than that. Nate is still harboring some serious resentment about his ex-fiance Kate, running out on him before their wedding. Sam left her fiance on their wedding day and made headlines in the society pages. She fills in at the inn while Maddy is on maternity leave. Nate treats her horrible, but soon finds that he can't fight the attraction he has to her.
This is a great addition to the series. I can't wait to finish the other books.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 12, 2015
Seeking a fresh start may be the smartest thing she ever did. Falling in love may be the hardest. I have fallen in love with the old-fashioned picturesque town of Nugget, California. Whether a local or a new comer the people are always welcoming. A great place to find yourself and fall in love. Every time I visit it makes me smile. Samantha is learning to take care of herself without outside interference. Nate has his eye on her. Trust doesn't come easy. With a little help and a whole lot of faith these two may find the answers their hearts have been searching for. Every bit of this story will make you believe in miracles. I received an ARC of Starting Over by Stacy Finz and would recommend it to anyone.
August 6, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The main characters Nate and Samantha work perfectly together. Neither seem to fit the small town image. He's a polished businessman splitting his time between Nugget and San Francisco, while she's a New England old money socialite working in a small town hotel. Together though, they seem to be right where they should be. Both have been hurt in the past, so trusting and loving each other won't come easy but when it does it's honest perfection.
A great read that I highly recommend. While this is the fourth book in a series it is easily read stand alone.
A great read that I highly recommend. While this is the fourth book in a series it is easily read stand alone.
August 20, 2017
Starting Over is the fourth book in Stacy Finz’s Nugget series. While it’s an enjoyable story, I don’t feel it’s quite as good as the first three books in the series. My main issue is the hero of the story Nate Breyer and his behavior towards Samantha Dunsbury the heroine. Of course the development of their relationship is the basis of this story so if they had no issues there wouldn’t be much of a story to tell. Still Nate being so often outright rude to Sam because her family background is similar to that of the woman who left him standing at the altar a decade ago just seems inexcusable to me. I also felt the author devoted too many pages in this book to introducing the characters and laying the groundwork for her next book in the series. That’s the negative.
The positives are this story like the others is populated with all the residents of the small town of Nugget California we’ve come to know and love. Because Nate is her brother and much of the story revolves around the Lumber Baron B&B of course Maddy and her husband Rhys have a prominent presence in this book. So does Emily and to a lesser extent her husband to be Clay and his sons. Harlee and Darla, the Bakers Dozen and the Nugget Mafia along with Griffin also get more than a cameo appearance as of course do Sophie and Mariah the mothers of Nate’s daughter Lily. In fact Nate’s struggles to find his place in the life of the little girl he fathered as a favor to his lesbian couple friends is one of the more poignant parts of the story. Samantha is a wonderful character whom I hope doesn’t disappear from future stories. I know I’m just knitpicking here but while Sam is helping Emily plan her wedding to Clay, Emily cautions her she’s working with a limited budget. I thought this odd because we were told in Emily and Clay’s love story that not only does Clay own a cattle ranch larger than the state of Delaware, he also has many other financial holdings and a huge net worth as he and his ancestors had all been very good with their money since first coming to sell beef to the miners in the California gold rush. Just doesn’t seem like money for the wedding would have been much of a concern. As usual Ms. Finz has a few other lesser romances and subplots happening around the main romance which IMHO enriches the story. While maybe not quite as good a read as the first three books in the series I still think if you’re already a fan of the series its worth your time to read.
The positives are this story like the others is populated with all the residents of the small town of Nugget California we’ve come to know and love. Because Nate is her brother and much of the story revolves around the Lumber Baron B&B of course Maddy and her husband Rhys have a prominent presence in this book. So does Emily and to a lesser extent her husband to be Clay and his sons. Harlee and Darla, the Bakers Dozen and the Nugget Mafia along with Griffin also get more than a cameo appearance as of course do Sophie and Mariah the mothers of Nate’s daughter Lily. In fact Nate’s struggles to find his place in the life of the little girl he fathered as a favor to his lesbian couple friends is one of the more poignant parts of the story. Samantha is a wonderful character whom I hope doesn’t disappear from future stories. I know I’m just knitpicking here but while Sam is helping Emily plan her wedding to Clay, Emily cautions her she’s working with a limited budget. I thought this odd because we were told in Emily and Clay’s love story that not only does Clay own a cattle ranch larger than the state of Delaware, he also has many other financial holdings and a huge net worth as he and his ancestors had all been very good with their money since first coming to sell beef to the miners in the California gold rush. Just doesn’t seem like money for the wedding would have been much of a concern. As usual Ms. Finz has a few other lesser romances and subplots happening around the main romance which IMHO enriches the story. While maybe not quite as good a read as the first three books in the series I still think if you’re already a fan of the series its worth your time to read.
March 22, 2021
An enemies-to-lovers story makes its way to Nugget!
Sam is a wealthy socialite who ran away from Connecticut on her wedding day. She is hired by Maddy (read Nugget book 1 for her story) to help with the Lumber Baron while Maddy takes maternity leave. Little does she know that she’ll be dealing with the inn’s co-owner and her neighbor, Nate. Nate is weary of Sam and reluctant to give her opportunities to prove herself out of fear that she’ll leave them after booking multiple events. He pushes her away but in reality, he’s very attracted to her.
I loved this book and it was so different from some of the other Nugget books in that neither character was running away from anything very serious. While Sam ran away from her wedding, she wasn’t hiding from her past like Maddy, Emily or Colin.
Stacy Finz created a wonderful character in Sam. She isn’t a lazy, tiresome person, despite having so much money. Instead she’s hardworking and constantly generating new ideas to grow the business which I thought was fantastic.
Can’t wait for the next one!!
Sam is a wealthy socialite who ran away from Connecticut on her wedding day. She is hired by Maddy (read Nugget book 1 for her story) to help with the Lumber Baron while Maddy takes maternity leave. Little does she know that she’ll be dealing with the inn’s co-owner and her neighbor, Nate. Nate is weary of Sam and reluctant to give her opportunities to prove herself out of fear that she’ll leave them after booking multiple events. He pushes her away but in reality, he’s very attracted to her.
I loved this book and it was so different from some of the other Nugget books in that neither character was running away from anything very serious. While Sam ran away from her wedding, she wasn’t hiding from her past like Maddy, Emily or Colin.
Stacy Finz created a wonderful character in Sam. She isn’t a lazy, tiresome person, despite having so much money. Instead she’s hardworking and constantly generating new ideas to grow the business which I thought was fantastic.
Can’t wait for the next one!!
October 28, 2022
Starting Over is my least favorite of this series to date. Overall it was okay but honestly Nate (the hero) was too much of an a$$ towards Sam (Samantha, the heroine) for way too long in this book to make the romance believable. Sam I actually grew to really like, it was obvious she was ready to break away from her rich girl upbringing and be her own person and I applaud her for that and her work ethic was strong. Most of all I liked that she didn't take any of Nate's crap, that said since she had family money to fall back on if he fired her she would have been okay and not everyone has that privilege. I didn't hate this book, I just didn't enjoy it as much as the others and I will say I am very curious about the new adddtion, Brady. Oh and loved Clay and Emily's wedding, just wow!!
December 10, 2025
3.5 * This was my least favourite of the series that I've read so far. Although I like the characters, their behaviour was a little beyond ridiculous for fully grown adults. All they needed to do was communicate, you know a basic skill and yet they avoided that the entire book. I'm not even sure how they could fall for each other when they weren't able to hold a proper conversation.
I enjoyed meeting Lucky and his mum, but by far I am looking forward to learning more about Brady, the new chef of the Lumber Baron. Hopefully his story will be revealed more over the next books.
I enjoyed meeting Lucky and his mum, but by far I am looking forward to learning more about Brady, the new chef of the Lumber Baron. Hopefully his story will be revealed more over the next books.
August 18, 2017
I really liked the heroine, Samantha. The hero, Nat, not so much, but hey, no one's perfect and that's what makes this small, mountain town romance so sweet. Really enjoyed the book.
February 10, 2021
samantha is a queen nate did not deserve her
April 23, 2022
I enjoyed Starting Over. While I liked the romance between Nate and Sam, I did find the event planning more interesting.
April 29, 2023
Superior romance with interesting plot and good characters and a satisfying ending. Can't ask for much more really!
November 11, 2018
Instead of showing up for the society wedding of the century, Samantha made a run for it, driving clear across the country with no clue where she was going or what she would do when she got there. When the sleepy little town of Nugget had her hitting the brakes, she found herself with no work experience and no marketable skills. But she's smart and willing to work hard, and her knowledge of planning classy events seems like it may come in handy at recently renovated Nugget Inn. If only the owner wasn't such a jerk.
The Verdict: Despite the fact that Samantha was from a wealthy, high society world that most of us can't even imagine, she was incredibly easy to like. She appreciated finery and certainly didn't turn her nose up at the better things in life, but she was personable, hard working, and intelligent. She didn't expect that the world would fall at her feet at the mention of her name (in fact, she pretty much hid and downplayed her identity as much as possible), and her thoughts and emotions were not those of someone spoiled rotten but rather of someone who simply wanted to find meaning in life.
Nate is someone I never really warmed up to in previous books. He wasn't a bad guy, sure, but he was rather stiff, and while he may have been generous enough to act as a donor when his best friend wanted to have a baby, we never really got to see much of Nate as a feeling human being — until now. His inner conflict regarding the daughter he technically fathered but wasn't a father to allowed for a deep look into what made the man tick, and it was impossible not to feel for him in that situation. And then there was his past…
Nate still harbored a lot of negativity after his fiance ran out on him before their wedding years ago, so Samantha's story of running off from her would-be groom definitely set him on edge. The consummate businessman, Nate couldn't get past Samantha's lack of useful education and work history, and on the personal side of things, her situation felt to him like another betrayal. No matter how nice she was, he couldn't see past his own issues — at least for a long while — and it took him a lot of time to finally let himself see who Samantha was on the inside.
Both characters were strong and proud, so you can just imagine the head-butting that happened between them on an almost daily basis. Their mutual attraction certainly complicated things as well, but proximity has a way of making people get to know each other, walls and all. Plus, Samantha was such a sweetheart that it was only a matter of time before Nate fell for her. Watching him fight it, though, was certainly entertaining!
As with the previous books in the series, Samantha and Nate are complex and fully developed characters, and their main interactions aren't only with each other. There's a full supporting cast of townspeople and family, all of whom enrich the plot and keep the story from straying into any dull territory. The Nugget series is so well written and rich with both main stories and side stories that it's impossible to put any of the books down once I've started, and now I'm just dying to get my hands on whatever comes next!
***FicCentral received this book from Kensington Books (via NetGalley) for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2015
Samantha Dunsbury was all set for her glittery society wedding to the scion of a prominent family, in spite of her misgivings, when she found out the day before the wedding that her groom had been less than honest with her all along and had no plans to be faithful to her after the big event. Determined to get away from everything, she got in her car and drove off, landing in the picturesque mountain town of Nugget, California. With its beautiful scenery and friendly locals, Sam doesn't want to leave and the perfect opportunity arises when the innkeeper of the Lumber Baron, the town's Victorian Inn, needs someone to fill in while she's away on maternity leave. Sam is used to organizing big society events, a skill she puts to use in her position at the inn with great success. Sam enjoys everything about her job except one: her disagreeable boss, Nate Breyer.
Nate does not want a society princess from back east destroying his business. He knows all about Sam's kind of woman, having been engaged to one before and is just waiting for her to throw in the towel and move on to something more interesting but to his surprise, Sam has a talent for the job and enjoys it. However, he's not willing to let his guard down around her.
STARTING OVER was fun to read, with an interesting story, likable characters and above all, a very quaint location. I loved Sam. She wanted to be valued for more than her last name. For a socialite, she was refreshingly down to earth and very courageous in leaving all that was familiar and starting over across the country. Her fun and outgoing personality made her the perfect fit for her job and I liked seeing how her confidence grew with every success she racked up at her job.
I'm all for learning from past experiences but I think that Nate took his lessons too far and was a jerk to Sam. Even his love and caring for his family and friends was not enough to redeem him much. A lot of the drama comes from Nate's determination to dislike Sam for all that she represented, even though he was attracted to her and in spite of the fact that she had shown through her behavior that she was different from his ex and he really annoyed me with his stubbornness. But he did not count on Sam's tenacity and her resolve to prove that he had the wrong opinion of her.
One issue I had with this story was that most of their interactions revolved around work and I would have looked more personal time between them. Also, their lack of communication was quite irritating and was responsible for the turbulence of their relationship. In spite of these issues, STARTING OVER was entertaining and enjoyable. I especially love the small town community and the close ties between family and friends.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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Nate does not want a society princess from back east destroying his business. He knows all about Sam's kind of woman, having been engaged to one before and is just waiting for her to throw in the towel and move on to something more interesting but to his surprise, Sam has a talent for the job and enjoys it. However, he's not willing to let his guard down around her.
STARTING OVER was fun to read, with an interesting story, likable characters and above all, a very quaint location. I loved Sam. She wanted to be valued for more than her last name. For a socialite, she was refreshingly down to earth and very courageous in leaving all that was familiar and starting over across the country. Her fun and outgoing personality made her the perfect fit for her job and I liked seeing how her confidence grew with every success she racked up at her job.
I'm all for learning from past experiences but I think that Nate took his lessons too far and was a jerk to Sam. Even his love and caring for his family and friends was not enough to redeem him much. A lot of the drama comes from Nate's determination to dislike Sam for all that she represented, even though he was attracted to her and in spite of the fact that she had shown through her behavior that she was different from his ex and he really annoyed me with his stubbornness. But he did not count on Sam's tenacity and her resolve to prove that he had the wrong opinion of her.
One issue I had with this story was that most of their interactions revolved around work and I would have looked more personal time between them. Also, their lack of communication was quite irritating and was responsible for the turbulence of their relationship. In spite of these issues, STARTING OVER was entertaining and enjoyable. I especially love the small town community and the close ties between family and friends.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Want more? Subscribe to my Newsletter on The Sassy Bookster.
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August 12, 2015
READ AND REVIEW: STARTING OVER BY STACY FINZ
STARTING OVER BY STACY FINZ
Release Date: August 18, 2015
SYNOPSIS
"A charming small town filled with inventive characters and sweet romance." --Jill Shalvis,New York Times bestselling authorThe mountain town of Nugget, California, may be tiny, but with its breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and lovable locals, it has everything. Not to mention it’s the perfect setting for firsts—and seconds—of all kinds… On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn’t want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she’s going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss… The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could’ve hired Sam is beyond him. Nate’s known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he’ll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam’s got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone…
BUY LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Over-N...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start...
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/star...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
REVIEW: STARTING OVER BY STACY FINZ
Starting Over by Stacy FinzMy rating: 5 of 5 starsSeeking a fresh start may be the smartest thing she ever did. Falling in love may be the hardest. I have fallen in love with the old-fashioned picturesque town of Nugget, California. Whether a local or a new comer the people are always welcoming. A great place to find yourself and fall in love. Every time I visit it makes me smile. Samantha is learning to take care of herself without outside interference. Nate has his eye on her. Trust doesn't come easy. With a little help and a whole lot of faith these two may find the answers their hearts have been searching for. Every bit of this story will make you believe in miracles. I received an ARC of Starting Over by Stacy Finz and would recommend it to anyone.View all my reviews
STARTING OVER BY STACY FINZ
Release Date: August 18, 2015
SYNOPSIS
"A charming small town filled with inventive characters and sweet romance." --Jill Shalvis,New York Times bestselling authorThe mountain town of Nugget, California, may be tiny, but with its breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and lovable locals, it has everything. Not to mention it’s the perfect setting for firsts—and seconds—of all kinds… On the day of her glitzy New York City wedding, society girl Samantha Dunsbury ditches her Wall Street groom, and hops in her convertible. Her only plan is to head west. But when a pit stop lands her at a lovely Victorian inn in Nugget, she doesn’t want to leave. And when the innkeeper needs someone to fill in, Sam is thrilled to take the job—her first! For once, she’s going to do what makes her happy. She just has to figure out what happy looks like. She never expects it to look like her surly new boss… The last thing Nate Breyer needs is a debutante dilettante mucking up his business. How his sister—and co-owner—could’ve hired Sam is beyond him. Nate’s known women like Sam before—he was engaged to one once. With no options, he’ll just have to keep his eye on her while also keeping his distance. But to his surprise it turns out Sam’s got a knack for the job, and for putting folks at ease—including Nate. As business—and pleasure—heat up their relationship, Nate finds himself ready to do anything to persuade the runaway-bride to stay permanently gone…
BUY LINKS
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Over-N...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/start...
Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...
Ibooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/star...
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
REVIEW: STARTING OVER BY STACY FINZ
Starting Over by Stacy FinzMy rating: 5 of 5 starsSeeking a fresh start may be the smartest thing she ever did. Falling in love may be the hardest. I have fallen in love with the old-fashioned picturesque town of Nugget, California. Whether a local or a new comer the people are always welcoming. A great place to find yourself and fall in love. Every time I visit it makes me smile. Samantha is learning to take care of herself without outside interference. Nate has his eye on her. Trust doesn't come easy. With a little help and a whole lot of faith these two may find the answers their hearts have been searching for. Every bit of this story will make you believe in miracles. I received an ARC of Starting Over by Stacy Finz and would recommend it to anyone.View all my reviews
June 25, 2016
4.5 Stars!!
I think the western small town of Nugget, California, is becoming one of my favorite places to get lost in. Starting Over, the fourth book from Stacy Finz's Nugget series, is a fun read with charming characters and an engaging plot, which is surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After reading this book and one other in the series, (Going Home, which was really good), I may have to experience the area for myself on my next vacation.
This is the unique love story between wealthy socialite and runaway bride Samantha Dunsbury, and Nate Breyer, a very successful manager of nine lavish, big-city hotels. Sam was almost married to a cheating conniver, until she found out the truth and trekked across country in her Mercedes and found herself in Nugget. Her dream to use her skills as a fundraiser and event planner come to fruition, when she is hired by the new local inn to run their establishment and book events. Nate and his sister own the inn and as a result, Nate spends a lot of time in Nugget. Similarly, Nate was left at the altar ten years ago, when his rich and loosey-goosey fiance decided marriage was not for her. He believes Sam is just like his former fiance, and finds it difficult to trust her level of commitment to the job as well as her limited skill-set. Sam proves him wrong time and time again, while they share a mutual attraction that is splashed with flirting, banter, and lust.
I really liked this story and can't wait to read Ms. Finz's earlier books as well as the newest book in this series that is due to be released in November. Waiting was never my strong-suit, so remaining in Nugget with books two and three in the meantime should pacify my need for the love encounters soon to be. Sam and Nate are well-defined characters and there was never a moment I did not want them to be together. Ms. Finz created amazing sexual tension and sometimes my heart ached, due to Sam and Nate's miscommunication. The secondary characters and subplots are unique and add a lot of depth to this story. Overall, this is a well-written book with a cast of characters you can truly get obsessed with.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
I think the western small town of Nugget, California, is becoming one of my favorite places to get lost in. Starting Over, the fourth book from Stacy Finz's Nugget series, is a fun read with charming characters and an engaging plot, which is surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. After reading this book and one other in the series, (Going Home, which was really good), I may have to experience the area for myself on my next vacation.
This is the unique love story between wealthy socialite and runaway bride Samantha Dunsbury, and Nate Breyer, a very successful manager of nine lavish, big-city hotels. Sam was almost married to a cheating conniver, until she found out the truth and trekked across country in her Mercedes and found herself in Nugget. Her dream to use her skills as a fundraiser and event planner come to fruition, when she is hired by the new local inn to run their establishment and book events. Nate and his sister own the inn and as a result, Nate spends a lot of time in Nugget. Similarly, Nate was left at the altar ten years ago, when his rich and loosey-goosey fiance decided marriage was not for her. He believes Sam is just like his former fiance, and finds it difficult to trust her level of commitment to the job as well as her limited skill-set. Sam proves him wrong time and time again, while they share a mutual attraction that is splashed with flirting, banter, and lust.
I really liked this story and can't wait to read Ms. Finz's earlier books as well as the newest book in this series that is due to be released in November. Waiting was never my strong-suit, so remaining in Nugget with books two and three in the meantime should pacify my need for the love encounters soon to be. Sam and Nate are well-defined characters and there was never a moment I did not want them to be together. Ms. Finz created amazing sexual tension and sometimes my heart ached, due to Sam and Nate's miscommunication. The secondary characters and subplots are unique and add a lot of depth to this story. Overall, this is a well-written book with a cast of characters you can truly get obsessed with.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 29, 2015
Sam was too painful of a reminder of a woman Nate had once been engaged to. Beautiful, wealthy, flighty, and inconsiderate of others and their feelings. She abandoned her fiance at the altar, like Nate's did to him years ago. The difference was Sam's no-good would-be-husband was an unfaithful bastard who had no plans on keeping it in his pants even after they said "I do", while Nate's ex decided marriage wasn't for her. The reasons for abandonment are as different as light and dark, but Nate didn't know that because he was determined beyond all reason to see Sam as his ex.
You know, as a parent I tell my kids (especially my oldest 'cause she's in school) not to judge people by what she sees, that there is more to a person than what's on the outside. I wanted to hammer this lesson into Nate's head.
The man's stubbornness frustrated the hell out of me. Sam was a complete doll. She might physicially be a replica of his ex, but her personality and her character really made her worth liking and getting to know. I wanted to Nate see that from the beginning, to give her a chance without being hostile toward her. Stubborn ass man decided the harder route was better instead.
And I loved that Sam proved him wrong, showed him she was nothing like his ex and that they could have the happy ever after they wanted, the kind that included lifelong faithfulness and commitment.
While this is the fourth book in this series with characters from the others making appearances, it reads well as a standalone. Nate and Sam are wonderful characters. Sam's easy to like and fall in love with. Nate's... Well, he's Nate. He's a little stiff around the edges and has a heart that needs some TLC to soften but he's a good guy under all that.
This is a great addition to Ms. Finz Nugget series. If the town were real, I'd visit. If the people were real, I'd love to sit and listen to the stories they could tell. This is a series that has grown on me, and I look forward to reading the books that continue it.
(Received from Pump Up Your Book for an honest review)
You know, as a parent I tell my kids (especially my oldest 'cause she's in school) not to judge people by what she sees, that there is more to a person than what's on the outside. I wanted to hammer this lesson into Nate's head.
The man's stubbornness frustrated the hell out of me. Sam was a complete doll. She might physicially be a replica of his ex, but her personality and her character really made her worth liking and getting to know. I wanted to Nate see that from the beginning, to give her a chance without being hostile toward her. Stubborn ass man decided the harder route was better instead.
And I loved that Sam proved him wrong, showed him she was nothing like his ex and that they could have the happy ever after they wanted, the kind that included lifelong faithfulness and commitment.
While this is the fourth book in this series with characters from the others making appearances, it reads well as a standalone. Nate and Sam are wonderful characters. Sam's easy to like and fall in love with. Nate's... Well, he's Nate. He's a little stiff around the edges and has a heart that needs some TLC to soften but he's a good guy under all that.
This is a great addition to Ms. Finz Nugget series. If the town were real, I'd visit. If the people were real, I'd love to sit and listen to the stories they could tell. This is a series that has grown on me, and I look forward to reading the books that continue it.
(Received from Pump Up Your Book for an honest review)
June 13, 2015
I've read one of Finz's "Nugget" stories all the way through and flipped through the other two. None really caught my interest and I was ready to write off the series. But I saw this one on NetGalley and was curious as to how Ms. Finz was going to pair Nathan "Nate" Breyer. I had liked him in the first book, a business-like man who was enigmatically kind toward his sister and agreed to donate sperm to his best friend so that she and her partner could have a child. Nathan is now dealing with the consequences of that action, in love with his biological daughter but unsure how much he can contribute to her life without overstepping the bounds of his original agreement. I wish we could have seen more of that struggle but it was resolved well (I thouhgt). Ms. Finz specializes in off-beat families/romantic pairings, and, though not quite as gritty, remind me very much of Brenda Novak.
I rather liked Sam Dunsbury, the woman who reminds Nate so much of the fiancee who dumped him the night before their wedding. Sam actually did the same thing, leaving the man she was to marry hours before the wedding. Rich playgirl, that's what he's mentally categorized her as.
Sam thinks Nate's hot but can't understand the hostility he seems to have for her. She knows that she hasn't worked before but also knows that this is the kind of job that she can excel at. Hell, she's been doing it for free for years.
I loved watching the dance of these two proud people. And really enjoy that this book actually has the feel of a small town. We're not hit over the head with "Hey- this is a small town," it just is. There were definitely some misunderstandings that could have been cleared up if they had just talked to each other. Also, the end was a little too pat. Pages and pages of misunderstandings that cleared up in a few paragraphs? A little rushed. But, overall, an enjoyable book.
I rather liked Sam Dunsbury, the woman who reminds Nate so much of the fiancee who dumped him the night before their wedding. Sam actually did the same thing, leaving the man she was to marry hours before the wedding. Rich playgirl, that's what he's mentally categorized her as.
Sam thinks Nate's hot but can't understand the hostility he seems to have for her. She knows that she hasn't worked before but also knows that this is the kind of job that she can excel at. Hell, she's been doing it for free for years.
I loved watching the dance of these two proud people. And really enjoy that this book actually has the feel of a small town. We're not hit over the head with "Hey- this is a small town," it just is. There were definitely some misunderstandings that could have been cleared up if they had just talked to each other. Also, the end was a little too pat. Pages and pages of misunderstandings that cleared up in a few paragraphs? A little rushed. But, overall, an enjoyable book.
January 6, 2016
I was graciously given a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dear Stacy Finz,
This is my first dive into your writings and may I say you have a fan! This book was a delightful read that I could not put down! I loved everything about it!
Seriously lovely readers...if you have not already read this you really should. Our leading lady, Samantha, is a debutante who ditched her fiancee' on the day of her wedding and made a run for it. Her whole life has been planned out for her, from the man that her wealthy father has deemed a good match to what she'll do with her life. Samantha finally gets fed up of constantly being underestimated and undervalued by those around her and leaves. As the story continues Stacy Finz does a lovely job of showing you what her life was like before. A behind the scenes of her shiny and glossy life. Samantha falls into the category of females that I love. She's got a backbone, even if she is just learning how to use it. I love the growth we get throughout the story; it is not an immediate change and she still struggles to push herself out of the box that she gets plopped into. Basically she is a bit of an underdog, which I love!
While I loved Samantha, Nate made me infuriated at times. He's a bit of an arse at the beginning, but don't worry you will enjoy him as it progresses. He's been burned before by that exact same girl that he thinks Samantha is. Their whole relationship is a slow build with a lot of bumps throughout. And yes, by the end I was in love with Nate.
If you love a tale of a girl that's been told one thing her whole life, gets fed up, and wants more...and expects more for herself then pick this one up! Amazing read!
Dear Stacy Finz,
This is my first dive into your writings and may I say you have a fan! This book was a delightful read that I could not put down! I loved everything about it!
Seriously lovely readers...if you have not already read this you really should. Our leading lady, Samantha, is a debutante who ditched her fiancee' on the day of her wedding and made a run for it. Her whole life has been planned out for her, from the man that her wealthy father has deemed a good match to what she'll do with her life. Samantha finally gets fed up of constantly being underestimated and undervalued by those around her and leaves. As the story continues Stacy Finz does a lovely job of showing you what her life was like before. A behind the scenes of her shiny and glossy life. Samantha falls into the category of females that I love. She's got a backbone, even if she is just learning how to use it. I love the growth we get throughout the story; it is not an immediate change and she still struggles to push herself out of the box that she gets plopped into. Basically she is a bit of an underdog, which I love!
While I loved Samantha, Nate made me infuriated at times. He's a bit of an arse at the beginning, but don't worry you will enjoy him as it progresses. He's been burned before by that exact same girl that he thinks Samantha is. Their whole relationship is a slow build with a lot of bumps throughout. And yes, by the end I was in love with Nate.
If you love a tale of a girl that's been told one thing her whole life, gets fed up, and wants more...and expects more for herself then pick this one up! Amazing read!
August 18, 2015
I like this series a lot and have read all 4 books so far. Can't wait till the next book comes out to. (I read the tease & was so disappointed that I had to wait.)
There are so many characters returning from previous books. We finally find out why Samantha was the runaway bride. She is the main character. Samantha Dunsbury has taken her first job at the Lumber Baron as Maddy replacement while she is on maternity leave. She is also going to be event planner for the bread & breakfast.
Nate Breyer with his sister bought the Lumber Baron. He is also part owner and manager of 10 there hotels. He is spending more and more time in Nugget since his daughter was born. He is the father but never planned to be. He donated the sperm so his friends could have a child.
Nate is positive that Samantha is not going to last for long in Nugget. He does not date people who work for him. Besides Samantha reminds him of his ex-fiance.
We also meet a few new characters. I really like Lucky. Can't wait to see his story unfold more.
There is a lot of drama, event planning, romance and a couple of love scenes that I skipped over. I hated when I had to stop reading for one reason or another. I want to come back and visit Nugget again.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Kensington Books. In return I agreed to give honest review of Starting Over
There are so many characters returning from previous books. We finally find out why Samantha was the runaway bride. She is the main character. Samantha Dunsbury has taken her first job at the Lumber Baron as Maddy replacement while she is on maternity leave. She is also going to be event planner for the bread & breakfast.
Nate Breyer with his sister bought the Lumber Baron. He is also part owner and manager of 10 there hotels. He is spending more and more time in Nugget since his daughter was born. He is the father but never planned to be. He donated the sperm so his friends could have a child.
Nate is positive that Samantha is not going to last for long in Nugget. He does not date people who work for him. Besides Samantha reminds him of his ex-fiance.
We also meet a few new characters. I really like Lucky. Can't wait to see his story unfold more.
There is a lot of drama, event planning, romance and a couple of love scenes that I skipped over. I hated when I had to stop reading for one reason or another. I want to come back and visit Nugget again.
I was given this ebook to read by Net Galley and Kensington Books. In return I agreed to give honest review of Starting Over
July 29, 2015
This is my first book by Stacy Finz and despite not having read the earlier books in this series, this could be read as a standalone.
I really like Sam. For a socialite, I liked that she is down to earth and courageous to get out of her familiar life and find a niche for herself even though it may have been prompted after seeing the true colors of her ex-fiancé Royce.
As for Nate, I do like him enough even though he is such a jerk to Sam. I didn't really like that he judged Sam for her actions just because he was put in a similar situation but I'm glad that Sam held on well.
I did enjoy the small town community and the close-knitted ties between family and friends. The plot was interesting enough with hotel management being the focus. I wish there was more chemistry between Sam and Nate. I felt that Nate's attraction towards Sam was more for her looks since he felt attracted despite not liking her and that she won him over only after showing Nate that she isn't anything like his ex fiancée.
Overall, this book is well written and engaging enough that I intend to check out the rest of this series.
I was gifted an advance copy of this book by Kensington Press-Lyrical Shine via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I really like Sam. For a socialite, I liked that she is down to earth and courageous to get out of her familiar life and find a niche for herself even though it may have been prompted after seeing the true colors of her ex-fiancé Royce.
As for Nate, I do like him enough even though he is such a jerk to Sam. I didn't really like that he judged Sam for her actions just because he was put in a similar situation but I'm glad that Sam held on well.
I did enjoy the small town community and the close-knitted ties between family and friends. The plot was interesting enough with hotel management being the focus. I wish there was more chemistry between Sam and Nate. I felt that Nate's attraction towards Sam was more for her looks since he felt attracted despite not liking her and that she won him over only after showing Nate that she isn't anything like his ex fiancée.
Overall, this book is well written and engaging enough that I intend to check out the rest of this series.
I was gifted an advance copy of this book by Kensington Press-Lyrical Shine via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
March 4, 2016
***I received a copy of this novel for free through NetGalley in return for my honest opinion.***
This is the first and only book I've read out of the Nugget series. I didn't realize it was a fourth book when I picked it up through NetGalley. That being said, I didn't feel like I was lost or missing out on anything not having read the three previous novels. You can easily pick this one up and start reading.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a quick, easy read. In this book Nate is prejudice against Sam based on his previous experience with a rich girl that broke his heart. Without knowing the whole story of why Sam ran away from her wedding, he came to his own wrong conclusions. Sam is just trying to get a fresh start, one that she herself works for by getting her first job at the inn. From there you get some similar story themes to other romance novels (you know the pattern) that leads you to an end that I found satisfying. I liked both of the main characters and pretty much all of the side characters. I liked the inn, I liked the descriptions. I just liked this book.
I would recommend this book to a friend.
This is the first and only book I've read out of the Nugget series. I didn't realize it was a fourth book when I picked it up through NetGalley. That being said, I didn't feel like I was lost or missing out on anything not having read the three previous novels. You can easily pick this one up and start reading.
I enjoyed this novel. It was a quick, easy read. In this book Nate is prejudice against Sam based on his previous experience with a rich girl that broke his heart. Without knowing the whole story of why Sam ran away from her wedding, he came to his own wrong conclusions. Sam is just trying to get a fresh start, one that she herself works for by getting her first job at the inn. From there you get some similar story themes to other romance novels (you know the pattern) that leads you to an end that I found satisfying. I liked both of the main characters and pretty much all of the side characters. I liked the inn, I liked the descriptions. I just liked this book.
I would recommend this book to a friend.
August 22, 2015
Starting Over by Stacy Finz is another entry to the Nugget, California series. I must admit that this one is not my favorite of the series. It is well written with developed characters. However, I just did not connect with the two main characters. My emotions were so tied up in Finding Hope, that I think I thought I would always fall for the characters in Nugget. That just didn’t happen this time.
Nate has plenty of baggage of his own but instead of identifying with him, he came across as a the-bottom-line-profit man to me. Then Samantha poor little rich girl trying to break away from Daddy for me to invest in the outcome of her story. I will say I admire Ms. Finz’s writing that she was able to bring these two together in a believable way. Only in Nugget could this happen. So even though it is not my favorite it still deserves four stars just because the author made me believe it could happen.
3.75 Stars
The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.
Nate has plenty of baggage of his own but instead of identifying with him, he came across as a the-bottom-line-profit man to me. Then Samantha poor little rich girl trying to break away from Daddy for me to invest in the outcome of her story. I will say I admire Ms. Finz’s writing that she was able to bring these two together in a believable way. Only in Nugget could this happen. So even though it is not my favorite it still deserves four stars just because the author made me believe it could happen.
3.75 Stars
The publisher through Net Galley provided a copy.
October 3, 2015
The book is okay. Second Chances is by far, my favorite novel of the lot -- thus far. I was actually looking forward to a combustible love-hate relationship between Sam and Nate - instead it was all fluff, no meat. They both were highly one dimensional characters.
Sam is an heiress who wants to be called as something more than a socialite .... Whereas Nate is a hard working businessman who has his heart in the right place. Since there is no monetary divide between the two, there more of sexual tension premise at play. Even that would've been acceptable, had Nate not been such a jerk. Half of the time Nate is being inconsiderate to Sam and the other half, they are talking shop. I am not sure how love plays into this gamut.
It isn't the worst book I've read, but then again, it isn't a memorable one either.
Sam is an heiress who wants to be called as something more than a socialite .... Whereas Nate is a hard working businessman who has his heart in the right place. Since there is no monetary divide between the two, there more of sexual tension premise at play. Even that would've been acceptable, had Nate not been such a jerk. Half of the time Nate is being inconsiderate to Sam and the other half, they are talking shop. I am not sure how love plays into this gamut.
It isn't the worst book I've read, but then again, it isn't a memorable one either.
January 7, 2016
I'll start out that I love this series, but Nate. the male protagonist in this book, I just could not stand. I really liked Samantha, but found Nate to be a total @$$ for most of this book. I definitely could not get into them as a couple and was even somewhat repulsed by how he acted. I had thought at first of just giving this 2 stars, but when the story did not involve Nate, I liked the book. I'd probably give this book 2 and a half stars if I could. I look forward to future books; I just hope they do not include much of Nate.
I received this book through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://4thelvofreading.blogspot.com/2...
I received this book through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://4thelvofreading.blogspot.com/2...
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