Starting Over

by Marcia Willett

When recently-widowed Annie's god-daughter Pippa is abandoned by her husband, she insists that she comes to live with her. Frances and Stephen Ankerton are desperately worried about their son, Hugh, who wrongly blames himself for a fatal accident that took place nearly a year ago. While Frances turns to Annie for advice, Stephen finds a way to set Hugh's mind at rest... When Max Driver inherits some land on Dartmoor his dream becomes a reality. And a chance encounter with Frances leads to each and every one of them being touched by his warmth and enthusiasm. Soon he is an integral part of their lives and his determination to fulfil his own goal inspires the others to start over again.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

430 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 1997

About the author

Marcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyably cozy.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually pretty good, better than the first one.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the feeling of community in Willett's stories!
**Favorite quote:
Frances . . . felt a tremendous sense of relief. It was, after all, so much more satisfying to love than to hate and she wished that . . . she hadn't taken so long to discover it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is likened to Rosamund Pilcher and I can see why. Whilst this novel doesn’t quite hit those highs, I still think it is grown up fiction of real life. No saccharine happy ending here, but people who really do develop whatever their age. Good for fans of women’s fiction of the more rounded kind.

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old favourite for an easy read when coming down with a cold.

[Jeanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Easy reading but page turning storyline. Highly recommend as the characters twist and turn in unsuspecting circumstances which keep the reader guessing.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Marcia Willett books are delightful with the wonderful description of all the natural scenery, plants and birds, etc. and the good-hearted characters, as well as the villains.

[Quentin Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Loved every word. It was an amazing story. I didn't want the book to end. I now need to check if there is second book..

[patricia mctaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this but theres seems to fair amount of stories left unfinfished are you going to wright and other to follow please ..

[Shelley Meenehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story just a bit far fetched in places

[Kathy Spann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie listens to Perry her late husband that something is wrong with his stepdaughter Pippa.

[Piu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Great book, a bit slow in the beginning but great wholesome read. A beautiful story of countryside peace and chaotic ups and downs of life.

[Caro (carosbookcase) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Annie gave an exclamation of frustration and turned homeward, calling upon Perry for guidance. The sun penetrated the thinning cloud and its brightness and warmth poured down so that each web with its sparkling drops shone, jewel-like, in the hedgerow; small miracles of design and delicacy. Even Annie was distracted from her thoughts and stood for some moments in silent contemplation. Blackberries hung in plump and glossy clusters and the scent of some late-flowering honeysuckle drifted gently on the soft air.” — Starting Over by Marcia Willett

Pippa is desperately in love with her husband Robert. And she dotes on their eighteen-month-old son, Rowley. But then one day, seemingly out of the blue, Robert tells her the marriage isn’t working. They don’t love each other anymore and it would be better for all parties if they called it quits. Once the shock has worn off, Pippa has the presence of mind to tell Robert that that may be his truth, but it isn’t hers. However, it’s too late. Robert has decided that Pippa isn’t the right sort of wife and she is holding him back professionally.

It’s a year since Charlotte died. Hugh blames himself for her death, believing, at his lowest point, that the fatal accident which took her life, wasn’t an accident at all.

When the self-contained, Max Driver inherits a few acres of land on Dartmoor his dream to open a adventure school for children becomes a reality. When he meets Frances in a snowstorm little does he know that the occurrence will change his life and the lives of those around them.

I’m sure I would have enjoyed this book more if I hadn’t read it so soon after reading another of Marcia Willett's books, Hattie's Mill: A gloriously warm tale of friendship and renewal, which I absolutely loved. I think the cheating partner trope gets me down, especially when the partner is as abhorrent as Pippa’s husband, Robert is. It was so frustrating that she continues to love him despite the fact that he is a psychopath.

Like many of Marcia Willett’s books, this one focused heavily on grieving for the loss of a loved one, either through death or the end of a relationship.

There are some very touching scenes, particularly those that feature Cass Wivenhoe, a character who reappears in Marcia Willett’s other novels and who we first meet in First Friends (a.k.a. Those Who Serve: A moving story of love, friendship, laughter and tears). She plays a minor but pivotal role in this one and I have to say, she has really grown to become a much more likeable and sympathetic character than she was in that first book.

So this wasn’t my favourite of Marcia Willett’s books, but it was still good and I see myself re-reading this in the future, but maybe not directly after reading Hattie’s Mill!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book following the lives of those introduced in 'Those who serve', taking place about a year after the events at the end of that book.

Several sub-plots intertwine: an unhappy marriage, guilt over a death, worries about unfaithfulness. The characters are all cleverly woven together with some enjoyable sub-plots, and the conclusion is satisfying.
I first read this nine years ago, and had almost entirely forgotten it.

While it stands alone, it's probably best to read after 'Those who serve' to understand better who is whom.