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Starting Over

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Alexandria Ryder has her life figured out. At least professionally.

She's a well-respected relationship expert with two books published and another on the way.

She's also a regular on TV talk shows and podcasts.

Life is good, until it starts to fall apart, and as Alex's 40th birthday approaches, she starts to question everything.


At 28, Payton isn't where she thought she'd be.

Her dreams of becoming a doctor are long gone, and Payton still has medical school loans to pay back even if she doesn't have anything to show for it.

Payton never stayed in relationships for long, preferring the freedom of dating and playing the field, but when she meets Alex, Payton is immediately drawn to her.


Both Alex and Payton are at a crossroads in their lives and getting into a relationship was not what either of them had planned on, but the infatuation and the chemistry is undeniable, and the two women can't stay away from one another.


Will Alex risk her career and everything she's built professionally to come out?

Can Payton wait for Alex to make that decision?

Find out in this steamy age gap lesbian romance.

Read for free with Kindle Unlimited

120 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2020

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About the author

Carol Wyatt

57 books127 followers

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5 stars
117 (36%)
4 stars
124 (38%)
3 stars
58 (18%)
2 stars
15 (4%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Katie.
108 reviews
September 3, 2020
I love age gap romances and this was a good one.
Fast paced and low on drama.
Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Tierney Moore.
Author 14 books97 followers
January 27, 2024
Short and simple but I really enoyed this thanks to the 2 leads, whose chemistry is great and character traits v appealing. And I love it when a writer makes 3rd act reversals organic and not stupid.

On to my next Carol Wyatt... 😀
Profile Image for Bárbara Sousa.
376 reviews48 followers
September 14, 2020
Loved LOVED IT!!! Alex and Payton... just wow!! I LOVE them!! And I love how they communicate and how even when the drama hit, Alex didn’t walk out but actually let Payton explain herself. That was refreshing. I’m just sad this didn’t have more pages because I wouldn’t mind reading more about these two beautiful ladies 😍 And bless Tracey! Everyone needs and deserves a BFF like her! Amazing!
745 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2020
Nice Story

I really enjoyed this story. Both Peyton and Alex are warm caring women. Alex gets out into a position she hadn't really considered and thankfully that sort of leads her to Peyton. Sometimes, life puts you exactly where you need to be!
1,269 reviews
September 6, 2020
Fabulous Read!

I just loved this book. There was something very deep with this coupling. The excitement of them realizing a connection and acting on it. Payton being a player spots Alex when she is waitressing and something about her catches her eyes and then her heart. Alex is taken with Payton even though there is an age difference. They are trying to navigate where they are going with
hesitation as Alex is not out. Understanding why people sometimes are not as honest and the reasons behind it is what this book is about. The coupling of Payton and Alex was written well and you definitely want more than how this ended. Something for Carol Wyatt to think about.
Profile Image for Veronica Shay.
204 reviews
September 12, 2020
I love the stories she tells....

I love how Ms Wyatt takes the time to fully develop her characters. She never rushes it. I appreciate that. Great characters and a strong storyline are her Forte and this one didn't disappoint. A little more sex and I would have given it 5 stars😁😁😁
618 reviews
November 1, 2020
Nice

I love this sweet love story. There Is no angst. The love scenes are hot. The story has a great ending.
816 reviews8 followers
November 7, 2020
Easy read, interesting storyline. Enjoyed the book
Profile Image for Pam.
425 reviews
September 21, 2020
We hide behind masks but when living our hearts starts life over.

This story just blew me away. It opened my eyes and heart to a very real struggle. Living is about more being yourself than the expectations of others. Alex and Blake have "lived" like they were expected to just to have their careers. I was sad that in order to love they had to choose between career or love. Peyton is a waitress trying to pay of her college debt. She meets Alex at the restaurant. The photographs she takes catching people being themselves are worth much. To see the courage it takes to speak their truth makes this story so good. True happiness comes when they can be/love out of the heart. The drama, social upheaval, and fallout tell a story of a world ruled for all the wrong reasons and the delicious joy of living in love & acceptance. I read this brilliant story in one setting, it was just so good. The characters were flawed but so lovable that you can't help but cheer them on. A great coming out story with lots of great moments.
529 reviews17 followers
October 29, 2020
Minimum Angst, Maximum Joy

Sometimes, often really, I just wish characters would face their troubles and move through them instead of stretching them out or build them into mountains instead of mole hills. Yay, this story does that. Hallelujah!
Two great characters, good supporting characters, and they work out their troubles nicely. Thank You Carol Wyatt for a great story.
1,171 reviews6 followers
September 8, 2020
This is a relatively low angst age gap romance. The main characters are at very different points in their lives but they ultimately work well together. There is a small storm when Payton's part time paparazzi gig comes to light but it blows over quickly. There is a small supporting cast in the back ground; their primary role is supporting Alex as she comes to grips with coming out at the advanced age of forty. The story arc ends with the expected HEA.
387 reviews3 followers
January 3, 2022
As always

I love Carol Wyatt’s books. I love HEA’s and age gap romances. The two women in this one find each other at the right time.
Profile Image for ♡Matty♡.
260 reviews15 followers
May 27, 2024
Interesting plot, interesting likable characters and overall an enjoyable book. It's short too so can be read fairly quick.
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,599 reviews73 followers
August 23, 2021
Low angst, well written novella, from a consistent author. Payton is waitressing and takes celebrity photos as a side job that is paying her student loans down. At the bar she is stuck by the beautiful Alex who is semi famous as a couple advice person. They run into each other on a hiking trail where Alex helps get Payton home after she twists an ankle. This author seems to like age gap romances with the ages being 40 to 29. (This is actually the least different so far.) I'm impressed the author can write consistently good stories in a novella format. I think my only question was what did Payton decide to focus on job wise.
Profile Image for Bree.
132 reviews3 followers
January 4, 2021
Nice little book

Short and sweet. 3 stars just because it was kind of simple and basic but it is a good book.
Profile Image for Cindy Stein.
858 reviews15 followers
September 12, 2020
Payton, a med school drop-out with student loans to repay, is a waitress in a trendy LA restaurant patronized by a lot of celebrities. She and her friend the bartender have a side hustle as part-time paparazzi, lying in wait to take photos of celebrities based on conversations they overhear at the restaurant. One night Payton sees a beautiful older woman in the restaurant and can't keep from watching her. The woman, Alex, is a closeted relationship advice expert and a minor celebrity. She has been in a fake relationship with a closeted male soccer player for 5 years.

When the two women meet up on a hiking trail, the attraction is strong and mutual. But Alex has a lot to lose by coming out.

This is a relatively short book and a decent but not particularly strong romance. The characters don't really get to know each other until almost the end of the book, and way after they begin a sexual relationship. There's a bit of a stretch here, but if you like Hollywood type settings, this is a quick read.
Profile Image for Maya Turner.
328 reviews8 followers
November 13, 2022
This was really cute. Like, surprisingly so, given the whole paparazzi / coming out thing!! I expected far more angst, but was pleasantly surprised.

I think I most appreciated that there was only one full-on sex scene, and everything else was just fade-to-black. It allowed Alex and Payton’s relationship more breathing room than similar stories with two-to-four sex scenes.

And speaking of their relationship, it actually felt believable. Both leads had clear motivations, and the chemistry was not just told to us. Rather, we could see through their dialogue how they progressed, from Payton fishing with the “gay bar” comment to Alex slowly accepting she deserves happiness in her personal life.

Overall quite enjoyable.
Profile Image for Jamie (TheRebelliousReader).
7,554 reviews30 followers
May 6, 2023
4 stars. Another winner from Wyatt for me. I’ve yet to read a bad book by her. This wasn’t my favorite of the bunch but it was still good and I thoroughly enjoyed. Payton and Alexandria were great and I liked their chemistry. Their is an age gap between them and also Alexandria is in a relationship with a man to help her career which is a trope I like when done well and it was here. The romance was good though a bit fast but that’s to be expected since it’s so short. It was still a very light and easy read.
18 reviews
October 6, 2020
Quick read

This was a good book to help relieve the monotony of isolation due to covid. Also better than listening to our lying President and all the drama that consumes him.Looking for something quick , this is it.
397 reviews8 followers
December 8, 2020
Good quick read

This was a good quick read from a reliably good author. It has some good sex scenes.

I do think the age difference was handled sort of oddly. Alex was concerned about Payton being 28, but her “beard” was 26.
953 reviews4 followers
September 9, 2021
A would be paparazzi meets her match.

Payton needs to pay off those dreaded student loans. What she recorded was too much close to home. Alex is an therapy expert and is married to a gay man. What follows is a good tale on what and what not should be recorded. Enjoy!
410 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2024
Alex and Payton have coming out issues. Jogging is good exercise except when you hurt yourself can be a good omen. The book needs editing but the story was short and sweet. Easy to follow with just about the right amount of characters. Recommended for an afternoon.
397 reviews4 followers
August 26, 2021
Great book

I enjoyed another book from this author. I like the age gap. Your stories are so detailed, I feel like I am in the scenes watching what is happening.
36 reviews
April 7, 2022
A good read.

If you like coming out stories this one will definitely do it for you. Its a good story with well written charactors, and an hea.
Profile Image for Deb.
468 reviews16 followers
August 19, 2024
I read the ebook and unfortunately it had a lot of typo's. That was a little annoying. But it was a nice short inbetween read. A bit simplistic at times though. 3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews