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Cherry Blossom Point #2
Just Getting Started
When Jack Merrill’s ex comes to ask him a personal favor, he wants to say no. Having her back in Cherry Blossom Point is nothing but a crushing reminder of the son they lost so tragically two decades before. Still, when he finds out that the safety of her daughter is at stake, he can’t refuse…But that doesn’t mean he has to like it.
Corinne Michaels' life comes full circle when circumstances force her to confront the past. She and Jack were far too immature to have a child back then, but she never regretted it...not even when they lost him. Grief, time, and distance have kept them apart for nearly twenty year, but when her daughter’s life is threatened, there is only one person Corinne trusts enough to help protect her.Gayle Merrill has finally worked up the courage to pull the plug on her deeply broken marriage. As much as she’d hoped her life would get better the second Rex was out the door, she realizes very quickly that she has some deep soul-searching to do.
The Cherry Blossom Point series is a spinoff from the USA Today Bestselling Bluebird Bay series but can be read on its own as well. If you liked the Sullivan sisters, you're going to love the Merrill family!
Corinne Michaels' life comes full circle when circumstances force her to confront the past. She and Jack were far too immature to have a child back then, but she never regretted it...not even when they lost him. Grief, time, and distance have kept them apart for nearly twenty year, but when her daughter’s life is threatened, there is only one person Corinne trusts enough to help protect her.Gayle Merrill has finally worked up the courage to pull the plug on her deeply broken marriage. As much as she’d hoped her life would get better the second Rex was out the door, she realizes very quickly that she has some deep soul-searching to do.
The Cherry Blossom Point series is a spinoff from the USA Today Bestselling Bluebird Bay series but can be read on its own as well. If you liked the Sullivan sisters, you're going to love the Merrill family!
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
966 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Christine Gael
43 books156 followersChristine Gael is the women's fiction writing alter-ego of USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance author, Christine Bell, and NYT Bestselling paranormal romance author, Chloe Cole.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 2, 2025
The family saga continues with Jack's story being told. How do you live when your young child dies as a result of a silent killer. Will anyone get through to Jack; his ex, mother of his child doesn't even blame him or his sisters. His grief is destroying all of his relationships. Christine writes in such a way that you feel you a living right along side of the characters. Loving this series
November 7, 2021
I really enjoyed reading Just Getting Started! The Merrill Family of Cherry Blossom Point, Maine has some issues, but hey, don't we all. This is mainly older brother Jack's story. My favorite part of the story was reading about the self-defense classes that Jack teaches at his school. I feel like I was learning some very important lessons along with Kiera. The story is heartwarming and very poignant dealing with the loss of a young child. Have some tissues handy because it will really touch your heart and soul! Every story in the Bluebird Bay series and now the spin-off series in Cherry Blossom Point brings you deeper into the complex family dynamics of a large extended family and their everyday hopes and dreams and even their heartbreaks and sorrows. This is a series of books with strong characters and emotional issues that are very well written. If you are looking for a great read, I highly recommend. Can't wait for the next installment!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 20, 2021
When you start this book you expect it to be an extension of an established series, it is and so much more. This particular installation will touch on all the life topics established in prior books and the extra hard ones in this one. The characters experience loss and the inability to grieve while trying to find a way to keep functioning and learning a path to rejoining or including those still living. This story has a few trigger scenes that are so beautifully and carefully written with such a sensitive insight into the situation it removes the sting and pressure. I love all the strong family morals and the way they band together thru the good and bad.
September 10, 2021
Great book pulling pieces of the Merrill family into the bluebird Bay story
I liked this book because the story brought more of the history , personalities and lives of the Merrill family into the characters in the Bluebird Bay transition to Cherry Blossom Point. It made their story very real and with well developed characters, reflecting back to the previous book and even Bluebird Bay. I have read all the books and always feels like going home. I don't like to give away pieces of the plot in my reviews, so I on!y say Ms. Gael makes this feel like real families with all the love, joy,worry and pain of life
I liked this book because the story brought more of the history , personalities and lives of the Merrill family into the characters in the Bluebird Bay transition to Cherry Blossom Point. It made their story very real and with well developed characters, reflecting back to the previous book and even Bluebird Bay. I have read all the books and always feels like going home. I don't like to give away pieces of the plot in my reviews, so I on!y say Ms. Gael makes this feel like real families with all the love, joy,worry and pain of life
August 18, 2021
Jack has definitely had a hard time for 20 years and yes he could’ve handled things better. But everyone handles grief differently. Now the whole Anna situation is wow! I wasn’t expecting that. This was a really great book and very very emotional. Definitely read the books prior to understand Jack better. This family has had so much turmoil.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2021
More characters to love.
Christine Gael never disappoints. This new series is one of her best. The characters are strong and you really want to get know them. Christine allows you to feel their pain and their joy as she takes you on a journey into their lives. I love the way the people are intertwined with those from Bluebird Bay. I can’t wait for the next instalment. Definitely one of her best.
Christine Gael never disappoints. This new series is one of her best. The characters are strong and you really want to get know them. Christine allows you to feel their pain and their joy as she takes you on a journey into their lives. I love the way the people are intertwined with those from Bluebird Bay. I can’t wait for the next instalment. Definitely one of her best.
September 15, 2021
Love this series and this book.
Love this series and this book. The characters are so well written. They feel like people i could know. I feel a sense of comfort when i flip through the pages. I laugh witht them. i cry with them. This book was written very well. The storyline moves at a good pace. The characters develop at a believable rate. I highly recommend. Some characters have a lot to unpack but it is fun to be apart of the unpacking and watch the charachters grow.
Love this series and this book. The characters are so well written. They feel like people i could know. I feel a sense of comfort when i flip through the pages. I laugh witht them. i cry with them. This book was written very well. The storyline moves at a good pace. The characters develop at a believable rate. I highly recommend. Some characters have a lot to unpack but it is fun to be apart of the unpacking and watch the charachters grow.
October 20, 2021
Healing and beginning again
The characters act very much like siblings and have a strong support for each other . I struggled keeping the characters straight but halfway I got them figured out , I think the reason was there was just so much going on in each characters lives . The story points on relatable topics of divorce , death , grief that are very relatable to all readers . I enjoyed this book.
The characters act very much like siblings and have a strong support for each other . I struggled keeping the characters straight but halfway I got them figured out , I think the reason was there was just so much going on in each characters lives . The story points on relatable topics of divorce , death , grief that are very relatable to all readers . I enjoyed this book.
August 19, 2021
Deeply moving
This book is, honestly, fantastic, and extremely moving. Yes, Jack is completely redeemed in my eyes. I knew there would be something behind his attitude towards Anna, but I never expected that!
Piece of advice: I know you can usually start anywhere in the series without having read any book before, but to really get the magnitude and depth of emotions of Jack’s story, it’s better if you read the first book before this one.
For the rest, this book really deserves those five stars, and I would really give it more if it were possible.
This book is, honestly, fantastic, and extremely moving. Yes, Jack is completely redeemed in my eyes. I knew there would be something behind his attitude towards Anna, but I never expected that!
Piece of advice: I know you can usually start anywhere in the series without having read any book before, but to really get the magnitude and depth of emotions of Jack’s story, it’s better if you read the first book before this one.
For the rest, this book really deserves those five stars, and I would really give it more if it were possible.
September 14, 2021
Grief
There is no timeline for grieving. We all grieve in our own way. Some of us unfortunately bury it because we can't deal with the crushing pain of it but with time and a lot of love and patience from loved ones we can learn to face it. Life is worth living and our loved ones would want that for us.
There is no timeline for grieving. We all grieve in our own way. Some of us unfortunately bury it because we can't deal with the crushing pain of it but with time and a lot of love and patience from loved ones we can learn to face it. Life is worth living and our loved ones would want that for us.
July 15, 2023
Have some tissues ready for reading this book. A young couple marry, have a child, lose the child, and divorce. However after moving on, their lives are forced back together. The author does an interesting job with the subject. The hours reading the book seemed to be minutes. There was one place in which the story seemed to drag. Obviously, I still really enjoyed the book.
August 22, 2021
Such fun getting to check in with old friends while meeting so many new characters. I enjoyed Just Getting Started from the first page. It’s hard to wait until October to read more about Jack’s relationship with Wyatt. And I want Gayle to have her Happily Ever After.
September 7, 2021
Great continued series
I love that Christine has extended the Bluebird Bay series and is focusing on the Merrill family. The crossover between the two is great and the acceptance on both sides is great. Extended family is a wonderful thing.
I love that Christine has extended the Bluebird Bay series and is focusing on the Merrill family. The crossover between the two is great and the acceptance on both sides is great. Extended family is a wonderful thing.
August 19, 2021
A wonderful spin off women's fiction/romance: I really enjoyed the Bluebird Bay series and am enjoying this one. I am looking forward to the next book in series. I would highly recommend it/series.
August 20, 2021
Heartwarming
Family is complicated. And emotionally messy. But beautiful. This story will make you smile, then cry. Then smile some more. Don't miss it
Family is complicated. And emotionally messy. But beautiful. This story will make you smile, then cry. Then smile some more. Don't miss it
August 21, 2021
4 Stars
4 stars for Just Getting Started. Getting a close look at the Merrill family, their problems, the grief, the mistakes and their hearts.
4 stars for Just Getting Started. Getting a close look at the Merrill family, their problems, the grief, the mistakes and their hearts.
August 22, 2021
Loved the story -- even the really sad parts. Looking forward to A Fresh Start.
August 31, 2021
This was one that makes your eyes water
Very nicely done . all the characters where great . can't wait for the next book. Well Maine has a lot of character in it self.
Very nicely done . all the characters where great . can't wait for the next book. Well Maine has a lot of character in it self.
September 6, 2021
Heartfelt
Love the Bluebird Bay and Cherry Blossom Point series!
It feels like being part of their big family and feeling their happiness, pain and new direction life takes them.
Love the Bluebird Bay and Cherry Blossom Point series!
It feels like being part of their big family and feeling their happiness, pain and new direction life takes them.
October 6, 2021
another great installment
Awesome cherry blossom point book! I can’t wait to read the next and watch jack grow and see what happens to gayle
Awesome cherry blossom point book! I can’t wait to read the next and watch jack grow and see what happens to gayle
November 21, 2021
Just Getting Started was one of my favorites out of the series, very heart warming and love the characters.
September 13, 2021
Another fantastic book by amazing Christine Gael! I am a fan of this author who never disappoints and this book is not an exception! Wonderful well developed characters and story line.
I'm so glad that we had a chance to get to know more about siblings of Anna's extended family especially Jack. I suspected there's much more to his behaviour towards Anna but never guessed this!
Loved, loved, loved this book!
I'm so glad that we had a chance to get to know more about siblings of Anna's extended family especially Jack. I suspected there's much more to his behaviour towards Anna but never guessed this!
Loved, loved, loved this book!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews