Pause

by Sara Stamey

Pause: Women's Fiction by Sara Stamey

Dear Diary,

Shall we pause to take stock?

Female (liberated, at least from fraught marriage). Age 52, height 5'5", weight 120, bone density excellent, minimal cellulite, maximal hot flashes. One and 3/4 breasts.

Months since sex: 27

Lindsey Friedland, former river-rafting guide and avid outdoorswoman, has hit the worst stretch of water she's ever faced: divorce from an abuser, breast cancer, menopause symptoms that her friends seem to have paddled serenely by. And she's lost sight of her dream of becoming an environmental journalist.

Lindsey needs to get her spark back.

Dear Diary, Disastrous blind dates so far: The walking cologne bottle. The "really want a gal to give me babies" guy. The pushy past-life reintegration facilitator.

Will Lindsey make it past the rocky shoals of family upheavals, job crises, sexism, and ageism... not to mention toxic love traps? Does "happily ever after" now mean settling for occasional (but hot!) sex with Mr. Maybe? Can she reclaim her journalism dream?

Dear Diary, I'm tired of being tragic. I'm sending off my article about the bulldozers versus the baby owls.

265 pages, Paperback

Published October 29, 2021

About the author

Award-winning author Sara Stamey has indulged her lifelong wanderlust with extended travels in out-of-the-way corners of the globe (inspiring some of her novels); with treasure hunting and teaching scuba in the Caribbean and Honduras; and owning a farm in Southern Chile. Now resettled in her native Northwest Washington, she taught creative writing at Western Washington University. She stays grounded with her native-plant restoration project in her sprawling Squalicum Creek backyard, shared with wild critters along with her cat, dog, and paleontologist husband Thor Hansen.

Stamey’s "Cybers Wild Card" science fiction novels with Berkley/Ace/Putnam netted a Locus Best First Novels listing along with positive reviews from Publishers Weekly, SF Chronicle, and others. She is listed in databases as an early Cyberpunk author along with Gibson and Stephenson, which tickles her.
More recently, her suspense novel "Islands" won the Chanticleer Paranormal Suspense Award and the Hollywood Book Festival Genre Award, and is described by reviewers as “a page turner from intriguing beginning to end" and "a superior suspense novel… a fast read, a stomping vivid ride.” (New eBook edition is out from Book View Cafe publishing.)
Her near-future pandemic thriller "The Ariadne Connection" (released by Book View Cafe in 2015) draws on her travels through the Greek islands and research into geomagnetic reversals. The novel has received the CYGNUS Speculative Fiction Award and the Chanticleer Global Thriller Grand Prize. “A rocket-paced thrill ride that delivers complex, engaging characters in a laser-sharp plot. [It] takes the reader on a visual feast through the azure waters and rugged Mediterranean landscape of the Greek islands while tapping into the deep roots of mythological tradition.” –Chanticleer Reviews. "An ambitious effort that draws connections between humanity's moral compass and the well-being of the planet we live on." (The Bookmonger review)
Her new Women's Fiction novel "Pause" won First Place in the Somerset Awards for Contemporary Literature. "A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes." (Mindy Klasky) "Stamey's lovely, inspiring, often funny novel... will touch the hearts of readrs." (Publishers Weekly Booklife). The novel is a 2022 selection of the International Pulpwood Queens Book Club.

Reviews

[Sherwood Smith]

I tagged this as "family saga" which is true in a sense, because I don't have a category for women's fiction (as categorized by publishers). That's because I don't like the tropes of women's fiction, or at least the ones I tried long ago: too many of them were centered around men, abusing the central group of women, betraying them, and then of course one of them always had to have cancer. I'm so not interested in fiction about cancer--I go to fiction to get away from personal horror and helpless misery. And I resent the implication that women's lives aren't interesting unless at least one of them is dying by inches.

Guess what! This book has it all! But I loved it anyway; I read it in draft, or I might not have tried it, and I would have been sorry to miss the experience.

The cancer is in the past (you learn that right up front), and our heroine is working to get past the abuse. What rang especially true for me was how she came from a background of verbal abuse (father) which unconsciously set up invisible guidelines how a relationship ought to go, so she fell into a marriage with an abuser.

How she cuts free of all of that, and makes her own path, is the through line of the story. I found the pacing brisk, there was plenty going on--her life is definitely not bent around her troubles-- the characters vivid, and I loved the voice.

I loved the fact that she's middle-aged but in no way does she consider her life over. The story breathes vitality.

There is a thread of wish-fulfillment, but that is a strong draw for me when it's deftly handled, leaning more toward life as it ought to be, as it is here; I want to finish a book smiling, and this book did that for me.

[Gina T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won an advance copy of Pause through the Library Thing Early Readers Program. When I saw the description of the novel, I thought "Great! the main character is of a certain age and I should be able to relate to at least some of her experiences." Well, I was wrong. As I read, I couldn't relate much to Lindsey, with her divorce and PTSD and athleticism and great writing skills and dead end job and supportive friends and difficult family situations and ethical dilemmas and then an easy career change and having to choose from two hunky guys, including the SNAG- Sensitive New Age Guy (hadn't thought about him in ages) and worries about breast cancer recurrence. (I COULD relate to Menopause). It was a lot to absorb in 253 pages.

By the end, after all she has gone through, she decides to pause, take time for herself and reflect on life. That is the perfect ending to this story.

Sara has a knack for writing lovely descriptions of nature and I was transported back to the sights and sounds of the Pacific Northwest while I was reading. This is the first novel by Sara Stamey that I've read and it won't be the last.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to LibraryThing.

Sex and hot flashes played a big part in this book and I was not sure about where this book was going. It hit on serious subjects in between and I was glad I kept on reading.

Lindsey may have been 52 but to me seemed much younger. She had an abusive marriage with her ex Nick and then got involved in a relationship, hence a lot of sex with Newman (his first name). He was undecided about the relationship, coming out of a bad one himself, and involved in Ashram, meditation etc. and could not find the time for her. Then she got involved almost with Damon who was her boss where she freelanced as a writer after she lost her job as a medical transcriber in a hospital and was a whistleblower to a bad doctor who was not on the up and up.

Her best friends were there for her thankfully during this whole time. Her diary/journal entries were interesting to read. Her mother was also a victim of physical/emotional abuse with Lindsey's father.

[Kim Pederson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Sara Stamey’s Pause, get ready for a wild rollercoaster ride through Lindsey Friedland’s midlife crises (she’d probably be grateful to have just one) as she struggles to deal with what has become an out-of-control see-saw of relationships with her ex-husband, lovers, family, and friends, of social and environmental issues, and of her own body’s plunge into menopause. Stamey presents Lindsey’s story with grace, deftness, and, dare I say, aplomb, effortlessly creating empathy for Lindsey and for the challenges facing many of those around her. In scenes that alternate from hilarious to sizzling to heartbreaking, she focuses in on the “what if” and “why did I” questions that keep many of us on edge during the day and awake at night. Lindsey fights to answer those questions or at least find a way to put them on “pause.” The suspense in and pleasure of Pause revolves around finding out whether she can do that. As a bonus, in her writing Stamey captures the natural beauty, wonder, and calming presence of the Pacific Northwest (and Guatemala) in vibrant, sensual detail. I recommend this novel highly. Then, as you read it, “hurry up, take your time” as the Cat Man in Key West tells his performing felines. You’ll be glad you did.

[Katharine Kimbriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this, but a friend recommended it to me, and I loved it. It's a swift, absorbing read for the right audience. PAUSE is not a classic romance, but matters of the heart are weighed. TW for emotionally abusive ex-husband & father in past of the timeline--yes, the past set Lindsey up for the wrong marriage, but we see her breaking free of those patterns. Also TW because a malpractice case is woven into the plot.

Lindsey may be 52, but she hasn't lost her desire for a good life--vitality could be her middle name. I finished this book feeling like she'd made huge strides--in relationships, work, and with her complicated family. It was, to use that good old word, inspiring in a way. I hope it will be for you.

In fact, I liked it so much I offered the author a blurb.

"Meet Lindsey Friedland, trapped in a liminal space between a failed marriage and a dead end job she's good at--until a swirl of friendship, fears, and love in all forms sweeps her back into the Now of possibility. Join her as Lindsey discovers that if you can only center your life in the Now, even for brief moments, Happily Ever After might just take care of itself."

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring story about Lindsey Friedland, a middle-aged woman navigating menopause, a budding new career, life after marriage to an abusive husband and the new realities of jumping back into the dating world. You don’t often find fiction novels from the middle-aged perspective – it was enlightening and refreshing to see life from a new point of view. My favorite plot line was Lindsey’s decision to leave her abusive husband and the struggles and redemption that evolved from her decision. I really disliked most of the new dating prospects, although her dealings with them, in my experience, were fairly close to reality. In the end, Lindsey came into her own and I was glad I finished the book – it had a satisfying ending.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathie Fuston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022
What a great read! I was cheering for Lindsey from the start! This wonderful book is so relatable, especially for those who have braved midlife dating. I enjoyed feeling the highs and lows as I read, and the ending is a triumph! Highly recommend!

[Jade O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book about the importance of self-knowledge first of all. Reading this book will befriend you with Lindsey, who is searching for a new beginning right after she has left her abusive husband. This is a really inspiring story which will touch your heart!

[Books Shelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pause is a beautiful story about Lindsey, 52 years old woman who desires good life! Escaping abusive husband, breast cancer, menopause symptoms she will manage to find her own path to the life she dreams. Lovely and often funny story!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Domestic Violence, Malpractice coverup, Sex (and plenty of it,) travel to exotic locations and horrible hot flashes . . . What more could you want in a good book. Sara Stamey blends all of this together to a novel fit for a book club or just a great evening read.

Thank you Librarything.com and Sara Stamey for a copy of this book.

[Lori Sinsel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pause is a well written, highly entertaining account of a divorced, middle-aged woman. Lindsey has been through a lot. She was at one time a very active woman, she loved her job as a river-rafting guide, she was an outdoorswoman, loved to go hiking also. It all came crashing down. Now she is 52 years old, divorced (a good thing), has had breast cancer, (a not so good thing), and is going through menopause,(also not a good thing), with all the symptoms and hot flashes you can possibly not want to ask for. This book is her story filled with a rollercoaster ride of emotions, ups and downs. It is told in a witty, often hilarious voice. I truly enjoyed reading Lindsey's story and I recommend it to all women- an affirmation that, yes, there is life after menopause!!
Thank you to the publisher Book View Cafe and to Library Thing for the free ARC of this novel, I am leaving my honest review in return.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having become a woman of a certain age, I am happy to see that women in their fifties and up are no longer assumed to fade away into irrelevance. And although I have often heard that editors in NYC tend to young, well-off white women, who may find it "difficult to connect" to characters enduring hot flashes and eldercare, the majority of people whom I see at literary events and in audiences at readings are women past the age of fifty. Thereford, I was happy to be introduced to this novel by Sara Stamey about 52-year-old Lindsey, who is attempting to reboot her life after recovering from cancer and extricating herself from an emotionally abusive husband.

Of course, there are some things that she can't quite get rid of, like her complicated family. Her father terrorizes her mother, whose singing once filled the house, but now is reduced to whining. Her exhausted s

ister Joanie is stuck raising a grandchild with developmental disabilities while the child's mother deals with addiction, and she argues with her other sister Fran about how best to deal with their parents.

Meanwhile, through her work as a medical transcriber, Lindsey becomes aware of a doctor's sloppy practices. When an acquaintance falls under his care, she decides that it's time to take action, but her good intentions go awry. During all of this, Lindsey has started dating, and decides to finally put her MFA to use through writing articles about the environment.

Like many at mid-life, Lindsey's plate is over-flowing, but her zest for life and good humor keep her afloat. Diary entries, dreams, and lists add insight to her state of mind. This is also a very sexy book, reminding readers that desire is not just for young people with perfect bodies.

I also loved the descriptions of the Pacific Northwest, with its Kwamish culture, and of Guatemala, where Lindsey goes on a visit with her lover, no doubt informed by the author's own travels and experiences.

[Arlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Pause
Author: Sara Stamey
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Pause: by Sara Stamey

My Opinion:

We find 'Pause' was indeed an engaging, inspiring story about what 52-year-old Lindsey Friedland had to endure in her life. How will this all work out for Lindsey from an abusive father, Arlen, ex-husband Nick, navigating around menopause, breast cancer, medical malpractice, and now seeming to want to get back into the dating scene? Will she get the new beginning of what she wanted after finally getting rid of that abusive husband? Where will she go from here? Be ready for a story filled with a commotional ride filled with emotions along with many ups and downs, with heartbreaking, heartwarming, and still where I did find me laughing and crying at some of it. I enjoyed how this author had Lindsey's as she 'fights to answer the questions or at least find a way to put them on pause.' Now, to understand all that is about, you must pick up 'Pause' and read it yourself. Would I recommend this read? YES!

[Donna172 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindsey Friedland is a 52 year old woman who basically starting life over after a stint with breast cancer and a divorce from an abusive husband. Both of these life changing actually happened before the book begins. Her life is anything but boring as she navigates through this new existence all the while being plagued with hot flashes. I loved her voice in the story throughout all of her trials and tribulations. This book left me smiling and the only reason I didn’t give it five stars is because it left me with too many unanswered questions. I want to see where she is now! If the author writes a sequel, I will revise my rating! Thank you to LibraryThing for the advanced reading copy!

[Betty Koval · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a story Sara Stamey has given women who are questioning who they are after coming off a breast cancer scare and a bad marriage with a man who berated her at every turn! Lindsey is also dealing with her parent’s dysfunctional marriage! Learning she has a form of PTSD from living those years with a controlling husband and flashbacks of a father’s anger issues! Only to meet an old flame who cannot be there for her like she needs. But she tries to make it work even though another “younger” man sees her value in more ways than just her writing talent. Lindsey had to FIND HERSELF before she can make another commitment - who will she choose? Wonderfully written and thought provoking!

[Barbara Conrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pause, by Sara Stamey, is one of the most passionate books you will ever read. Stamey’s writing is hot, whether it’s main character Lindsey Friedland’s hot flashes or making love with an old friend who could turn into a new love; reading this book will give you much to think about.

A beautifully written novel about a woman who is too young to give up and too old to keep making mistakes, this book is for every woman of a certain age. I loved it.

[Linda Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sara Stamey is a new to me author and after reading Pause, I find my self looking for her earlier books. She has an interesting writing style and Pause dove into issues of middle aged women head first. I found many of the “female” issues the main character, Lindsey, was dealing with, familiar, but realized I was so thankful my divorce happened before breast cancer and hot flashes!! I could not imagine finding myself dating after all of that! Stamey did a great job developing a character that managed to navigate through it with her true self intact! I Loved the references to the “Trickster” in the story and I wear my Raven pin proudly! Thank you, Sara, for the chance to follow Lindsey on her journey!!

[Rachael M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the worst book I’ve read but definitely not the best. Description wise the setting seems lovely but there’s something about the main character which annoys me -only I can’t put my finger on it. She’s kind of believable but also not.