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Learning to Love Again
Houstonian Ava White finds herself alone after her wife, Sheila, leaves her for a younger woman. Sheila verbally, emotionally, and physically abused Ava for more than thirty years. Drinking lots of alcohol became Ava’s way of coping with the pain and loneliness, but she is ready for change.
Ava's friend, Emily Rios, convinces her to spend two weeks at Emily’s vacation home in Ouray, Colorado. Ava is excited about being away from Houston and Sheila. She wants to clear her head and reimagine her life.
Ava meets Emily’s friend and neighbor Melody Graves in Colorado. Emily asked Mel to encourage Ava to visit some interesting sites in and around Ouray. Mel is happy to help, but she didn’t expect to fall for Ava.
Ava discovers a new love for the outdoors and finds confidence in herself as she and Mel become close.
Ava returns to Houston feeling good about her life and ready to move forward, but Sheila is not giving up control. Ava must make some tough decisions to build a new life with the possibility of a relationship with Mel.
Ava's friend, Emily Rios, convinces her to spend two weeks at Emily’s vacation home in Ouray, Colorado. Ava is excited about being away from Houston and Sheila. She wants to clear her head and reimagine her life.
Ava meets Emily’s friend and neighbor Melody Graves in Colorado. Emily asked Mel to encourage Ava to visit some interesting sites in and around Ouray. Mel is happy to help, but she didn’t expect to fall for Ava.
Ava discovers a new love for the outdoors and finds confidence in herself as she and Mel become close.
Ava returns to Houston feeling good about her life and ready to move forward, but Sheila is not giving up control. Ava must make some tough decisions to build a new life with the possibility of a relationship with Mel.
427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2022
53 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
M.E. Tudor
17 books102 followersM.E. Tudor lives in south central Kentucky with her cute dog, Ruby and cat, Chesher. She has an Associates Degree and Bachelor's Degree from Western Kentucky University and works as a librarian. When not working or writing, M.E. loves to travel, camp and hike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 27, 2022
Very good book with the main characters over 50 years old and a HEA. Intense description of the way out of a long abuse marriage. But also the beautiful way the author let the one woman Ava find the inner strenght to enjoy love and life again.
February 12, 2022
This was difficult for me to even finish. I hate giving bad reviews but this was just so terrible for me. It was so much dialogue and just things I don’t care about. Literally every meal was discussed, down to what each MC ordered.
This book had a lot going on and hit on a relationship with physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. When I felt the author had a great opportunity to help the MC rise above, she kept going back to coping mechanisms such as alcohol.
This book just wasn’t for me. I don’t plan to recommend or read another from this author.
This book had a lot going on and hit on a relationship with physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. When I felt the author had a great opportunity to help the MC rise above, she kept going back to coping mechanisms such as alcohol.
This book just wasn’t for me. I don’t plan to recommend or read another from this author.
March 10, 2022
So many wonderful things about this story!
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: full-time writer, meet-cute, butch character, favorite trope; UNICORN: characters over 50, 400+ pages (possibly other categories)
TRIGGER WARNING: some verbal abuse, and an instance of a slap to the face
I was really lucky when I entered a Goodreads giveaway contest because I won this book! I don't like to give much away in reviews, and I hope that l can manage to do that here, too.
The primary MC had recently divorced from a very controlling woman after their 30 year relationship. She had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and her ex had convinced their daughter that the MC wasn't very safe on her own. A friend/work-related associate offers the use of her vacation house in Colorado for the protagonist to get away from Texas and her troubles, in hope that she'll get a chance to reset and be able to move forward in her life. Not only does she relax and learn to enjoy the nature and beauty around her, she becomes friends with the woman next door. Their friendship helps to break the negative programming of her ex, and she starts to feel better about herself.
The neighbor/second MC has a body positive attitude towards her, and that message continues throughout the book. While getting to know each other better, MC2 reveals that she is a ghost writer for a western genre author, and that she and her story partner always try to give accurate and honest portrayals of some historical wrongdoings in the stories. The truth, integrity, and factuality is always significant to the novels, and to them as authors.
The friendship of the MCs grows, even though they are now separated by at least a thousand miles, but they learn to trust in and rely upon, and support each other though a few struggles. The relationship has several complications, mostly from the ex-wife, and some situations get out of hand a few times. Through it all, the MCs stand by each other, and they have started to fall in love. (The above paragraphs tie well together into their story, but I don't want to give anything away.)
The book will hopefully have a sequel. The messages of body positivity, resilience, learning to enjoy life, and resisting to choose alcohol to help cope with difficult situations make a major impact on MC1. It's so important to read about characters like us that can overcome odds and get a second chance - even later in life. The characters are real, the story is well-written, and it feels like it's only the beginning of their story.
A must read.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: full-time writer, meet-cute, butch character, favorite trope; UNICORN: characters over 50, 400+ pages (possibly other categories)
TRIGGER WARNING: some verbal abuse, and an instance of a slap to the face
I was really lucky when I entered a Goodreads giveaway contest because I won this book! I don't like to give much away in reviews, and I hope that l can manage to do that here, too.
The primary MC had recently divorced from a very controlling woman after their 30 year relationship. She had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, and her ex had convinced their daughter that the MC wasn't very safe on her own. A friend/work-related associate offers the use of her vacation house in Colorado for the protagonist to get away from Texas and her troubles, in hope that she'll get a chance to reset and be able to move forward in her life. Not only does she relax and learn to enjoy the nature and beauty around her, she becomes friends with the woman next door. Their friendship helps to break the negative programming of her ex, and she starts to feel better about herself.
The neighbor/second MC has a body positive attitude towards her, and that message continues throughout the book. While getting to know each other better, MC2 reveals that she is a ghost writer for a western genre author, and that she and her story partner always try to give accurate and honest portrayals of some historical wrongdoings in the stories. The truth, integrity, and factuality is always significant to the novels, and to them as authors.
The friendship of the MCs grows, even though they are now separated by at least a thousand miles, but they learn to trust in and rely upon, and support each other though a few struggles. The relationship has several complications, mostly from the ex-wife, and some situations get out of hand a few times. Through it all, the MCs stand by each other, and they have started to fall in love. (The above paragraphs tie well together into their story, but I don't want to give anything away.)
The book will hopefully have a sequel. The messages of body positivity, resilience, learning to enjoy life, and resisting to choose alcohol to help cope with difficult situations make a major impact on MC1. It's so important to read about characters like us that can overcome odds and get a second chance - even later in life. The characters are real, the story is well-written, and it feels like it's only the beginning of their story.
A must read.
January 9, 2022
Wow
ME Tudor has written an engrossing tale about a woman who is stuck in an abusive relationship. She gets out of it and begins to blossom. The author does an excellent job of getting into the main character's head and helping to understand where she's coming from. Intriguing story. Well done!
ME Tudor has written an engrossing tale about a woman who is stuck in an abusive relationship. She gets out of it and begins to blossom. The author does an excellent job of getting into the main character's head and helping to understand where she's coming from. Intriguing story. Well done!
January 3, 2022
Wowser stunning Emotional Book
5th book into my book challenge and I think I've already read the book of the year it's incredible the only thing that I can say is if you only read one book this year
READ THIS ONE at only £3.69 it's a bargain
5th book into my book challenge and I think I've already read the book of the year it's incredible the only thing that I can say is if you only read one book this year
READ THIS ONE at only £3.69 it's a bargain
January 8, 2022
This is definitely a book that will stick with you well after you have finished it! Loved the main characters and would like to see more from these two in the future… 😉. 5⭐️
January 20, 2022
A really interesting story
Abuse and recovery..so well written
The MC‘s are well developed
Definitely a recommendation
Abuse and recovery..so well written
The MC‘s are well developed
Definitely a recommendation
January 8, 2022
Very good book
I enjoyed seeing the growth and strength Ava went thru after 30 years of abuse. Ava became a very independent and strong person. The romance between Ava and Mel is very sweet. The characters are well written. Thanks foe an in-depth story about spousal abuse even after the divorce.
I enjoyed seeing the growth and strength Ava went thru after 30 years of abuse. Ava became a very independent and strong person. The romance between Ava and Mel is very sweet. The characters are well written. Thanks foe an in-depth story about spousal abuse even after the divorce.
March 4, 2023
Learning to Love Again
I really enjoyed Mel's and Ava's sort by M.E. Tudor. It had excellent chemistry and growth of characters with long lasting love. I look forward to more books by this author in the future.
I really enjoyed Mel's and Ava's sort by M.E. Tudor. It had excellent chemistry and growth of characters with long lasting love. I look forward to more books by this author in the future.
July 30, 2024
OMG! A FAVORITE! Another gem from my TBR shelves! This one will stick with me. Ava finds herself divorced after 30 some years of being in an abusive, controlling marriage. Her ex wife, is still trying to control her. But Ava goes to Colorado for a 2 week vacation and is befriended by Mel, who opens Ava up to possibilities! A great women of a certain age/friends to lovers love story! 5 stars!
February 4, 2022
So Much To Overcome!
This was such a heart wrenching story with a super positive ending. Relationships behind closed doors especially to your own child is hard to accept. When your ex and your daughter are the verbally abusive ones, life needs to be rewritten and only the victim can take control back. Ava is heading to Colorado to reevaluate her life. Her ex wife left her for a much younger women. Divorced now, she has been verbally and physically abused by her ex wife. Rather than stand up to her, she drank. More often than not, she was drunk. But the control from her ex wife and now her daughter was becoming hard to handle and Emily, a client turned friend offered her cabin in Colorado for a couple of weeks. She met her neighbor Mel, and life as she knew it was going to change. Never would she believe that Mel, just by being supportive and understanding. Mel was willing to take Ava all over her Colorado. Dinners, hiking, sledding all things her controlling ex wife denied her. Thirty years she was kept under her ex’s control. She knew she was changing for the better and she had to keep her positive attitude up when she got home and the nightmares started again. It is a story that was told with such empathy on the situation. Mel (my hero) was written with her own issues but totally understanding that Ava low self esteem needed help. Loved It!
This was such a heart wrenching story with a super positive ending. Relationships behind closed doors especially to your own child is hard to accept. When your ex and your daughter are the verbally abusive ones, life needs to be rewritten and only the victim can take control back. Ava is heading to Colorado to reevaluate her life. Her ex wife left her for a much younger women. Divorced now, she has been verbally and physically abused by her ex wife. Rather than stand up to her, she drank. More often than not, she was drunk. But the control from her ex wife and now her daughter was becoming hard to handle and Emily, a client turned friend offered her cabin in Colorado for a couple of weeks. She met her neighbor Mel, and life as she knew it was going to change. Never would she believe that Mel, just by being supportive and understanding. Mel was willing to take Ava all over her Colorado. Dinners, hiking, sledding all things her controlling ex wife denied her. Thirty years she was kept under her ex’s control. She knew she was changing for the better and she had to keep her positive attitude up when she got home and the nightmares started again. It is a story that was told with such empathy on the situation. Mel (my hero) was written with her own issues but totally understanding that Ava low self esteem needed help. Loved It!
February 9, 2022
Phenomenal story
This story focuses on Ava, recent divorcee who has spent 35 years in a controlling, abusive relationship. At the advice of a friend she gets away to the mountains of Colorado and that's where she meets Mel. With Mel's help she explore the town she's staying in. She cuts back her drinking, becomes more outgoing and gets a whole new lease on life.
This story was excellent, Mel and Ava made a great couple. I disliked Sheila and Glenna, but that was intentional on the writer's part!
This story focuses on Ava, recent divorcee who has spent 35 years in a controlling, abusive relationship. At the advice of a friend she gets away to the mountains of Colorado and that's where she meets Mel. With Mel's help she explore the town she's staying in. She cuts back her drinking, becomes more outgoing and gets a whole new lease on life.
This story was excellent, Mel and Ava made a great couple. I disliked Sheila and Glenna, but that was intentional on the writer's part!
January 22, 2022
OMG, still catching my breath!
What a wonderful story! A fresh start, a budding new friendship that could easily be more. An insanely jealous and controlling ex and three generations of offspring don't make for an easy life but at least there's finally light at the end of the tunnel
I love this book and recommend it for anyone looking for not just romance but also a gut wrenching thriller.
What a wonderful story! A fresh start, a budding new friendship that could easily be more. An insanely jealous and controlling ex and three generations of offspring don't make for an easy life but at least there's finally light at the end of the tunnel
I love this book and recommend it for anyone looking for not just romance but also a gut wrenching thriller.
March 1, 2022
very good book
I’m always amazed when a woman treats another woman badly. I’m sure abuse happens but it just seems we should be better. Ava is a doormat for her wife. When her wife ends the marriage for a woman 30 years younger you would think it would stop. Guess again. A very good book.
I’m always amazed when a woman treats another woman badly. I’m sure abuse happens but it just seems we should be better. Ava is a doormat for her wife. When her wife ends the marriage for a woman 30 years younger you would think it would stop. Guess again. A very good book.
March 17, 2022
Good book
I loved this book. I was sad and happy. I loved that Ava finally got her life back thanks to her friend Emily and Mel. It was a very well written book and it could be very emotional when reading it but it had a happy ending.
I loved this book. I was sad and happy. I loved that Ava finally got her life back thanks to her friend Emily and Mel. It was a very well written book and it could be very emotional when reading it but it had a happy ending.
March 24, 2022
so very sweet
Delightful romance. Loved reading about two grown women dealing with love and life and growing together. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a love story that’s very believable
Delightful romance. Loved reading about two grown women dealing with love and life and growing together. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for a love story that’s very believable
April 18, 2022
Great
Really great book. Very sad in places but very uplifting in others.Liked the MC. Very much. Sign of a good book for me is when you keep reading to see what happens next. Really hope there is a follow up. Highly recommend.
Really great book. Very sad in places but very uplifting in others.Liked the MC. Very much. Sign of a good book for me is when you keep reading to see what happens next. Really hope there is a follow up. Highly recommend.
March 11, 2022
A lovely book, nice to see one written so well for the pleasure of the "older lesbian" reader.
Some of it very close to home with my experience in the past.
I still enjoyed reading it!
Some of it very close to home with my experience in the past.
I still enjoyed reading it!
April 2, 2022
Great Read!
I loved this book! But now I want more! Will be keeping an eye out for next book in this HOPEFUL series!
I loved this book! But now I want more! Will be keeping an eye out for next book in this HOPEFUL series!
April 7, 2022
There were parts of this I liked, but there was a lot I could have done without. Not sure about the lack of trigger warnings or how I missed them, but I prefer not to read about domestic violence, stalking, and attempted murder. Or the complete and total disregard for the person being abused. Maybe it conveys reality, but again, not what I want to read. So, my fault for taking on a storyline that I really have no desire to read. I do normally check for storylines to avoid this kind of situation so not sure if I just didn't do a good job or if so many reviewers just don't see it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2022
A Page turner
I could not put this book down , this book had everything it was funny , it kept me on the edge of my seat it was believable at times I felt like I could shake her daughter I really enjoyed this book .
I could not put this book down , this book had everything it was funny , it kept me on the edge of my seat it was believable at times I felt like I could shake her daughter I really enjoyed this book .
May 19, 2022
This was a tough read, but it was also inspiring and beautiful. Mel’s friendship gave Ava the strength to grow and find herself. The fact that her own child didn’t even support her was hard to read. My only complaint is that I needed it to be longer or I’m going to need more from Ava and Mel
September 30, 2022
Deep in the heart of Texas
I love good stories and this is a good one. Like the description of Colorado which I have visited and Texas which I haven't. The characters are strong and believable. Maybe we can look forward to a sequel about the travels in the R. V.
I love good stories and this is a good one. Like the description of Colorado which I have visited and Texas which I haven't. The characters are strong and believable. Maybe we can look forward to a sequel about the travels in the R. V.
January 22, 2022
Excellent.
I loved Learning to Love Again. This is a great book. I loved the storyline. The two main characters are so good.
I loved Learning to Love Again. This is a great book. I loved the storyline. The two main characters are so good.
February 17, 2022
Good read
This was a crazy book, but a very good one. People are really controlling like that in real life, I just wish some can move on and grow stronger from it like Ava did.
This was a crazy book, but a very good one. People are really controlling like that in real life, I just wish some can move on and grow stronger from it like Ava did.
March 29, 2022
Wow must read
Wow must read I loved the main characters their journey through it all it had you at the edge of your seat it's a extremely powerful storyline congratulations
Wow must read I loved the main characters their journey through it all it had you at the edge of your seat it's a extremely powerful storyline congratulations
June 19, 2022
Long book, you take your time with it but it’s worth it at the end.
May 9, 2024
Brilliant book. Definitely worth reading.
Great book with really interesting characters and a good story line. Easy to read and hard to put down. Highly recommend!
Great book with really interesting characters and a good story line. Easy to read and hard to put down. Highly recommend!
February 24, 2022
A relatively, to me, unusual subject in that in the background there is an abusive ex wife.
Good first chapter, backstory established but also a bit of character strength that I look forward to seeing growing.
The back story of the other main read more like a file, the information given in a less natural way than the first chapter.
Some information felt a bit repetitive. Several times information that had been given to the reader was given again, but not in a way that added anything or made sense in conversation.
The only one bed didn’t seem to merit conversation or indeed comment between the mains.
I feel pacing dropped off a bit around 40%. Both mains were still getting to know each other, but there was no plot tension, or really sexual tension.
The last 20% of the book, when the ex wife was on the page, had plenty of tension, so the writer can definitely write it well. This book was fine.
Good first chapter, backstory established but also a bit of character strength that I look forward to seeing growing.
The back story of the other main read more like a file, the information given in a less natural way than the first chapter.
Some information felt a bit repetitive. Several times information that had been given to the reader was given again, but not in a way that added anything or made sense in conversation.
The only one bed didn’t seem to merit conversation or indeed comment between the mains.
I feel pacing dropped off a bit around 40%. Both mains were still getting to know each other, but there was no plot tension, or really sexual tension.
The last 20% of the book, when the ex wife was on the page, had plenty of tension, so the writer can definitely write it well. This book was fine.
March 20, 2025
Cute story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews