Starting Over

by Nance Sparks

Sam Phillips is going through the motions. She was happily married for thirty-four years when a car accident stole her wife and destroyed her perfectly planned future. Now, it’s all she can do to exist day by day. The one thing that keeps her going is her IT administration job at Walsh Software Design. All seems lost when software stability issues threaten her career, until a hotshot programmer struts into her world and makes Sam want to feel again.

Jennifer Delgado doesn’t do cold and snow, but when a fluke February wildfire in the Southwest means evacuating for the third time in two years, it’s time for a change and she accepts a contract job in Minnesota. The weather is nothing compared to the unexpected feelings she develops for Sam. Jennifer has no idea if she can mend Sam’s broken soul, but it’s never too late for starting over.

Genres: Romance, Queer, Butch Femme, Friends To Lovers

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

Nance Sparks is a Goldie Award winning author of lesbian romance. She lives in south central Wisconsin with her spouse. Her passion for photography, homesteading, hiking, gardening and most anything outdoors comes through in her stories. When the sun is out and the sky is blue, especially during the golden hour, Nance can be found on the Wisconsin River with a camera in hand capturing shots of large birds in flight.

Reviews

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life has little meaning since Sam Phillips lost her wife in a tragic accident. All Sam can manage to do is work and avoid the rest of the world. Her job as the IT specialist at a technology company keeps Sam’s brain engaged as she works with integrating customers to their program. Lately there has been major issues with their core program that are beyond the company’s programmer’s ability.

The company hires Jennifer Delgado, a contract programmer to untangle their ones and zeroes. Jennifer has lived the life of a nomad working from contract to contract for over twenty five years. Although she loves the challenges of each new job, the loneliness in her life has become more pronounced since she turned fifty. Sharing Sam’s office space has sparked a work friendship that is turning into so much more for Jennifer.

Sparks offers us a realistic view of grieving through Sam’s eyes. She is learning how to be herself and with herself without her wife of thirty-four years. Jennifer’s attraction to Sam adds a midlife sexual awakening to the story.

There is a bit of repetition as the point of views change back and forth from chapter to chapter. As well, the bit of mystery added in the last quarter of the book is a twist from the normal angst but very see through.

Starting Over is a mature romance from Sparks. Even with the few missteps this is an interesting, thoughtful and entertaining read.

I received a free advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jo reece · Rating 3 out of 5]

All in all, starting over is a likeable read, the main characters are older, which is always a rare variety these days!
I felt the story was pretty short which is a shame as this book could have had more added to it. It's a very easy read, so if you have a spare Sunday afternoon this book may grab your interest..

3 out of 5.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems a little hard to give only 4: good story, jogged along nicely but never hit the heights or made me think.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed the Sparks books that I’ve read so far. And this was an enjoyable read too.

It was an easy read and quick to hold my interest. I liked reading about two older MCs for a change. Seems most sapphic characters are 32-35.

Sam had lost her wife of 32 years to a tragic car accident. Sam is severely depressed having lost the love of her life. She works long hours and has reoccurring nightmares and can only sleep a few hours each night. Jennifer is a divorced straight woman who moves to Minnesota for a consulting job at Sam’s company. Jennifer is drawn to Sam at their first meeting and recognizes her depression. Jennifer takes on the job of making Sam happy again.

I enjoyed the first half of this book, the final third was a bit anticlimactic. I would have like to have had more of Jennifer’s thought on her feelings for Sam and the change of her sexuality. The feelings and thoughts Sparks wrote seemed genuine, I justbwanted more.

The bit of mystery in this story was ok, but pretty simplistic.

ARC received from Net Galley for a voluntary and honest review.

[Lauren B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for a copy of this ARC for review. This was a sweet love story. I did enjoy it, however found the writing broke the flow a bit. I also found that it was a very quick process for Sam to heal and work on her grief. A sweet story but didn't hook me in.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Sam has lost her wife they were happily married and now she just going through the emotions she hasn’t been getting much sleep because she keeps having reoccurring nightmares. Sam doesn’t know who she is without her wife and although friends and colleagues tries to get her to live her life while helping her grieve. Sam meets Jennifer who was offer a contract at her job as IT specialist at a technology company. Jennifer loves living in New Mexico but lately has lost her trust because of fires constantly threaten her home. Sam and Jennifer grow closer when Jennifer helps Sam find out who she is without her wife as Jennifer who never been attracted to women before is starting to feel more then friendship with Sam. I enjoy this read sweet romance with enjoyable characters.

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two chapters set out clearly why both mains are alone. The descriptions are desolate, one of a life and one of a landscape. Both are achingly lonely. I am compelled to keep reading as the mains move incrementally towards each other. Then just over half way a plot development, unrelated to the romance, totally takes over and I am gripped! The plot twist doesn't move the novel into romantic blend so much as use it to show the solid foundation of the mains relationship - although the plot turn in its self was quite gripping. Pacing perfect throughout. An enjoyable romance with a little bit more.

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reminder kindness is where you least expect it!

Jennifer takes a job in Minnesota after a wildfire meant evacuating her home yet again. Upon arriving she meets Sam, a woman whose life hasn’t been the same since the death of her wife. When issues at work threaten to destroy Sam’s career, it’s up to Jennifer to use her skills to prove Sam hadn’t anything to do with the security issues and scandal they are both exposed to.

I loved every second of this! It dealt with so many important emotional issues and cemented one important thing, when someone truly loves you they’ll stop at nothing to help you through whatever you’re going through. Sam and Jennifer had an instant connection, but Sam was hesitant at first to explore things outside of her comfort zone. Their working environment very much lead to their getting to know one another better, through events most relatable, and that easy friendship soon developed into caring deeply, then more. My heart broke for Sam, especially as Jennifer got her to open up about all she was going through. I admired the way Jennifer handled every situation, taking extra care and time to understand what Sam might need and not applying any pressure.

Early in the story I loved both Sam and Jennifer. Just the way they spend relaxed time with one another and slowly helped Sam start moving forward. When the story took an unexpected turn and the issues threatening Sam’s career were revealed, a little excitement and tension built but never between Sam and Jennifer. They had such a strong bond so quickly that Jennifer put a lot of trust in someone she hadn’t known long but never once waved in that belief Sam wasn’t guilty. It was a great addition to the storyline and had my heart breaking for both of them in those moments because there were no guarantees they’d come out of the situation without complications.

Just loved this so much and can’t recommend it enough.

[Sian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short book was a quick and easy read. The book depicts the love and attraction between two older women in a lighthearted cheesy way.
There was an interesting plot development, the only real plot point that didn't revolve around grief or romance, but this didn't get the time it deserved and is 'resolved' almost immediately.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

well this author puts her main characters through the wringer...

sam is a widower,,, after her wife of 34 years dies
jennifer has basically lived like a nomad for years with her job moving from place to place but its not knowing if her homebase has survived the fire that she begins to question her lifestyle, so when a job comes up in a different place maybe it might be time to put down some roots

but first she has to get use to snow because where she comes from snow isnt a thing

and on the first meeting of sam and jennifer things started

a quick read but oh my goodness me couldnt put the book down till i knew the ending

[Anne Hicks-Bleecker · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Starting Over" is a sweet story about not only starting over in midlife but rediscovering who you are. Will Sam continue being the person she was with her wife or will she find parts of herself she hasn't tapped into yet with the help of Jennifer? Sam's journey with grief and trauma was relatable and at times palpable. And just when you think Sam is picking up the pieces there's a knock at the door with a twist you don't see coming.

[vee.]

couldn't get into it no matter how hard i tried, which speaks for itself since it's a sapphic romance and it's easy fore to always fall in love with those in the blink of an eye no matter how poorly written or constructed.

my gratitude to netgalley, the publisher and the author for an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ This was quick and sweet but wasn't for me really.
I am curious as to the size/layout of that house though, because three garages?! Is that normal in america in some places, how big was that place :o

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a pretty good read. Enjoyed it.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you read a Nance Sparks book, you know you're reading a character-driven story, which is sharing space with technical knowledge, in this case computers and how they're programmed, how they can be manipulated and how crimes can be committed secretly and online.

But don't let that deter you from this heartfelt, sometimes sad and thrilling story about Sam, who lost her wife in a tragic accident about a year ago, and Jennifer who is an in-demand computer programming whiz, but who has literally and figuratively burned out in New Mexico. Sam and Jen are destined to meet when Jen becomes employed at the company where Sam works.

What follows, or what I will say about what follows, is a ride through a touch and go relationship, a whodunit internet crime situation, which begs for a happy resolution and a mutual understanding between Sam and Jen.

Sparks's books are always enjoyable, satisfying reads, but IMO, this book elevates Nance Sparks into the upper echelons of elite authors.

So highly recommended!

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Women Using Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting Over is a tender and emotional tale of loss and love. Sparks does a commendable job here; the love story comes across as genuine and real. Sam and her wife shared a life of nearly 30 years; losing her guts Sam. Sparks handles this honorably though; she gives the characters as well as the readers time to accept the loss of Sam’s wife. Sparks understands it’s imperative not to rush the grief. She gives it time to breathe. She threads the process of letting go and moving on into the storytelling beautifully, paving the way for some heartfelt and touching scenes. She crafts vivid pictures with her words, capitalizing on the emotions of loss tenderly and considerately. Readers can not help but empathize with Sam. Her conflicted heart and Jennifer’s desire to heal it is too engaging and alluring to ignore.

Readers easily embrace the leading ladies in this romance. Sparks develops Sam and Jennifer nicely, presenting them as likable, relatable characters. Creating characters that readers find worthy of investment is essential to the success of any romance novel, and this isn’t a problem here. Both Sam and Jennifer resonate with readers. Sam and Jennifer are both multidimensional characters unaffaid of showing their vulnerabilities and insecurities. They each have compelling backstories—especially Sam—that explain why they are the way they are. Readers understand their motivations and actions. Because they do, a deeper emotional connection is developed with these characters. It all works to create a romance that captures readers’ hearts and keeps them turning pages.

Final remarks…

Romances that contain the themes of loss and grief often feel cliched and contrived. Starting Over doesn’t though. This novel works because it’s built on a relationship that’s grounded, authentic and genuine. Sparks crafts the romance in such a way that it feels believably sincere and honest. She capitalizes on the emotional depth of the characters and their relationship. There’s a chemistry between these two ladies that’s compelling. Readers see their potential, and they root for them. Starting Over reminds readers that love endures and heals, even when one thinks it’s lost forever.

Strengths…

Nicely developed
Touching
Engaging
Tenderly written

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nance Sparks has written a slow-burn LesFic romance. One of the main characters, Sam, is still in throes of grieving the death of wife of thirty-plus years in a car accident. The other main character, Jennifer, has lost her home and most of her belongings to a wildfire near Santa Fe. The characters meet when Jennifer, an independent contractor, accepts an assignment as a programmer a Minnesota software design company. Sam is the IT director at the company and there is an instant soupcon of attraction between the two women.

This book is flawed, not fatally, but it has problems as well as a moment of brilliance at the 60% mark. The characters remain amorphous, especially Jennifer. Added to the fact that some of Jennifer’s actions are not believable, like telling Sam to move out of the bedroom that she shared with her wife for decades and having Sam do that readily doesn’t really seem to be in character with what readers know about her. Neither character is portrayed as being fifty years old, rather they both seem to be in their thirties. The moment of brilliance involves an arrest and a stay in jail.

The book is full of angst so much so that readers may, assuming, of course, they continue reading, begin to skim the pages to the part where the storyline reappears. In the meantime though, the book is saggy and nothing appears to be happening except for the angst.

If you love angst-filled romances, this book is definitely for you. If you prefer more romance than angst, you might try another book.

My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.

[Ka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting Over
by Nance Sparks
A review by Ka
*****
I enjoyed Ms Sparks' first book, didn't have a chance to read her next two due to time constraints, but was going to make time for Starting Over ever since learning about it on one of her social media author pages.

Although her first four books have been published within just two years, comparing her first and latest, I found that Nance Sparks has considerably grown as an author within this short time. Her writing is nuanced and to the point, and her main characters are breathing life convincingly.

The storyline combines a whole array of popular tropes — overcoming grief and loss, an environmental catastrophe, coming out, mature fifty-plus women finding love in a workplace romance, plus an unexpected element of suspense — yet none of these are treated in the well-worn, repetitive manner of numerous, apparently cloned lesfic/sapphic publications that have increasingly been flooding the market over the last few years.

From page one, the author managed to hold my interest right through to the end, a rarity these days. What both characters go through rings as true as do their insights gained along the way. Well blended into the plot, we get to know about Minnesota's climatic and scenic assets, local and southwestern culinary delights and a few things about fashion as well as coding in IT, the latter being presented in a manner comprehensible for laypersons.

In sum, this was a truly recommendable purchase well worth my time and money.

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nance Sparks delivers a grief driven novel that isn’t maudlin. After a car accident takes her wife of 34 years Sam Phillips is stuck in her grief. She functions by working extra hours at her IT job but has cut herself off from old friends. Jennifer Delgado is an in demand programmer. She accepts a contract at Sam’s work to help with coding issues that are plaguing the company. At their first meeting there is a spark of attraction and first step is becoming friends.

I like how respectful Jennifer is helping Sam move forward from grief. Small changes to make her sleep better and such. This is a toaster oven romance as well because Jennifer has never been attracted to women. It all feels organic and is not a huge issue for either of them. In fact other than some surprising drama later in the story that gets resolved quickly there isn’t much more to the story.

I like seeing a romance for someone in their 50’s and the “dates” are simple outings. The story really falls on two MCs and they are lovely together. But I wish there was a little more to the story. I also wanted an epilogue to know what life looks like for them a little further along. I enjoyed the story but it didn’t capture me emotionally. I will continue to look forward to anything by the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I’m leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

[Becca Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sparks does a great job on the technical aspects of this novel and the handling of grief. However, I found the romance to be a bit lacking.

Over a year after the death of her wife Sam is stuck. She’s pushed everyone out of her life and work is the only thing keeping her going. When an issue with the software at Sam’s company brings Jennifer to town, the two hit it off right away. Jennifer seems to be the perfect person to help Sam get unstuck and Sam's presence helps Jennifer realize that maybe she doesn’t have to spend her life alone.

Despite Jennifer and Sam immediately being drawn to each other and feeling comfortable around each other that doesn’t really translate to the page. Instead, this ends up being a relatively simple romance with limited chemistry. The plot was good so even if the narrative left me wanting more I wouldn’t completely write this off as not worth reading. It was nice to see a romance with two older characters.

About two-thirds of the way through this one I knew there was one major conflict left. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the conflict I expected. I assumed it would be around Jennifer’s contract ending and her leaving which is a common source of conflict in books like this. I think it’s a bit overdone though so it was nice to see something different that was set up by the profession of the main characters.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

[MZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I’ve read most of Sparks’ books and find that I enjoy the writing style. The first 2/3 of this book matched my expectations, but then there was a strange story choice that I couldn’t connect with. The first 2/3 was a slow burn romance, which, all of the sudden switched into a mystery and it was as if I was reading a different book. I would have rated this higher if it was a long novella consisting of only the first 2/3 of the book.

As mentioned, I enjoyed the romance. One of the mains is dealing with grief and the other is new to the area and is in need of a friend. So, yes, there is a friends-to-lovers theme and it is a toaster oven. The characters were believable and (for as far as one can qualify grief) the grieving was well written, emotional but not overly angsty.

The mystery part is where the book lost me. The start was very sudden and because it happened so late in the story there was not enough time for it to develop. The result was a predictable plot that didn’t add much to the story. This last part of the book also had some repetitive elements in it.

All in all, this wasn’t a bad book, I enjoyed the romance, but the last part of the book did dampen my enthusiasm. I will pick up another book by Sparks in the future.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Delgado has spent her life and career working out of the southwest but after another devastating fire swept through her community she felt it’s time to move, hopefully where they don’t have to deal with the drought that fires seem to love. Her job entails a lot of travel, mainly fixing a company's IT departments that have gone off track. It’s been years since her divorce but having a relationship isn’t high on her list to make a happy life.
Jennifer is hired to find out what’s going on with their programming and after meeting employees she knows she can’t work out of the office assigned to her. So she decides to ask if she can share Sam Phillips' office with her. Sam just lost her wife of thirty plus years to a car accident and to say she’s lost interest in her life isn’t too far off.
Now here comes Jennifer pushing her to start living. She knows it’s not going to be easy for Sam. Jennifer has never been attracted to women but when she meets Sam her whole outlook on romance has changed.
Ms Sparks gave us a story featuring two leading ladies and a small cast of characters who bring this story along. A very,very nice read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, slow burn f/f romance
When I started this book I was very much in the mood to read a sweet, slow-burn romance and Starting Over fit that bill beautifully. The two computer specialists, Sam and Jennifer, meet on the job in rural Minnesota: Sam has lost her wife and does not know how to come back from that and Jennifer lost her trust in living in New Mexico where fires constantly threaten her home. I totally loved to see the tentative and believable meeting, their developing friendship which turns into more between those two. The romance part is especially well written for Jennifer who never has been attracted to woman until she meets Sam.
There is a good addition of life outside cities. And what fun to have two main characters, both mature women around 50, a femme and a butch, who are really into haut couture and appreciate to dress up. I love women who excel on their job and are into tech - another major point in favor for this book.
Sweet romance, rural setting, nice characters …. let‘s say Sparks has always a surprise up her sleeve for her readers.
Only the end was a bit too drawn out in my opinion. One chapter could have sufficed and concluded the story nicely.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldstrokes Books for the Arc. The review is left voluntarily.

[Alicia Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting Over
by Nance Sparks
NetGalley
New Release


This captivating novel is a must-read for anyone seeking a heartfelt, slow-burn romance that beautifully portrays the journey of loss, grief, and acceptance. Through the characters of Sam and Jennifer, the author has crafted a touching story that will make you laugh, cry, and fall in love.

Sam's struggle to move on after the death of her wife is portrayed with poignancy and depth, as she grapples with the fear of forgetting her beloved partner and breaking her marriage vows. Jennifer's entrance into Sam's life brings about a newfound sense of hope and joy, as she helps Sam see that there is still light and love to be found in the world.

The characters of Sam and Jennifer are well-developed, and their love story is heartwarming, with just the right amount of drama to keep readers hooked. The author has done an exceptional job of depicting the emotions of grief and loss, while also highlighting the importance of hope and new beginnings.

Overall, this novel is a touching and engaging read that I highly recommend. Kudos to the author for a job well done, and I can't wait to see what they have in store for us next! Special thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Get your copy on Amazon today!

[Trudy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me tell you that I absolutely love this book! It hit all the feels and only made me cry a couple times.

Sam and Jennifer were made for each other… they just had to meet up first. Sam is in IT and is grieving over the death of her wife, whom she loved very much. Her grief is real and, unfortunately, so is her depression. Jennifer is a consultant who travels constantly and is growing increasingly more tired of being alone. She has so much love to offer but nobody in her life to give that love to. Until one day they meet after Sam has had a bad day. Throughout the book, Ms Sparks details just how much Jennifer has helped Sam move on. Jennifer doesn’t expect Sam to just make the grief disappear, she helps her to eventually overcome it.

Then one day there’s someone pounding on the door and once again Sam’s life begins to spiral. It’s only with Jennifer’s help and love that Sam can stop the downhill spiral. And, again, Jennifer is right there to help her get out of it.

I can’t possibly recommend this book strongly enough! It’s truly a fantastic book to read because the characters are genuinely kind and caring.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a pleasant surprise. I had read one other book by Nance Sparks that I didn’t care for (Cowboy) so I was admittedly holding my breath when I started. But I gave it a chance because I’m a sucker for this trope and let me just say I’m glad I did!

Firstly, the author does a great job of character building in this book, giving both Sam and Jennifer distinctive voices and personalities and making them easy to like an emphasize with. I also very much appreciated the building of a friendship and how Jennifer helped Sam heal and move past her wife’s death before the romance picked up. And the steamy scenes? *chefs kiss*

And then just when you think it’s happily ever after for our mc’s bam, there’s a knock on the door. Did not see that coming. Without giving up spoilers I’ll just say that the story strays from the typical romance about two thirds in and is all the better for it.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book today. I know I’m glad I did!

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting Over by Nance Sparks is an emotional roller coaster ride of a mature love story that I’m sure you will want to enjoy. This is a beautiful story of loss, grief, and finding one’s way back to life and happiness. There is also a bit of mystery and intrigue for a bit of a twist.

This book rates high on the angst scale, obviously, but it also has a very satisfying emotional ending. Sam Phillips and Jennifer Delgado’s slow burn romance is a nice change in this genre of sometimes intense, overwhelmingly younger relationships. The author’s way with words made me want to visit small town Minnesota. Even her descriptions of spring in that area wouldn’t put me off since it sounds very similar to where I live. I’m used to the dirty snow (We call it ‘snirt’) and the sudden fluctuations of temperature she mentions.

Sam and Jennifer’s story made my heart melt (see what I did there?) with happiness. Their chemistry was sweet and hopeful all at once. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy when you read this book, because you’ll need them!

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and the author for giving me the chance to read and honestly review this novel.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting over tackles grieve and how it's paralizing. Sam has lost her wife over a year ago but she still feels the loss like it happened yesterday. It doesn't help that her home is still the same as when Kara was last there and she has nightmares making her relive that last night. She knows she needs change but she doesn't know how to get it.

Jennifer Delgado also needs change and knows exactly how to get it. Accepting a new contract far from her home in New Mexico that has been plagued by wildfires she sets out on a new adventure hoping to find some sparks in her life again. The non-lethal kind.

When these two meet up it's casual without any expectations and it's entertaining. Turns out they are new collegues. They continue their path to this new friendship and slowly it grows into more.

I enjoyed how the author took their time for Sam to get over her wife and the patience and kindness Jennifer showed her.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

[MissAlice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grief is a strobe light that's motion activated. You'll just be going about your day, pass by the light detector and memories will flash before you until you are completely frozen in time, eyes glued shut, and hoping for the right person to come along and lead you away from the chaos.

The elegance put into this book was comforting. Two lonely souls finding each other's hearts and wade, together, through the day to day. It's quite beautiful. I adore that the women weren't 23 years old floundering around and doubting their self-revelations. They are professional women that have had lives and experiences and make their 50's seem like the new 30's. They are lucky enough to find a witness to their second chance at life's grand adventure into love and you know they will not squander it. It's a bit Lifetime movie with some steamy scenes that will make you blush... a quick read that will leave you smiling for sure.