What do you think?
Rate this book
Changes #2
New Beginnings (Changes #2): Changes - a family saga
Residents old and new in the small village of Holmsford gear up for the Christmas celebrations, but not everything goes to plan. Secrets and sleigh rides, new love and heartache, all get mixed up in the festive pot. In the McTavish household, Maggie is certain Iain is still hiding something. Her son, James, is now settled, but what of their tempestuous daughter? Chloe is struggling to find the love she craves and forge a new career. Then she drops a bombshell in her mother’s lap that threatens to blow the family apart.
212 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2012
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Jay Howard
16 books62 followersWriting is a mixture of OCD and schizophrenia. Each time I finish a novel or short story I wonder why I put myself through so much hard work and frustration. But you know what they say about forgetting the pain of birth once you have the joy of holding your baby… I know full well that the characters in my head will insist I carry on. I hear their conversations, they drive me back to the keyboard. I hope you enjoying reading what I’ve transcribed.
I blame my husband. It’s all his fault for pushing me to actually finish and publish that first novel. I suppose his patience was wearing thin after so many years ;-) I haven’t asked him if he remembers any of the many swear words I invented when I was trying to master all the other skills I needed in order to achieve a professional level of publication.
I am a very lucky woman. I am far from rich in worldly terms, but I am wealthy beyond measure in my family and friends. I have also been amazed at the generosity of other authors, who have taken time from their own busy lives to help me improve my craft. I suppose it’s rather appropriate that in publishing online I find I’ve made so many more friends online. What an amazing, vibrant world this interweb is.
I was born in Bedfordshire. My family moved to Wales when I was 11 and I am the only one of the clan to have left, first of all trying London for size. I have lived and worked in many places, as diverse as Gateshead, Berkshire, British Columbia and Alberta (I hold dual citizenship), settling in Somerset in 2002.
If you get the chance I can thoroughly recommend taking the 4 days needed to travel by train from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast of my other country. It's only by travelling by land that you can appreciate the vastness and diversity of Canada. Listen to the stories your fellow travellers will have to tell and you could well find yourself inspired to write too.
My debut novel, Never Too Late (Changes Book 1), was started when I was working in Jasper, Alberta. I have just published the sequel, New Beginnings (August 2012) and I have outlines for many more novels. I'm ready to spend time with new characters in new locations. I just have to decide which people to meet first... I didn't believe it when I heard other authors talking about their characters surprising them. I was firmly of the opinion that you create your characters and you will have control over their actions. Wrong! They are living, breathing people, with their own ideas about how their lives will pan out.
Writing and publishing have put me through a real rollercoaster of emotions. I'm still struggling to believe there are now thousands of people around the world who are reading my work. Darling husband of mine, what have you started?
I blame my husband. It’s all his fault for pushing me to actually finish and publish that first novel. I suppose his patience was wearing thin after so many years ;-) I haven’t asked him if he remembers any of the many swear words I invented when I was trying to master all the other skills I needed in order to achieve a professional level of publication.
I am a very lucky woman. I am far from rich in worldly terms, but I am wealthy beyond measure in my family and friends. I have also been amazed at the generosity of other authors, who have taken time from their own busy lives to help me improve my craft. I suppose it’s rather appropriate that in publishing online I find I’ve made so many more friends online. What an amazing, vibrant world this interweb is.
I was born in Bedfordshire. My family moved to Wales when I was 11 and I am the only one of the clan to have left, first of all trying London for size. I have lived and worked in many places, as diverse as Gateshead, Berkshire, British Columbia and Alberta (I hold dual citizenship), settling in Somerset in 2002.
If you get the chance I can thoroughly recommend taking the 4 days needed to travel by train from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast of my other country. It's only by travelling by land that you can appreciate the vastness and diversity of Canada. Listen to the stories your fellow travellers will have to tell and you could well find yourself inspired to write too.
My debut novel, Never Too Late (Changes Book 1), was started when I was working in Jasper, Alberta. I have just published the sequel, New Beginnings (August 2012) and I have outlines for many more novels. I'm ready to spend time with new characters in new locations. I just have to decide which people to meet first... I didn't believe it when I heard other authors talking about their characters surprising them. I was firmly of the opinion that you create your characters and you will have control over their actions. Wrong! They are living, breathing people, with their own ideas about how their lives will pan out.
Writing and publishing have put me through a real rollercoaster of emotions. I'm still struggling to believe there are now thousands of people around the world who are reading my work. Darling husband of mine, what have you started?
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 27, 2012
I was given the opportunity to review either this book or the first in the Changes series and chose New Beginnings for two reasons. One, I wanted to know if the book stood on its own or needed to be read along with "Never Too Late" and two, New Beginnings had no reviews of its own.
There is so much to like here, with interesting characters and a charming English village, or at least I think it's charming. There is very little in the way of description. So I had no real idea if the streets were paved or cobbled, if the windows were modern plate glass or had the ripple of age. There is a fair amount of information about training dogs and about the history of the Suffolk draft horse but no real description of the dogs themselves (beyond mentioning "flags" in the part Papillon's ears) and the larger dog's waving tail. I know the author can provide lovely descriptions, as happens whenever the characters look up at night and note which stars they recognize.
With very little effort this book could have the charm and appeal of James Herriott's reminisces of life as a country vet. All it would need is a critique partner who cared enough to be a bit brutal. It took me a while to categorize the writing style until I remember the "shows" my English hosts watched during the evening meal. We call them "soaps" in the US but I'm fairly sure they're called something else in England. The dialogue is fun, often witty and in character for each person speaking. But without descriptions it was difficult to fully realize the scene, as though it was a screenplay, with a notation at the beginning of the scene: Apothecary store, (names of characters) daytime. Since the characters will be seen on stage, there's little need to describe them, and the sets have already been established.
To answer my question, no the book doesn't really stand on its own, but a glance through the first book showed some of the same concerns
From a technical standpoint there were some punctuation issues, and point of view bounced around like a ping pong. Again, these issues can be resolved with an edit, which I strongly recommend. This is a very good story, it just needs to be told a bit differently.
There is so much to like here, with interesting characters and a charming English village, or at least I think it's charming. There is very little in the way of description. So I had no real idea if the streets were paved or cobbled, if the windows were modern plate glass or had the ripple of age. There is a fair amount of information about training dogs and about the history of the Suffolk draft horse but no real description of the dogs themselves (beyond mentioning "flags" in the part Papillon's ears) and the larger dog's waving tail. I know the author can provide lovely descriptions, as happens whenever the characters look up at night and note which stars they recognize.
With very little effort this book could have the charm and appeal of James Herriott's reminisces of life as a country vet. All it would need is a critique partner who cared enough to be a bit brutal. It took me a while to categorize the writing style until I remember the "shows" my English hosts watched during the evening meal. We call them "soaps" in the US but I'm fairly sure they're called something else in England. The dialogue is fun, often witty and in character for each person speaking. But without descriptions it was difficult to fully realize the scene, as though it was a screenplay, with a notation at the beginning of the scene: Apothecary store, (names of characters) daytime. Since the characters will be seen on stage, there's little need to describe them, and the sets have already been established.
To answer my question, no the book doesn't really stand on its own, but a glance through the first book showed some of the same concerns
From a technical standpoint there were some punctuation issues, and point of view bounced around like a ping pong. Again, these issues can be resolved with an edit, which I strongly recommend. This is a very good story, it just needs to be told a bit differently.
September 24, 2023
A Write to Review
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
In the quaint village of Holmsford, the Christmas season is just around the corner, and both longtime residents and newcomers are eagerly preparing for the festivities. However, amidst the holiday cheer, not everything unfolds as smoothly as expected. This yuletide season is filled with a mixture of secrets, sleigh rides, newfound love, and heartache, creating a delightful and occasionally tumultuous holiday brew.
Within the McTavish household, Maggie is convinced that her husband Iain is keeping something from her, stirring a sense of unease. While their son James has found contentment, their daughter Chloe grapples with her quest for love and the pursuit of a new career. Chloe harbors a secret that she eventually drops as a bombshell in her mother's lap, a revelation that has the potential to shatter the family's bonds and reshape their lives.
I liked the overall story; it was very convincing in the outcome and telling. The interactions between the characters are thought-provoking to read and fascinating to follow. I did find the description to be lacking in parts mainly concerning the towns and in others like the horses there was an abundance of explanation. It is an enjoyable follow-up to her first novel.
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
In the quaint village of Holmsford, the Christmas season is just around the corner, and both longtime residents and newcomers are eagerly preparing for the festivities. However, amidst the holiday cheer, not everything unfolds as smoothly as expected. This yuletide season is filled with a mixture of secrets, sleigh rides, newfound love, and heartache, creating a delightful and occasionally tumultuous holiday brew.
Within the McTavish household, Maggie is convinced that her husband Iain is keeping something from her, stirring a sense of unease. While their son James has found contentment, their daughter Chloe grapples with her quest for love and the pursuit of a new career. Chloe harbors a secret that she eventually drops as a bombshell in her mother's lap, a revelation that has the potential to shatter the family's bonds and reshape their lives.
I liked the overall story; it was very convincing in the outcome and telling. The interactions between the characters are thought-provoking to read and fascinating to follow. I did find the description to be lacking in parts mainly concerning the towns and in others like the horses there was an abundance of explanation. It is an enjoyable follow-up to her first novel.
October 17, 2012
I read this book in one sitting, almost. Started reading in bed, till I fell asleep, woke a few hours later and reached for my kindle.
Loved the addition of Mitzi and stopped reading open mouthed at Ian's way of dealing with her and his point of view concerning the house.
Chloe continues to show how much she has inherited from her father,and is as impetuous as ever.
Nice balance of familiar characters and new ones in this sequel.
LOL, like Oliver Twist, I am still wanting more.
Loved the addition of Mitzi and stopped reading open mouthed at Ian's way of dealing with her and his point of view concerning the house.
Chloe continues to show how much she has inherited from her father,and is as impetuous as ever.
Nice balance of familiar characters and new ones in this sequel.
LOL, like Oliver Twist, I am still wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews