Review: Starting Over by Michele Shriver

by Sarah Reads - 2:30 AM

Book: Starting Over

Author: Michele Shriver

Genre: Romance

Release Date: December 9, 2014

Liz Matthews agrees to a blind date for her daughter’s wedding with only one goal in mind- making her ex-husband jealous. The plan works, but also backfires as she finds herself enjoying the company of her younger date.

Widower Bennett Grayson has his hands full enough adapting to single parenthood of a teenage son and has no intention of falling in love again. When a friend arranges a blind date, Ben reluctantly accepts as a favor to his friend, but gets more than he bargained as the funny and charming divorcee catches his eye.

Brandt Matthews has much to atone for in life, starting with his daughter and his ex-wife. In spite of their troubled marriage, the one constant for Brandt has been Liz, until a new man in her life makes him realize how much he stands to lose- or has already lost.

As Liz and Ben embark on a new adventure called dating, they are faced with a host of challenges, including the ghosts of the past and Ben’s son Landon, who wants nothing to do with his father’s new girlfriend. Can they overcome the obstacles and start a new life together, or will Liz succumb to Brandt’s charms again?

Rating: 5 of 5 Hearts

This is the second book I have read from Michele Shriver. The first book I read of hers was The Art of Love. I absolutely adored it. And now Michele gives us another fantastic story. She wrote Liz Matthews’s story, Chelsea’s mom from The Art of Love. I loved Liz in the first book and was thrilled she wrote another book that happens right after The Art of Love.

Liz has everything she’s ever wanted. Well... everything except love. She divorced her ex when her daughter was a small child and threw herself into work. Only problem is she still has feelings for her playboy ex Brandt Matthews after all these years.

So, what happens when your only child is getting married? You let your friends set you up on a blind date of course.

I absolutely loved the chemistry between Liz and Ben from the first moment they met. They both kept the other at arm’s length and played the hot and heavy couple to a tee.

Liz Matthews is a very strong willed woman who didn’t realize how much she missed being spoiled and fussed over by a man. And the fact the man was seven years younger than her bothered her at first. Watching Liz work though if she could handle a relationship was great. What would any of us do if the person who wants to date us recently lost his wife and has a 16 year old son who does not like us that much?

Bennett ‘Ben’ Grayson is one sexy man. He is successful, sweet, and knows how to treat a won. The only problem is he recently lost his wife and doesn’t want to move on past her death. He feels he cannot love again after her. And his son keeps reminding him of that.

That is until he meets Liz and she throws his entire world for a loop. Ben realizes he has been living in a fog and wants to be with the person who makes him feel whole again, Liz.

This story is well written and filled with love, loss, and finding true love again. It had my heart swelling as I read. Yes, there are bumps along the way but what good story doesn’t. You can tell Michele put her heart into this book.

It is a must read.

I cannot wait to read Landon's story, though I think this next book my have me sniffling some.

I caught the writing bug in sixth grade, when I threatened to write a whole book after a class assignment to write the first chapter. I never finished that book, but the desire to create stories never left.

When I'm not giving life to the voices inside my head, I can probably be found watching a hockey or football game on TV, hoping one day the Dallas Stars will win another Stanley Cup and the Denver Broncos will win another Superbowl. (Hey, it might happen!) Either that or I'm busy with my day job as a juvenile court attorney, a position that never ceases to provide new material for my books!