Customer Reviews

Leaving Normal (Mira Romance)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After forty plus years, Natalie Goodwin is finally ready to begin her own life. Two years after her divorce, she is busy opening her dream floral shop while her daughter is off attending her first year of college. Her home, family, and work are all in order. Although a little lonely, Natalie is happy doing what she wants for the first time.

Gun shy after her recent dating adventures, Natalie isn't looking for a man. Of course, that doesn't mean she can't enjoy looking at her hunky neighbor. Firefighter, Tony Cruz, is delicious eye candy and completely safe. He is nine years her junior and married - definitely not available! When Tony's cheating wife leaves him, Natalie offers him friendly comfort and understanding. What begins as friendship grows into much more. Will the duo be able to work through their age difference and its inherent problems? Can they discover what truly matters?

Leaving Normal is a realistic and emotional love story. I appreciated its authenticity and the completely believable firefighter elements. Tony and Natalie are genuinely real; they could be the people that you might know and like. While Tony might not be the perfect man, he is still to die for! He is a sweet hunk and a humble hero. Their relationship evolves gradually, and although this pace works with their storyline, the flow becomes sluggish with the additional side plots. I must admit that I wanted their physical relationship to progress more quickly. The heat is a gentle simmer that builds slowly, and if you don't mind this pace, it's a wonderful book. Sweet and inspirational, Leaving Normal gracefully explores the complexities of life and love.

Cheryl
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Natalie realized that the love had left the relationship, and she and hubby Greg split amicably. Two years later, after already struggling through her transitional relationship, she is finding herself attracted to the very married and much younger sexy fireman who lives across the street.

When fireman Tony suddenly finds himself single, he realizes that he is not mourning the loss of his unfaithful wife, but the loss of a relationship, and vows that his next marriage will be to someone who can also be a best friend. While nursing his wounds, he often turns to the advice of his sexy "been there, done that" neighbor, and develops feelings for her. She is reticent - the age gap is too much of a cross for her to bear, and since he has expressed an interest in having a family, she feels she is beyond that stage. He soon melts her resolve and the two embark on a deep friendship that soon turns more serious, and a tragic series of events makes them question their motivations and choices.

Humor abounds as Natalie's sister is constantly trying to get her sister out into the dating pool, and her widowed father embarks on a new relationship that takes him out of his comfort zone (and away from the white cherry slushies he is so fond of).

Unlike many romance novelists, where the main characters fall in love in the span of a week, this one takes its sweet time developing a believable relationship. Holm has created an emotional story about of a couples' journey into uncharted territory, and the lessons they learn along the way. It is thought provoking and touching and guaranteed to leave you satisfied.

Natalie Goodwin feels it is time to repossess her life since her divorce is finalized and her daughter is a college freshman. She opens up the floral shop that she had placed on a back burner except in her dreams.

Although she is not interested in any relationships with men, Natalie admits to herself only that the younger married hunk next door is candy centerfold, look don't touch is her mantra. Tony Cruz finds the neighbor is beautiful, but he will only look too as marital vows mean something to him. That is until his wife dumps him for someone else. Instead of heartbreak, Tony pursues Natalie. However, as they fall in love, he wants children while she feels past that stage having a teen already in her life.

This second chance at love is a complex well-written relationship romance with plenty of issues to keep the lead duet apart. Natalie is filled with doubts that the younger hunk could desire her and feels she is letting down her beloved by insisting on no more children. Tony struggles to prove to his love that she is not a rebound, but does not hide he wants to pass his surname on. Throw in family members filled with concerns and that leads to the audience enjoying Stef Ann Holm's powerfully realistic and thoroughly entertaining relationship drama.

Harriet Klausner

I came across this book at work. I just finished reading another book, and was desperate to start a new one. I read the back cover thinking it was not my kind of book, and started it reluctantly. From the first chapter, the book caught my attention. It was an easy read. I could hardly put the book down. The characters are so likable. The story is wonderful. I would definately recommend this book to anyone. Truely a magnificent love story.

From the back cover:

Shake it up a little!

With the ink dry on her divorce papers, Natalie Goodwin feels life is running just the way she wants it. Her new flower shop is set for its grand opening, and her daughter is enjoying her first semester in college. The house is clean, the bills are paid, and cooking dinner every night is now an option. Natalie admist she just a teeny bit lonely, but recent dating experiences have left her convinced that Mr. Right does not live in Boise, Idaho.

But life has a big surprise for Natalie and he lives right across the street! Never in her wildest dreams did she think she could fall for a man nine years her junior, but then she has never met a man like firefighter Tony Cruz. Now the sparks are flying, but will they light Natalie's fire...or land her newfound independence in hot water?

And my review:

This was my first try of this author, and I found that I really liked her writing style. It was flowing and easy to follow, and really drew the reader into the story. Her writing seems so effortless...that's when you know someone is really good at their craft, when they make it look so easy, even though you know it's not.

I was a little worried when the hero starts out as married at the beginning of the book, but not to worry. This isn't a "cheating lovers" novel. In fact, his wife is quickly out of the picture, and rightly villified, for having an affair.

One thing I really liked about this book was how the author built the friendship between the hero and heroine. There wasn't that instant overwhelming lust you find so often in romance. There were sparks, all right, but there was more pulling these two together than just the physical chemistry. That's a rare treat in romance. The author did a really good job of developing the characters. I felt like I really knew who they were, and that these were people I'd like and be proud to call friends.

I also liked that this wasn't a "series of stupid misunderstandings" novel. The relationship issues were real and down-to-earth. And these two actually communicated like adults (again, a rare find in romance writing).

So why only three stars? I felt like the story was progressing so well, when suddenly the characters decide that since there can be no real future, as he wants children, and she's already in premenopause and unable to have any more (and at a stage in her life when she doesn't really want to raise another family), that they will just be friends with "benefits". In other words, they won't be a real romantic couple, they'll just be good friends who have sex.

Ugh. I felt so cheated by this, especially considering how mature the characters had been up until that point. I find the whole concept of "no-strings-attached" sex repulsive. I was raised to believe that sex is for marriage. And while I recognize that not everybody feels the same way, I do think that a commitment and a belief that there will be a future for the relationship is necessary before a couple hops into bed together. Sex isn't something you can do with a friend, as if it were just a fun activity, like going dancing or playing racquetball. It's an intimate giving of oneself--that's why it's called LOVEmaking, not "pleasuremaking", "funmaking" or "no-big-dealmaking".

I was really disappointed by this, as I felt this author could do so much better, and that this plot turn really didn't do her characters (or her writing talent) justice. I would definitely be interested in trying her work again, as I can see how much talent she has. I just wish she hadn't wasted it here.

Natalie Goodwin's life is finally back on course; her daughter is off at her first year of college, she's opening her dream floral shop, and her divorce has set her free from a less than perfect match. She does not have a role for love to play, and that's just fine. Granted, her neighbor, Tony Cruz is easy on the eyes, but he is married and younger. Still, she can look. Then, Tony discovers that his wife obviously has a visual perceptual difficulty, because she dumps him for someone else, leaving Tony free to pursue the woman who intrigues him, Natalie. There is just one major flaw in this picture; Natalie has no desire to be a mother again. Tony wants kids of his own. Can they get past that?

*** This is a very complex, multi-layered read that you will need to take time reading. Multiple plots are woven together over the course of this relationship's building. Though just slightly too, shall we say, red, to be strictly considered inspirational, there is a clearly moral thread that almost makes it so. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, Freelance Reviewer.

`Leaving Normal' by Stef Ann Holm has cheating, death, cancer, divorce, hot fireman, humor and most of all two characters that are real. This author is wonderful, I enjoyed 'Undressed' and this is another winner.

Leaving Normal by Stef Ann Holm is a deeply moving tale of taking a second chance at love.

Natalie Goodwin is reevaluating her life after the end of her marriage. She is starting her own floral shop, her daughter is college bound so she is concentrating on those things. Natalie is attracted to her younger neighbor but he is married and thus off limits. But when Tony Cruz comes to her for advise after his marriage ends she is unsure of the just friends vow she has made.

Firefighter Tony Cruz knew his marriage was far from perfect but he wasn't prepared to find out his wife was having an affair. Tony loves his stepdaughter and is crushed when his wife leaves him. He finds a confidante and friend in his neighbor Natalie. Tony realizes what was missing in his marriage since his growing friendship with Natalie. But Tony wants to have children and Natalie feels being nine years older that she is past that phase in her life. A tragedy makes both Tony and Natalie think about what really matters.

Leaving Normal is a very emotional and thought provoking book. A secondary romance between Tony's widow mom and Natalie's widower dad is priceless. This book really touches on what really makes life worth fighting for with each character. Life lessons are learned by all and for the reader as well. Tony and Natalie's friendship is as exceptional as their passion for each other. This book will have a special place in your heart.

After reading her novel, "Pink Moon", which I extremely enjoyed, I couldn't wait to get my hands on her next novel. It was well worth the wait. Holm takes a lonely, not too-happy woman and shows how she can, too, have happiness- even if the hunk-of-a-man-firefighter that has attracted her isn't her age. Clearly shows that we can all bounce back and have a heck of alot of fun in our lifes. Buy the book and spice your life up a notch. You'll be glad you did.

Sicily Yoder aka Teresa Phillips
Owner Kentucky Amish Books

I loved "Undressed" and had high hopes for this one. I felt let down at the end, like I'd wasted my time reading it. Would not recommend it for those looking for something a little more creative.