2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Enjoyable Romance!, September 27, 2009
New Beginnings was a very enjoyable novel. It involves everything in life: family, heartbreak, sacrifice, friendship and love. The main characters are very likable and conversations between them seem like real life. I feel like I could have the same conversations in my back yard. The author also includes many humorous situations in this novel, which also makes it fun to read, and you find yourself having a hard time putting the book down. A few times, I found myself laughing out loud, and at other times, crying.
The story centers around two love stories. One romance begins with love at first sight, and centers on their struggle to be together. The other love story is about two people who start their relationship as friends, and then that friendship grows into love.
The main characters:
John Stanton: a widower who had lost the love of his life, Jenny, to cancer. At the beginning of the book, he has been re-married for three years, but it is a loveless marriage. Everyone who cares about him has been telling him to throw in the towel, including his two children from his first marriage. He is determined to make it work, even though he knows in his heart that it is hopeless.
Maggie Stanton: John's daughter. In the beginning of the book, she is 16, and at the end she is 18. She experiences much change in to book, going from an innocent and immature teenager to a confident young woman. She is curious about love and relationships, and knows what she wants.
Wendy Burke: A waitress that John meets and he is instantly attracted to. Wendy has made some mistakes in her past, and although she is close to her family, she has decided to live on her own. When faced with a tough decision she returns for the support of her family, and sacrifices her own happiness for the man she loves.
Michael Burke: Wendy's cousin and best friend. He has had a history of one-night stands, and has avoided serious relationships like the plague. His forbidden attraction to a younger woman sends his life into a tailspin, and may affect the happiness of his cousin. He struggles with this attraction, and tries to do the right thing. He is forced to ignore his instincts and choose what he thinks is best for everyone else.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
New Beginnings and Second Chances, September 28, 2009
New Beginnings is a story of respect, family, second chances, undying love, first love, true love and transformation.
The author created a great storyline. The characters are all very likable and the dialogue very real. You find yourself pulling for the characters and want them to come out happy in the end. My favorite character was John. A widower who deserved to be happy after losing his wife to cancer. I watched my father lose my mother to cancer and I feel that Anne Marie wrote him very true to life. Very true to a man who lost the love of his life and is left with two children to raise.
If you love romance, this is the book for you as there are two different romances going on here. John meets Wendy and it is love at first sight. John's daughter Maggie meets Wendy's cousin John and their love grows out of mutual affection.
There is something for everyone!
The reader gets the scope from first love to second love and everything in between.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable - realistic romance, September 28, 2009
This is a very enjoyable romance book. The storyline is quite realistic and has characters that most people can associate with someone in their own lives. I found myself remembering what is is like to be newly in love, and remembering teenage crushes. Enough humor and romance to keep you hooked for a fun quick read.
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