Starting Over (Starting over - Book 1) Paperback – February 12, 2014

I felt this was an outstanding book, the author had me hooked from the start and kept me hooked throughout the story. I had trouble putting it down, I needed to know how it ended. In fact I enjoyed this audio so much that I have bought the rest of the series and if the other two are as good as this one I have found another new favorite author. I bought this book for free and got the audio for 1.99. I have to say I loved this story!Bellamy has always loved Luke in fact she loves Luke so much she wants him to be her first. Luke wasn’t to thrilled to find out this was her first time. He didn’t handle it so well, he said some hurtful things that he could not take back. Now years later he wants to make it right, he cannot forget that night nor can he get Bellamy out of his mind.Bellamy comes home to try to talk to him and make it right with them. She has a secrete that few know about. To move on she must tell those she loves which include telling Luke. She prays they will forgive her, that she can move on and find a love. The trouble is she still has feelings for Luke. With coming home both she and Luke find their attraction is stronger than before. She knows they must talk but dang it is hard. What if he finds out before she tells him, will he ever forgive her?Things happen and they grow close, other things happen and they are torn apart. The author gives you a wonderful story that you can feel their pain. It will break your heart what these two people have to go through before they can even think about a HEA if that is even possible.Evan Grace knows how to tell a story that is easy to follow. She puts twists and turns that you do not see coming. Her words flow easy, she gives you all the information you need to know without adding a lot of information you to not need. This is a, or was a free read but well worth the cost even if you had to pay for it. It will be well worth your time to pick up this free read and maybe find a new favorite author. I picked this story as one of my favorite reads of the week. I look forward to reading more my Ms Grace. Again I listen to this on audio which wasn't bad at all, the narrate has a little growing to do but it wasn't a bad listen at all.

This had the makings of a very good book but it fell short in several ways. And they all centered around trying to cram too much into the storyline.…. too much smut…. too many characters….. too many subplotsThe first few chapters were slow. Yes, it was setting up the background of what the book was about…. but it dragged on. We are drawn into the story quickly by learning about Luke and Bellamy and what happened between them, but from there it’s slow burn. After several chapters in, the action starts picking up but not in a good way.It’s hard to understand Bellamy throwing herself at Luke AGAIN. His treatment of her was despicable the first time. No, she wasn’t innocent in what happened between them six years earlier, but Luke sure wasn’t either. She avoided him all those years, doing her best to heal from the consequences of that one fateful night. When she did see him one Christmas, he paraded his newest girlfriend in front of her. So, why, why, why throw herself at him six years later when they finally meet again?Bellamy carried a painful secret with her all those years. When Luke finds out about the secret, he goes berserk. She feels guilty for not telling him and blames herself for him ‘hating her’ now. She had NOTHING to feel guilty about. He made it clear to her six years earlier that she had been one BIG mistake and he wanted nothing to do with her… nothing! Luke was the one who needed to feel guilty, not Bellamy. He was too afraid of losing his best friends back then, and her letting him know her secret would have been a bombshell to that friendship he so feared losing. Bellamy’s guilt was totally misplaced.This is what the story needed to revolve around. However, suddenly we get another story thrown into the mix… Bellamy’s trashy attire worn at a local club draws the attention of a shady guy. He becomes obsessive about her and the story goes on from there… like I said, a new book thrown into the mix.We have so many characters competing for the book’s attention that it is mind-boggling.… There is Stacy. She’s Bellamy’s best friend but they’ve not seen each other for six years either. She comes back home after a breakup with her boyfriend.… Dustin and Dylan are twins and also Bellamy’s brothers. Dustin is the playboy and Dylan the serious protector.… We are introduced to Jake, the obsessive criminal, and his gang of thugs.… Then there is Mark… and, no Mark, there’s no excuse for what you did, job or no job. Almost ki11ing a person isn’t justified. You find another way to get what you need and want.So had the storyline remained focused on Bellamy and Luke and the pain and consequences that followed their one night stand, the book would have been better… as long as the smut wasn’t allowed to replace the real story.

This is book one in the Starting Over SeriesMeet the lovely but shy Bellamy Carmichael. Bellamy’s finally decided to come home after staying away for six long years. However there’s just one problem, Luke Carter…Six long years ago Bellamy seduced Luke. The realization had Luke turning his back on Bellamy straight away and became the only cause of her long exodus. With Bellamy's brother’s imminent deployment coming up, Bellamy knows she’s bound to see Luke again.Meet the sexy Luke Carter. Luke decided he made the mistake of crossing a line. A line that Luke never should’ve crossed all those six long years ago…Luke knows that he’s the reason why Bellamy avoids coming back home. With Bellamy coming back home too see her brother off, Luke’s hoping he can make things right. Luke however just wasn’t expecting her to look so damn beautiful and blowing his mind. Driving him crazy yet again.There’s one more big but it's a secret and it could be a problem for her and Luke. Bellamy’s been keeping a huge secret from Luke for past six years. Can Bellamy confess this secret to Luke? When the passion starts to build again between them. Bellamy knows that she must tell Luke the truth about it. Will it bring them closer together? Or will it tear them apart? Or it may drive them apart for good?

3.5 STARSThis book had everything that I thought would tick my boxes.Good lengthGood price - free, even!Good storylineRomanceSome sex scenes - OK make that a few!BUT.........it just didn't deliver.The writing of the sex scenes was mature but the rest of the storyline (and bearing in mind the lead characters were in their 20/30's) was not and I have read YA books that have a higher level of maturity than this book.Whilst I did like the uniqueness of the storyline - and in particular the angst element of the story - when it all came out, and even before, it was just like immature decisions and actions by the characters involved.I found the element of her being targetted by the gang a bit unbelieveable and random.Then one minute the boys are like - we cannot leave Bellamy alone - the next minute she is out on her own with her mate, getting roofied!Plus, how many times were we reminded that Bellamy wore a baggy jumper at Christmas to hide her body?And considering she only lived 45 miles away from her home - why couldn't anyone ever go visit her? She was the youngster of the family moving away, surely they were not all so self-centred that they couldn't go to her? But that's what it came across like.TBH if I were Bellamy, I would have ditched them all and moved away further in the other direction from them! She was a sweet girl and none of them really deserved her in their lives.I am not going to read the other books. Despite what I have said, I am a HEA girl and I did really like reading about Bellamy and Luke and was not that connected with the other characters to want to know more about them.

This was the biggest load of tosh I have read (tried to read) in a long time. I looked at the other reviews and could not believe the book got 4/5 stars. I sought out the 1/2 star reviews and agreed with every one of them.There really is no story as such, it was dragged out beyond belief. But what the author dragged it out with was graphic sex. I think it should be labelled as very bad erotic fiction. An example of how graphic and sometime crass was mentioned in a previous review, and I have to agree with them 'gush of her cream coat her pu**y'......seriously????....awful. And 'Ive been thinking about f**king you all day' urgh!!!! It was immature writing from an adult author.The main character is called Bellamy, and boy didn't we know her name. The over use of her name in the story was annoying. It was 'Bellamy this, Bellamy that'.Everything in the 'story' (I use that term loosely) was saccharine sweet. Every character got on well, they all loved each other, even when someone was rightly angry, they got over it in 5 minutes. Its so untrue to life, but it wasn't even decent escapism. I skipped to the last few chapters to see if anything different happens - which it did, but even then there was never any danger - if you get that far, you'll see what I mean.I cant even say the romance was good as it was so predictable. And once again....all was forgiven.It was unnecessary long, immature writing, sometimes crass language and very saccharine sweet. If I could give it a zero rating I would.

Bellamy has loved her older brothers best friend Wyatt since she was a teenager. Her seduction of him as an 18 year old had tragic consequences that kept her away from home for years but she is now back and ready to be honest with him. Unfortunately, circumstances get in the way .This, the first book in the series sets us up beautifully for the rest and I can’t wait!

Read on behalf of A Book Lovers Emporium...... "Starting Over" By Evan Grace.....⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Bellamy Carmichael has loved Luke Carter as long as she can remember the only thing bad about that is it’s her twin brothers best friend.....going off to college to start a new life takes an unexpected turn for the worse which also keeps her away from home a little longer than she wants...I loved this book and it gripped me into late night reading. It's an emotional read but it’s essential for the story line. I can't wait to read more from this author. This book can be read as a stand alone but there is more from the characters from within this book you will want needing more from!!!