The Art of Starting Over

To say that Devorah Campbell is going through a lot right now is an understatement. After finding out her best friend Ester is having an affair with her husband Chad from a video app, Dev & her daughter Maren pack up their life in Chicago and return to Oyster Bay Rhode Island where Dev grew up. Devorah’s relationship with her father is icy at best but at least she has her brother Colt and unexpectedly his best friend Hayden McKenna. Hayden McKenna became a widower a year ago and is having a hard time being a single dad to his son Conor. Father and son also move back to Oyster Bay. It is in Oyster Bay he reconnects with Devorah. This time Hayden has a second chance at proving he loves Devorah, but is Dev ready to open her heart again?

Beautiful Setting, Second Chance Love & Heart Felt Moments

I love the setting of Oyster Bay Rhode Island. Rhode Island is a state I would love to see one of these days. Heidi’s descriptions of Oyster Bay did get me lost in that world & the friendly people living there. I think many of us can relate to Hayden being scared to admit our feelings for someone whether it’s due to fear of rejection or other people around us etc. I like how Devorah & Hayden get a second chance at love and how they get along with the others child as well as their own and immediately become a blended family. I also like how Crow, Devorah’s father, tries to be close to Dev again and tries to make up for not being the best father by being a good grandfather to Maren. That was very heartfelt & I teared up a little too with those scenes as well as some others. I also like how the book reveals that love blinded Dev to her husband Chad’s worst traits & how controlling he was & once she got away from him her eyes were opened. That’s what happens to all of us we’re blind to our ex-lovers & spouses’ flaws until we’re either far away or out of the relationship. The Art of Starting Over by Heidi McLaughlin just came out today on February 1^st! I look forward to doing the Behind The Book discussing this one!