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Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel
Unavailable
Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel
Unavailable
Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel
Audiobook11 hours

Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel

Written by Debbie Macomber

Narrated by Abby Craden

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber returns to Seattle's beloved Blossom Street in this heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what's truly important in life.
For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career—her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She's been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now.
With no job prospects in sight, Libby reaches out to old friends and spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner; Lydia's spirited teenage daughter, Casey; and Casey's best friend, Ava, a shy yet troubled girl who will shape Libby's future in surprising and profound ways.
As A Good Yarn becomes a second home—and the women a new kind of family—Libby relishes the different person she's become. She even finds time for romance with a charming and handsome doctor who seems to be her perfect match. But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.
Warmly told and richly textured, Starting Now is filled with the promise of new beginnings and the unending delights of companionship and love.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 2, 2013
ISBN9780307939098
Unavailable
Starting Now: A Blossom Street Novel
Author

Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and a leading voice in women’s fiction today. She is a multiple award winner with more than 200 million copies of her books in print. Five of her Christmas titles have been made into Hallmark Channel Original Movies, as well as a series based on her bestselling Cedar Cove stories. For more information, visit her website:www.DebbieMacomber.com.

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Reviews for Starting Now

Rating: 4.025316455696203 out of 5 stars
4/5

237 ratings83 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A warm and uplifting light read.

    I enjoyed the style of this book but amusingly one of the only issues I had was with name confusion occasionally between similar named characters - a minor but worth mentioning issue.

    I loved the range of characters and enjoyed the simple interactions. It was not a complex story but it didn't bill itself as such so a great well crafted read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Although I read it in one day, and I could not put it down, I did not learn from it, nor will I reread it. It seems a little fluffy to me, but it is part of the Blossom St novels where one must meet the same characters. It would be fun to know more about some of them.Career oriented only, Libby loses her job and must become social. She becomes involved with a 13 year old pregnant girl...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've really enjoyed the Blossom Street novels, this one is no exception. Libby is an attorney expecting to be offered partnership when she is called into her bosses office. What she gets is the opposite, he has to let her go. Like many others that have lost their jobs due to the economy she is devastated at the loss of the job she loves. It takes effort but Libby is finally able to enjoy life. You'll find a little romance, humor, healing of relationships and teen pregnancy. A fun, quick read with loveable new characters as well as the ones we've become familiar with in this series. 4.5 out of 5 stars! I received an ecopy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Book 12 of 13. Next book in series is "Blossom Street Brides" that seems to be the last book in this series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed this clean romance and so much more. I voluntarily chose to review this story. This author gets a 5* rating from me. Her books do not disappoint. It had a lot of action and twists and turns to keep me turning the pages. This book came out in 2013 but the serious issues are still here, maybe even more so. This might be a good one to show our little younger readers, (13 and older) some of the things they need to watch out for.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A nice book in this continuing enjoyable series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In checking my reading record before writing this review, I can hardly believe it's been six (6) years since I read a novel in the Blossom Street Series. I initially 'found' novels by Debbie Macomber through her 1st title in the Cedar Cove Series. While needing to read another title by Debbie Macomber and w-a-i-t-i-n-g for another title in the series to be published, I discovered the Blossom Street Series. Returning to the Blossom Street Series can be compared to meeting a dear friend for lunch and conversation that you haven't seen or talked to in years and as the visit begins you're instantly comfortable and connected as though you had talked to one another the previous day. As I was reading "Starting Now" I was enjoying the story but as Libby and her friend Robin walked into A Good Yarn and started talking to Lydia and Casey I returned to the endearing friendships with characters met on Blossom Street. How nice to see an older Casey having the confidence to befriend peer Ava and teaching her to crochet.I know some may have the opinion that Debbie Macomber’s novels are too predictable and/or perhaps too pat to be convincing but I believe in today’s world there is always something refreshing to find within the storylines. Generally there are the themes of friendship and building relationships based on friendship, and mutual respect and values and to enjoy character conversations without even an occasional swear word or f*bombs. This novel presents the wake-up call to Libby of being let go from a job she’s worked very hard for multiple years even sacrificing her marriage and is career success the same as personal success which blends the best of career and personal life. It also explores a grieving grandmother raising her granddaughter and a teenage pregnancy.I’d be happy to visit the Blossom Street characters any time.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Libby (our protagonist) is a very professionally driven women to the exclusion of all else. After being down sized from her law firm, Libby must learn to expand her world and learn to balance her emotions thru family, friends, work and play, with out falling back into her old habits when the going gets tough.i like all the characters and found Libby's personal journey to be believable and heart warming.A very good read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another great book in the Blossom Street series. I really enjoyed all of the characters and how quickly the book moved. The ending was satisfying as well. I'm sad to see the series end (for now I hope).
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Starting Now's main character, Libby Morgan, has dedicated everything to one objective - making partner in her law firm. She has sacrificed her relationships, including her marriage, and everything else in her life for this one ideal. When she is called into the Senior Partner's office, she is sure that it is finally her turn. What she finds out is the farthest thing from her mind - she is being laid off indefinitely. No matter how devastating the news, Libby is still sure that another firm will hire her. In fact, she has spoken to a senior partner from another firm in the past about just that. Four months later, Libby is still interviewing and still has no prospect of a job. What if she never practices law again? Where will life lead her? Libby's story was quite interesting. I did find her character to be a little on the "too good to be true" side at times but for the most part I thought she was believable. Also, a few things that happen in the book did not ring completely true to me. Overall, it was a very good story about reinventing oneself, opening up to the possibilities of life and reaching out and helping other people.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I always enjoy Debbie Macomber's books and this one was no different. The characters seem to be like the people we meet in our daily lives. The main character has lost her job because of layoffs and her life goes from there. With so many of us being in the same position, it was nice to see how someone picks up the pieces and goes forward.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A another installment in the great Blossom street series, though can be read as a stand alone. Libby Morgan, an estate planning attorney, has spent her life trying to accomplish her professional goals while letting her personal life fall by the wayside. An unfortunate occurrence to her plans sends her life upside down. Little does she know that this is a blessing in disguise and along the way she finds true friendship, love and family. Great charcaters and a testament to how God works mysteriously in our lives for our good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After Libby gets a divorce because she was at work more than at home, she is suddenly laid off from her position as a lawyer due to cut backs. Starting her life over, she talks a friend (a deputy district attorney) to meet with her in the mornings at gym to exercise. Her friend suggests they go into a nearby knit shop so she could pick up some yarn for her mother. Libby meets the owner, her teenage daughter, and the daughter's friend. They are knitting hats for premie babies at the local hospital. Through this knitting project Libby meets a physician that she begins to date after a few rough starts. She also gets involved in the lives of the 13 -year-old girls, one who is pregnant but doesn't know it. In the process she becomes a baby rocker in the hospital and continues to look for work. Though well-written, it was very predictable. I would recommend it to people who like these kind of books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another classic by Debbie Macomber. Libby is a lawyer who seems to have it all going for her until she's let go from her job at a law firm. As she comes to terms with not having a job she realizes just what she's been missing by concentrating on only her career. She makes friends along Blossom Street and finds love in an unexpected place and in time learns how important love and friendship are...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another great Blossom Street novel by Ms Macomber. Reading these books is like visiting old friends. Lizzy is a laid off workaholic who is like a fish out of water without a job. Her "mentor" tells her to get a life and he means it in a good way, but what newly fired person is going to want to hear that from the person who gave them bad news.Over the next 7 months, Lizzy joins a gym, starts to knit again, becomes a mentor, a volunteer, reconnects with old and makes new friends. Even starts a love life. But with all the great changes in her life, she gladly takes back her time consuming job with the title of Partner in the very near future.Lizzy has to make a tough decision: go back to her old life or take the new one.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    After years of working so hard to make her career what she wanted it to be, sacrificing a marriage, friends, and a family, Libby Morgan was almost there and then she was laid off. Thinking that a new position would come along quickly for her, she was startled when after months she was still unemployed. Looking for something to occupy her time, she stumbled on to volunteering at the hospital which also let her to The Shop on Blossom Street - The Good Yarn. Book 9..... Another wonderful addition to the Blossom Street series. I always like the way Debbie Macomber finds a way to incorporate past characters into the new books. Once again, there is a gentle romance as well as a friendship story. Thanks to LibraryThing for the Early Reviewer copy. I have enjoyed DM's books and will continue to do so for as long as possible. I hope to read others of her seires' as well as seeing more of the Blossom Street ladies.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Although I though Libby Morgan had a little too much baggage for a normal heroine, once I let that go, I enjoyed the story quite a bit. Libby's relationship with teen Ava was heartfelt and a nice addition to what could be a run of the mill, change your life with job and love story. It was fun to revisit Blossom Street, both with a handful of the characters and locales!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Debbie Macomber does it again. An entertaining, if at times a bit moralistic, story of a young woman lawyer who has given up everything for her career. She gets laid off and has to reinvent herself, of course finding love, marriage, family and a tinge of God.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Good story about friendships and how your life can change in an instant. The romance was handled with a light touch but there were a few moments that were emotional sucker punches. Perhaps they felt a little too manipulative? I loved the parts with Libby volunteering at the hospital. They were tender and sweet and allowed us to see Libby as something other than a hard professional and really opened her up. Sometimes I felt like the only character you really got to know was Libby. The secondary characters, even the male romantic lead and best friend, could have been filled out more. Still, all in all, an enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Enjoyed the story of Emily Castle and all her adventures. It is definitely British humor and much more. A very interesting read
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Although I am a huge fan of Debbie Macomber, I have never really got into reading the Blossom Street books. I have just always gravitated to her other books, as the topics seemed to appeal to me more. This book held my interest, and I didn't dislike it, but I just don't find the same reading pleasure in the Blossom Street series as I do her other books. I am thankful for the opportunity to review this book from the Early Reviewer's program though. As I said this is a decent book - it's just not my personal favorite.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Libby Morgan thinks she is in line for a partnership at her law firm, based on the hours and her dedication to her job. She is surprised to discover that she has been laid off, and has no idea what to do next with her life. She begins to search for a position in another firm, but discovers that with the current economic recession, no one seems to be hiring. She wanders into a knitting store, remembering the days that she spent with her late mother, and meets the shop owner, her daughter and daughter's young friend. Delivering caps to preemies at a local hospital, she meets Dr. Stone, and is put off by his cold demeanor. Time, volunteer work and many conversations take place, and Libby discovers there is so much more to her life than she had at the firm, with significant ups and downs along the way.This is a good read, not a great one, and is probably well liked by Macomber's fans. It all seemed predictable rather than inspired writing. I read books by other prolific writers (like Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb) and enjoy these more, even though I know to a certain extent the authors just crank them out, one after another - I felt more like that reading this book than I do with othrs.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Libby is a career minded woman and has dedicated everything to the law firm she is working for...she wants the esteemed partnership! She has sacrificed one marriage and many friendships for her job.Finally...she gets the call to become a partner...or maybe not! She cannot believe she is getting laid off...after all she is the better lawyer!Her father figure boss basically tells her to "get a life." She doesn't understand that until she has tried to get other jobs but keeps getting rejected. She checks out the local yarn shop and makes friends with the owner and her daughter and daughter's friend. She goes to the hospital and "rocks the babies," makes friends there, and meets Dr. Stone. She calls an old girlfriend and gets to exercise with her weekly. Libby finally understands her late bosses suggestion to "get a life!"I love Debbie Macomber and enjoyed this book. However, is was not the "can't put it down story" I am used to with her books. I love the epilogue at the end of the book, letting you know what happens to the story about a year down the road.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not one of my favorites. The narrator was bleh.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this as an Early Reviewers copy. I have read other works by the author, and followed her written work for years. I enjoyed this story of a "game changer" who lost her job as an attorney but gained a new life and met new people. Maybe a bit "too good to be true" at times, but still enjoyable. The plot also maintains reader interest. Just a darn good story, a good beach read or a book for when a reader wants to relax and enjoy without deep thinking, trauma, or terror.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Even with the dramatic lives of her characters, Debbie Macomber always sets a stage of peace and sanity as backdrop. Decision-making based on a strong moral foundation is expected and triumphs in her books.
    It is always a pleasure to read the Blossom Street books.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Libby Morgan has spent her entire life in pursuit of one goal – to make partner at her prestigious law firm. She has sacrificed everything including friends and family to that end. But on the cusp of realizing her dream, the rug has been pullout out from under her…she has been laid off. As the weeks drag on and Libby is unable to find a job, she reaches out to old friends and finds some new ones. Suddenly she is going to the gym, knitting at a local store, volunteering at the hospital and most of all...finding she is happy. Libby even strikes up a romance with a handsome doctor. But just when everything is coming together she has to make a choice that could change everything once again.Starting Now is Debbie Macomber’s ninth book centered on Blosson Street in Seattle, Washington. Even so, this is a stand-alone story that doesn’t require reading any of the previous books. Starting Now is what I would call a comfortable read. Macomber does a nice job of taking us into Libby’s life and the lives of the people surrounding her. The writing is simple and easy to follow, but not anything particularly deep or unique. Libby is interesting and multidimensional, which keeps the story flowing.The plot of Starting Now is solid, but not anything extraordinary. A lot of it was pretty predictable, but there were just enough surprises to keep things interesting. I was never bored and nothing ever felt contrived or unbelievable. There are a few interesting subplots, but the focus is on Libby’s change from single-minded workaholic to a fuller happier life. Thankfully, Macomber is never preachy on anything. Starting Now is a solid, enjoyable story and is easy to read and easy to enjoy. It isn’t something that will keep me up thinking about any of the characters or situations for very long, but it does serve as a nice antidote to a steady diet of more intense stories. Starting Now is an enjoyable way to spend some hours reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For me it all began in 2004 when Debbie Macomber introduced The Shop on Blossom Street. The owner is Lydia Hoffman, a cancer survivor and an excellent knitter. In her new shop Lydia starts a class for begining knitters. It attracted women from different walks of life who somehow, over knitting, learned to be friends and to help each other in ways beyond the class.Debbie Macomber has been sharing with us, her loyal readrers, the lives of all those who have come to Blossom Street ever since. I’ve followed them all as a fellow knitter and as a student of human nature.Now in her eleventh Blossom Street novel, Ms. Macomber brings us the story of Libby Morgan. Libby, a corporate attorney, sacrificed everything in order to make partner. Instead of a partnership, Libby is let go.With no job prospects in sight, Libby renews her friendship with Lydia and begins spending more time at the yarn shop. Libby gradually forms a familial bond with Lydia, her daughter and her daughter’s teenaged friend. It wouldn’t be a complete Debbie Macomber novel without a little romantic interest. A handsome doctor fills that role.The most important thing Libby does in this new phase of her life is take the time to learn what’s really important in life. She learns the things she was too busy to learn when she was trying to become a partner. As is the case with most things learned, there will be a test. Libby has to make a decision about the direction her life will take now.I’ve beren reading Ms. Macomber’s novels for over 20 years and she has yet to disappoint me. I also like her inspirational writings and her knitting books. I recommend you give this latest book of hers a try. It's a great way to spend an afternoon.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of Debbie’s best works! Starting Now --returns to Seattle’s Blossom Street to discover what is important in life. A busy estate planning attorney, Libby has spent her entire life trying to make partner at the law firm-with high pressure and long hours, while she ignored her husband and personal life and put off raising a family until her husband left. She continued on this path putting work first. Until one day – she lost her job and now she must start over.

    She had no luck in finding a job and became fat with no motivation or personal life. She decided to take up knitting (meeting a mother, her teenage daughter and her friend Ava), volunteer at a hospital rocking babies, joined a gym, renewed her friendship with Robin, and along the way met a doctor which changed her way of thinking about romance and family.

    The knitting shop (A Good Yarn) becomes her safe haven—meeting a new family (since she lost her mother as a teen). She befriends Casey’s best friend, Ava, a troubled shy teen who has no family life and later discovers she has no one to turn to except for Libby. When she finds herself pregnant at age 13, Libby takes her under her wing.

    She is happy with her freedom from work; however, she has to pay the bills, gets back into the same work routine and leaves all her friends and new lover behind. Then she finds out money does not create happiness. She has to make a choice to which could change her life. An inspiring read!!!!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career—her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now.

    Number 9 in the Blossom Street series finds Libby out of a job within the first chapter, with her career having cost her a marriage and most friendships.

    At a loss as to what to do next, and her job prospects dwindling by the day, she finds the "life" her old mentor told her to seek out - new friendships, a new purpose and a new love.

    This is all threatened when her old job comes back to dominate her life and she has to make a choice.

    Whilst there is some reference to the previous characters in Blossom Street - Susannah's Garden, Alix the baker etc - it's really only Lydia and Margaret from A Good Yarn who make any lasting appearance in this book.

    At 400 pages, I was in two minds as to whether to start it on a Sunday morning, wondering if I could finish it before the weekend was over, but I shouldnt have doubted. I easily finished it within the day.

    It's a standard Macomber fare, a nice addition to the Blossom Street canon and a nice read on a hot sunny Sunday but nothing groundbreaking