So excited to be sharing one of my favorite reads with you all today, Somewhere to Begin by Mika Jolie!
Please keep reading to learn more about the book and it's author and to see my review.
And be sure to enter the giveaway!
About the Book
Can two souls with fractured parts be the best cure for each other’s wounds? Find out the first book in Mika Jolie’s latest contemporary romance series, Poison and Wine, with SOMEWHERE TO BEGIN.
There are wounds that never show on the body.For twenty-nine years, Colbie Bennington does as expected with an eternal smile stained on her lips. The biggest chances she’s ever taken can be counted on one hand, three fingers to be exact—her battered red chucks, painting her toenails a vibrant blue, and her wedding dress. Always the dutiful daughter and a Stepford fiancée, she has never acted on impulse, never been in love. She’s never lived.
On her wedding day, Colbie ends a toxic relationship, drops the fake smile, and says, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Navy SEAL Zander Serrano returns home broken and burdened with a volcano of remorse. Too trapped in a mental war to be at peace and too damaged to be at war, he shuts the world out. The last thing he expects is to feel, especially for a runaway bride with her own baggage.
Two empty hearts marred in different spots find themselves drawn to one another. Each with their own scars. Some, the world can see. Others, unseen to the naked eye.
They say two broken people should not be together. But for Colbie and Zander, their attraction is undeniable, unexpected.
Can two souls with fractured parts be the best cure for each other’s wounds?
Starting over is never easy, but sometimes in life, everyone needs somewhere to begin.
About the Author
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My Review
Title: Somewhere to Begin
Author: Mika Jolie
Format: Digital ARC
Source: Netgalley
Wow! This is my first Mika Jolie book, but I can tell you now it won’t be the last one I read. This emotion-filled story was so touching and well-done that I immediately lost myself in the story. I couldn’t put it down. Even now the story still occupies my mind from time to time. Somewhere to Begin is a story of healing and hope. It’s a story of love and friendship. It’s a story of determination and finding your own strength. It shows that it is possible to lose oneself, but that the path to discovering who you are is still there if you look for it.
And that is exactly what Colbie Bennington does after fleeing her own wedding. Colbie decides to think of herself first and sets out a journey of self-discovery and independence. A journey that leads her to wounded war veteran, Xander Serrano. Xander’s training as a SEAL and protective instincts kick into high gear when he rescues Colbie from an accident and offers her a place to stay. As he continues to find ways to come to her rescue and be a part of her life, he does his best to fight his attraction to Colbie believing she deserves better. But after years of doing what everyone expected of her, Colbie wants to finally do something for her and assert her independence. As she says in one of my favorite line from the book, “The thing is I’m not looking for someone to save me…I’d much rather have someone stand by my side as I save myself.”
Both Colbie and Xander have plenty of Baggage with a capital B when they meet. Scarred physically and emotionally, Colbie has her guard up after leaving an abusive situation and still doubts her own self-worth. And Xander is in his own dark place having not quite come to terms with his new reality and the traumatic even that changed his life. Having grown up in a wealthy family with certain expectations to live up to, Colbie is afraid of letting people down…especially Xander. And he believes she deserves more than he can give her. They are two physically and emotionally wounded individuals who help each other heal and find their way out of the dark places in which they have found themselves. And I loved every minute of their journey.
I also loved the wonderful cast of supporting characters in the story. There is a large cast of friends, family, and more that want to help these two scarred characters find love and happiness again. And then there are some that Colbie was right in walking away from…her ability to do so shows such strength despite the pain it causes her. As for the other characters, I hope we get a chance to read more about them…especially the Serrano brothers. There’s definitely potential for more with them and I hope we see them again. By the way, after reading, I discovered that this is a spin-off of Mika Jolie’s previous series and some of the characters from it are mentioned, but you don’t have to have read it to follow this story. But you will probably want to after reading this one…I know I do.
But getting back to our main couple in Somewhere to Begin and their story, Colbie and Xander are afraid to just let themselves go and feel. By helping each other out, they are helping themselves. The changes these characters go through as they begin to heal are apparent to those around them who want nothing but the best for them. And I couldn’t help but want the best for them as well.
Somewhere to Begin was such a great book with strong and wonderful main characters and a story that touched my heart. The emotions and strength packed between the pages were amazing. The book demonstrates that if you are lost, it is possible to heal and to find your way again. If this is what I can expect from a Mika Jolie book, then I hope to read many more from her and encourage you to do the same.
My Rating: 5 Stars
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I know, I rambled on and on, but I tend to do that with books I love. I just hope I made sense. I really did love this book so I hope you check it out.
And don't forget to enter the giveaway below!
GIVEAWAY
