Diane and Burt have been married for twenty years and are still very much in love, yet they are now more apart than ever before. They knew from the moment they met that they were meant for one another, especially Burt. Burt first saw Diane dancing in the arms of her steady boyfriend, Sean. Whilst she was only seventeen and he a few years older, she immediately captivated him and kept him spellbound. Needless to say, Diane was soon with Burt and not Sean.

Following an accidental pregnancy, they married. Burt went on to become a very successful attorney, whilst Diane built up her life around her son, her home and charity work. Now their son has flown the coop, having gone off to college, and Diane has been feeling his absence. It is some time since they shared a bed, thanks to Burt’s irregular hours and insomnia, though this is not the only way in which they have grown apart. Diane has become increasingly dissatisfied with her life and jumps at the chance to visit her aunt in the wake of an operation. Burt has no objections; he knows how close they are. However, as more time goes by and Diane doesn’t return, Burt gets more and more concerned. When he finds out that Diane’s old flame has moved back to their hometown and that Diane has gotten a job working for him, Burt realizes he is on the verge of losing his wife. He wants to win her back, but they are more apart than ever before and he has no idea how to go about doing so. Can these two, who have always been so in love, find their way into one another’s arms once more?

Starting Over fabulously demonstrates that love alone is not enough to keep a relationship going. Any relationship must be worked at if it is to survive and flourish. Burt and Diane married when they were young, so they have changed drastically from who they were when first they met. Since they have both been working toward their own separate goals, they no longer know each other as they once did. Whilst still in love, they are nearly strangers. It is a sad eventuality, but it is the truth. If you have ever wanted a story that picked up when a couple married rather than ended with the implied ‘Happy Ever After’ ending, then this is definitely one you should give a try.

Repairing a failing relationship is not something that is easily done. This shines through in Barri Bryan’s Starting Over, where the characters face many obstacles, have many misunderstandings and take an extended period of time to find each other once more. Characters are well-developed. Each character comes to realize the part they played in the slow demise of their marriage. It takes two to tango; it takes two to make a relationship work. It also takes two to repair a marriage, so this will only happen if this is what both Burt and Diane really want. There is some sex, but it is not overly described and the focus is very much on the characters' emotions as they try to redeem their relationship. Starting Over is a great, enjoyable read, and you will be glad you picked it up.


Reviewed by: Elizabeth