| Title | : | The Start of Something Good (Stay, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 310 |
| Publication | : | First published June 5, 2018 |
An enriching story of family ties, broken hearts, and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
When Ethan Bishop returns to the Hudson Valley, his body and spirit are a little worse for wear. As a former Special Forces paratrooper, he saw his fair share of conflict, and he came home with wounds, inside and out. At his sisters’ B & B and farm, he can keep all his pain at a safe distance. But quiet time isn’t easy when a fiery woman explodes into his life…
It’s business—not pleasure—that brings Manhattan PR agent Mia Thrush reluctantly to the farm. Tightly wound and quick tempered, Mia clashes immediately with the brooding Ethan. Everything about him is irritating—from his lean muscles and piercing blue eyes to his scent of sweat and musk.
But as the summer unfolds and temperatures rise, Ethan and Mia discover how much they have in common: their guarded histories, an uncontrollable desire, and a passion for the future that could heal two broken hearts. But will their pasts threaten their fragile chance at a brand-new future?
The Start of Something Good (Stay, #1) Reviews
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It was a long time I read a book by Jennifer Probst.
Why actually? *lol* She wrote one of my favorites
Searching for Someday
Anyway, I’m happy I picked this one!
Loved, loved, loved the heroine.
Floved her!!!
Very intelligent, bright and loyal woman.
She had an excellent work ethic. Respect!
I miss smart heroines in romance, it’s a shame they sell beauty and a tight p*ssy (+ all-accepting attitude) as requisites to get a HEA, but often underrate personal qualities.
In my opinion brain is the greatest asset of a woman!
Smart, confident, intelligent woman is the most beautiful woman in my eyes.
Back to the story. Despite the author tried to ‘ruin’ h’s character at the beginning by portraying her as a snobby and arrogant brat, I didn’t buy it.
Some of the scenes just didn’t fit into the story. Nope.
I didn’t judge her but not liking the life in a small town, but her words and some actions toward the H (who actually wasn’t any better *lol*) were a bit odd.
If you can overlook MCs silly behavior in the 1st 20-25%, you would probably love them later.
Hate-love trope is not my favorite, coz I honestly can’t get why any woman would want a man, who treats her bad, but… this story and their ‘hate’-phase was played well.
God, I loved how she stood up for herself. Amazing. Some could say she was a bit harsh, but I favor a harsh woman over a Miss brain-coma-wet-pants.
I even wouldn’t say this heroine was bitchy. Every word she said to the hero was right, IMO. She put him into his place, strong and elegant – fangirling here *lol*
Their banters were not always fair, but since the heroine didn’t let him intimidate her, I could live with their ‘hate’ at the beginning.
I learned to like the hero and I even loved him toward the end. He had a hard past, and despite I’m not a fan when it’s put like a free pass to treat the others like crap, I could understand his struggles. And he wasn’t an asshole, IMO."You’re enough. Never doubt you’re more than enough for a man. Because if you belonged to me, I’d get on my knees in gratitude every damn night and make sure you never doubted it."
The story wasn’t heavy on sex, but a very good character development.
The 1st sex-scene in the 2nd half of the book made me a bit uncomfortable *lol*
The other thing, that bothered me, was H’s & side character’s obsession with heroine’s diet. Why? If a woman is on a diet (even if the reason seems silly to you), let her be!
Everyone wanted to feed the heroine, and the hero was a master in food porn. It was mentioned way too often for my taste.
Let a woman eat or not eat whatever she wants!
Did I already mention that I loved the heroine? *lol*
I’d gladly have her as my friend!
She had her vulnerabilities, and it’s ok and human to have them; but overall she was a very strong and highly intelligent woman.
Liked their relationship a lot. No insta, good characters development, many sweet and tender moments.
The conflict toward the end was solved brilliantly.
Very interesting and likable side characters. Many wise lines. Good writing. Deep meaning.
Sweet ending. But no extended epilogue.
Safety:
My personal highlight of the book: chicken Hei Hei.
Soooooo cute!!! I want to cuddle him *lol* -
*****4.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}
Mia stared at him as the words wound their way through her head and heart, tingling up into one big knot. She’d met hundreds of men. Dated dozens. Fallen in love or lust twice. But not once had she wanted a man as badly as she wanted Ethan Bishop.
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD is the first installment of the ”Stay” series by Jennifer Probst, and if this book is any indication of how this series is going to be, I can guarantee that this author’s fans are in for a real treat. This was an off the charts HOT enemies-to-lovers romance, with a heartwarming back story to round out the story perfectly. The Hero is a rugged and intense Alpha with a tragic past that haunts him and has turned him into somewhat of a recluse. The Heroine is a strong-willed, brilliant, independent woman who’s building her PR company and loves her life in the big city. When the two meet, they’re at each other's throats almost instantly but burning just beneath the surface is a wildly intense sexual chemistry.
Mia Thrush finds herself spending the summer at a B&B/Horse farm as a chaperone to one of her biggest client’s teenaged daughter. She got into a little trouble during her second semester at college and was sentenced to community service at the horse farm. This is just about the last thing Mia wants to be doing. She’s got a business that is blooming and she prefers the hustle and bustle of New York City as opposed to being stuck up in the country with a bunch of farm animals.
Ethan Bishop has returned home after being away for so many years. His sisters took over running the family business after their mother passed away and Ethan decided it was time to come back home and do his part. He’s also been having a tough time with recovering from his leg injury and has been haunted by night terrors. Maybe some time with the horses in the country will do him some good.
From the moment that Ethan and Mia met, they each formed biased opinions of each other just by misplaced first impressions. The air crackles and sizzles with heat whenever they’re forced to be in the same room. After some time has passed they get a chance to get to know each other and soon realize they each made a mistake in judgment and an all-consuming passion takes over.
Mia and Ethan are from two different worlds. He’s from the country and enjoys the slow pace. She’s a city girl with high end fashion tastes and loves all the glam that only living in NYC can provide her. They're only fooling themselves by believing what they have is merely a summer fling. When love starts to works its way into their hearts, will they be able to walk away when it’s time for Mia to go back home?
Can Ethan and Mia beat almost impossible odds?
Here are my overall ratings
Hero: 5
Heroine: 4
Plot: 4
Angst:3
Steam: 5
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 5
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD releases on June 5th!
Amazon US:
https://amzn.to/2ICelO6
Amazon UK:
https://amzn.to/2GCwKZC
Amazon CA:
https://amzn.to/2IAARH7
Amazon AU:
https://amzn.to/2IGii4k
Paperback:
https://amzn.to/2IG8yXR
Audio:
https://amzn.to/2IBTDOs
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4 Stars!
(ARC provided by Montlake Romance)
Ethan Bishop heads home to Gardiner, a small town in upstate New York where his family owns a bed & breakfast, and a horse farm. He's been gone too long, and returns to the life he'd once run away from for something bigger and better. He is ex-special forces, and a former Hollywood bodyguard who should feel lucky to be alive. He's come full circle, and was now just trying to heal all his broken pieces in private. He's back with his sister's Ophelia & Harper, but considers himself unsuitable for the outside world, and really wasn't up to dealing with people for a while. Looking forward to some alone time, he's not too happy when he finds out he's going to be in charge of a teen girl for the summer who's been given mandated community service. He'd come home for peace & quiet, not to babysit.
Mia Thrush owns a successful publicity firm in Manhattan called Strategy Solutions PR where her dreams are finally coming true. She's representing a politician running for Mayor, and the upcoming election is everything. When his daughter suddenly gets into some trouble the entire election could be at stake. His daughter is to serve as a volunteer at a horse farm upstate, and to help avoid scandal Mia reluctantly agrees to accompany her to make sure she stays out of trouble.
Mia despises small towns, and doesn't know how she's going to survive in some podunk town for the summer. Born and bred in NYC, she's more comfortable in heels and designer clothes. When she arrives in the Shawangunk Mountains she immediately clashes with a rugged, brooding, bearded, sexy, rude ginger named Ethan. He's like a hot Grizzly Adams, and everything about him annoys her. From how attractive he is, to his infuriating, arrogant attitude, she strongly disliked him.
Ethan thinks Mia is a rich, uptight, stuck up, high maintenance city girl used to a big, fancy life. He doesn't want to be stuck dealing with her high drama all summer. She barreled into his life, and he's angry that she both irritates and intrigues him at the same time.
Ethan& Mia's turbulent relationship evolves as they spend time together. As they get to know one another they learn they actually have a lot in common. Sexual tension ignites and soon Mia finds herself being completely, thoroughly seduced by Ethan. A strong connection grows, and they both feel alive again and so understood. They begin a summer fling that turns into more. Can they make it work beyond the summer when she lives in the city, and his life is on the farm?
I really enjoyed this story about love and healing. Two opposites come together in a beautiful place and connect on a deep level. They find their missing piece and fight for a future together. I loved these characters, the farm animals (lol, that polish chicken ;)), and the sense of unity and family throughout the book. I can't wait for Ophelia's HEA!
-Why did her body get all needy and weak around this man? Any why did their connection seem to be getting stronger, as if every word and look were leading her further down the path of something that both terrified and excited her?
-She'd never experienced such a powerful connection with a man on both a mental and physical scale.
-"You're shaking, and I haven't even really touched you," he whispered. "You're making me crazy."
-"I want more of you."
***NOW AVAILABLE***
http://amzn.to/2o4tik0 -
Check out all my reviews at:
https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD (Stay Book 1) by Jennifer Probst is definitely a GOOD start to a new contemporary romance series. The H/h start as enemies, but Ms. Probst weaves a story that gradually brings out their backstories, insecurities and vulnerabilities and turns them into a sexy couple who find they fit and have to decide what they truly want to get to their HEA.
Ethan Bishop has returned to his family’s B&B and animal rescue farm in the Hudson Valley. His last mission with his Special Forces team left him seriously wounded physically and mentally. He wants to hide out at the farm, heal and try to find some peace.
Mia Thrush owns her own PR firm in Manhattan which is about to hit the big time. She is big city and designer clothes all the way. When her most prestigious client asks Mia to be a “guardian” to his daughter as she does community service at the farm over the summer, Mia cannot refuse.
Ethan hates high maintenance women. Mia hates everything country. City girl vs. country horse man. It is going to be a long, hot summer.
I absolutely loved this romance! Ethan is the wounded hero that you cheer for throughout to get a happy ending. At first, I did not like Mia at all, but Ms. Probst knows how to turn a character around with great writing. Their attraction and growing understanding of the other was well paced, realistic and heartwarming. There are several sex scenes that are explicit and I feel appropriate to the romance. I loved everything about the B&B and animal rescue ranch. Hei Hei, the chicken was the funniest animal character I have read in a romance and that he fell for Mia was extremely entertaining.
I am looking forward to the continuation of this series. I am also looking forward to Ethan’s sisters’ stories and to continue to follow all the towns people introduced in this book. This story has everything I am looking for in a well written contemporary romance genre book. -
Sigh... She always makes me cry!! So good.
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One of the reasons I love reading Jennifer Probst books is because she writes in such a familiar way that you just feel like you’re part of the story.
This story is so refreshing and she writes in such a way to allow us to yearn for a small town closeness and not the anonymity of the big city. A place where you know your neighbors and the local merchants. Where they become a part of your lives.
This book is the start of a brand new series and it is loaded with her trademark warm feelings, humor, anticipation, and sweet love that we all crave. It’s a clash of two opposites that completely combust when they come together. A steamy love-hate relationship that just has to be.
With her amazing ability to create a story that tugs your heartstrings, she brings you sweet hot romance with characters that you truly enjoy. Getting to know Ethan and Mia is not only delightful but memorable too. I shed many a tear in this amazing story! The Start of Something Good leaves you with a warm and fuzzy feeling that just makes you sigh.
I can’t wait to read more in this brand new Stay series. It’s like coming home.
* copy received for review consideration -
Heroine: 4 stars.
Hero: 2 stars.
Animals: Hei Hei And Wheezy 5 stars.
Overall rating: 4 stars for the heroine and animals.
I enjoyed reading about the heroine who didn’t take any crap from the hero but I hated the hero. What right has a man or another person tell someone what to eat or not to eat? It was the heroine’s body and if she wanted to be on a diet or if she wanted to shoved her face with food that was her problem and hers alone!
I felt like if the heroine was in fact a woman with curves then hero would’ve also have a problem with her body, sure he said that he enjoys women’s body no matter how fat, skinny, tall or short they were but then why the fuck did he have a problem with the heroine being so “skinny”? He couldn’t stop shoving food in her face.
“That’s the problem with women. They have no idea what a man really wants. Let’s go fatten you up, princess.”
“Will you do something for me today?” “Depends.” He smiled. “For the rest of the afternoon, will you let me feed you?”
Those quotes pissed me off. I never warmed up to him. And it wasn’t just the hero it was like everyone even the guests in this bed and breakfast were going after the heroine for being skinny. The heroine even had to explain that she was on a diet that she didn’t have any eating disorder. Why? I don’t know why she needed to explain herself. If that were me? I would have told everyone to shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
And sure the heroine loved the food that hero shoved in her face but that’s beside the point.
In the beginning I liked Jonathan but it seems like his election campaign was more important than his own daughter so I don’t blame Chloe for trying to rebelled, she wanted his attention.
And for once why can’t we see a man giving up everything for the heroine? Why is always the heroine who has to give up her business, her house, her life so the hero stays in place? Aren’t our things not important like the “hero’s” are? Yes the hero was ready to move for her but why didn’t he? Because the heroine made the move first.
And last but Not least, the heroine gave me a great idea!! I’ll be doing it soon very soon! 😉 -
Ethan just came back home to his family's Bed & Breakfast slash horse farm. He's been hurt on his last job in the military and he needs a bit time to heal - body and mind.
His sisters have been running the business perfectly. But now he's here and they immediately give him the task of becoming the mentor of 19 year old Chloe who was sent to the farm by a judge for doing stupid stuff at college.
Enter Mia. She's gonna be Chloe's 'guardian' for the summer. Mia works as Chloe's dad's PR person. Jonathan is running for Mayor of New York City and they need to keep whatever Chloe did upstate hidden from the press, that's why Mia is sent to keep her in line.
Mia HATES everything country. She's a city girl from head to toe. And her first meeting with Ethan is not really a good one. But they have to see each other all the time the whole summer long... And there are definitely some sparks flying around - even though both can't stand what the other stands for. Rich city girl vs. country horse man. Let the fun times begin! ☺
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MIA & ETHAN???
WILL THERE BE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER???
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺
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Awww that was adorable!
I just love those kinds of books.
So I'll keep this short ....
A beautiful, homey family-run B&B with cookies and iced tea on the porch for guests and a horse farm and a small town with great people. And all those different kinds of problems of the past that both Mia and Ethan and even Chloe and Ethan's sisters bring into the story.
It was the perfect romance!
Sweet, adorable, moving, sparky, sexy, exciting, country-ish.
I just adored it all. Especially the animals!! Hei Hei is the best!!!!! ☺ LOL!
This was a really great romance! I can't wait to see what Ethan's sisters will have to tell us. We already know who Ophelia's guy will be!
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD was a mega-adorable romance! I just adored everything about it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Ethan - this one is mine!
♡
♡
♡
♡ 
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This book is very sweet and well written! I liked Ethan and Mia and they ended up being perfect for each other! My favorite character was Hei Hei the chicken 🐓 I don’t know if I will read the next one- it seems as if Ophelia has been celibate quite some time so I expect a celibate hero too. Especially since it sounds like a second chance scenario.
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Release Date: June 5, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Recommended Read
The Start of Something Good is a lighthearted and easily likable novel where two people come together in unconventional circumstances. Jennifer Probst writes this novel in a way that makes it easy to visualize the scenery and characters while also making it feel magical and charming. Readers who are looking for an easy read with cute characters are going to want to give this one a try. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed myself from beginning to end.
If I had to compare this book to anything it would be a Hallmark movie romance- light, airy, charming, and smile inducing. I enjoyed reading it, even though it felt a bit to easy in the romance department. The two main characters are polar opposites- one a city girl and the other a low key country boy. You would think that this would cause some angst and whatnot, but it didn't. There was some fun banter at the beginning when the two were at odds with one another, but it quickly transformed into a romance and then love. Regardless of this, it still felt right for the two and I liked how everything came together for them as a couple.
The next book in the series will be Ophelia's. It's a series of interconnected standalones and from what I can gather they can each stand on their own. If you are like me though you may want to read them in order as it gives you some backstory into their lives. -
I wore down. I'm about halfway in and I lost interest in continuing. I can't pin down Ethan or Mia for motivation and the old people finally pushed me over the top. Skeevy oldsters are good for a joke or two but I don't get the continued patience with their interference and shenanigans for shenanigans' sake. I also hate that nobody is bothering to even try to investigate what the deal is with Chloe. She's in obvious trouble and throwing off scared vibes and I don't get doing zero to help out when every proximate adult has connected with her emotionally.
But I'd get through all of that if I had attached to either of the leads. But they both seesaw back and forth with reactions I can't pin down or predict and that's making it hard. I was kind of intrigued, for example, when we get, from Ethan "And at that moment, he fell hard for Mia Thrush in a completely unexpected way." And I was all, this is an interesting development so early. Maybe we'll switch gears and see a more direct pursuit and less prevarication and provocation for the sake of poking bears. But the very next page he pokes the bear again. "Her glare made him feel better. This woman he could deal with. This bristly, judgy pain in the ass was easy to banter and amuse himself with." I got whiplash from that about face. And this happens over and over again. With both characters.
So I'm done with the book. -
With The Start of Something Good, successfully launches a new series full of quick wit, small town charm and a mature and delicious romance that’s guaranteed to make you smile.
Ethan Bishop had spent his youth trying to make something of himself away from his small town. But when a rescue mission goes wrong and he can no longer serve as a Special Forces paratrooper, his dreams crumble and is forced to go back to his family’s B&B and horse farm. At least he can hide his pain and keep away from everyone there, until a strong-willed woman bursts into his life.
PR agent Mia Thrush has one objective, to help her client win his mayoral campaign. He’s a good family man, so managing his social media within the confines of the lovely city of Manhattan should be easy. Until she needs to babysit her client’s teenage daughter while trading in her stilettos for riding boots. She doesn’t even like horses and she hates the rude, broody horse keeper that makes her blood boil in more ways than one.
But having to spend the entire summer in a relaxing small town isn’t as terrible as Mia thought. The townsfolk love her marketing ideas, her hosts are lovely and as she and Ethan push their buttons while forced to spend time together, they also find common ground besides their shared attraction.
Enemies to lovers, opposites attract, name it what you will, but these are one of my favorite romance tropes. Not only because the antagonistic banter stokes the fire between the mains or because the wit is usually sharp and quick, but also because the hero and heroine will find wholeness in the other’s differences from their own making them all the better.
Probst skillfully writes an appealing and gripping read full of warmth. I fell in love with both Mia and Ethan, enjoying how their romance slowly and maturely evolved. I devoured it actually! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. This is the kind of book that leaves a big smile on your face and makes you want to ask authors to write faster.
The Start of Something Good is book #1 of the Stay series by Jennifer Probst. It is a standalone contemporary romance told from both points of view with a happy ending.
Amazon ->
https://amzn.to/2Lfdg0i
* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via NetGalley. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. * -
Mia has an incredibly busy job working in PR in New York. She is knee deep into helping her client with his political campaign when she is sent to deal with his troublesome teenage daughter. If her misdemeanour was made public it could affect his campaign so Mia is accompanying her to a working horse farm to work remotely until the campaigning is done, keeping his daughter away from the public eye.
Mia makes a very lasting first impression on Ethan when she mistakes him for the hired help. Ethan is looking at her wondering if she was plucked off the sidewalk of New York and planted at his front door like in one of those movies. She is so completely out of her depth with her designer labels and ridiculously inappropriate footwear.
There is instant chemistry between these two and I was excited about what could potentially happen. Ethan has that whole moody, brooding thing going on and Mia is so tightly wound up. I just knew that Ethan was going to enjoy getting her to unwind and that he does ☺
Ethan may have grown up on the family ranch but he has been gone for a few years, serving in the military. He came home to resume some sort of normality but the nightmares that plague his sleep haunt him. Mia also struggles to sleep at night and because of that these two spend many nights together on the porch opening up to each other
‘The words bled from his soul, but already he felt cleaner. He’d learned bad shit was like a wound – if you didn’t occasionally lance it open and share into the light, it slowly got infected from rotting alone in the dark.’
What began as two very different people putting up with each other slowly turns into something more for both of them. However, they both know that there is a time limit on what they have. He is a country boy and she is very much a city girl. Anything permanent is just not going to work for them or maybe they are both wrong and this is just the start of something good? -
I had read and enjoyed some of Jennifer’s other books, so I requested this one without even reading the synopsis.
I really liked Mia and Ethan. They’re both stubborn and struggling with something and much more alike than they think. The banter and button pushing was fantastic. And their messed up meet cute turned absolute irritation made for a delicious foundation of hate to love. Ethan’s sisters were sweet and I’m guessing they’ll be getting their own books.
Plot wise it was good. There was a lot of open communication and the main conflict was a summer romance with the distance of where they each lived at the end of it. Thankfully, it was all quickly resolved. I would have liked a bit more at the epilogue. I thought Mia and Ethan deserved more than the set up for the next book, but hopefully we’ll get to see them then.
Overall, it was a strong start to a new series. I’m eager to read what’s next.
**Huge thanks to Montlake Romance for providing the arc free of charge** -
Rating: 3.5 stars
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4 stars
The Start of Somethiing Good is definitely aptly named. Although it started off slow for me, it really brought on the feels after awhile.
Ethan is a wonderful, if surly, hero with shadows that darken his perfect eyes and sully his soul. He feels things too deeply and takes on the responsibility of too much but it's the only way he knows how to live. After tragic events occur, he reluctantly returns home to a tiny town in upstate New York, to his sisters and the house that made him who he is. He's determined to hide out and lick his wounds in private but fate had other plans.
Mia, a self made New York career woman doesn't allow anyone to put her on a leash. She's finally made a success of her PR business in Manhattan and is living the life she wants. Granted, she starves herself to fit into the perfect persona and is lonely but no one needs to know the lengths she goes to to keep the upper hand. When her biggest client begs her to chaperone his unruly daughter on a horse farm where she's sentenced to community service, she thinks he's lost his mind. But maybe she'll find what she's been missing out there in the (dreaded) countryside.
Beautiful book full of redemption and second chances. I loved the family and all the characters on the farm. Can't wait to check out the next book in the Stay series!
AnnMarie - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog -
I loved this story … so fun and interesting. The highlight of this one is the heroine, Mia, who is smart, interesting, loyal and a hard worker. She was vulnerable and strong at the same time … as we often are. I liked that the author brought that out in her. She also had some great moments when she gets all sassy! She stood up for herself at every turn which I enjoyed. I liked the hero as well and how their relationship grew from disdain to passion. There was more of a focus on the characters and the story than the sex. But, there is some sex … it’s just not the focus of this romance. There is a weird food obsession in this one - the hero constantly trying to get the heroine to eat. I generally overlooked it but at a certain point it became too much. The animals in this one were also a standout. A horse, a dog and a chicken named Hei Hei (my personal favorite). All in all, a really nice romance. Definitely recommend!
[Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book for an honest review.] -
I love a good a enemies-to-lovers story, and Jennifer Probst’s throwing together of a wounded soldier and an uptight, prickly PR shark sounded like a read up my alley. As total opposites (at least on the surface), Ethan and Mia clash immediately. The latter wouldn’t be caught dead on a horse-rescue farm while the former is the furthest away from branded designer wear and corporate work having been burnt by the bad experience he’s had in the past.
‘The Start of Something Good’ however, has all the hallmarks of the rom-com movie: characters that do fit a certain mould as their relationship finally coasts after a rocky start…until crunch time arrives. And all of it’s done with no small amount of irony, some banter and humour and a supporting cast of characters that form part of a backdrop that’s supposed to be sepia-toned kind of charming.
Mia’s portrayal is however, a little too stereotypical for my taste—the spoilt, shrewish city princess on a strict carb-free diet got me rolling my eyes after a while and her insistence on doing things the only way she knew how did get a tad bit irritating. On the other hand, Ethan’s master of all trades persona and the idyllic life in the country felt a little oversold as the story seemed to build its case around a city vs. the country sort of dilemma.
The choice between frenetic city-living and the slowness of small town life is one that I saw coming from the very start the moment Probst laid out Ethan’s and Mia’s obvious differences. Small town quirks admittedly, aren’t exactly to my own liking—the emergence (inevitable, it seems in such stories) of nosey, cock-blocking senior citizens who take glee in other people’s businesses being one of them—and the oneupmanship between Ethan and Mia got old quickly as the middle part lagged a little after a good setup in the animosity between them. Still, it’s a journey that’s fairly predictable and the conflict that’s about to come past the usual angst about short-term fling and settling down could be sniffed out a mile away.
I did like Probst’s way of getting Mia to reevaluate her notions of success as well as the incisive, assured writing that catalogues the changes wrought in both Ethan and Mia as they slowly start to see each other beyond the gripes and the snipes. ‘The Start of Something Good’ is a decent read nonetheless, and the setup for the next books sounds interesting enough for me to warrant a closer look at this developing series.
*ARC by the publisher via Netgalley -
Author, Can I have one chicken Hei Hei please??
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ARC review
Jennifer Probst writes charming stories. In her new STAY series, she brings it on to a small town in the Hudson Valley filled with quirky characters, including an animated chicken, charming dogs, and beloved horses and yes, there is a human or two in the story as well.
Ethan Bishop is just back from the Middle East where he served as a pararescue trooper. His last mission wounded his heart as well as his body and he comes home to his family's B&B / farm to recuperate. Mia Thrush is the head of her own up and coming PR agency. Her business is on the brink of hitting it big by working on the team that will elect the next mayor of New York City. The problem is that his daughter is getting into trouble and someone has to watch her over the summer.
I have to admit, I was ready not to like Ethan. He is not much for first impressions because does not really care that much for what people think, especially from a spoiled diva like Mia. But circumstance are such that they are compelled to dig beneath the surface to really see each other's souls. It's a beautiful thing. This a perfect opposites attract story and the fantastic beginning to what I am sure will be a highly entertaining series.
It's a modern day take on Green Acres.
Green Acres television show theme by Vic Mizzy:
Green Acres is the place for me
Farm livin' is the life for me
Land spreadin' out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside
New York is where I'd rather stay
I get allergic smelling hay
I just adore a penthouse view
Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue -
DNF 12% - heroine rubbed the wrong way and she came off very unlikeable. My tolerance is low for books that don’t grab me from the start.
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3.5 stars
THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD was a pleasant read, not angsty and just a lovely undulating journey. This is a perfect summer, low-concentration read, one for the beach or vacation.
Mia is a rising PR agent, representing the to-be Mayor or NYC. She’s somewhat vain, obsessed with being rake-thin and has no work-life balance. The to-be Mayor sends her to a farm way out of state to keep an eye on his wayward daughter doing community service. Ethan is ex-military, a bit predictably psychologically and physically damaged, however, he cuts a desirable character. These two truly were opposites with a hate thing going on. The chemistry between these two was very well written.
With the setting being a farm, I have to say some of the highlights came from some animals, primarily Hei Hei, the chicken and Phoenix, the abused racehorse. Chloe, the Mayor’s daughter also made for a slowly growing warm fuzzy.
The story was essentially predictable but I didn’t mind from a book like this, a story that’s going where I think in general. It was a sweet, encapsulated read. The bonus is, you can see a good set up for the next couple.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog. -
Quick and rather enjoyable read. Prissy Manhanttan public relations consultant with a perchant for designer wear is forced to babysit her politician-running-for-NYC-major's troubled teenaged daughter who has to serve her community services sentence at a horse rescue farm/B&B inn in upstate Hudson Valley. Ethan Bishop sustained career-ending injuries during a failed Special Forces mission. The man he was to rescue did not make it. He has returned back to his family's B & B to recuperate and reevaluate his life. Still racked with feelings of guilt and self-flagellation, he has no time nor patience to deal with an irritable, carb-starved woman with perfect manicure, brand-named clothing and ridiculous footwear totally unsuitable for a farm retreat. Mia Thrush (yes, that truly is her surname) turns out to be the itch that won't be cured by anti-yeast cream. She doesn't want to be there. He certainly doesn't want her there, but they're stuck together for 3 months sharing the responsibility of looking after Chloe, the supposedly spoilt delinquent, who turns out to be anything but. Mia and Ethan slowly also revise their initial poor first impressions of one another.
The premise is a bit eye-rollingly unrealistic, however the chemistry is superb between Mia and Ethan and I like their interactions with Chloe also, although at 19, she ought to be treated as an adult rather than a recalcitrant child to be grounded and dobbed on. I like the supporting characters -the meddlesome, libidinous and adventurous group of retirees, Ethan's sisters and the menagerie of animals especially the highly-strung rooster, Hei Hei.
This was an ARC from Net Galley. -
Dear readers,
You are cordialy invited to the Bishop's horse-rescue farm and B&B this summer, in the quaint little town of Gardiner, New York. There'll be dogs, horses, a chicken, a nineteen-year-old girl assigned to community service and quirky elderly people. You might witness a city girl with a love/hate relationship with sugar and a former serviceman who think himself unsuitable for civilian life exchange clever banters and passionated bickering. Here, you'll learn how and why these two kind but stubborn person got off on the wrong foot and intended to keep their distance but fell in love instead.
Please RSVP whenever you feel like it if you want to know more about this opposite attract romance full of heart.
With very best regards,
Aly -
Putting this down at 6%. I feel like such a quitter. Le sigh... The writing style is just not for me nor the head space I'm in right now. I have enjoyed books by this author in the past, but that was a couple of years ago now, so maybe that isn't be true anymore. The writing style was too much telling not enough showing. The h was too superficial for me (I'm not interested in reading about her weight loss goals or the brand name anythings that she wears) and there was a fine line between strong and shrew that she may have crossed during that 6% I read. I thought I might come back and give this another but as I'm typing this review, I've convinced myself otherwise.
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[SPANISH BELLOW]
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I began to read the author in Spanish with the book called: Searching for Someday. I read Searching for Someday last year and I loved it, I really knew I wanted to read more about this author.
This saga hasn’t been published in Spanish so I taked the risk and I reading it in English, I don't regret anything. Sometimes I find hard to read in English because of the lack of habit, but I can tell you that this book is addictive, it hooked me completely and despite the language I read it in a very short time.
The story is adorable, entertaining and I really liked it. Mia is a workaholic city girl who suddenly has to go to a farm. There she will meet Ethan, a man who has just arrived from a very tough mission and just wants some peace. In this novel, we find the typical story of enemies to lovers that I enjoy so much. The two protagonists have a lot of chemistry and I have loved every scene they have together.
In addition, we found many secondary characters that I am looking forward to knowing more.
SPANISH:
The Start of Something Good ha sido un libro que encontré por casualidad en Netgalley. Conocí a la autora por una novela que tiene publicada en español: Buscándote a ti. Este libro lo leí el año pasado y me gustó muchísimo, lo devoré y supe que quería leer más de esta autora.
Esta saga no ha sido publicada en español así que me arriesgué a leerla en español y no me arrepiento de nada. A veces me cuesta leer en inglés por la falta de costumbre, pero os digo que este libro es adictivo, me enganchó por completo y a pesar del inglés lo leí en poquísimo tiempo. Esto junto a la gran historia que tiene sumó muchos puntos.
La historia es adorable, entretenida y me gustó mucho. Mia es una chica de ciudad adicta al trabajo que de repente tiene que ir a una granja. Allí conocerá a Ethan, un chico que acaba de llegar de una misión muy dura y solo quiere un poco de paz. En esta novela encontramos la típica historia de enemigos a enamorados que tanto me gusta. Los dos protagonistas tienen mucha química y he adorado cada escena que tienen juntos.
Además, encontramos a muchos personajes secundarios de los que estoy deseando saber más. -
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Start of Something Good is the first book in her new series called Stay, and it is definitely a “Start of Something (really) Good. Probst managed to pull at my heartstrings once again with this small-town-meet-city-slicker story.
Mia’s PR is at a brink of making it big with the company’s new client, mayor of NYC. Unfortunately, there’s a potential disaster in a form of the mayor’s daughter. Long story short, Mia, this city girl, finds herself teen-sitting in a small town while working off site. Well, this little sacrifice will bring her the big break she’s been dreaming of, along with a few things she didn’t expect.
After serving a deadly assignment in the special forces, Ethan is ready to help his sisters take care of their Inn’s stable. LIttle did he know it will come with working with a uptight city slicker he’d rather not interact with. But then again, some things he has no control over including his attraction with Mia.
Love everything about this novel. From the humor, to the quirky characters, small town drama, to the sweet and sexy romance I know Probst novels typically are known for. She even managed to add farm animals with personalities. It’s a light and quick read perfect for the weekend.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Angela❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts?
Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤ -
Awww
Such a lovely story...Mia and Ethan
An uptight city girl PR manager and hardened alpha eaten by the guilt from his past...they are an unlikely match, at first, enemies, then friends turned lovers fill up the pages with passionate banter that only excells towards physical attraction...and then someting more
BUT her task that led her to Ethan's horse farm and B&B resort, lead by his two sisters, is slowly inevitably coming to an end...and the growing love they feel makes the distance between their homes barely bearable...
And will they meet in the middle, or will one of them sacrifice their own dreams and careers? Or will the power of love give them strength of another resolution? Giving them both a chance to keep it all and gain something more...as they embrace the fact that this chance cant be passed on-the start of something good
Jennifer Probst writes such lovable, palpable characters. They are realistic in their vulnerability and strength, and they deal with issues with reason and responsibility with every aspect considered and valued...and mist of all, they communicate...and what a refreshment that is!
Looking forward to the next installments in this series... -
What a really good start to this series! I loved Ethan and Mia and I see an interesting story coming for Ophelia. I hope we get to see Chloe again too.
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The Start of Something Good is the first book in the Stay Series by Jennifer Probst. This book follows the story of Mia and Ethan. As a former Special Forces Paratrooper and bodyguard, he’s seen his fair share of pain and drama. So, when he finally makes his way home, his wounds are far deeper than people imagine. He hides out at the family farm so he won’t have to deal with people and the town he once lived in. All is going to plan until Mia blows into his life and turns everything upside down….Being in the country for the summer is the last on her mind. But when a client needs help with his teenage daughter, she has no choice but to help. Only the farm is no place for an uptight and quick tempered Mia. She butts heads with Ethan from the moment they meet. To say they don’t hit it off would be an understatement. Their disdain for one another is completely palpable and leads to a passion that neither one of them can deny…
I’m going to be totally honest with you, I didn’t really like this book in the beginning. I had a really tough time with it. I didn’t really like the characters and had a really hard time connecting with them. Mia was your total cliched city girl: snobby, stuck up and acted like she was better than everyone else. Ethan had his own share of issues and thought he had Mia pegged from the very beginning. I found him to be a bit arrogant and didn’t like his behavior towards Mia. He wouldn’t give her a chance even when she was trying to do the right thing. Now, don’t get me wrong, sometimes this behavior in characters works for me, but I think in order for it to work, I’ve got to find something in the beginning that makes me want to invest in them and sadly, it took a while for it to happen for me. I had a few times where I put this book down and honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to finish it, but I’m happy to say that I did finish and I’m glad that I stuck it out. The characters did end up winning me over. Once they got over themselves and stopped fighting, I saw the redeeming qualities in them that I was looking for. I felt their passion and pull and wanted to get to know them better.
I actually really liked Chloe, the girl that Mia was looking out for. She was 19 and wasn’t perfect. She made a lot of mistakes and was sent to the farm to hopefully learn from them. I enjoyed getting to know her and there was definitely more to her than what meets the eye. Don’t get me wrong, she definitely acted immature at times, but I felt like her father didn’t see her as an adult at all. He wanted to make her life fit with his agenda and it just frustrated me to no end.
Overall, I thought this book was an ok read. It was a little rough in the beginning, but won me over in the end. It is a stand-alone, enemies to lovers romance. I loved the small town feel of this story and think that there is a lot of great potential there. The old couples from the B&B were a hoot. I loved how they were up in everybody’s business and was entertained by their matchmaking skills.
Even though this book wasn’t a 100% hit for me, I’m glad that I checked it out and gave it a chance. I think this series has a lot of great potential and would open to checking out more from it in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
