| Title | : | What New Beginnings Are Made Of (Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay Book 1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 178 |
| Publication | : | Published August 27, 2020 |
She’s a fifty-five-year-old widow feeling like she’s lost herself.
On a whim of her aching heart, Alice McIntyre buys the Star Gazer Inn and is looking for a fresh start…something to put a spark back into her life.
But first she has to tell her four sons, who have problems of their own but have smothered her with their protective instincts. She’s lived on the huge South Texas ranch just outside of Corpus Christi since their father carried her over the threshold. She’s raised them on the massive McIntyre Ranch—one of the largest, wealthiest in Texas. It’s been her home and theirs. Will they understand that it’s time for her to leave? Time for her to move on?
Jackson McIntyre is shocked by his mother’s announcement. Guilt-ridden in the aftermath of his father’s accident, Jackson is determined to do whatever it takes to help his mother find her way to move forward. But this new idea of hers has him reeling.
Nina lives next door to the inn and is living a quiet life, keeping a low profile. She has her reasons. Will the opening of the inn and her new neighbors, especially the oldest son of the new innkeeper, tempt her to step back into the light and out of the shadows of her past?
Lisa, Alice’s best friend and recent divorcee, has been traveling the world since the breakup that left her shaken and feeling just as lost as Alice. A brilliant cook with a flair for entertaining, she loves Alice’s idea and joins her to open the inn. But Lisa has her own secrets.
Can these two friends, and their new neighbor Nina, find fresh starts as they ready the Star Gazer Inn for its new beginning?
Will Nina find the courage to take one more chance on love with her new friend’s son?
Three women find friendship and courage on the shores of Corpus Christi Bay. Come visit the Star Gazer Inn, with a side trip to the McIntyre Ranch, as Alice finds her way between two worlds.
This new series follows Alice, her sons, and her friends—and new loves—on the South Texas coast with its sparkling topaz water.
You’ll want to dip your toes in and stay awhile.
Heartfelt women's fiction: faith, family, love.
What New Beginnings Are Made Of (Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay Book 1) Reviews
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Lovely contemporary story. Sweet, light romance. Likable characters. Gentlemen, and Ladies. No bad language that I remember. Beach setting. I loved the plot, and watching the characters grow. There was a touch of mystery, also. I highly recommend this novel.
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A delightful, refreshing read from Debra Clopton! We have two interwoven storylines.
Widowed Alice McIntyre decides to purchase the Stargazer Inn, the very same place she and her late husband first met. She sets out to renovate it, giving her something to focus on instead of the grief consuming her from losing her husband. When she moves into the inn to start the work, she meets the girl next door, Nina. Alice loves Nina's paintings and the two women form a strong friendship.
Needing a chef for the inn, Alice calls up her friend Lisa, asking if she would consider being the chef at the inn. As good friends do, Lisa jumped on the chance to do something she is passionate about.
When Alice meets Seth, the fifty-nine year old contractor who is helping her renovate, Alice wonders if maybe the way to heal is to start moving forward.
Jackson McIntyre is tired of running his father's business constantly. Taking a break from paperwork, he goes to visit his mom at the inn, running into the beautiful Nina. Sparks fly and we all can see for miles that the fireworks are just starting.
I really enjoyed reading about all of these characters, and Clopton wrote the chapters so well it doesn't feel jarring when we move from one group of people to the other. I like the different thoughts and views we get from the storylines, and they even converge in a place or two.
I highly recommend this for those who like Christian Cowboy Romances -
What New Beginnings Are Made Of is the first story in the Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay series, and it is an emotional tale on so many levels also spanning several Romance genres, so don’t think of this one as just “Women’s Fiction” – it’s so much more.
It’s been 18 months or so since Alice’s beloved husband passed away. Although she has her four adult sons to give her comfort, they also are grieving. The ranch that she and William built is thriving, successful, and now in the hands of her eldest son. While she loves the ranch it’s also a source of pain as there are memories around every corner of happier times. She’s made a decision, one that her sons may or may not truly understand – but it is what is right for her at this time in her life. A new beginning, entirely on her own. She has a future to chart and it begins at the inn where she and her husband met and fell in love… Star Gazer Inn.
As Alice begins the process of renovating, decorating, tending to the inn before its opening she’ll meet a younger woman who lives in a cottage nearby. Nina keeps to herself for the most part, and she has good reasons for that. Yet friendship is building between the women of two different generations for what is age but a number.
Soon another friend, Lisa, has decided to stop running from pain by traveling the world and come to the inn as the main chef and to be with her friend on this new adventure.
Three women, different generations, yet each has so much to offer in friendship to the others – and each still has a very full life ahead of them, as they all are about to discover.
I was captivated by What New Beginnings Are Made Of from the opening page until the final word… only to now begin the wait for the second title in this series. To say that I loved these women, their stories, and the men who will perhaps be a part of their futures is an understatement.
I adored Jackson, Alice’s son. He’s going through some guilt over his father’s death, but he couldn’t have saved him. He’s settling into his new role at the ranch and worrying about his mom so far away, yet in reality, she’s close. He didn’t expect the attraction to his mother’s new neighbor, Nina. And they are about to enter into an adventure in rebuilding a life that took unexpected turns, and taking a risk on a happy future for them both… one day.
I also loved Seth and the future possibilities he holds for Alice. This is one impressive handyman, and I’m enjoying what is developing between Alice and Seth.
In all, I was blown away by this story that touches on so many issues, one that offers hope for the future, takes a risk on emotions that might hurt, and gives a second chance for love to develop in time. If you love a really good, emotional, funny, exasperating, family story then you’ll want to pick up What New Beginnings Are Made Of.
I own a Kindle edition of What New Beginnings Are Made Of. -
What a great start to a new series! This book introduces a cast of characters who all need some kind of new beginning.
Whether it was grief over losing the love of her life, like Alice had, or betrayal from an unfaithful spouse, such as Lisa experienced, my heart hurt for they pain they were walking through. And I rejoiced for them as they began to feel the uplifting effects of pouring themselves into the Star Gazer Inn.
Nina, Jackson, and Seth were also great characters who brought their own hurts, fears, and hopes to the novel. I really enjoyed watching the gentle beginnings of friendship and love that built within these pages and am so looking forward to reading more books in this series as they release.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c... -
Easy Read for the Heart
A good therapy story and an easy read book for anyone dealing with loss and change. It was good for my heart and soul. -
What New Beginnings are Made Of by Debra Clopton
Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay Series Book One
Jackson McIntyre is the oldest of four boys...now men. After a year and a half, he's still struggling with his dad's tragic death. Blaming himself for not being able to save him. And now...Mom bought an inn that she wants to fix up and open. She'll be moving out of the house as well. Too many changes for a man with the burden of being the head of the family.
Nina Hanson has been hiding from the world for three years now. She lives quietly in a lovely little cottage on the bay. Finally, Nina feels comfortable enough to take the step of getting a companion, a dog. And, she's going to have a new neighbor too. Nina had no idea how much her life was going to change.
Alice McIntyre found peace in the memories on the beach. Being near the inn that she first met her beloved William, and that very inn is now for sale. Hello, new life.
I just loved this story. Incredible characters that were easy to fall in love with. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series. There's more than one story going on. Not only Jackson and Nina but also Alice's life and her friend Lisa's. The reader also gets a little glimpse into the other brothers' lives, too.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com... -
This could have been a good story, as the characters were interesting and it was a pleasant plot. However, the author constantly repeated herself. I only need to read things once, but every emotion was explained a dozen times which made it very tedious. I was tending to skip once I got more than halfway through because I'd read it already! The book could have been half its length if all the repetition was removed.
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This is a lovely little romance, made particularly interesting because it involved two romances in different seasons of life. Lots of instances of family caring for one another, as well as finding trust to reveal secrets from the past that prevented peace. Good characters and beautiful settings.
The reason I only gave this read three stars is that it desperately needed one more edit. For an author who is critically acclaimed, I was surprised her book came out with so many little mistakes. -
Loving, being loved, being hurt, but being resilient
I enjoyed this book cover to cover and I wanted it to go on and on. It showed what a good love can be and also a bad love can be...How to know the difference, building friendships, changing goals or making new ones. Cooking, enjoying company, friends, making new friends, just living and looking forward to new adventures! -
Ugh....well, where to start? Loose ends galore in this one - I really don't like cliffhangers and with soooooo many characters and subplots, I found myself skimming through from about the middle to the end only to be disappointed.
Every person has their own story to tell - this is true - but does every person in this story HAVE to be part of a tragic past? I get that secrets/past lives are necessary but with one awful secret after another being exposed, this book almost read like manual of character development rather than something smooth, flowing and, most importantly, "fun." Not much fun going on in this one what with buttons being pushed, hermit-like attitudes, insecure males questioning themselves, stalkers, abusive relationship and just one more thing right after another. The long insights into the individual psyches had me struggling to keep my eyes open. Enter character - define character - give character something to concentrate on - character meets several other characters - several other characters have their story to tell (or not) - main character gets lost in the whole group therapy outline.
This story needs to lighten the hell up because the overall concept is actually pretty great. -
Ahh! Debra Clopton how I’ve missed you! “What New Beginnings are Made of,” is the first book in A Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay Novel series.
Alice McIntyre is a recent widow in her fifties, needing a change. She and her beloved William had over 35 years and four sons together on their ranch. Everywhere she looks are memories, but she is needing to move forward. Alice finds the Star Gazer Inn, where she and William first met, is for sale. It needs a little TLC and she is excited to be the one to buy and provide it. Oldest son, Jackson, has some moving forward to do as well. He feels responsible for his mother, and guilty over his father’s death. Nina, the artist and new neighbor to Alice, becomes a good friend, but what is she hiding?
Clopton introduces several characters and new scenarios for future storylines. This
is a heartwarming story with believable characters. Can’t wait for the second installment! -
What New Beginnings Are Made Of bk 1 ~ A Star Gazer Inn of Corpus Christi Bay. by Debra Clopton.
I love Debra's books and am slowing collecting them all. So this new series comes along and of course, I am going to start from the beginning. Not something I usually do 😄
Debra continues to write exceptional stories that bring all the characters to life. I was hooked from the very first page. I felt that I was in Star Gazer Island also there with them 😀
What New Beginnings Are Made of... Follow Alice a widow, her next-door neighbour Nina, also a widow, her friend Lisa, a divorcee, Seth the contractor, who is also a widower and her four sons, Jackson, Dallas, Tucker and Riley. Who all happen to be cowboys😘
This is truly amazing, a great start to a new series. I can not wait for the next two if this book is anything to go by they will be fabulous.
I highly recommend this book.
So thank you, Debra, for bringing these wonderful characters to life, so that we can take ourselves off to the wonderful world of Star Gazer Island Corpus Christi Bay Texas. -
Alice McIntyre is a fifty-five year old widow with four cowboy sons and plenty of money! You'll laugh at her sons' shock when Alice buys a closed down inn on the coast without their knowledge! Alice has fun decorating the inn nothing like the ranch which also amazes her sons! Alice decides her new neighbor would be perfect for her oldest son, Jackson, and does a little matchmaking! Oh, but what about the handsome widower contractor she hires to help update the inn!! What New Beginnings Are Made Of is a delightful read that I recommend to others who enjoy contemporary romance. I received a complimentary e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
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A beach setting winner!
I adored this book! It was emotional and intriguing, and all set on the backdrop of a coastal town. Alice, the widow still grieving the loss of her husband William, looking for something to bring the spark back into her life. Nina, Alice’s new neighbor that has been hiding out from her past. Last but not least, Lisa whose ex-husband cheated on her, but still torments her. This book is so well written that you feel you are a part of their lives, and you see the strength in each woman’s personality. I loved it! -
This was a wonderful story.
It was well written with interesting characters and beautiful locations. There were more storylines slightly suggested but the main character was a lady in her fifties who had lost her husband in tragic accident who was looking for a touch not in her life. So she bought small Inn and where her search begins. This was a good intro to the journey through this series. I am looking forward to what comes next.
