Somewhere to Begin by Mika Jolie

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 #contemporaryromance 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.

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"I'd much rather have someone stand by my side as I save myself"Yes!! This one line won the entire book for me. It sends a strong message to the reader that healing comes from within ourselves. Other people can be a catalyst in our journey to healing but YOU have to do the work. This is something that I personally believe in so it really struck a chord and had me totally invested in Colbie's journey to healing herself.
That is what Colbie and Zander were for each other. A catalyst or support for one another so they could find a way to heal and finally come to realize they were both deserving of so much more than what they were settling for due to their tragic experiences.
Colbie is moving on from an abusive relationship and parents that care more about their social standing than their daughters well being. So proud of her walking out the way she did! It's never too late. Sometimes we have to just take a stand and finally put ourselves first and put the expectations of others away. This is not always so easy to do, it takes courage. And I was proud of Colbie for finding the strength to do what she had to do to start a new life for herself.
Zander is suffering from PTSD and the loss of part of a leg. He is a broken man and has many scars both inside and out. Colbie quite literally crashes into Zander's life when he saved her from a car crash and decided to stick by her side. It was like they both came into each others lives at just the perfect moment, when they were both in need of a little help to start their lives anew.
Another quote that truly resonated with me:
“Every scar earned should serve as a reminder of who you are, who you could become and who you’ll never be again,”
Wow... such a powerful statement! I collect quotes that inspire and this one is definitely going into my collection. It's a keeper...
So glad I found this author... these are subjects that are difficult to tackle but she told the story in such a descriptive way that it felt very real.
This is a beautifully written story of two people on a journey of recovery. And along this journey they find each other. :) I would recommend it for those who love women's fiction with a side of romance. The romance is good but the journey of healing is what makes this book totally rock!
I will definitely be reading more by this author.

ARC copy was provided by Barclay Publishing


5 Sparkly stars!

Mika Jolie is the bestselling author of the Martha’s Way series. She lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos—her husband and their energizer bunnies. A sports fanatic and a wine aficionado, she’s determined to balance it all and still write about life experiences and matters of the heart. Let’s face it, people are complicated and love can be messy. When she’s not weaving life and romance into evocative tales, you can find her on a hiking adventure, apple picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up.
She loves to hear from readers.
Connect with Mika: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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